All Forum Posts by: Christina J.

Welcome, @Enkhbaatar Enkhzul! Sounds like you've got a solid plan to launch your real estate career. So glad you found BP - we're all here to learn and grow!

A few other things that may be helpful to you here on the Bigger Pockets website:

You can set up keyword alerts so anytime someone posts about Chicago or any other market you're interested in pursuing, you'll be notified. That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

You can also search for other investors and agents in Chicago and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

Best of luck to you and look forward to following your journey!

Welcome, @Alex Shin! I'm flippin' excited you found BP ;)

Great list of reads....a few other things that may be helpful to you here on the Bigger Pockets website:

You can set up keyword alerts so anytime someone posts about any of the markets or real estate niches you're interested in pursuing, you'll be notified. That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

You can also search for other investors in that area and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

Best of luck to you and look forward to following your journey!

Welcome, @Shaun Calloway! Sounds like you followed my path of lurking in the forums and listening to podcasts for several years before jumping in - it was all a wealth of education and a huge confidence builder as me and my husband have pursued REI and built our portfolio.

A few other things that may be helpful to you here on the Bigger Pockets website:

You can set up keyword alerts so anytime someone posts about Kingwood or NE Houston, you'll be notified. That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

You can also search for other investors in that area and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

Best of luck to you and look forward to following your journey!

Welcome, @Daniel Warren! So glad you found Bigger Pockets and are planning to put in the time to learn about real estate now. If you haven't already, be sure to plug into the podcast - it's been a wealth of education and a huge confidence builder as me and my husband have pursued REI and built our portfolio. Like you, we lurked in the forums and listened to podcasts for a few years before making the leap.

A few more things that may be helpful to you here on the Bigger Pockets website:

You can set up keyword alerts so anytime someone posts about a market you're interested in, you'll be notified. That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

You can also search for other investors in that area and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

Best of luck to you and thank you for your service!

Welcome, @Shelly Floyd! So glad you found Bigger Pockets - lots of folks with wholesaling expertise here!

I don't have any special insights on your market, but here are a few things that may be helpful to you here on the Bigger Pockets website:

You can set up keyword alerts so anytime someone posts about wholesaling or the specific market you're looking at, you'll be notified. That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

You can also search for other investors and wholesalers in that area and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

I love that you've already plugged into the podcast - it's been a wealth of education and a huge confidence builder as me and my husband have pursued REI and built our portfolio.

Best of luck to you and look forward to following your journey!

@Shelly Floyd

Welcome, @Charles Russell III! So glad you found Bigger Pockets!

I don't have any special insights on Lake County, but here are a few things that may be helpful to you here on the Bigger Pockets website:

You can set up keyword alerts so anytime someone posts about Lake County or Northern Illinois you'll be notified. That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

You can also search for other investors in that area and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

Also, be sure to get plugged into the podcast - it's been a wealth of education and a huge confidence builder as me and my husband have pursued REI and built our portfolio.

Best of luck to you and look forward to following your journey!

@Brennan Doherty

Everything I know about apartment investing I learned on the BP Podcast ;) No personal experience but you'll get lots of good feedback here...

Welcome, @Tim Halperin! I'm in Chattanooga and agree with you that it's still a great market for investment - not as many deals as 3-5 years ago, but still seeing cash flowing opportunities. 

My husband and I would love to get into multi-family here but not seeing anything that meets our criteria the last few years. It might be worth connecting with a local (CHA) realtor - there are several here on BP - to help you identify a few areas around town that might work for your needs. I know north of Chattanooga in Cleveland they have a lot more multi-family properties that might be worth exploring.

Best of luck to you and your wife and look forward to following your journey!

Welcome, @Tyler L.! Sounds like you have a really solid foundation of experience around real estate investors and you're doing all the right things to launch your career.

I don't have any special insights on the markets you're considering, but here are a few things that may be helpful to you here on the Bigger Pockets website:

You can set up keyword alerts so anytime someone posts about Nashua / Manchester or Providence you'll be notified. That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

You can also search for other investors in that area and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

I love that you've already plugged into the podcast - it's been a wealth of education and a huge confidence builder as me and my husband have pursued REI and built our portfolio. 

Best of luck to you and look forward to following your journey!

Welcome, @Aaron Edmondson! Excited and new are the best attributes when you join Bigger Pockets....so glad you found the forums!

You have multiple good options, including those you listed, and the recommendation of @Christopher Leon. I don't have a perfect answer for you, since that will depend on your long-term goals. But if I were you, these are a few of the questions I'd be asking myself:

 - what is my goal for getting involved in real estate investing? Financial freedom? Leave my day job? Pay off debt? A little more spending money on the side?

 - do I want to be a buy and hold investor / landlord? 

 - do I have the time / desire to manage a remodel (of new house) while managing tenants (in current house)?

If you are working towards financial independence or to leave your day job, and you're comfortable with the idea of being a landlord, I like the idea of investing the resources to update the house now, and putting in a renter. Your cash flow would go to a maintenance fund, and could also be saved towards the downpayment for your next investment property. The beginning of your snowball!

If you're more interested in a little cash on the side, or paying off some immediate debt, updating and then selling the property may make more sense for you. 

You have more options available than these two, but identifying your goals can help you think through those, as well. 

Best of luck, Aaron - love your enthusiasm and look forward to following your success!