All Forum Posts by: Travis Benham

Welcome to BP!  I too am a newbie and like you I am pushing myself into a position to make my first RE purchase, but I need more learning.  I think this is a great community site with lots of learning for us.

@Scott England: you mentioned Student rentals, which I do have my eye on.  In keeping with the "bad" areas topic,  how do you rate the student rental properties for Oklahoma City University?  It's a college with lots of international students, however it is along 23rd street which never seems like a keen place to be.

*This is my first non-introductory discussion post so have patience*

I've been practicing my skills of looking for deals in the OKC metro area.  I'm kind of attracted to some smaller houses (1000sf or less) as they seem priced right and wouldn't need a huge down payment.  But they are in areas that may be "less than desirable". One is around the I-44/Hefner Parkway/39th Expressway junction, for example.

I'm asking mainly for the OKC market but this can pertain to anywhere in Oklahoma.  What areas do you consider to be the truly BAD areas, and how do you handle properties within? Avoid? Different strategy? Love them?  Better for renting or flipping or something else?

Newbie question:  Let's pretend we are in a down market, or soon to be down.  What should rental buyers do?  Look for homes closer to the city?  Or further out?

Doing research these past few months, I've discovered flipping does not meet my personality, even though it sounds good in my mind.   I'm much more comfortable with Buying and Holding, building my asset portfolio.  I'm currently looking at niche markets as well.

Good morning All,

I'm Travis and I live in the Oklahoma City area.  I'm  in my early 30s, and an experienced software developer currently looking for passive income opportunities, but I would like to eventually move into real estate investment full time when I get into my forties. 

A relative of mine got into flipping houses earlier this year.  I thought he was going about it all wrong and wanted to find some resources to back my claim, and that's how I came across this website.  I still think he's going about his strategy wrong, however to his credit he is DOING it which is more than I can say for myself.  

So after a few months of lurking, listening to the Podcast, and reading a couple of the recommended books, my way of thinking is now fully into getting me out of the rat race and into real estate investing.

I am currently in "saving money" mode as I don't have ready funds to buy properties.  My goal is to have some nice capital by next Summer to get my first property.  I appreciate any advice to help me through this initial phase and leap of faith.

Thanks!