All Forum Posts by: Elealeh Fulmaran

Love the energy. BRRRR with partners can definitely work—just keep it simple, protect the refinance, and build a solid team. Start by getting clear on roles and money splits (and put it in writing). For deal one, go light rehab (paint/flooring) to test your team instead of tackling roof/foundation/HVAC. Always run numbers the same way, stress test ARV/rents, and pass if the refi doesn't safely return capital at today's rates. Line up your "who's" (agent, lender, GC, PM) before offers, manage rehab tight with proof before payment, then rent, refi, repeat. Nail one, then scale.

Welcome to BiggerPockets! Great place to start your investing journey—you’ll find tons of resources and supportive investors here. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or share your goals, it’s the fastest way to learn and connect.

Dominic, you’ve got capital, time, and a clear goal—great position to start from. The key now is keeping your money moving without breaking cash flow. Here’s a path I’d suggest:

• Start with a house hack: a small multi or single with ADU potential. Live-in financing is cheap, you'll learn hands-on, and risk stays low. From there, repeat with a long-term hold or BRRRR-lite when the numbers work.

• Screen fast with numbers: quick calc rents vs. price, taxes, insurance, PM, maintenance, reserves. If it passes, then dig deeper.

• Singles vs. multis: duplexes/3–4 units give scale with one roof/loan and cheaper living; singles are simpler to manage and easier to sell. Small multis are ideal to start, then layer in quality singles or more multis depending on deal flow.

• Value-adds that matter: rent-lifting turns (floors, paint, lighting, hardware, clean kitchens/baths); operational wins (metering, laundry, parking/storage, pet rent, RUBS where allowed); safety/structure first (roof, HVAC, foundation, electrical).

• BRRRR reality in higher-cost markets: full BRRRR is tough in Northern MA/Southern NH. Try a "hybrid BRRRR"—buy slightly under-market, fix essentials, reposition rents, then refi or HELOC to recycle part of your cash. Don't force 100% pull-out; partial recycle still builds momentum.

• Mistakes to avoid: chasing appreciation over cash flow, underestimating rehab/timeline, over-levering on refi, and waiting to build your team until after closing.

• Capital sequencing: house hack first to cut living costs, then hybrid BRRRR/value-add hold, then reassess refi/HELOC. If local deals are tight, widen your buy box to nearby cash-flow markets.

Next step: if you’ve got a live listing in mind, drop the quick numbers. Sanity-check and lock in a buy box you can rinse and repeat. You’re closer than you think.

A simple way to build momentum is to first pick your lane—buy-and-hold, flips, or house hacking. With your tech background, you'll excel at systems, and with Michigan roots, you can learn the local market while also staying open to out-of-state if the numbers make sense. Next, build your core four: agent, lender, property manager, and contractor. Start reaching out this week, trust but verify, and test one with a small result. Finally, show up where investors are—local REI meetups, BiggerPockets forums, and at least two virtual meetups a month. Share your goal out loud so referrals and opportunities can find you.

If cash flow's your top priority, I'd look out-of-state. If lifestyle and using your VA loan are more important, San Diego could work. For cash flow, I'd suggest picking 1–2 landlord-friendly markets, building your "core four" (agent, PM, lender, GC), and sticking to a tight buy box. Want me to help you pick a market or set that buy box?

Given your skills and equity, I’d suggest keeping it simple and profitable:

• BRRRR-lite on SFRs/duplexes — focus on quick, clean rehabs, stabilize, DSCR refi, and repeat.

• If you prefer fewer tenants — consider small neighborhood retail or industrial with sticky local businesses.

Next step: pick one lane, define a clear buy box, and line up financing (HELOC for speed, DSCR for takeout). Hope it helps :)

For most first-time investors, confidence is usually the toughest hurdle—numbers and financing tend to follow right behind. A simple way to work through it is by getting in more reps: stress test a deal with conservative rent and padded expenses, talk to one lender and one broker this week to see what options are out there, then practice by analyzing five deals a day and aiming to make one offer a week. Action builds clarity, and once you get that first small win, the fear fades quickly. If you’re just starting out, I’d suggest focusing on whichever feels hardest right now—numbers, financing, or confidence—and tackling it head-on.

Welcome to BiggerPockets! Excited to have you here. This is such a great place to learn, ask questions, and connect with other investors. Looking forward to following your journey. Happy to connect and help with any questions you might have!