All Forum Posts by: Jay Ochoa

Hey everyone!

Hope you’re all doing well and making strides toward your financial goals!

I’m at the starting line of my real estate and financial freedom journey. I own a home in the San Fernando Valley and recently pulled a $200K HELOC for investment purposes. But to be honest, I’ve hit some roadblocks and lost momentum—procrastination, high interest rates, soaring home prices, and low inventory, blah, blah, blah.. lol—have all played a role.

I’ve been using Redfin, Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com to search, and I recently discovered BiggerPockets after attending a local realtor event. My goal with this post is to connect with experienced investors and professionals who can share insights, strategies, and opportunities to help me take the next step.

I’m currently looking at Southern California, Arizona, and Texas (Houston & Dallas) with a target of 8-10% ROI. But I’ll admit, I’m hesitant about out-of-state investing since I’m unfamiliar with rental markets in those areas. Being a dad of 3, a soccer coach, working a full-time job, and being a full-time student can make getting away a little challenging. For those of you in SoCal, you know how tough this market is!

I’d love to hear your thoughts—any advice, encouragement, or knowledge drops that can help me get the ball rolling would be greatly appreciated