All Forum Posts by: Kurt Meehan

Hi everyone, I'm happy to be joining the bigger pockets community!

Hi everyone,

I’m 19 years old and currently in my second year of college, aiming to graduate in December 2026. My plan is to purchase my first property after securing a full-time job post-graduation. Right now, I have about $45k invested in the stock market. I work part-time and make around $2,400 a month, saving roughly $1,900 of that per month. I’m based in Allentown, PA, and I’m planning to invest in the Lehigh Valley area—most likely by house hacking a 4-unit as my first rental property.

I’d really appreciate advice on the following:

1. Should I continue investing my monthly savings into the stock market, or shift to just contributing to my HYSA as I get closer to purchasing?
2. Does house hacking a 4-plex sound like a smart move for a first property given my age, experience, and goals?
3. How realistic is it to get pre-approved for a mortgage before I graduate and secure a full-time job?
4. Would it be worth it to get my real estate license before purchasing my first rental—or at all?
5. I’m considering hiring a property manager for my first rental even though I’ll be living in one of the units. Is that a bad idea? My thinking is that since I’m inexperienced, having a manager in place could help—and it would also set things up smoothly for when I move out after a year to house hack again.