All Forum Posts by: Micah White

Hey Shahab! Welcome to the BP Forums. If you're looking for guidance, then you're in the right place! I got my start by househacking a triplex in Chicago and now I help others do the same. Happy to answer any questions you have on getting started! 

Long story short, house hacking is still possible! Given where rates are and general lack of scale when investing in SFH, its going to be tough to cash flow by house hacking but not impossible! If your goal is to grow a real estate portfolio and build equity over time, I think a house hack deal where you break even is still a win. Happy to discuss further if needed

This is a great question, Brandon, and one that comes up a lot. I personally found finding the deal to be harder than the financing piece because I went the conventional route and got a traditional loan from a lender. When I first started, my buy box was pretty tight given my capital constraint, so finding a deal was tough! Happy to help you in any way

A few weeks ago I had the chance to be part of the BiggerPockets Cashflow Road Show here in Chicago — and it was truly a rewarding experience.

As someone who’s been learning, hustling, and building my portfolio brick by brick, BiggerPockets has been a huge resource for me over the years. Being part of their community in this way is a full-circle moment.

I’m especially grateful for the conversations I had with other investors that day — from seasoned pros to first-time buyers — all chasing their version of financial freedom.

💬 If you saw the Road Show episode, drop a comment — I’d love to hear your favorite takeaway. And if we met there, say hi again here!

I had analysis paralysis, a bunch of Google Sheets, and way too many bookmarked BiggerPockets threads.

Now, a few deals later, I’m more confident — but I still learn something new with every property.

This past year, I've:
🏚️ Bought a four-unit with only 5% down
🔧 Managed low-budget, high-impact renovations
💸 Raised private capital for the first time
📈 Helped a few new investors close on their first deals
👀 Almost bought a 15-unit, but walked when the numbers didn’t work

Through it all, the biggest takeaway is: you learn by doing — but you scale faster by learning from others.

So I’m curious:
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned this year in your investing journey?
What would you tell yourself if you were starting over?

Let’s learn from each other 👇
(and if you’re early in the game and need help building your game plan, I’m always down to chat)

Hey! This is a really creative setup — using your business as the tenant is a smart way to align your operations and build wealth through real estate. I’ve worked with a few newer investors in similar situations, and there are a couple options worth exploring in addition to SBA/commercial loan combo:

1. Seller financing – especially for unique properties like churches, some sellers are open to carrying part of the note if you come in with a smaller down payment. Worth asking, even if informally.

2. HELOC on your primary – Even if you haven't been in your house long, some local banks or credit unions might still offer a HELOC based on current appraised value. It varies by lender, but I've seen exceptions made, especially in hot markets with strong equity growth.

3. Portfolio lenders or community banks – They tend to underwrite more creatively, especially for owner-user or mission-aligned uses like clinics. The fact that your business is already profitable helps a lot here.

4. Partnership or equity share – If the deal has decent upside, you might be able to bring in a passive investor to help cover the down stroke and split the upside/refinance later. This can work well when personal liquidity is the main hurdle.

If you're open to it, feel free to DM — I spend a lot of time helping first-time investors think through these kinds of creative structures and tradeoffs. Happy to walk through some scenarios based on your numbers.

Wow—first off, it sounds like you've done a great job staying responsive and level-headed through what’s clearly a tough situation.

To your first question, South Carolina law typically requires landlords to maintain safe and habitable housing. Since the bathroom is damaged but not the entire unit, you're likely still compliant for now, especially since the tenant has another full bath. But a month without full repairs could raise issues soon, especially if mold or further damage develops. I’d recommend contacting a local landlord-tenant attorney or legal aid org just to make sure you’re covered.

As for what I’d do: If the current home is toast and the lot’s in a desirable area, bringing in a newer home could significantly increase the long-term value and income. I work with a lot of newer investors weighing similar tradeoffs. One thing I often suggest is calculating the breakeven point on the $75K investment: At $1,800/month vs $575 now, you’d recover the full cost in under 5 years—and everything after that is upside on a more valuable property. Just make sure the setup, title, and zoning work smoothly first.

Feel free to DM me if you want to chat through the math or logistics—happy to help however I can.

Hey Zach and Erica—welcome! Love the energy and team dynamic you two bring. Honestly, your combined skill sets are a huge asset in this space. Having in-house construction know-how and strong admin systems gives you a major edge—especially when you start scaling or managing value-add projects.

You’re already ahead of the game just by being clear about your goals and eager to learn. I’ve worked with a lot of newer investors (some also coming from military and trades backgrounds), and one thing I’ve seen over and over is that hard work + real estate education is a powerful combo. College degrees aren’t a requirement—consistency and execution are.

If you're ever looking to bounce ideas, walk through your first deal, or chat about strategy—especially around BRRRR, small multis, or entry markets—I'd be happy to connect. Excited to see how your journey unfolds!

Hey, welcome! Great to see you jumping into commercial and multifamily investing—there’s a ton of opportunity there once you get the basics down. I’m on a similar path here in the Chicago area, and getting that foundational knowledge early has made a huge difference.

If you're just getting started, I'd recommend:

• Learning how to analyze deals (NOI, cap rate, DSCR, etc.)

• Getting familiar with financing options for 5+ unit properties (since they fall under commercial lending)

• Connecting with brokers who specialize in multifamily or mixed-use properties in your target markets

If you ever want to swap notes or talk through what the journey looks like in real time, feel free to reach out. Always happy to connect with others heading in the same direction!

Hey—first off, thank you for your service! It's awesome that you're looking to get into real estate early—it’s one of the best ways to build long-term wealth, especially when you start young and leverage your benefits strategically.

Since you’re in the military, definitely take a look at the VA loan—it’s one of the most powerful tools available for real estate investing. You can use it to buy a multi-unit property (up to 4 units) with $0 down as long as you live in one of the units. That’s a great way to house hack and build equity while reducing your own living expenses.

A few quick starter tips:

• Educate yourself on basic deal analysis (rent-to-price ratios, cash flow, cap rate, etc.)

• Start tracking markets you're interested in, whether near your base or your hometown

• Build a network early—lenders, agents, contractors, and fellow investors are key

If you ever want to connect or chat through strategy, feel free to reach out. I’ve worked with a few folks in your exact position and would be happy to share what’s worked.

Wishing you the best as you take your first step into the game!