All Forum Posts by: Arman Ahmed

@Dionte Griffin

Totally hear you, Dionte — that first deal fear is real and very common. You’re already ahead by being self-aware and looking to educate yourself before jumping in.

A few suggestions:

• Focus on free and structured learning first: The BiggerPockets podcast, rookie podcast, forums, and calculators are great free tools. Combine those with reading books like “The Book on Rental Property Investing” and “Real Estate by the Numbers.”
• Analyze 100 deals: Literally. Use real listings to practice running numbers — you’ll start spotting patterns and build confidence fast.
• Mentorship doesn’t always mean paying thousands: Sometimes the best mentorship comes from adding value to someone further along the journey — even if it’s just asking smart questions and staying consistent.

You’re right to be cautious — but don’t let that stop you from taking action with the right prep. You don’t need to know everything to get started — just enough to make an informed, low-risk first move. Keep going.

@William James Lopes Fernandes

Welcome, William — love the drive and clarity this early on! You’re already setting yourself apart by educating yourself now and thinking long-term.

A few thoughts:

• Team building: Start networking early — local meetups, investor-friendly agents, and property managers in markets you’re considering. BiggerPockets is a great place to begin those convos.
• Vetting deals: Practice underwriting properties weekly. Even if you’re not ready to buy, it’ll sharpen your instincts and help you recognize a good deal when the time comes.
• Hands-off systems: Focus on documenting your process early — how you analyze, who you work with, what your decision flow looks like. That’ll make scaling easier later.

You’re setting yourself up well to hit the ground running after graduation. Keep stacking knowledge and relationships — they compound.

@Dean Gustafson
Welcome, Dean! Nine years of long-term investing is no small feat — sounds like you’ve built a strong foundation. Exciting that you’re aiming for syndications next; the Series 65 is a smart move if you’re planning to raise capital or take on a more active role in that space.

Looking forward to learning from your experience and hearing how your journey into syndications unfolds!

@Daniel Hernandez

Welcome, Daniel! Sounds like you’re setting a clear and achievable path — starting with a duplex is a great way to build experience while generating rental income.

Out-of-state investing can be powerful if you build the right team and focus on fundamentals: landlord-friendly laws, strong rental demand, and neighborhoods where your budget aligns with local rents. Connecting with others already investing in your target areas can really help speed up the learning curve.

Looking forward to hearing more about your journey — this is a great community to learn from!

@Dana Kristian Gomez

Welcome, Dana! Love that you’re focused on building real connections — that mindset really makes a difference in this business.

You’re in a solid area with strong investor activity, and your focus on creative deal structures is a huge advantage in today’s market. Surrounding yourself with the right investor-friendly team (agents, lenders, contractors, etc.) will definitely accelerate your success.

Looking forward to seeing what you find and build in Tacoma and the South Sound — keep us posted on your journey!

@Amanda Moskowitz

Hey Amanda — totally hear you on the analysis overwhelm. You’re definitely not alone there, especially with your background and the options you’re weighing.

A few ways that help investors narrow things down:

🔹 Define your non-negotiables — cash flow goals, asset type (SFH, duplex, etc.), climate risks, landlord laws, and travel distance (if self-managing).

🔹 Pick 2–3 markets max to really dive into — learn the zip codes, connect with local boots on the ground, and start underwriting deals regularly.

🔹 Lean into your skillset — with your architecture and capital projects background, you might do really well in value-add or renovation-heavy markets.

🔹 Start tracking deals weekly in each market — patterns will emerge and help you gain conviction.

You’re doing the right thing by gathering info, but don’t wait for perfection — start small and build momentum. You’ll learn way more once you’re in motion.

@Jeffrey Hammonds Jr.

Hey Jeffrey — great to see you thinking ahead and taking time to prepare before jumping in. That mindset will serve you well.

A couple things that might help as you plan for 2026:

✅ Start narrowing down a market or two that aligns with your goals (cash flow, appreciation, lifestyle flexibility, etc.)

✅ Connect with local investors, agents, and PMs now so you’re not starting from scratch later

✅ Learn the numbers — get comfortable underwriting deals, estimating rehab, and projecting returns

✅ Explore different strategies (BRRRR, long-term, medium-term, house hacking) to see what fits your time and risk tolerance as a full-time nurse

Feel free to post your goals and questions here — a lot of people have gone from W2 to investor and are happy to share their lessons learned. You’re on the right track!

@Mike Edwards
Welcome, Mike — with $200K cash, you’ve got some flexibility, especially in markets where that budget can get you a decent single-family or even small multi. For buy & hold cash flow, a few general tips:

• Look for landlord-friendly states with strong rental demand (college towns, military bases, or growing job markets).
• Vintage matters — properties built after the 1980s tend to have fewer headaches, especially for remote investors.
• Brick construction or slab foundations can cut down on long-term maintenance costs.
• Neighborhood quality: B or B+ class areas often hit that sweet spot between tenant quality and price-to-rent ratio.

Also, connect with local property managers early — they can be gold when vetting neighborhoods and tenant profiles. Are you looking for long-term rentals only, or open to mid-term or short-term strategies as well?

@Nicole Blasevich

Congrats on all the progress you’ve made — sounds like you’ve had a diverse range of experience across strategies. Totally agree that in 2025, it’s less about big promises and more about tight operations and buying right.

I’m still seeing solid cash flow when:

✅ You buy at a discount (70–80 cents on the dollar)

✅ There’s clear value-add upside

✅ You underwrite with realistic rent projections and pad your expenses

Self-managing or having a great team also makes a huge difference. Curious — are you leaning more toward STR/MTR these days, or back to LTR for consistency?

@Joseph Snyder

Love this post — appreciate the real numbers and experience backing it. I’m still seeing cash flow, but it’s tighter than before, especially with debt service eating into margins. I’m finding 70–80 cents on the dollar deals in markets like Dayton and Cleveland, and making them work through value-adds and self-management.

Biggest wins lately come from being selective and staying local with contractors and PMs. Are you leaning more toward scaling again or keeping it lean and optimized?