All Forum Posts by: Johnny Lynum

This is so true! I feel you on this one. After years in real estate and military service, I’ve learned a similar lesson: at the end of the day, your mission is your responsibility. 💪 You’ll have some wingmen along the way, sure, but it's all on you.

Success will bring a squad of cheerleaders, but challenges? Those are where you find out what you’re made of. Whether it’s in real estate, life, or the service, the ability to adapt, overcome, and stay focused on the mission is what gets you through. Keep an eye on the goal... How badly do you want it?

Keep pushing forward, because you’re the pilot in command of your own flight path. 

Hey @Shannon Bloomfield,

Welcome to BP, and congrats on your license! My first flip was a HUD foreclosure with no money down—far from perfect, but I learned a ton about budgeting and contractors. It was tough but worth it in the long run—literally!

Focus on learning the numbers and building connections. I agree with @Jake Andronico get clarity on what your end goal is. Everything else will follow, reverse engineer, and get started. You’ve got the right mindset, and I know you’ll crush it! 💪

Hey @Caiden Mooney, great post, brother! I'm an active duty Air Force (retiring soon). 💪

With $50k from your flip, you’re in a strong position. Multifamily is a smart goal, especially in military-heavy areas like Hinesville or Savannah. Have you considered using your VA loan? It’s how I got my first property—a no-money-down deal that actually paid me cash back at closing. I rented it out when I moved and got hooked on real estate from there.  It’s a game-changer for getting into a 2-4 unit property with low or no down payment—perfect for scaling.

You’re doing all the right things—learning, networking, and making moves. Keep at it, brother! 👊 I'd love to connect! 

All great insights here! 🙌 
@Sebastian Bennett I'm a believer that to each is their own. I think, the first, is understanding your goals, resources, and skill set. For one, it's gonna help you position yourself with the value exchange. And second, it'll help you find a mentor that aligns with your goal - someone who's already achieved what you want to do. Education is really important, we all agree on that. Execution is just as important, even if it's just getting started with looking at some deals, analyzing them, or being intentional by networking with other investors. Staying consistent is the key. You got this! 💪

You're welcome! Keep that momentum going; this is just the beginning! 💪 I just noticed... you're from Norfolk? I'm from Leesburg. Let's connect!

You're welcome! Happy Thanksgiving to you too! Let's connect!

Hey @William Styles! Totally get where you're coming from – I've been in the real estate game for a while, and I know how important it is to have the right guidance. My advice would be to find a mentor who's been through the ups and downs of the expansion process. They'll help you avoid common mistakes and scale faster. Check out here on BP, meetup.com, or local REIA. You've got this – feel free to reach out if you need to bounce ideas off someone!

Hey @Nik Farooqui, welcome back to the game! I can relate to that comeback feeling – when I first dove into real estate, I came from a similar background in military leadership and project management. It gave me a solid foundation for understanding how to manage contractors and deal with the logistics of projects. My first big leap was using a VA loan to pick up a foreclosure property – no money down, which was a game-changer for me!

Your experience in construction will definitely give you an edge, especially in flips and rentals. If you ever want to bounce ideas or share some insights, feel free to reach out! Always good to connect with others in the game. 👊

Hey @Kareem Daniels, great post! Starting with the Buy & Hold strategy is a solid. To build and diversify, I'd recommend starting small—maybe a duplex or triplex—to get a feel for managing property. As for stepping into REI world, I'd say start networking. Join local meetups or online groups (here on BiggerPockets, Meetup.com, other other local REIA are the good ones). Seek out those who've been in the game for a while. Mentors are everywhere if you know where to look. You may find them, and sometimes they find you. You'll learn a ton just by surrounding yourself with the right people and asking the right questions.

Stay focused, keep learning, and don’t hesitate to reach out to others who’ve been there.

Cheers,
Johnny

Hey @David Hudgik, huge respect for the journey you're on. The fact that you’re thinking about “unearned income” through real estate is smart — it’s a way to grow wealth while keeping your benefits intact.

With $35K saved up, you’ve got a solid foundation. One approach could be looking into house hacking, where you buy a property, live in one unit, and rent out the others to cover your mortgage. It’s a great way to start without over-leveraging yourself.

I’d be happy to have my own experience going through the process shared with you. It’s all about taking it step by step, learning as you go, and building the right team around you. If you’re open to it, I’d love to chat more and see how we can get you on the path to success.

Take care and looking forward to connecting!