Having someone who’s been through it before really helps cut through the noise and avoid mistakes that cost time and money.I’ve guided a few newer investors through that exact process, and it’s amazing how much clarity it gives when you have a framework to evaluate deals and decide your next steps.

I’ve worked with a few new investors at that stage, and having a framework to follow really helps avoid costly mistakes and gets you moving faster.Happy to share some insights or connect if you’d like!

From my experience, most new investors do best by keeping some reserves on hand while also chipping away at debt so they’re not overleveraged going into their first property.Your target of ~$30K in reserves sounds realistic, especially paired with a VA loan, since you won’t need as much upfront for the down payment.I’ve worked with a few new investors in a similar spot, and what helped them most was creating a clear framework for financing and deal analysis so they went into their first purchase with confidence.

I’ve been in a similar spot (juggling retirement vs. real estate savings) and here’s a simple framework that helped me and others in your shoes:1.

If you’re past 5 years of ownership, you might only need to satisfy the 2 years of living there.This is definitely a “run it by a CPA” moment, but at least now you’ve got the framework to ask the right questions; I reall hope this helps you out I sent you a DM on BP and hope you are able to assist.

As you scan your performance indicators and execution framework, ask yourself.What worked?

The biggest thing I’ve seen help new investors in your situation is having a clear system for evaluating deals and running the numbers so you know the property will generate positive cash flow even if you’re hands-off.I’ve worked with a few newer investors in similar spots, and having that framework really accelerates the first purchase and avoids common rookie mistakes.

Property managers are often in a position where they need to make spot decisions, and if there isn’t a clear framework or prior agreement with the owner, it puts everyone in a tough spot.

Become a Material Participant.We are given a clear framework for determining Material Participation (not passive) in Pub 925.There are 7 scenarios that will get you there.Material participation scenarios (Pub 925):1. 500 hours.2.

The key is building a system to analyze deals so you know which opportunities are actually worth pursuing, whether it’s a flip, BRRRR, or something else.I’ve worked with several new investors at the “first deal” stage, and having that framework gave them a lot of clarity on what’s realistic with their capital and timeline.