Getting Started Struggles

[Benjamin Sulka]

Hey BP! 

I wanted to give an update on my current situation and journey. 

So at this point, I've done all the preliminary education that I need to and I'm ready to jump in. My focus now has been building my network and trying to add value wherever I can. 

HOWEVER, I'm struggling with the financial side. At the moment, my debt to income is too high for pre-approval because of outstanding student loans, my car, and the monthly mortgage that would be associated with the property I purchase in my desired price range. 

My girlfriend (future wife) and I want to invest in real estate together but aren't ready to be put on the same loan until we are married. If she was on the loan with me, we would qualify no problem. Even if we got engaged today, it's unlikely that we would be married until 2025 or even 2026. She's willing to put up some cash to help with this but doesn't want to be on the documents and that's really all that matters from the lenders perspective. 

I want to start investing as soon as I find the right property but if I were to wait until we were married, I'd have to drastically push back the start date. 

Since this isn't an option, where can I go from here? I've thought about a few options:

-Should I reach out to family members (likely grandparents) to see if they would cosign with me? This would allow me to qualify by myself. 

-Should I get involved in real estate in other ways? (Real estate license, helping people find properties, helping other investors with their marketing) - I am a marketer by day so I'd be more than happy to help other investors with their marketing for free.

I'd be grateful for any advice. Also for context, I'm in the Cleveland market. 

-Ben 

[Bryce Jamison]

This probably isn't what you want to hear, but If I were you my primary goal right now would be reducing my debt as fast as I can. I get it, you want to start investing now, but remember REI is a long term wealth building strategy.

If you're inpatient, like we all are, I love your idea of working in the industry. This is going to help you make more money to pay off your debt faster, learn so much more about the industry, and make invaluable connections. Alternatively, you could get a DSCR loan, but I still want you to get rid of the consumer debt.

Build this thing right on a solid foundation of no consumer debt and a beefy emergency fund. Borrowing money from Grandpa, your girlfriend, or Fat Tony the Leg Breaker, is how a lot of REI failure stories start.