I’m Paralyzed, Seeking Real Estate Guidance

[David Hudgik]

Hey everyone,

I’m almost 30 years old and paralyzed from the neck down, living in New Hampshire. I rely on personal care assistants (PCAs) for daily help, which are fortunately covered by government benefits. However, if I earn too much “earned income,” I risk losing these essential benefits.

That’s why I’m exploring real estate and the stock market, as these generate “unearned income” and allow me to maintain my benefits while building financial security. I’m hoping to establish a reliable stream of unearned income through real estate investments, but I’m new to the field and looking for guidance.

I have around $35,000 saved (excluding stock investments) and would love to connect with someone who can help me navigate this world. Ideally, I’d learn by doing and would appreciate the opportunity to work with a mentor to help me get started.

Any advice or direction is greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much for your time and support.

[Simon W.]

Quote from @David Hudgik:

Hey everyone,

I’m almost 30 years old and paralyzed from the neck down, living in New Hampshire. I rely on personal care assistants (PCAs) for daily help, which are fortunately covered by government benefits. However, if I earn too much “earned income,” I risk losing these essential benefits.

That’s why I’m exploring real estate and the stock market, as these generate “unearned income” and allow me to maintain my benefits while building financial security. I’m hoping to establish a reliable stream of unearned income through real estate investments, but I’m new to the field and looking for guidance.

I have around $35,000 saved (excluding stock investments) and would love to connect with someone who can help me navigate this world. Ideally, I’d learn by doing and would appreciate the opportunity to work with a mentor to help me get started.

Any advice or direction is greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much for your time and support.

Hi David,

Sorry to hear about your condition. $35K 

There are different ways to start doing real estate.

Do you plan to House hack? This means buying a property with at least 2 units and living in one of the units and renting out the others. FHA should be able to get you 3.5% down of the purchase price.

It depends how much income you are getting in a year to determine the max loan you can get from a lender.

[David Hudgik]

Quote from @Simon W.:

Quote from @David Hudgik:

Hey everyone,

I’m almost 30 years old and paralyzed from the neck down, living in New Hampshire. I rely on personal care assistants (PCAs) for daily help, which are fortunately covered by government benefits. However, if I earn too much “earned income,” I risk losing these essential benefits.

That’s why I’m exploring real estate and the stock market, as these generate “unearned income” and allow me to maintain my benefits while building financial security. I’m hoping to establish a reliable stream of unearned income through real estate investments, but I’m new to the field and looking for guidance.

I have around $35,000 saved (excluding stock investments) and would love to connect with someone who can help me navigate this world. Ideally, I’d learn by doing and would appreciate the opportunity to work with a mentor to help me get started.

Any advice or direction is greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much for your time and support.

Hi David,

Sorry to hear about your condition. $35K 

There are different ways to start doing real estate.

Do you plan to House hack? This means buying a property with at least 2 units and living in one of the units and renting out the others. FHA should be able to get you 3.5% down of the purchase price.

It depends how much income you are getting in a year to determine the max loan you can get from a lender.

Thank you for the house hacking suggestion! I’m certainly interested in maximizing my first home purchase by acquiring a property with ideally four units and living in one. However, my income is inconsistent, with last month’s earnings around $4,000, this month expected to be about $3,000, and an average of roughly $2,000 per month. Hoping there is an opportunity despite my limited capital

[Simon W.]

They are going to look at tax returns, they aren't so much looking at it month to month basis.

[Wale Lawal]

@David Hudgik

Building passive income through real estate can be achieved through various investment strategies. House hacking involves partnering with a partner or co-investor to manage property, while real estate syndications involve pooling $35,000 with other investors to buy larger properties. REITs offer a stock-market-like approach with no management required, while turnkey rental properties provide a fully passive income stream with minimal involvement. To stretch your $35,000, consider a FHA Loan (3.5% down) or owner financing. Connecting with a mentor or support network can be done through local real estate meetups, forums, or virtual mentorship programs. To make smart, scalable investments, research your investment type, create a solid plan, and find a mentor or partner in the real estate community. Real estate offers opportunities to generate unearned income, and with your savings, you're already in a good starting position.

Good luck!

[Andrew Bosco]

@David Hudgik - I am an investor friendly agent in the area. I have a lender who could be a good connection to see what you can afford. Feel free to shoot me a PM. 

[Johnny Lynum]

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!