Raising Down Payment Money

[Kyle Deboer]

I am 18 years old with very little credit history and little capital. I am eager to start but can't get around the glaring issue of not having initial capital so I was wondering if there are any methods you guys would use to raise capital if you were in my shoes or is it just time to put my head down and put in long hours?

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Kyle Deboer:

I'll jump on with everyone else. The BEST method for real estate investing is very simple: increase earnings, reduce expenditures, save, and invest from your own funds.

You should focus on increasing earnings and learning how to manage your budget. In 1-2 years you could save enough to purchase a home to house hack. That puts you in the top 60% of Americans. Do it again two years later and you'll be in the top 10% of Americans. By the time you are 35 you could be financially independent and wealthy.

Too many Americans, particularly young Americans, want everything now. They see a 60-year-old man driving a new Corvette and don't realize that guy drove the same Honda Accord for 20 years while saving and investing. Good things take time.