When to begin

[Travis Tindell]

I have begun my lifetime education in real estate approximately 3 months ago, and have learned a ton since. The BiggerPockets forums and podcasts have really helped me along with a bunch of reading on the side. Now that I know a bit, I feel the need to get involved or do something, but as a full time college student working part time in California I feel this may be the wrong time. 

Would I be correct in thinking that having a good job to back up any 'surprises' be the best bet (in your opinion)? My plan thus far is to look into a duplex, triplex, or quad wherever I move for college and trying to get my housing expenses fully or partially covered as well as some equity in the 2 years I will be there. However, going to a state I am unfamiliar with and trying to buy a house seems risky at best. 

I guess what I am looking for is affirmation that I am going along the right path. I do not want to be a 'tire-kicker,' but I also don't want to be a bankruptcy-at-22-er. How would you go about researching an area out of state for an investment like this (I don't know where I am going yet), and what would you do in the mean time? I will be leaving in approximately 1 year. Thank in advance and feel free to ask for more information.

[Elizabeth Colegrove]

Welcome to Biggerpockets!

Our model is buy and hold real estate through pure rentals, personals turned rentals all being class A properties so smaller margin but lower expenses. We got started through personal properties. We bought our first property using a VA loan and than gutted it. We rented it out when we left. Getting started in personal properties allowed us to get started with very little down. We haven't been able to make multiplexes work yet so we have stuck to single family. If we got back to Virginia beach we hope to buy a multi-plex down by the beach and rent the other side out as a vacation rental.

I know a lot military members who rent out their rooms to other members basically paying their way. So if you do decide to go single family that is a great option. Just make sure you can rent you house out when you move on if you want to get into buy and holds!

Check out the Blogs, Podcasts and forums. Biggerpockets community is truly awesome through their diversity (buy and hold, wholesalers, bird dogs, commerce, developers, flippers, agents, etc). Another unique resource is peoples personal blogs/websites that can be found in the signature. Within the above "groups" everyone has create their own niches. Many of us have create a website/blog giving more information about our model, etc.

Therefore I REALLY recommend you checking out people who you like's signature. This will teach you a lot more about "business plan" and "niche".

Look forward to seeing you around Biggerpockets!