Should I establish a company first?

[YOLANDA JEFFERSON]

Before I begin investing should I create a business first or is it better to begin as an individual and establish your name? (Mainly for rental properties)

[Nick Baldo]

@YOLANDA JEFFERSON,

If you are really serious about getting into RE Investing and growing your portfolio, I would suggest starting an LLC or S Corp.

The obvious reason for owning your property with a business is that it limits your personal liability. Having a stand-alone entity also makes it so much easier to keep the operations of your rental property(ies) separate from your personal finances. 

However, keep in mind that as you are just starting out, it will be difficult to obtain financing for your business. You may need to utilize cash and/or private financing to build a track record for your business. After a few years of successful operations, you can look to banks' commercial lending department for future loans. 

If purchasing under your personal name makes financing easier, it's not the end of the world to purchase outside of a business entity. You can always refinance and transfer the property to a business later down the line.