Family vs REI...mutually exclusive?

[Christopher Cross]

Hi everyone,

This is my first forum post as I am relatively new to the BP community and the REI lifestyle. I say "lifestyle" because everything I have gleaned so far seems like this world must be an integral part of your everyday life and thinking in order to have success.

A little background. I've been doing flips and rentals on the side with my father for the past several years but decided to take the hobby more seriously this year. I set a goal to acquire, rehab, and rent 2 units by the end of the year. I am in the final stages of rehabbing a 2000 sqft single home purchased for $120k with $25k of repairs invested. I estimate the ARV to be at least $200k. However I plan to hold and rent the unit for at least a year and reassess the market next year to sell.

So this brings me to my question. Can I be serious about REI while working an 8-5 and still have a quality life with my family? Up to this point, I've spent almost every evening and weekend working on this property and that is just one unit. What suggestions do you have for changing my approach to this? Or does REI and a family have to be mutually exclusive?

Thank you all!

Chris