Introducing myself! 18 looking for

[Alex Cardinal]

First time self taught, motivated, and mentored upcoming investor here in Norwich, CT area. Bit risky of a state but due to the lack of funds to relocate I have to work with the odds I have at my fingertips. A few real estate books, day in and out researching the beginners guide to RE investing, watching webinars, youtube videos all on a Surface 9 my girlfriend was kind enough to give me. I have even been applying for assistant property manager positions since I had reassigned from a security officer role at my local casino. At the young age of 18 about to be 19 years old, recently I have come to grips with having the mindset of a millionaire and still wouldn't be satisfied if someone put 1m into my bank account right now. What I know now compared to me a year ago, I would invest that money to have it be my income. Not spend it like its disposable dollars. I yearn not to be rich, but free from financial burden. One of the videos I watched drove a major point home to me, it went something a little like this and it may resonate with other young investors or those successful remembering back to days living paycheck to paycheck:

I was bringing in 21k after taxes annually. So lets round it down to 20k for quick math purposes. If I saved 1000 (keep in mind I was no good saver at all recently until I had budgetized myself) a year, that would mean I would have to work and save for 20 years...just to have earned the total amount for one years worth of my time.

That's when it hit me the system is flawed. I would never achieve even my smallest financial goals with that entry level job I was also about to move from a training officer (trained incoming officers) to a dual rate supervisor position. Something inside of me told me to just drop it where its at because due to the point system as well, I was practically on my way out the door. Though I met a lot of awesome people there, the job was polluted with favoritism and overall showed me I rather pursue my own passion which is living, eating, breathing the research and study of economics, market analysis, calculating the cash flows for various potential investment opportunities and generally being my own business man excites me like no other career path could.

"If you don't take the time to build your own dreams, someone else will hire you and take the time to build theirs"

Backtrack a little further, I'm also a drop out from a technical high school. I was two months away from graduation when due to household conflicts and personal matters going on at the time, I had my mom sign my withdrawal papers shortly after my parents had divorced. My grades were a mystery, and always fluctuated depending on my interest level in whatever was being taught at the time. Also between my fellow peers and relationships had a drastic impact on many life lessons I learned early on in life and that helped me develop the drive I have now to just want to succeed. Back in tech, I majored in Plumbing and Heating and while I excelled at it, my trade just didn't pull me in for a lifetime career. If it had I wouldn't be writing to anyone who sees this willing to message me and lend a hand or chat about anything RE in general. Being this young and having a plan and strategy in place to own my own home by 21... then multiple around 25-30? It's a lot to think about its almost overwhelming that I caught the saving and investing "bug" early on and i'm just so passionate about learning from anyone with experience. So far for mentors all I have is my Father and old high school instructors (who were originally contractors). 

Now I might as well dip my toes a little further in the water so-to-to speak and ask my first few questions on BP. When it comes to a first time ever POTENTIAL investment where I can set up some sort of owner financing through a deed of trust for the legal title, basically rent to own. What are the different ways to go about it? In the state of CT it is legal to form deeds of trusts, and I plan on renting out the property (SFH) to a SF depending on what the numbers look like after I make the call to the owner. I don't plan on negotiating any price at all just gathering information because its not on the MLS. Also am I allowed to ask what the utilities expenses are and if there was any recent maintenance done or is that confidential in some way? Am I going about this the smart way considering I don't have a natural mentor to guide me? Anyone else start out alone for a while investing before they met their mentors?

Basically:

-What are different ways to go about an owner financing?

-Is owner financing with rent to own terms the "safest" investment strategy for beginners?

-Can I ask for utility expenses, extra costs, fees for closing?

-How does my progress seem so far for self educating myself two weeks full time on the topics?

-Anyone else make a few investments before they met their mentors?

I can't wait to start connecting with fellow RE investors and enthusiasts who have an awesome, glowing, and welcoming personality! Lets get some discussions going!