Young Military Investor in Colorado Springs, CO

[Vinny Martin]

I am currently attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. My current background consists of reading Bigger Pockets books and others, speaking with individuals in the real estate community, and searching online or in forums when I have questions. I have a small amount of capital at the moment, but ideally want to start by wholesaling in order to get a good understanding of the numbers involved with analyzing a deal, and to build up my capital. After that I hope to get started in Single Family or Multifamily homes. Any advice on what direction to go in or individuals I should connect with would be greatly appreciated. I can already tell that the Bigger Pockets community will be a great wealth of information.

[Charlie Cameron]

Hey @Vinny Martin!  I know we're already chatting, but I wanted to put a post out there that will hopefully help others as well.  I love how WAY ahead you are compared to my own journey.  It took me 4 years once on active duty before I even considered real estate investing.  

One of my favorite suggestions, which was too late for me by the time I started, is to use a VA loan to purchase a fourplex and live in one unit at your first assignment. I have two friends who are doing this in Dayton, Ohio with great success. Living for free is the perfect way to boost your initial savings.

But you're talking about getting started even sooner, while finishing school.  Everybody loves to start with wholesaling (at least in theory).  I have a hard time understanding that because it is a LOT of hustle, negotiating, and marketing (yes, a blanket generalization).  Also be mindful of state laws as well as state/national Do Not Call lists.  But there are TONS of successful wholesalers and it IS a good way to build up funds, as long as you keep in mind it is just a job by another name. 

Definitely look in to BRRRR as another avenue to get started.

If it is helpful, I'd be happy to chat with you more about multifamily (my wife and I purchased 24 units in 2 years), send you some example wholesaler emails from the Florida panhandle area, and hook you up with investor-friendly real estate agents anywhere you need.  

I'll let someone far more knowledgeable than me talk to wholesaling.  Don't let my own view of it discourage you in the slightest, just always do your homework and due diligence no matter what you do in real estate!  

Best of luck to you!