Investment Strategy - what does BP think?

[Brad Van Epps]

I have been researching REI for a few months now and I have a plan in mind. Looking to run this by BP members and see if there are any comments or concerns.

I am 26, married - no kids, have a mortgage and student loans. Our goal is to have student loans paid off by 28 to clear up personal cash flow to save toward buy and hold real estate purchases. with student loans out of the way we will have at least $1000 a month to save from our jobs toward this goal. We would be interested in purchasing single family homes and small multi family homes in our home town of Grand Rapids Mi. I would expect most deals to come from the MLS. An ideal deal would cash flow about $250 month and looking for about a 10% CoCROI - although this has been hard to come by on most of my analysis so far. The end goal is to own 25 buy and holds by 45 to cover expenses. At that point I would like to do REI full time - including flipping and BRRRR strategy.

We have owned 2 houses so far, but no investments yet. I work in finance/lending and am eager to learn all I can during this time. I appreciate the BP forums and members! thanks guys. 

[Nathan Gesner]

Sounds like a plan. 

Reverse engineer it. If you want 25 rentals in the next 20 years, how many would you need to buy each year? How many will you buy on year 10? Next year? This year? If you need to buy one house next year, how much money will it take and how will you save it? What kind of loan will you need? Who will you bank through? Who's your REALTOR? 

Don't forget to look for accelerators. For example, you may be able to buy a fourplex for the cost of 1.5 single-family homes and get the cash flow equivalent to three single-family homes. Maybe you can find deals off-market? Owner financing on a portfolio of six rentals?

Think outside the box. If you hustle and work hard, you can have those 26 units and be financially independent before 35. I've seen people do it in four years, which would put you at 30. Throw out the limiting beliefs. Stop saying you can't and ask how you can.