Buying my first property while I have student loans; bad idea?

[Mike Rubin]

Hello All,

I'm looking to jump in and get my feet wet. The only caveat is that I still have student loans…

I currently work in Hartford, CT making a slightly above-average salary for someone two years out of college. I am able to make my student loan payments no problem and have been putting in extra on top of the minimum amounts. Even while making excess payments on student loans, I have been able to wrack up 15-20k on the side as a cushion for worst-case scenario in life.

Now I am at a crossroads, do I want to dump most of that cushion into my student loans or should I invest in RE? And if I choose to invest in RE, would lenders even consider me since I have pre-existing debt from student loans over my head and most people fear the term "student loans"? It already has a negative connotation with it so I fear lenders would look right passed me.

I am really anxious to get in the game and I feel I have done sufficient enough research and work to prep myself for my first property. That is why I have come to you guys, the experts, because you are far more experienced in this arena than I am.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!

Mike