At what level do you consider your current real estate investing experience?

Poll

At what level do you consider your current real estate investing experience?

General Manager, Publishing at BiggerPockets · Denver, CO · Member since 2017 · 463 posts · 642 votes

Do you consider yourself a Rookie investor? Intermediate investor? or Expert? What would it take to get you from one experience level to the next? Why?

👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 Discuss Below! 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇

Who are your FAVORITE EXPERT INVESTORS?! Tag them here and give them a shoutout so that we can all follow the experts and learn from them!

648 votes total

Rookie

Intermediate

Expert

Podcast Guest on Show #217

10 Reply

118 views

Most Popular Reply

Bob S.

Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes

Expert, having done about 500 flips, about 4k reno/ repairs, PM for about 10 years, purchased from sheriff sales, tax liens, short sales, and more. Really not sure what more I can do or want to LOL

All the best to everyone

9 Reply

See this reply in the discussion

43 Replies

Jump to latestLatest

Sort by

Katie MillerPro Member
OP
General Manager, Publishing at BiggerPockets · Denver, CO · Member since 2017 · 463 posts · 642 votes
3y
Gotta give my two favorite experts a shoutout: If you don't follow @Dave Meyer and @J Scott you are missing out on two of the smartest people in real estate today!
Podcast Guest on Show #217
7 Reply
Cliff BennerBusiness Member
Accountant · Denver, CO · Member since 2020 · 394 posts · 183 votes
3y
Only Two!?! Hard to choose!
I am definitely a rookie. I believe getting a few more Rentals would show myself that I took a step to the next level, just to show that I failed on my first rental, took those failures and redid my process, adjusted my Team to include better experts and people who are trying to help me but I know how to Trust and Verify now, and after a fail I moved past analysis paralysis and self doubt.
David Green and Brandon Turner are my two favorite experts. Brandon for his desire to do everything for his family and I relate to his Shiny Object Syndrome with things I want to do and David due to his Hard Work and his desire to just Help us out. I enjoy David's humor and his advice. I also got to meet him on episode #610 and getting advice directly from him was fantastic and hearing him, a legend, tell me that my failures were ok and he failed too but not to let it stop because I have the right mindset, me was huge which is why he is one of my favorites!
Benner Stride52 Reviews
Website View Page
5 Reply
Matthew Irish-JonesBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
3y
@Katie Miller what is the definition of an expert? I am thinking it’s a person or entity that builds high rise, multipurpose buildings, in the most desirable places on earth, like port cities, and other high cost cities.
Irish Jones Realty4.947 Reviews
View Page
2 Reply
Luther Miller
Member since 2023 · 6 posts · 3 votes
3y
Rookie
0 Reply
Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
Moderator
Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
3y
Not shy, been in this business 25+ years and have lots of wins and losses so I will say expert based on above.
I would prefer to say “experienced” or “seasoned”
7e investments53 Reviews
Website View Page
7 Reply
Bob S.
Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Expert, having done about 500 flips, about 4k reno/ repairs, PM for about 10 years, purchased from sheriff sales, tax liens, short sales, and more. Really not sure what more I can do or want to LOL
All the best to everyone
9 Reply
Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
3y
Some definitions or more levels would help. If you measured everyone on BP, I suspect 60% rookies, 30% intermediate, and 10% expert. That seems to be where the numbers are headed.
The DIY Landlord Book4.7247 Reviews
Website View Page
5 Reply
Cliff BennerBusiness Member
Accountant · Denver, CO · Member since 2020 · 394 posts · 183 votes
3y
Quote from @Bob S.:

Expert, having done about 500 flips, about 4k reno/ repairs, PM for about 10 years, purchased from sheriff sales, tax liens, short sales, and more. Really not sure what more I can do or want to LOL
All the best to everyone

Wow that is an amazing portfolio! Have you wrote a book on how to do it all yet? Congrats!
Benner Stride52 Reviews
Website View Page
2 Reply
Bob S.
Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Cliff Benner:

Quote from @Bob S.:

Expert, having done about 500 flips, about 4k reno/ repairs, PM for about 10 years, purchased from sheriff sales, tax liens, short sales, and more. Really not sure what more I can do or want to LOL
All the best to everyone

Wow that is an amazing portfolio! Have you wrote a book on how to do it all yet? Congrats!
No but I am told I should,
1 Reply
Maylin DiMellla
Real Estate Agent · San Diego · Member since 2022 · 2 posts · 2 votes
3y
Hello,
I have two properties and I am interested in buying a 3rd property and maybe a multifamily out of state. What is the best way to find deals.
2 Reply
Cliff BennerBusiness Member
Accountant · Denver, CO · Member since 2020 · 394 posts · 183 votes
3y
@Maylin DiMellla In my opinion that is such an open ended question.
What are you looking to do, BRRRR, rental, flip, STR, MTR, etc?
Do you want more Cash Flow or appreciation?
Mostly what are you goals and what do you not want to deal with? Like, in winter if a property is empty you have to make sure to send someone in to set the thermostat and keep faucets dripping, that issue doesn't happen in the desert states but then you have to keep your AC Maintained.
Just a few thoughts, would love to help more if I can.
Benner Stride52 Reviews
Website View Page
0 Reply
Martin Guerrero
Lake Geneva, WI · Member since 2022 · 76 posts · 27 votes
3y
It would take some experience and hands on to take to next level. I am about to close on my first rental duplex March 16th. Can't wait to get started, a bit nervous, but excited. I know its a journey and we, y wife and I, want to provide quality housing to our customers. :)
0 Reply
Carlos M.
Investor · Lancaster, PA · Member since 2016 · 94 posts · 356 votes
3y
@Katie Miller
I’m an intermediate beginner….
We my wife and I , (zero investors or partnerships ) own 135 doors. I feel we are intermediate in our niche. We have been purchasing small multi-family in our backyard for 15 years now. Our system works very well for us! We know our market very well, our lenders live us, we have a couple amazing brokers we work with. It’s literally been a dream come true!
We are beginners in the fact that we don’t chase other markets , we have not syndicated, we don’t do any short term rentals, we don’t flip, we have never done a 1031. We know what works in our local market so we just stay in our lane.
6 Reply
Bob S.
Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Katie Miller:

Do you consider yourself a Rookie investor? Intermediate investor? or Expert? What would it take to get you from one experience level to the next? Why?

👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 Discuss Below! 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇

Who are your FAVORITE EXPERT INVESTORS?! Tag them here and give them a shoutout so that we can all follow the experts and learn from them!

Expert, having done about 500 deals in my market, really not much I have not done
0 Reply
Scott Mac
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
3y
We have experts in many areas.
Property management, Brokerage, Wholesale, Lending, Hard Lending, Flipping, SFH, MFH 1 to 4, MFH--large, Asset Engagement, Construction and Engineering of all sorts, Appraisals, Cash Flow management, Cellular leases, Storage, commercial, Budgeting, Accounting, Real estate Taxation, Real Estate Law, NNN, just to name a few.
2 Reply
Shaniqua Knight
Real Estate Broker · Fayetteville NC · Member since 2021 · 55 posts · 26 votes
3y
Definitely a rookie! Haven't done my first deal yet! But I am learning so much that will help me along the way!
1 Reply
Matthew Murray II
Member since 2023 · 4 posts · 4 votes
3y
Rookie! I've completed one flip and currently hold 6 long-term SFH rentals. I would love to connect with people on how to scale! My goals this year are raising private money, creating better lead generation systems, cleaning up my rehab process, and purchasing two SFH rentals! I'm in Toledo, OH
2 Reply
Billy Daniel
Rental Property Investor · Russellville, AR · Member since 2014 · 688 posts · 509 votes
3y
Is rookie intermediate a rank? 6 deals with 9 units.

@Dave Meyer (because I'm a nerd) and @David Greene (because I'm an agent/investor) would be my 2 most influential investors.
1 Reply
Jason Belue
Investor · Spartanburg, SC · Member since 2021 · 4 posts · 1 vote
3y
Rookie - hopefully migrating into intermediate territory :)
I've been in it going on two years, house hacking a 5 bed 3 bath home and own 10 mobile homes with a partner.
In a year and a half, I've approximately tripled my net worth and currently have about $2500/month in cash flow while living for free!
This year, I'm primarily looking to ramp up my efforts to find off-market deals.
Shout out to the current and former HOSTSSSS! of the BiggerPockets podcast along with all the amazing guests that have helped fuel my journey!
0 Reply
Jill F.
Investor · Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
I really hate to even make a list, there have been so many knowledgeable landlords/property managers that have generously shared their knowledge and experience and have helped me grow and succeed over the years and I know I can't remember everyone off the top of my head but they definitely include

@Nathan Gesner @Jim K. @Steve Vaughan @Remington Lyman @james wise @Derrick E. @Jay Hinrichs @Mike Dymski @john underwood and though I haven't seen her post in a while I always enjoyed posts by @Michaela G. and also @Dennis M. always made me laugh

at this point I consider myself an expert (at least in a number of areas) property manager and probably an intermediate real estate investor
6 Reply
Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Chris Seveney:

Not shy, been in this business 25+ years and have lots of wins and losses so I will say expert based on above.
I would prefer to say “experienced” or “seasoned”

right there with ya advanced degree from the School of Hard Knocks.
Podcast Guest on Show #222
JLH Capital Partners51 Review
Website View Page
5 Reply
Jim K.
Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
3y
I have to mirror the response @Jill F. gave. There is no such thing as an easy, straight, developmental path in this for anyone. I still feel like a baby in the woods when it comes to ways to borrow money. I'm more than solid at managing a rental renovation, really just learning how to manage a flip. I've worked with local housing authorities and agencies enough to know which ones I like and which ones I don't. There are oceans I don't know about big multifamily deals, but I would say I'm very strong on the history of Pittsburgh single-family residential construction. I know how to manage a limited number of LTR tenants in single-family housing and duplexes as a small, independent landlord. I do not have @Nathan Gesner's experience in doing it in large numbers for profit and for someone else.

Here's some midwestern weirdness for BiggerPockets readers: my great-grandfather moved to the area and worked for Henry Clay Frick, and all my immediate family now lives here. This gives me a kind of remarkable access to a lot of the people in the area that wouldn't talk to me otherwise, that simply refuse to do business with outsiders. Peculiarly enough, the fact that my wife is Russian with Ukrainian roots and that we recently decided to become involved in refugee resettlement has also thrown open doors for us I wouldn't have expected -- Pittsburgh has its problems, but it also has a a long, proud history as a city that welcomes those fleeing wars and oppression. Recent events both local and domestic have only strengthened the commitment of almost all of the city's residents to maintaining that history.
9 Reply
Katie MillerPro Member
OP
General Manager, Publishing at BiggerPockets · Denver, CO · Member since 2017 · 463 posts · 642 votes
3y
Quote from @Nathan Gesner:

Some definitions or more levels would help. If you measured everyone on BP, I suspect 60% rookies, 30% intermediate, and 10% expert. That seems to be where the numbers are headed.

I'm hoping the audience will give some insight as to what they consider each level of experience! What do you consider yourself @Nathan Gesner? I would call you a mega-expert :)

Podcast Guest on Show #217
0 Reply
Jeff S.
Specialist · Portland, OR · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Obviously @Jay Hinrichs plus as Jill F. mentions:

@Nathan Gesner @Jim K. @Steve Vaughan @Remington Lyman @james wise @Derrick E. @Jay Hinrichs @Mike Dymski @john underwood
and she is great herself, Jill that is, improving properties and offering a good product.
And too many to list but this is a start.

1 Reply
Jason May
Franklin, KY · Member since 2019 · 25 posts · 3 votes
3y
Definitely a rookie. I am still working on getting that first deal.
0 Reply

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.