New Investor - Where to focus efforts

[Mark French]

Hi Everyone,

1st post from a beginner investor, here goes:

My wife is away for 3 days and my 2y/old and 4y/old will be at school from 9am to 1:30pm for 3 days (Wed/Thurs/Fri). I'm trying to come up with a plan how to spend this time so if anyone has suggestions please share. I keep steering towards, i should get my LLC, meet with a CPA, meet with hard lenders, contractors and develop my system etc. But if i truly listen to that inner voice it's saying 'walk your target neighborhood, pop postcards in letter boxes of potential flips and do the really hard thing by knocking on doors and speaking with people'.

Bit of back ground, moved to Austin from London, England 3 years ago, I've been in the tech industry for almost 20 years, i got into REI 10 years ago but hit the pause button when market went bad, my beautiful Wife has been a Realtor for about 14 months which got me all fired up and determined again. Last 4 months have been spent learning and spending as much time with active, successful investors as possible building relationships, they have taken me around some of their projects and answered my many questions. Each have offered to partner up if i locate and present a Flip investment where the numbers add up, those conversations always leave me feeling pumped. My/our big why is for this to be my exit strategy from the tech industry and to change the course for future family generations by building self-sustaining wealth through Real Estate. Also to be invited to be interviewed for a Biggerpockets podcast.

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Mark French

[Sharon Powell]

Hello Mark!  Well done on doing your homework and laying a good foundation.  

My thoughts in your particular case are to go with your instinct!  If this kind of free time is a rarity, then use it to do things that would be more difficult with family home.   

Capital and contractors are clearly important, but I’m certain that if you were to find solid leads, your investor friends would be happy to help with the deal.  If they aren’t able to, call me! :)

So listen to yourself, put that enthusiasm to work and go meet your target neighborhood.  

Best of luck!