Steve's 5,000th post!

[Steve Vaughan]

Was surprised to get notice of my 5,000th post this morning from BP!  Are you telling me that I've been arguing, advising, sharing and yacking to the tune of 5,000 times already? I haven't seen a milestone post thread in a while, so thought I would mark the occasion quickly and do one. 

Looking back, I used to welcome new folks more and advise more on the seller-financing and creative side along with Brian Gibbons and Bill Gulley and Bob and others, some no longer with us.  The landscape of contributors and the membership has changed a lot since 2014 when I found BP.  We all mature and do different things as we go.  New members have picked up the welcome and how do I get started slack, so I focus more on things I care about these days like leverage levels and creative strategies. 

BP and my colleagues and its members in general have been an important part of my life since I found it.  I sincerely enjoy my time here and want to thank you all for listening to me rant and rave and share 5,000 times! 

[Steve Vaughan]

Originally posted by @Scott Trench:

Congrats @Steve Vaughan - I've certainly appreciated your perspective on my journey throughout this whole time. Could you maybe share briefly about how or whether your portfolio has grown since 2014 when you joined as well?

 I appreciate you jumping in here, Scott.  I wish I knew what you know about RE and life and budgeting when I was your age.  Congrats to you on your awesome book and podcast!

As to how my portfolio has grown, it's been more of a transition and consolidation as far as #of units and leverage amounts.   For instance, I sold a triplex that wasn't my favorite and had a super high land value in a CB district since 2014.  Horrible depreciation and not much appreciation potential.  Stabilized it and sold it, re-deploying into 2 nicer seller-financed houses that had reasonable land values and more appreciation potential, but less cash-flow. Sometimes our goals change as we mature in our RE careers, of course.

I've basically been at 30-35 units since 2007, but my leverage has dropped significantly on the commercial apt side and my NW since 2014 has tripled.  Much of this success and the trajectory I chose was thanks to the knowledge and experiences shared by others here on BP.

I'll never be that guy that syndicates or strives to own 1,000 units in multiple markets across the country.   I just want 30-50 free and clear assets, quietly and under the radar, changing my family tree forever.