Real Estate Investors: Any Tech Professionals Out There?

[Bryan Calzadilla]

Hello Fellow Real Estate Enthusiasts, 

I am hoping this thread can get us tech professionals networking with one another and discussing our experiences in real estate. What drew you to real estate? How are you all balancing investing parallel with your professional career? Are any of you also house hacking? How did you pick your markets? Feel free to ask other questions in the comments, too! 

A little about me... I am a product manager based in Chicago and currently working toward my first house hack. Looking for a market that is a tech hub with a great outlook. Most interested in Seattle! 

Looking forward to connecting with y'all. 

[Rand Knutson]

Hey Bryan!

I'm a Software Engineer in Seattle. I graduated college in December 2020, and then bought my first house hack and started my job all in January! Seattle has a great outlook for real estate, appreciation has already made my house hack worth it many times over XD.

I knew I was going to invest in real estate and be a software engineer since high school. I mostly chose the career path of CS in order grow capital for my real estate investing faster, and I'm very happy with that decision.

I think tech is an amazing field to work in alongside real estate investing; find a company that respects your life outside of work, and remote or hybrid work helps with cutting out commute time! Let me know if you'd like a referral to one.

I plan on continuing a career in tech for 5-7 more years, then transitioning to part time real estate and part time other interests I have!

That financial freedom will be funded by my real estate investments; I'm on the hunt for my second deal and am excited to progress. Currently I'm looking at multiple strategies including another house hack, being an LP in commercial deal, and working with other Seattle investors to buy a vacation rental in western NC for STR.

One thing to note is a house hack in Seattle right now will likely not cash flow unless you have significant value-add. Mine is breaking even right now but the loan pay down equity and good prospects of Seattle market make it awesome. I should be cash flowing roughly 500/mo when I move out.

Awesome to connect!