Beginner from Chicago Northwest Suburbs

[Angelo P.]

Hello Everyone! I am from Park Ridge, IL and recently became interested in real-estate investing after listening to a handful of BiggerPockets podcasts. I am very happy to have found this place and hope to make it my new home for the years to come.

While I consider myself as having zero real-estate experience, I am currently renting out a two bedroom condominium in University Village (near UIC). The property used to be my wife's primary residence until we got married, so it wasn't necessarily an investment property by design. I used @ Properties to help find a renter, though in hindsight I regret not taking a more active role during the process. Nonetheless, so far everything has worked out well without any issues.

I'm looking to expand my real-estate footprint in the Chicagoland area, but before doing so, I recognize that there is a lot for me to learn. I am starting by reading the Beginner's Guide available on this site, and I may move onto some of the recommended readings referenced throughout. I'm also working through each of the Podcasts and have about 30 more episodes to go. I welcome any suggested paths to better educate myself from the ground up.

I'm not yet at the point where I know what I would like to invest in (duplexes seem interesting), but hope to form a more concrete vision and associated goals within the next few weeks. At a minimum, I know I want to invest in real-estate and aspire to grow into a more active investor. Thank you for reading.