New to BP - Cedar Rapids - Iowa City Area -

[Matthew Gunderson]

Hello BP Community,

My name is Matt Gunderson and I live in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area in Eastern Iowa.  My wife and I have lived here for about 18 years.  We have yet to buy our first rental property, but we're focused hard on getting that first one this year.

Professionally, I work for an large aerospace/defense company in supply chain, and consider myself lucky that I love what I do.  I'm also a commercial pilot & flight instructor, and run a Cirrus aircraft flying club based at the Cedar Rapids airport.  And then I also do a fair amount of crowdsourced real estate investing, as well as stocks and commodities.  Needless to say I like to be busy!

Interestingly, crowdsourced real estate investing is what has really pushed me into wanting to own/manage my own rental property.  While the returns have been pretty good, there are limited tax benefits, leveraging against the assets is very difficult, and I have no control over the investment/operational decisions.   Plus I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so getting into rental property just seems like the next logical step.  

I've been reading a ton of real estate books, listening to a ton of BP podcasts, and I've started building my real estate network locally.  I've been lurking on the forums but thought I'd put myself out there and introduce myself in case there are others that would like to connect.

Looking forward to meeting more of you!

Matt

[Matthew Gunderson]

Quote from @Nathan Faselt:

Thanks for sharing your bio supper cool looks like you have a good base of real estate and some of the advantages through your past investments and study.  Im born and raised in the area & in the real estate world.  I would love to help you out if we can and trade knowledge as I have had a personal desire to getting into flying my self. I believe it would be a good opportunity to opening expanding my reach and network from local to regional.  I could be home the same night type of thing.     

 Sounds like we need to connect!  Private aviation is such a game changer, especially in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area, because as you know, there are no direct flights anywhere when flying commercially.  Plus all those 4 1/2 hour drives to the Twin Cities, Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis shrink down to just a ~1 hour flight.  Did someone say quick run to Kansas City for BBQ?  Or expand your rental portfolio to other cities?   

Would love to catch up with you soon.  Cheers!