A Real Estate Rookie: New Journey in Tampa Florida Real Estate!

[Coreen Foote]

Hello, BP community!

I’m thrilled to introduce myself! My name is Coreen Foote and I’m a retired Army veteran with 20 years of service. Since retiring 7 years ago I’ve been fortunate to be able to take the time to really think about what future goals that I have for myself and my family and I'm now ready to embark on a new adventure in real estate. Knowledge is power and for me, it builds my self-confidence so I’ve been bingeing podcasts, books and also recently gotten my real estate license so that I could have a better understanding of real estate in and of itself, with the hope of building upon that basic knowledge with what I’ve been learning about in real estate investing.

I’m eager to start my journey by investing in fix-and-flip properties to build capital with the future goal to purchase rental properties. I’m a hands on type of person so I will be focusing on properties in and around Tampa, Florida so that I can be up close and personal and learn as much as possible.

I’m excited to be a member of this community and I look forward to exchanging ideas, strategies, and gaining knowledge from all of you as I dive deeper into this exciting world of investing. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Thanks for having me, and I can't wait to meet you!

Best,
Coreen Foote

[Jonathan Greene]

Tampa is a very active market with a lot of meetups so that's where you want to focus your time before you buy anything. If you have more of your VA availability left you may have options outside of a primary residence to use the loan as a benefit of your service to our country. Fix and flip will be tougher in Tampa right now as insurance costs are very high so vacant insurance while doing a flip is probably in the stratosphere.

[Mike Klarman]

Coreen, welcome.  You have a leg up on most in that you understand regiment, organization, responsibility, and dependability.  Use those tools they will play nicely in this industry as well.

If you ever want a Hard Money tutorial or tips on markets or how to identify a good project then just PM me.

[Jorge Vazquez]

After 20 years in the game as a landlord, I've seen just how impactful hands-on experience can be! Coreen, welcome to the BP community, and thank you for your service. It's inspiring to see you channeling that commitment into real estate. Tampa’s a prime spot right now, and starting with fix-and-flips is a solid choice for building capital. Plus, working on properties close to home will give you the insights you need for when you pivot to rentals.

You’re in the perfect place for advice, tips, and a community that’s got your back. Feel free to reach out whenever you need – excited to see where your journey takes you!

[Coreen Foote]

@Jonathan Greene, Thank you for your response and for your professional insight. I will definitely take your points into consideration!

[Coreen Foote]

Quote from @Jonathan Greene:

Tampa is a very active market with a lot of meetups so that's where you want to focus your time before you buy anything. If you have more of your VA availability left you may have options outside of a primary residence to use the loan as a benefit of your service to our country. Fix and flip will be tougher in Tampa right now as insurance costs are very high so vacant insurance while doing a flip is probably in the stratosphere.

Thank you for your response and for your professional insight. I will definitely take your points into consideration!

[Coreen Foote]

Quote from @Jorge Vazquez:

After 20 years in the game as a landlord, I've seen just how impactful hands-on experience can be! Coreen, welcome to the BP community, and thank you for your service. It's inspiring to see you channeling that commitment into real estate. Tampa’s a prime spot right now, and starting with fix-and-flips is a solid choice for building capital. Plus, working on properties close to home will give you the insights you need for when you pivot to rentals.

You’re in the perfect place for advice, tips, and a community that’s got your back. Feel free to reach out whenever you need – excited to see where your journey takes you!

Hello Jorge! Thanks for responding to my post! Glad to see you are in my area! Look forward to connecting!

[Coreen Foote]

Quote from @Mike Klarman:

Coreen, welcome.  You have a leg up on most in that you understand regiment, organization, responsibility, and dependability.  Use those tools they will play nicely in this industry as well.

If you ever want a Hard Money tutorial or tips on markets or how to identify a good project then just PM me.

Hi Mike! I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond to my post. I'll definitely take you up on your offer when I have some question. Thanks!

[Max Wilhite]

Hello Coreen, and welcome to the BP community!

Thank you for your service, and congratulations on your new journey in real estate! It’s inspiring to see how you’ve been so intentional about preparing for this next chapter—your commitment to learning and gaining hands-on experience will serve you incredibly well in fix-and-flip projects. Tampa is a fantastic market, and being on-site will give you invaluable insights into both the renovation process and the local real estate landscape.

Having your real estate license is a huge advantage, especially in a competitive market. It sounds like you’re building a strong foundation to not only find promising deals but also make confident, informed decisions along the way.

We’re thrilled to have you as part of the community and can’t wait to see the projects you take on. Feel free to reach out with questions or updates—we’re here to support you every step of the way. Best of luck, Coreen!