New Member From New Jersey

[Maxine Antoine]

Hello everyone, 

I hope all is well with everyone on the platform. My name is Maxine Antoine and I a very new to real estate. I am interested in multi-family rentals and house flipping at the moment. I plan to start locally in my area before branching out at this time but before I do, I am doing my best to absorb as much information as possible which can sometimes be overwhelming since I just don't want to make a costly mistake. At Bigger Pockets, I am hoping to make connections, learn, and generate wealth for myself. My interest in real estate came from a desire to have stability and time/financial freedom. Working the regular 9-5 is okay but I just want more. I know there's more out there and I'm looking forward to getting there for myself and for my loved ones that has faith in my current journey. Thank you for reading and I look forward to connecting with everyone. Take care! 

[Jonathan Greene]

Welcome, Maxine, to a fellow New Jersey resident. The truth is that New Jersey, especially Northern New Jersey, is a tough investment market due to low inventory, high competition, and high taxes. However, if you know Newark, you know where Newark breaks for the better appreciation (or will learn). Newark is a city where smart investors can do well, but uninformed investors can miss the mark. There are a lot of real estate investor meetups in Northern New Jersey where you can meet other investors getting started like yourself. Good luck~!

[Maxine Antoine]

@Jonathan Greene Thank you for welcoming me and for your insight. I'll definitely take that into consideration when I make my RE move and will look into some meetups. Much appreciated!

[Savannah Holzer]

Hey Maxine! Welcome to the BP group, you will definitely make many connections and learn a lot from this community. Are you thinking of acquiring multifamily properties and flips in New Jersey as well?

[Maxine Antoine]

Hi @Savannah Holzer! Thank you for the warm welcome. Yes I am looking into doing both of those in this area. I want to start local to get my feet wet (figuratively lol). 

[Julia Lyrberg]

Hey Maxine, welcome to the community! It’s great to see your passion for real estate. Starting locally with multifamily and house flipping is a solid plan. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at first, but just take it one step at a time. BiggerPockets is an awesome place to learn and connect, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey toward financial freedom!

[Bill Hampton]

Welcome to Bigger Pockets. 

[Drago Stanimirovic]

Welcome, Maxine! It’s inspiring to see your motivation to dive into real estate for greater stability and financial freedom. Starting with multi-family rentals and house flipping is a smart approach, and taking the time to learn is a wise move to avoid costly pitfalls. This community is a great place to gain knowledge, connect, and share experiences. Your drive and vision will take you far wishing you the best on this exciting journey. Looking forward to seeing your growth here! Best, Drago

[Maxine Antoine]

Hi @Julia Lyrberg thank you for welcoming me and for your advice. Making an avoidable costly discussion is one of the scariest things for me to overcome as I'm learning about real estate. Thank you for your wishes :D.  

[Maxine Antoine]

@Bill Hampton Thank you!

[Maxine Antoine]

Hi @Drago Stanimirovic thank you for your wishes and insight. I'm glad that my story is inspiring to you and others. I look forward to that as well. Take care!

[Daniel Vineis]

Welcome to BP. Not sure what your time restrictions are but the fastest way to financial freedom and flexibility in real estate is creating a business out of it. Flipping homes can be an amazing business model but there is definitely a higher chance of you losing money then other avenues so if your afraid of costly mistakes that might not be the best way to start then. If your just looking to invest then I would make a 1,2 and 5 year financial goal. Educate yourself enough to be able to identify if a property does or doesn't align with that goal. Then build a team of professionals around you and take action. Oh also number one skill to develop regardless of the route you take is being able to identify and get in contact with motivated sellers. If you pour time into anything it should be that. Good luck you got this!

[Jahl Brown]

Hey Maxine,

I’m from the area! Let’s connect!

[Nadiyah M.]

Hi Maxine.  I'm a Newark NJ native, Investor, and Realtor in NJ.  The inventory is still a little low in Northern NJ, but I've managed to assist many people from the BP community with finding deals that work for them.  Many being multi families.  Be prepared to navigate through potential tenant issues and lease terms.  I'm more than happy to connect and discuss.

[Nathan Gesner]

Welcome to BiggerPockets!

We’re thrilled you've joined us. BiggerPockets is full of resources designed to help you along your journey, whether you are just getting started or a seasoned investor. Here are a few suggestions on how you can maximize the wealth of information available:

1. Check out the blogs and podcasts, or take advantage of the search feature (magnifying glass). There's a good chance the issue(s) you face has already been discussed and answered.
2. Ask questions in the appropriate forum. If you need financial help, ask under the "Finance, Tax, and Legal" forum. Asking in the correct forum will get a better response.
3. Read the RULES! We don't allow any "deal-making" in the forums, which includes advertising your services or properties, looking for partners, etc. Please keep those posts in the Classifieds forum.
4. Need a spreadsheet or form? Check out FilePlace, where user-created forms are available for free. A link to FilePlace is at the bottom of every page, making it easy to find.
5. If you have technical issues, email [email protected], and someone will help you.
6. Have a problem in the forums? We pride ourselves in keeping the forums positive, helpful, and focused on real estate (please, no politics, religion, etc.). If you see someone violating the rules, create a post with "@moderators" and we will receive a notification and respond.

Again, welcome to BiggerPockets and happy investing!

[Giselle Azcona-Lubbock]

Welcome Maxine to the to BP and the fun World of Real Estate. This is a great community where people share lots of valuable information.

Don't be shy with your questions and reach out to people directly.

[John Schaeffer]

Welcome Maxine!

[Kimberly White]

Hi Maxine,

Welcome to real estate and the BiggerPockets community! Your goals in multi-family rentals and flipping are inspiring, and it’s great to see your focus on building stability and freedom.

I’m also in NJ, and it’s always great to connect with others locally. If you ever want to share insights or chat, feel free to reach out. Wishing you success on your journey!