New Real Estate Investor in Chicagoland Ready to Learn

[Garrett Kula]

Hello Everybody,

My name is Garrett and I'm currently living in a northern Chicago neighborhood. I've read a couple of Brandon Turner's books now and have been getting really into the mindset to start this journey.

A couple major items I'm initially thinking of is where to start. I grew up in a northwest suburb an hour to an hour 15 minute drive away from where I currently live in Chicago; and my parents still live out that way. Even though the distance would be a lot farther to travel than initially investing in another Chicago neighborhood, I know the tenant laws are a lot more relaxed out in the suburbs, the average price of property is much lower, and it just feels like a smoother entry point than a large city in general.

I'm very interested in multi-family properties to begin my real estate journey and have worked on putting a team together, so I am getting closer to actually acting, not just observing. Does anyone have a similar experience of living in the heart of a city but choosing to mostly invest in the urban sprawl outside? Or any stories of starting with a single-family home helping ease you in instead of starting with a duplex or triplex?

Happy to be here and ready to learn!