Hello! Starting on square one!

[Ashley Snider]

Hey there! I'm Ashley, and I live in the DFW area. I've been diving into the world of real estate, especially the BP podcasts. I'm really excited about the potential of investing in residential multifamily properties with my dad, who's willing to contribute the initial funds.
We're currently working on getting our financial house in order, paying off debt, and building a solid nest egg. I'm also working on a Google Data Analyst certification to bring in some extra income while I'm home with our 19-month-old daughter.
I'm still pretty new to this, though, and I'm not sure where to start or if I'm on the right track. I'm hoping to connect with some experienced investors who can offer guidance and answer some questions.

[Nicholas L.]

@Ashley Snider

hello and welcome.  i'm not in DFW, but I am happy to help.  you can:

-go to meetups and network with local investors.

-post your questions here.

[Nathan Gesner]

1. Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free). It will familiarize you with the basic terminology and benefits. Then you can read a more in-depth book like The Book On Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner or The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss.

2. Prioritize your financial stability. Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save. Remember, the notion of amassing wealth without investing is a dangerous myth perpetuated by self-proclaimed experts. A prudent investor doesn't seek quick riches through shortcuts. To thrive in real estate investing, you must maintain a firm grip on your finances. Explore my personal favorites, Set For Life by Scott Trench or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, for invaluable financial insights.

3. As you read these books, watch the BiggerPockets podcasts. This will clarify and reinforce what you are reading. You can hear real-world examples of how others have built their investment portfolio and (hopefully) learn to avoid their mistakes.

4. NETWORK!!! Get out of your comfort zone. Stop hanging out with your deadbeat buddies who spend all day drinking, talking sports, and otherwise wasting away. Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of the screen and look for local investors or meetups in your area. You can also find real estate investing groups through meetup.com, Facebook, or a Google search. Birds of a feather flock together!

5. Now, you need to figure out how to find deals and pay for them. Again, the BiggerPockets store has some books on this topic, or you can learn about it by watching podcasts, reading blogs, and interacting on the forum. A handy search bar in the upper right makes it easy to find previous discussions, blogs, podcasts, and other resources. BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy. If you consistently analyze properties, recognizing a good deal will be much easier when it shows up. Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice. It doesn't take long to learn how to spot a good deal.

6. Study the market. You can learn to do this independently or get a rockstar REALTOR to lead the way. I highly recommend a well-qualified REALTOR who works with investors and knows how to help you best.

7. Jump in! Far too many get stuck in the "paralysis by analysis" stage, thinking they just don't know enough to get started. You could read 100 books and still need to learn more because certain things must be learned through trial and error. You don't need to know everything to get started; you need a foundation to build on, and the rest will come through experience and then refining your education.

You can build a basic understanding of investing in 3-6 months. How long it takes to be financially ready is different for everyone. Once you're ready, create a goal (e.g., "I will buy at least one single-family home, duplex, triplex, or fourplex before the end of 2019") and then do it. Real estate investing is forgiving; the average person can still make money even with some big mistakes.

[Robin Simon]

Welcome to BP - great contingent of people in the Dallas area both here digitally and in the in-person meetup community!