Newbie - Here to learn about Rentals, House Hacking and Flipping!!

[Surya S Kumaresan]

Hello Folks,

Hope 2025 is off to a great start for you all!

I’m new here and super excited to join the BP community!

I’m based in Atlanta, GA, and currently exploring passive real estate opportunities in the area. Since my first property is long-distance, I figured it’d make sense to look for my next one closer to home. I’m mainly focused on the ATL/GA region but am open to exploring other cities too.

A little about why I'm here: I’m an engineer by day and a real estate enthusiast by night. I bought my first property in mid-2021. It was my primary residence for two years before I turned it into an investment property. Getting a property with a 3% mortgage that offered both equity appreciation and solid cash flow is what sparked my passion for real estate investing. That experience made me realize I want to dive deeper into this space.

Right now, I’m in the research phase—figuring out locations, property types, and strategies while working on funding and budgeting. My focus leans more toward equity appreciation than cash flow, and as a rookie investor, I’m aiming to put aside about $25-30k for investments each year.

In the meantime, I’m looking to connect with like-minded folks here for mentorship, partnerships, apprenticeships, and even collaborations.

Would love to hear your thoughts, advice, or anything you think might help as I continue piecing everything together!

Looking forward to learning from you all!

Cheers,

[Wale Lawal]

@Surya S Kumaresan

You're in a great position to grow your real estate portfolio in Atlanta, a market with strong appreciation and rental demand. Since you're focused on equity appreciation, consider long-term rentals in growth areas (e.g., Smyrna, Decatur, Marietta), new construction or turnkey rentals for lower maintenance, or small multifamily properties for stability. To fund your next deal, explore conventional loans (15-25% down), FHA loans (3.5% down for house hacking), DSCR loans (based on rental income), or HELOC/cash-out refinance if you have equity. Start by networking with local investors, identifying target neighborhoods, running numbers on potential deals, and lining up financing so you're ready to act when the right opportunity comes up!

Good luck!