Newbie from San Diego, California

[Katy C.]

Hi Everyone,

I work full-time as a project manager (my actual titles are lengthy and numerous) for an international company doing testing, inspections, and certifications. I love what I do and the company I work for, so I'm not hoping to replace my full-time job with real estate investing. At least not in the next 5 years. I do love a steady paycheck ;)

My real estate experience is limited. I own a single family home in Gilbert, AZ, which I lived in for 4 years before making it a rental property last month when I moved back to my hometown, San Diego. Short-term (< 2 years), I'm interested in building my portfolio to include two 2-4 unit properties in the right market. I'm not confident that San Diego is the market for me, given limited capital and the cost of ownership versus attainable rent in this area. That means I'm looking at non-local acquisitions, so I welcome any advice on that topic.

I have spent several hours on this site today, and I'm excited to meet others who are just starting out as well as those who have already experienced success (and failure... even better if you're willing to share those experiences).

Thanks for reading!