Excited in Hawaii

[Erik Stratton]

My name is Erik Stratton and I currently live in Mililani, Hawaii (island of Oahu).  I've been in the Air Force for just over 22 years now, and have been looking at options for my post-military career.  I've been an avid reader of the Rich Dad series of books in the past, but was too busy with my military career to really think about real estate investing.  That changed a couple weeks ago when I found Bigger Pockets, and I've been devouring the podcasts ever since.  I feel like I've finally found something that I was not only excited to transition to after the Air Force, but it's something that I know that I can excel at.

I became an accidental landlord in 2011 after buying my home in Aurora, Colorado in 2005. I have a retired Air Force friend who is a real estate agent and my property manager, so that has taken some of the stress off me as an out-of-state landlord. I am looking for creative ideas to turn my financial loss into a gain, such as doing my own subject-to deal (thanks to the podcast with @Grant Kemp). However, I have a VA loan so I know I need to do some additional research to keep things legal.

I'll be transferring to Washington, D.C. at the start of the year, so will be looking to build relationships in the D.C/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) area.  I'm a rookie in real estate, but am eager to work hard to learn, excel, and become a valued partner.  I'm initially interested in wholesaling to learn how to succeed at marketing, find and evaluate deals, and grow trustworthy relationships.  The Air Force has instilled its core value of "integrity first" into me, which has shaped who I am now, and defines the kind of real estate professionals I want to surround myself with in the future.  That's what I've found at Bigger Pockets, so I'm excited to be a part of the community!