Hello Everyone! Newbie here from Cen. Fl. Looking to absorb and learn about investing

[Mike Baldwin]

Hello,  My name is Mike,

I am really new into the real estate investing sector.  I do own some property but nothing has been stickly for buy/fix/sell purposes.  

Currently own 2 homes and 1 Condo.  One property is a primary residence and the other is our prior Home in Nebraska that we have been renting consistently for the last 8 years.  We also have a condo in Florida that we own outright but my MIL, uses that for her primary residence so I cant really touch it.

My wife is my foundation and everything in the family.  She is a amazing woman and is extremely hard working.  So much so I think its unhealthy for her.  She works as a retail store manager for a really big retail company and works long hours and many days/holidays.  On top of that, she commutes 160 miles a day for work.  My Goad is for her to be able to leave her high demand and high stress job and be my Partner in Real Estate.  She is extremely smart and want to get her real estate agent license also.

My current Job is a good and secure one working with the city.  Unfortunately city jobs are very political and budget oriented.  There is no incentive or reward system to promote growth or moral.  I feel like if i don't make a change before I know it I will be much older and not that much wiser.  I want to take what I know and apply it to the market and start investing.

I recently have attended a trial seminar from the Armondo Montaleage(sp?) Flip this house guy and honestly was extremely Disappointed.  It was really basic and not informative.

Chose to give another one a try and went to Fortune Builders Than Millers seminar and also his 3 day crash course into Investing.  What a difference.  I want to loo into the mastery program but the cost are huge(20-35K).  I feel that I can learn from the experience on this website just as much as I can from the Mastery Program.  I will have to learn from my mistake and improve from there.   I will say the 3 day program kicked my energy and excitement into another gear. 

I am looking at using equity from the Condo to secure funding for our first Flip.  I would like to use private investors but I don't know any yet or how to get in-touch with any.  

My House searches has been strickly looking into local foreclosure auctions and also Tax Deed Sales at the court house. Once I secure some funding or HELOC I am wanting to move on my first property.

Havent mentioned it before but, I am a big DIYer and have several friends and family that are willing to help out.  I know this business strives on finding the right ppl to do the job the right way and do it fast.  So there will be some adjustments for me there.

So I have now really went off the beaten path and introduced myself and my goals.  I hope to meet some other with like interest in the Palm Coast/Daytona/Sanford Florida area.  Connect with me and I will take you out for lunch, I am a firm beleiver that networking and being neighborly to others always works out better for everyone.  

Thanks for reading, now I am gonna go explore the forums and learn.

Mike B

[Laura Richards]

Welcome @Mike Baldwin . I don't often comment to newbie posts but yours stuck with me. Congratulations on being brave enough to learn a new industry with the end goal being to  help your wife and family. Give yourself some credit - you have more experience than you think. Your rental experience in Nebraska will certainly be a benefit for any Buy and Holds in Florida. 

My only advice would be to STOP going to these seminars requesting astronomical amounts of money. Think about it, you could buy a house with all that money. There are a ton of local investor meetings in Central Florida that are great resources with great people ready to help. Also, a good honest wholesale company will be more than willing to help you find the right investments for your portfolio b/c a good investor agent understands that a happy client is a return client. Same goes for title agents and attorneys. 

Good Luck!