New aspiring investor - Seattle / Bellevue, WA

[Joe Kooner]

Hi everyone! I go by Joe! I've been a member on BP for quite some time but I've been passively involved. Now, I'm at a point in my life where my W-2 job is making me a stable income (tax accountant) and I'm very interested in investing in real estate. My first course of action (other than studying for my CPA exam and subsequently obtain a higher wage from my W-2) is to look at a fourplex in the Bellevue, kirkland, Redmond area. I would ideally use the FHA concept and live in one unit and rent out the other 3 to cover my rent, expense, etc. The ideal property would be a distressed property in need of a little rehabbing to make it modern and rental ready. However, the problem I'm finding is that the prices here in the Seattle market are CRAZY. Any tips, advice, venues I can go through to help me find those 'deals' Btw, I do plan to obtain my RE license after I successfully pass my CPA this December. Thanks guys! I look forward to connecting with many investors and mentors!

[Joe Kooner]

@Brandon Hall Thanks for the input Brandon. I look forward to applying my knowledge towards my financial analysis of potential deals. Perhaps you and I can connect later about that?

Also, that's precisely my plan right now; to crush the CPA exam. I am putting all my time and effort into the CPA exam, and still trying to keep "in the loop" here at BP so that I will be that much more prepared when I am ready to start investing early in 2016. 
I know to some that may seem like a ways away, but I'm dedicated and I feel like having this plan will help keep accountable to reach my investment goals.

@Walter W. It would be great to connect at some point in the future! I will definitely keep that in mind once I have passed my CPA exam.

@Larry Fried hey Larry. I've really thought about doing that as other areas around the country seem much more desirable and the "numbers" seem to work in my favor as I am a new investor to real estate who may not have much capital compared to others who have been in the game longer. I think it would be best to see what I can do near my hometown, and then expand once I feel comfortable and have the knowledge of all the steps involved.

@Michele Fischer Thanks for the input, I'll look into that literature!

@Adrian Chu I think I've come to that realization that I will have to look outside of Bellevue, perhaps within a 15 minute drive radius (Newcastle, renton, issaquah, bothell, etc)

@Melissa MeliaThats really kind of you Melissa! I appreciate that! When the time is right, I will definitely reach out to you! 

@Dmitriy Fomichenko Thank you for the resources! I've been around BP for about a year just scoping around the website and I have all the keywords set up!