New member intro from Louisville, KY

[Greg Gibbons]

Hello All, 

My name is Greg Gibbons, from Louisville, Ky.

If you have never been here, I can tell you that spring time in Kentucky is really beautiful!

I recently began looking to buy a rental property.  I Googled some info about how to value  rental real estate and stumbled upon Bigger Pockets.  I have been digging around the sight - wow! Tons of information!  It's got my head spinning.......

I am self-employed, so my income is variable. This can be quite stressful. I have been renting an apartment the last few years and have saved a bit for a downpayment on an investment property. I am looking to get my first duplex or 4 plex, live there as owner-occupant, and have the tenants pay some or all of my monthly costs. In time, I would have a paid off property that would help sustain me in retirement. I could see myself accumulating additional properties, but right now, I am mostly looking to keep my monthly expenses down (i.e. take some pressure off my "day job"!),  while building equity for the future.

I starting out looking at duplexes, but now I am leaning toward a 4-plex (living for Free has great appeal!)

I have a couple of properties I am currently interested in. I haven't made any offers, but expect to get financing pre-approved in next day or so. (Leaning toward FHA). I must say, according to the "Rules of Thumb" I have read about in the past few days, the ones that I like may not be the reasonably priced properties I initially thought they were!

I look forward to engaging people on Bigger Pockets.  Looks like a great community, with tons of helpful people.  

Thanks, 

Greg