Newb from Northern Virginia

[Sean Gronholt]

Hello Bigger Pockets!

After perusing this website for months, I've finally decided to come out of the shadows and introduce myself. I'm Sean, a 29 year old IT professional living in Northern Virginia, and for the last few years I've been obsessed with the idea of escaping the 9 to 5 rat race. Passive income seems to be the ticket, and rental income is the vehicle I'd like to use.

For the longest time I was afraid of wading into the waters of REI (since I didn't understand it), but thanks the all the great information I've read on this site, I've decided that I'm ready to take the plunge.

My ultimate goal is build a portfolio of rental properties, though I'm finding that the cost of real estate in the immediate DC area is pretty steep for me. So for now I'm probably going have to shop outside my area to find more affordable properties, though I'm also very interested in the idea of partnering with others in my area.

I'm on a mission to fact-find and network with other investors in this area and learn as much as I can, and eventually, share what I've learned with other rookies. In the meantime, if there are any BP members in my neck of the woods who wouldn't mind having their brains picked by a newbie, I'd be glad to buy you lunch and introduce myself in person.