New member/investor from Portland, OR

[Franklin Tarter]

One year ago I was living with my parents riding my bike to work everyday. I had been saving up to buy a duplex for several years so that I could owner-occupy right when I moved out of mom and dad's (guess I got used to paying low rent and wanted that to continue forever). In December I bought and fixed up a foreclosure, moved in and rented it out. Even though it has been stressful at times (being told by my renter that the hallway carpet was soaking wet behind the bathroom wall) it has been a great growing experience. Now I'm addicted to getting that rent check every month!

I'm getting married in two weeks and my fiance and I have the dream of living life outside of the financial rat race. I am eagerly looking forward to my next rental property, after I pay all the wedding/honeymoon bills of course :)

My future real estate goals are to own enough rental property to replace my wife and I's income, so we can focus on starting a big family. I also have interest in starting a real estate business either fix n flip or wholesale somewhere down the road, though that idea is somewhat abstract for me right now. I love the job I'm currently working and it pays well enough to fund decent capital for investing, so I'm not at that point where I'm itching to quit my career. I'm thinking I will want to quit my job when I feel that I'm not being challenged there anymore, then I'll be ready to try my own business. Hopefully sometime within the next 2-3 years. So short term I'm looking to mainly acquire buy and holds for cashflow.

Anyway, thanks everyone for contributing to such an awesome and helpful community. I definitely feel like I've found a gem of a website at BP.