Newbie from Houston, TX originally from Los Angeles

[Stephen Goff]

Hello  BP family, 

I found out about bigger pockets a few months ago but still haven't been as active in the forums as I need to be. I'm originally from Belize City, Belize Central America. I lived the majority of my adult life in Los Angeles, CA. 

I bought my first home in 2011 and absolutely fell in love with real estate. It was a REO for $235k in a decent area real close to where I grew up. My wife was terrified initially because the house needed some work done. We took some money out of our 401k remodeled the kitchen, resurfaced the hard wood floors, and painted all the rooms. It took 3 months of hard work but it was totally worth it. We lived in it for 2 1/2 yrs and sold it for $325k . Technically it was my first live in flip. I transfered my job to Houston in 2013 bought a turn key in 2014 for $154K (twice the size of LA house) and have been itching to explore the real estate investing world.

I've been reading REI books, watching podcasts (flipnerd & BP), YouTube videos, and recently been getting out to network. My wife just got here real estate license and is working with KW.

With 2016 appoaching I've decided to go balls deep into the real estate investing. I'm in the process of developing a 7yr plan to aquire a portfolio of small multi family properties . I'm currently looking for anybody that's willing to mentor a hungry, motivated, and focused newbie. Lunch on me. 

[Stephen Goff]

Thanks for the kind words Justin. Like I said I'm locked in and focused.  The property taxes here really balances out the difference in house prices. I still think I made the right move. Gave up Hollwood and the beaches for sq footage and lower cost of living. 

Hey Rich great minds think alike. The hardest part was convincing my wife to move. 

I haven't been to any networking events yet but definitely plan on attending any in my area. I'm actually having lunch tomorrow with a contractor/flipper I met a few weeks ago.  He's an older gentleman that does drywall contract work for fidelity my home insurance warranty.  He came by to patch up a hole my plumber had to cut through to fix a pipe leak. Thank god for home insurance warranty.

I'm looking for duplex/four plexes. The plan is to rent out my house. Recently refinanced ($1350) so will actually cash flow maybe $100 lol  seeing that rent comps ($1400 to $1600) are just over my mortgage payment. Live in one side of the duplex for a few years. Move out and get another SF. At that time the appreciation in the first home will have enough equity in it to make at least $50k . It's almost been 2 yrs and it already has $25k in equity. That's kinda the plan.

As far as area I'm not sure.  All the duplexes are in Beaumont or the slums. I work all over houston being a uverse tech for att. I love the spring area.