Newbie from Fort Myers, Florida

[Joshua Peterson]

Hi! I'm a new-ish investor from Fort Myers, FL. I graduated from college two years ago with a degree in civil engineering and love my day job as a construction project manager. I got started in real estate in 2010. With foreclosures skyrocketing in my area and prices plummeting I took my college savings and paid cash for a SFR, did the minor repairs myself, and have had it rented with a management company ever since. I've had decent tenants and only turned over once about 3 years ago.

This fall I picked up a foreclosed duplex with a loan from a family member, fixed up one unit and moved in, and am nearly finished with the second unit. I found BiggerPockets about a week ago when trying to figure out how to treat the owner occupied duplex for tax purposes. I tend to be a do-it-yourself-er to a fault and am slowly learning to let go and hire experts in certain areas. I read the “Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Real Estate”, browsed through the last few weeks of questions in the Tax forum and read a half dozen blog posts by CPA’s who were responding to the questions. The more I read, the more I realize I really don’t know much about taxes, and the more I am convinced it’s time to consult an expert. 

[Joshua Peterson]

Another thing I am interested in is learning more about being a landlord and screening tenants and renting the units myself rather than using a management company. On the one hand, it's nice and easy to just say "hey, I have another unit for you to manage", on the other hand I'm giving up new tenant fee and monthly % fee. I've read a few blog posts by Brandon Turner already including Tenant Screening: The Ultimate Guide, and How to Evict a Tenant. I want to make sure I know what I'm getting myself into and start off on the right foot with the new unit.