Motivated Newbie in Southern California

[Kenny Ho]

Hello BiggerPockets community!

Just got started on BP a few days ago. Over the past three months, I've listened to BP podcasts every morning to/from work and read the following books:

The Book on Rental Property Investing (Brandon Turner), The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down (Brandon Turner), Rich Dad Poor Dad (Robert Kiyosaki), Cashflow Quadrant (Kiyosaki), Rich Dad's Guide to Investing (Kiyosaki), Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill), The Richest Man in Babylon (George S. Clason), and The Intelligent Investor (Benjamin Graham).

What's common among podcasts and these books are to take action even if you don't feel 100% ready...so here I am!

I currently live in West Covina and work in Oxnard. My overarching goals are to buy SFR rental properties in Southern California (Ventura County/Los Angeles County/San Gabriel Valley) and in other states to build passive income during my travel-oriented career -- I move every 2-3 years. My short term goal is to close one cash flowing rental property deal in 2016.

I'm also willing to work for free Monday to Thursday after 6pm and Friday night through Sunday night. In return, it'd be greatly appreciated if I could pick your brains regarding rental property investing in Southern California and other states. I have a BS in electrical engineering and I'm a supervisor of a team of network security technicians.

Looking forward to meeting the BP community and excited to close my first deal this year!

[Gene Maltsev]

Hi Kenny, welcome to BP! I'm in the same boat as you - live in Alhambra and work in S. California - although I'm only now starting to read up on strategies. Currently reading FLIP by Rick Villani and Clay Davis, The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No Money Down by Brandon Turner and The Preforclosure Property Investor's Kit. I live in Alhambra and own a business which operates on weekends only. So, naturally, I'm looking to supplement my income and add to my weekly responsibilities.

I'd love to get into REI but it's difficult because CA has a high barrier to entry. I mean, cost of acquisition here is unbelievably high. Plus, from what I've been reading on BP blogs, cash-flow positive deals are really hard to come by nowadays in Southern California.

I'm open to any ideas and opportunities so long as they will enable me to learn and generate a modest return.

Feel free to keep in touch and let us know if come across anything interesting.

Cheers!