NEW College Student (Emory University)

[Nicholas Musey]

Hello BiggerPockets community,

My name is Nick Musey, and I am currently a college student at Emory University in Atlanta, GA taking time off to follow my entrepreneurial passions and gain some real world experience. 

I've spent the past year doing a lot of research, but I am currently interested in knowing how to get started in forming and managing a REIT as I hope to start my own REIT and invest in off campus student rentals.

I've grown up and been around Atlanta my whole life, and I know the Emory area very well, and I would like to utilize the opportunity of Emory's rapidly expanding student population, my extensive network of students looking for off campus housing, and my knowledge and experience of the area. 

I feel like this is a great time for me to take advantage of this opportunity to learn with real world application and also hopefully start building wealth at a very early age (I am 19, turning 20 next month).

I am open to any advise, criticism, information, motivation etc. as I am a sponge ready to take in as much knowledge as I possibly can for when/if I decide to go back to school from my endeavors.

*Also, on a side note, I have created an LLC (as the management firm) and an LP (as the fund) with my brother, who is graduating from Harvard University this spring, to start after the extensive research he and I have done, so for me this is a very serious venture and will either end up growing to bring real value to society or a learning experience I can bring back with me to college.

Cheers! 

[Michael Boyer]

Powerful intro Nicholas! Sounds like you (and your brother) have great academic backgrounds.... One thing about real estate you might like is simplicity of the business model. For example, rather than forming a REIT (or as prelude), if you and your brother can simply come up with the down payment (or use your wits for creative financing) on a small multiplex (maybe 1-4 units, so you can occupy) you are in business! Out of the library and in the school of hard knocks screening your first tenants! I would definitely complete school if at all feasible, but maybe even see if you could work in the field at the same time (with your own rentals or those of others; think: intern at property management firms, even work in student housing on the people or maintenance side would give you experience)... Working summer full time with a larger apartment complex or management firm might be ideal too..Best of luck.