Brand New to Investing in Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 1 vote

Hi everyone!

I'm LaKaye and I'm excited to learn everything that I can! I've been a real estate photographer for a year now and each day I see incredible opportunities slip me by because I don't know how to go about taking advantage of them. Those opportunities, coupled with my love for all things HGTV have lead me to buy a few real estate investment books and listen to a ton of podcasts. I found out about this one from a facebook group I'm in that's about wealth building.

My goal is to make my first rental purchase by the end of the year. I'd also like to flip a house within the next five years.

Thanks!

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Aaron HowellBusiness Member

Real Estate Agent · Crozet, VA · Member since 2014 · 436 posts · 223 votes

10y

Welcome to BP @LaKaye Mbah ! You're in the right place. Check out the Book on Investing with Low and No Money Down. Its the bible of creative financing (and regular financing for that matter).

Story House Real Estate529 Reviews

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Aaron HowellBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Crozet, VA · Member since 2014 · 436 posts · 223 votes
10y
Welcome to BP @LaKaye Mbah ! You're in the right place. Check out the Book on Investing with Low and No Money Down. Its the bible of creative financing (and regular financing for that matter).
Story House Real Estate529 Reviews
Website View Page
1 Reply
LaKaye Mbah
OP
Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 1 vote
10y
Thank you @Aaron Howell! I plan to buy that book next. I just bought the 4 Hour Work Week and Rich Dad Poor Dad. Looks like I'll be reading a ton over the next few months!
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Adam S.
Falls Church, VA · Member since 2016 · 9 posts · 0 votes
10y
Hey Lakaye,
I'd recommend going through as much as the old posts on BP as you can, I'm sure you'll learn a lot and figure out the types of specific questions you want to ask (if you don't find the answers just going through the posts). Someone could probably write a book with all the info right here.
sidenote: as a real estate photographer, what type of lenses do you recommend? I have a canon 70D (crop sensor). I assume a wide angle lens, but not sure if you have any recs for a focal length? Do you use flash for real estate?
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LaKaye Mbah
OP
Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 1 vote
10y
Hi @Adam S.!
I shoot full frame, however with my lens I can't zoom all the way out because it shows the edge of the sensor anyway. So my lens, which is a Tamron 10-24, would probably be perfect on a 7D! The only downside to this particular lens is that it's not very sharp when zoomed all the way out. the top right corner is always fuzzy. So, I end up shooting at higher f-stops to compensate for the blur. I'm not sure if it happens with all of these lenses or I just got a bad one.
When I first started shooting interiors I didn't use a flash, but I started about 8 months ago and it's made such a difference. I personally don't like the look of overdone HDR, so flash was the next best option for not blowing out the windows at all times. Plus it helps me out because I don't shoot with tripod. So when I wasn't using a flash I'd have to drop down to a slow shutter speed and the photos weren't great.
Hope that helps and thanks for the tips!
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Adam S.
Falls Church, VA · Member since 2016 · 9 posts · 0 votes
10y
Thanks for the info, super useful! As far as the flash... I assume you have an external flash. Where do you point the flash usually? I don't have an external flash and plan on getting one hopefully soon.
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LaKaye Mbah
OP
Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 1 vote
10y
@Adam S. Yes, it's external. If I had to choose between pop up flash and no flash, I'd use no flash. You don't have to spend a lot of money on a flash. Mine is VERY old, but I just shoot at 1/8th or 1/16 manual power. I usually point to the ceiling unless there's a ceiling fan and then I point slightly behind me.
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Nicole Graves
Real Estate Investor · Richmond, VA · Member since 2016 · 133 posts · 31 votes
10y
@LaKaye Mbah Congrats on getting started! BP has been a wonderful community to learn more about real estate. Everyone is very helpful, willing to share their experiences, and offer their knowledge. I would definitely say to continue connecting and networking through the forums.
I see you mentioned that you enjoy podcasts- I'm sure you've heard BPs podcast episodes. I enjoy listening to the podcasts as well as I can multitask while learning. Here's a link to some BP members' favorite podcase episodes.
Wishing you well!
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LaKaye Mbah
OP
Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 1 vote
10y
Thank you @Nicole Graves! I do listen to the bigger pockets podcast because I spend most of my day in the car. Maybe you can answer this question for me. I've been hesitant to listen to a real estate audio book because I think I may want to do some calculations that I can't do in my head. Have you found that to be true?
I also have read the one thing and I may need to re read as my one thing may be changing to real estate. :)
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Nicole Graves
Real Estate Investor · Richmond, VA · Member since 2016 · 133 posts · 31 votes
10y
@LaKaye Mbah I understand what you're saying! I listen to my audiobooks mostly at home while I'm doing other things (chores,etc). And yes, there are always great points that I want to stop and write down, so I'll 'break' from folding clothes to jot them down in a notebook. But if I listen to an audiobook in the car, I'll just make a mental note of what chapter I heard something and later on while not driving I'll revisit that chapter and make an actual note of it somewhere.
Fun listening!
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