Newbie From Eugene

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Hello. My Name is Brian. I'm 37 years old, currently living in Eugene Oregon working at a software security company. I've been in this business for 10 years and looking for financial independence and to become self employed. 

I've been watching podcasts, reading blogs, and studying how to be successful in the real estate business for the last 3 months (still very green) and looking to not only jump in but build a sustainable career. My goals are focused on buy and hold rental properties that produce cash flow for the immediate future. I have so much to learn I'm hoping this is a good safe start vs. flips and restores. 

My real estate experience consists of buying a 2 bedroom 1bth condo in San Jose, CA in 2009 with an FHA loan and living in it until October 2012 in which I then rented it out when I moved to Eugene, OR. After a year of renting in Eugene, I bought a 3bd 2bth house in Springfield, OR (the neighboring town of Eugene) as my primary residence.
January of this year(2016) I sold the San Jose property for a nice profit and paid off the house in Oregon. 

Today I have a paid off home with about a 225K value and am looking to either leverage the house with a Home Equity Loan or sell the property and buy rental property. Im looking to buy in Austin, San Antonio, or Charlotte. From BP I'm looking for guidance, inspiration and motivation as well as as much advise a sponge can possible absorb. My goals are to become financially independent off of cash flow from rental properties. =)