A new member. Who i am, how i got here and where i want to go.

[Chris Houghtaling]

My name is Chris i'm a single retired paramedic but i'm not what that title (retired) implies . LOL. ( i'm only 56). l do have time and a true desire to excel in Real Estate investing. I live in Homestead Fl.. i currently live in a house that i rent and was surprised when a document came in the mail addressed to current tenant. It was a motion for summary of final judgement of foreclosure! Suprise! I called my landlord and he assured me everything was okay. Subsequent notices have showed that he has also retained a attorney to fight the foreclosure. He is very reassuring that he is okay and will retain his house (my home) but i decided that i better get educated..quickly. I bounced around the Internet for about a week or two learning quite a bit. I came across Biggerpockets and made the decision to go "pro" and jump in feet first. I have been preparing/repairing my credit for the past couple years anyhow and i now have it at 750. I have been researching short sales, for the possibility that i might be able to buy this house before foreclosure if it does end up there. I know i need to approach the owner/landlord for permission to negotiate a short sale ..i'm just not sure when the right time would be..now or if i see his fight to save his home fail and see the foreclosure going forward. (i still get notices in the mail) plan B would be to wait for the foreclosure sale itself..and i am preparing for that also by reading and learning.. I need to find out about the time frames and orders of title searches, etc. and whether to get a RE agent to help me, if i do so should i now or should i wait?...one thing that i don't understand is foreclosures in my county "Miami Dade" need full payment for the property the next day with a cashiers check for the full amount. I don't know how that works because i will need bank financing and a conventional 30 day loan...from what i see here on BP hard money then refinance would be an option, but again, how that is done with a foreclosure auction, because the way i see it i wouldn't know if i need the cash (loan) for the full amount until the auction to see if i won the property. Well, like i said i'm learning, i new nothing a little over a week ago. i will continue. Whatever happens with this house I do want to find a deal on a house for me and my two dogs, purchase it, live there (House Hack), gain more experience and continue investing. I'm not sure of my niche yet. Flipping i think, and possibly multiple unit rentals.

On a more personal note I am proud to say that I consider my honesty, to be my best quality. I care about other people and have extreme loyalty. I am the kind of guy that never does anything half way..never have been. I do love hunting the deal. And I am good at it..I have an obsessive nature..I think that's an advantage. 

Best of luck to all who read this. Any advice or comment is welcomed.

Happy hunting! 

Chris