Newbie from Chicago

[Efrain Gonzalez]

46 yrs young and looking to start school all over again. BUT, in the Real Estate Investing world. Been in Law Enforcement for almost 20yrs and I see the retirement light at the end of the tunnel. Would like to FIRST OFF...learn as much as possible about Real Estate investing as I look to build a real estate investing team. 

My interest in Real Estate is wide open but I'm more interested in buy and hold investing. But again....I'm open to it all which is why I'm here. 

I am quite handy (a jack of all trades) but I would prefer for the pros to do most of the work for me. But, I will get my hands dirty.. if need be. All in all, I rather work smarter and not harder. 

Secondly and finally, I would continue, as there is a lot to write about, but now I'm starting to feel like I'm writing a term paper. Being that I wasn't much of a fan of term papers, I'll stop here.  Well, for now anyway.

Thank you for letting me be part of this community. And I hope to learn from those here willing to teach. 

Cheers!! To happy Real Estate Investing!!

[Andrew Hargreave]

Welcome Efrain!

Like you, (well..4yrs older) but arriving at the same realization that REI is really how we're going to make it to and thru retirement...I'm coming from zero knowledge and learning as fast as I can while still trying to work a full time job (I'm in the tech industry though). I live out Joliet way.

You've taken the first and hardest step, realizing we need help to guide us through.  From what I've seen on BiggerPockets is that there are many out there willing to help us.

Maybe our journey's will meet up since we're in the same general area.