Interested in a Real Estate career

[Tianna S Talley]

Hello all!

I hope this post finds you well. My name is Tianna and I have recently moved to Georgia this past year. I am in a financial position that I never want to be in ever again. I have always had a desire to learn everything about Real Estate and Real Estate Investing to discover my niche in the business. I have no experience but am interested in learning from a community (it takes a village principle) that is willing to take me under their wings and I believe that I have found it in you all with all of the discussions and valuable information you share on this website. I plan to study this community continuously in hopes to become a valuable investor as well some day.

I have read so many opinions online about the different approaches to RE (wholesaling, buy and hold, fix and flip, etc.), that I am getting confused and would rather have physical teaching and hands on experience to determine my own successful strategies in the business. I am not in a position to go to RE school at the moment but that is a goal to accomplish within the coming months.

What are some of the best options to starting a REI career with? I am close to the Atlanta, Smyrna, Marietta and Kennesaw areas. Are there any groups in these areas that hold meetings for those wanting to get started? I know that it takes consistent, and hard work to be successful so any guidance is much appreciated!

[Jonathan Tremblay]

@Tianna S Talley I like to think of myself as a newer investor since I have been out of the game for a while, but I have a flip, and several rentals as experience under my belt. As I have been trying to get back into the game for the last few months, I realize that you have to take 2 things into account when starting. 
A) What do you have, REALLY... Time? Creativity? Money? Credibility? Flexibility? When you play this game, you have to know what your strengths are, and capitalize on them. For example, I have talked to some folks that could do an FHA loan and do a house hacking flip (move-in flip). Me, I would LOVE to do this, but I have a wife and two kids and don't want to put them through that hassle. As you learn more, you will find that you have more strengths than you originally thought.

B) What is your market/environment doing? When I first started in ~2012, the houses were at rock bottom prices and I was able to invest in my first home even though I was close to dirt poor, with some money from my grandparents, at 23 years old, with pretty much no education or guidance. I was able to make a TON of rental income while living in it, saving myself mortgage and rent, and then sold it with owner financing. Today, I am in a financial position where I am making nearly 6 times what I was making in 2012, although I am just starting on my savings, but I am having a hard time to find a place to start again. All this to say that depending on your environment and what your market is, the game is played differently. Analyze what is happening on a constant basis, because things always change. It's possible that while your strengths may be worthless in one market at one time, could be the most advantageous in another market or another time.

Overall, "know thyself" and "know what game you're in". If you don't know these things, you can never know where to start.