New guy from New Orleans, LA

[Russell Harris]

Hello BP Community! I’m Russell Harris. I am a 28 year old husband, father, and formerly unbeknownst real estate investor.

In 2013 my wife and I were fresh out of college, and I mean the ink was still drying on our diplomas, when we got pregnant with our daughter. In a move of 1 part panic, and 1 part haste, I took a job working for the LA Dept. of Agriculture and found an awesome deal on a refurbished house in a good neighborhood.

Fast forward to 2015, my wife and I made the radical decision that we were going to sell almost all of our belongings (minimalism), move into my in-laws’ house, and rent out our house so we could save up and move to the Florida panhandle. Well, 3/5 of that plan has been a massive success. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to save as much money as we hoped and thus have not moved out of my in-laws’.

About a month ago, I was all but concrete on selling our rental house and taking the equity to move. Fortunately, fate had other plans. I've become jaded with my state job and have become fed up running the hamster wheel; I feel pitiful being on the cusp of 30 and living paycheck-to-paycheck. In the hopes of getting some videography work (side hustle), I made a phone call to a previous BP podcast guest, Terry Adams (episode 134), and wound up talking with him for over two hours about real estate investing. He strongly advised, practically implored, me not to sell my house because it was cash flowing at almost $500. That passive income would vanish if I sold. He changed my entire perspective on…almost everything. Since I got off that call, I have not stopped reading, researching, and reaching out to every resource I can to acquire more real estate knowledge.

My goals with real estate investments are to become financially free and live life on my own terms. I want to flip the script on the conventional wisdom of the 9-5; I want my side hustle to pay my bills. Naturally, a quick google search about real estate investment led me here to BP. I’m so excited to network with any and all of you. I’m here to learn and grow. Have an awesome day and thanks for taking the time to read my spiel!