Journalist turned hopeful investor

[Andrew Medici]

Hello BiggerPockets! I have been reading posts on BiggerPockets for a while now, and have been listening to the BiggerPockets Podcast (as well as Brandon Turner's audiobook on rental property investing). But now I have decided to dive in and start posting on the forums (my incredibly patient wife does not deserve to hear my constant discussion on potential deals).

So who am I? That's a great question. I am a journalist in the Washington, D.C. area (Alexandria, Virginia to be precise) but my primary interest is to invest in Pittsburgh, PA. Both me and my wife lived there for years, and one of our life goals is to move back there and raise our family there. So I am looking at small multi-families, and sometimes single family houses, in the area.

I first thought about real estate investing years ago, but got distracted with building a career. Every so often I would look at potential deals, but looking back on this I realize that I had no good base from which to judge. I believe (and hope) that has changed. And I feel confident that 2017 is my year. We have made some offers that were rejected, or just gotten to properties too late. But I am going to keep trying.

I have an 18-month old son at home, so I don't really have time to sit down and read too many books, but I have been going through every audio book and podcast I can find. Rich Dad Poor Dad and the subsequent advisor books, the BiggerPockets podcasts and others make for great listening at the gym, in the car or just when i am around the house cleaning.

I am also a business reporter, which I hope has given me at least some background in some of the broader topics. I don't cover real estate investing specifically, but I have had the good fortune to meet many smart people along the way.

Long story short, or for the tl;dr people:

I am hopeful. I am eager. And I am looking forward to talking with all of you out there.

Take care, and have a great day.

Andy Medici

[Andrew Medici]

@Jay Belcher I would imagine. I have seen a number of high-profile articles about it in major magazines. And honestly I think people have underestimated Pittsburgh for a while. I expect the market to catch up over the next few years.

Right now I am looking at buy and hold for small multifamilies, mainly duplexes and triplexes (or four-unit buildings if I can get my hands on one). If I can do the full BRRRR that would be even better.

My neighborhoods are basically north of the Allegheny and east of the Ohio. Northside. Millvale. Etna and Sharpsburg. I have looked in Garfield too, but its not my primary area of focus. 

And I have thought about Baltimore, but its definitely a block by block situation and I am only vaguely aware of some of those differences. Although there seems to be a lot of opportunity there.