Fresh off the boat, errr podcast - and super excited :)

[Michael Perry]

Hey BP family, my name is Michael and I'm 35. I work in technology as an IT Program Manager for large gov contracts. I make a great 6 figure salary but have come to realize that trying to budget and pinch pennies isn't going to let me spend more time with my kids during any of their formative years and maybe not even until they are adults and I'm too old to really enjoy that time anyway. This realization came through a horrible accident which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Let me explain -

In January I had a freak gym accident - I've never been a gym goer but with the advent of my 2nd child I decided it was time to get healthy for my family, I was 315 pounds and really over weight so over the last 8 months I've lost 82 pounds but that's a story for another time. So this gym accident was pretty nuts and I ended up losing a large piece of my ring finger. Needless to say I was off of work for a few weeks lol. Well during this time off work, although I was in an insane amount of pain, I enjoyed being around my kids during the day. There's so much I miss while I'm at work 40 to 60 hours a week - my wife sends me pictures and videos throughout the day but it's just not the same as being there. After my first week back at work I realized that doing what I was doing and doing the same thing over and over again I would never escape the rat race and spend more time with my family. So I started racking my brain trying to figure out what I could do. I always had an attachment to the thought and desire to start investing in real estate however I've always been too scared to start. This time however I decided no more fear. If I can  work hard and work myself into an IT job making 6 figures and and climb the corporate ladder without a college degree then I for darn sure could hunker down and learn real estate for the benefit of my families future.

Well that time has lit a fire under me and I've been listening to podcasts and reading books left and right. I'm ready to pop my cherry and get my first door. Hoping to do 2 properties (SF or Duplex) this year to get my feet wet and then BRRRR and accelerate every year after. It's scary, but anything new and out of your comfort zone will be scary. All I know is I'm loving it so far and I know that with the help of the amazing folks here I can be successful. I'm only starting with $20k cash but others have done so much more with so much less so I'm ready to be a success story. Here we go! :)

PS. I apologize in advance if I ask anyone on here annoyingly dumb questions - I learn better by asking specific questions than just reading books and theorizing in my head. Thanks in advance for your patience, I just want to succeed :)

-Michael