New Member from Tampa, FL

[Yan Linwood]

Hello everyone!

My name is Yan Linwood. Like a gazillion other people, I too, read Mr. Kiyosaki's "rich dad poor dad" book and got excited about the real estate business. My dad had been shoving that book to me since I was a teenager but never took a chance to read it until about last year (I'm 25 now). I eventually signed up about last year to biggerpockets.com to lurk around and learn from the community because of my interest in the real estate business. It wasn't until recently that I started to actually listen to the podcast starring Josh and Brandon. I'm definitely learning a lot from just listening to the conversations and books that are recommended.

I graduated with MS in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 2013 and I did work as a bridge engineer in Indianapolis for about 2.5 years before I moved to Tampa because of a better job offer and obviously better weather. I've been living from apartment to apartment for the last 7 years of my life due to college. Now, I'm realizing it's just money going down the drain and I feel that I've currently saved enough cash to finally get my foot wet in the water to own my first ever single-family home as a primary residence. My strategy is to get a couple of friends to rent a couple of bedrooms and possibly get positive cash-flow to help with the mortgage+expenses. I have little to no background on the real estate business, but I have been trying to educate myself more and more from books and podcasts. However, I do feel very strongly that buying this first home will help me learn about the business much more than books and podcasts ever will.

I'm still searching for a property that will fit my budget and criteria and hoping to close on a deal sometime in July 2017. I'm just about to call my real estate agent tonight to talk a little more about it. I'm excited! I've learned a lot from this website and will continue to do so. That's why I thought I should at least contribute to the website as well starting from introducing myself here. I'm definitely hoping to eventually get things going and take off. Really excited to meet some other people who live in the Tampa Bay/Clearwater/St. Petersburg or even Orlando area to learn from and hang out with!

Cheers!

[Sam Ally]

@Yan Linwood if you are in Tampa you should be connecting with TB REIA and the other 5 subgroups there. A host of investors, knowledge and networking to be done there. If you are looking for deals you should be working with those who can help you identify off market opportunities as your realtor may not be able to serve you adequately. Connect with Greg Simpson owner at TB REIA or Jeremy Kloter who is an investor friendly realtor they can certainly share insights and connections to help you move forward. Good Luck and remember this is a relationship business!