New potential investor in Springfield, IL

[Jon B.]

Greetings BP!

My name’s Jon, and I’m a software developer from Springfield, IL. I’d never seriously considered real estate investing (besides holding a couple of REITs in my retirement account) until a couple of months ago when I began to learn about the multiple wealth-building forces inherent in actually owning rental properties. I’m now considering adding buy-and-hold real estate investing to my overall investment strategy.

I haven’t decided yet if owning rental properties is right for me, but at this very early stage in my education I can already see that the information and guidance provided here on Bigger Pockets is sure to prove invaluable. Thank you for what you’ve taught me so far, and for what I’m sure to learn the weeks/months/years to come!

As someone who is very happy in their career and can't sacrifice a lot of extra time during the work week, I would strive to make this as passive an investment as possible (while still ensuring its viability, of course). For my first purchase, I would lean towards a newer (post-2000), mostly rent-ready SFH or duplex in a good neighborhood here in Springfield or Chatham, and have a property manager manage it.

I’m excited to jump in and learn all that I can from the BP community and perhaps even make some connections. Thanks again, and see you in the forums!