Semi-experienced investor, new to BP and loving it!! Newark Ohio

[Erik Bruns]

Hi all! New member here, but have been investing for about 5 years now. I've been learning so much from BP in just the last few weeks, I can't believe I didn't find this site earlier!

A little about my investing career, I started in Newark Ohio (just east of Columbus) in 2012, fresh out of 4 years active duty in the Army, by buying a $20k fixer upper duplex with all my savings. Fixed it up, lived in one half and rented out the other. I had no idea about cash flow, 2% rule etc. at this time, but looking back, the numbers still worked. I did almost all the work myself, which for awhile, the rehab was my favorite part of the business. Moving forward, I took out a HELOC, purchased another distressed property for cash, fixed it up and rented it out. I used the same fix and hold strategies for my next 8 properties, financed by cash out re-fi's.

Thanks to BP, I have all kinds of ideas swirling around in my head on how to expand and move forward with my business (I didn't even realize I was running a business until BP pointed it out haha). I still want to stick to a fix and hold/ buy and hold strategy, but really want to do a flip if the right property comes along. I recently obtained my license as well to help with finding properties on the MLS and to be able to make offers and negotiate directly.

I'm really hoping to network with people in my area and get to know what others are doing in real estate around here. Specifically, I'd really like to meet some wholesalers in my area to help find deals, and am planning on doing some marketing in the near future to help with deals as well. 

Looking forward to chatting with everyone on BP and getting even more great advice!!