Newbie from Northeastern Maryland (soon to be Wilmington, DE)

[Robert Johnston]

Hello all!  I've been lurking around the site for quite awhile now and finally took the plunge & joined.  My name is Robert and I'm from a small town in Northeastern Maryland for the next 4-6 weeks and then I'll be in Wilmington, Delaware.   I'll use the "How to Introduce Yourself Thread" to make this semi-comprehensive.

I'm 31 years old and am currently an accreditation manager for a small Medicaid health insurance plan.  Until recently, I was always a product of the, "you have to go to school and get a degree to be successful" idea.  10 years of experience in the industry and a Masters degree later, here I am.

Technically, I have no real estate experience, but I am preparing to rent out my home as my significant other and I combine forces.  While conducting research on various topics related to becoming a landlord, I stumbled upon BP and I must say it's been a dream come true.  I've been lurking around here ever since, reading thread after thread, and just strengthening my own knowledge.  The biggest thing impact BP has had on me so far has been related to the importance of screening applicants.  That was a recurring theme in the threads I browsed and in fact, it's led me to deny the first two applications on my property despite my eagerness to begin renting.  I'm remaining patient and waiting for a better application.

I'd like this to become the first step in really getting into RE investing.  While I am proud of what I've accomplished in the corporate world and I would never go back and "undo" my education, I'd like to start building an investment portfolio and really working on my personal wealth for a variety of reasons.  While I never see myself owning apartment complexes or flipping properties, there's no telling where this journey may lead!