New member, starting in Des Moines, Salt Lake City, and WA State!

[Jeff Boardman]

My name is Jeff Boardman, I am a 34 year old desk jockey with dreams of FI. I have recently decided to pursue my interest in real estate in the hopes of generating enough passive income to support myself and future family (soon-to-be DW) without feeling the need for a 9-5. I currently live abroad but plan on moving back to the States in the next couple of years.  I have a 3bdrm condo in eastern WA that I purchased in 2006 as my primary residence (with the intent to rent when I inevitably left the area), it has been earning rental income for me for ~5 years now.

My REI plan is to purchase buy-and-hold MF investment properties to generate cash flow. I have chosen a few markets around the USA to begin with including Des Moines, Salt Lake City, and the beautiful Pacific Northwest (I know large area, refining based on potential relocation) to start with but trying not to limit myself at this point. I plan to obtain my RE license after moving back to the states to assist in my entrepreneurial endeavors.

I think my biggest challenge currently is one of location, everything is just a bit harder from abroad. In a more general sense just getting started is the biggest hurdle. I believe that once I close on that first (second, currently renting out prior primary residence) property I can begin the process of refining and replicating for maximum efficiency.

I am reading and learning regularly here on BP, hoping to make some contacts with experience or skills I can learn from first hand.  If said contacts happened to be located in any of my target markets, so much the better!  I am ready and willing to receive advise, pointers, tips, admonishments of any variety, and happy to help in whatever way I can with anyone kind enough to offer up their knowledge.  Hello BiggerPockets!