Newbie from Panhandle Nebraska / Northern Colorado

[Ty Kayton]

Hello BiggerPockets, 

My name is Ty Kayton. I am construction professional in my mid-20's looking to develop a real estate investment portfolio. My wife is an RN working on her Master's, which will allow her to practice as a Midwife. We are currently temporarily located in the panhandle of Nebraska, around 2 hours north of Fort Collins. We will be moving to Colorado (likely somewhere in the Denver metro) within 2 years as our career winds are blowing in that direction and she is originally from there. 

I have worked in both residential & commercial construction for the better part of a decade, in all facets. I've worked as a carpenter for others, owned my own business, and (currently) as a project manager for a mid-size GC headquartered out of Lincoln, NE. 

My aim is to build on my foundational knowledge of construction & real estate (I've had a number of family members that have worked or currently work as real estate agents) into a successful real estate investing career. 

My only experience in real estate investing is a successful flip of a single family home that my wife & I lived in while renovating. We were able to do most of the work ourselves and realized a nice profit on the flip while still both working full-time. My wife and I would like to begin investing while still maintaining our collective income, which is around $120k a year. Multi-family investing is what appeals most to me, but we are flexible and I'd like to learn about all different strategies to find a best fit. 

I have listened to many of the podcasts and been reading the articles on the site, and this has fueled my desire to pursue this endeavor. I am eager to draw on the experiences of those of you willing to share your knowledge. As I alluded to before, I want to turn my understanding of construction and real estate into successful investing (I know that I have much to learn, and am excited to do so).

Hope this wasn't too long-winded (this is literally the first time in my life I've ever posted to a forum of any kind). I look forward to connecting and learning about effective investment strategies with you all. Would love to start establishing some contacts, especially in the Denver and northern Colorado area! Thanks in advance and look forward to hearing from you all. 

tk

[Account Closed]

You're at an advantage in that you have pretty much Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado to look through.

About a year ago, I remember seeing an investor trying to unload a few rentals in Cheyenne.  The area around Sidney could be interesting depending on what Bass Pro does with the Cabela's facility.  I've seen some interesting deals around Pine Bluff - store front on the bottom with a couple of units on the second story - but I didn't buy because, well, it's Pine Bluff and I don't know the industry there.  I have been eyeballing Ogallala for Air BnB type stuff and I know there was an apartment complex that sold out there a few months ago.  All along I-76 there is opportunity in my opinion.  Oil & Gas and Solar have the area hopping not to mention rail is a big industry.  I know the prison in Sterling was offering $1,200 sign on bonuses for detention officers through the end of September.  I have a rental in Fort Morgan - there are two property managers in town and they don't have enough available houses to rent.  The town is growing but it will experience some growing pains - a detention officer in Sterling makes about twice what a patrol officer makes working for the city of Fort Morgan.  There are many folks commuting from Fort Morgan to Denver for work (including the guy that did the windows on my rental) and there are folks commuting from Sterling to Brighton for lower paying jobs as well (the guy that delivered my appliances from Lowe's in Brighton lives and commutes from Sterling).  Prices in all these areas are much less expensive that Fort Collins, Longmont, Greeley, etc. and I think anything East of I-25 and north of I-76 will see appreciation....with the area along 85 and 52 being current opportunities.

But what do I know?  :)

Good luck on your ventures and keep an open mind with relation to the rural areas.  You might be surprised.