New to BP from Scott AFB, Ilinois

[Scott Fletcher]

Hello all, 

I wanted to introduce myself and see if I couldn't meet/network with some like-minded individuals with similar real estate goals.  I will begin by first formally introducing myself - I'm Scott Fletcher and am an Active Duty service member with the United States Air Force, which I've proudly been a part of for the last 12 years.  I've travelled the world and done a lot of things I wouldn't have thought possible given my upbringing.  With that said, we've just arrived at Scott AFB in Illinois, which I hope will be our home for the foreseeable future... at least for the next 9 years until I retire anyway.   

We arrived a couple of months ago and bought our first house, but I have this drive burning inside of me telling me I should/can/will do more.  My daily job in the Air Force is Cyber Security, which is fun and will be very lucrative in the civilian side, but I'm more of a hands-on active person (I did Interior Trim before I joined the military and loved it).  With Interior Trim, you can see your work take shape and I loved that.

Now for the meat and potatoes, I'm at a loss as to where to start... do I get my REL in Illinois even if I don't plan on making it our permanent home, start trying to find deals to fix & flip, where to get money (hard money or private lending, HELOC)? I really don't have much saved up (because we just bought a house and have a new baby), but I'm eager to get my hands dirty and start finding/working deals. I've read Rich Dad Poor Dad and I'm working on Brandon Turner's book (The Book on Investing In Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down). Along, with a few other Real Estate reads.

So, in a nutshell, I wanted to say hi and start networking and see where this journey takes us.  At this point, I'm like a sponge and will soak up any bit of knowledge I can get because I think passive income is the way to go.  I mean 9-5's are great, but I'm realizing I'm not a 9-5 person; I'd rather be a 24/7 person if that means my family and their future is more financially secured. 

V/r,

Scott