New guy from Baton Rouge

[David Abarca]

My name is David Abarca and I am from Baton Rouge, La.  I currently own a restaurant and I own 7 rental units (4 apartments and 3 mobile homes with lots).  I started in real estate when I was 23 and in the navy.  I was complaining about not wanting to live on the ship when a friend of mine suggested that I buy a house and rent out the bedrooms to my navy buddies.  4 years later after not paying a dime on my mortgage (thanks to my shipmates) and fixing up the house quite a bit I walked away with a $40,000 profit.  I have never read a real estate book until I came across Brandon Turner's "How to invest in rental property" (which also has led me here).  Now I am ready to take a business minded approach to investing and increase my portfolio.  I currently work about 60 to 70 hours a week in the restaurant, so I hope you can see why I would like to do something a little different so that I can spend more time with my family and friends.  Flipping a renting properties are the things that I want to do in the very near future so hopefully I can get some great advice from everyone here and maybe make a few deals with like minded people.  I look forward to the future here on BiggerPockets!