About to rent out my first property near Tampa

[Paul Tes]

Hello BP,

I'm an Army vet and have wanted to be a real estate investor since I was a teenager. I graduated from The University of Tampa last May with an MIS degree. Except for the military, my background is in data analytics, architecture, and management. I'm a born and raised Tampa native with an intimate knowledge of the area, so if you have any questions feel free to ask. 

I'm relatively new to the property investing game. Fortunately, I've got a realtor in the family, and she helped me purchase my first property earlier this year. I've been living in it while doing some updates (and generally trying to figure out life after college). I hope to have it ready for a tenant by the start of 2019. Overall, the condo is in great condition, but it needs a facelift. The HOA is run by some savvy investors who see the value in keeping costs down; the chefs have to eat their own cooking.

My goal is to increase my portfolio of rental properties until I can achieve early retirement. I hope to gain a working knowledge of the industry, make new contacts in the industry, and give back by passing that knowledge along to help other investors.