New User Looking For Inspiration

[Cameron Grafton]

Hey Ya'll,

My name is Cameron Grafton, I'm a new user and wanted to introduce myself to ya'll. I just moved to the Phoenix area to attend school (ASU) from North Carolina, where I was stationed for a few years.

I have a beautiful wife and three boys who I'm trying to build a legacy for, I need to find a way out of the rat race and have been directed here to consume as much knowledge as possible. I know it wont be quick or easy but I know my priorities and I've set my goals.

A little more background from me; I was young and stupid in the military and developed about 60K in debt that I am currently working to pay off. It doesn't make much sense to start investing in real estate just yet because my returns probably will be less than the percentage I'm paying in interest. Unfortunately, my monthly income matches my expenses (97.%!) so I'm taking everything I can to pay down debt and I've pinched just about ever penny I can pinch.

I'm currently thinking about getting certified to be a Real Estate Agent to grow more knowledge in the field and have branched myself into different areas trying to learn things that I think might be helpful. It is also possible that the income that I got from that would be more than the income I'm receiving now as a student using GI Bill benefits.

I started a podcast with my wife that has taught me much in the ways of marketing, audio editing and outreach. Some of those skills I think will be useful when it comes time to build a real estate empire. I also launched a customized T-shirt company and that has taught me much in the way of product development, managing operating costs and expenses as well as marketing, profit margins and other cool things you're not taught in school. I specifically didn't mention the names of those so I don't come off as advertising those, that's not my intention. I'm merely showing that I am trying to develop skills that I can while I pay down debt, I don't want to idle right now. There is too much information to ingest. I just finished "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and now have started "The Book On Rental Property Investing" By Brandon Turner, which is how I found this website.

With a little bit of background, I wanted to reach out and ask other users what their start up story was. What obstacles did you have to start (or are currently overcoming) in order to jump into Real Estate Investing. I'm very curious to hear what ya'll have to say and look forward to hearing from ya'll.

[Cameron Grafton]

Figured I would come back here and update ya'll.

I paid off a considerable amount of my debt with the rest of it being paid off in what follows next. I found a good job that allowed me to bring home about 60K a year and I ultimately ended up buying a home and the timing worked out tremendously! I purchased for $255,000 and the home was just appraised at approximately $505,000 - $525,000.

My wife and I are currently exploring the option of selling and taking the profits to purchase two homes, one to rent out and the other to live in. I never thought that I would ever begin to start my rental portfolio but it's looking like its beginning to come into my life!

I am able to utilize working in a major city as a hiring perk in a relocation to South Carolina. Working in South Carolina will allow me to have a "safer" job that will keep me less actively working while on shift. I am planning to use this time to get my real estate agent license. Eventually, I will transition out of my current job and into real estate as an active career. I am hoping that getting employed in the real estate profession will only help me network and talk to more people that are doing what I want to do.

The move to South Carolina will allow me to turn one home into two, take advantage of a lower cost of living and purchase more real estate since the average home price is approximately half of what it is here.