New to BP - Just Purchased First Home

[Christopher Laporga]

Aloha,

My name is Chris Laporga. My wife and I just purchased a beautiful home out on the west side of Oahu near the beach (you will find the sunsets are THE BEST here).  The prices in this region are way less than the median on the islands because of the less than desirable traffic and other various reputations. Nonetheless, there are many people that love this side because some parts are absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. That was all the draw my wife and I needed with all the other factors considered.

We used the first-time homeowner USDA financing on this home and got a great rate. I am eligible to utilize a VA loan for financing on another place in about two years. But my wife and I plan to live in this current home for 3-5 years before we even use the VA. We are trying for our first child this year and we will most likely move into a desirable school district on the island when the time comes.

Since I started even thinking about owning a home just this past February (was renting for 10 years up to this point), I have been bitten by the real estate bug. I never looked into what it meant to be a homeowner. I didn't know anything! Naturally, I had to work with a real estate agent and someone that took care of my financing. From that experience, I was forced to do my own research on basic topics. A lot of my google searching and youtubing led me here to BiggerPockets. I finally upgraded my membership today to utilize all these great tools the site offers.

I hope to meet a lot of people that is currently sharing a similar experience with me so we can help each other along the way. I also hope to pick all of your brains for tips, tricks and techniques to build my portfolio in the years to come. My wife and I are saving up and want to invest in the Midwest. I am most familiar with Indiana because that is where I have lived off-and-on for about eight years. I want to buy cheap, reno and rent out homes there! And then, if success permits, would like to invest here on the island. But it is so expensive!

Very sorry if my introduction post was all over the place. My thinking is sporadic because I feel giddy on all the opportunities that are out there. Mahalo for reading!

- Chris