Engineer from South Jersey

[Jim Charles]

Hello Bigger Pockets Community!  My name is Jim Charles.  I live in Wenonah, NJ.  It's a small town in Gloucester County, maybe 20 minutes with no traffic from Philadelphia.  I am a lifelong, reluctant NJ resident, mostly in South Jersey, but I did spend a few years in Monmouth County.  I am an engineer by trade and have spent the last 4+ years in management.  So, on to my real estate story.  We bought our first (and only) house in 2006.  Right at the peak of the market.  It was a really poorly done flip.  At least I learned a lot, I guess. 

So, that brings us to today.  I found the BiggerPockets podcast sometime last year and have listened to a ton.  Completed my requisite reading of Rich Dad Poor Dad, which was actually a pretty big eye opener and mental shift.  (I think I read this before I had even heard of BiggerPockets) I've purchased and read a handful of the BiggerPockets books, among others.  I try to keep my Kindle with me and read at lunch every day.  

Where do I want to go with real estate? I've been asking myself this question a lot. After reading and listening to a lot of different strategies through the podcast, books, social media, etc, I think Mark Ferguson's strategy really hits home. Mind you, I have no intention of becoming a broker, but along the lines of his flips funding his rentals. So, I'd say a few flips first, using the profits to purchase cashflowing rental properties to BRRRR. Whether those flips/rentals are local or long distance doesn't really matter to me. Knowing the stupidly high taxes in this state, out of state seems more likely at this point.

Thanks for reading my long introduction. Hopefully with the kids out of school this week and bedtimes relaxed, I can start attending some local meetups or REIA meetings.