Newbie from Clearwater, FL

[Phillip Rosin]

Hello,

My name is Phil. I am a software engineer / tester in the Clearwater, FL area. I also have a background in construction and some sales / customer service, as well as enjoy building custom furniture and other fabrication projects. 

Regarding my real estate experience / status, I just sold my first home, which was purchased 5 years ago. After a water damage incident in the middle of a diy renovation and a job location change from Tampa to Clearwater, a realtor friend wanting to move into the area approached with an as-is offer which I could not refuse. 

I'm currently in the process of learning as much as possible and weighing rentals against stock investing. I'm also deciding whether to pay of my low interest debts first and use what is left to invest, or keep my debts and look for opportunities which yield much higher returns.

[Tyler White]

Welcome to BP Phil! My wife and I both work in software and are moving back to the Dunedin/Clearwater area in a couple months. We decided to use some savings to pay off an old student loan last year even though the interest was minimal. Being consumer debt free has given us peace of mind, and it's so much more enjoyable to throw money into our home savings fund instead of spending it on a recurring student loan. Best of luck in your investing journey Phil!