Chicago and/or Iowa New Aspiring Investor

[Jenna Herr]

Hello Investors,

I’ve been lurking and listening for ~6 months but figure it’s time for an introduction. I have never owned property but became interested in real estate while working my first job out of college (economic development). After a few years, I learned a lot, but decided government wasn’t for me and went back to school full-time for my MBA. Now I manage a corporate risk and insurance program for a global firm headquartered in Chicago—I love it. I’m an adventurer, a little unconventional, and I’d like to live a bunch of different places throughout my life, so setting up systems and processes to support virtual work is super appealing to me.

My favorite business book: Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke

My favorite real estate related book: The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs, J Scott

My hobbies & interests: Reading, writing, learning, HIMYM, Parks & Rec, New Girl, cocktail bars, museums, botanical gardens

Where people can find out more about me: I’m not a heavy user of social media, but responsive to email and LinkedIn and messages here.

Looking forward to connecting!

Jenna

[Darson Grantham]

@Jenna Herr I totally remember being in your shoes about 2 years ago, exciting times.  Regarding the location, a lot depends on the network and trust of people you have in the area of your first investment.  Like I said, I first invested 2 hour drive south of where i live Fairfield Iowa, once i got a handyman, property manager, plumber, HVAC and electriction there that I trust (where NOT the cheapest), I only went to the units 2 times in 2019 and that was because I had PTO days to use and was being cheap about having someone else install a dishwasher and oven.

So cashflow per month is your goal to replace expenses and then replace income.  Seems like a similar path I was taking until about a month ago in which I decided to jump into getting my real estate sales license to sell cashflowing investment properties in central Iowa.

Best of luck and if you make any trips to DSM I'd be happy to grab a coffee, as long as the shelter in place is over at that time!