Active Duty Military Investing: Advantages and Disadvantages

[Andrew Lekowski]

Hello! My name is Andrew Lekowski and this is my first BiggerPockets discussion post.  I am an active duty Army Pilot attending flight school in Enterprise, AL

Just wanted to introduce myself to everyone, and allow this post to bring together other military investors to share their stories as well!

My real estate investing began as soon as I graduated from West Point in May of 2019, with my first deal being a house hack using the VA loan in Enterprise. I am also doing a BRRRR on a fourplex in Enterprise, AL, and I have already done the Buy, Renovate, and Rent part, and once the purchase has seasoned in two months I will be eligible to do a 100% cash out refinance with a local credit union (All In Credit Union).

I am actively searching for my next deal, which will be any real estate asset class (residential apartment, commercial building, storage facility, trailer park, etc.) that has 16 units or greater, that has a potential value add opportunity, and that is relatively recession inelastic.  As for location and price of this future deal, I am flexible based on the merits of the deal, although preferably I would want this deal to be within a 50 mile radius of Enterprise, AL and under $1million listing price.

Here is a question to kick off this discussion: What are the advantages and disadvantages you have encountered of investing in real estate while also serving active duty?