Fresh off the highway investor in Los Angeles

[Steven Ortiz]

Hola! I just dropped everything and drove across the US from Northern Virginia to live in LA and pursue a new job opportunity. I am a Government contractor in the IT field and now live in Venice where I am renting a room in a SFH.

Investment intentions: I am going to be 100% debt free in the next 7-9 weeks, sooner if I decide to speed it up/change a few things around. I will need a few months to comfortably stack some capital but my investment priority is multifamily properties, at least 6 doors and I am considering the Phoenix area. For a buy and hold condo or TH, I am considering Ashburn, Virginia. I have never purchased a property of any kind. I don't feel I am ready or even that interested in the L.A. market. Of course as my knowledge increases that direction could change! I am open to any market, just want my dollar to go far for my first purchase without an overwhelming price tag for 400sqft like in LA. Looking forward to networking with folks here on the BP forums, I am ready to get my foot in the door and start executing. 

I discovered BP when my brother sent me a webinar invite as I had expressed curiosity in the real estate world. I've joined a few more webinars since then and finally decided to go PRO, Brandon made me do it! =D I listened to some of the podcast episodes on my drive across the U.S. and have been reading up on so many things. My hurdle that I acknowledge is that I am too focused on learning and listening that I am delaying any kind of action and never starting that momentum to begin really "figuring" things out.

Lastly, quick fun things about me. Used to live a silly Jason Bourne life; multiple passports, spent time in 50 countries from Afghanistan to Cuba to Mali to Mongolia and everything in between, friends never knew where I actually was. Some of my most valuable life lessons and experiences learned during this time. Would be fantastic to invest in real estate in some of my favorite countries, please reach out if you have some knowledge in that. I have also been a Firefighter for 10 years and grateful to be of service to my community. I've also volunteered for a while with an adaptive sports clinic called Catalyst Sports as a rock climber, we work with deaf, blind, and other non-cognitive disability folks to experience and train with the joys of all kinds of sports! I thoroughly appreciate the outdoors and finally have access to the endless beauty and opportunity of the west coast! I am a bit of a motorcycle nut, I race for fun in 3 different disciplines of motorcycle racing and have ridden in some incredible places all over the world. I have been off all social media for 3 years and just recently returned, I STRONGLY recommend you give it a try in some capacity as it is very rewarding. 

Thanks for taking the time to read about a small fish in a big pond. Looking forward to learning, networking and partnering with the fine folks here on Bigger Pockets!

Cheers!