New Investor from Ft Lauderdale, FL

[Will N.]

Hello Everyone.

I thought I would quickly introduce myself prior to posting elsewhere.

First off I have been reading through BiggerPockets for quite sometime as I have always thought about getting involved in REI - in fact I have put a few offers on rental properties in the past which (fortunately) didn't work out. It wasn't until I really committed myself to learning more about REI that I realized I was being driven to make offers based off my desire to have a rental property and that I need to properly do my due diligence prior to committing.

A little about me: I'm 29 years old and currently work in the maritime industry. I live in Ft Lauderdale with my wife and two kids. I'm not happy with my typical 9-5 routine, traveling (for work) for weeks if not months at a time, and more than anything how little there is to show for all the hard work I'm doing to make other people money.

In many respects REI is in my blood - my grandfather, uncle, and cousin have all made sizable fortunes through REI but unfortunately I haven't gotten the bug until now.

In the past few months I have read Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, The ABC's of Real Estate Investing, 2 Years to a Million in Real Estate, Real Estate Riches, HOLD, and am currently reading Think and Grow Rich. I have also been scouring the internet, BiggerPockets, and have accumulated about 20 pages of typed notes. While some of the books, blogs, videos, etc have been better than others I have pretty much always gotten some great information out of each.

My goal for REI is primarily to buy and hold properties for cash flow.

My goal by introducing myself here on BiggerPockets is of course to learn more but also to meet with people and network.

My strategy thus far is to get book smart, begin networking and run my ideas by those with more experience than myself, interview and put together a team, and finally begin investing.

I look forward to being a part of the forum.

Thanks.

Will