Newbie Investor from Orlando, FL

[Frank Paternoster]

Hello BP Community!

My Name is Frank, and I'm a longtime podcast listener, first time poster here on the forums. 

My wife and I moved to Orlando from NYC in late 2019 and are looking to start our family. I've been investing in stocks for quite some time and am very interested in diversifying into and achieving financial independence through real estate. Not necessarily looking to retire, but I would like to leave the W2 world given sufficient investment income to focus on growing real estate as a business to regain control of my time and have the freedom to spend as much time as possible with my family.

Given my goals, I plan to do long-term buy and hold single family and small multifamily rentals. Am very interested in pursuing the BRRRR method, but am conscious that I need to take action and start somewhere to get myself from 0 to 1.

I'm still trying to nail down the market I'd like to invest in, but am very intrigued by Jacksonville (as hot as it seems to be right now...), Gainesville (possibly more of a rent by the room scenario for the college crowd) and Lakeland, a very high rent to own ratio area closer to home. Would love to invest nearby, but the prices are climbing quickly these days.

With so many possibilities in real estate that it's hard to decide where to jump in. That said, I am absolutely determined to make sure I'm not one of the people that give up, fail, or never get started -- even though, as a naturally risk-averse person, am having a really difficult time getting out of the analysis paralysis and pulling the trigger on a deal. Hoping others can relate!

Looking forward to meeting others who are or have been in my shoes.