New to Real Estate · Decatur, IL · Member since 2021 · 4 posts · 0 votes
So as everyones story goes they are young and want to start early with there life hearing all of the adults around them say they wish they would of done things to push there financial benefit. As I have been learning from people around me and doing my own research I want to jump into real estate at 19 but I have a girlfriend who wants to spend 2 years or so traveling and doing other things usual 19 year olds would do. I just want help in if I should possibly move on from my girlfriend and pursue this or should I do what makes her happy and then eventually get into real estate being 2 years older. This probably wont get any traction but if it does any life advice is helpful. I am working a factory job making 16.35 averaging about 500-600 a week with monthly bills around 900-950 while my girlfriend pulls in about 150-250 so I don't see a big future in holding off on something and possibly never doing it because I have moved on.
Happy to have a phone call and talk this through. I'm 21 and have faced similar challenges. Now, I don't have my first property yet, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but my ex and I did break up because of conflicting interests - she wanted to travel and I wanted to focus on my corporate career - and I was the one who wanted to try and make it work. But don't know if I would a second time around.
On a high-level, though, I'd say why do you have to choose? How can you have both - the girl and REI?
Definitely when I get the chance on a break I can shoot you my contact info.
The reason I have to choose is because she isn't comfortable and says she is scared at starting real estate and she wants to spend some time “enjoying her life” and doing things she hasn't done before and I completely understand but I just don't want to lose enthusiasm and never do the one thing I have dreamed about. We have came to a agreement where we will save 100$ a week for 2 years giving us 15,600$ to have for a down payment for either a duplex where we live in one of the units or we just buy a house for us and live in it till we can get a loan and down payment for another property.
Anymore questions I am happy to answer and be open about.
Congrats to you for your ambition! I'm not going to chime in on your girlfriend situation. But, I work with a bunch of young aspiring real estate investors just like you (in a free online group), and I am willing to help you out with some advice or even chat on the phone if you wish. I'm not sure how old you are, but I recommend you read this article I wrote for Bigger Pockets titled How to Invest in Real Estate Before Turning 21. Once you've read it, let me know your thoughts and if you have any questions. I am a high school teacher in Colorado and I am always looking to help young people get started in real estate investing or help in any way I can. Let me know if you want to chat sometime. https://www.biggerpockets.com/...
Thank you for reaching out! I will get right into reading the post and get back to you as soon as I can. I have looked for mentors or other people in my area to help but very far and few that are actually willing to help out.