If You Could Do It All Over Again? Best Advice?

[Nicholas Piva]

Hi there, I am brand new, 19 years old and I want to make mark in this world. I was wondering if you were 19, you had the whole world ahead of you - what action would you take with real estate knowing what you know now? My gut tells me wholesaling, but they can be risky - what do you guys think? How would you build an empire starting from nothing? 

[Justin Whitfield]

I'm 25 so I'm not too far away from 19, but it feels like a lifetime. I have absolutely no regrets about my life or my career so far. I've loved every minute of learning and owning real estate.  That said, there's so many things I've learned that there are definitely some things I would have done differently - but mainly done sooner.

A few things I would absolutely do if I had to do it over:

1. Get my real estate license while I was in college. If for nothing else than the experience of the class, meeting a broker in charge and other agents that I could build relationships with. Mainly though, I would learn how to use the MLS and go look at properties even if I wasn't ready to buy any. This isn't a necessity by any means, but since I'm about to get licensed, I wish I had done it sooner.

2. Network. Joining real estate investing clubs, general investing clubs, local non-profit charity organizations. I would get involved and soak up as much information as I could.

3. Read more. I've read at least a hundred books on investing (not only real estate), personal finance, business, and the self-motivation books. However, I wish I had read them all earlier and taken more notes. I would absolutely read with a highlighter in hand. I love flipping through old books I read and seeing things I highlighted 5 years ago.

4. House hack earlier. I was 23 when I bought the duplex I live in, but I wish I had done it either. 

5. Build a relationship with an attorney and a CPA that you click with. This is crucial if you're going to be building a large portfolio of properties and investments. You will always need sound legal and accounting advice.

I know those are pretty basic and not specifics on deals, but they create an amazing foundation for your real estate career.