Enjoy the Journey

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Although this forum is titled "Real Estate Success Stories," my personal journey in Real Estate has just begun, sort of. The journey actually begins back in 2006 with a rehab project that took more than 2 years before it was finally sold. With the housing market crashing soon after, my wife and I took a back seat, mostly out of fear because of what happened to so many other investors and families affected, including mine. We always wanted to get back into investing, but for some reason, we thought it would be wise to wait to get our real estate licenses first. After failing the state exam in 2008 we once again put this dream of ours on the back burner and continued our lives, always dreaming of one day jumping back in. 

Finally, in 2015, both my wife and I passed the Florida real estate state exam, and officially became licensed to sell real estate Florida. Well as many know, it is not always easy to find a broker who is willing to work with new agents part time. We spoke to different brokerage firms, both small and large but never had the gut feeling that the brokerage was the right place for us. 

It was a few months after getting my license that I found Bigger Pockets and was immediately hooked. Listening to @Joshua Dorkin and @Brandon Turner somewhat, strangely hypnotizing or maybe it was the use of the word "awesome" that is used at least 20 times an episode. Seriously though, it was the fact that the hosts sincerely care about their audience and had amazing guests to boot. I have purchased and read almost all the BP books, along with many the guests have recommended. I don't post much because I don't believe that posting without providing value to others is a waste of time. That being said, I do post when I am in need or think I may have some words of wisdom, which if you cont my posts total, hasn't been much. 

I decided to post today because my wife and I finally singed on with a broker about a month ago and now have been using the MLS to find expired listings for properties in the Tampa area. Today my wife, son and I went out to look at some of these SFH and MU properties and to be honest, it was quite exciting. We drove around a couple of cities north of Tampa and left cards at some homes and spoke to a wonderful couple. Our son came with us, who is becoming more and more interested in real estate, although he just graduated with a bachelors degree in Exercise Science and is interning with the local university. Our son is very interested in house hacking and is eager to start, so we are looking to purchase our first multi-unit property for him.

So, this is where we are now. Although the journey is not completed yet, I can say it is a success thus far. I think that every investor out there should look at every day positively, even though things may not be going as fast or as well as they want them to be. The journey from deciding to get into real estate, to purchasing the first property, are all part or the bigger story and small success' in their own right. 

The journey is very important and although I am considered a newbie, and one flip does not really make me an investor, I would say in the wisdom gained since 2006, and would offer to everyone is to enjoy the journey. 

I will keep my fellow BPs informed of my journey and hope to be purchasing our first multi-unit real soon. 

I do ask one thing from everyone who reads this; If you have any suggestions for me, please share. My wife and I can use all the help we can get. 

Good luck to everyone and a huge thank you to Josh for starting this site and his team, from Brandon and the rest if the staff for the podcasts, books, and everything else they provide to help us succeed. 

Happy House Hunting and Enjoy the Journey!

To your success and mine!

Mike Lopez