Post One, A Newbie with nothing

...where to start... A little about me, that I'm sure will randomly bounce around from idea to idea.  I'll do my best to keep this in some sort of order.  First, caveat, I'm not a writer.  In fact, after a few of these, I might find out I suck at writing/blogging.  But seriously, I'm a new investor, rather an investor wanna-be since I'm not exactly partaking quite yet.  Last August (2015) I decided I wanted to involve myself with real estate investing in some form or fashion.  I recently wrapped up 20 years in the Air Force and my next move wasn't putting me any closer to actual retirement anytime soon.  I've always wanted to get into flipping houses, mostly from a passion of working on my own home doing small rehab projects.  Taking something old, ugly and broken and turning it into something shiny and new.  But between moving base to base, being stationed overseas, and usually a pretty intense work schedule, I never jumped in and got started.  August is when I decided that was going to change.

I was getting ready to grab my two sons from Grandma's.  About an 8 hour trip between where I currently live in Ohio to where my folks live in Virginia.  An uneventful trip I've made several times, until this time.  My girlfriend gave me a great, no brainer idea, audio books.  She rents a bunch from the library and tosses her earbuds in at work.  Genius!  I jumped on Amazon, did a search on Real Estate books and after much (about 3 mins) research decided on The Real Estate Rehab Investing Bible: A Proven-Profit System for Finding, Funding, Fixing, and Flipping Houses...Without Lifting a Paintbrush by Paul Esajian.  I listened to it the entire trip and was hooked!  Houses, flipping, money, a proven method, step-by-step how to, freakin sweet!  Now I don't know if this book is good or bad, and I know the author and Than Merrill push the guru courses, but this book laid the idea out for me, and in reality, wasn't asking for more money in the end.  Next, I got back and saw that there was a local seminar, at a hotel, for 2 hours, FOR FREE.  Count me in!  This is where I started seeing the newbie (I haven't found Bigger Pockets yet and doesn't know any better) path come to light.  The seminar had a great speaker with a great slide show, but I noticed it never really told you what or how to do it.  Just that it's there, and it's sweet, just follow the light.  Since then, luckily, I found Bigger Pockets, met with my local REIA, and even better, an informal local meeting group of fellow investors, contractors and newbies like myself.

So, before I continue rambling on too much longer, this is what I've done, where I'm at, and what I plan on doing with this blog.  What I've done, I've been in sponge mode.  I've been reading, listening and learning anything I can get my hands on.  At work I toss on my earbuds and listen to the podcasts here at BP.  I started from the beginning and currently on Show 124.  I usually have a notepad beside my desk to jot notes down here and there.  I've gotten on the forums (not very much admittedly), setup my keyword search and went pro.  I've sat in on several of Brandon's weekly seminars which are pretty awesome.  I've read the book stated earlier along with Rich Dad, Poor Dad and three books also from Brandon.  I'm currently reading Getting Things Done by David Allen.  I'm hoping this book will help me focus and organize better, something I desperately need help with.  On my "to read" list I have 10x, 4 hour work week, e-myth and a few others.  I recently bought my home, not an investment, but the house was a flip and I used the entire process to network and meet people along the way.  Where I'm at, I planned on purchasing my first flip around this time now.  Not to put it off or make excuses, but my job is going to be bringing me away for business about every other month for 3 weeks at a time.  I can hardly manage a flip, much less my first, being gone this much.  So now I'm changing my strategy and focusing on two things, looking for 2-3-4-plexes to buy and hold, and working on scouting for another local investor.  I'll get into both of those more in my next blog.  What I plan on doing with this blog.  I'm going to share my experiences, as I go, week to week.  Whether it's a property I bought, or a good book I just finished.  I'll share my experiences in hopes it will help another newbie like myself, and also to hold myself accountable.  I would love to hear from readers either via the comments (I'm assuming this will allow comments) or PM or however you'd like to contact me.  Good or bad feedback, please!  Tell me you had the same worries or problems.  Or that my writing is painful to read and please stop, for the love of god!  It's time to grab a bite and a beer and get heading towards bed.  Thank you for reading and I'll be sure to post next week.  --Mark