All Forum Posts by: Chris Stroup

Create systems and routines.  Time block your day on your calendar.  Family, the gym, work, everything.  

When I have a huge list of junk to get done, I like to give each item a number value.  

1. Has to get done now!!!

2. Do this as soon as the 1's are done.

3. Medium range tasks.

4. Longterm project or can be revisited at a later date

When I feel really overwhelmed it really helps me to list out everything that I need to do.  Normally it is far less than I thought.  

Routines help a lot.  Create a routine that works for you and try your best to stick to it.  It is easy to get distracted and be all over the place.  But having a routine and dedicated time for your highest value activities will help keep you going in the right direction.  

I agree with the 3/2. We do STR's and our 3 bedroom properties do much better than our 2 bedroom properties. In the smaller properties, we get people that come stay for a weekend. In the larger properties, we get families that stay for a week or more. Not completely relevant but thought it was worth sharing either way.

3/2 gives you more options and more people that will be interested.  

Real estate school is not long.  Mine was 5 weeks and a test.  You can probably find a school that offers it on nights and weekends.  It also wasn't very expensive, around $1,000. You can have a job and get your real estate license.  

It is going to be very hard to get a VA loan right when you get out unless you have a W2 job. For me to get another VA loan, I have to show 2 years of tax returns for my businesses, means I have to wait one more year no matter how much money I am making.

Real estate is fun and will change the direction of your life.  Pick a strategy and get very good at it.  Meet people that are doing what you pick and offer to help them.  I have a couple of people that come out and help me with projects so they can learn and be apart of what we are doing.

It's probably going to be hard to get people to give you money with no experience.  What we learned was, get some experience and build a reputation and then finding money becomes the easy part.  

It's stressful enough to get ready to deploy.  Don't make the poor guy have to find housing right before a deployment.  As long as he is a good tenant and paying rent, why not let him stay?  If your market is anything like mine, rentals don't stay vacant for long, no matter what time of year it is.  

Put your team together. Go there for a few days and meet people and make friends. I suggest getting an STR property manager. They are expensive but in my experience, worth every penny. They schedule everything. Once the property is ready, I am pretty much hands-off and finding the next deal.

Whatever you do, don't just call the listing agent.  Find your own Realtor.  The listing agent will sell you the house but they represent the seller and will not have your best interests in mind.  

@Dustin Heflin What are you doing once you get out?  Are you getting retirement pay and disability?  There is a good chance you will be getting as much as you are making now.  I am 100% disabled and the tax-free check isn't too far from what I was making when I was in.  This gives you a pretty big safety net.  

What is your risk tolerance?  Is there anyone you can partner with to share the financial load and workload?  The best thing I did to get started was to get two partners.  There is a lot that goes into this but for me, it was worth it.  

I am happy to jump on a phone call with you and chat for a few minutes.  

You have so many options.  

Depends on your credit score and how much money you have access to.  If both of those are good, it is going to be easier to get loans while you are still in.  Take advantage of that!  If they are not good, spend this time raising your credit score, saving as much money as you can, and learn learn learn.  

I'm not entirely sure what you are asking.

Are you wanting to buy and hold long term rentals?  If so, get a solid property manager to manage your rentals while you are deployed.  

Find another lender. Ask around and find someone that will work hard to make your deal work. Veterans United is my favorite for VA loans.