All Forum Posts by: Don-Carlos Moniz

@Logan L., the current market is crazy, but in your position, you should be good.  Stick to your numbers and be patient.  If you don't already attend the local meetups, you should start, a lot of service members and veterans in the groups.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

@Carson Minshall, welcome to the forums.  Short answers to your questions are that you don't have to have a broker lined up when you take the class, and many agents work part-time. I would recommend keeping your job initially, as it can take several months before a new agent closes their first deal.  I did my pre-licensing with Cumbie and Trull in Ashville and enjoyed the program.  Before getting licensed, two things to consider are (1) that being an agent can be an expensive hobby and (2) once you are licensed, you are held to a higher standard in all real estate transactions.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

@Jorel Gibson, welcome to BiggerPockets.  There are a couple of local meet-ups that I would encourage you to attend.  While there is a lot to gain from going to college, very few real estate careers require a college degree.  Real estate normally is not a stable income source when you get started, so getting a job with a regular paycheck can fill the gaps while you get your business up and running.  If you are serious about real investing, try and get a job in the industry.  Working in the trades or becoming someone's assistant can get you a lot of experience while ensuring that you can cover your bills.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

@Bryan Cooley Jr, welcome to the forums.  I would recommend setting up a keyword search for the markets that you are interested in and start to get to know who is active in your area.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

@Garrett Ryan, welcome to the forums.  I am not in the Davidson area, but there are many active members in the Charlotte area.  I know that Shelby Osborne has a regular meet-up in Charlotte (Pints & Properties) that you should check out.  Set your keyword alerts for the areas you are interested in and start following the folks active in those markets.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

@Elijah Brown, if I would have spent more time in the CP investing in my future, I would definitely be further along.  Just make sure you are not using MDMP to analyze your properties, and you should be good.  Good luck with the property and restoring order and democracy.

@Jeffrey S Helms, I really like the idea as well.  I would be interested to know what you learn from the local project.  The idea may work in the Fayetteville area; I think I will have to do some research.

@Jeremiah Fennell, I don't know if I would say it is the best up-and-coming market, but I really like the Sanford area.  The growth in Triangle is pushing a lot of people out of the market - combine that with more companies opening facilities around the Sanford area, and you end up with a growing market.  I know that they are also seeing growth in the Greenboro area as well.

@Adriese Williams, looks great - congratulations. How long did it take to place a tenant?

@Anna W., I am not sure how those markets are, but in general, it's a seller's market all across the country. Regarding cash v. mortgage, that really depends on your investment strategy and long-term goals. If you don't have a mortgage, then your cash flow will go up significantly. However, if you are looking to purchase multiple properties, you may not want to tie up your cash, thus preventing you from purchasing a second or third property. Of course, some properties are going to be cash-only deals that may not qualify for a mortgage. Also, your husband should retain his VA entitlement after leaving the service, so it may still be an option unless you are looking to use that loan on another property. If you have used his VA entitlement, you would have to reinstate the loan through the VA before using it again. Good luck.