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All Forum Posts by: Gabriel Whitehead

Gabriel Whitehead has started 1 posts and replied 2 times.

Post: Young Investor (28) Starting Out

Gabriel WhiteheadPosted
  • Posts 2
  • Votes 0
Quote from @Max Ferguson:

Great post with tons of information! I started my journey last year as a "Young" investor but the family business growing up was centered around it so I was fairly comfortable. I used to be a multifamily acquisition analyst and our goal is very similar, multifamily is what I'm most comfortable with. 

Some of my thoughts:
-Jumping from Digital ads to wholesaling is largely different. While you have studied wholesaling, most people aren't cut out for it. If you mess up/see no success in 6 months you could royally shoot yourself in the foot. Cold calling/Doorknocking/following up aggressively are all skills that take time to curate and implement effectively. 

-Buy as cheap of a car as you can for now. Like others have said, financing makes no sense. Look for something reliable, no one cares about what you drive. I chose a 2008 Lexus LS460, my multimillionaire clients appreciate it since it is clean and comfortable. It only cost $10k however provides some snazzy features like heated rear seats. 

-Becoming a Loan officer right now would be tough also. A huge amount of the industry has quit due to the mortgage applications dropping so drastically. While you could do this "part time" and learn the ins and outs for the next bull cycle or when business picks up for you, there are other avenues that would be far more advantageous to spend your time in.

My recommendations:

-$125k is a fantastic salary so keep Job and Save Save Save

-Buy a car outright

-Save up for a downpayment after, get a home with at least 2 units. OR if you can somehow save up for a buildout, convert a basement/attic/whatever of a single family!! (this is a way to keep list price down in most instances) CHECK out FHA 203k loans. I haven't used one yet, but these allow you to borrow construction costs. You need plans/quotes/etc to show the lender but you may be able to get a whole buildout financed if done correctly!!

-Go slow for a year, retain your current job and relax a bit. This will allow you to get used to what home ownership is like. It is important not to overextend yourself, sometimes sitting back is best. 

Please reach out with any questions. I have contacts in the Phoenix area as well. Love to help people like me and you are definitely on the right track! Keep us updated!


Max, thank you for your reply. Very insightful and super helpful. Thank you for sharing your first-hand experience and parsing through the post thoroughly.  

Luckily, I started my technology sales career as a sales development rep and BDR which required tons of cold calling and follow-up. Currently, I own a book of $7M comprised of 55 clients that require some of the skills you mentioned in regard to wholesaling. My gut is telling me that my biggest challenge initially will be gaining the skills required to have confidence in my deal analysis, but this is ultimately an auxiliary strategy that would compound my savings toward my ultimate goal. 

Lots of great points to consider in your post, love the anecdote on the vehicle. Definitely took that to heart. 

I'll absolutely be in touch, thank you again! 

Post: Young Investor (28) Starting Out

Gabriel WhiteheadPosted
  • Posts 2
  • Votes 0

Hi Bigger Pockets fam, 

Bio:

I'm a 28-year-old aspiring real estate investor. I currently work in big tech (digital ads strategy). I've been an entrepreneur since I was 17, self-taught (mostly) with formal training and incubator experience in Silicon Valley boot camps. My expenses and DTI are relatively low, with some current CC debt, student loans, and no car or car payment. I make over $125k with a credit score above 730 and live in the Bay. I plan to make a company change OR switch careers and become a loan officer in my target market, Phoenix, AZ. My family has lived in the Area 10+ years and owns three properties total. We know the market well. I have cash for a down payment but considering saving it for reserves and looking for more creative ways to more cash flexibility. I also have a strong network, some private equity contacts (California), lenders, agents, contractors, etc.

Goal: 

Optimize towards owning multi-family properties as soon as possible.

The Challenge: 

I was recently in a car accident that left me without a vehicle (long story), and I live in an area where it makes sense to own a car. I would be financing between $15-$18k at 5-6%; I would do this to hedge against buying a beater that may become a money pit. Additionally, renting vehicles when needed could ultimately cost more than what I would pay for the money for the car. 

The Strategies: 

#1: Focus on wholesaling for year one. Use wholesale income to generate larger reserves and then>house hack multi-family>scale multi-family empire over 5 years.   

#2: Skip wholesaling, rehab house hack a multi-family>roll profits from rentals and saved expenses/job income into the next property. Scale multi-family.

#3: Rehab house hack single-family with ADU potential>generate rental income>use rental income/saved expenses/job income>scale multi-family.


Feedback: 

I've spent the last 1.5 years learning different strategies through reading, podcasts ;), and mentorship by osmosis from peers in the industry they grow their investment acumen. 

#1: I'm looking for feedback on buying the car now and pursuing wholesaling, effectively executing on strategy #1. 

#2. I'm looking for feedback on strategies #2 and #3, preserving a low DTI and positioning myself for an FHA entry in Phoenix.


Any thoughts on this will be greatly appreciated; thank you!