All Forum Posts by: Joshua Bruski-Hyland

Having a w2 job will do a lot for you in terms of financing a property. While this may not sound fun, I would start by getting a job in something you're proficient at like another accounting job. You don't have to work a job in the realm of real estate if that's not what you want to do for the foreseeable future, but it wouldn't hurt. Another great option would be getting your real estate license and becoming an agent. This will help you learn your market and make relationships with lenders, title companies, and other agents - something crucial to successful real estate investing. I personally think that having great business relationships is what sets successful investors apart. 

Would be interested to hear what comes of this. I may find myself in a similar situation in the coming years. 

 Will do, thanks!

 Thanks for the advice! I have a few property managers in mind that I will interview when the time comes to either move to my next property or when I PCS.

The advice so far has been solid and I will echo Scott’s post. Joining the military can have some great advantages. The pay is pretty good when you consider the benefits provided to you at no cost. I’m currently serving in the Air Force. If you want more information about serving, let me know. There’s also a great YouTube channel called “From Military to Millionaire” if you want to pursue that route. It is put on by David Pere, who is an active BP member. 

I would also start working on your credit now. You won’t be able to qualify for a loan without good credit. There are plenty of resources out there about how to work on and improve your credit. At 18, I would get a CC and use is sparingly. In short, keep your utilization low (below 10%) and pay it off in full every month. Go to a local credit union to get a card with a decent rate.

Definitely not required to make it happen, but I think having access to the MLS would be helpful. Also being able to call up the selling agent of a property I drive by and get the entry code would be convenient. There are some other pros that go with my job like personal improvement and being able to assist others with their properties.

I think that's a great compromise for both parties. You get a rent increase to help cover your costs and they get the flexibility and a break for being good tenants. I would never sign a 2 year lease and think that most would be put off by it. 

I have not yet been able to attend a local real estate meet up but see that there are some around me such as Olympia that are hosted monthly. I will take a look at attending some in the future. While there are downsides, there are some great upsides too! Access to the VA loan and some great tax benefits come from serving.

Hi All,

My name is Joshua Bruski-Hyland and I would like to get into the Real Estate investment business at a greater capacity. I am an Active Duty Air Force service member currently living in Tacoma, WA. I've already purchased my first property (primary residence) and have been making upgrades while I live there. I have a few more big things to take care of, namely HVAC and a cosmetic kitchen restoration, before I buy my next piece of property. I may need to move in the next few months but am awaiting the word of my Commander. If I stay another year, I will get my Real Estate license and look into investing in another property. I haven't yet decided on my strategy for the next property, but it will likely be a BRRRR or 2/3/4-plex. I would prefer the latter, but there is basically nothing within a realistic commute to my work.

While my job has some great advantages, there are some disadvantages that I will need to overcome. The first one is simply time. My job at times can be relaxed but also incredibly demanding and unpredictable at other times depending on what is happening in the world. I have many times been called to fly across the world and be gone for weeks or months with a day's notice. The second is the lack of predictability. Like I said, I may be moving in the coming months, but I have no idea when and where I am moving. It can be hard to plan a long term strategy when you have little control on where you are going to be assigned and you don't get a lot of time to learn the market in person. This can also present itself as an opportunity though in that you're exposed to a lot of potential markets when you move and there's an incredibly dependable job backing you. Investment around Military Installations can also be very dependable. They are likely to weather a storm better because of the consistent demand service members provide.

I hope to continue learning from the wealth of knowledge and great members here at BP. If you would like to connect or want to know more about investing in the Military, please feel free to reach out. Sko Buffs!

I often think about the moral implications of investing in real estate as well. I think the fact that you even consider whether or not it is morally right means that you will be a more thoughtful, caring, and fair landlord - something that is definitely a benefit to the community. At the end of the day, people need a place to come home to. RE investors as a whole collectively improve the quality of housing available to our tenants. We take properties that need help, clean them up, and then provide a better place to live in for those who rent.