All Forum Posts by: Haneef Porter

Yes, that’s something I’ve been afraid of because I know people that went through the same thing. But as me being a beginner those type of areas are more affordable as far as price for me to purchase 1st property. Any suggestions???? 

Quote from @Aaron Ameen:

Hey Haneef, great question. Mistakes are inevitable, but learning from them quickly is what really matters.

Early on, my biggest mistake was not raising rent consistently. I left rent flat for three years, thinking I was keeping tenants happy. Meanwhile, the market moved up 60%, and I was way undercharging. When I finally adjusted, I lost a tenant, had to navigate turnover, and dealt with a much bigger headache than if I had just kept up with small, steady increases. Lesson learned: gradual adjustments are much easier than big jumps later.

Another big one? Not firing a bad property manager fast enough. Our first remote rental in Iowa seemed like a smooth deal—fully renovated, no major work needed. But within 45 days, our property was abandoned by the PM. Utilities were never turned on, pipes froze and burst, and they let prospective tenants show themselves through the house with no supervision. Meanwhile, the only time we heard from them was when they charged us for “snow removal” that we later confirmed never happened.

It was a disaster. But instead of pulling out of the market, we fired them immediately, brought in a great PM through a local agent referral, and had the home leased within a week. If I had cut ties sooner, I would have saved myself thousands in unnecessary damage and stress. Now, I don’t hesitate—if a PM stops communicating, delays rent, or mishandles maintenance, I fire fast and move on.

If you’re just starting out, focus on controlling what you can—good deals, good management, and keeping cash flow strong. If you want to chat more, I’ve got a full breakdown of my portfolio and lessons learned. Feel free to DM me—happy to share insights!

WOW! Man sounds like you definitely had a journey and a story to tell, but I agree with just being able to learn from the mistakes is most important. Also I would like to view your portfolio I feel as though I can learn some things from you.

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to both beginner and experienced real estate investors to gather insights about common mistakes you made when you first started investing. We all know that mistakes are part of the learning process, but I’m curious to hear what specific challenges you faced early on and how those experiences shaped your approach going forward.

• What was the biggest mistake you made when you were just starting out?
• How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from it?
• Looking back, what would you do differently now that you have more experience?

For beginners, I’d love to hear about the hurdles you’re currently facing and any advice from seasoned investors on how to avoid those common pitfalls.

Looking forward to your stories and tips!

Thanks!

@Denise Supplee I appreciate you sharing part of your story/journey, it’s very motivating it’s a place I would love to get to one day in the near future. 

@Andre Brock I have one in mind that’s been in real estate for about 20 years, I just have to do my part by reaching out and asking for help, the worst they can say is NO lol. But I appreciate you encouraging me to do so. 

@Drew Sygit Thanks for all the information, great information and recommendations I will most definitely take heed to what you have shared with and apply it. 

Thanks John I really appreciate the feedback and will take everything you said into consideration and follow up with actions, thanks again for the great advice. 

Quote from @Andrew Moresi:

Welcome Haneef! Fantastic to have you on board.. do you have a reliable team lined up, or are you still scouting for pros?

Hello Andrew, I have a few people I have already been building reports with but I am also still in the scouting stage. 

Hello BiggerPockets community!

My name is Haneef Porter, and I’m a recent college graduate with a degree in Business Administration. I’m eager to start my journey in real estate investing and am reaching out for guidance from those with more experience. I’m especially interested in the real estate market in the Rochester, NY area, as I believe it offers great opportunities for growth.

As a beginner, I’m looking for tips on where to start. Whether it's about financing options, understanding the local market, or best practices for property management, I’m open to all suggestions. I’d also love any advice on avoiding common pitfalls and how to build a strong foundation in real estate investing.

If there are any resources, local groups, or even personal experiences you can share, I’d be grateful. I’m excited to leverage my business background as I venture into real estate, and I’m looking forward to learning from the wealth of knowledge in this community!

Thanks so much for your help!

Best regards,
Haneef Porter