All Forum Posts by: Jae Cunningham

I would say choose the mom and her kid first. Only because....its a single mom and her kid. Most moms want a stable environment for their child and don't really want to be moving every year or so.

Second I would choose the two nursing students with the dogs. Yes the dogs are going to be a hassle moving forward, however being a nursing student you aren't going to have much time do anything else except study and sleep. And women tend to keep a cleaner home then most men do.

Last I would choose the fire fighters.

*** Go with your gut ***

I believe I understand the concept of "using others peoples money" in terms of how it would benefit your lender, but I'm just at a lost as to how it all works and I would love if someone would clarify it for me....

This is what It looks like in my head:

1. You find a lucrative yet safe deal.

2. You present deal to lenders.

3. You negotiate what the lender will receive after the deal is complete (repayment/interest).

4. You use lenders money to purchase the deal.

Am I missing a step?

I've been watching a design show on HGTV called "FLIP OR FLOP" and on that show the couple buys home with their brother in laws money, and fixes them up and at the end of it they get a percentage of the overall sale.

Now I know through the "magic of Hollywood" it looks easy but something about it just doesn't sit well with me....Like how does one just TRUST another person with that amount of money?

I fancy myself to be like a low key real estate deal finder. Just from moving around a lot in my childhood and then again with the military, I've seen and been in a number of different markets. From California, to D.C., to international markets like Japan and now I've settled in Billings MT.

I would LOVE to take what I know about certain markets and bring them to the right ears, and then strike up a partnership moving forward I just have NO CLUE as to where to start?

Should I come up with the deal first? Or perhaps seek out like minded individuals and move forward from there?

I feel at times my ambition burns a hole through my overall understanding...and once the ship is on fire I end up abandoning ship.

Thanks @Joshua!

Yes, looking forward to the meet up in January as well!!

I have been on bigger pockets for less then a month and have been learning A TON of useful information. I was even fortunate enough to connect with someone who is a real estate investor in my current city who sat down with me and just let me pick his brain and offered me a partnership of sorts in locating property for him.

I guess my question is a general one....How long were you on BiggerPockets before you made your first deal?

Does anyone own any property overseas? And if so what are some Pro's and Con's when it comes to investing in a different country.

I would LOVE to possibly buy property in Japan or even Mexico one day but I'm a bit hesitant seeing as though its in a different country and other things like the language barrier.

I joined the Navy at 19, and was stationed in Japan for my first duty station.

If I could turn back the hands of time I would first NO SPEND SO MUCH DAMN MONEY ON CLOTHES!! When I first got to Japan I was saving about 500.00 a month and by the time I went home I had about 3k in my savings. That was the largest amount of money I had ever had, and I had NO CLUE with that to do with it except.....buy clothes with it :-)

Just in general I would have been a bit more frugal when it came to my finances and learned the power of a budget, and paying bills on time.

I would of also invested in my own dreams instead of funding other peoples.

First off I would like to say that your story is an inspiration to anyone who is new to this lifestyle and is truly considering to make RE their life.

When it comes to your question...I believe you already have the answer to what it is you want to do, and you might just be looking for some validation for it.

I'm pretty found of the saying "nothing ventured, nothing gained" so I believe you should just go for it. ESPECIALLY if you feel those same connections at your current job are going to continue to send business your way. However, with the 8 hours a day you put into making someone else dream come true you can be investing in yourself, KEEPING your woman happy, while also focusing solely on real estate which seems to be your passion.

If you are such a super star at your current job then what is stopping them from rehiring you if things don't turn out the way you want them too?

This is a really great post for EVERYONE starting out in the RE world.

Thanks for this!!

@Ryan M. Thanks!

I think I'm a bit interested in both Wholesale, and buy and hold. As far as having them money for a down payment I currently have some money saved up, and I also qualify for the VA loan since I'm a veteran.

I do like your idea of connecting with others and trying to possibly do a joint deal. I have a greater understanding of markets back east in the D.C. area. The area has been BOOMING for the last 5 or so years and it doesn't look likes its going to slow down....

and trust me I'm listing to the BP podcast EVERY day, and researching like crazy.

Do you guys have any advice on where to actually START when it comes to investing? I feel like the first thing I need to do is run out and get a loan from a bank; But I'm not too sure if that's the right move for the type of investing Im interested in doing, or even if the bank will lend to me because I have very little credit.

My second feeling is to see if I can possibly link up with some of my prior military friends who I know are interested in investing and have a bit more capital to try and pull together our funds.

Any advice on how to find my yellow brick road??