All Forum Posts by: Jonathan Rivera

@Matt Bertsch

Very helpful thanks. I just finished reading How to Invest in Real Estate. The book was awesome. Definitely switches on a couple of light bulbs. I’lol definitely be checking out the other links you provided thank you.

Lehigh Valley, I believe I usually head out that way for Cabela’s or to pick up cigars at CI. Always a great ride. If I remember correctly the airport is on the way to Hamburg. Always a good time out that way.

New to here. I don’t have any experience dealing with real estate outside of the one short sale I almost bought years ago. I’m halfway through my law enforcement career and I’ve noticed a lot of the guys coming back to work in the schools or grabbing part time jobs. I think the benefit of the job is that you get to retire earlier than most, although the job does age you. I just refused to be another person that sleep walks through life finding themselves ground up at the end of their career still having to work.

My goals include buying multifamily rental property for cash flow. Want to have my passive income out weight my expenses which is about 20k annually. Grow from there.

@Salvatore Lentini

First off thank you. I guess my hardest decision right now is choosing an area. I know I want to buy a multifamily for rental income. I’m stuck between where I live now which is pricey with high taxes, but also good rent. Downside is as a cop in the area, I also don’t want to be around familiar faces. It’s been a bit of an issue with people I’ve arrested spotting me. On the plus side, I’m can keep a close eye on the property, know who my regulars are and don’t have to move far from work, keeping me close by for overtime/ off duty work.

Then there’s the girlfriend situation where we figure a good halfway point. That’s about 30-40 mins from work, it’s a whole other world I know nothing about. Houses look great, definitely cheaper than my area in price and taxes, but I have no clue how the renters market is. To say I’ve driven through this town once is saying a lot. Also just the mix of personal and business I’m not sure if that’s the best of ideas. In either case a move like this maybe a year out for us.

Lastly, I’m halfway through my career with an option for early retirement in just 6yrs. Ultimately, I never want to shovel snow again and love Florida. Tampa area specifically. So I sit here thinking well why look around here, when that’s where I’ll end up.

So ultimately I’m not sure if to seek for an opportunity locally Hudson County, NJ area, to go for the midway point with the girlfriend, house hack and build this thing up together (Newton, NJ area) or just start looking at Tampa, since it’s where I want to go and where my buddy/retired coworker lives now and has agreed to manage any property I pick up (possible partnership).

In the interim, I’m just saving money and working overtime as I mull over the options, but I’m mixed on it all as each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Any advice would be well appreciated.

@Mike Jacovelli

I know the feeling. I’ve been trying to explain it to my girlfriend who already bought a house way before we met. She did it at her fathers request and honestly she hates it. She doesn’t enjoy the responsibility, she pays for everything and even though she bought the house undervalue she has no idea where to begin to fix it up to create a “flip”. She’s been here for a number of years and she ultimately can wait to be a renter again. So needless to say when I explained to her that I want learn to buy and hold a Multifamily home all of her emotions boiled over.

You should remember that all of the horror stories and naysayers are speaking or shooting you down from what their experience or perceived experience about Realestate is. How many of your friends or family actually looked at the Cash on Cash Return of their property before purchase? How many of them bought something thinking they had a good deal, but never did any analysis. Their fear is from their lack of understanding of what you know simply from being in this group.

Switch your mentality and when you hear them put you down, understand 1) they care about you, 2) they’re speaking from their experience and your results will differ greatly based on your application of this education, 3) All successful people go through this. I’m sure when Bill Gates was in a garage tinkering away someone most likely told him to get his head out of the clouds and go find a job.

Don’t stress what others say and just be better than you were yesterday. Someday, maybe a couple years from now, they’ll be singing your high praises, but for now, this is part of that hustle. Shut out the noise, stay on the grind no matter what others say and trust in yourself, the numbers and the system. That’s how I’m getting through it.

@Katie Miller

New to real estate investing. I’m practically debt free and this year I would like to invest in my first property, specifically a multi unit home. It may not be big BIG, but it’s a huge first step for me. I’m still learning, but I already feel more confident having this as a resource.