All Forum Posts by: Laura Navaquin

Hi @Adrianna Smith

Welcome to the wholesaling world! 

I’ve been in real estate for over 10 years, doing everything from wholesaling and flipping to buy and hold, so I’ve definitely seen the highs and lows of this business. One thing I’ve learned is that surrounding yourself with a strong network of experienced wholesalers can really make a difference, especially when you're starting out.

I'd love to connect, network, and share any insights I've picked up along the way. If you ever want to chat, bounce ideas around, or even explore potential JV deals, I'm all for it! The journey's always more fun when you're collaborating with like-minded people.

Looking forward to connecting soon!

Hello @Ying Tang, 

Welcome to BiggerPockets! It's exciting to see your experience and enthusiasm as a new investor and realtor. 

For out-of-state investments, I can definitely empathize with the challenge of navigating unfamiliar markets, as we invest in 6 states. One piece of advice I'd give is to start by connecting with local property managers, real estate agents, and investors in those markets. They can provide valuable insights into which areas are seeing the best returns and where there's demand for rental properties. I'd also recommend looking into markets with strong job growth and high rental demand, which often helps to balance out some of the volatility in the real estate market.

If you're open to it, I would also suggest checking out off-market deals or exploring distressed properties in those out-of-state areas, as they can provide you with better margins for cash flow, even when interest rates are higher. It’s all about finding the right mix of cash flow and long-term value.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the value of local networking ,  you may find a mentor or someone with experience in markets you’re exploring who can guide you as you make more strategic decisions.

Best of luck with your continued journey in real estate! If you ever need any advice or would like to discuss potential out-of-state opportunities, feel free to reach out.

Hey @Dominic Joseph Jean,

100 sober homes is an ambitious and incredible goal! While I don’t personally own sober homes, I do own 21 rental properties (a mix of long-term and short-term rentals) along with an event space/venue in the works. I’ve also flipped properties and, more importantly, mentored over 100 students on how to get started in real estate investing.

One of my past students in New York actually pursued a similar path. He bought land (catskills NY)  specifically to launch and operate a sober living program. He started small, focused on running and optimizing that first location, and then used it as leverage to expand. Over time, he gained traction, began hosting monthly events, and successfully secured state funding and loans to scale his operations.

I’d highly recommend taking a similar approach, start with one well-ran, profitable home, establish a strong foundation, and then use that momentum to acquire and scale additional properties. If you’re looking for guidance on financing, structuring deals, or scaling strategically, I’d be happy to help where I can.

Looking forward to hearing more about your vision!

Hi @Connor Castillo, 

Not a crazy question at all!This is an important concept to understand. 

In a; 

Cash-Out Refi: You’re refinancing the property for a higher loan amount and getting the difference in cash. You start paying interest on the full amount immediately.

HELOC: Works like a credit line so you only pay interest on the amount you actually use, not the full approved limit.

So, if you pull out $100K from a cash-out refi, you're paying interest on the full $100K right away. But if it's a HELOC and you only use $50K, you're only paying interest on that $50K until you borrow more. Hope that helps.

Hi @Alex Mcfarlane, 

Great to meet you! I love seeing new investors take action. Tampa is a fantastic market for cash-flowing single-family homes. I’ve been in real estate investing for nearly a decade, scaling my portfolio and helping others do the same.

A few quick tips as you get started:
- Know Your Numbers – Focus on cash flow, cap rate, and ROI to ensure a solid deal.
- Leverage Local Resources – Connect with investor groups, agents, and property managers to get insight on high-yield areas.
- Analyze, Analyze, Analyze – The more deals you review, the better you’ll get at spotting great opportunities.

I’d be happy to connect and help you analyze potential deals or introduce you to others in the space. Let me know how I can help, excited to see where your journey takes you!

@Malakye Smith, Great question! Before diving into real estate investing, the most important thing to get crystal clear on is your WHY.....what are you hoping to achieve?

Are you seeking:
- Financial freedom – Replacing your 9-5 income and building long-term wealth?
- Passive income – Generating consistent cash flow from rentals?
- Time flexibility – Creating a lifestyle where you’re not tied to a traditional job?

Once you know your goal, everything else, your investment strategy, property type, financing approach, falls into place.

Here are a few key things to know before starting:
-Understand Different Strategies – BRRRR, fix & flip, long-term rentals, short-term rentals, each has pros and cons. Choose what aligns with your goals.
-Leverage OPM (Other People’s Money) – You don’t always need tons of cash upfront. Learn how to use creative financing, partnerships, or private lending.
-Know Your Market – Research areas where property values are increasing, rental demand is strong, and laws favor landlords.
-Build a Strong Team – Agents, lenders, contractors, and property managers can make or break your success.
-Expect Challenges – Real estate isn’t a “get rich quick” scheme. Be ready for obstacles, but know that long-term, it’s one of the best wealth-building vehicles out there!

First off, congratulations on the new baby on the way—such an exciting time!

Let me share a little bit about my background. My husband and I started investing in real estate in 2015 through wholesaling and began building our portfolio with conventional financing in 2019. By 2023, we were both still working full-time, had just welcomed our second baby, and were balancing life with a six-year-old and a six-month-old. It was then that I made the decision to go all in on real estate full-time.

Leveraging the BRRRR method and creative financing, we scaled our portfolio from four properties to 21 in just 17 months. Yes, we lived in two of those properties while making light renovations, and during that time, we also welcomed a third baby—now expecting our fourth! The BRRRR strategy, creative financing, and recycling of funds became the key to rapidly scaling while successfully replacing the six-figure salary I walked away from in May 2023.

I’d love to answer any specific questions you have and help in any way I can! Feel free to reach out. 

Hi Hailey, 

So, my husband and I invest in 6 states, and WA is NOT one of the 6, however I would recommend starting with TN. 

First off, we do invest in TN and TN doesn't have state income tax which is an advantage, but as well in landlord friendly. WA is NOT landlord friendly which could make investing challenging depending on your strategy. 

We as well invest in NY, which as well is NOT landlord friendly and it works for us, as all of our investment properties in NY are either STR'd or made into a business, such as an event venue. I personally wouldn't want a long-term rental in NY state in the event of needing an eviction, etc and the state not being landlord friendly.

Hope to be of help. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, etc. 

Hi Hunter! Would love to connect! 

Both sound like great options. My husband and I invest in 6 states, with NY being one of them. Although we haven't bought a duplex, we have purchased a property in Hudson Valley area in which we live on one of the structures (main house) a few months of the year and rent out other structures as AIrbnb and are as well not building out event/ venue space. On the other hand, we are quite familiar with scaling and scalign quickly with the BRRRR method as we personally gew our portfolio from 4-21 properties in about 17 months via the BRRRR method and creative financing.

Would love to offer any insight form experience, address any questions you may have. 

Hi Bradley, I would love to connect. We invest in 6 states, TN (Nashville area) being one of the six states. Would love to learn more about what you are doing, plan, and as well be able to share with you from our personal experience/ lessons learned in which can potentially save you on time, efforts and frustrations. Feel free to connect/ reach out.