All Forum Posts by: Sarah Melton

We are dealing with this as well.  Sounds like others have some good ideas but what (so far) has worked for us is the sonic repellers.  You just plug into the wall and it is it keeps them out because they are disturbed by the constant sound.  This might be a good option is your tenets aren't up for the daily dead mice! 

Congrats!  Sounds like you have a strong plan for the future and continued growth.  Good luck!

Mine is also financial freedom so that I can spend more time with my family and be involved in local organizations that give back to the communities.  Also, I sincerely love houses, especially old houses and their amazing architecture.  

My husband was against it at first because a necessary part of starting in real estate investing was moving.  We had the nice house with a fence, two dogs and a very young child.  It was our home and I was asking him to move to a different town and to a house that would eventual be in our rental portfolio.  For him I knew that a little bit of the emotional part of extremely fast tracking us to financial freedom with a lot of showing him the actual numbers was what he needed to hear and see.  I was honest that while I was/am using bigger pockets as my 'university' for educating myself along with surrounding myself with the right people things could not go as planned.  I doubled the time line I thought I could get us to financial freedom to give me cushion for mistakes etc.  This is a recent move and so we are still getting settled and sometimes have those conversations about wanting upgrades that would be normal for our home but probably not for a rental.  Overall, I would say that what keeps us on the same page despite having differences is that we believe in the 'why' - we want financial independence.  

Do you feel that you have a true knowledge of why she wants to understand?  As an example, she might have said she wants to understand and you took that to mean she wants to know the business background and why things need to happen this way when maybe she wants to understand how this will impact her?  I don't think that's selfish because this isn't a standard side hustle for you because you both will be moving into the place which has real life impacts for you and her.  I would just try to gain clarity on what she wants to understand.  Is it the business side, the how she can be involved (swinging a hammer, decorating, screening, handling the money etc), or how this will impact her.  If I can be helpful in any other way, let me know!

I think @Account Closed might have a good point and especially with you saying she does keep mentioning an 'identity' thing.  I wouldn't let it be, I would talk to her about it and really listen.  Not have things prepared to counter her feelings but initially just listen and see what she needs.  Eventually though it sounds like you will buy this 4 plex and I think because you will both be living in it, it does involve her being at least somewhat on board.  

From personal experience I would say that it is important to have her understand this is an investment not a home.  You guys can make it homey but it sounds like she wants different upgrades etc. because she is viewing this as her home and not an investment.  My husband is not into the RE thing at all but is truly supportive without understanding any of the details, so I can relate!

I've been recently trying to wake up prior to when I need to be up (which happens to also be early) and have found that so far it has made a lot of positive changes.  I have created a routine and get my 'success have to's' out of the way prior to my family being up and my regular day starting.  This has largely served me well though because I am trying to start this real estate business and side hustle in addition to my regular responsibilities and full time job.  If the real estate and side hustle were my full time job, I don't know that getting up early would be so essential.  By the time they are my full time focus, I'll likely be in such a pattern that it will stick and I have found that I do enjoy the reduced distractions!

Thank you so much for sharing!  I love seeing when people are creative, resourceful and willing to share.  

Awesome story, thanks for sharing!  I agree Bigger Pockets is a really great resource for newbies and the more experienced.  Can't wait to see pictures and I wish you the best of luck in the future!  

I always knew I would get into rentals but I thought it would be when I had paid off all of our debt and our mortgage and likely when I was in my 50's so that I could supplement my income into retirement.  I'm almost embarrassed to say that it never even occurred to me that I could do it sooner.  I found a variety of financial freedom blogs and like you @Adam Detig devoured everything I could in the last year.  About 6 months ago we put our house on the market, sold it, bought a fixer upper that we will stay in for a few years to rapidly pay off our debt and then add the house to our rental portfolio eventually.  Similarly, I have been setting up my life to make significant strides in my real estate purchases but I haven't technically bought an actual rental house yet as the dust is also just settling for us now too.  We've been talking to a real estate agent and are just waiting for the right deal now!

I love the diversity of these answers, proves that everyone's situation and needs are different!  My freedom number between $5000-$6000 a month.  My family and I have significantly reduced our monthly bills by recently moving to a different city and house which cut our mortgage payment by over half of what it was.  I am just starting on the real estate journey and moving was our first real step of this journey.