All Forum Posts by: Tim Casey

My advice for pulling the trigger on your first property is based on my own experience years ago...focus on action over perfection. 

Also, make sure you spend the time building a solid team (agent, lender, property manager) and run the numbers through your team multiple times. From there, your learning will compound once you're actually in the take action game. 

Good luck.

Hey, it sounds like you’ve got a great plan shaping up! Florida is a fantastic choice with its favorable tax environment, lower cost of living, and diverse markets. The Orlando-Kissimmee area is an excellent starting point due to strong rental demand driven by tourism, job growth, and a central location. With your wife’s connections there, you’ll also have a head start in building a local network.

Beyond Orlando, consider expanding your search to areas like Ocala and Sebring. Both are attracting attention for their affordability, growth potential, and appeal to new residents looking for a quieter lifestyle. These markets are ideal for investors seeking properties with good cash flow and future appreciation potential.

Don't overlook Southwest Florida, including Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, and the surrounding areas. These regions are booming, with demand fueled by their coastal appeal, warm climate, and expanding job opportunities. Cape Coral is especially popular among investors for its waterfront properties and growing infrastructure. House hacking in any of these markets can be a smart way to start with lower upfront costs and transition smoothly into a rental strategy.

Given your options with a VA loan or investment loan, starting by living in the property can help you maximize leverage and build equity. If you're interested in exploring these markets further or need help refining your strategy, feel free to reach out!

Hey there! Congrats on the appreciation and cash flow from your property in Glendale—those are solid numbers to start with. When deciding whether to hold, sell, or exchange, you’ll want to look at a few key metrics: your current return on equity (ROE), potential returns from reinvesting, and your goals for the property.

Given your appreciation and the fact you're considering a 1031 exchange, it might make sense to evaluate if moving that equity into a larger or more profitable property could accelerate your growth. The 1031 can defer capital gains taxes, but it’s crucial to identify a like-kind property and complete the exchange within the IRS timelines. Make sure you’re clear on those and consult with a tax advisor to confirm your assumptions. Happy to help dive deeper into your options if you’d like!

Hey @Edward Segaar, great to see you’re considering a BTR for your first rental property! There are some solid advantages here: new construction typically means lower maintenance costs upfront, modern amenities that attract quality tenants, and potentially higher rental income. Plus, many build-to-rent options come with property management baked in, which can be a huge benefit if you prefer a hands-off approach.

On the flip side, BTR properties can sometimes come with a higher upfront cost or a longer timeline to start generating cash flow, especially if construction is still in progress. This is one of the reasons to look for groups that work to address these concerns by offering a streamlined process that connects you directly with developers, ensuring transparency on costs, timelines, and expected returns. Also need to focus on markets/communities that strike the balance of relatively low land cost, strong rental demand and include professional property management to strategically minimize vacancies and maximize rental income from day one.

If you have more questions, feel free to reach out!

Tim Casey
Vice President at Build 4 Rent
Senior Investment Advisor at Build 2 Rent

Hey William, congrats on building up that capital! BRRR is a powerful strategy, but I'm curious—what's driving you to start with BRRR specifically? Are you looking to lead with long-term cash flow, equity growth, or maybe both?

Building a strong team is key here—start with a great real estate agent familiar with BRRR deals, a reliable contractor, and a lender who understands the nuances of refinancing after rehab. Happy to dive deeper if you want to chat more about the details!

For reading, check out "Tax-Free Wealth" by Tom Wheelwright—solid, foundational insights on leveraging tax laws for real estate. Also, consider talking to a tax advisor who specializes in real estate to find strategies tailored to your situation. Brandon Hall and the amazing team at therealestatecpa.com provide a ton of insights and are my go-to when I need clarification.
Happy investing!

House hacking sounds like a great fit for you—buying a multi-family, living in one unit, and renting out the others can help cover your mortgage while you’re on the go. Another option to consider may be investing in a turnkey property with solid management, allowing you to earn passive income without being tied down. Best of luck!

The extra $4k per month from your prior military service is a compelling opportunity to get started, especially since it's not needed for daily expenses. Given your interest in short-term rentals, spend some time aggressively researching multiple markets to find the best locations. Look for areas with high tourist demand and strong rental yields, and consider attending real estate seminars to gain insights into the latest trends and strategies. I would also advocate for looking at investment opportunities outside of STR so that you can get a solid understanding of the advantages and disadvantages.

Also, don't deprioritize building a financial cushion by allocating a portion of your income to an investment fund for down payments and property improvements. Educate yourself continuously through podcasts (BP for the win!), and blogs, and consider consulting with real estate experts for professional advice. Starting with a smaller property to gain experience is a wise strategy, and using property management services can help you manage the day-to-day operations. While Warren Buffett’s approach of taking time to decide and then acting decisively is wise, real estate investing also requires continuous learning and adapting. Aggressively review opportunities in your limited spare time and scale up as you gain experience. Best of luck on your investment journey!  Let's connect.

Starting your journey in real estate investing is always an exciting time. From my experience, I recommend preparing a solid foundation to show potential investors you're serious. Focus on building a business model that outlines your value proposition, target market, revenue, cost structure, and key activities/timeline. Additionally, prepare financial projections, including cash flow forecasts and ROI calculations. Highlight the risks and your strategies for mitigating them. This preparation demonstrates foresight and professionalism, making your proposal more compelling.

That said, do NOT allow yourself to get stuck in preparation mode.  Take a single day with your business partner to hash out this plan (hint: it should and will be messy) and then get started aggressively networking and "workshopping" the plan.  Network, share, learn, adapt, repeat.

This opens you up to advance on your plan or pivot into an alternate path.  Good luck! 

I think you are on the right path with exploring the HELOC. Best bet is to contact your trusted lender or other financial institutions to compare offers to find the best interest rates and terms that suit your investment strategy. From there, you will have a better sense for how to proceed with portfolio expansion. Keep us posted as you progress. Best of luck!