All Forum Posts by: Troy Kostick

@Jaysen Medhurst My fiance and I have indeed sat down together and gone over monthly expenses but but now that I'm thinking about it, it was very loosely accomplished. Because honestly the numbers aren't exactly measuring up. So you're right, I think it's time we did a more thorough investigation, thank you for your advice Jaysen.

@Jaysen Medhurst Thank you for response! This is fantastic. 

In regards to analyzing properties, what do you mean exactly? Or should I ask how? If this is too long of an answer maybe you could point me to some literature that explains this process in particular? I understand books and podcasts are great for education and I'm using these resources but sometimes when you spend 2 hours with a book I tend to get lost a little and maybe forget intricate details. I am a man of writing things down and creating tangible checklists. 

And I agree there's always room to cut. We don't have cable television, barely use heat/AC/electric. We're not exactly big spenders which is good. She has student loans but I do not, and my credit is almost perfect. We are just a small hair above breaking even and for example if one of our cars goes, or something big like that comes its going to hurt and our safety net is gone. 

For me personally It is coming up with the money for my first down payment. I haven't even started yet. My fiance and I are grinding, paying rent, wedding payment, bills. We both have good jobs, and are still just breaking even. NJ is tough. 

Hello! 

My name is Troy Kostick. I am a 26 year old Union Plumbers 4th year plumbers apprentice. The money is good, and is only going to get even better in the next 2 years. But it is blood money, the older I get the less I will be able to do what I do. Before I get too, I would like to start investing into rental properties and create some supplements to my weekly take home so that one day I can get a job thats less physically stressful but still make the money that being a plumber would make me.

 My fiance and I are getting married 2/22/20. Shortly after that my goal is to purchase a duplex in order to begin a slow start in rental investments. Right now we are renting an apartment in Plainsboro, NJ. It is very expensive, and with bills, wedding payments were slowly starting to fall behind. After the wedding, and after my next 2 years of raises, we should be much better off. She is a graphics designer and makes pretty good money, while also grinding most nights and creating an Etsy portfolio for passive income in the long run.

She is very hesitant in buying a Duplex. She knows nothing about real estate, and its not that she doesnt BELIEVE in me to make this happen, shes just nervous. 

I order to ease the nerves I am trying to educate myself as much as I can in the next year. Obviously, this all got kickstarted from reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad. My partner at work who is also interested in Real Estate investments suggested it to me. I didn't really have any sort of goals in my life and it was very inspiring. I am now about a quarter of the way through the Bigger Pockets Book on Rental Properties. It suggested somehow inserting yourself into a community of like minded people, and I do not have anyone like that in my life when it comes to these sort of things. So here I am. 

Essentially what I am looking for is maybe some concrete first steps into buying my first Duplex. Any and all information would be absolutely incredible.