Hey @Gabriel Ortiz welcome to the site!

@Gabriel Miller I will send you a PM so we can talk.  

@Gabriel D.

Also one in San Gabriel called LAREI.

@gabriel That's tough one.

@Gabriel BenavidezMany of the BP members here will totally disagree with me but I say "You are young, go for it."

Majority of it’s saved.Living with parents in SoCalGoal Move out of parents’ houseBuy a property close to work (30min in traffic to Downtown LA) Target area: Pasadena, San Gabriel Valley (A neighborhood for safety reasons)Price range $300K~ $400K for 2bd condoAction Budget expenses to save more money for 20% down paymentCreated a spreadsheet and figured I could save $1000 per paycheck, $2000 per monthCreated a spreadsheet to project my savingsTimeSpring 2010SituationOwn more than $80K in the savingsGoalPurchase target condo in Pasadena (short sale, some repairs needed)Action Made spreadsheet to find out if I can afford the condo and the repairs neededProceeded to offer and eventually got the condo with 20% downReceived 1st time home buyer credit, $8000 from fed, $1000/3 years from state House Down payment $71,800 House Price $359,000 Loan $287,200 % Down Payment 20.0 Loan Term (Year) 30 Loan Interest Rate 5.25 Monthly Payment $1,586 TimeMay 2010 – Jan 2014Situation The majority of my paycheck is tied up in the houseFrequent plumbing problems including leaky toilet from upstairs unitHOA reserve is underfundedCondo hacked by renting out spare bedroom at $900/moGoalUpgrade to a more effective investment propertyAction Fixed up condo with credits receivedPut in new flooringSold condo at $428K, cashed out with a total of $200KPurchased SFR in the suburbs (Pomona) and leased it out for $500/mo Free Cash FlowLeft with $80K in the savings and growing at $3400/mon.Now looking for another investment propertyLessons Learned My parent's education fund for me gave me a kick start.

Welcome Gabriel!

@Gabriel Ehrlich - We have gone to a few locally and in general have found that they tend to get a higher price than we'd offer for an investment. 

Wow Gabriel, incredible story and great work.