We've started looking into real estate because we want to use our valuable time to invest in our kids as they grow and invest in our local community through volunteering, not spending all of our time working 9-5 for the next 20 years.Our goal with Bigger Pockets for this year is to determine our plan for investing, and then make our first purchase.

BP and the forums have been so valuable while I’ve been learning and I’m so grateful to have this resource.I’m a US citizen currently living abroad (London, UK) and would like to start my REI journey in the US.

Most property management companies are licensed realtors with extensive experience working with investors and providing valuable insights into their local market.

@Tom Ott@Engelo Rumora@Marco SantarelliAccount Closed Thank you guys so much for taking the previous time out of your busy schedule to enlighten me and other newbie investors who seek valuable info from this thread.

Being that I'm new to it, though, I'd appreciate hearing unique experiences from anyone with valuable information to share.Thanks!

@Maxwell Silva, I think this is where partnering with the right broker can be valuable. 

By adopting the house-hacking method—living in one unit while renting out the others—we plan for the tenants to cover the mortgage and gain valuable property management experience.

I will say, every transaction will teach you something valuable.  

https://efraudprevention.net/embed/cody/Equity-stripping_scams.htmlEquity-stripping scamsEquity stripping is a type of fraud in which a scammer targets individuals who own a valuable asset, such as a home, and convinces them to take out a loan using the asset as collateral.

@Kenzer Hodgson For your STR, an umbrella policy can provide liability coverage, but an LLC offers additional asset protection by separating your personal and business assets, which can be valuable in case of lawsuits or audits.