As you're just starting out in Austin, focus on learning the local market, particularly areas with good rental demand and lower entry prices.

His client-focused approach and his commitment to building long-term relationships with investors growing a portfolio piqued my interest and made me really excited about the business.I was matched with one of their investment strategists in May.

I suggest focusing on properties that need cosmetic work in order to reduce overall risk, while keeping access to a good ARV.

Pre-construction homes, which could build $50-60K in equity within a year or two.I can afford a 20% down payment, but I’m torn between focusing on equity (pre-con) or cash flow (resale).

@Marc Anthony MacielIf you're diving into house hacking and multifamily investing in Southern California, you’ll want to focus on markets like Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, and Long Beach—areas with strong rental demand and solid appreciation potential.

I would keep the brokerage account and focus on the tried-and-true practice of saving up for a new investment.

Are you focusing more on private lending or traditional financing these days?

From my experience, one of the first things I did was choose a specific market to focus on.

Hard money lenders focus more on the property’s value rather than your personal debt to income ratio (which traditional banks use) allowing for quicker approval and funding.

I’m in a similar situation but plan to meter water and power with my own units that can be read.