Are you buying turnkey properties or ones that are distressed and need rehabbed?

@Derick JenningsRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Why under $300K and where are you looking to buy. 

I had a good friend who went into the ATM business back in 2015 did it for successfully for 5 years and sold the business for $2.5MGreat business to show constant deposits as a business and as a SE 1099 or W2 business to help buy real estate.

Investment Info:Small multi-family (2-4 units) buy & hold investment.

The way wholesalers get around this is by claiming to simply be marketing the contract and not the property itself (hard to do legally), or by doing a double close (buying the property then reselling it immediately).

While we currently live in Stephens City, VA, we’re open to investing in other states where the numbers make sense.Real Estate Goals & StrategyInvestment Focus: Buy-and-hold rentals, short-term rentals, and potential multifamily propertiesMarkets of Interest: Open to investing outside of Virginia in cash-flowing, landlord-friendly marketsCurrent Stage: Learning, networking, and preparing for our first investment propertyLong-Term Vision: Build a diversified rental portfolio that provides financial freedom and generational wealthWhy I’m HereNetworking: Connecting with experienced investors, agents, lenders, and property managersLearning: Gaining insights from those who’ve built successful portfoliosCollaborating: Open to partnerships, joint ventures, and creative financing strategiesWith my sales background, I understand the importance of negotiation, deal-making, and relationship-building—all of which I plan to leverage in real estate.

Reason I ask is there are going to be a lot of real estate ventures where ALL money is lost, and many are due to poor management or buying a deal they should not buy.

Sounds like this is a private money lender or a hard money lender.If you are getting funds from another source and relying on that to close, you should not put in the purchase agreement that you are buying with cash.

I’ve been listening to the BiggerPockets podcast daily on my commute and finally decided to jump into the forums to learn, connect, and start taking action.A little about me:I work as a Substation Design Engineer and currently live near the Jersey Shore.I’m focused on learning about house hacking, buy-and-hold rentals, and creative financing strategies.Right now, my biggest challenges are:Understanding the best financing options for a first-time investor.Finding a solid market near me that aligns with my budget and goals.Learning how to analyze deals with confidence.If anyone has tips, resources, or experiences they’d be willing to share, I’d love to hear them!