Shopping for His First Rental at 19 by Doing What Most Newbies Are Afraid to Do

Ashley:
We’ve got heard from our rookie viewers that you simply wish to hear extra from true rookies. And at present we’re bringing on a visitor who has one property that he bought throughout the final 12 months. After all, he hopes to finally retire from actual property, however he’s simply getting began. He’s undoubtedly the inspiration we’d all want proper now that purchasing actual property after the low pandemic rate of interest continues to be very doable. That is the Actual Property Rookie podcast. I’m Ashley Kehr, and I’m right here with Tony J Robinson.

Tony:
And welcome to the present the place each week, thrice per week, we convey you the inspiration, motivation, and tales it’s good to hear to kickstart your investing journey. Now Elijah, welcome to the podcast brother. Tremendous excited to be chatting with you at present, man.

Elijah:
Hello Tony. Thanks. It’s greater than a pleasure to be right here with you guys

Tony:
At 19 years previous. It’s an unimaginable accomplishment to already be investing in actual property.

Ashley:
Yeah. Elijah, to start out the exhibit and also you went into point out your 19 12 months, so what have been you doing earlier than to procure your first property?

Elijah:
Somewhat background about me. I work at m and t Financial institution. I’m the vocal custodian there. I’m a boxer, registered boxer inside raised fitness center. I do a variety of fishing, play video video games typically, however not a lot then. In order that’s form of why I got here dressed like this and never my swimsuit that I put on on the financial institution to indicate I’m not some man with a prime hat and a monocle and I’m identical to a traditional child. Most individuals are calling me a child nonetheless, however I’m form of an grownup now. So I realized fireplace, financially, impartial, retire early after doing a little digging.

Ashley:
So Elijah, simply actual fast, while you found fireplace, what made you determine that you simply have been going to make use of actual property as your car to succeed in that monetary independence?

Elijah:
And I knew throughout once I was doing penny shares and buying and selling all that, I knew there’s no manner all the massive cash getters, there’s no manner all the massive fish are sitting right here doing this. There must be one thing completely different and it’s actual property, which it’s loopy sufficient to assume that. And actually, with it being actual property, I believe it’s important to form of discover your personal Why? Simply because actual property was form of the highest finish. Me beginning off in residential, my finish objective is to be business, finally transfer to accommodations and large syndications like that. In order that’s the tip objective. However beginning small like this, you bought to understand that it’s important to discover love on this. I wouldn’t be doing, there’s the explanation why I stop buying and selling and funding and stuff like that. I didn’t like it. I had no management over that variable. In actual property, you have got a variety of management. It’s much more forgiving and I truly like it. I like saying that I’m the owner. I like going to my property, rehabbing it every single day. It’s one thing that I like. I’m constructing fairly actually an empire. That is an empire. That is why I like it.

Tony:
Now, Elijah, I’m tremendous curious man, as a result of we’ve a variety of of us who’re, you stated you’re 19, however we’ve a variety of of us who’re of their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, who haven’t but found out tips on how to save the capital that’s required to really exit and buy actual property. And these are individuals who have perhaps had two or three many years on you to really save that cash. So I believe the most important query for me proper now’s how did you as a teen accumulate sufficient capital to really go on the market and purchase one thing?

Elijah:
Yeah, that’s a very good query, Tony, which it’s form of like a caveat, form of like a trick query form of since you received to consider it like me being so younger, fortunately I took the trail out to be taught this and I by no means grew up on dangerous debt. I didn’t have the time to learn to improperly use a bank card or tips on how to tackle dangerous debt. After which now I’m in some rabbit gap. I’m probably the most frugal individual ever. After I go to the grocery retailer, I solely go there to get what I want after which I’m out. I’m not getting bag of chips and all this as a result of all that stuff, despite the fact that it’s small, it actually does add up over time. As an alternative of driving to my fishing spot, I’ll go experience my bike to my fishing spot. That’s how frugal that I’ll actually get.
So yeah, I used to be 14. Yeah, I might say I used to be 14 once I first began. I might say a job. I used to be mowing my neighbor’s garden for cash on the weekend, after which at 16 I truly received my working papers. I labored at Dunkin Donuts for a very long time. Nicely, not a very long time, solely two years simply to save lots of up as a lot for my automobile. After which after I purchased my automobile, I used to be like, wow, I simply labored all that point simply to purchase this automobile and now my cash’s gone. I’ve a automobile, however now I’ve no cash.

Ashley:
You didn’t have that gratification of the form of reward. Yeah.

Tony:
Elijah, I wish to return to your level although in regards to the saving piece as a result of once more, the preliminary capital is the place a variety of of us get caught. So clearly you’re working full-time at 16 years previous, which is superb. However perhaps what have been some particular private finance suggestions that you simply employed that you could perhaps share with the Ricky viewers to assist them save for that first deal?

Elijah:
Yeah, so going again to how I stated due to my age, I actually wished to not begin off on the mistaken observe, taking over big scholar mortgage debt, taking over big bank card debt and doing all this nonsense. I form of took the outing to actually research and the way I can save as a lot as I presumably can from the preliminary start line once I purchased my automobile and went from zero in my head was as a result of I’m so younger, I don’t have any payments, I don’t have something, payments my fuel and meals that I wished to actually get. So I stated in my head, I’m saving every part I can to place this cash in as a result of as a way to make cash, it’s important to spend cash. So I’m saving probably the most that I can as a way to hopefully mission me someplace into wherever I wish to be sooner or later, which is right here. And from that point, I had no clue it was going to be actual property. I had no clue I used to be going to purchase my home, which is absolutely loopy to consider how in that brief quantity of timeframe that I switched from saving as a lot as I can to hopefully use it sooner or later to raised myself to now investing in actual property.

Ashley:
After a fast break, we’re going to listen to extra about how Elijah sourced his first property with an investor pleasant agent. Do you want an amazing agent too? Go to biggerpockets.com/agent. Welcome again to the present. Elijah, while you have been saving, did you have got a quantity in thoughts or did you do any form of analysis, get a pre-approval to know the way a lot capital you truly wanted to purchase your first property?

Elijah:
So I by no means truly had a price range beginning. I spend money on Liverpool, New York, which is true throughout from Syracuse, New York, not that removed from Buffalo, which is once more, it’s tremendous loopy to be right here, Ashley, and he’s like, you’re not even that far-off. It’s solely a pair hours. However yeah, I knew I didn’t wish to spend money on a single household I knew wished to go multifamily, actually solely a few 5 or 10% distinction between shopping for a fourplex and shopping for a single household unit and sustaining it and managing it other than the associated fee and why not? So I hoped to get a fourplex, however the market right here in Liverpool was form of arduous for that. So I settled for the duplex, which going again to understanding your market form of, that’s what I imply. You form of need to know your market and the place you’re shopping for as a result of with my DTI knew that I wanted to have the preliminary capital, which relying on what mortgage you’re utilizing, that’s going to be nevertheless a lot you’re going to be placing down.
I wanted to have my private reserves, six months of private reserves. I wished to have 5% reserves for the property in case a heater goes out, no matter goes out, I nonetheless have that preliminary reserve put aside, not counting it throughout the cashflow reserve, CapEx, no matter. That’s form of once I refine, I didn’t know, okay, what mortgage product do I actually wish to use as a way to reduce my preliminary down cost, which is on the finish all be all goes to maintain extra money in my pocket on the finish of the day. So at the moment, that’s proper. When the brand new Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, 5% down, that new mortgage got here out.

Ashley:
The traditional one?

Elijah:
Yep. Yeah. Yep. Standard 5% down Freddie Mae and Fannie Mac. So we used that. And on the time, which is now not out there proper now, there was a DL grant for first time dwelling consumers, which my mortgage officer very really useful me to make use of. In any other case my DTI could be manner too excessive for me to afford this. So with these two, that’s how we actually initially afforded buying the property utilizing that grant, which is now not, I’m certain different banks have it. I imply T doesn’t proper now. So it was solely distributed per financial institution for first time dwelling consumers. So I used to be actually fortunate to get part of that.

Ashley:
Did your mortgage officer inform you about this grant?

Elijah:
Sure, sure, she did.

Ashley:
Oh, cool. Yeah. Superior.

Elijah:
That’s the one factor I didn’t find out about actual property is you can have an agent who’s probably not an investor agent, they’re going to go to the home and so they’re going to indicate you cupboards and stuff like that. They’re not going to actually present you the divot within the ceiling. That’s going to be a giant CapEx downside or how the world is that’s going to be available in the market lease. So with my lender, I knew I wished to have an actual property investor pleasant landlord lender, which me working on the financial institution, I actually sat proper throughout from her on Wednesdays. So it was rather a lot simpler to speak along with her versus having to do it over e-mail or everybody name it like that.

Ashley:
And for anybody who isn’t sitting proper subsequent to a lender, you’ll be able to go to biggerpockets.com/lender. And I believe when you find yourself speaking with lenders, that may be a nice query so as to add to that preliminary session is do you have got any grants out there? Nice query so as to add.

Tony:
Only one comply with as much as that too. And Elijah, you make an amazing level, and Ashley and I’ve talked about this within the podcast earlier than, however as you’re looking for particularly your first actual property deal, while you go speak to lenders, don’t essentially inform them, Hey, that is the mortgage product that I would like. The objective and the higher technique is to say, Hey, right here’s the objective of what I’m attempting to perform. I wish to purchase a small multifamily, and while you say Liverpool within the Liverpool space, and hey, what do you assume is one of the best mortgage product for me? After which allow them to assess your whole scenario and say, properly, hey, Elijah, you’re truly a primary time dwelling purchaser, so we are able to use this and we are able to mix it with this, and now you’ve received a very low value mortgage product to make use of. So essential factor you stroll into the financial institution and also you say, right here’s my objective. Don’t stroll into the financial institution and say, right here’s a mortgage product that I wish to use.

Elijah:
Precisely. They’re going to stay you with that.

Tony:
Yeah, yeah. They’ll simply give it to you. Proper. So Elijah, we’ve a way of the purchase field. We’ve got a way of the form of debt that you simply used, however I wish to perhaps get into some extra specifics in regards to the property itself. So we all know it’s a duplex. How did you truly discover this deal?

Elijah:
Yeah, so it was truly by means of my realtor who I discovered on BiggerPockets.

Ashley:
Superior. We love that. Within the boards or on the agent finder?

Elijah:
On the agent finder, what I did is I put in my, okay, I’m going to get into one thing that you simply shouldn’t do in a second, however Steven, thanks a lot for every part. I wouldn’t be right here with out you, which I discovered him on the BiggerPockets. So once more, what I did do, which I don’t assume it’s best to do, is I went on the agent finder and I messaged each single one of many brokers to form of simply discover who I actually wished to work with. As a result of earlier than I received into discovering an agent, one in all my staff on the financial institution form of really useful me to an agent, however he was a kind of brokers who aren’t actually an actual property investor agent. So after messaging all of these brokers on the BiggerPockets discussion board, I used to be form of like, okay, I wish to go view. How am I going to know?
How are you going to work for me? If we’re simply sitting right here speaking, we’re not truly viewing their properties. And I’m truly glad I did this, which I’m not recommending once more. So I visited a property with a kind of brokers, appropriate, and I informed them from the very starting that that is my first property I wish to, and I’m speaking to a number of different brokers simply so I can see how issues go. So viewing the primary property, the primary agent, I’m not going to say any names or something like that. He was form of simply the opposite brokers form of simply let me stroll by means of. He wasn’t actually displaying me, take a look at this dip within the ceiling, that’s going to be an enormous CapEx downside. Have a look at the muse. That’s going to be one other big CapEx downside. He was form of simply letting me stroll out and really feel it out the identical.
So I used to be like, okay, perhaps that’s simply how it’s, perhaps it’s not. So I went to go overview it with the opposite agent. This wasn’t Steven, and it was form of just about the identical factor. And I used to be like, okay. However the second I talked to Steven, it was a sport changer. Inside my first couple sentences, I used to be like, I’m form of attempting to flee the rat race. I see my path by means of actual property. And he was like, oh my gosh. Lots of people speak to him and so they wish to go view properties and all these items, however they haven’t even learn a guide of Wealthy Dad Port Avenue or one thing like that. They haven’t begun to get their first step of self-education earlier than attempting to exit and do all these items. So the very second that I even spoke to Steven and walked into the property, he was like, take a look at this, take a look at that.
Have a look at this, take a look at that. You don’t need this, you don’t need that. I wouldn’t purchase this. I wouldn’t do this. And that’s the realtor who I wished. I received a bit of bit backlash from that as a result of working with Steven after that, the opposite two realtors who I form of was like, okay, to not actually say I don’t wish to work with you anymore, however form of simply terminating the connection, not like that I owe them something. I used to be solely viewing the property. You solely get the cash off of the sale, off of the property, and I form of received a relationship backlash or that, why are you speaking to this realtor while you’re speaking? You recognize what I’m saying? Yeah.

Tony:
And Elijah, you stated that you simply don’t suggest doing it that manner, however actually, I believe there’s a variety of worth in getting a great really feel for an agent earlier than you truly determine to work with them. Now, I’m not an actual property agent, so don’t quote me on this, however clearly with the authorized modifications, the NAR settlement that occurred earlier this 12 months, I’m virtually sure now that earlier than an agent may even present you a property, it’s important to signal a purchaser’s illustration settlement now. In order that actual technique is likely to be a bit of bit tougher, however there’s nonetheless different methods, I believe, to suss out who the brokers are and which of them you wish to work with. So it feels like Elijah, this investor-friendly agent that you simply met by means of bp, they have been those that discovered that duplex for you. And was it simply listed on the MLS?

Elijah:
Yep. We visited, it was each single weekend for that preliminary, it was January in the direction of the start of January the place I used to be like, okay, when am I? I’m accomplished ready in time to tug the set off. Met Steven from then till April. We have been visiting properties each single weekend, and so it was this one property, it simply got here available on the market. He despatched it to me and he was like, I believe we must always examine this out. I used to be like, okay, let’s go test it out. And the second we received there, it’s an A category, I might say it’s an A category neighborhood. It’s undoubtedly a category neighborhood. It was superb walkthrough and all that. And on the finish of the walkthrough he was like, yeah, we’re not getting this. There’s no likelihood. It was simply that good. And he was like, I actually would put a proposal on this should you don’t. In order that was form, okay, I received to do that. However he was like, we’re not getting this. So he’s like, do you continue to wish to put a proposal on this? I used to be like, yeah, properly why not?

Ashley:
Yeah, you may as properly strive

Tony:
Elijah. One fast follow-up query. When did you truly shut on this property?

Elijah:
It was July thirty first

Tony:
Of this 12 months?

Elijah:
Sure.

Tony:
Superior. So the explanation why I ask that’s as a result of there’s a variety of actual property buyers who say that there aren’t any good offers on the MLS, however I believe you simply proved that relying in your technique, relying in your location, relying in your form of marketing strategy, there are very a lot nonetheless offers out there instantly on the MLS. And kudos to you for utilizing that. It was a simple useful resource for you.

Elijah:
Sure, undoubtedly. I do assume it’s a bit of little bit of luck as a result of there was 10 buyers who seemed on the property earlier than me, and I’m technically not the primary place winner, the primary place purchaser. His lender couldn’t, or his lender determined, you’ll be able to’t afford this. In order that they backed right down to the second place purchaser who was me. So indirectly I believe it was form of luck, however probably not, as a result of I’m the one who put on this time, dedication, schooling and dedication, blood, sweat, and tears to really be right here. So indirectly I believe it’s a bit of little bit of a combination.

Tony:
Alright guys, we’ve to take our remaining break, however extra from Elijah on tips on how to break into at present’s market as a rookie proper after this. Alright, let’s soar again in with Elijah.

Ashley:
So what was the precise asking value of this property?

Elijah:
So it was 165,000 and I put in a proposal 180, which was my highest that I used to be going to go.

Ashley:
And did they accepted it instantly or did it’s important to counter with them in any respect?

Elijah:
Yep. So as a result of the primary place winner, I’m undecided how a lot he provided, it was in all probability manner above 180, however his lender stated, Nope, you’ll be able to’t afford this. In order that they form of simply went right down to the second answer.

Ashley:
So then they got here again to you. And that’s the reason it’s at all times so essential to place a proposal in since you by no means know what might occur if there may be a proposal larger than you, as a result of I’ve had that occur earlier than too, the place one thing occurs and so they come again to me and say, you already know what? We’d truly wish to take your supply. So such an amazing concept. Persistence put in that provide it doesn’t matter what, and thank goodness you probably did. Yeah. Okay. So now you’ve received this property. What have been you taking a look at so far as the rehab? How a lot did you estimate for the rehab and the way a lot did it truly value to do the rehab on the property?

Elijah:
In order that’s form of one thing that I’m nonetheless within the center. I’m myself am doing the rehab. I inherited one facet of the unit, so I don’t plan on rehabbing that till the tenants transfer out. The opposite unit, the primary time I walked into there, I used to be like, oh my gosh, I’m going to have to tear down this wall. There’s a variety of cracks within the wall and stuff. I’m going to have to tear up this flooring. The flooring have been fully shot once I stated, oh my gosh, I’m going to have to tear down all these partitions to all of the cracks and stuff like that. I didn’t notice that the partitions have been plaster and never drywall. So all I needed to do was scrape and joint and no matter. It’s not drywall or it’s water. Rattling drafted tape, take all of it out. And the flooring have been simply extraordinarily properly worn.
I didn’t need to take ’em up. All I’ve to do is take a drum stander to it. So it’s easy stuff like that, which form of saved me from the second that I bought this property. And I’ve been doing rehab on this every single day. I’ve spent in all probability $10 on simply stuff, even solely $10 as a result of a lot of the stuff I’ve already had, or I’m simply getting from my mentor, working below his wing for a very long time. I’m form of simply utilizing his instruments. I believed I used to be going to have purchase all these sheets of sheet rock, go in there, take all it. However in actuality, it’s only a lot. Nothing’s arduous. It’s simply a variety of tedious work, like scraping the partitions after which taping after which jointing, after which portray over that after which drum sanding, making use of the polyurethane, stuff like that. It’s actually simply tedious work. Nothing’s arduous or actually that costly.

Tony:
Ought to be taught rather a lot Elijah is what it feels like, man.

Elijah:
Yeah, it’s a variety of YouTube college,

Tony:
Quite a lot of YouTube college, which is nice. I assume one final comply with up query. You stated the acquisition value was 180, and I do know you had the grant that assisted with the down cost. So Elijah, what was your precise out of pocket expense to buy the property?

Elijah:
Like my money to shut or what my mortgage worth is true now?

Tony:
Your precise money to shut, how a lot did it’s important to convey to the desk?

Elijah:
So my money to shut was round, it was 19, round 19,000.

Ashley:
And that was with closing prices? Every part.

Elijah:
Yep. Every part,

Ashley:
Yeah. Very good. For a traditional mortgage. And what was your rate of interest on this mortgage?

Elijah:
It was, so I used to be purported to have a decrease rate of interest as a result of I’m an worker of the financial institution, however as a result of I used to be capable of get that mortgage, they’re like, nah, you’ll be able to’t. That’s the humorous factor about underwriters

Ashley:
Can’t double dip.

Elijah:
Yeah. So it was 6.5.

Tony:
That’s truly fairly good.

Elijah:
Traditionally, that is what lots of people don’t see is traditionally rates of interest have been rather a lot larger than some six, seven, even 8%. And even worrying about that small rate of interest, the appreciation of your home appreciates by 5% yearly. So when you’re worrying about some 6% rate of interest there, property of your home of the worth goes up by 5% annually. So it doesn’t actually, lots of people don’t actually get that half.

Ashley:
Tony, I believe one takeaway for you right here is that Sean must get his subsequent job on the financial institution whereas he’s in highschool in order that he will get a reduction on rate of interest to purchase homes for you. There you

Tony:
Go. So Elijah, I assume what would you say, since you’ve taken this deal down in a time when lots of people with perhaps extra life expertise, with perhaps extra cash, with perhaps extra assets have been sitting on the sidelines as a result of they really feel that 2024 isn’t the time to spend money on actual property. I assume, what would you say to these of us you assume that perhaps proper now will not be one of the best time,

Elijah:
Not one of the best time to be sitting on the sidelines,

Tony:
Not one of the best time to spend money on actual property?

Elijah:
Truthfully, you simply query actually why? As a result of in my eyes, 2024 is form of the golden age to be investing in actual property. So there’s individuals who assume that not investing proper now’s going to get you wherever as a result of the rates of interest and all these items. Investing in actual property will not be about timing the market, it’s about time available in the market. So it doesn’t actually make sense to be sitting on the sidelines. And I form of thought that that was my ideology too, is that if I simply wait it out and watch for the curiosity to go decrease and stuff like that, issues’ are going to get rather a lot higher. However how I simply saying it’s about time available in the market, that’s the way you take advantage of cash is thru cashflow and appreciation and outweighing all these different stuff that in fact goes to have an effect on the market that you simply don’t actually have a controllable variable over form of getting over that concern is what is absolutely going to find out to show the tables. The dialogue I had with my mentor LaShaun is it was like I took a 12 months of simply going by means of monetary schooling, tips on how to truly handle the property, accounting, insurance coverage, stuff like that. A complete 12 months of simply educating myself earlier than and clearly saving the capital to really pull the set off to LaShawn. It was form of like, why? What are you ready for?
And the tip all be all, it was simply concern. And to him he was like, what are you afraid of? And it’s simply all the opposite variables that everybody like, what if the home burns down? Or what if this goes on and I don’t have the funds for saved up? However on the finish of the day, that’s simply concern. So long as you’ve saved, so long as you’ve accomplished what you wanted to do in your phrases of due diligence, then that ought to all be taken care of. On the finish of the day, if that ever does come up,

Tony:
Elijah, you convey up concern, which I believe is a vital factor for us to in all probability shut out with. However concern is typically a great factor, proper? As a result of in case you are working inside your consolation zone, you’re usually not fearful. However should you’re working inside your consolation zone, you’re additionally not rising, you’re additionally not getting higher. So if each of these statements are true, then the one manner that you could develop as an individual, as an actual property investor, as an entrepreneur is to step exterior of your consolation zone, which at all times induces a bit of little bit of concern. And I believe the query for the Ricks which are listening is what sort of individual do you truly wish to be? Do you wish to be the one who continues to let their fears counsel the motion, the actions that they do or that they don’t take? Or do you wish to let your targets and your visions be the factor that drives the next step? So I do know a variety of of us are sitting on the sideline, they’ve that concern, however guys, concern is an efficient factor as a result of it means you’re entering into one thing new. And for you, Elijah, once more, tremendous spectacular. You’re capable of break previous that and do this scary factor, and clearly it’s labored out fairly properly for you.

Elijah:
Sure. So as to add on to that basically fast, Tony, me being a boxer, there’s probably not something scarier than getting up into that ring and understanding the man throughout from you is attempting to knock your head off. So how Mike Tyson’s coach Cusato stated, all people has concern, and should you don’t have concern, then both you’re mendacity or one thing’s mistaken and it’s best to go to the hospital like a deer. Yeah, like a deer in the midst of the woods. As soon as he hears that twig of a snap, he’s gone. That concern retains him alive. Identical to the way it retains us people alive. It’s a pure intuition like what try to be utilizing. And that’s how Mike Tyson actually grew to become who Mike Tyson was. He used that concern like a fireplace and fireplace can both burn your home down or you’ll be able to cook dinner your meals. In order that’s form of how I exploit my concern.

Ashley:
Elijah, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us at present. We’re going to hyperlink your data into the present notes. If you happen to’re watching on YouTube, it’ll be within the description. Thanks a lot for taking the time, giving again, and sharing your journey and offering a lot data to the rookies which are listening at present.

Elijah:
Sure, I’m actually glad that you simply guys have been capable of hearken to me at present. Hopefully I may be that beacon of sunshine to folks round my age or folks of all ages who’re form of simply misplaced at midnight and really want that push of motivation. On the finish of the day, I’m not that lion who’s up prime. I’m nonetheless that lion. I nonetheless have that starvation. I’m nonetheless climbing the hill. When you’re up prime, you’re up prime. So I’m nonetheless climbing that hill. You at all times received to be hungry. You at all times need to attempt. You at all times received to raised your self.

Ashley:
I believe anybody who’s over the age of 19 might be pondering proper now. I want I might’ve began once I was 19,

Elijah:
And that’s what everyone seems to be saying to me, which is why I’m

Ashley:
There. Could be a bit of regret and remorse listening to this episode too. However Elijah, congratulations on making such good choices at such a younger age. Thanks once more for coming onto the episode. I’m Ashley, and he’s Tony. Thanks a lot for listening to this episode of Actual Property Ricky.