At just 25, Layla Martinez made her first real estate investment—a small two-bedroom condo in her hometown.
“Most people my age were thinking about travel or upgrading apartments. I was thinking about passive income,” she says, smiling.
Layla’s journey began after graduating with a degree in finance. She had saved diligently during college by working part-time and living frugally.
“I was obsessed with learning. I read blogs, listened to podcasts, and followed investors on YouTube,” she shares.
Her big inspiration came from the BiggerPockets community. “I learned everything from how to analyze deals to managing tenants,” she says, crediting BiggerPockets for demystifying real estate for beginners.
Layla’s first property cost $130,000, and she used an FHA loan to make it happen with just 3.5% down. “It wasn’t easy.
I had to fix plumbing, screen tenants, and deal with late-night calls—but it was all part of the learning curve.”
Today, Layla owns three rental properties and is working on her first house hack—living in one unit of a duplex while renting out the other. “It’s one of the smartest moves for young investors,” she says.
For those interested in getting started, she advises: “Start small, learn the math, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. You don’t need to be rich to own real estate—you need a plan.”
