I began Real Estate investing in 2020; however, my story starts well before that. In 2013, I took a significant step and purchased my first home in Memphis, TN, for $126k. This was a crucial time in my life as I had recently graduated with my MBA and was actively on the hunt for a new job that would launch my career. I managed to find two roommates who were eager to share my space, and their contributions covered the mortgage entirely. This arrangement allowed me to live comfortably for just a few hundred dollars each month, which was a remarkable financial relief. I didn’t know it yet, but I was inadvertently “house hacking,” a concept that wasn’t widely discussed at the time. This initial purchase would later prove to be not only a smart investment but also the first key domino in my journey of scaling my real estate portfolio.

Fast forward to 2019, and I am living in Atlanta. In January, I started a new job after having transitioned into Tech Sales back in 2014. This new role felt like a step up from my previous position, however, I was still working for someone else, pouring my energy and creativity into building their company rather than my own dreams.

As fate would have it, I saw an ad on LinkedIn for a free Real Estate Investment Conference in my building after work. The conference, which turned out to be a total sales pitch pushing passive income, financial independence, and the ultimate freedom of life. The speakers passionately shared their success stories, painting a picture of freedom and leisure that seemed tantalizingly within reach. I found myself completely captivated by their words, feeling that perhaps I could escape the ordinary grind of my daily life. Encouraged by the possibilities, I signed up for the $1,000 three-day course in September. It was now May, and the countdown was on.

Aside from making a few hundred bucks a month from my first purchase in 2014, I had no investing experience. Buyers remorse quickly settled in as I questioned my decision; I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had jumped in too quickly without fully understanding the complexities of the market. “What the hell was I doing? – I don’t know the first thing about real estate investing.” This nagging doubt pushed me to face reality, so after sucking it up and acknowledging my lack of knowledge, I committed to educating myself on everything Real Estate. I consumed books, attended webinars, joined local investment groups, and networked with seasoned investors, all while pledging I’d be the smartest person in the room during the conference.

September arrives and I feel prepared. I developed a detailed plan, mapping out what I hoped to learn and who I wanted to connect with, which added to my excitement. As the conference gets underway, I quickly realized this event was focused around a whole different vehicle into real estate investing that I had not previously considered. At the end of the conference, there was a $35k coaching package available to those who wanted a white glove introduction into making their first investment, complete with personalized mentorship and strategic guidance. Despite the alluring offer and the potential it presented, I declined, feeling uncertain about committing such a substantial amount of money without a clearer plan. Consequently, I returned from the conference discouraged, grappling with a mix of missed opportunities and unanswered questions about my own investment journey, and wondering if I was truly ready to take the plunge into the world of real estate.

Despite this curveball, I continued to educate myself and finally, in January of 2020, I bought my first investment property in Memphis, TN, from a wholesaler who had just acquired it himself. It was an attractive deal at $55k, all cash, which was a significant leap for me. After purchasing the property, I put $15k into rehab work, transforming the house into a comfortable rental space. At this point, I had exhausted all my savings that I had painstakingly built over the years, feeling a mixture of anxiety and excitement about the entire venture. Thankfully, my efforts paid off when I got it rented for $900 per month and I was able to refinance it at a $90k value (75% LTV) and I received $67,500 of cash back along with a modest ~$450 mortgage. Although it took an arduous 9 months due to COVID presenting several challenges, such as banks backing out of the deal and longer seasoning periods, the dream of becoming a property owner and investor was finally coming to fruition. I realized that this journey was not just about financial gain, but also about personal growth and resilience in the face of unexpected challenges.

When I was a newbie, I was intensely focused on cash flow, and I still prioritize it where it makes sense in my investment strategy. Over the years, my approach has evolved, and today, I concentrate more on larger transactions such as apartment syndications, which provide both stability and substantial returns. I actively bring those opportunities to my friends and family, aiming to offer them a reliable vehicle into the world of real estate investing. It is rewarding to share the knowledge and experience I’ve gained, as I believe that investing in real estate should be accessible to everyone. This website not only goes over my portfolio to illustrate my body of work since 2020, but it also serves as a resource for learning about various investment strategies and the intricacies of real estate, reinforcing the importance of informed decision-making in this exciting field.