What are you other than a real estate investor?

It would be interesting to hear stories of what some of you did BEFORE discovering real estate;
Is your life dramatically different NOW? Will you or did you make it your goal to be a full-time investor? Does anyone rely solely on their ROI for income?

Thanks in advance for your submissions - Brandon

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:12AM

Lee V

73 posts
29 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Feb 10 '09, 12:46 PM

I graduated with my Master in Social Work/Counseling.... decided not to do that.

I opened a pizza shop... and now trying to get part time into real estate investing.

working on my real estate license also.

wierd...i know....

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:13AM

Tony Frasher

Real Estate Investor · Colorado

22 posts
4 Influence

Icon_minipost Feb 10 '09, 07:31 PM

I own a business that specializes in repairing cars that have been damaged in hail storms. It requires way too much travel since my wife and I are wanting to start a family, so I'm trying to buy as many rentals as possible so I won't need a full time income like I need now. I'm not trying to become a zillionaire. I just want as much free time as possible, and a comfortable life.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:13AM

Claude Hodge

Real Estate Investor · Castle Rock / Ft. Carson, Colorado

111 posts
349 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Feb 10 '09, 07:39 PM

I am in the U.S. Army. I have a little less than 3 years left, which will make 10.5 years total service. I leave for Afghanistan in about 3 months. When I get home from there, I will buy my first of many rentals! Great topic by the way! I love the guy who got his masters, but opened a pizza shop. Awesome!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:13AM

John Andre

Real Estate Investor · Mission Viejo, Cape Coral, California

232 posts
89 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Feb 10 '09, 08:43 PM

Went to collage and graduated from the Fire Academy. After 2.5 years of being told we are hiring woman and minorities, decided to give up the plans of being a firefighter. Joined the Carpenters Union worked commercial construction for 5 years. Bought a yacht club in Newport Beach, Ca. Chartered boats, gave sailing lessons, and enjoyed life on the water in SoCal and Mexico. Moved to Florida in 03, started building houses and enjoying life down there. Ca. is home again, Florida is a nice place to visit.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:13AM

Jason Trepins

Real Estate Investor · Wyoming, Michigan

195 posts
342 Influence

Icon_minipost Feb 10 '09, 09:21 PM

Best of Luck CLAUDE!
Afghanistan is a nasty place...get the hell out of there in 1 piece.

I graudated with a bachelors in computer engineering..did a bunch of programming and EE design doing industrial automation for AUTOMOTIVE(BZZZ, Mistake..should have moved to silicon valley RIGHT out of college). Got laid off a couple times, was doing flips on the side already so moved to doing that full time.

I've been actively trading and studying currency trading for 3 years, so between that and real estate...I should go Somewheres.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:13AM

John Andre

Real Estate Investor · Mission Viejo, Cape Coral, California

232 posts
89 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Feb 10 '09, 09:52 PM

Amen on... "Best of Luck CLAUDE!
Afghanistan is a nasty place...get the hell out of there in 1 piece"

[b]Thank you for sacrificing your time to keep us safe back at home!! Watch your back, looking forward to your safe return.
Let everyone over there know,we are praying for their them.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:13AM

J Scott

Real Estate Investor · Atlanta, Georgia

6088 posts
66749 Influence
13 Awards

Icon_minipost Feb 10 '09, 11:06 PM

Spent 15 years in Silicon Valley the tech industry...while I miss all the stock options, real estate is a much more fun business... :)

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:13AM

Mike Mn

· Twin Cities, Minnesota

88 posts
162 Influence

Icon_minipost Feb 11 '09, 02:54 AM

Originally posted by Brandon E

It would be interesting to hear stories of what some of you did BEFORE discovering real estate;
Is your life dramatically different NOW? Will you or did you make it your goal to be a full-time investor? Does anyone rely solely on their ROI for income?

Thanks in advance for your submissions - Brandon

In High School, I started reading up about REI. I purchased my first OO duplex at 23. I quit my day job in Machine/Automation Industry to become a mortgage originator and RE agent about 2 yrs later with the ultimate goal of living off of my investments. I never considered REI anything other than a long term investment until I started researching more creative ways to accumulate properties. As, I learning more about REI I became consumed with getting out of the rat race and no longer doing RE for customers, but just managing my portfolio. After the RE/mortgage market turned bad, I returned to the Automation industry a couple years ago. With the experience I have gained in the process I have learned a few things.
1. There is a difference between an investment and a job. Much of the guru spouted creative REI is a job replacement, not an investment.
2. You can run your REI as a hobby or as a business. Your ability to meet your goals is directly related to the way you choose to treat your REI.
3. To find the best deals, you must know every person you can in your target market, and they need to know you as well.
4. Living on the profits of my investments is not a goal of mine until my kids are grown, maybe not even then. I spent a couple years with not much to do and a fat bank account. It can get boring, you might as well do something that you enjoy, if that job is somekind of REI related thing, do it, if it has nothing to do with REI, don't feel bad.
5. Is my life dramatically different now with all of the experiences I have had related to REI? Absolutely, without a doubt YES! I went from just wanting to have a nice little kitty for retirement, to just wanting to be a Landlord, to just wanting to be an Investor. I want to be an Investor to grow and diversify my overall portfolio for the future and use my regular income to provide day to day cashflow for my family.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:14AM

Lee V

73 posts
29 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Feb 12 '09, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by Claude Hodge

I am in the U.S. Army. I have a little less than 3 years left, which will make 10.5 years total service. I leave for Afghanistan in about 3 months. When I get home from there, I will buy my first of many rentals! Great topic by the way! I love the guy who got his masters, but opened a pizza shop. Awesome!

Yea...worked in this pizza joint for 8 years from senior year in highschool throught my Master in college and became great friend with the owner. He said one day.... Lee you would be great running a shop, so I did. Love it! but man.... hard work.

Trying to buy as much rentals as possible also. Working on my first one right now....

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:15AM

Rich Weese

Real Estate Investor · sioux falls, South Dakota

4293 posts
43789 Influence
15 Awards

Icon_minipost Feb 12 '09, 04:10 PM

Before real estate I was a college dropout that had just returned from a 2 year Mormon mission to Southern Brazil.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:15AM

Marcial J.Paredes

· Phoenix, Arizona

31 posts
88 Influence

Icon_minipost Feb 13 '09, 03:47 AM

I've worked mainly in case management straight out of high school. I am currently a bus driver which works out great because it gives me time to devote to my real estate investing goals..,..Besides all this, I am a self taught artist and that is what I focus on when I need to relax......

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:15AM

Matt DuSold

· Chicago, Illinois

317 posts
927 Influence
4 Awards

Icon_minipost Feb 13 '09, 03:53 AM

I graduated with my Master in Social Work/Counseling.... decided not to do that.

Not too weird Lee. I am starting REI along with my masters of counseling psychology in June!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:15AM

Mike Tooley

Wholesaler · Orange County, California

55 posts
285 Influence
2 Awards

Icon_minipost Feb 13 '09, 06:35 AM

I was and currently am a firefighter. Don't really want to give it up until I'm wealthy.

The job allows me plenty of time to do part time investing!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:15AM

Steven Clarke

Real Estate Investor · Long Island, New York

2 posts

Icon_minipost Feb 17 '09, 10:59 AM

College student - last semester for BA.
Co-Owner of IT Support & Outsourcing Company.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:18AM

Scott Dwyer

Real Estate Investor · Furlong, PA

17 posts

Icon_minipost Feb 18 '09, 10:22 AM

Cool topic!

I've just started my REI career. Closing on my first flip next week.

I currently work as a personal chef. I've been in the cooking biz for almost 13 years now. I love it, but it's hard work. In this economy not too many people with the disposable income to devote to personal chef services.

My plan is to learn as much about REI over the next few years to be able to support myself from that alone.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:19AM

Matt H

· Edmonton, Alberta

32 posts
34 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Feb 19 '09, 12:35 AM

Well I've tried lots of businesses. Only had success with one other. I only recommend REI to people I meet, it's definitely the most lucrative by far.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:19AM

Tim W.

Real Estate Investor · Indiana, Indiana

4333 posts
23859 Influence
13 Awards

Icon_minipost Feb 19 '09, 08:38 PM

I was an estimator and staff insurance adjuster and left it for a while to pursure REI full time. I had good success with it. In a year, I acquired enough cashflow to comfortably cover my expenses. Then I found out full time REI is anything but full time and I got bored.

This past fall I got an offer to do it again as an independent contractor and it works out to 5-10 times as much as I was paid before to do it. Too hard to say no so I'm doing that while I'm not land lording. It's great - I'm good at it, I work when I want to and get overpaid for it. I know it's S quadrant income but it's so danged much...lol, and it gives me more funds to reinvest. I get California money with Indiana expenses. ;-) I have to say REI put me in the position where I could hold out for stuff like that.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:20AM by Tim W.

Nick J.

SFR Investor · Scottsdale, Arizona

2806 posts
27916 Influence
21 Awards

Icon_minipost Feb 19 '09, 09:11 PM

high school dropout, no college.
I was a tow truck driver for almost 7yrs.
The company I worked for did all police calls. I got tired of scraping up fatal accidents and sweeping up spilled oil in the middle of intersections here in Az during the summer months. Its not fun..........

I'm glad I made the change

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:20AM

Adam Black

· Ridgeland, Mississippi

106 posts
57 Influence
1 Award

Icon_minipost Feb 19 '09, 09:19 PM

Well I have run the gamut of jobs since high school.
Professionl bullfighter/ rodeo clown
Western Store/ Farm Supply Manager
Resteraunt Manager
Automotive Manufacturing Supervisor
Automotive Manufacturing Engineer
Automotive Manufacturing Plant Superintendent

And I'm only 37!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 07:20AM

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