Paul Zofsak from Cypress TX

Paul Zofsak from Cypress TX

Paul ZofsakPro Member
Investor · Cypress, TX · Member since 2013 · 118 posts · 15 votes

Hi all, I am Paul Zofsak located in Cypress, TX just outside of Houston. I am currently a chef at a prominent hotel downtown. I love my job and the work that I do, but the hours are long and very physical; I have neared the top tier of pay in my industry and want more for my family. Having the time to spend with my family and the financial security of investing through real estate is most important to me.
My wife and I recently opened an LLC to establish our real estate business; something I have always wanted to do, and since my wife comes from an entrepreneurial family, it is very exciting for the both of us. We will also be welcoming out first born very soon and want to secure a future for ourselves and our soon to be family.
Our focus will be on rental properties in the beginning, multifamily units, and then rehabbing houses down the road. I have been following the real estate business for a number of years and have finally decided to jump in. My wife comes from a construction and design background so she is very eager for the day she can rehab and flip her first house.
I have been reading through the biggerpockets site for a few months now and am really excited to belong to such a source of help and information.

Thank you, Paul.

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  • Licensed Real Estate Broker & Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2012 · 521 posts · 104 votes
    13y

    Paul Zofsak Hey Paul, welcome to BP! It's really is great to see more and more Houstonians joining the site. Now is an excellent time to buy in our market. A property purchased in April or May should be rehabbed and ready to rent or sell during the Summer moving season.

    Congrats on the new addition to your family as well!

  • Property Manager · Houston, TX · Member since 2013 · 10 posts · 1 vote
    13y

    I am from the Spring area but I also invest in Cypress, Tomball, Humble. Actually, Cyprus is a great area for single-family homes, that is all I invest in.

  • Investor · Houston TX / Lynchburg, VA · Member since 2013 · 56 posts · 46 votes
    13y

    Paul Zofsak Welcome to BP! I've been a member for about a month or so...

    I'm also a Houston areas investor. Primarily looking for wholesale and rehab deals.

    After watching all those cooking competition shows on TV (Chopped, Hells Kitchen, etc), I can imagine how stressful your job it!

  • Houston, TX · Member since 2011 · 673 posts · 360 votes
    13y

    Welcome to BP Paul! Let me know if I can do anything to help you along the learning process.

  • Paul ZofsakPro Member
    OP
    Investor · Cypress, TX · Member since 2013 · 118 posts · 15 votes
    13y

    Thanks to all that replied. The cooking shows show a more dramatic side of things than what is actually taking place, that's tv for you. The real stress comes from dealing with staff, deadlines, incompetence from other departments, and the constant unexpected changes. An 8 hour day quickly turns into a 14 hour day because you just never know what might happen from moment to moment; the best laid plans... as they say. That being said I am sure the real estate industry deals with much of the same, however doing it for the benefit of myself and my family vs. the benefit of the owner is justifiable.
    I have been doing a lot of reading on financing options and, other than plopping down 20% of my own cash on a conventional loan, I would like to hear about what is working for others in this market.

  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    13y

    Hi Paul and welcome to Bigger Pockets.

    I know the food industry well and have been a restaurant owner in the past so understand all that is involved.

    I would only buy a restaurant again where the size and scale had an infrastructure in place that does not require an owner operator situation. At that point you do not have an investment but a JOB you are trapped in.

    I use that also for apartment buildings or anything else as an investment. My job as a commercial broker and investor is transacting deals. Anything that takes away from that is counter productive if it sucks away all my time.

    Given that you sound very busy Paul the properties you go for have to be well thought out in how you will run them and what they will require.

    Do you see yourself owning your own restaurant or getting out of food all together and just doing real estate?? You could become a business broker and sell restaurants for sellers as you already have the network to pull from and contacts.

    Just thinking of ways to get you the family time you desire and away from the long days. Eventually the body wears down. A successful entrepreneur told me long ago that you can only do so much physical work and production goes down. If you get paid to use your mind with age and more knowledge and experience your income only goes up.

    All the best.

  • Real Estate Coach · Venice Beach, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y

    Now I'm hungry thinking about cooking!

    Welcome to BP. You're in luck because Houston is a huge market right now for investors so you don't have to venture out of your local area to get good deals! I send a lot of investors to an awesome turnkey provider there, so if turnkey single-families are something you're interested in, let me know and I'll give you their info.

    Great market!

  • Brandon TurnerPro Member
    Investor · Maui, HI · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y

    hey Paul Zofsak welcome to the site!

    Be sure to set up some Keyword Alerts for some of the topics you are knowledgeable about, or other topics that interest you (like flip, Cypress, Texas, Rehab, etc ) so you'll be notified that those words were mentioned in the forums and can jump into those conversations! It's also an awesome way to meet new people from your area when they introduce themselves to this forum!

  • Investor · Cypress, TX · Member since 2013 · 403 posts · 59 votes
    13y

    Good to meet you Paul and Welcome to BP. I'm fairing new here myself. I'm in Cypress as well. I have one rental property and looking for at least 2 more right now. This is a great community here on BP so you will learn so much. I not a pro but if you have any questions don't be afraid to shoot me a message. Good luck to you sir.

  • Paul ZofsakPro Member
    OP
    Investor · Cypress, TX · Member since 2013 · 118 posts · 15 votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Ali Boone:
    Now I'm hungry thinking about cooking!

    Welcome to BP. You're in luck because Houston is a huge market right now for investors so you don't have to venture out of your local area to get good deals! I send a lot of investors to an awesome turnkey provider there, so if turnkey single-families are something you're interested in, let me know and I'll give you their info.

    Great market!

    I am always interested in learning as much as possible as well as exploring my options while networking. I appreciate any help you can send my way. Thank you, Paul.

  • Specialist · Orange County, CA · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 623 votes
    13y

    Hi Paul Zofsak. Welcome to BP!

    I LOVE Texas. We have a lot of Californians moving to your State. Last I heard there were over 100,000 people last year that moved out. I can't blame them for wanting to leave the "Socialists Republic of California"! ;-)

    Anyway, Houston is one of many great markets to invest in. Do your homework and ask questions. Then start building your portfolio.

    Continued success!

  • Real Estate Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2013 · 99 posts · 29 votes
    13y

    Congrats on the baby in the oven and congrats on the new found passion to pursue REI.

    Much like Ali Boone I am now hungry and thinking about the tasty food you cook up in your kitchen.

    Keep moving forward.

    Cheers

    Eric Hettena

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Greensboro, NC · Member since 2010 · 623 posts · 615 votes
    13y

    Paul Zofsak - welcome to BiggerPockets. You'll get tons of direction here and can search for anything you have questions on.

    Here's wishing you tremendous success!

  • Real Estate Investor · Anchorage, AK · Member since 2013 · 12 posts · 7 votes
    13y

    Paul welcome to BP. Great to have you. There are meeting we have in Houston from time to time and is a great for networking with other investors.

  • Residential Real Estate Agent · Pearland, TX · Member since 2013 · 163 posts · 32 votes
    13y

    Welcome to BP There are quite a few here from the Houston area. You will find lots of help here.

  • Investor · Cypress, TX · Member since 2013 · 403 posts · 59 votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Casey Cousins:
    Paul welcome to BP. Great to have you. There are meeting we have in Houston from time to time and is a great for networking with other investors.

    Let me know Casey when you have these meetings. I would love to join. Are you with a specific club?

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