I escaped my J.O.B. with Real Estate!

I escaped my J.O.B. with Real Estate!

Dave PoeppelmeierBusiness Member
Realtor · Maumee, OH · Member since 2015 · 491 posts · 722 votes

I cannot believe the day is almost here. Tomorrow, December 5th, I will retire after 20 years as a Physical Therapist. Most people would say "I can't believe you're just leaving that career!" Yes, I received a B.S. in Physical Therapy in 2000 (it's now 8 years and a Doctorate to be a PT... noooo way) that I worked extremely hard for. But, I have wanted to get out of PT and being an employee for over 13 years after being jerked around by employers, reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, and working with a MLM company that taught me an unbelievable amount about how to be an Entrepreneur. My wife and I bought our first rental in 2013 with money out of my 401k, penalties and all, and haven't looked back since. My wife became a Realtor 5 years ago simply to allow us to go see houses whenever we wanted to, and is now making way more than she was as a teacher with a Master's Degree (that we were paying for student loans on for well after she stopped teaching). I got my own Real Estate License this past May, and along with the 17 SFH we have (and growing) here in Toledo, we finally have enough income coming in through our sales/rental as well as the income I will make in working with our Property Management to allow me to walk away from the crap-show that is Health Care.

I'm sharing this not to gloat, but to show people that it is possible to get out of your job. I would love to say that with the income a PT makes, we were able to just go out and put full 25% down payments on everything and it was easy. It was not. A lot of crap hit the fan for us personally along the way. The Law of Attraction is real, and if you keep your goals in front of you, and keep thinking about it, it will happen. So if you hate your job, and are trying to figure out how to get that next house or duplex, keep working on it. It may not work every time, but it's going to work. It will keep building on itself, and before you know it deals WILL start coming to you because people know you are an honorable, hard working Investor. Good luck!

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New to Real Estate · Downingtown PA · Member since 2020 · 46 posts · 38 votes
5y

@Dave Poeppelmeier congrats Dave! What an inspiration.

One question for you if you don’t mind answering. You mentioned health care, but what do you plan on doing for your health care coverage without your W2 job?

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  • Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier

    Awesome, congratulations on your journey!

    P.S. I'm sorry to hear about those new lead testing laws folks in Toledo have to deal with now!

  • Real Estate Agent · Kansas City · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    Nice work man! REI gets addicting

  • Toledo, OH · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 25 votes
    5y

    That's awesome Dave! I've been witnessing your growth and I'm so happy for you!! You know I've heard about people getting lucky but in my experience, the harder you work the luckier you get...and you're an awfully hard worker. Keep up the good work. 

  • Rental Property Investor · MA · Member since 2014 · 420 posts · 213 votes
    5y

    Heck yes @Dave Poeppelmeier!  Congrats on this massive achievement!

  • Rental Property Investor · Brooke Park Drive · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    That is great!

  • New to Real Estate · Downingtown PA · Member since 2020 · 46 posts · 38 votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier congrats Dave! What an inspiration.

    One question for you if you don’t mind answering. You mentioned health care, but what do you plan on doing for your health care coverage without your W2 job?

  • Dave PoeppelmeierBusiness Member
    OP
    Realtor · Maumee, OH · Member since 2015 · 491 posts · 722 votes
    5y

    @Dre Nichols I will have a W2-type job with my brokerage, working in our property management as well as being a Realtor, so that is where I'm getting Health Insurance. Buying it on your own is very tough, especially with any pre-existing conditions.

    Keller Williams Citywide | Dave Poeppelmeier534 Reviews
  • New to Real Estate · Downingtown PA · Member since 2020 · 46 posts · 38 votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier makes sense. Best of luck to you!

  • Specialist · Plano, TX · Member since 2020 · 2k+ posts · 861 votes
    5y

    Wow. Congratulations on this huge life change, @Dave Poeppelmeier. You and your wife are killing it. Your story is very inspirational. Thanks for sharing it with us. 

  • Real Estate Agent · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2020 · 459 posts · 305 votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier

    Congratulations to you. Great story, thanks for sharing 👍🏻

  • Real Estate Agent · Winston Salem, NC · Member since 2014 · 486 posts · 303 votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier congratulations 🎉! Motivating and inspiring!

  • Investor · Mesa, AZ · Member since 2019 · 53 posts · 63 votes
    5y

    Congrats Dave! I am happy there is one more person that doesn't have to be in the rat race. It just solidifies the fact that there is light at the end of the tunnel for all of us. 

    What are your plans now?

  • Ian WalshBusiness Member
    Lender · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    Congrats!  I love these stories.

  • Samara HuntleyPro Member
    Investor · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2020 · 124 posts · 189 votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier Rich Dad Poor Dad set me on my path into real estate investing as well! Fascinating industry. Congratulations, can’t wait until my story is the same as yours. Financially free. Good job.

  • Investor · Columbus, MT · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier

    Well done Dave! Do you do property management for others? I am looking for one in the Toledo area.

  • Rental Property Investor · Hammond, WI · Member since 2017 · 139 posts · 217 votes
    5y

    Congrats Dave!  I'm also a PT, but I was lucky to be young enough to take on the 6 figure student loan debt that comes with a DPT and 7 years of schooling.  I think the general public think's PT's make wayy more than they do.  I'm at 65 units and a short term rental, hopefully I can have a similar post in the next couple years!

  • Charlotte, NC · Member since 2017 · 71 posts · 32 votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier

    Congrats Dave! Truly inspiring story! I grew up very close to the Toledo/Maumee area and my wife graduated from UT so very awesome to hear stories of relatively local success. My brother still lives around the Toledo area so I’m doing my best to get him to start his real estate journey! Best of luck going forward and excited to hear about your future successes!

    Jared Wonders

  • Dave PoeppelmeierBusiness Member
    OP
    Realtor · Maumee, OH · Member since 2015 · 491 posts · 722 votes
    5y

    @Caleb Johnson I'll be working as a full time Realtor as well as in our Property Management, in addition to managing my own rentals (for now).

    Keller Williams Citywide | Dave Poeppelmeier534 Reviews
  • Dave PoeppelmeierBusiness Member
    OP
    Realtor · Maumee, OH · Member since 2015 · 491 posts · 722 votes
    5y

    @Joshua D. Yup, that's exactly what we do

    Keller Williams Citywide | Dave Poeppelmeier534 Reviews
  • Member since 2018 · 4 posts · 4 votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier

    Way to go Dave! Can't tell you enough how much your story hits home for me. Wife and I had the conversation LAST NIGHT about replacing income. And guess what...we're both in healthcare so I too am familiar with the **** show LOL. Thanks for posting and kudos too for the many patients you helped over the years as a PT. Cheers!

  • Rental Property Investor · Vallejo, CA · Member since 2018 · 34 posts · 21 votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier Super inspirational.  Thanks & amazing luck for you!

  • Lender · Grand Haven, MI · Member since 2016 · 43 posts · 6 votes
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier Thanks so much for sharing. I read these at work every day. Super motivating. Congrats to you guys!!

  • Rental Property Investor · Westbrook, ME · Member since 2020 · 9 posts · 1 vote
    5y

    @dave CONGRATS DAVE! 

    @Dave Poeppelmeierundefined

  • Rental Property Investor · Manvel, TX · Member since 2019 · 11 posts · 5 votes
    5y

    great job! thanks for sharing, very inspirational!

  • Plainfield, NJ · Member since 2018 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    5y

    @Dave Poeppelmeier

    Amazing and inspiring!!!!!

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