Trying to get Into Real Estate — My Mentor Says It’s Not a Profession Anymore… What

[Calvin Stewart]

Hey BP,

I’m 17, based out of the 46307 area (Winfield, IN), and working to get into real estate investing early. I’ve been reading, learning, and soaking up everything I can. Recently, I got connected with a mentor who’s been giving me real talk about the current market, and I wanted to share something he said that stuck with me:

“Investing is starting to feel more like a side hustle than a real investment.”

He explained that a lot of everyday property owners (not just investors) aren’t looking to sell because they locked in super low interest rates and don’t want to let go of what they have. Combine that with a lot of supply sitting out there and not enough active demand, and it’s created a weird, stagnant energy in the residential market here.

My mentor brought me on as an intern to start learning the ropes. Soon, I’ll be cold calling commercial multifamily property owners to see if they’re open to selling. I haven’t started yet, but I will be soon.

I want to start with buy-and-hold, build a strong base, and eventually scale into multifamily and larger commercial assets. I’m still in high school, so most of my time outside class goes into studying this business and leveling up my understanding. I’m not here to dabble—I want to make it in this game long-term and build real wealth, not just quick cash flow.

Some questions I have:

• How do you break into this business in a market where regular people aren’t motivated to sell and deals are hard to find?
• If you were 17 today with zero deals, what would you focus on to build your name and experience?
• Is there anything you wish you did differently when you were first starting out?

I’m grateful for any advice and feedback. Thank you.