Be careful what you wish for! 9 properties & coin-op by 26!

[David Huynh]

I want this post to benefit those who are starting out in real estate and want to believe they can succeed.

Don’t take this as me bragging about my accomplishments (most people don’t even know that I own a real estate portfolio, outside of BP).

Real estate sucks. It really does suck when you first start out. My first 2-3 properties were the most stressful, sleepless nights, and almost sickening periods. After that, it gets a lot easier. I kept telling myself - it’s difficult to count to 29 but after 30, you just get it. I don’t remember who taught me that, but it kept me alive.

Real estate rocks, once you get it. After fumbling in the dark for the first couple of years everything is easier and it is smoother sailing. You’ll just want to keep signing on that line, over and over again.

For the past couple of years, it has been fun, exciting, depressing, hectic, and crazy. I finally get to say and announce to the world that I’ve achieved my goal – 9 properties and a business by age 26. My boss has always told me “Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it”

Here is my list:

• Condo (1/1)
• Condo (2/2)
• Triplex
• Single family (3/2)
• 4 plex
• Store front w/ two residential dwellings
• 8 unit apartment
• 4 plex
• …. Finally my own single-family residence (closing March 31st)
• Coin-op/dry cleaning business (no idea what I’m doing here)

Now it is time to 10X my goals, cause it does work! I still hold my full-time sales job, a steady relationship with my fiancé, and a newborn :). And yes, at times she wants to get rid of me if she hears about real estate.

There was definitely a point in time where I did not believe that this was possible, especially in my first couple of years. I was scared that I would flop and fail (still do today) but I continue to grind on it. I hope all of us, get to succeed, create wealth, be financially free, or whatever our goal is, makes it there. The BiggerPockets podcasts and community definitely helped me. 

[Tim Puffer]

Awesome! If you keep at something long enough and are committed you will succeed even if you take a few lumps along the way.