​I QUIT MY JOB THIS WEEK!!! (with help from BP, at 31yo ;)

​I QUIT MY JOB THIS WEEK!!! (with help from BP, at 31yo ;)

J. MartinPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Oakland, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes

Say it with me: “I QUIT!!!”

As Bigger Pockets’ motto says, “Life wasn’t made to be lived in a cubicle.”
So I’m not going to any more!!

Been a Wild Ride!!
Going from nothing - to buying my first foreclosed 4plex with an FHA loan, partnerships buying poorly maintained single family homes and 2-4 unit buildings from foreclosure, probate, off-market (or combination), several partnerships and loans to and from local BP members, furnishing apartments for 1-3 month stays, several cash-out loans, >$1MM in RE, $250K in gross rents, organizing a big RE Summit, discovering all the amazing data out there, having some challenges along the way, giving back to the community and volunteering, and having the opportunity to give back and help other investors with my experiences – has been a wild ride!!!! (See my BP profile or signature link for more details privately.) And I actually enjoyed my job, but I'm going to enjoy this more!!!

From Nothin' to Somethin'
I started with no cash, negative net worth, and a pocket full of dreams. My goal was to be able to wake up whenever I wanted, wear flip flops every day, and do some traveling :) After a lot of hard work, help from others (mostly on BP!), some leverage, and a stroke of luck, I was able to build a portfolio of high cash-flowing properties in the San Francisco Bay Area, along with another profitable real estate venture with a lot of additional opportunity. This income, along with my frugality – coupled with a business that allows me to operate remotely – will let me travel around the US and world, work on my own schedule, and follow my dreams, wherever they should take me! These goals were instrumental in building my business – because I didn’t want to have to show up to make money!!! :) *think about this when growing your business!*

BP (and the people on it) were Instrumental!!
Bigger Pockets forums, podcasts, and the people I have met here have opened my eyes to knowledge, wisdom, and opportunities I would have never thought possible. But I wouldn’t have come to where I am today if I hadn’t started posting and interacting on the forums, connecting with other local investors online, and meeting them face to face (eventually starting my own RE meetup in SF, and snowballing into a big RE Summit with so many great folks from BP). But BP was the start of it all. Before that, I was wandering around by myself in the desert, learning bit by bit, without a network of amazing people to lean on for advice, and ultimately do great deals with, borrow and lend funds, and most importantly, make some great friendships :)

Shout Outs!
I have to give a big shout-out to  @Johnson H. for first introducing me to BP, and a lot of investors down in Silicon Valley and San Jose. A big thanks to @Account Closedundefined

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Rental Property Investor · Arlington, TX · Member since 2012 · 788 posts · 640 votes
10y

Congrats!  Way to make things happen and never give up. 

I'm not sure how so many Americans get brainwashed into working 40 hrs a week for 40 years so they can then live a modest lifestyle when they can now barely enjoy life.  Glad to see you break from the chains.

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  • Commercial Property Manager/Facilities Manager · Boston, MA · Member since 2015 · 187 posts · 41 votes
    10y

    AWESOME! I have 7 years until I'm 31 and MUST be self-employed. Congrats.

  • Roswell, GA · Member since 2014 · 6 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    BIG CONGRATS!  Awsome!

  • Wholesaler · Manning, SC · Member since 2012 · 94 posts · 16 votes
    10y

    Wow congratulations! Your extraordinary humble attitude of gratitude is nothing short of amazing. I am willing to bet that it is likewise a very significant part of your well deserved success. Thank you for sharing and God bless!

  • Columbus, OH · Member since 2015 · 210 posts · 80 votes
    10y

    Congratulations!! You are such an inspiration! I am working towards the same goal too, hopefully quit my soul-sucking corporate job soon! :)

  • Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2016 · 1 post · 1 vote
    10y

    Congrats! What an  inspiration. 

  • Wholesaler · Martinez, CA · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    10y

    Congrats!!! What an amazing accomplishment and inspiration to many!

  • Residential Real Estate Broker · California City, CA · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 7 votes
    10y

    Do you have any recommendations on semi passive or co-sponsor group opportunities in California?

  • Buffalo, NY · Member since 2016 · 16 posts · 5 votes
    10y

    Thank you for sharing your amazing story, this will be sure to inspire many to follow in your foot steps. 

  • SFR & Multifamily · Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2016 · 59 posts · 7 votes
    10y

    Good job. NNiiiiicccceeee

  • Attorney · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2014 · 300 posts · 172 votes
    10y

    Congrats J! It was a pleasure meeting you in Sacramento and thank you for sharing your ride with us. You're an inspiration for us all to rise and grind until we reach our goals.

  • Queens NY, NY · Member since 2013 · 467 posts · 107 votes
    10y

    @J. Martin...Congrats ...hopefully one day i will be where you are.

    Thanks for sharing.

  • Self Employed · Carmichaels, PA · Member since 2015 · 7 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    Congratulations! I am working towards creating the same opportunity for myself.

  • J. MartinPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Oakland, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    10y

    @Lilia Andrew
     Thanks for being a teacher Lilia! :) Even if you’re leaving for RE, most people don’t make that contribution :) I have never been to Hawaii and would LOVE LOVE LOVE to come out there! But I’ve always been too cheap to go to a resort, so I was just going to bring my “nice” hammock and hang out in the trees! Lol (I love forests :)But if I had a roof too, I would have to go!!! Happy to share my real estate knowledge, some jokes, cook up some fresh island flavors, and some warm island songs on the uke!!!! :) Also, happy to share one of my places when I am in the Bay, or block off my Oakland studio for you when you're visiting the '48 (as long as someone didn't beat you to the studio!)


    I am so happy for you that you get to live there!!!

    @Account Closed
     Nice meeting you at @Al Williamson’s event too! I had announced I was quitting at the event, but just officially did it. Hope to see you down in the Bay at my next one in SF! Al will be there too, or I quit! lol

    @Tracey Pera, @Reginald S.,
    So many people have helped me along the way also, and still do. Great to give back a little along the way ;)

    @Jake Thomas, @Ayodeji Kuponiyi 
    Congrats on getting close! How did you all get to where you are, about to quit..? Blood, sweat, and tears? Easy going? What kind of investments?

    @Myra J., @Jessie Niu.,
    Are you getting close too? What are you doing to get to the finish line?..

    @David Echeverria and @Lauren Bishop,
    “The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.” BP Is a great place to start!!
    My Norcal folks, Hayward and Ukiah!! You two need to come out to the Summit next year!!

    @Ericka G.,
    Congrats on jumping ship! You, along with @Sandeep, @Minh, @David C, and many others have beat me to it. But happy to follow in your footsteps! :) In fact, I had to buy Sandeep a pitcher at the last meetup, because he beat me to it!! lol

    @Fred Whitney
     I don’t have an specific recommendations for places to invest your money right now, except that @Brian burke is someone I would trust, at Praxis Capital, if you are looking for a 100% passive investment. I don’t think he’s looking for any semi passive folks though!

    @Kevin Olson, @Shawn Connors, @Drew Markert, @Mark Spidell, @Eric Brundige, @Weiwei Gao, @Jon H, @Craig Moore, @Jeffrey Havis Sr, @Betsy Tidwell, @Nicole m, @Brenda Snyder, @Jorge Hernandez, @Charmaine M., @William Faddis,

    What are you all doing now to get off the day to day W2 grind? Specific list of daily goals? Sorta plan, and finding as you go? How will you get to your goal? I’m rooting for everyone!

    @Nicole Millsundefined

  • John CasmonPro Member
    Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    @J. Martin Awesome update, congratulations! 

  • Rental Property Investor · Troy, NY · Member since 2016 · 21 posts · 17 votes
    10y

    @J. Martin I've reduced all my expenses to a minimum and I'm paying off all high interest debt so I can start stuffing money away for closing cost. I'm about 6 mos away from making my first move on buying a deal. Plan is in motion and has been for a little while now.

  • Santa Clara, CA · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 3 votes
    10y

    reading this is inspiring. Congratulations on your accomplishments because im sure it came with alot of good and bad days! Coming from the bay area for a newbie seems grim because of how out of control prices may seem, but with patience and diligence im sure anyone can prevail! Cheers to your success.

  • Commercial Property Manager/Facilities Manager · Boston, MA · Member since 2015 · 187 posts · 41 votes
    10y

    @J. Martin,

    Right now I'm just saving. I will begin house-hacking and wholesaling this year as well as beginning my career as a fitness entrepreneur. I will use my time house hacking to build up my fitness brand for about 1-2yrs and then house hack again but flush every revenue stream I have into RE.

  • Accountant · Denver, CO · Member since 2012 · 154 posts · 61 votes
    10y

    Congrats @J. Martin amazing job man!  I was able to do the same at 28 a few years ago.  I've been to Colombia, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua since then : )   90 days in Thailand last year and i'll be in Colombia 30 days this year (Along with your meetup in SF and some other U.S. road trips sprinkled in between).  Enjoy it man , stay liquid, keep good cashflow , and have a blast!   Congrats!

  • Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2014 · 82 posts · 24 votes
    10y

    Congratulations @J. Martin . How long have you been investing in real estate to get to this point? Your story, I'm sure like many others, is my goal as well.

  • Investor · Cedar Rapids, IA · Member since 2013 · 494 posts · 407 votes
    10y

    @J. Martin What am I doing in retirement? Played golf this morning, nap, going out for out for live music later, pretty much whatever you like. I'm still picking up properties here and there but the goal was to get out of the rat race so I don't want to work REI so hard it feels like a job.

  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 155 posts · 42 votes
    10y

    I loved this post!  I’m working on leaving my 9-5 to focus on real estate full time by the end of this year!I will make more connections and relationships on BP!!!  Thank you!

  • Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2013 · 65 posts · 23 votes
    10y

    Congratulations! Inspiring me to start with rental deal #1 ASAP!

  • Bellevue, WA · Member since 2016 · 1 post · 0 votes
    10y

    WOW! Congrats! Sounds very exciting!

  • New London, CT · Member since 2014 · 8 posts · 1 vote
    10y

    I'm only in the beginning process. I just applied for a HELOC which I will be using for downpayments to buy property. I can't wait to experience the freedom of leaving my job!!! @J.Martin

  • Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2016 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    That's awesome...I hope to create my portfolio this year. Right now i'm using BP for material and reading different books every day to help shape my plan.. 

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