​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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Most Popular Reply

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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  • Danbury, CT · Member since 2016 · 6 posts · 3 votes
    10y

    awesome ! Stories like yours inspire me to keep hustling and burn my W2! 

    Thank you for sharing! 

  • Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2014 · 65 posts · 29 votes
    10y

    I am humbled by the dedication, hard work and paying it forward by the individuals I read here on BP.   I'm small time only six doors, but get so inspired to dive in for more.   I feel I'm among friends.  

  • Washington, DC · Member since 2016 · 94 posts · 43 votes
    10y

    Congratulations, J. Martin! That is great news and a great story. I am new to BP and I am excited about the resources I am finding. Keep putting the work in and stay true to all that you do and give. Blessings

  • Investor · Longview, TX · Member since 2015 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    10y

    Great , Great Great, You did it. So can I. I have fire Now. This is the greatest news ever.   I started to change my Paradigm this year.  My goals are moving forward.  I am on task. Yea!!!

  • Real Estate Agent · Milwaukee County, WI · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 525 votes
    10y

    California congrats

  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Paranaque, Metro Manila · Member since 2015 · 16 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    Congratulations @J. Martin! It's inspiring, especially that you are just one year older than me. Know that your success serves as an inspiration not only in the United States, but all over the world. Cheers from the Philippines!

    --

    http://bahaylupa.co

  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 238 posts · 68 votes
    10y

    Cheers man, that's awesome! I'm 31 now and just getting started on my first deal. This has me inspired to be independent while I'm still in my 30s though.

  • Investor · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2015 · 204 posts · 37 votes
    10y

    @J. 

    @J. Martin awesome job man! Truly inspiring!

  • Investor · Orange County, CA · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    10y

    Congrats! Happy travels, wherever your travels may lead you.

  • Marietta, GA · Member since 2013 · 202 posts · 118 votes
    10y

    @J. Martin

    Haven't talked to you in a while. I miss the meetups and late night parking lot talks. Congrats on your success. I always knew from the first day I met you that you would be a mover and a shaker!

    I finally made the move to  Atlanta and am living off all my rentals, so the plan worked. I'd love to catch up and chat as I am looking into doing a lot of travel too. Like I told you before, if you are swinging out this way let me know. 

    Once again . . . you are the man!

  • Wholesaler · Hollywood, FL · Member since 2016 · 10 posts · 6 votes
    10y
    This was an awesome post congrats
  • Voorhees, NJ · Member since 2016 · 28 posts · 5 votes
    10y

    Wow, Congratulations.

    I'm actually where you were when you started. With a pocket full of dreams and burning passion in my belly to succeed at this business.

    I'm happy to see you made it!

  • Waipahu, HI · Member since 2016 · 43 posts · 9 votes
    10y

    What a great inspirational and motivational post! Gave me goosebumps while reading, I'm a newbie starting out in Oahu with no experience nor knowledge about REI what's so ever, I hope to build my wealth throw real estate and be able to be free from working for someone else.

  • Real Estate Investor · Eola, IL · Member since 2014 · 137 posts · 22 votes
    10y

    Congratulations @J. Martin on the milestone!

    Now due for a detail post on how you did it and your journey through the REI!

    Cheers!

  • Real Estate Agent · Sisters, OR · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Get a van with a sink etc.  Hit the road stop through Central Oregon so I can take you fishing and pick your brain on how you pulled off such a brilliant accomplishment.  You should be very proud of yourself.

    Now when you say timing was important.  Do you think that the party is over and that the people who were going to make fortunes by and large have made them, and everyone else is a little late?  That is my feeling as of late.  I did get in but not enough to tell the man completely go to hell at least not for a little while longer.  Not taking anything from your success but I would love to hear what your thoughts are if you results are realistic in the current market.

    All the best,

  • Investor · Brooklyn, NY · Member since 2015 · 1 post · 0 votes
    10y

    "with a little help from BP"

    BP = Blowing P****

  • Investor · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2012 · 118 posts · 121 votes
    10y

    Huge Congrats @J. Martin!  There is nothing like saying goodbye to the boss and living life on our own terms :)

    And thanks for the pitcher the other night. You were very prompt on acknowledging that you lost the bet on who quits first!  While I may have beaten you by few weeks in quitting the W2 job - the truth is that you beat me to it by 11 years !! (you see I am 42 yo...)

    Good luck with your travels....

    (..and I hope I got enough inspiration from you to at least post/announce my freedom in a BP post of mine :)

  • Lansing, MI · Member since 2015 · 301 posts · 149 votes
    10y

    @J. Martin

    Congrats dude! That is awesome. Hard work and learning pay off! I plan to join the flip flop ranks in the future! 

  • Professional · Brooklyn, NY · Member since 2010 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    10y

    Wow, congratulations.  This is great news and motivational.

    I just woke up and reading your post was a wakeup call for me.

    I too want to leave my cubicle.

    I need to stay focused, network, study and take more action.

    Can I do what you just did in NYC?

    I know I can.

    Safe travels and I wish you much continued success.

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

    @J. Martin I was meaning to ask, how old were you when you first started? You quit at 31 but when did you officially start?

  • Investor · St Petersburg, FL · Member since 2015 · 127 posts · 39 votes
    10y

    @J. Martin Very inspiring! Congrats! I am looking to follow a very similar path. So you're 31 y/o currently, what age did you begin investing? What is you're current business? 

  • Savannah, GA · Member since 2016 · 29 posts · 3 votes
    10y
    Congrats. I'm currently at the beginning of your process. Every morning when my alarm clock goes off at 4:45 am there is a noticeable "UGGGGGGH". My wife has even stated she's heard it a few times while waiting for her alarm to go off about 20 minutes later. We are in the process of paying down some of our personal debt to free up cash. My goal is to start my new career next spring when i "should" have money and time freed up. The goal is to say "I quit" before 2020 without any drop in income from where I am now. Congrats again
  • Tim KunzPro Member
    Contractor · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2015 · 131 posts · 55 votes
    10y

    @J. Martin congrats, that's awesome! I didn't get a chance to meet you at the last BP meet up we had here in Sacramento but looking forward to attending the one in the works in SF and getting a chance to meet you.  Very inspiring stuff. Safe travels.

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2011 · 44 posts · 9 votes
    10y

    AWESOME!

  • Real Estate Investor · Burke, VA · Member since 2015 · 1 post · 2 votes
    10y

    Congrats!  I hope to be in the same boat as you in the very near future.  Thanks so much for sharing your story and being an inspiration to us all. :) 

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