​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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  • Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2015 · 48 posts · 44 votes
    10y

    Awesome!  Congrats!

  • Cupertino, CA · Member since 2015 · 4 posts · 3 votes
    10y

    Congratulations @J. Martin!!! (Sorry, a bit late to the party) Thank you for being such a real inspiration for all of us. You remind me to not stop having a dream.

  • Astoria, NY · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 0 votes
    10y

    Congrats! your story is very inspiring!!

    Anna

  • Denver, CO · Member since 2015 · 31 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    "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"

    So this portion above, is what I am trying to understand and grasp.  I am currently in that position.  I own the townhouse I am living in, but am at a point where I have no savings and my credit recently took a hit from a debt management company that screwed everything up on my credit.  How can I start, where can I begin to build myself from this place?  I currently have a 9-5 job and even though it is decent, the leftover money after bills and responsibilities will take a very long time to accumulate anything substantial to start with in RE.  Any advice on some stepping stones for me?

  • Real Estate Investor · Oakland, CA · Member since 2014 · 6 posts · 2 votes
    10y
    Congrats buddy! You know I'm a believer in there being more runway in the East Bay market. I'm staying actively investing and developing for another few years to build up that portfolio before the next down turn. I commend you on getting in when you did and the strategy you played staying in that W2 income world as its paid off! Those few years head start you had on me paid off big looking at that FRED chart. Hoping I can pull you in on a few deals I've got cooking like that 14 unit multifamily in Grand Lake. Be sure to hit me up when you are back in the area.
  • Rental Property Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2015 · 272 posts · 50 votes
    10y

    Wow, what a inspiring story!

    Thanks for sharing and good job!

  • Real Estate Broker · Seattle, WA · Member since 2012 · 76 posts · 14 votes
    10y

    I am on my way to duplicate this scenario. Congrats 

  • J. MartinPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Oakland, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Kyle J.:

    Congrats @J. Martin. Very cool. 

    I still remember when I met you at that small meetup in Stockton a few years ago. It definitely seemed like you were on your way even then, and you've come a long way since. 

    Coincidentally, I actually retired myself last month, and have been enjoying traveling too. (Just recently got back from Costa Rica. It was awesome!) 

    Cheers to you and living life in flip flops. :)

     Thanks for the shout-out Kyle! I love going to meetups when I'm out and about and has paid off.. Actually, I randomly got to meet @Brian Burke for the first time in person when he was one of the 4 attendees at a meetup I scheduled in Santa Rosa when I was up there for my W2 job back in the day. He ended up being my star speaker 2 years in a row when I started the . Also met @Account Closed at a meetup for the first time, and has since become a friend and mentor. You never know who you'll meet! And congrats on quitting your job and the trip to Costa Rica!! Awesome!!! :)  The 9-5 workers love living vicariously through those traveling, so you might want to make a like I did!

    Ha Noi!

    Havasupai in the Grand Canyon :)

  • J. MartinPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Oakland, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y

    *** 1 YEAR UPDATE ***

    Still alive and kickin!
    Since I quit my job a year ago, I have been traveling the world, growing my furnished rental business, and enjoying life! Check out the updates here:

    https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/223/topics/43...

  • Oakland, CA · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 8 votes
    9y

    Congrats @J. Martin, that's so exciting! It's really inspiring to see others who are living the dream : )

  • Surveyor · Hemet, CA · Member since 2015 · 797 posts · 112 votes
    9y

    hello I'm a completely new investor I am building a landlording business and I would love to see it go this well! I am guessing it's going to take a few years but I am 27 and have a lot of will!

  • New to Real Estate · San Francisco/Los Angeles · Member since 2021 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    5y

    Hey J. Martin! Appreciate you sharing this. Recently moved up to the bay area and, although some time has passed during the post, would love to learn a bit more about you as a person. From Los Angeles, studied on the east coast and working in tech sales, first-generation American with parents having come from Guatemala. 

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