Retired at the Age of 28 with a Lambo :)

Retired at the Age of 28 with a Lambo :)

Investor · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2016 · 970 posts · 1k+ votes

Hey BP!

I just wanted to share some super exciting news with you guys! I started Real Estate Investing at the end of Dec, 2015 and joined Bigger Pockets around the same time.  While working a Full Time job as a Wells Fargo MBS Consultant

(among other business ventures), I've grown my portfolio to 36 rental units.

During this time, I also bought myself a house, went on numerous amazing trips, and even purchased a Lamborghini. BUT I was also putting in consistent 85+ hour work weeks and basically driving myself to death. My health and my productivity was suffering heavily as I grew my business.

I originally told myself I was going to exit the rat race by the age of 35. It quickly dropped to 30, but I realized after some big acquisitions last year that if I could expand as much as I did working two careers, how much more could I do if I just focused on REI?

So... I made the jump and after my 5 year anniversary at WF this past Sunday, I submitted my resignation!

Yup! Officially "retired" at the age of 28 :)

I'm super nervous and excited at the same time. Not having a solid W2 and great benefits is definitely daunting, but I can play or work as hard as I want on my own terms now. I'm a very firm believer in getting out what you put in and I just have to trust myself to always do the right things. 

So what's next?

 I'm going to let my properties and skill set sustain my passions. I really want to get into the EDM, convention, and Esports industry in some capacity. I'll also be traveling almost every other week for the rest of this year. Of course, I'll continuously be looking at Real estate opportunities around the country and even exploring things outside of residential holdings. I've already looked at some commercial buildings and storage facilities and there's a lot of potential there. But hey... with time, a capital foundation, and some sleep (haha), the sky is the limit!

I'm just excitedly blabbering at this point, but I just wanted to say I can't thank the BP Community enough for all the information and guidance in the past couple years. It has been an amazing journey, and I can't wait to start this new Chapter of my life!


215Reply
613 views

Most Popular Reply

Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7y

@Larry Turowski same here but my wife finally convinced me that I didn't need to go to work anymore. That was 22 years ago & yet we keep accumulating properties so it's a much healthier fit. I watched the kids grow up & made every event. No more office politics or DRAMA & no having to curb your comments for the office PC Nazi's. The only travel is recreational & taking a 2 hour lunch is still on the expense account !!! 

I NEVER looked back.....sadly many of my colleagues were still trying to justify/afford retirement until the day they were let go.

See this reply in the discussion

228 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    7y

    Nice work and congratulations.

    "Find that belief in yourself, take that risk, act, move, do something to build a new you. That's the key to success." -Tom Bilyeu

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Rochester, NY · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    @David Zheng That's awesome!  Someone posted the other day about having 100 units and now being able to retire, and while that is great, I was wondering why it took 100 units.  Obviously it depends on what income you want it to generate before retiring.

    I also have 36 units, and flip, well outstripping my wages...but still have that W2, haha!

  • Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    @Larry Turowski same here but my wife finally convinced me that I didn't need to go to work anymore. That was 22 years ago & yet we keep accumulating properties so it's a much healthier fit. I watched the kids grow up & made every event. No more office politics or DRAMA & no having to curb your comments for the office PC Nazi's. The only travel is recreational & taking a 2 hour lunch is still on the expense account !!! 

    I NEVER looked back.....sadly many of my colleagues were still trying to justify/afford retirement until the day they were let go.

  • Member since 2019 · 4 posts · 27 votes
    7y

    Y’all are an inspiration to new members, such as myself, and new investors. Thanks!

  • Member since 2019 · 2 posts · 8 votes
    7y

    Awesome and inspiring.

  • Rental Property Investor · North Richland Hills, TX · Member since 2014 · 17 posts · 27 votes
    7y

    Congrats. You have achieved more in your 28 years than most will in a life time.

  • Member since 2019 · 2 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    @David Zheng hey man, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to you bro. I’m working on doing the same thing, you’re a huge inspiration.

  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 546 posts · 227 votes
    7y

    @David Zheng - I'm loving the excitement and the success you've experienced; definitely gives us newbies hope! I've actually been kicking myself for not investing sooner. As a newbie, I hope you don't mind me asking a question— how much capital did you accrue prior to that first property? Thanks in advance for your time and any advice you can provide is greatly appreciated!

  • Investor · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2016 · 970 posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    @Rob B.

    I had about 70k before I started to invest. I was basically a super loser for 25 years of my life and saved every little thing and didn't really have a social life. turned out well though :p

  • Rental Property Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 89 posts · 77 votes
    7y

    @David Zheng

    Congratulations! Hope to be like you someday

  • Mc Gregor, TX · Member since 2018 · 41 posts · 35 votes
    7y

    @David Zheng congrats!! That’s amazing! We have 5 doors and are about to close on a 6 unit.

    Can you tell us the break down of your units? Did you do any special financing? How did you find your deals?

    Best wishes on your continued success!!

  • Wayne YahnkePro Member
    Rental Property Investor · California, CA · Member since 2018 · 50 posts · 14 votes
    7y

    Congratulations!! Live it up

  • Real Estate Agent · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2017 · 814 posts · 466 votes
    7y

    Congratulations! Impressive, I have one career and often requires a 55+ hours a week and a loooot of traveling.  Working my way to an early "retirement", will take some more time.  

  • Developer · Atlanta and Detroit · Member since 2018 · 601 posts · 821 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @David Zheng:

    Hey BP!

    I just wanted to share some super exciting news with you guys! I started Real Estate Investing at the end of Dec, 2015 and joined Bigger Pockets around the same time.  While working a Full Time job as a Wells Fargo MBS Consultant

    (among other business ventures), I've grown my portfolio to 36 rental units.

    During this time, I also bought myself a house, went on numerous amazing trips, and even purchased a Lamborghini. BUT I was also putting in consistent 85+ hour work weeks and basically driving myself to death. My health and my productivity was suffering heavily as I grew my business.

    I originally told myself I was going to exit the rat race by the age of 35. It quickly dropped to 30, but I realized after some big acquisitions last year that if I could expand as much as I did working two careers, how much more could I do if I just focused on REI?

    So... I made the jump and after my 5 year anniversary at WF this past Sunday, I submitted my resignation!

    Yup! Officially "retired" at the age of 28 :)

    I'm super nervous and excited at the same time. Not having a solid W2 and great benefits is definitely daunting, but I can play or work as hard as I want on my own terms now. I'm a very firm believer in getting out what you put in and I just have to trust myself to always do the right things. 

    So what's next?

     I'm going to let my properties and skill set sustain my passions. I really want to get into the EDM, convention, and Esports industry in some capacity. I'll also be traveling almost every other week for the rest of this year. Of course, I'll continuously be looking at Real estate opportunities around the country and even exploring things outside of residential holdings. I've already looked at some commercial buildings and storage facilities and there's a lot of potential there. But hey... with time, a capital foundation, and some sleep (haha), the sky is the limit!

    I'm just excitedly blabbering at this point, but I just wanted to say I can't thank the BP Community enough for all the information and guidance in the past couple years. It has been an amazing journey, and I can't wait to start this new Chapter of my life!

     Brilliant work

  • Rental Property Investor · St. Louis, MO · Member since 2019 · 162 posts · 72 votes
    7y

    @David Zheng hello, I was wondering if you have any advice for a complete newbie on how to begin learning about all of this? (Context: my girlfriend just dragged me to a free 2 hr real estate meeting on Tues night, and it motivated us to learn and get started, but we’re wary of getting suckered into something). Any advice is appreciated.

  • Real Estate Investor · York, PA · Member since 2018 · 118 posts · 58 votes
    7y

    Congrats on making the jump, don't lose the drive!

  • Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2014 · 538 posts · 432 votes
    7y

    @David Zheng Congratulations! Now's the time to do what you love. I retired at the age of 35. For about three months. LOL. I quickly got bored with it and had to jump back into doing what I love (real estate) full-time. This time around, though, I built out an entire team and expanded our horizons to do more.

    Find your passion and go with it!

  • Rental Property Investor · Huntsville, AL · Member since 2015 · 401 posts · 309 votes
    7y

    @David Zheng this is awesome man. You are well prepared to tackle this and have great success. I had a similar realization about focusing on REI full time but it was an easier jump for me because I wasn't making a huge salary at my w2 and I had already replaced my income through investments. Props to you for achieving this! If you're ever looking for something in Huntsville or Birmingham, Alabama, let me know!

  • San Antonio, TX · Member since 2019 · 930 posts · 836 votes
    7y

    What kind of Lambo? I always thought a classic Countach would be cool.

  • Real Estate Agent · New Haven, CT · Member since 2018 · 2 posts · 1 vote
    7y

    @David Zheng that is amazing! Congrats on your early retirement and all your future endeavors! Thanks for sharing your success story, it is definitely motivating and inspiring! I love to see hard work pay off!

  • Jaron WallingPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    7y

    The title of this thread reminds me of Instagram and people advertising there own profile to get more followers. "Business genius, NYC > CA, currently at Coachella, watches are cool, love animals" Profile pic of of said person... standing next to Lambo. 

    Hopefully you're not that guy. 

  • Member since 2019 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    7y

    @David Zheng Congratulations man! That is awesome.  Thanks for sharing.

  • Rental Property Investor · Torrance, CA · Member since 2016 · 724 posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    @David Zheng what was your process man? If you can grow that fast with 70K that's super inspiring, because I'm sitting on 110K working hard trying to build a team and find the right market. Did you BRRRR? Multi family? Single family? If you can do it I can do it. Im a "super loser" too. I've worked 70+ hours a week for the last 5 years and I don't regret a thing. You gotta pay the price.

  • Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    Outstanding. I was not sure if I would bite on the Lambo thing, but then I did and you ended with admitting you were just rambling all-giddy-like - lol.  

    A great take-way here is you dug in and saved your pennies hard early on - you did not start RE with nothing - and then once you had enough seed, took it as hard as you could.

    What a great success story. This is a million times better than the "I want to start with nothing and be rich in a year". I think your story is a more reasonable and achievable path - and I am not trying to knock anyone who can go from zero to everything in a year - just saying your story is a more realistic example of how this can really work for people. Bravo.

     May your life be filled with many more Lambos. Drive safe now.

    LOL - And now you can write a book - lol. Look how many people want to read it already!!!

  • Investor · Washington, DC · Member since 2017 · 198 posts · 323 votes
    7y

    @David Zheng Great Job and I'm jealous. What made you pull the trigger and quit your job?  I am close to quitting my W-2 job and after I buy one or two more properties this year I will most likely pull the trigger myself, but I am always curious to know when others knew when it was time to quit.  Did you reach a certain cash flow goal with your rentals and then decided to quit? How did you know enough was enough?

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.