My first ever 44 Unit MF apartment closed in Dec. 2020

My first ever 44 Unit MF apartment closed in Dec. 2020

New to Real Estate · New York, NY · Member since 2019 · 234 posts · 264 votes

I’m sharing a great news! My Real Estate Journey made at night and weekend, allowed me to close my first deal!

December 2020, I officially closed my first investment real estate deal with my partners. It’s a 44 Unit Multifamily Apartment in Lawrence, KS.

I feel like I can write a book about it, but will try to keep it as simple as possible.

Little Intro of myself: Late 30’s, Full time W2 Lawyer in NYC. Father of 2 girls. Did not own any investment property prior to this 44 Unit. (Not even a single, never done any flipping)

Limiting beliefs I crushed: No way I can invest outside of my back yard, How can I trust others, You need lots of money to start, I should start small like single or duplex before going to multifamily. Education is a cost.

How I crushed these limiting beliefs: Through right education, Not listening to the naysayers. Surrounding myself with like minded people. Being connected with mentors and right partners, Relentless action taking. Griding persistently, Trying to add value to the team, Falling in love with the process.

Some of the milestones

Late 2019: I set a goal that I’ll close my first RE deal in 2020. I joined Bigger Pockets. 

Self-education through Bigger-pockets and found David Greene's Out of state investing book. Now I felt more confident about investing out of state. By listening to Michael Blank saying he was considered as a newbie when he started MF despite his single family flipping experience, now I decided to go to MF directly skipping single/duplex. By listening to Grant Cardone saying "look at a bigger deal that justifies scalability, now I decided to look at more than 10 Unit as my first deal. 

In the begginng I was little ashamed to call myself a Multifamily investor without having any, and didn’t know how to put myself out there and get connected with like minded people. - I sought advice from Bigger Pockets, and somebody encouraged me to be just transparent (Thank you John Casmon). I decided to believe in myself and to just be myself.

March 2020 - Realized Self-education is not equivalent to taking actions. I was passively absorbing the information. Joined a Mentorship Community / Mastermind Group, Started Real Education, Started self-reflection as to who I am and how I can add value, Started putting myself out there looking for partners. This is when Pandemic shut down happened. 

May 2020 - Connected with my current partners and started analyzing deals

June 2020 - After reading Joe Fairless' Syndication Book, Started co-hosting a bi-weekly Virtual Meetup in NY regarding multifamily investing, and massive virtual networking started. Covid couldn't stop me.

July 2020 - Became a Co-Host of Multifamily and More meet up - KC chapter with my partner.

August 2020 - 68 Unit Apartment LOI Accepted

September 2020 - 68 Unit under Contract / 44 Unit LOI Accepted

October 2020 - 44 Unit under Contract

December 11, 2020 - 44 Unit closed (JV). (68 Unit closing got pushed a little - Syndication)

Feb. 2021 - 68 Unit expected to be closed within this month.


A few things I learned
: Right education. This is critical. But to get the right education, you need to be guided by people who are more experienced than you are. It can be people from bigger pockets, or mentorship program. Right partnership. You need to surround yourself with highly motivated like minded people. Stay away from people who drain your energy and positivity. Make sure you work with those who's interests are aligned with yours. Those who share same work ethic and philosophy. Massive Action Taking. I can't emphasize this enough. Do it. Meet people. Underwrite deals. Talk to the brokers and lenders. Practice your pitch. Last but not least by no means. Fall in love with the process. It's a long process. So enjoy it and be persistent, and patient. You will see the result. 

Yosef 

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Rental Property Investor · Bronx, NY · Member since 2011 · 193 posts · 322 votes
5y

Yosef!!!!! The part about "self-education is not equivalent to taking action" .... Man!!!! Not enough people realize that, just take that first step bc otherwise you'll never progress and your story symbolizes just that! Great way to lead by example and I'm so proud to say I know you and am part of your extended fam! Great job and can't wait to see what the rest of this year holds for you!

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  • New to Real Estate · New York, NY · Member since 2019 · 234 posts · 264 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Brian Alfaro:

    @Yosef Lee! My friend! So proud of you; glad to be in your network. Looking forward to doing deals together in the future and watching you grow as an investor. 

    If anyone is interested in meeting a high character guy working hard to build something special for his family in the Multifamily space, I highly suggest you reach out to Yosef. 

    Cheers to a great beginning of 2021! Lets make it happen! 

    My friend Brian! Thank you. You are a true MIHer! I wish all the best for your multifamily journey and can't wait to do a deal with you! Brosef

  • Multifamily Syndicator · Houston, TX · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    The key things you said is understanding that

    You need partners 

    You gotta love the process because it does take time. 

    Keep pushing on as this is only the beginning! 

  • New to Real Estate · New York, NY · Member since 2019 · 234 posts · 264 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Hendra Tambunan:

    WTG, Yosef. Thank you for sharing your story. Really excited about what you have accomplished and looks like you will crush 2021 too with that 68 units in store! Congratulations

    Thank you Hendra! I'm so thankful to have a partner like you and can't wait to crush many more deals to come! MIH! Brosef

  • Real Estate Agent · Kansas City · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    That's a good area. Good buy!

  • Rental Property Investor · Katy, TX · Member since 2016 · 52 posts · 44 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Yosef Lee:

    March 2020 - Realized Self-education is not equivalent to taking actions. I was passively absorbing the information. Joined a Mentorship Community / Mastermind Group, Started Real Education, Started self-reflection as to who I am and how I can add value, Started putting myself out there looking for partners. This is when Pandemic shut down happened. 

    May 2020 - Connected with my current partners and started analyzing deals



    Which mentorship group/mastermind? And how did you "connect" with your current partners? I am sitting where you were in 2019. I know I want to go straight to MF. I know I MAY have to go out of state. I have zero experience yet but have read all the things (literally ALL THE THINGS) and now I need to find those partnerships and mentorships/masterminds. I have looked at a few "coaching" programs but so far they want $3k--which I would pay if I KNEW they are going to deliver hands on training but then...they typically try to sell me on passive investing in their current projects or buying a turnkey. I'm happy to be an LP if I can have visibility access to the process with a mentor to actually LEARN what is happening, but being an LP is NOT my goal. I would happily give away big chunks of equity and/or forego typical syndication fees for the chance to JV with an experienced person on something like what you have just done. (I even have access to quite a bit of private money already) But where are these mentor people/programs?

    I have recently agreed to host the InvestHER meetup here in Houston. And I will start attending the multifamily meetups (we have tenjillion). But as far as what comes next--I'm stumped! "Hey big time investor person--wanna let me do ALL the grunt work for you and let you take MOST of the profits just as a way for me to learn this process?" Seems like a not great pitch... :) But maybe I'm wrong?

  • Member since 2021 · 12 posts · 5 votes
    5y

    @Yosef Lee love this! As someone who just keeps reading and studying I feel like I needed to hear this 😬 thank you for sharing and congratulations!

  • Attorney · St. Louis, MO · Member since 2020 · 7 posts · 4 votes
    5y

    @Yosef Lee Yosef thank you for sharing such an inspiring story and journey! I too wanted to jump directly into multifamily unit investing and was hesitant. You give me energy to trust my instinct and continue to think bigger!

  • Rental Property Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 2 votes
    5y

    Thanks for this inspiring story. Seems like I am where you were a year ago. Finding it hard to get enough free time to do much with a W2 job and two girls myself. I’ll start with David Greene’s book as you mentioned and hopefully can kick start similar action towards closing on a similar deal!

    Thanks for sharing.

  • Columbia, MD · Member since 2015 · 7 posts · 2 votes
    5y

    Phenomenal @Yosef Lee! Brains and hustle. I can't wait to see where you go from here.

  • Rental Property Investor · Lebanon, OH · Member since 2016 · 224 posts · 228 votes
    5y

    Great story @Yosef Lee and congratulations! You took action and you took the right action. You took good advice from some great people like @John Casmon. You're off and running now!

  • Wholesaler · North Hollywood, CA · Member since 2016 · 72 posts · 31 votes
    5y

    Very inspiring story. Congratulations

  • Member since 2021 · 7 posts · 5 votes
    5y

    @Yosef Lee

    Congrats on your first deal, so inspiring to a newbie like myself. Stuck in the self education phase, I need to take action! Thanks for sharing!

  • MD · Member since 2018 · 71 posts · 23 votes
    5y

    @Yosef Lee

    Awesome story man. How did you find your mentorship program. I wanted to get into commercial Multifamily as well but struggled and settled for a residential properties.

  • Real Estate Agent · Boston, MA · Member since 2018 · 26 posts · 32 votes
    5y

    Congratulations! Love that you dove right in to a large prop but on top of that out of state! A lot of my investors hate the idea of going out of state, I personally love the idea!

    Best of luck going forward! 

  • Wale LawalBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    @Yosef Lee This is very inspiring and Congratulations! 

    I see pure hustle, 100% dedication, and power of partnership playing out here.

    I can't wait to read more success stories from you.

    Keep winning man.

  • New to Real Estate · New York, NY · Member since 2019 · 234 posts · 264 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Jane Nnaji:

    @Yosef Lee

    Congratulations!!! It takes courage to do what you did! You can only go higher from here. 👏🏾 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 love reading your story.

    Thank you Jane! That means alot to me! Let's make it happen in 2021!  

  • New to Real Estate · New York, NY · Member since 2019 · 234 posts · 264 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Luis Vilar:

    @Yosef Lee my friend! Happy to see your success! I know you’re one of the hardest working persons I know. Keep it up brother!

    Thank you Luis! It feels different seeing you here lol! I'm sure we will crush 2021! 

  • Member since 2020 · 1 post · 1 vote
    5y

    I love the dedication and pushing forward not even letting a pandemic stop you! You will do great things!

  • Investor · Lake Worth, FL · Member since 2016 · 233 posts · 140 votes
    5y

    @Yosef Lee Hi Yosef, the original post doesn't look like it got updated. You might have to add it as a reply. Thank you

  • Real Estate Broker · Ocean View, NJ · Member since 2014 · 188 posts · 82 votes
    5y

    @Yosef Lee Congrats! This is awesome. Very inspiring. When you mention it is a seller direct off market. How did you find the deal?

  • Rental Property Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2019 · 59 posts · 77 votes
    5y

    @Yosef Lee you're doing what I dream of!  How amazing and for your FIRST DEAL!  This is fantastic.  I would love to talk to you more about your experience and how to GO BIG!

  • New to Real Estate · New York, NY · Member since 2019 · 234 posts · 264 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Nicole (Dunlap) Pendergrass:

    Yosef!!!!! The part about "self-education is not equivalent to taking action" .... Man!!!! Not enough people realize that, just take that first step bc otherwise you'll never progress and your story symbolizes just that! Great way to lead by example and I'm so proud to say I know you and am part of your extended fam! Great job and can't wait to see what the rest of this year holds for you!

    Nicole my sis!!! Thank you so much for this! Means alot to me! You are also truly inspiring to me and I learn alot from you by looking your progress! I have no doubt that we will achieve financial freedom via Multifamily Investing for our family!! Let's crush 2021! Brosef 

  • New to Real Estate · New York, NY · Member since 2019 · 234 posts · 264 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Theresa Vu:

    Thank you for sharing your story! It's incredible to see how much you have already accomplished, especially while working as a busy attorney during the day. Seeing your timeline was especially helpful. It's so inspirational when I see someone take action every day towards their goal despite their limiting beliefs.

    You are crushing it.

    I will be following you and can't wait to see the great things the future holds for you.

    Thanh em oi! It's great to see you finally taking actions and starting your journey! If you need any help I am here to do my best to help you out! Thanks! Brosef

  • New to Real Estate · New York, NY · Member since 2019 · 234 posts · 264 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Neil Schoepp:

    Very inspirational! I love the break down and how you seaked out a Mastermind and community of like minded individuals. Masterminds Absolutely work. 

    5yrs from now people will think you're lucky. They will ask how you did it. "Well remember back in 2020 when everyone thought the world was coming to an end? I just put the blinders on and did it for family brought a 44 unit after that it was off go the races"

    Looking forward to seeing you crush it even more in 2021.

    Thank you Neil! Yes I'm absolutely thankful for being in a group with like minded people like you. You are crushing and trailblazing the path! I get inspired by you and that's part of the motivation!! Let's crush 2021!  

  • Boise, ID · Member since 2015 · 26 posts · 21 votes
    5y

    So rad! That's inspiring! Well done!

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