How Many RE Investors are Engineers?

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How Many RE Investors are Engineers?

Adam Zach
Rental Property Investor · Fargo, ND · Member since 2016 · 136 posts · 112 votes

Is it just me or are about 25% of all real estate investors, also engineers? As an Engineer myself I could be biased but curious if anyone has insight. I know folks usually have professional background like IT, accounting, dr but would be going out on a limb to say engineers cover the majority of all real estate investors?

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Pat L.
Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y

I did the eng gig until REI proved to be way more profitable. It's paid off in so many ways allowing me to do 'permitted' electrical (took that minor in elect.), opening & replacing walls with LVL beams, HVAC installs, on-demand HW (elect & NG) etc etc. It's a discipline that opened so many cost saving opportunities & you don't get snowed by contractors, home or building inspectors. Biggest job 'permitted' by my town was the complete design, install & wiring/flow rate monitoring of complete fire sprinkler system for a 6 unit. They allowed me 6 months & did it all myself.

But then again I remember our final exams forbade the use of calculators, slide rules were the only device allowed as were card punched software solutions in our lab finals.

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  • Joseph Banko
    Rental Property Investor · Wilmington, NC · Member since 2018 · 21 posts · 11 votes
    6y

    I'm a Civil Engineer in the telecom industry.  Still a newbie to Real Estate Investing with one long-distance rental property, and currently a live-in flip.  

    0Reply
  • Steven Westlake
    Developer · Bellefontaine Ohio · Member since 2016 · 373 posts · 219 votes
    6y

    Mechanical engineering since 1983, investor since 2000, 3 doors, and 1 new build right now. Fyi, laid off March 20 from oilfield equipment company near Houston. So I suppose that makes me a full time right investor now.

    0Reply
  • Luis Giraldo
    Member since 2020 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    Mechanical Engineer here, the biggest plus we offer to real estate is problem solving.

    0Reply
  • Stef Pietri
    Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 3 votes
    6y

    Computer Science Engineer investing in Austin and San Antonio TX

    1Reply
  • Sergio B.
    Real Estate Investor · Miami, FL · Member since 2013 · 122 posts · 51 votes
    6y

    Computer Engineer here!  Having a steady income help financing my RE endeavors. 

    0Reply
  • Josh Romero
    Rental Property Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 12 votes
    6y

    I graduated with a civil engineering degree and currently work as a project engineer for a highway construction company. I own a duplex where I am currently house hacking. I work 60-70 hours a week, and I am still able to manage my property. Prior to buying the duplex, I read tons of books, listen to podcast, and attended local real estate seminars. Working full time and investing on side has really helped me since i don’t depend on the property to cover my expenses. I have managed to significantly lower my housing expense and used my full time job to cover repair costs. My goal is to buy a multi family property every year until i am able to quit my engineering job and focus on real estate full time.

    0Reply
  • Nate Fournier
    Flipper/Rehabber · Worcester, MA · Member since 2015 · 22 posts · 14 votes
    6y

    Mechanical and Aerospace Engineer, class of 2013. Have been investing for 5 years, have completed 10 flips and own 6 doors. Out of the industry for 3 years, have been doing sales for an insulation company now starting my own edible landscaping and construction business! 

    0Reply
  • Mike Miller
    Member since 2018 · 37 posts · 15 votes
    6y

    My guess is because engineers are good at math!?  ;)  (Computer Engineer)

    1Reply
  • Max Poff
    Member since 2020 · 3 posts · 1 vote
    6y

    New Georgia Tech ME grad! Wish I took construction management classes so I could be my own general contractor...

    0Reply
  • Vijaianand Thirunageswaram
    Real Estate Broker/Owner & Property Manager · Sugar Land, TX · Member since 2013 · 660 posts · 459 votes
    6y

    Computer Science Engr, doing IT Consulting which pays the bills and savings.. I have real passion towards Real Estate from young age thanks to my grandpa who used do lots of construction. I remember those days spending time with him at the rental construction projects.  I been working on goal to have rentals since 2006 and finally have 7 rentals and 2 Owner Finance properties. 

    Been working on building Real Estate One Stop Shop Place with group of companies feeding each other. I have Brokerage, Property Management Company, Property Solutions Company and Development company all of which feeds each other on projects and income. 

    0Reply
  • Mercy Cleto
    Rental Property Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2018 · 6 posts · 3 votes
    6y

    I am a Civil Engineer from Florida. Just closed on my first Duplex on Friday. 

    1Reply
  • Michael Itzla
    New to Real Estate · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 4 votes
    6y

    Structural Engineer from Baltimore here!  Mainly work on bridges and highway structures, so a few similarities to buildings and homes which definitely helps out.  Plus the structural background in general is quite helpful.  Let me know if there's anything structurally about a specific property that you'd like my take on!   

    1Reply
  • Brian Watts
    Investor · TX · Member since 2018 · 49 posts · 10 votes
    6y

    @Adam Zach here's one...though I never practiced

    0Reply
  • Reginald Ross
    Rental Property Investor · Gulf Shores, AL · Member since 2019 · 107 posts · 115 votes
    6y

    @Adam Zach

    B.S. in Chemical Engineering, M.S. in Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering and M.B.A. here lol.

    All that schooling to only discover a passion for REI lol. The qualities that make a good engineer though do make a good investor.

    Analytical, number oriented, spreadsheet saavy, problem solvers, etc

    2Reply
  • Jake Davis
    Investor · Burlington, NJ · Member since 2019 · 55 posts · 34 votes
    6y

    Not an engineer but strongly considered it when picking my major in college! I was more ambitious about making money immediately, rather than going to school. It has paid of for the most part but I still fall into the "what if" way of thinking, but now I fulfill my love for all things aviation by watching all of the SpaceX launches :)

    0Reply
  • Jo W.
    Real Estate Agent · Buffalo NY · Member since 2017 · 68 posts · 33 votes
    6y

    I couldn't find statistics to backup this statement :)

    I think as engineers are used to follow a logical workflow and follow the data / statistics we calculate how long it will take us to retire and immediately say "There gotta be a better way" :)


    Network Engineer 

    2Reply
  • Celine Hayoz
    Denver, CO · Member since 2020 · 1 post · 1 vote
    6y

    Newly minted mechanical engineer here! Thought engineering school was my one way ticket to financial stability, this pandemic has shown me exactly how wrong I was. Then I read 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' like many before me and here I am!

    I'm hoping to close on my first long distance duplex by the end of the year. Fingers crossed!

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    Rental Property Investor · Tyler, TX · Member since 2019 · 72 posts · 39 votes
    6y

    Degrees in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. Quit my engineering job once I replaced my income with passive income. 

    2Reply
  • Ryan Hampton
    Member since 2020 · 6 posts · 2 votes
    6y

    Day job: Embedded software development consulting

    Hustles: New ventures, REI

    0Reply
  • Clementina Reynolds
    Real Estate Agent · Tucson, AZ · Member since 2017 · 12 posts · 3 votes
    6y

    Currently a full time Electrical Engineer in Tucson, AZ with my RE license. :) 

    (recent grad, but itching to make my first deal!)

    0Reply
  • Dee Heck
    Rental Property Investor · OH · Member since 2020 · 24 posts · 23 votes
    6y

    Hand up! 

    0Reply
  • Tim Kappel
    Rental Property Investor · St Louis, MO · Member since 2020 · 28 posts · 13 votes
    6y

    I have a civil engineering degree but I am now in construction management. 

    1Reply
  • Joe Chin
    Member since 2020 · 4 posts · 4 votes
    6y

    New here and am a Mechanical Engineer from Australia currently in Bay Area. Lots of my mates in Australia graduated but ended up in the financial industry. One of the big banks CEO also holds an Engineering degree

    0Reply
  • Caleb Myers
    Member since 2018 · 1 post · 1 vote
    6y

    I am a Architectural Engineer working in a Project Management role for a multi-family general contractor. I have successfully completed my first rental property deal this past fall and have been eagerly looking for the next deal.

    I inspire to one day be able to have financial freedom and no longer have the need to "work for the man." I am thankful for the guidance of the bigger pockets platform to help me thus far.

    1Reply
  • Dan DeppenBusiness Member
    Erie, CO · Member since 2017 · 274 posts · 267 votes
    6y

    I have a BS and MS in mechanical engineering. Worked in the aerospace industry for many years but now do real estate full time.

    1Reply
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