How Many RE Investors are Engineers?

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

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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Arlette Pennerman
Member since 2020 · 1 post · 1 vote
6y
Fairly new...trying to understand the concept...to successfully introduce to Bahamas. If legally possible?Could use a lot of encouraging help. Arlette Christina
1 Reply
Juan Piggee
Rental Property Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2018 · 12 posts · 6 votes
6y
My degree is in Industrial Engineering but I’ve spent most of my career as a Systems Engineer and IT Project Manager. For me it was the logic that there is a finite amount of land and the more of it I could acquire, the better financial position I’d ultimately end up in. Shout out to all y’all!
3 Reply
David Frost
Bennington, NE · Member since 2016 · 15 posts · 6 votes
6y
I'm a Telecommunication Engineer in the midwest. Looking to buy and hold. Looking at turnkey in midwest (Kansas City,) for 1st unit as time is limited between my job and my 4 kids. Then as able to move into full BRRRR strategy for the same area as only about 3 hours drive away from me.
1 Reply
Brian Morris
Huntsville, AL · Member since 2016 · 32 posts · 11 votes
6y
electrical engineer in huntsville al.
2 Reply
Dominique Ross
New to Real Estate · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2020 · 20 posts · 6 votes
6y
I am a Electrical engineer by trade but I am also a Supply Chain Consultant currently. As a new investor I am loving gaining experience analyzing deals and I am currently looking for a SFH Buy and Hold in Atlanta.
I hope to have the opportunity to work with a BRRR investor in the future and potentially help with analyzing the deal and getting contractor quotes ( I was a Procurement Consultant in my past life :))
1 Reply
Adam Longtin
Rental Property Investor · Brookings, SD · Member since 2020 · 3 posts · 3 votes
6y
I recieved my degree in Mechanical Engineering and am currently (and have been since graduating) working as a Manufacturing Engineer for an industrial metal fabrication company here in South Dakota. My wife and I have done what I will constitute "house hacking" for most of the nearly 4 years we have owned our home, renting out a room or two to friends going to college in our city. My wife, myself and a partner also purchased out first duplex in December 2019. So, we are in our first year of true real estate investing and excited to learn and grow!
Our current focus is on learning as much as there is to learn about real estate investing and establishing relationships with other investors in our area. The goal today is to do another deal by mid 2021, followed by 2 more by mid 2022. We are currently focused on small multifamily.
Shout out to any members from SD!
2 Reply
Julian Sanchez
Rental Property Investor · Orlando · Member since 2016 · 114 posts · 45 votes
6y
Man, that's a lot of us.
I don't post much but I'll share that I'm a Mechanical Engineering graduate from University of Central Florida. Began my career as a Field Service Engineer and now I'm doing project management and I love my job.
I began real estate 2 years ago, went straight into commercial multifamily; me and my partner are at 58 units now across various properties.
Hadn't been to the site in a while, came looking for some knowledge on storage units as we have a great deal in our hands buy it's new territory.
If any of you guys have done one would love to hear your insight to this asset class
1 Reply
Austin Curry
Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 2 votes
6y
Mechanical engineer here. 3 deals in the game now.
1 Reply
Javier Marchena
Investor · Winter Springs, FL · Member since 2010 · 165 posts · 68 votes
6y
Electrical Engineer doing RE deals in Orlando, SFR, and Multifamily.
1 Reply
Thomas J Petracca
Member since 2019 · 8 posts · 4 votes
6y
Have been a Professional Engineer for 35 years doing building structural and mechanical engineering and design. Have one multifamily...looking for another!
1 Reply
Tucker Raney
Investor · NH · Member since 2020 · 6 posts · 4 votes
6y
Structural engineer in Chicago with a triplex in NH. The plan is to owner occupy a second multi-family in the near future.
1 Reply
Al Cavitt
Investor · MD · Member since 2020 · 8 posts · 2 votes
6y
Civil Engineer and Statistician here. Definitely see a trend building with the replies, (see what I did there? haha). Your dose of corny humor for the day. Love of numbers maybe?
1 Reply
Jonathan KlemmBusiness Member
Moderator
Contractor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
6y
@Anthony Angotti - Tons of us our engineers because this business is so analytical, which really gives engineers or really just anyone who is quite analytical a competitive advantage.
I am a construction engineer from Iowa State.
[email protected]
Quality Builders4.967 Reviews
Website View Page
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Greg Purcell
Member since 2020 · 6 posts · 7 votes
6y
I studied engineering (EE), Computer science, and have an MBA. I have to say the most useful skills for making investment decisions come from my engineering background. The ability to analyze complex systems in a tremendous value to almost any activity. My handyman skills are a bonus, but they would never substitute for making a good investment in the first place. As I worked on my MBA, I discovered the best MBAs have a technical background.

I also minored in economics and finance (and have kept up on both areas), and the second most useful skillset is not finance. It's economics.
1 Reply
Mike D'ArrigoPro Member
Turn key provider · San Jose, CA · Member since 2010 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
@Anthony Chao a high percentage of our investors are engineers from the Bay Area.
2 Reply
Anthony Chao
Investor · Bay Area, CA · Member since 2019 · 40 posts · 28 votes
6y
Originally posted by @Mike D'Arrigo:
@Anthony Chao a high percentage of our investors are engineers from the Bay Area.

I've seen your posts quite a bit Mike in my KCMO research. I'm based in Union City, not far from San Jose. I'll send you a DM, interested to learn more about your company see if there is alignment between our goals.

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Mike D'ArrigoPro Member
Turn key provider · San Jose, CA · Member since 2010 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
Originally posted by @Anthony Chao:
Originally posted by @Mike D'Arrigo:
@Anthony Chao a high percentage of our investors are engineers from the Bay Area.

I've seen your posts quite a bit Mike in my KCMO research. I'm based in Union City, not far from San Jose. I'll send you a DM, interested to learn more about your company see if there is alignment between our goals.

Anthony, I look forward to talking to you.

0 Reply
Anthony Chao
Investor · Bay Area, CA · Member since 2019 · 40 posts · 28 votes
6y
Originally posted by @JT Goodwin:
I am an industrial automation engineer and love what I do, but I just found that climbing the corporate ladder wasn't as thrilling as building something for your family. I bought my first duplex this year and fixed it up. My wife and I live in one and rent the other. This has reduce our living costs substantially. The day we move out it cash flows so it allows us to take bigger risks in the future.

Amen JT. I, as I'm sure many here, share that sentiment. Freedom, family, legacy. I hope your future acquisitions go just as well as the first. Onward and upward ... the ladder of financial freedom that is :-).

0 Reply
Kevin Dureiko
Lender · Bolton, CT · Member since 2017 · 253 posts · 88 votes
6y
@Adam Zach Also an engineer for a under ground utility developer.
1 Reply
Tressie Hollins
Investor · Manassas, VA · Member since 2014 · 5 posts · 1 vote
6y
Electrical engineer with an MBA, investing in multi-family units in St.Louis, MO. Seeking to replace earned income with passive income.
1 Reply
Brian Morris
Huntsville, AL · Member since 2016 · 32 posts · 11 votes
6y
Going from programming to renovating a house is seamless for an engineer. Why you ask? Simple. I can walk into a room and size it up in my head. Most of the time I leave my measuring tape at home. Here's a good example of some flooring I put in recently. My goal was for the final piece going in to be a teenie weenie strip of LVP, 3/4" on one end, and 5/8" on the other.
Joking aside, this was my first time installing any kind of flooring, and yes, I did measure first. But, then I proceeded to rip the entire starting row of boards because of room transition issue (AFTER I had measured).
Engineers are all different, but I personally tend to think about things for a long time, and try to come up with a perfect solution, and make silly mistakes in the process like this!
Thank goodness my wife can walk into a room and then pick out wall, fixture, and cabinet colors within a single evening.
3 Reply
Jacob Forman
Seattle, WA · Member since 2018 · 2 posts · 2 votes
6y
I am a Flight Test Engineer in Seattle Washington. Just starting out in real estate and looking to make my first deal soon!
-Jacob Forman
1 Reply
Kelly M.
Real Estate Investor · Medina, OH · Member since 2013 · 32 posts · 21 votes
6y
Yes, I am a Civil Engineer by training and an aerospace engineer by trade for 38 years. I started REI back in 2008 when I saw my retirement savings being threatened by the stock market collapse that I had no control over. I wanted to be in control of my savings and REI does that. Even though I am close to retirement from my engineering job and my savings are now secure, I need something to keep me busy. I like REI doing rehabs because I like to create things. Being the GC on a rehab and cherry picking task I like to do is a lot of fun.
2 Reply
Benyam Ephrem
Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 2 votes
6y
I'm a rising senior at the University of Maryland studying Computer Science, 2nd time Software Engineering intern at Twitter, & run a small online business. Looking to buy my first property soon so rejoined Bigger Pockets.
1 Reply
Mark Shaver
Specialist · Boston, MA · Member since 2020 · 125 posts · 40 votes
6y
@Adam Zach, real estate investment is definitely not rocket science:

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RE investors come from different professions. Engineers as a percentage of all occupations are 1.25%.
I believe about 1.25% of real estate investors are engineers.
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