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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Susan Tan
Rental Property Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2019 · 212 posts · 149 votes
6y
me too.
0 Reply
Twana RasoulBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
@Adam Zach very interesting, I have undergraduate degree in Construction Engineering and have quite a bit of commercial construction/contracting experience.
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Account Closed
Rental Property Investor · Brooke Park Drive · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
6y
42
6 Reply
Nancy P.
Naperville, IL · Member since 2018 · 330 posts · 357 votes
6y
Husband is PhD chemical engineer, I am an MBA.
0 Reply
Bonifacio Capuyan
Discovery Bay, CA · Member since 2016 · 44 posts · 13 votes
6y
Software and Security Engineer myself. Trying to engineer my way into semi passive income and early retirement.
4 Reply
Tenneille Patterson
Flipper/Rehabber · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 4 votes
6y
@Brian Goodling I also agree! Add the need to have streamlined processes to execute your business in a profitable way, you’ve got Industrial engineers too, which is my background.
2 Reply
Account Closed
Member since 2020 · 1 post · 2 votes
6y
Im a manager now, but still hold senority as a locomotive engineer if that counts!
2 Reply
Timothy W.
Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
Depends on the engineer. I work in a forensic expert firm as a non-engineer but surrounded by civil and electrical engineers. A lot of them do end up investing in real estate because let's face it, what are they going to spend the money on - wild engineer parties? You know the difference between an introvert and an extrovert engineer. The introvert engineer looks at his shoes while talking to you. The extrovert engineer looks at your shoes while talking to you. It's a crowd that, as an average, generally makes really good money and looks for something to do with it because they don't blow it on stupid stuff.
5 Reply
Raul R.
Rental Property Investor · New York City, NY · Member since 2017 · 493 posts · 386 votes
6y
Electrical Engineer, been in Broadcasting for over 20 years investing in RE for 3-4 years..
0 Reply
Alessandro Pascucci
Rental Property Investor · Fort Myers, FL · Member since 2020 · 12 posts · 5 votes
6y
@Adam Zach i am a Civil Engineer
1 Reply
Berridge Thomas
Flipper/Rehabber · Member since 2019 · 26 posts · 21 votes
6y
Hello all!
I work full time as a union carpenter now which has helped me in many different aspects of construction so I am thankful for that but cannot get started in REI soon enough!
0 Reply
Jimmy Wen
Mukilteo, WA · Member since 2019 · 14 posts · 4 votes
6y
Hi all,
I am a mechanical engineer and still working. I am planning to retire and replace my W2 salary ASAP!
Jimmy Wen
3 Reply
Jerryll Noorden
Flipper/Rehabber · Wilton, CT · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
6y

I was that monkey they sent up in space in the 60's. Or was it the 70's? Does that count?

1 Reply
Daniel HymanBusiness Member
CPA · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
@Adam Zach
As a tax firm specializing in real estate, we see a range of professions, but engineers absolutely comprise a disproportionate section of our clientele.
Mainly software engineers, but also mechanical, chemical, and electrical.
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Jennifer S.
Investor · Wakefield, MA · Member since 2019 · 31 posts · 73 votes
6y
Engineer here as well. Not surprised to see so many engineers in REI - engineers have many key qualities needed to be successful in REI including liking math, working extremely hard, and persevering.
4 Reply
Jim Chuong
Rental Property Investor · Toronto, Canada · Member since 2012 · 102 posts · 95 votes
6y
I got the engineering degree. Never used it in practice. Wasn't worth it
1 Reply
Chris Banks
Hattiesburg, MS · Member since 2016 · 1 post · 2 votes
6y
B.S. in Computer Engineering Technology. I'm looking forward to getting started with real estate investing.
2 Reply
Patrick Owens
Rental Property Investor · Charleston, SC · Member since 2018 · 29 posts · 13 votes
6y
@Adam Zach
I've noticed the same thing.
I am an electrical engineer, myself.
Several of my engineering friends also own various types of real estate investments. We discussed this and concluded that engineering school and project engineering introduces the concept of taking a large problem breaking it into "bite-sized" pieces that can be easily accomplished.
3 Reply
Patrick Owens
Rental Property Investor · Charleston, SC · Member since 2018 · 29 posts · 13 votes
6y
@Patrick Owens
Then creating systems to standardize and increase future successes
2 Reply
Ali K.
Rental Property Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2019 · 42 posts · 13 votes
6y
@Daniel Hyman
Interesting observation! Now it seems that the amount of money you make drives you to REI and not the passion of numbers! Software engineers make far more money than other engineers, and civil, despite being most relevant, is somewhere down on the salary list.
I'm a civil engineer with interest in REI but little done yet. Several engineer friends and family members already doing this.
0 Reply
Kyle McCorkel
Rental Property Investor · Hummelstown, PA · Member since 2015 · 638 posts · 653 votes
6y
I was an industrial engineering consultant for about 10 years. Learned a lot about how people, businesses and processes work!
Now I’m a full time real estate investor.
I can’t speak for others, but for me I think the analytical nature of being an engineer, plus the fact that it set me up fantastically financially, helped me to become a real estate investor.
0 Reply
Jonny Abramson
Real Estate Agent · Hampshire, IL · Member since 2019 · 28 posts · 17 votes
6y
I have a bachelor's in EE and I'm an controls engineer in industrial automation (robots, PLC's and such). New to REI, but have been educating myself for a year or so and getting ready to buy our first place!
2 Reply
Peter KortyPro Member
Member since 2020 · 63 posts · 20 votes
6y
It surprised me to hear how many guests are introverts too.
2 Reply
Zak Marinko
Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2019 · 62 posts · 27 votes
6y
Guilty! I’m a mechanical engineer, hasn’t proved to be too beneficial yet in real estate investing. However, if I put my talents to use in an HVAC related day job that would be awesome for rehabbing!
0 Reply
Mike Anderson
Rental Property Investor · Clayton, GA · Member since 2020 · 186 posts · 152 votes
6y
IT engineer here too. My career forces me to not only understand all the nerdy engineering stuff, but also the business side, and making sure the money i spend brings value to the business. I do beleive in a lot of ways it helps in REI.
1 Reply

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