I got into this with zero connections, no mentors, no family in real estate. Just figured it out the hard way. Lost some deals I should have closed, learned a lot from the ones that actually went through.
One thing I've noticed is that most content out there is either "how to get started" or "how I scaled to 50 deals a month." There's almost nothing for the people in the middle — the ones doing a few deals, figuring out their systems, trying to go from surviving to actually running a real operation.
That's where I'm at right now and I'd love to connect with anyone else in that range. Curious what your biggest bottleneck is right now — whether that's on the acquisition side, dispo, follow-ups, or just keeping everything organized without it falling apart.
Not here to sell anything or pitch a course. Just want to learn from people who are actually in the trenches. Looking forward to being part of this community.
Julian, that in-between stage is where most of the real growth happens. For many, the biggest bottlenecks tend to be consistent lead flow and follow-up systems, not necessarily deals themselves. Once those are dialed in, everything else becomes more predictable. Stay focused on building repeatable processes. That is what will take you from a few deals to a real operation.
It's clickbait to talk about "how to get started" or "how to make millions with nothing out of pocket". The people that actually succeed and get wealthy put in the effort, day after day, month after month, until suddenly, they are "overnight" millionaires.
Keep doing what you are doing. It sounds like you are on the right path.
Julian, that in-between stage is where most of the real growth happens. For many, the biggest bottlenecks tend to be consistent lead flow and follow-up systems, not necessarily deals themselves. Once those are dialed in, everything else becomes more predictable. Stay focused on building repeatable processes. That is what will take you from a few deals to a real operation.
Julian, I really respect this post, especially at 22. You are already ahead of a lot of people just by recognizing that middle stage. That is where most investors either level up or get stuck.
My honest opinion is that the biggest bottleneck in that stage usually comes down to consistency and systems. When you are doing a few deals, it is easy to rely on momentum or random opportunities, but the next level comes from building repeatable processes. That means consistent lead generation, strong follow up, and building real relationships with buyers and sellers.
One thing I have seen over the years is that a lot of people think scaling means more leads, but often it is actually better follow up and better conversations. Deals that were lost six months ago often become deals later if you stay consistent and organized.
Also, at your stage, I would really focus on building a small group of solid buyers and building relationships with them. You do not need hundreds of buyers, just a handful of real ones that actually close. That alone can take a lot of pressure off and help you grow more confidently.
You are asking the right questions, and honestly, being in that middle stage is a good place to be because that is where real businesses are built. Keep going.
I got into this with zero connections, no mentors, no family in real estate. Just figured it out the hard way. Lost some deals I should have closed, learned a lot from the ones that actually went through.
One thing I've noticed is that most content out there is either "how to get started" or "how I scaled to 50 deals a month." There's almost nothing for the people in the middle — the ones doing a few deals, figuring out their systems, trying to go from surviving to actually running a real operation.
That's where I'm at right now and I'd love to connect with anyone else in that range. Curious what your biggest bottleneck is right now — whether that's on the acquisition side, dispo, follow-ups, or just keeping everything organized without it falling apart.
Not here to sell anything or pitch a course. Just want to learn from people who are actually in the trenches. Looking forward to being part of this community.
Julian, to bridge the gap between "surviving" and a scalable operation in the competitive Jersey market, your biggest leverage point is moving from manual follow-ups to a behavior-based CRM automation like Follow Up Boss (FUB). Most wholesalers "leak" their best deals in the 4th to 7th touchpoint, so systematizing your long-term nurture for probate and high-equity leads will stabilize your monthly deal flow without increasing your marketing spend. At 22, focus on building a vetted "VIP" buyers list of local flippers who close in 10 days or less, as over-reliance on massive, unvetted dispo blasts often leads to the "lost deals" you mentioned during the inspection period. Since you’re already in the trenches, prioritize "Contract-to-Close" SOPs to ensure your organization doesn't collapse as you move from 2 deals a month to 5+. I hope that helps.
Julian, respect this—this is the stage most people don’t talk about. Not a beginner anymore, but not fully dialed in either.
From what I’ve seen (and experienced), the biggest bottlenecks at this level usually come down to consistency in lead gen and tightening up follow-up/weak follow-up systems, and not having a clear buy box for deals.
Just curious though, are you seeing more friction on the acquisitions side or dispo right now?