Feedback from Full Time Investors

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Feedback from Full Time Investors

Trevor Dominique
Investor · Simpsonville, SC · Member since 2017 · 46 posts · 30 votes

Hi All,

I have recently been spending a lot of time reflecting on my future real estate goals so that I can build my business plan with the end in mind.

Currently, I have 10 properties, mostly single family homes. I self-manage, on top of working a full-time job in finance at a large company.

Ultimately, I would love to invest full time at some point down the road. I enjoy getting my hands dirty and doing renovation work myself. I feel that if I can get to 30 or 40 SFH's with 40%+ equity in my portfolio, I can do this full-time. However, I want to convince myself why I even want to do this.

Questions for Full Time Investors:

  1. How did you transition from a W2 to full time? What was the hardest part of this?

  1. For those self-managing, when did this become too difficult to manage with a day job to where the leap almost had to happen?

  1. What do you love the most about doing this full time? What do you hate?

Hope to get some feedback here to spur some additional conversation. Thank you all!

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Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
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Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
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Hardest part is having enough money in the bank account to make sure that if things are slow, you're covered. I never self-managed because I'd rather focus my time on things that can be better revenue-generating. What I love about doing it full time is that I create my schedule. I don't hate anything, but what I will say is it is much harder than people make it out to be, and it will go much slower and take longer than you anticipate.

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  • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
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    Hardest part is having enough money in the bank account to make sure that if things are slow, you're covered. I never self-managed because I'd rather focus my time on things that can be better revenue-generating. What I love about doing it full time is that I create my schedule. I don't hate anything, but what I will say is it is much harder than people make it out to be, and it will go much slower and take longer than you anticipate.

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  • Matthew MorrowBusiness Member
    Investor · PA - NY - NJ · Member since 2019 · 910 posts · 319 votes
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    @Trevor Dominique I'll be honest, I never made the jump to only investing. I got licensed and built a business alongside the rentals, and the two fed each other. What I learned is that the number of houses isn't really the scoreboard. Cash flow, reserves, and how much of your time each one takes matter more. Self-managing got harder for me when I didn't have systems for leases and repairs, not when I hit a certain unit count. What I love is building something. What I don't love is the stuff behind the walls. Looking forward to following your progress.

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  • Divin KanyamaBusiness Member
    Accountant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2025 · 612 posts · 254 votes
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    @Trevor Dominique Ten properties with a finance job and self-management is already a lot, and it's a good sign that you're asking "why" before chasing a number.

    One thing I'd think about is whether the goal is 30 to 40 doors or the income and freedom they represent. Equity doesn't pay the bills, cash flow does. Many people find that a portfolio with 40 percent equity still doesn't replace a salary once reserves, taxes, and debt payments are counted. So it may help to work backward from the monthly income you need, including health insurance and a cushion, and see how many doors and how much cash reserve that really takes.

    I'd also pay attention to what you enjoy. You like the hands-on renovation work, and that's worth protecting. Full-time investors often say the job shifts toward managing people, paperwork, and problems, with less time doing the work they liked. If you hire out management, you'd free up time but pay for it, so test that on a few properties while you still have your income. A common approach is to build up a reserve, lower your expenses, and make the leap when your investment income covers your costs for a year or more, rather than when the portfolio hits a number.

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