Chris Christianson

I got involved in real estate by a rather round about way. I started in electronics, then electrical engineering. My electronics interest led me to the burgeoning home theater industry in the late 80's. This got me on many construction sites where I learned by watching the construction industry. I later took a job helping a friend remodel old homes in my neighborhood which led to my love of turn of the century architecture. I ventured out on my own after about a year and have been remodeling and restoring 1900-1930's homes ever since. Update, after 4 years with BlackWater Restoration I'm moving on. I'm now starting an exteriors business with both a retail arm and a wholesale arm. The wholesale arm is going to be geared for experienced investors that are willing and capable of doing the work of the sales person in exchange for discounted pricing. I'm also heading to the Tampa area to partner with a wholesaler friend to see what we can do in that market with flips. Experience: Over the last 7 years I've been watching the real estate market in my area. I had access to MLS for a while and would find homes I wished I could purchase. See what they sold for and what the purchaser would do to them then what they went back on the market for and finally sold for. I'm new to the buy and hold market but I'm learning fast. Real Estate Goals: I will continue restoring and selling old homes for my primary job but would now like to explore the rental market. I'd like to acquire 4-10 rental units this year and would like to grow that by at least 10-20 units per year for the next 5 years with an initial goal of 100+ units. I hope that doesn't sound too aggressive or naïve. I've never been one to set the bar low. Currently Seeking: I am interested in connecting with and sharing experiences with real estate investors in the Minneapolis/St Paul area. Life's too short to learn everything on your own. I'd like to save myself from some mistakes and hopefully help others avoid the ones I've made. I'm also interested in exploring funding options that may be available. We have a private investor but our resources are limited and we'll need other options as we grow.