My Real Estate Journey

My journey in real estate started back in 2014 when my mom gave my friend, Sam, and I tickets to a 3 day real estate investing workshop in Columbus, OH. At the time Sam and I were living with roommates near the University of Dayton paying a measly amount of rent each, but between the 5 of us at the house it certainly added up for our landlord. We made the hour-long drive each morning to Columbus to learn about real estate. As I know now, the topic we were learning about is called Wholesaling; a practice where you find a distressed property, buy it for cheap, and sell it to a flipper, keeping the profit in the middle as a “wholesale fee.” We spent a few thousand dollars on the course and set out to launch our business. It didn’t take long for us to fail miserably. 

Even though we were unable to create success, I knew real estate would be my path to financial freedom, I just had to buy a house. At the time I was a bartender at Applebee’s while I attended school. I started discussing what I had learned from the course with the people there; my manager got wind of what I was trying to do, and he had a house to sell me! I couldn’t qualify for a loan at the time, but he was able to sell it to me on a lease-option contract, a type of owner financing. 

I managed to get everything squared away for the down payment, secured 2 roommates, and moved into the home. Over the next 18 months the plan was to fix it up, build my credit, and have enough to purchase the home. I made it into management at Applebee’s, I figured it would be easier to qualify for a loan on salary, but boy was I wrong. It was a major pay cut and a huge increase in working hours. I no longer had the additional income or time to continue to fix the home. 

After 10 months of management, I stepped down and went back to bartending. It was an instant pay increase while allowing more time for what I enjoyed, real estate. I decided to get my real estate license and I found a local investor network that was just getting off the ground in Dayton. Here I met two of my greatest real estate mentors and friends, Darrin and Christina Carey, who told me to read Rich Dad Poor Dad; the book that shifted my mindset completely. 

In summer of 2015, I finished my licensing classes and passed my test on the first attempt. Out of school I joined Irongate Realtors; at the time they were the largest local brand. I was so excited when I got my license; I told everyone!! I was still bartending at Applebee’s on the weekend, it was a great network for me to leverage. Because I now had my license I was able to generate the real value of property. I did this for the property that I was supposed to close on at the end of the year; I was underwater! The beauty of the lease-option, is that is exactly what it was, an option to purchase the home at the previously agreed upon price. I decided to call it quits on that property, and move home with mom and dad. 

I knew it was the right decision, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I failed. I continued to go to the monthly investor meeting, it grew and grew and grew. There are now over 6,500 members on the facebook group. It only took two months into the new year until this even changed my life. I was still bartending part time as I got my business off the ground. I went to my bar table to find an amazing couple, family friends of my parents. I told them about how I was transitioning into real estate with my license and getting my business off the ground. His wife looked at me and said, “Do you want to sell an 8 unit apartment building?” to which he chuckled, “Do you just want to buy it?” 

It was February 2016, I went down to check out this 8 unit apartment building. It had 1 paying tenant, 1 tenant to be evicted, and 7 units that needed varying amounts of work. I asked him what he would want to sell it for, and when he told me his number I immediately knew I had to buy it. When I left that day I called my friend Darrin for a small loan, he told me “No. You can get owner financing on this property. Here is how…” It worked!

I partnered with my brother, Lewie, and we closed on the 8 unit. Over the next 5 years we struggled, but managed, to get the property fixed up, rented out, and cash flowing enough to sell it. It was an amazing deal, but an even better learning experience. You can read about this deal in my book, Graduate with Cashflow, where I discuss this deal and other beginner real estate investor tips and tricks. 

Shortly after closing on the apartment building I moved my license to Outside the Box Real Estate, Christina Carey’s brokerage, to focus working with investors. Business was great, I really enjoyed it. I was able to help new and experienced investors start and grow their investment portfolio. To some investors, I felt like their coach and mentor. A little while in, Christina and I had an opportunity to take over a property management company. Instantly we had almost 450 units under management. 

Over the next 2 years I worked diligently to ensure the properties were maintained, turned over quickly and effectively, and that the tenant maintenance issues were taken care of. I was able to build a long and healthy list of contractors, handymen and women, cleaners, and other trade folks. I still have contacts that I refer out to this day. 

Sales were harder to come by with all my time being occupied managing the properties and burnout came swiftly. I put in my two week notice right before covid closed the entire country. I kept my license at Outside the Box for a time, but ultimately I decided to join Realistar with my long time friend Christina James. What Mrs. Carey was to me for investing, Mrs. James was to me for sales. She was a great lead and mentor and she really helped me get my residential sales business rolling. Over the next 30 months I focused solely on my clients and their needs. 

After growing with Realistar I felt I had reached a peak, and I started looking for something more. I interviewed with several local brokerages, thinking that was where I wanted to be. It wasn’t until I was talking to one of my lender partners, Jason Hudson of NRL Mortgage, that I heard about Real. Real Brokerage Technologies Inc, the fastest growing publicly traded company. 

I found out all of the information that I could, and I knew they were the fit for me. Within hours of submitting my application the president himself connected me with another Ohio agent to help bring me into the Real ecosystem. 

It is now my mission to help as many clients as I can with their real estate needs. I love talking about buying, selling, investing, and remodeling. All the knowledge I’ve learned over the last 10+ years helps me give the best possible service to my clients no matter what they may need. It is my goal over the next year to grow my team at Real in order to bring the absolute best service to Dayton, OH and the surrounding markets.