Beginning a career in real estate at a young age

[Jon W.]

Hi I am new to this website and have decided to ask for some advice from people with some experience in the real estate investing business. I am currently a junior in high school and want to start a career in real estate. Ideally I would like to begin investing right out of high school. I am not interested in a 4 year college degree because of the debt and falling into a job that I hate. My question is what are some steps I can take right out of high school to begin a career in real estate, preferably without a college degree. I am open to any advice. Real estate investing is my dream career.

[Richard D.]

@Kyle Boughton the fundamental question is not weather or not young @Jon W. should attend college. But the question is what does young master Jon bring to the table as he begins his investment career? It is my premise that college is not the only solution; but could actually become a viable solution to his many problems that he will face at his young age.

Is it possible that he could become a great investor without ever stepping foot in a classroom? His odds are far better in Real Estate, than in any other field of business; that he can be successful without attending college. 

However, college does offer an advantage over McDonalds. The advantage of learning about the field in which he has chosen as his preferred career path. To earn his living from, for the rest of his life.

I only recommend attending college in hope that he targets his studies in the field of real estate. For example, he could go to get his Real Estate License, or Professional Appraisers License, he could study architecture to learn how to design and build homes, commercial buildings, apartments and so on. 

The advantage McDonalds offers over college can be argued as well. He can learn teamwork, and team building skills. He can learn that attention to details, can make or break you. He can build up disposable capital @ $8-15 an hour. Jon just to give you a rough idea. If you had ZERO expenses, and wanted to save $25,000 in capital, You would need to work full time (40 hours a week) for 2 years @ $8 an hour. 

Jon, I do not know anything about, you, your home life, schooling or anything else. But, I do know this, you sought out knowledge on how to start. And it looks to me like knowledge would be the greatest asset that you could gain while learning about investing. That I would venture that your actual best option would be the third option. The toughest one, find and work for a great mentor. You may work for free for a little while to prove your worth to the mentor, but over time, they will pay you to keep you around. And they will need to pay you well to keep you even longer.

I know a young man age 26. He went this route, and currently has part ownership in over 1000 properties. He started (bought first property) at age 17. His net worth is currently in excess of 10 million dollars. And he works his Real Estate Business every day of the week. He never worked at McDonalds and never went to college.