"real estate" class?

Question

My name is Bethany. I am a college art student in Chico, CA, major in Studio Arts. Traditional art (painting, sketching, sculpting, etc. etc.) is my real passion, yet I'd rather not have to depend on it as my living since traditional art is one of the toughest careers out there as far as making money goes. I also don't want to go digital, as I do not enjoy that very much and feel it is unauthentic. I also don't want my creativity stifled by having an art boss telling me what I have to create. I also don't want people expecting things of my art. Generally speaking, I don't want a boss at all in any field. I want financial freedom and be able to have the time to do what I want in art, while still being able to support myself. For these reasons I want to become a scaling buy-and-hold real estate investor and accumulate passive income, giving me time, freedom, and money to support my own art business, rather than having to work at a studio or under an art director. I connect with my art and I do not want it defiled through art employment. For me, and from what I've heard on the podcasts and from investors, real estate INVESTING seems to be the best, most fulfilling option towards independence, freedom, self-preservation, and self-actualization.

With introduction aside, the main question I have right now actually has to do with a college "real estate" class I decided to jump on and take. I saw the words "real" and "estate" and couldn't resist the "opportunity". In my first week I discovered that 99% of the class is there to become a real estate agent, and it has little if anything to do with the general field of real estate, and is meant for the requirements of the California real estate licensing exam, which I did not intend to or have any desire to take. Am I in the wrong place? Being an agent sounds like such a drag. I took this same class in high school in a home study setting, and I remember hating it. I still don't like it very much and I'd rather be on the (much more practical and digestible) Bigger Pockets website, listening to podcasts, or drawing a picture. However, would it be a necessary or useful evil if I want to become a better investor? Would taking this class be at least helpful? would it give me an edge? Would becoming an agent be a good transitory step for a total newbie? Are there much better, less begrudging paths I could take? I am inclined to drop the class, but before making yet another rash decision, I'd like to get some outside opinion.

Two key things about me is if I can't do what I want and can't be creative/expressive, I am not happy. I think many people could say the same.

Kenny Dutton · Answer

Hey Bethany, I'm one of the board members for the Chico State real estate club. Shoot me a message with your email and I'll be sure you're added to our list. Should be starting in the next couple weeks, once the dust settles from classes.

Jeff Macdonald · Answer

Hey Bethany! I think there is some sort of real estate club on campus as well, I’ll try to get you the info. I would suggest you try to focus on what you are most interested in....seems like being a real estate agent is not it. Try to save up enough money that you can house hack in Chico or buy an out of state rental. @Kenny Dutton is a fellow Chico State student, and can get you more info on the real estate club. Enjoy!

Michael T. · Answer

Account Closed mentions find a real estate club on campus and learn everything else you can from podcasts and webinars.

Eric Carr · Answer

You can learn something from every experience, from every teacher. However, you've come to the right place to ask opinions on what would be most efficient given the few things we know about you. For me, I would not waste my time or money on a class to be spoon fed something that I already have a feeling is not what I want. Colleges used to hold the knowledge, not anymore. Find a group, a campus club, or start one, listen to podcasts and read. Read everything. PM me if you want to talk about sorting things out and for a list of books. One other thing, real estate investing either takes a lot of money upfront or a ton of knowledge and experience. And if you have the money upfront, you will still need to learn everything you can. You don't need to learn how to become an agent to become an investor.

Jeff Macdonald · Answer

Oh, also, check out the Chico Real Estaters on meetup.com. It’s our local investment meetup group. They meet monthly.

Brendon Seeley · Answer

Hi Bethany, there are many schools of thought on this. My opinion is that you should take the class. The best investors are the most well-rounded ones. I became a real estate agent to familiarize myself with the sales side of it so I could know the transaction process when buying my own property for flips or holds. You don't need to be a full-time agent or drop everything you are doing with art to learn.There is also no getting around learning the transaction side of real estate. You need to know the sales process, lending, escrow, title, all of it. So you can go it on your own, or learn through being an agent, being an escrow officer/title officer, loan officer, with a mentor, etc. Embrace learning everything you can, even the boring stuff!