Born and raised in the city of Chicago and now I need some help

[Andrew Rivera]

Hello everyone,

My name is Andrew and here’s my story. I hope you can see past the grammar errors and able to follow along I’m not an English major. This is going to be a rant of my thoughts.

I have lived in Chicago my whole life until I was 21 and shipped off to California during my time in the Marines. I’ve been back since getting Honorary discharged after four years of service. I have went to traditional school and learned quickly that it wasn’t for me. So I went to Texas for a month to become a certified HVAC technician and that was when I discovered Grant Cardone on YouTube and at the same time I was reading Crush It by Gary Vee. So I was on that entrepreneurial high trying to get into that world. Working a 9-5 for someone else isn’t for me, to each their own but I want to be in control of my own life and finances.

Fast forward I didn’t last in HVAC and tried other things until I decided to become a Barber. I see how it’s good fast money that I can put to good use with investing in my wife’s and I future. With barbering it makes you hustle to keep your chair filled and it’s showing me who I really am in times of hardship. I learned when it gets tough I’m not the type to give up, I get creative and find ways to fill my chair. It’s been a great career change for me and I feel in love with this industry. So much I created my own mobile barbershop business to service children who may be on the spectrum and can’t handle the barbershop environment and even seniors who are home bound, bonus is having a new friend they can look forward to seeing once or twice a month!

So why I’m here is because my grandparents have a beautiful brick two bedroom one bath two flat in the city off of Irving park and California. The area is beautiful, private grade school a few buildings down. College prep perviously known as Gordon tech near the place. Minutes from lane tech and two parks, one with a dog park and a pool and ice rink. Apparently the river is becoming a river walk and to top it off the yard and balcony is perfect for any family. Parking is easy and there’s a garage as well.

The property has been in the family for as long as I can remember, my mother grew up in that home and at some point in time family lived in either unit. It’s currently being rented but my gramps is talking about selling it. It would truly break my heart to see a perfectly good building knocked down for another modern Multi million single family home. Not knocking those I think they’re amazing but I see so much to get out of this building while keeping it in the family. I believe in rentals so much

My wife and I have a game plan. Currently my grandparents are giving the renters cheaper rent for the area compared to listings I see. If we were to get this we would notify them that after the lease rent will go up to what’s the average in the neighborhood at least. If they agree great if not I’ll find tenants no problem. The property and area sells itself but I would also offer no breed restrictions just as long as your pets get along with our dog and you don’t ruin our property. I would live in the top unit and they get the bottom. Both of us are veterans and I need to confirm but with my disability rating I may be entitled to lower taxes.

We sat down and talked with them about how much they are asking and it's at 500k. I talked to the VA home loan about what I can do and unfortunately with my credit score I can't get the help I was looking for with them. I'm not the type to give up after one no so here I am asking whoever is reading this, what else can I do to hopefully own my family's two flat and keep it in our name. This can be my jump off point in real estate for more property and financial freedom.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and do me a favor, have a great day.

Andrew.