What was your biggest surprise when investing In real estate for the first time?

[Shea Gajewski]

I'm a young real estate investor, and I've quickly realized that real estate investing can be full of unexpected twists and turns. I'm curious to hear about your biggest surprise when you first started. What caught you off guard?

[Jeff Pasmore]

Shea, great question—because real estate investing isn’t what most people think it is. Everyone gets in expecting easy cash flow, appreciation, and passive income. Then reality slaps them in the face.

The biggest surprise? Speed kills. Most new investors hesitate, overanalyze, and miss deals. Meanwhile, the seasoned pros move fast—because they understand that in real estate, certainty beats perfection.

What catches most rookies off guard? Deals don’t wait. While you're double-checking your numbers for the 17th time, a pro already locked up the property, negotiated seller concessions, and lined up financing.

The real question isn’t "What surprises new investors?"—it's "How fast can you adapt when the unexpected happens?"

If you’re serious about winning in real estate, build a process that lets you move fast—without being reckless. That’s how you stay ahead.

Now, what’s your strategy for making decisions under pressure?

Hope this helps . If I can ever help you let me know.. until then best of luck .