Do trades people invest?

[Chris Murphy]

Hi all, Trying to get myself set here at BP. I've come to see that I don't particularly hear from anyone in the trades. I myself am a plumber and have worked for flippers in the past My goal is to buy and hold but it seems with my skill set trying a flip at first to gain some capital might be in my best interest as I can handle a majority of the mechanicals within the house. Just curious if there are other trades people on here that have had luck. Any input for all is appreciated Thanks

[Chris Mason]

Hi @Chris Murphy,

Yup, I did a mortgage for a guy less than a year ago that is a plumber and one of my favorite clients ever. 

• High school drop-out that started stealing cars in East Oakland with a fake gun while still a teen (only Bay Area locals, or at least people from California, will appreciate stealing cars with a fake gun in East Oakland 5+ years ago...).
• Eventually ran his own chop shop with over a dozen employees.
• Naturally, he was caught and then went to prison. 
• Hung out with white collar convicts while inside. Learned to read while inside to boot. I was volunteering at his prison while he was in, but never personally met him in that context.
• He got out.
• Started 'faking it until he made it' by putting ads on craigslist to unclog sinks and the like.
• By the time he met me, ran his own plumbing business with a fleet of vehicles, a half mil in capital equipment, dozens of employees. Just like before, but instead of an illegal 'chop shop,' it was a mostly legit business.
• He was referred to me by the head honcho at a local boutique real estate brokerage, where he was their "go to" plumber for all the properties they manage.
• I had to make him "get real" about his reported self employment income with the IRS in order to qualify for a mortgage.
• He now owns two investment properties and is working on saving up for his third, which he wants to be a MFR.

IS THAT DUDE MR AMERICAN DREAM OR WHAT? 

I tell his story every excuse I get.

So, yeah, if Mr. High School dropout violent felon who couldn't even read can do it, you can absolutely do it too.