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Updated about 7 years ago, 11/07/2017
WHO ARE YOU? What do you do besides real estate?
Hello BP nation!
My question for BP nation is what is your day job? Although we would love to be, most of us are not yet full time investors.
As I grow older and try to figure out the direction of my career, I love hearing the stories of other successful real estate investors and how they got there. I am currently...struggling... at my day job (100% commission insurance salesman) and dream of finding a job I can enjoy while I slowly grow my real estate portfolio.
So BP... What is your day job and what does your life look like trying to work it while you grow your investing career?
Ready...GO!
I am a cost analyst (work for Tecolote Research) working for the Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground in MD. I am an engineer by degree and about 5 years ago i made a switch to finance. I've always had an interest in finance, and there is significant demand within the DoD for analysts who can estimate large scale program costs from development, production all the way through the sustainment and end of life. It's a challenge, and sometimes frustrating, but I do enjoy the work. I have 4 rentals, and i don't really want to be a full time investor. I like my job and the benefits, and also like the additional revenue the rental properties generate. I do most of the management of the properties myself, except for 1 of the properties in KC that is managed.
I'm an operator at an ASU. We separate the different components of air into oxygen, nitrogen, and argon and sell it. I've been daydreaming about real estate investing for years and finally have my first rental under contract. I'm not necessarily looking to leave my job, but it would sure be nice to have the option.
My profession is Navy helicopter pilot, but I work on my business.
Sorry, but I had to take that from Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I saw a few Navy pilots on previous posts... Rob Roy Not many other services, which tells me either Navy guys are smarter or we have been stationed in better places to invest. For us, it has been San Diego. I personally liked the guy who posted he is a baggage handler and how he travels the world for free. Good to see all of the posts...
I'm a baller...shot caller...20 inch blades on the Impala.
In reality when I'm not dreaming, I am an Electronics Technician that does testing and evaluation on the US Navy's Aegis Combat System for the Dept of Defense.
Kyle Grimm
I'm 22 years old, active duty in the Marine Corps, and waiting to pull the trigger on a good deal that makes sense for my investing goals. Currently have about a year left in military and saving cash to place on a down payment on a deal that comes my way!!!
Good luck to you!
JV
Accountant for a private Oil & Gas company. Just starting going back to school (again) to get my accounting degree and eventually CPA.
Not investing in real estate yet, since the stars haven't aligned yet (aka my wife isn't back to work yet). I follow the stock market and have some investments there and make occasional trades - always trying to tweak my strategy for better returns. Recently I've been invested in random things that I know (or think I know) I can flip for a decent profit. Tickets to concerts/sports and now a used car I bought for $850 are my most recent attempts.
I plan on going with a buy and hold strategy, but I will probably explore other avenues just to see what I can do. Since we can live off just my income and have money left over, I think the goal for me and my wife is to buy a property or two per year off her income.
End goal is to be able to "retire" in the next 10-15 years, but really just walk away from the normal full time 52 week job. Either do some consulting or just focus on my investments to take up the time.
Lots of diverse responses here. Here's mine.
I manage account sales for an automotive manufacturing wholesaler that imports/supplies parts to the North East. I work primarily in the NYC region and deal with multiple clients; from small shops to fortune 500 companies such as Advance Auto Parts and Verizon.
With sales being my main occupation, I'm constantly developing new strategies to close deals and prospect for new opportunities. To me, this is imperative to real estate, and I would recommend anyone to try sales if they need to improve their communication skills.
A couple of the benefits my job gives me is the ability to network with a wide variety of contacts which helps me tremendously in both my territory as well as the real estate world. I also have the freedom to explore new territories that I can consider investing in RE while I am doing my normal duties.
With that said, I love the opportunities of real estate and I hope to saturate myself more into this incredible world. Looking forward to meet with more of you guys!
My wife and I own a deli, I work for a custom interior casework company that's headed up by an architect. I also recently passed the real estate test and have been checking the mail for my license. Great question.
Wife and I are attorneys that work in the energy industry. I also have a Real Estate license. BP is a tremendous community.
@Kyle Grimm I'm a freelance social media content manager and copy writer in Los Angeles. Flexible, growing industry, and gives me time to research my first investment property and excited to go to my first LA meetup. PS I have family in Morton, my cousin owns Binkley Jewelry. Small world!
Project Manager/Executive Manager at an Environmental Contracting Company in Kalamazoo, MI.
Food fun and exercise, I play hockey 2-3 times per week.
Just getting into investing in real estate. BP has been a big help.
Wow...took some time, but I read every post! Thanks @Kyle Grimm. This thread has been inspiring and comes at a good time. I've been a management consultant (currently working for a Big 4) for 21 years and frankly burned out. I just don't have the passion for it anymore.
When I first graduated college in the late 80's I went to work in the construction field. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC...all great skills for REI. Still have all my tools and feel it's part of my "roots". In the mid 90's I was back in school...Petroleum Engineering. When I graduated, oil was $10/bbl. So got into IT, then management consulting.
This may sound odd, but my "problem" is that my W2 pays very well...so very hard to leave...and my Freedom # is high. But I am not in REI just for the $ or to "retire". I really like it...makes me jump out of bed in the morning (when not at my W2).
At age 47, I am trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. :) All I know is I love entrepreneurship. Used to read Inc magazine all the time...now Shark Tank ha ha. I really enjoy all aspects of RE from the finances to the fixing toilets (well, maybe not that part, but happy to swing a hammer). I've been trying to think if it makes sense to get into something complimentary to REI until my RE business picks up (currently at 7 SFH's). I need a career counselor. :)
Furniture and Appliance retail store manager.
I currently operate my family's furniture and appliance retail store. I got my undergraduate degree in Leadership Administration and currently and completing my MBA. At the moment, I'm currently saving for a down payment whilst searching for properties. My family doesn't really understand my ambition for real estate investing, and I'm okay with that. My goal is to have my first property within the next six months.
Auto and motorcycle insurance sales agent for GEICO here in Tucson. I work 4 10 hour shifts and in the top 1% sales people in the company. Its not a bad gig and I get 3 days off in a row each work to focus on RE. I am working hard to become a full time REI because I am not a fan for working for the man although this is a great company.
Originally posted by @Tony Castronovo:
Wow...took some time, but I read every post! Thanks @Kyle Grimm. This thread has been inspiring and comes at a good time. I've been a management consultant (currently working for a Big 4) for 21 years and frankly burned out. I just don't have the passion for it anymore.
When I first graduated college in the late 80's I went to work in the construction field. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC...all great skills for REI. Still have all my tools and feel it's part of my "roots". In the mid 90's I was back in school...Petroleum Engineering. When I graduated, oil was $10/bbl. So got into IT, then management consulting.
This may sound odd, but my "problem" is that my W2 pays very well...so very hard to leave...and my Freedom # is high. But I am not in REI just for the $ or to "retire". I really like it...makes me jump out of bed in the morning (when not at my W2).
At age 47, I am trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. :) All I know is I love entrepreneurship. Used to read Inc magazine all the time...now Shark Tank ha ha. I really enjoy all aspects of RE from the finances to the fixing toilets (well, maybe not that part, but happy to swing a hammer). I've been trying to think if it makes sense to get into something complimentary to REI until my RE business picks up (currently at 7 SFH's). I need a career counselor. :)
Interesting note about the problem with your W-2 paying well. I thought I had the same problem. Then I realized, I didn't derive any additional happiness from my income after the $75K mark.. even though its multiples of this now. The Harvard and university studies were right, life satisfaction didn't not improve from salary once above $72-75K gross, which is such a small amount. They were spot on!
For example, I usually spend less money when I travel than I do at home net net, while arguably drawing more fulfillment out of life doing so. REI doesn't make me jump out of bed in the morning ;) Lots of other things do though.
Surfing. I used to say that "real-estate is my hobby", but I've come to realize that not getting away from your job is unhealthy.
Hi BP Fam!
I am an Air Traffic Controller by day and real estate investor by night. My day job is a blessing in terms of flexibility when needed. My 1st long term goal as an investor is to replace half of my income and go part-time as a controller. Next would be to kick the investing into high hear with the extra time and retire from my job within 7-10 years. ( I will still get a small retirement check at that point)
I am currently working on my strategy to build my portfolio. Long term I want buy and hold properties with current cash flow. I also want to learn how to rehab, so I can have the option to sell those properties off or keep them as rentals. Any and all advice are welcomed!
Health, wealth and wisdom to you all!
I do Uber in Orlando FL. Drive for dollars everyday ! Any investors from Orlando ???????? :)
I am a Building Inspector. I teach classes across the country on the exciting aspects of Building codes. I know it seems boring to some but all the rules stem from some incident that has occurred and unfortunately sometimes serious injuries. I inspect Residential and commercial properties. I love my job, its never dull. I meet investors every day on there rehabs.
Investing has made me a better inspector and working FT gives me the ability to acquire mortgages for my rentals.
Good Luck.
Small landscape business owner. Been in it 15 years and it's hard to impossible to make it in this industry working for someone else. Pretty much burnt out at this point, and excited to move towards fix and flips as my "job" while also building a portfolio in rentals and esp multifamily.
I'm a truck driver who works 11 hours days, five days a week. I attended, and passed the needed hours and class to become a real estate broker but not enough time to study or take the state exam. With a lot of hard work and penny pinching I saved enough for a down payment to hopefully change my career.
I do corporate tax. My clients range from small private start-ups to multinational public companies. Working long hours, while raising 2 kids with my wife, makes it challenging to push on toward our real estate goals. We own one rental, but have big plans for the future in real estate!
Pathologist Assistant
I dissect surgical specimens ranging from skin biopsies to colon segments. I've seen some incredible things over the past 16 years, especially from the ER.