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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'm a buy and hold investor who has his license to help other investors find properties in my market. My alter ego tho I make comic books for Marvel and D.C. comics. If you've watched the films Civil War or Logan you've seen films based on my work. 😄
Hey @Kyle Grimm - Great thread you started here! Currently my gig and first passion (real estate being my second passion) is Silicon Valley tech - specifically, enterprise sales!
I'm a retailer for a cadalic delarship in my city I'm make fair money per car.. I'm using the summer to work more to build up my nest egg so I can have a decent amount of flow to play with 14 months from now... I guess till then I'll just learn from the entry level point till I get pointed in the right direction in real estate on what I should be doing and reading in particular
I am an FBS college football coach, but honestly love REI as much as football.
Environmental Health Specialist......AKA ....Health Inspector....Actually I'm really excited to get started in Real Estate Investing....The best way that i have found to be active in both is to set time aside along with my partners to discuss and plan our short term and long term goals.....along with many other things.
I'm a hospitalist(look it up.I promise it's an actual job).
When I finished training,I knew I'd end up bored to death by waking up everyday working in the same small office.
I loved traveling and mixing it up way too much to be tied down to routine.
So I quickly became a locum and now work all across Georgia and Florida when I want.
That does two things:
I make my own schedule,choose my own hours and can view properties while I'm on assignment.
It's semi retirement because I block out an entire month if I feel like it.
I was in south east Asia all of December and will be in Russia most of June.
I don't have 1000 doors.
Far from it.
I'm like you.
Just a dozen or so doors.
For now.
But BiggerPockets is the reason I'm able to live this way.
I wasn't born that way.
Nice reading everyone's stories.
✊🏾
I'm a physician practicing in the military (Radiologist).
I find my work and real estate equally interesting. What I really dream about doing is selling tea (like green tea), or some similar entrepreneurial gig. Well, right now medicine and real estate pay pretty well, so who knows if my dream job will ever materialize.
Shout out to my fellow M.D.s on this thread! Wow, 8 pages in only 2 days.
@Kyle Grimm I was a firefighter....now I'm a full time investor. It is a dream come true in many ways. But, my path was not that for most investors. First, live as frugally as possible while having that W2 coffin. I mean, if you have to live on ramen and PB&J for two years while having as many roommates as possible in order to save the money to buy a multifamily. Then you can move all your roommates into it and househack your way into your first investment with a 3.5% FHA downpayment in a neighborhood that is likely to improve. Peoria took a little housing hit lately but IL is a great place to invest despite the haters (Iowans and Wisconsinites) Look at what marijuana legalization has done for Co and the far NW. You will see that happen in IL in less than two years. Also, our state leads in technology and innovation...expect that to continue. Sacrifice the small things today to have that big payout tomorrow.
Before I "retired" at age 37, I worked in the corporate world for 15 years and held a variety of jobs including marketing manager for a tech company, a conference and event director, a probation officer, an office manager for a major alcohol distributor, and a counselor at a residential rehab facility for teens. Now I "work" at home by choice, fixing dinner, cleaning, driving kids around, gardening, and taking care of my animals (dairy goats, chickens, dogs, and cats) as well as doing property management for 1 rental and flipping a house with my hubby.
Currently an Engineer. I love the design but not sitting at a desk. I am finally ready to take the leap into part time REI.
Graduated from college in 2008. Wanted to work in real estate.
Took a job as a commission based mortgage loan originator without realizing the magnitude of the impending meltdown. Quickly realized that I would struggle to make a living and resigned after 6 months.
Took a job in consumer finance where I originated, underwrote, processed, and closed a variety of loan and insurance products. Was laid off after two years amidst a large downsizing effort.
Took a job as a mortgage underwriter as it had become clear I was better skilled and enjoyed that aspect of lending more than sales. Was laid off after two years amidst a large staff reduction.
Took a job as a commercial credit analyst where I remain today. Surpassed the two year mark successfully which was a new milestone for me given the prior layoffs, ha.
Grateful for the opportunity to have learned a lot about consumer lending, mortgages, appraisals, personal finance, and commercial lending as it has helped me in pursuing my real estate aspirations. The layoffs intensified my desire to become financially independent via real estate and determine my own destiny which I am striving toward now.
3 jobs - teacher, bio-synthetic chemist, now "i see breast cancer" almost daily in my current job.
Awoke to the wonderful world of investing only 4 years ago when 2 hour commute each day opened me up to the vast world of podcasts about investing, online marketing, startups etc
Kept dreaming that I could retire early with passive income.
But I realized soon after that I probably have one of the best jobs out there but filled with both good days and bad days like I had today seeing a very aggressive cancer and knowing that a patient may potentially die. I tend to forget that it's a privilege to bring both good and bad news to people and at the end of the day save a life.
Dreaming about creating something, and making passive income/wealth to pass on to my kids. Not the money but pass on my wisdom/experience to my kids. The true American Dream starts with a spark of epiphany, wisdom, or insight that others are blind to or just never had the opportunity to learn.
My parents took a bite out of the American Dream as 1st generation immigrants with sweat and blood but they worked too hard unnecessarily because they lacked the knowledge of proper investing and building wealth.
Biggerpockets and others are leading all kinds of people to investing which is an open secret; available to everyone but only practiced by a few.
Day Job. Fine dining server in The City Beautiful Orlando. Just passed the Florida Real Estate Exam, signed on with Keller Williams. I'm really looking for a hub on Bigger Pockets where can ask and discuss real estate investing with the world.
I'm a software developer and day trader, looking to get my feet wet with REI
5 years ago I was working in corporate finance and had always wanted to get into real estate. Before jumping into investing, I decided it would be best to learn how transactions work. Flash forward, for the past 4+ years I've been working as a full time real estate agent for a top team in eastern Massachusetts (typically we will work within an hour of the city if it makes sense).
#5 Wholesaling Contributor
- Real Estate Broker
- Naples, FL
Originally posted by @Meghan McCallum:
@Kyle Grimm I was a firefighter....now I'm a full time investor. It is a dream come true in many ways. But, my path was not that for most investors. First, live as frugally as possible while having that W2 coffin. I mean, if you have to live on ramen and PB&J for two years while having as many roommates as possible in order to save the money to buy a multifamily. Then you can move all your roommates into it and househack your way into your first investment with a 3.5% FHA downpayment in a neighborhood that is likely to improve. Peoria took a little housing hit lately but IL is a great place to invest despite the haters (Iowans and Wisconsinites) Look at what marijuana legalization has done for Co and the far NW. You will see that happen in IL in less than two years. Also, our state leads in technology and innovation...expect that to continue. Sacrifice the small things today to have that big payout tomorrow.
FL just legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Now all the people that have been using for "medical purposes" over the past forty years will be able to do so legally:)
NOTE: I am also a Class III firearms dealer since 1994. It is ILLEGAL under federal law to purchase a firearm even with a medical marijuana card. Medical marijuana MIGHT help me in some ways, but I cannot do so as a licensed dealer.
Interesting note: a friend of mine, who is a broker, is moving his office because the landlord leased the current space next to him to a dispensary. He stated he believes marijuana should be legal and that it has obvious medical benefits, but does NOT want to be located next to one. Our next nightly REIA meeting will have an attorney discussing medical marijuana and fair housing laws:)
I am a business consultant. I have done everything from a to z over the years. I was a Remax agent, a loan officer, a university administrator. I have worked for Tony Robbins and many internet marketing companies. I just love helping people and problem solving.
I used to be a general contractor. I'm also a licensed electrician. I noticed a lot of consumers get taken by licensed and unlicensed contractors so I started some consulting works the side helping homeowners on the process of construction projects. That's more if a pet project. My main job is all electrical now
I am an account manager with a large construction material supply company. I make great money but have no life with being tethered to my customers. I work half or more of my vacations. 12-15 hour days. Ready for a change.
Morning BP nation, I am currently a sales man for spectrum cable company. Before my current position I work for a third party company called Convergys,I was a manager and sales coach. I have never did anything with real estate before and for years I wanted to be my own boss. I want to build great business relationships and help people get what they want. In May of this year I was on sick leave for 3 weeks after having surgery it hit me. Real estate I watch Brandon on YouTube and his no BS approach. I understand that it want be simple but it will be the best thing I can do.
I am an army officer as well as an aircraft router for a large commercial aviation group. I have done the army thing for about 5 years. Used to paint houses and continue to do so on the side. No deals as of yet just trying to educate and network at the moment.
I am a retail manager for a big box craft store in Oklahoma. It's a fun job except during the Christmas timeframe.
I have 2 sf rentals and am saving money for a third.