New Member From Fort Worth, Texas

[Mat Howle]

My name is Mat and I am from Fort Worth, Texas.  I have a degree in architecture from Texas Tech University.  After finishing school I started my internship and started working at a local Fort Worth architecture firm.  The work I did at that firm was mainly retail interior finish outs.  I did that for about 10 years.  I am currently a construction cost estimator working with AE firms to help them set budgets for their projects.  Projects range from new water lines @ the Grand Canyon to new military bases in Djibouti, Africa.

My wife and I bought our first investment property about 7 years ago.  Her family has several rental properties and are successful so we figured we would give it a shot.  Our first property has done really well.  When I lost my job in the Great Recession I decided to cash out my 401k and purchased another property.  The hope was to make real estate a full time job.  Well, life happens and the security of a full time job changed all that and our real estate venture has been a hobby at best.  My goal for the next year is to transform this hobby into a real business.