Old Inactive Member Back At It and Re-Introducing Myself

[Keith Schulz]

Hello Bigger Pockets Members,

I’m re-introducing myself because I’ve been inactive on Bigger Pockets for quite awhile time. I’m a real estate investor and broker from Madison, WI (currently live in Verona, WI). I bought my first duplex 17 years ago at 23 years old, and I lived in half of it for a couple years. In the years to follow I bought several other rentals and found myself highly leveraged going into the 2008 down turn with a boat load of debt. At that point, I actually became an agent and sold off several properties. I weathered the down turn mostly unscathed, but after watching a couple friends go bankrupt using similar strategies, I completely changed my perspective. I’ve gone Dave Ramsey style, debt free, and I’m sitting on a little over a half million in paid for real estate. I now own a small 5 agent real estate brokerage (Great Rock Realty). I recently just sold a flip property that I partnered with a friend to buy at foreclosure auction, and now I’m ready to buy more.

Also, I’m curious how many others out there are doing a conservative or all cash investing strategy. It seems like most investors are going the heavily financed route. I understand there’s better cash on cash returns with leverage. However, life is very comfortable and stress free debt free! 

I'll try to start paying attention to these forums again and hopefully I'll make it to a local meetup sometime soon. 

Thanks,
Keith