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Updated over 7 years ago, 07/09/2017

Account Closed
  • Upstate, NY
277
Votes |
200
Posts

What is your WHY ?!?!?

Account Closed
  • Upstate, NY
Posted

I have a question for all of you BPers

I am an active buy and hold investor and some months I ask myself why am I doing this again?

I believe I do this because I do not have a clearly defined WHY to look to during those not so smooth times.  That being said I am working to create a perfect WHY for me.  I figured while I work on it I could hear from you all on your WHY.

WHY do you or do you want to invest in real estate?

User Stats

316
Posts
153
Votes
Isiah Ferguson
  • Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
153
Votes |
316
Posts
Isiah Ferguson
  • Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
Replied

To create financial freedom & everything that will come with it. Too change my family structure of being a working class to entrepreneurs. & to motivate the people around me and the family and friends i grew up with. 

User Stats

11
Posts
1
Votes
Nathan Coldsmith
  • Investor
  • Shippensburg, PA
1
Votes |
11
Posts
Nathan Coldsmith
  • Investor
  • Shippensburg, PA
Replied
My why is to provide financial independence to my parents. They both have sacrificed greatly and worked tremendously hard to provide for me as I grew up giving me a life that they never had. My dream is to give back to them, provided them a retirement, let them put there feet up and enjoy life not needing to work. Recently formed an LLC, closed on our first deal last Thursday. Our future looks bright in REI. I have been truly blessed my 22 years of life, God is good. -Nathan Coldsmith
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Account Closed
  • Upstate, NY
277
Votes |
200
Posts
Account Closed
  • Upstate, NY
Replied

Kanwar Sodhi I can say for certainty a 9-5 feels different when you build some financial freedom . It feels good to know you don't have to be working it takes the edge off .

Account Closed
  • Upstate, NY
277
Votes |
200
Posts
Account Closed
  • Upstate, NY
Replied

Aaron Howell that's awesome ! Exciting stuff .

User Stats

40
Posts
12
Votes
Samuel Pascal
  • New to Real Estate
  • New York, NY
12
Votes |
40
Posts
Samuel Pascal
  • New to Real Estate
  • New York, NY
Replied
I want financial freedom. I want to be able to help my family with hospital bills. provide a future for my future kids and wife. Those are my whys, and money is just the vehicle needed to get there.

User Stats

40
Posts
12
Votes
Samuel Pascal
  • New to Real Estate
  • New York, NY
12
Votes |
40
Posts
Samuel Pascal
  • New to Real Estate
  • New York, NY
Replied
I want financial freedom. I want to be able to help my family with hospital bills. provide a future for my future kids and wife. Those are my whys, and money is just the vehicle needed to get there.

User Stats

17
Posts
2
Votes
Stephen Moore
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Lebanon, OH
2
Votes |
17
Posts
Stephen Moore
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Lebanon, OH
Replied

My "why" started out as a way to augment upcoming Social Security returns.... since 2004, it has become a rewarding endeavor as I discovered that helping others to secure a nice place to live is highly gratifying.  

Residual income is a benefit and still on the list of motivations, however, helping others to get what they want has proven to be the primary purpose.

User Stats

1,083
Posts
412
Votes
Deborah Burian
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Oklahoma City, OK
412
Votes |
1,083
Posts
Deborah Burian
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Oklahoma City, OK
Replied

Financial freedom.  I was a nursing home administrator for a long long time and saw the ugly side of not preparing for one's future. And time freedom.  And it's fun. And (remember I was a nursing home administrator) it's another way of helping others.

  • Deborah Burian
  • User Stats

    33
    Posts
    13
    Votes
    Andrew Tortora
    • Investor
    • Minneapolis, MN
    13
    Votes |
    33
    Posts
    Andrew Tortora
    • Investor
    • Minneapolis, MN
    Replied

    I want to share the gospel with young men and women to impact their lives for the sake of Christ, I want to do that through coaching High School football and youth ministry both of which I am stepping down from over the next year because of current job requirements. To have more control over my schedule to love my wife like Christ loved the church by laying himself down for her. To show my son the love of Jesus by making it to all his games and being able to spend quality time with him. And to impact the people in my life so that when I die they say, he was a Christian first.

    User Stats

    715
    Posts
    138
    Votes
    Aziz Raji
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Chicago, IL
    138
    Votes |
    715
    Posts
    Aziz Raji
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Chicago, IL
    Replied

    @Account Closed Financial Freedom and not relying on your employer. 

    User Stats

    25
    Posts
    14
    Votes
    Sarah Melton
    • Akron, OH
    14
    Votes |
    25
    Posts
    Sarah Melton
    • Akron, OH
    Replied
    I've always loved houses. I would spend time during the summer when I was a kid, drawing houses or looking at the houses for sale. When I found out you could make a profession out of buying and keeping houses I knew it was for me! Of course I really like the other life benefits such as have financial freedom and time freedom that can come with it too.

    User Stats

    15
    Posts
    5
    Votes
    James Williamson
    • Investor
    • Littleton, MA
    5
    Votes |
    15
    Posts
    James Williamson
    • Investor
    • Littleton, MA
    Replied

    I think this a great questions Bryant and something I think about a lot too. I believe that no matter what your WHY is there are always going to be days and circumstances where you question what you're doing. Self-doubt is a human condition that we all suffer from. I think it is important when this happens to take a step back and gain a new perspective that might help remember WHY you chose this paths and the benefits it can create in your life. Best of luck Bryant! Keep at it!

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    User Stats

    26
    Posts
    7
    Votes
    Shane Collins
    • Specialist
    • Covington, KY
    7
    Votes |
    26
    Posts
    Shane Collins
    • Specialist
    • Covington, KY
    Replied

    Well Bryant, I can give you my why hopefully it helps. I do what I do for the glory of God. To be able to give back to other people through my church is one big reason for my why and my drive. I also want to be able to buy my parents a condo in Florida to take the grand kids and have fun, as well as a car my dad has always wanted. This brings me to my other why which is my family. I want complete financial stability for all of us. College for future kids, me and my soon to be wife, my dad to be able to retire, etc. I have a dream to supply fresh water in areas of the world that don't have it because we have the technology! My final why is one of my biggest, because no one but my family believed in me and thought I could do anything. I was a heroin addict for 4 years of my life. I am now 4 years off of everything completely and catching up and surpassing not for my own glory but to show that God can take anyone from any place in their life and change the trajectory to an amazing extent. I don't know if any of that helps. Those are my whys as well as my purpose it will happen. it's not an option for it not to. Hope this helps, and I hope you get out of the rut you are in. Take it from an ex heroin addict, misery is just temporary and the solution is often right in front of you.

    User Stats

    7
    Posts
    8
    Votes
    Shawn Sullivan
    • Flipper
    • Kelso, WA
    8
    Votes |
    7
    Posts
    Shawn Sullivan
    • Flipper
    • Kelso, WA
    Replied

    I am wanting to invest in real estate because I want to spend time at home with my family. I want to be able to go places when I want to and do what I want when I want. Now I realize that I am going to have to work extremely hard for the years to come in order to reach that goal. But I am willing to do that in order to get my business going and ultimately reach my goal.

    User Stats

    1
    Posts
    1
    Votes
    Clifton Burris
    • Baltimore, MD
    1
    Votes |
    1
    Posts
    Clifton Burris
    • Baltimore, MD
    Replied

    I do it to provide a better lifestyle for my family and to retire my mother who sacrificed so much for me.

    User Stats

    663
    Posts
    1,739
    Votes
    Llewelyn A.
    • Investor / Broker
    • Brooklyn, NY
    1,739
    Votes |
    663
    Posts
    Llewelyn A.
    • Investor / Broker
    • Brooklyn, NY
    Replied

    I remember the awful feeling when I was living in an apt with a really bad Landlord. She basically kicked my roommate and I out because we asked for some heat in the winter. She didn't like any complaints and just asked us to leave.

    I decided that not only is RE a great Investment, but I would be fair, honest and give my residents the best Landlord they have or will every have.

    An example of that is one of my tenants almost got abducted coming home from the subway. She fought back and was beat up very badly.

    She wound up at the hospital for a while.

    I immediately set up a collection for her and asked my other Business Partners to contribute.

    I then got one of my very experienced Medical Doctor friends to come visit her when she returned home to make sure she had good treatment.

    Lastly, I decided to offer her a renewal with zero rental increase which is not very typical in NYC.

    I believe in being the best at you you are doing and it will reward you in other ways.

    Doing a great job as a Landlord is not necessarily about the money. There are things that are priceless and helping the unfortunate when you can is one of them.

    I know I'm in control of the living situation of my tenants. I do NOT take that responsibility lightly. Money will always be secondary to the safety and comfort of my tenants.

    My WHY is that I can positively impact a lot of lives. I have around 50 tenants and I know each of them personally.

    I treat them especially well for they are both a Customer and a human being.

    Of course I know not everyone is a good tenant and I have had bad ones. However, I would err in being kind and this has not impacted my wealth growth.

    User Stats

    17
    Posts
    4
    Votes
    Matt L.
    • Investor
    • Lexington, KY
    4
    Votes |
    17
    Posts
    Matt L.
    • Investor
    • Lexington, KY
    Replied

    I am building the curriculum for a residential carpentry apprenticeship program, with a combined program of practical and theoretical studies. Covering every aspect of building
    Basic level one would include topics such as;

    Hand tool safety, identification and operation.
    Power tool safety, identification and operation.
    Timber fundamentals.
    Basic joints.
    Material handling.

    You get the idea.

    I finished my apprenticeship ten years ago in England and I now want to pass on as much of what I learnt to people here in the US.

    There is an estimated shortfall in construction workers of over 15m nation wide, alongside that, I see that when people begin to lose more jobs to automation they will look to re-train and perhaps take a career in construction.

    I want this program to hang and open many doors for as many people as possible.

    User Stats

    958
    Posts
    276
    Votes
    Will F.
    • Investor
    • Los Angeles County, CA
    276
    Votes |
    958
    Posts
    Will F.
    • Investor
    • Los Angeles County, CA
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:

    Tahnya Pierce seriously tho best post on this topic hands down . You understand it and many people just don't seem to .... I used to think money was everything until I created some . I realized after some time it's just a tool to do what actually matters in life . Phenomenal point of view this is how others need to be thinking !

     I totally agree.

    Money isn't everything. 

    Near the end of your life if you didn't spend that time with family and give back in a way to help others you will not feel true achievement.

     I think at some point to truly become FULFILLED you have to get to the point of Warren Buffet where you give back.  I'm not there yet but once you get that financial freedom you can finally give back.

    Achievement-ie financial freedom, wealth etc are just the beginning.

    In the meantime keep grinding people!!

    Great posts.

    User Stats

    15
    Posts
    5
    Votes
    Earl W.
    • Davenport, IA
    5
    Votes |
    15
    Posts
    Earl W.
    • Davenport, IA
    Replied

    I pretty much second everything Jeffrey said.  

    I need a retirement and my current 401K is a joke of a retirement.

    I enjoyed spending money camping in my new truck/camper and going racing on the weekends. I feel your pain, all I seem to do is work on houses every weekend, deal with finding tenants, etc.  I'm looking at the long term goal.  I'll have financial freedom if I just continue for a few more years.

    User Stats

    43
    Posts
    35
    Votes
    Craig Jackson
    • Investor
    • Franklinton, LA
    35
    Votes |
    43
    Posts
    Craig Jackson
    • Investor
    • Franklinton, LA
    Replied

    My why is to spend more time with my wife, dedicate more time with my kids and spend more time volunteering to help others.

    Account Closed
    • Norcross, GA
    1
    Votes |
    6
    Posts
    Account Closed
    • Norcross, GA
    Replied

    I'm new to the BP community and thought this may be a good topic to start with: My why for doing real estate is simple:

    1. Pride of ownership (Owning a business servicing customers with integrity, service before self, and excellence)
    2. Time (Flexibility of schedule)
    3. Money (Freedom to purchase)

    I love real estate and all aspects about it. It's fun reading everyone's Why's....

    User Stats

    109
    Posts
    57
    Votes
    Rhiannon Then
    • Investor
    • Mesa, AZ
    57
    Votes |
    109
    Posts
    Rhiannon Then
    • Investor
    • Mesa, AZ
    Replied

    For me it's about finding a way to contribute to our family income and be home with my kids, In 2008 I saved up and left teaching when I had my son. I chose to cut back and live off my husband's teaching salary and savings to be with my baby.

    Wish I'd invested the money I had saved up. I toyed with investing and missed out on a great deal after the crash. I was uneducated and my husband was too afraid of risk. I could have stayed home and had some extra funds. I became ill in 2011 and working became less of an option. Luckily, I have recently started to get my health back.

    One big reason I am doing this is to maintain proper healthcare. My insurance won't pay for my effective integrative treatments for my severe RA.

    I am also doing it to be able to see my family more often who live all over. Another reason is to one day provide assistance for my disabled siblings.

    It's vital that I teach my kids to be financially intelligent and model that. I hope to help coach my kids into buying their first rentals by 18.

    I've become more and more of a minimalist and don't favor possessions unless they are truly needed. I do like experiences though. This is the least important reason but I'd also like to enjoy some little luxuries like being able to go out to eat without worrying about breaking the bank. I work hard as a homeschooling mom and wife and need a little break here and there.

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    User Stats

    163
    Posts
    85
    Votes
    JJ Conway
    Pro Member
    • Financial Advisor
    • Stephenville, TX
    85
    Votes |
    163
    Posts
    JJ Conway
    Pro Member
    • Financial Advisor
    • Stephenville, TX
    Replied

    More passive income which will allow me the freedom to do what I'm called to do.

    https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/8128/62496-you-cant-buy-this-kind-of-peace-of-mind-you-can-only-earn-it

  • JJ Conway
  • User Stats

    10
    Posts
    5
    Votes
    Bobby Leach
    • Property Manager
    • Romeoville, IL
    5
    Votes |
    10
    Posts
    Bobby Leach
    • Property Manager
    • Romeoville, IL
    Replied
    WHY.... I used to ask myself some of those very thoughts, and then everything changed for me. I understood first and foremost that I have people counting on me to be who I am and to do what I do. But, just like all the love I receive from close friends and family, I have way more hate from people who want me to fail and are praying that I don't make my dreams reality. My Family, Friends & others who invested their time and resources on me, deserve a return on their investment. It's very simple why this business interests me. 1. IT WILL NEVER DIE 2. I WANT TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF EMPLOYEES & THEIR FAMILIES. 3. WHEN I HAVE KIDS & A WIFE, I WANT THEM TO NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING. I ALSO WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND A SUCCESSFUL COMPANY THAT IS STILL OPEN YEARS AFTER MY DEATH SO MY KIDS WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF FOREVER. The 'why' for me is everyone else who believed in what I said and encouraged me to chase my dream. I refuse to be a disappointment!

    User Stats

    31
    Posts
    10
    Votes
    Tamatha Mallard
    • Real Estate Investor
    • Tampa, FL
    10
    Votes |
    31
    Posts
    Tamatha Mallard
    • Real Estate Investor
    • Tampa, FL
    Replied

    My why is my kids and I want to leave a tangible legacy for them. Something they can have and not have to work  a boring job for 20 years, accept a meager pension, with a goal of retiring and resting at 65...REALLY. This is not the LIFE!!

    I want to contribute more to society by helping to improve neighborhoods and communites.

    I want to be able to give back to others more than I am financially able to do now.

    I want to be the BEST expression of myself and my talent.

    I want the FREEDOM to do what I want when I want and still be able to live they LIFE I want.

    investing in real estate offers all this in more...if you WANT IT BAD ENOUGH.