RE investors with humble origins?

[Erik Stewart]

Calling all underdog RE investors.

If you got into real estate because you were an engineer, lawyer, doctor, or otherwise have large amounts of discretionary income, that's cool, but I want to hear from the unlikely heroes out there: the dark horses, the longshots, the defiant ones who found success despite everyone's expectations to the contrary.

Are you an average person whose desire for more in life has helped you to overcome huge obstacles?

Did you drop out of school but never stopped learning?

Did you decide that a dead end job wasn't good enough anymore?

Has your path to real estate success been anything but "conventional"?

I want to hear from those who struggled, failed, tried again, pulled themselves forward, and made it through to the other side. Please share your story, lend us inspiration as we dig deep to get that first big break, that first great investment, that next one or even that last one.

[Steve Vaughan]

Originally posted by @Erik Stewart:

Calling all underdog RE investors.
Are you an average person whose desire for more in life has helped you to overcome huge obstacles?

Did you decide that a dead end job wasn't good enough anymore?

Has your path to real estate success been anything but "conventional"?

I love a good Rudy underdog story, so thank you for asking this. 

Not to get too sappy and whoa is me, but I grew up in a poor dried up logging community in MT in the 80s.  Median household income there today as per a recent national podcast of Small Town Murder is $19k.  Less than half the national average.

Anyway, it was the same when I was there.  I got by doing ranch and chicken farm work.  Both with teach you where you don't want to be, especially during calf and harvest time. Or the winter.  Or the spring.  Or changing sprinklers all summer.  LOL

Rough time in rough town equalled getting into trouble. No branch of service would take me other than the Marines.  4 years of that let me see the world and earn 4 rows of ribbons, but no marketable skills. 

But there I learned to drink.  Alcoholism grabbed hold and I was chronic late stage by 37.   

The ranching and USMC taught me a good work ethic and that I wanted more.  Broke but not poor.  Poor to me is more of a forever mindset.

When I decided I wanted more, I cut my living expenses to nothing by moving into a trailer park for 5 years.  Housing expenses were less than $300 a month.  Saved and invested and pulled ourselves up the ladder.  Bought a 'luxury' househack after building up to 35 units.  Quit the drink as buddies died of it.

Now if I see a ranch, I wonder if I should buy it vs ask the guy if I can buck his bales for a nickel a pop.