All Forum Posts by: Abby Blumenfeld

@Andrew Jennings Freerks Hi Andrew! The property is located in Hamden, Connecticut

Starting a property management company with my brother and my dad was a mix of teamwork, trust, and family dinners doubling as business meetings. AJ Fields Inc. began when we saw an opportunity to take over management responsibilities for a family friend’s properties. Despite being based in NYC, I’ve learned to delegate, handle operations remotely, and watch my brother thrive as a leader on the ground in Boston. Building this company with my family has taught me the power of collaboration and the importance of playing to each other’s strengths. We have grown over the years to manage 11 buildings and 25 units.

At 21, I took a leap of faith and bought my first investment property—a fixer-upper in Hamden, Connecticut. I knew nothing about renovations, home ownership, or property management, but I had a vision, determination, and a mentor in my dad. I learned the hard way that every project takes twice as long and costs twice as much, but I stuck with it. That property is now a reliable source of rental income and a constant reminder that success starts with taking action, learning on the fly, and embracing challenges head-on.

Investment Info:

Single-family residence fix & flip investment.

Purchase price: $232,000
Cash invested: $18,000

My real estate investment journey began with a leap of faith when I purchased my first investment property—a charming but very needy fixer-upper in Connecticut. I now rent this property out to students at a nearby university.