So I've run into a very difficult situation... I'm an undergraduate that's been set on doing real estate for many years and I'll be graduating in 4 months (Business degree in Finance with a concentration in Real Estate). I'm currently working for a private real estate investor who's legit (they've got millions). She and her husband are in the midst of growing their real estate investment company and they are seriously considering offering to let me be part of their team (of which only maybe 4 other people will be a part of). They are maybe 10-15 years older than me and have done very well already. They have also recently connected with a private investor that is partnering with them (he has hundreds of millions).
My Boss has told me that she and her husband want their company to be worth 300-400 million and that they fully plan and intend to retire in 7 years. She said if I play my cards right I could be retired by age 30 (I'm 23 right now). Right now I'm an intern for them and after I graduate in 4 months they have expressed that they may offer me a position with them (depending on my performance between now and graduation). This position would offer a salary of $25,000 - $30,000 + kickbacks on properties I find/refer to them that they close on. My biggest responsibility while working for them right now is to find the deals (Mobile Home parks, apartments, and multi-family property) and I don't get paid for the time I spend searching for properties I only get paid if they close on a property I refer. But doing a lot of research and finding deals would be my job after graduation too which is something that may be more difficult to find an opening for (I'm much better at research as opposed to the much more plentiful sales job openings). Aside from this, I am currently paid hourly to do other administrative work (10-15 hours per week).
Now, option two after graduation is to continue with school and get an MBA which I can get 100% free (tuition, student fees, and housing) because of a scholarship. I've always felt that in business, you have to be very competitive and be as qualified as possible. I know there's a big difference between candidates with an MBA vs. one with only an undergrad degree and what if I will need to be very competitive in case things don't work out with my current boss and I need to get a solid and professional job?
It's so difficult to be able to tell what I should do! I want to do both but my boss and her company are in Alabama whereas I can only get this MBA at LSU in Louisiana. She's also right that I would rather not be cooped up in an office, that I would rather be out in the field than in some cubby hole...Literally what I would want to do as a job/career is exactly what my boss is doing right now but there's no guarantee that they will keep me on or that they won't have to let me go a in few years for whatever reason (like poor economy, etc). Of course, by then I won't be able to get my Masters for free (and I and my family are very poor).
What I want more than anything is to be a real estate investor, build a portfolio, obtain passive income, retire early, and become financially free. It's not like she was lying to say to me that if I play my cards right I could be retired by 30 but how can I know what my future will actually be depending on which I choose? What if it's a mistake to get an MBA and not work for them while I could learn about investing and real estate? And then what if it's a mistake to pass up getting my MBA for FREE especially since it's a highly valued qualification for those seeking to work in business? What if I work for them and then they fire me or I don't get anywhere and only make 25k for a year or two?
It feels like each choice is the opportunity of a lifetime... I know many will say that in the real estate industry you don't even need to go to college in the first place but I know there's significant value in having a degree and an MBA if you can get one. Also, I'm not a great salesman (sales is a lot of what real estate is) what if I need another job? It feels like this decision is beyond me... I really don't know what to do, please help.
