All Forum Posts by: Michael J.

That’s a solid point, and one I’m glad you brought up. The compliance side of bundling services is definitely under a microscope right now, especially with the recent wave of lawsuits and regulatory pressure. Anyone thinking about stepping into that space has to be crystal clear on RESPA, disclosures, ownership structures, and how referrals are handled.

To your point, it’s not the time to jump in blindly or just tack on a title or mortgage company for a quick margin boost. That’s where things get sloppy, and risky.

What I’ve seen work well is when agents partner with established, compliant companies that already have the infrastructure, leadership, and legal oversight in place. In those setups, the agent isn’t acting as the gatekeeper or steering business, they’re aligning with a trusted option that benefits the client and adds value to the process.

But yeah, if someone’s launching these just to pad profit, without understanding the regulatory exposure… you’re right, that won’t go well in front of a jury.

Appreciate the thoughtful back-and-forth. These convos are important, especially in a market that’s shifting as fast as this one.

Totally appreciate this perspective, and I actually agree with a lot of what you said, especially around investing being the single greatest wealth builder available to agents. We’re definitely aligned there.

I think the key with ancillary income streams like title, mortgage, property management, etc., is that they’re not for everyone, and definitely not something agents should jump into without solid systems, partners, or volume to support it.

That said, I’ve seen a few agents (myself included) create strategic partnerships or plug into existing platforms where they didn’t have to own the whole thing, just align with the right people and infrastructure. For the right agent at the right time, it can be a powerful way to add leverage without distraction.

But you’re 100% right that the foundation has to be a profitable, focused sales business first. Appreciate you sharing what’s working in your world, those wealth-building classes sound solid! Love that you’re making that part of the culture at your brokerage.

Closing deals is great—but it’s not the same as building wealth.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the things but still stuck in a cycle of chasing closings, just know you’re not alone, and there are other paths.

Some of the most impactful things I’ve learned (or been taught) recently:

• You can build serious wealth through real estate while still being an active agent

• You can start a title company, mortgage branch, or other side ventures that complement what you’re already doing

• You can protect your income and invest smarter, with the right people in your corner

• You can actually pay less in taxes (legally) if you structure things properly

• You can tighten up your back office and feel more like a business owner than just a producer

• And honestly, having access to the right rooms, mentors, and conversations changes everything

I’m grateful to be connected with people who are showing me what’s possible beyond just more sales.

If you’ve been thinking about what’s next for your business, or want to build something with more leverage, I’d be down to swap ideas or just hear what you’re working on.

Welcome to the forum, Matthew! Love that you're both investing and helping other investors out in DFW. Analyzing deals is such a valuable skill, especially in this market. I'm also an agent who works with investors, so it’s always great to connect with like-minded folks. Looking forward to seeing more of your journey here!

Hey Payton, awesome to see another agent-investor in the mix!

House hacking that duplex sounds like a smart move, and it’s great to hear you’re continuing to build your portfolio while helping others do the same. I’m based in Greenville, SC, working with a lot of flippers and buy-and-hold investors here as well.

Always great connecting with people who “get” both sides of the business. If you’re ever looking to share strategies, chat investing, or explore referral opportunities between SC and MI, I’d love to connect.

Keep crushing it out there!

Hey @Mustafa Sandhu, welcome to the real estate world full-time, and congrats on making the leap!

With your background in economics, finance, and now real estate, you’ve got a powerful foundation to build something big. I’m a Realtor and investor down in Greenville, SC, and I’m always excited to connect with other agent-investors who are going all in.

Would love to stay in touch, trade insights, and maybe collaborate down the line. What type of properties are you focusing on for your portfolio—flips, rentals, short-term, multifamily?

Wishing you all the best as you build!

Hey @Emily Ryon, welcome to the BiggerPockets community!

With 10+ years in property management, I’m sure you’ve seen it all! It’s awesome that you’re focused on optimizing operations and creating a great experience for both sides of the lease—that balance is something a lot of us strive for.

I’m a Realtor and investor based in Greenville, SC, and while I’m not in Colorado, I always love connecting with experienced PMs who know how to keep things running smoothly. Would be great to exchange insights on systems, tenant retention, and cash flow strategies sometime.

Looking forward to learning from your experience and staying connected!

Best,
Michael

Hey Jacob, welcome to the community! Sounds like you've got a solid foundation with that duplex house hack. Love that you're focused on BRRRR and long-term holds—definitely smart strategies for building real wealth over time.

I’m a Realtor and investor down in Greenville, SC, working with a lot of flippers and buy-and-hold folks here too. It’s always great connecting with other agent-investors who understand both sides of the game.

Also, respect for training as a boxer! 💪 Always cool to see people bringing discipline and grit from other areas into their business.

If you ever have referrals heading south or just want to swap market insights, feel free to reach out. Looking forward to seeing your journey as you scale into multifamily!

Hey Kimberley,  welcome to the BiggerPockets community!

Love seeing another agent who gets the investor side of things. I’m based out of Greenville, SC, working with a lot of flippers, wholesalers, and landlords here. Always looking to connect with investor-friendly agents in nearby markets like NC, especially when it comes to sourcing off-market deals or partnering on value-add opportunities.

If you’ve ever got something that might make sense for an out-of-state investor or want to compare notes on what’s working, definitely feel free to reach out. Looking forward to learning from each other!

Hey Jamal, great to connect with another investor-agent! I’m down in Greenville, SC, doing a mix of investing and helping others build wealth through real estate too.

How’s the market treating you up in Naperville lately? Always curious to hear what strategies other investor agents are using in this market.

Let’s stay in touch—might be some cool ways to collaborate or share insights!