All Forum Posts by: Will Leon

It is so nice to read many of the stories shared on this post.  Here is mine.  I am a (non-licensed) Architect/Project manager in Chicago.  I graduated from UIC and got a masters of arch from IIT (like a few others here).  I waited too late to pursue my license and hit the life roadblock (kids!) when I actually started taking them.  I had two test remaining and them my rolling clock expired!  I discovered Bigger Pockets about two years ago and went into the rabbit hole and had many 'ohhhh', 'that's right' and 'aha' moments.  I have yet to invest in an actually property but I am always looking and waiting for the right moment (whenever that is). 

COVID sure is deterring me in investing right now due to job security.  My far does a lot of commercial office / workplace design and renovation.  Fortunately, we have a few institutional project and had locked up a large office project right as COVID started and had kept us busy.  With this pandemic, it had made it even more apparent that we all need more than one source of income, because you never know what is going to happen outside your control that will put a stop to that.

I think being an architect and now a project manager, it can help being in investing because we are used to juggle many different disciplines and trades and able to know how they all fit in and work together. We know how to talk to contractor and when they are trying to cut corners. Hopefully by reading and listening to more BP, I can learn more about the financials and be a more well rounded REI.

Thanks for the thread and yes the pay sucks for the amount of education and work we go through, but I am sure many other professionals feel the same way.  haha.  

@Gary Guidi thanks for sharing and congrats on the outcome.  

@Devon Kennard welcome to BP.  It is great to see someone with a high income use that income to invest and build generational wealth.  Good luck this season....however Bears Down.

Thank you for sharing this very detail post.  Very motivating to see that good deals can be found in Chicago.  The area south of Hyde Park is a good area.  The proximity to two large park and LSD is very attracting.  Not to mention a future library.  Good luck on future projects.  

Will Leon

Thanks everyone for the welcome.  

@Eric Michaels thanks for the complement... I think.  I see you have quite a few post and have been in the business for a while.  Well since I joined BP, I have been getting notifications letting me know that I have yet to introduce myself and make my first post.  Per the BP Forum guidelines, they suggest people to introduce themselves as their first post.  

I am a newbie... to this forum, in real estate investing, in finding deals, in closing deals, etc.  Just because I have been listening or reading this website and others, does not means that I know as much as you do or the next guy.  Being an architect and home owner have nothing to do with what I am trying to accomplish here.  If that was the case every Real estate agent, architect, contractor, home owner, etc. would be a real estate investor.  

Also the point of my post was to just say thank you to those that were contributing to the forum since I have learned a lot and to introduce myself.  Not looking to make a deal or start a business.  Just being friendly. Thanks for the welcome.

Will

Hey all!  

I am a complete Real Estate newbie in the Chicago area.  I have lived in Chicago for more than 30 years and recently just moved to an adjacent suburb.  

Since early this year, I have been absorbing books, forums, podcast and whatever other materials I can get my hands and ears on in regards to Real Estate investments.  I have decided that I want to invest in buy and hold properties in Chicagoland.  I have been getting my financial house in order before I can pull the trigger on anything.  If everything goes according to my plan, I anticipate that 2019 will be the year for my first investment property.  

I not currently looking for anything in particular.  I have been stalking the forums for a while and just wanted to say 'HELLO' and 'THANK YOU' all for the information and knowledge shared here.  

I am an architect on large commercial, education and healthcare projects.  I am not here to sell my services but feel free to ask me any questions and I can see if I can guide or help you to the best of my abilities.  Or even if you want to share pictures of pretty buildings.

Thanks!  

Will L.