My Introduction to Real Estate Investing and My Plan to Use It
By Benjamin Carver
“There’s got to be a better way” is exactly what was running through my mind when I began looking into college. It was the beginning of my senior year of high school, and I was completely overwhelmed by the options at my disposal. Moreover, I was blown away by the lack of choices that didn’t require me to sell my kidney to make payments. College is expensive! And up to that point, I never realized just how costly a higher education was.
After an embarrassingly long amount of time spent crunching numbers in my room, trying to make the math work, researching every possible variable, I decided that college was not something I could afford. That is, not without amassing tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, which I had personally seen wreck others who had gone before me. Thankfully, I didn’t give up there.
I’m Benjamin, a college sophomore, real estate investor, and current member of the SheeksFreaks Mastermind group. A year ago, I was pretty much destined for the same unwelcoming future as everyone else my age. My entire future was dependent on college – family, my career, my retirement, and my life goals. If I couldn’t afford an education, it was game over for me.
Luckily, I was introduced just in time to the powerful and proven strategy of real estate investing. Like me, you too have the opportunity to pursue an education that yields excellent potential for success and massive wealth – and it doesn’t require selling your kidney either.
My solution
When I first came across the concept of real estate investing, I immediately rejected the idea. Naturally, I assumed that only the wealthy and established had a place in such a complex system. Not to mention my very young age and complete lack of experience and expertise were not going to help. But after my Dad handed me a copy of Set For Life by Scott Trench, my entire perspective on real estate changed. I was presented with an opportunity that nobody had ever shared with me up to that point.
I didn’t know there was another way. People had always told me that a 4-year college was the only option and that a 9-5 job was the only way to make a living. But real estate offered me something much more significant than what I had previously accepted as the best I could achieve. And that something was financial independence.
A different approach
Imagine a future in which you aren’t forced to work until you’re 65. A future where your retirement isn’t dependent on the constantly fluctuating stock market or government provisions. Better yet, picture yourself at 30 spending time doing what you love most – being with your family, chasing your passions, starting a business, or investing in others. With real estate, financial freedom is a real possibility.
A flexible schedule and steady passive income all built on your own property investments. Sounds too good to be true? I’m here to tell you that it isn’t. It’s time to do away with the notion that real estate is only for the wealthy or far too sophisticated for the average Joe to navigate. You’re determined to pave a better path for yourself, and the time to start is now.
Even with the massive shift of mindset from a wandering sheep to an entrepreneur, I still had no idea where to get started. After all, I was working a fast-food job, wrapping up high school, and had very little built up in my savings. I decided the best course of action was to work hard and learn as much as humanly possible while I stored up cash.
What I did first
I immediately began saving the majority of my income and spent the remaining on any real estate book I could get my hands on. During that time, I watched eagerly as my savings grew, and my knowledge skyrocketed. I was making serious progress toward the purchase of my very first property.
Along the way, I also sought out local real estate agents, investors, contractors, landlords, and basically anyone else that would meet me with me. I would buy them a coffee or pick up the phone and ask them questions about their personal experiences. Often, I would find myself taking notes or recording conversations due to the amount of invaluable expertise I was receiving.
Through the power of networking, I formed business and personal relationships with numerous individuals who were like-minded and ambitious like me. This led to my first job in real estate – working on a small team for an agent in my area.
Perhaps my most significant source of community and inspiration comes from being a part of the SheeksFreaks Mastermind group, a network of young entrepreneurs from around the country seeking to build wealth and success through real estate.
How I will become a young real estate investor
Currently, I am attending a community college while working my way through the first two years of basic courses. This allows me to save thousands in tuition, room and board, and other living expenses. I plan to complete my bachelor’s degree so that I can pursue training and development as a professional career and personal passion.
So, where does real estate play into this? Well, real estate is the reason I can do this. I am no longer relying on a degree or a 9-5 job to keep me afloat in my journey. Nor do I have to take on massive student loans or chain myself to a desk during the best years of my life. I will be implementing my hard-earned savings alongside my amassed knowledge and experience to purchase my first rental property next year.
This investment will be the first of many, as I have set goals to acquire new properties throughout the next few years. All it takes is one calculated leap of faith to get the ball rolling in the right direction. Through passive income, I will be building wealth while living rent-free throughout my time at college. Pair this with determination and a little creativity, and I’ll be in a position to graduate without the burden of debt on my back. Out of college, I will be free to pursue my passion, earn a decent income, and fuel the expansion of my real estate portfolio.
Conclusion
It is because of investing that I have a shot at financial freedom, and I believe that everyone should be aware of the opportunities that real estate presents. Be warned, this is not for the faint of heart. Investing takes time, research, money, knowledge, and a little luck.
If you’re willing to hustle for your future, real estate is for you. If you long for more than a cubicle with a promotion every three years, real estate if for you. If you find yourself asking if there’s a better way to take on life, real estate is for you. And there’s no better time to get started than right now.
To get started, join the Sheeksfreaks community on Instagram and sign up for the email list on the website.
You can reach me on my Instagram account if you want to chat or have questions.
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