A Young Investor's Journey to Global Adventures
I’ve always been a dreamer. As a kid, I dreamed of travelling the world and the incredible experiences that awaited me. But it wasn’t until after my first year of college that I realized I could turn these dreams into reality, all thanks to real estate.
Santorini, Greece
The Spark
My interest in real estate ignited during my teenage years. I would spend hours watching shows on HGTV captivated by the houses and special interest in international real estate. I was fascinated by the idea of owning assets that could generate passive income. At first, it seemed like a distant dream, reserved for older, more experienced people. However, I was determined to prove that age was just a number.
I guess the start of my real estate career started when I was just 13. After watching all these shows on HGTV I wanted to buy my own house and renovate it. Obviously, this is not possible for a 13 year old so I had this great idea of buying an old camper and remodeling it and then selling it as a profit. I started searching on Facebook marketplace for something I could afford. I had always been good with saving my money as a kid so I had about $1,000 saved up for this project. I found this old vintage camper for $600 and decided that this was the one. Over these next couple weeks, I started my design plan researching the top trends and how I should get started. With the help of my father, I was able to complete the renovation over the next several weeks putting around $500 into it. I later went on to sell the camper for $4,500, which was a huge profit for someone at such a young age. I went on to do this strategy 3 more times over the next couple years with a nice number in my bank account going into college.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
College Years
As I went into my first year of college, I knew that I wanted to venture into the real estate realm, but since the laws in Alabama require you to be 19 to obtain your real estate license I had to wait another year. The summer after my freshman year of college, I decided to take the real estate course to get my license to start my journey into real estate. I knew that I wanted to travel the world and real estate was the best way to fund my dreams. I finished the real estate course within a month and passed the state exam first try which is a huge deal but with my determination and dreams set in place I knew I could do it. After getting my license, I searched around for a brokerage that aligned with my goals and was able to find a local brokerage and have the best broker as a mentor who guided me on how to be successful in this career. I started my real estate journey with great ambitions and dreams but realized that starting this career is very tough, especially at such a young age and actively a full time college student. After cold calling 100s of people and doing countless showings, I closed on my first deal after 6 months of hard work. After I got my commission check, I realized that this is what I had been working for this whole time. I immediately planned and booked my first trip. I decided to go to southeast Asia to visiting the countries of Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali for 6 weeks. Fast forward to a year later, I have used that same strategy to travel to Central America, all around Europe, and some parts of Africa.
Koa Tao, Thailand
Travel Hacking and Remote Real Estate
With a reliable income stream from my real estate career, I was able to fund my travels. I also learned the art of travel hacking, maximizing credit card points and loyalty programs to reduce costs.
I embraced the digital nomad lifestyle, working remotely from various locations around the world. After getting a property under contract, most of the work from there can be done remotely thanks to technology in 2024 so this gives me a couple weeks to be able to travel before having to return home to continuing working. Along with this, using budget airlines and staying in hostels allow you to stretch your dollar much further and travel to more places.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Overcoming Challenges and Learning from Mistakes
My journey wasn’t always smooth sailing. I faced setbacks, from dealing with difficult agents and clients to navigating complex market trends. However, each challenge presented an opportunity to learn and grow. I learned the importance to:
Persevere: Being so young I faced challenges with experience and trust but never take no for an answer.
Building a Strong Team: Collaborating with experienced real estate agents, property managers, and contractors.
Staying Informed: Keeping up with market trends and economic indicators.
Sahara Desert, Morocco
A Future Filled with Endless Possibilities
Real estate has not only enabled me to travel the world but has also provided me with financial security and the freedom to pursue my passions. Currently in 2024, I have been able to sell over 1.6 million dollars in real estate and expect to sell more before the end of the year. Also, I was able to buy my first property this past summer to begin my own investment journey and I’m excited to see what the future holds and continue to explore new horizons.
If you’re a young person with dreams of travel and financial independence, I encourage you to consider real estate as a vehicle to achieve your goals. With hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn, you can build a successful career and a life of adventure!
Comments