My Real Estate Journey:
From Small Beginnings to Larger Visions
Over the years, I’ve come to believe that real estate investing is one of the most exciting—and at times non-passive—paths to building wealth. My story starts like many others: with a spark of curiosity, then renewed by classic books on entrepreneurship and money management and mindset. Today, I look back with gratitude on every success, every misstep, and every lesson learned along the way. Here’s how I went from reading Think and Grow Rich and Rich Dad, Poor Dad to owning and growing my own portfolio of real estate properties.
1. The Power of Mindset
My decision truly began the day I opened Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. The book introduced me to the concept that your thoughts can shape your destiny. While reading this book, I discovered Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad, which taught me to think of money and investments in a new way—particularly the idea of using real estate as a vehicle for passive income.
Key Steps & Takeaways:
These insights became the lens through which I viewed every subsequent business opportunity. It was more than just a shift in thinking—it was a commitment to build real wealth, not just earn a paycheck.
2. Early Businesses and Lessons Learned
Long before I owned commercial properties, I was a business owner. I built houses, ran an underground sprinkler company, and experienced firsthand the hurdles small businesses face. There were seasons of robust profits followed by unexpected expenses and learning curves I hadn’t anticipated.
Key Steps & Takeaways:
Gain Operational Experience: The logistical, financial, and leadership skills you develop in running any business are invaluable. Even if you run them in a less than optimal way.
Accept Risk and Failure: Some ventures will thrive; others will fizzle out. Viewing each attempt as a learning experience keeps you resilient and open to new possibilities.
Because I’d spent time in both construction and service industries, I saw how cash flow ebbs and flows, how to manage teams, and how to pivot when markets shift. These lessons became crucial when I began to pursue real estate.
3. A Realization: Real Estate as a Path
Around 2011, I was running my side gig, a sprinkler and construction business. I was working in the yard of a client’s home and he and I were talking about how he was able to afford this property. He told me that he was big into certain types of investing. I then made a comment that “I work for my money”- I was proud of that, but as that statement seasoned in my brain, I became aware of how silly that was. And then started looking around at how the wealthy don’t work for their money. This began the long journey of education, hard work and dedication to the craft of real estate.
Key Steps & Takeaways:
4. Building My Foundation: Becoming an Appraiser
To gain an in-depth understanding of the industry, I took a job as an appraiser and also pursued higher education. This gave me the technical know-how of property valuations, local market trends, and how lenders assess deals. It was an inside look at how properties are analyzed and financed, which was invaluable when I started searching for my own real estate investments. I also learned a lot from a formal education. Yes there were things that I was learning that wouldn’t apply to my real life, but there were other things that I learned that were not in a classroom, like hearing and still disagreeing with other points of view. It really changed how I did business.
Key Steps & Takeaways:
5. The First Deals: A Four-Unit and a Single-Family Home
Armed with fresh knowledge, I ‘dove’ into my first deals—starting with a four-unit property and then adding a single-family house. One was a 4 unit. It had been under contract 2 times before I was there and they were both scared of some moisture in the wall and where that water may have been coming from. I asked the listing agent if I could poke a hole in the wall and after I did, we saw the damage wasn’t bad. It needed a re-model, but we kept the property going and it turned into a 325,000 profit over 6 years, which also paid us a little cash-flow. The learning curve was steep. I had to juggle tenant concerns, property upkeep – like a bathroom back up in the middle of the night, market fluctuations, and more. But along the way, I saw firsthand how real estate a powerful engine for could indeed be generating wealth.
Key Steps & Takeaways:
6. Growing a Larger Portfolio
Those initial purchases were just the beginning. Over time, I continued acquiring properties, leveraging equity from existing deals to finance new ones. My portfolio grew as I refined my strategy, built relationships, and reinvested my profits back into real estate. Through careful planning and consistent effort, what started as a small endeavor became something much larger and more sustainable.
Key Steps & Takeaways:
7. Looking Ahead: The Vision
My ambitions continue to grow, and with each new deal, I’m reminded that the journey is as important as the destination. Real estate isn’t simply about hitting a specific number; it’s about creating a framework that allows financial stability, personal fulfillment, and the chance to make a positive impact on others.
Key Steps & Takeaways:
8. Paying It Forward: Helping the Next Generation
Along this path, I’ve stayed connected to the realities of being a small-business owner and a first-time investor. One of my greatest joys is sharing insights with others who are just beginning their journey—helping them avoid pitfalls and realize the opportunities real estate can offer.
Key Steps & Takeaways:
Final Thoughts
My real estate story has been anything but straightforward—it’s involved reading books, juggling various businesses both successfully and unsuccessfully, working as an appraiser, and ultimately acquiring properties one at a time. There have been highs and lows, but each phase taught me a lesson.
Moving forward, I’m as excited about future acquisitions as I am about helping others navigate their own path to property ownership. Real estate, at its best, is a vehicle for personal freedom, communal benefit, and legacy. If you’re considering your first purchase—or dreaming of expanding your portfolio—remember that every big venture starts with a small step. Equip yourself with knowledge, persevere through challenges, and make decisions today that will shape the future you envision.
Interested in buying an investment in Helena?