How Sam Acquired a 27-Unit Property as His First Real Estate Investment

Sam, from Chicago, Illinois, retired from his professional career to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time multifamily real estate investor. Despite having no prior experience, Sam’s dedication and willingness to learn helped him achieve a remarkable feat: acquiring 27 units in his first year of real estate investing.

Challenges

When Sam decided to dive into real estate, he had no idea where to begin. He was new to the industry, didn’t know what he didn’t know, and felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information he needed to understand. The challenge was clear: Sam needed to acquire the knowledge and skills to make smart investment decisions without falling into common beginner traps.

Solution

Sam enrolled in the Real Estate Finance Academy, where he learned the critical aspects of real estate investing. The course taught him how to analyze potential investments, conduct thorough market research, and build relationships with brokers. Sam also learned how to identify value-add opportunities, craft competitive offers, negotiate favorable terms, and conduct proper due diligence.

His journey wasn’t without its bumps—Sam backed out of his first two offers after realizing, through due diligence and loan analysis, that they wouldn’t meet his return on investment goals. This experience taught him to avoid making emotional decisions, often referred to as “new car buyer” syndrome, and instead focus on logical, data-driven choices. His patience paid off on his third attempt when he successfully closed on a property that met all his criteria.

Results

In one year, Sam went from having zero real estate holdings to owning 27 units. Using the knowledge and strategies from the Real Estate Finance Academy, he identified a poorly managed property with solid fundamentals. The property appraised for more than the asking price, and Sam was able to increase rent levels by 20% compared to the previous owner. Within the first 90 days, he increased his equity by 25%, setting him on track to double his investment in under two years.

Conclusion

Sam’s story is a prime example of how proper education and strategic thinking can lead to success in real estate investing, even for beginners. His ability to apply what he learned from the course and make informed decisions helped him avoid costly mistakes and build a profitable real estate portfolio from the ground up.

“This was exactly the type of course I was looking for to help transfer my knowledge to real estate. My broker actually recommended this, and man, am I happy he did. I love this course. It’s easy to understand and direct. Thank you!” – Sam, Chicago, IL

‍