Over a decade ago, after reading “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, I decided to become a full-time real estate investor. The book taught me the importance of passive income for financial independence, and I chose real estate as my path. My plan was to generate enough cash to buy and hold properties for steady cash flow. However, the journey was more challenging than I expected.
In the early days, I found deals for other investors. With my background as a business-to-business sales executive for a Fortune 500 company, finding opportunities and negotiating contracts came naturally to me. During one of my first deals, I earned a whole year’s salary, which was incredible. Eventually, I saved enough to start buying and holding single-family homes for cash flow.
Being a landlord wasn’t what I had imagined. It turned out to be overwhelming with constant administrative work and maintenance issues. I constantly received late-night phone calls regarding problems, and even after hiring property managers, I still had to manage them. Life as a landlord became unbearable.