When I was a kid, I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up, and that was to become an astronaut for NASA. I had the game plan set: Go to Annapolis, fly naval fighter jets, become a test pilot at Lockheed’s Skunkworks, join NASA, and then blast across the galaxy.
Unfortunately, growing up has a habit of tempering starry-eyed dreams. After determining the chances of success to be extremely low even with hard work and good luck, my risk aversion led me down a different path, and I found myself working in private equity real estate.
I have spent 10 years working in this field but never stopped staring at the stars or wondering what is out there. One of the most liberating realizations in life is to understand that a career does not have to be in the field where your true passions lie. It is simply very hard to align those two for most people. However, a good career paired with a proper savings / investment regimen will allow you to spend a lot more time on what you truly enjoy. For me, my career is in real estate, but my true passions still lie in the universe. I have been fortunate enough to have a good career that has allowed me to spend more time getting involved in what I truly love, such as contributing to the Challenger Center to expand STEM programs in schools across the nation.
While I was obviously not able to become a real astronaut, I am able to be a real estate astronaut, not a bad consolation prize. I created this site to be a resource for anyone who is looking to sharpen their skills and knowledge in the real estate investing world. This is not another vapid personal finance site. As you have probably noticed, there are many charlatans already and there is a real need for more genuine content.
This is a sort of “diary” of the useful things I have learned working in real estate for 10 years, as well as my experiences investing on my own. Real estate is one of the best ways to create real financial wealth, but it also has risks that can cause real financial harm. I hope the information on this site will help professional and non-professional investors mitigate these risks and to make judicious decisions. My goal for readers is corny but honest: to help keep your feet on the ground and head in the stars.