How I Built A Portfolio of 28 Units

2020-06-27

Who Am I?

In 2003, I graduated from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) with a salary of $60k/year, working as an Operations Research/Business Analyst. From 2003 to 2007, I lived in D.C. and rented from my parents. I’ve always been a natural saver, and negotiated a monthly rent of $500 (a steal) while living there. This allowed me to supercharge my savings during this time period. While there, I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad and got the Real Estate itch. Prices were astronomical at the time in that market, and I did not have the confidence to make a move. However, I formed a plan to buy one property at each of my new assignments moving forward. At 39, never married and with no children; having served 17 years in the Air Force, I now have a salary of $114k/year with a portfolio consisting of 28 properties.

My Current Portfolio

My portfolio as of this writing consists of 28 total units: a mixture of Single Families (SFRs) and multi-families (MFRs) scattered across five states. I have one Single Family Residence (SFR) in OH, one SFR in California, one SFR in Illinois, one SFR in Phoenix, four 4plexes and one duplex in Saint Louis, and two SFRs and one triplex in New Mexico.  Five of those units were acquired with partners. This portfolio is worth about $2.5 Million. And it wasn’t difficult to get here.