The Passive Investing Lifestyle – Think Realty

It's not about money, it's about having more choices.

The Real Estate Bug

I had read an investing book years ago called Rich Dads Prophesy by Robert Kiyosaki. The only thing I remember about the book was to stay out of the stock market and invest for cash flow. Real estate was going to be the ticket to freedom. A couple years later, I ditched my college career and accepted an oilfield job that required 100 hours a week swinging sledgehammers in sub-zero temperatures. I was finally going to make some money, and I knew exactly what to do with that money I was going to get into real estate.

Jumping Into Real Estate

I first went down the rabbit hole of flipping houses. Who was I fooling? I had no connections, I wasnt a handyman, and I was already growing tired of manual labor. I later switched to vacation rentals because I thought it would be less involved; boy was I wrong. There is nothing inherently wrong with flipping homes or short-term rentals; the problem was, I never stopped to ask myself WHY I was doing any of this. I can tell you first hand; I didnt enjoy any part of working in the business as a landlord. Nor was I good at it.

Burning Out

It took several years before I ran out of steam and burned out. It was at this point that I finally asked myself a very important question that all investors should ask themselves What are my goals and what investment strategy can help me get there?

This was the moment I discovered that my real interest was to be an investor; not a landlord. I was seeking was cash flow and financial independence, so I could live a life on my own terms. I didnt enjoy managing tenants or rehabbing houses, and I didnt have much spare time. My single-family rentals had become a second job, rather than an investment.

The Passive Investing Lifestyle

Around 2015, I was introduced to two gentlemen at a local real estate investing group who had sold their businesses decades ago and became full-time investors; mostly in multifamily syndications. They were passive investors in the sense that they did not actively participate in the business of real estate. They had simply invested in hundreds of real estate projects at this point, where they let the General Partners handle the heavy lifting and day-to-day operations. They were hands-off Limited Partners.

This was a game-changer in my life. Youre telling me I can invest in real estate, collect monthly cash flow, reap the tax advantages and I dont have to manage tenants, show up to closings, manage contractors, or rehab properties? Sign me up!

Between 2015-2016, I decided to sell off all my single-family rentals. Over the next year, I began investing in multifamily private placements AKA syndications one after the next until I transitioned my entire real estate portfolio into a hands-off cash flow machine.

In early 2016, something incredible happened. I sat down to crunch some numbers, and I found out that I could leave my job. I had more cashflow from my multifamily real estate investments than I had lifestyle expenses. Leaving my busy W-2 job single-handedly gave me my life back and allowed for a work-optional lifestyle. I wasnt ready to move into retirement in the traditional sense, so instead, I decided to pursue what truly interest me, real estate investing and educating others with my free time. This lifestyle change also allowed me to spend more time with the people I care about and start a new chapter with my girlfriend, who later became my wife, and will soon be a mother to our firstborn in January 2022.

What About You?

This is a story about building financial independence. The journey is open to you; its simply a decision. You and I have different goals and motivations, but one thing is for sure. It doesnt hurt to add a little passive income to your portfolio. Its not about money, its about having more choices and designing your own lifestyle.

You may not have worked in the oil industry, but I bet youve been overworked from time to time in your career. You may not desire the lifestyle that I have, but I bet spending more time doing what interests you would add value and happiness to your life. Even if you have a desirable lifestyle and career doing what you love, investing in real estate private placements can simply add diversification to an existing stock, bond and mutual fund portfolio and help grow your passive income.

Lets Connect

My mission is to educate and give back my time to others who are looking to create a life on their terms. Years ago, I made a decision to partner with Ashcroft Capital as an investor. Ive invested in more multifamily deals with Ashcroft compared to any other operator in the multifamily sector. There are many reasons I chose to work with Joe Fairless and his team, including their emphasis on capital preservation, a value-add cash flow business model, detailed monthly communication, and a solid track record. If you are an accredited investor and would like to learn more about investing in multifamily apartments with Ashcroft Capital, I would be happy to connect and learn more about you and your goals.

To learn more visit http://www.ashcroftcapital.com/travis

**Disclaimer: The content shared in this article is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Any reference to an investments past or potential performance is not, and should not be construed as, a recommendation or as a guarantee of any specific outcome or profit. Any ideas or strategies discussed herein should not be undertaken by any individual without prior consultation with a financial professional for the purpose of assessing whether the ideas or strategies that are discussed are suitable to you based on your own personal financial objectives, needs and risk tolerance.

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The Passive Investing Lifestyle - Think Realty