I didn't start over until I was 57.

In 2007, Cynthia and I bought two properties in Sacramento — a duplex and a single family. We got caught up in ninja loans and within a year we were underwater. By 2010 we were in bankruptcy. The education was just getting started.

We found our way back in 2019, rebuilding our future one property at a time. This time we were more careful, educating ourselves made the difference. We still make mistakes, but nothing close to the first time we started. We continued to move forward, still figuring out some things along the way. We now own 9 rental units across the Midwest. Nothing flashy. Just properties that cash flow and keep getting paid down.

For context: I picked up my framing hammer in 7th grade, and never looked back. I've been a licensed general contractor for 36 years.

Why I Started Old Guy REI

Old Guy REI exists because Cynthia and I made expensive mistakes, survived them, and believe those experiences might help someone else make better decisions.

If sharing our challenges and the lessons we've learned makes your journey a little easier, then everything we've been through has been worth talking about.

Maybe you'll discover this business is right for you. Maybe you'll realize it isn't. Either outcome is better than chasing someone else's highlight reel without understanding what it really takes.