I didn't start over until I was 57.

I picked up my first framing hammer in 7th grade. I've been a licensed general contractor for 36 years.

In 2007, Cynthia and I bought two properties in Sacramento — a duplex and a single family. We got bad loans, the mortgages adjusted, 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. This time we were more careful. We still made mistakes — we still do. But we kept going and we figured some things out along the way. We now own 9 rental units across the Midwest. Nothing flashy. Just properties that cash flow and keep getting paid down.

Why I Started Old Guy REI

I'm not a guru and I'm not selling a course. I started this because Cynthia and I made expensive mistakes, survived them, and kept going. If I can show you what we got wrong and how we got through it, maybe your journey gets a little shorter. And maybe you figure out sooner whether this business is actually right for you mentally. That's worth more than any highlight reel.