From Troublemaker to Real Estate Investor: A Marine's Journey to Financial Freedom

When I was 13, I was a troublemaker. I was always getting into mischief, and my family knew they had to do something about it. So, they sent me to live with Art and Shirley, family friends who owned a few apartment buildings in southeastern Pennsylvania. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but little did I know, it would change my life forever.

Art and Shirley were farmers living in a small town in Pennsylvania, and they taught me how to feed sheep, mow fields, and fix things. It was an incredible experience, and I learned so much. But it wasn't all fun and games. Art was always working hard, and I could tell it was taking a toll on him. He was managing apartments, doing all the work himself, and dealing with less than ideal tenants. I thought to myself, "No thanks, I'll pass on that."

Instead, I joined the Marine Corps and became an infantryman then a scout sniper. I lived in the barracks and went on several deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. After my third deployment, I was finally approved to move off base and bought my first house. It was a 3-bedroom, 2-bath single-family home on half an acre. But I couldn't afford the mortgage on my own, so I moved two roommates in to help cover the cost. That's when it hit me – there was something to this real estate thing.

Fast forward a few years, and I'm married with two kids. After my sixth deployment we got stationed in Okinawa, Japan, but my wife and I would have a decision to make. Do we sell our house or rent it out? I did some research and found out we could make a profit if we refinanced and hired a property manager. So, we did just that and turned our home into a rental property. But it wasn't all smooth sailing. Our first tenants were a nightmare. They destroyed the place and had parties all the time. But we learned from our mistakes and found ideal residents who took great care of the property.

A few short weeks after my daughter was born, I saw a family friend traveling and going on hunting trips. I asked how he could afford to do all that, and he recommended I read "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." That book changed everything for me. I realized that real estate was a way I could help others and leave a legacy for my own children. I joined the Jake and Gino community and The War Room, a military investor community, to surround myself with like-minded people and began my multifamily investing journey.

I started Fortius Equity, a real estate investing company that helps others create financial freedom and provide quality affordable housing. It hasn't been always easy juggling time, especially while being on active duty in the Marine Corps. But I knew I had to take action and invest for our family's future. Now, I want to show others how they too can get in the game and grow their wealth, even if they're busy hardworking people.