Balancing Military Service and Real Estate Investing with Stuart Grazier

August 4, 2021 melissa Real Estate Comments Off on Balancing Military Service and Real Estate Investing with Stuart Grazier

Balancing Military Service and Real Estate Investing with Stuart Grazier

“I don’t have time for that”. It’s what we usually tell ourselves when a new and unfamiliar opportunity presents itself, but not Stuart Grazier. While being on active duty as a Navy pilot, he found a way to navigate his way through the real estate investing space. And 12 years later, he’s running his own turnkey company, Storehouse 3:10​ Ventures, with his business partner David Gutierrez. Together they are now helping other military people do the same.

If you want to know how to balance being in the military (or any full-time career!) with your real estate adventure, Stu has some really helpful tips for you!

The points below are from the tenth episode of the Real Estate JAM. There, Stuart Grazier talks about finding the time to do real estate investing, building your own turnkey company, finding the right property manager and team, and what Veterans REI live is all about. If you think it’s right up your alley, you can listen to it on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.


 

A Rough Takeoff

Stu’s first taste of real estate investing was not what he had hoped for. He had just graduated from college and was currently taking flight school when an opportunity landed in front of him to do real estate. Unlike most people who would typically hesitate, Stu boldly decided to buy a raw piece of land in Alabama for $50,000. What could possibly go wrong, right? It’s a pretty good deal. However, three months later, a hurricane wiped out the entire area. He was devastated, but what he did next was key to his present success.

With nothing much to do about his hurricane-wrecked property, Stu decided to ride it out and see what happens. He even continued with the payments while finishing flight school! Fast forward to nine months after his initial investment, someone reached out to him about his property and offered $95,000, which is almost twice the amount he paid for. Talk about a serious comeback!

From then on, he knew that real estate investing is worth the hard work, and he never looked back. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows!

 

The Balancing Act

After taking that initial step and experiencing his first sale, Stu knew that he wanted to continue on that journey even when he was still on active duty. What worked for him is getting the real estate things done early in the morning, at around 4:00 am to 6:00 am, just before he goes to do his Navy duties, and then doing some more real estate stuff at night after spending time with his family and putting the kids to bed. It’s easy to say on paper but not as simple to execute. Not a walk in the park but doable nonetheless.

Stu also emphasized the importance of delegating work and putting proper systems in place. You don’t have to do it all on your own! This is where finding the right team members and property managers come to play. During your search, keep in mind that they should make the work easier for you, not the other way around.

Using project management software to get things in order also helps, especially if you work with people who come from different areas and time zones. If there are available tools that you can utilize, go for it!

Remember: Take the first step. Be patient. Plan. Delegate. Get organized. You’re all set!

 

Want to learn more from Stuart Grazier? Listen to the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

 

Outline of the Episode:

  • [02:15] Stu’s first taste of real estate investing and the “hurricane ride” that came with it.
  • [04:12] Preparing for retirement through turnkey real estate. You have to take it seriously!
  • [05:45] Why finding the right property management is super important when you’re in the military.
  • [08:25] The secret to a good relationship with your property manager. It’s not about perfection!
  • [10:11] Building trust with your team and asking the right questions.
  • [11:51] Why Stu thinks the turnkey model is perfect for people in the military, especially those in the Navy.
  • [14:25] Running the day-to-day operations and the importance of each role in your team
  • [16:52] How to find time for real estate investing when you’re on active duty?
  • [20:38] Stu’s hack to save time on training new employees. It’s worth a try!
  • [22:10] The challenges in hiring the right employee for your business.
  • [25:34] How Veterans REI Live started and how you can join their virtual summit.
  • [32:14] Why self-education is a must. Stuart shares some tips on where to start!

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

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