Real Estate Investor

5 Real Estate Investor Success Stories [2024]

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

Real estate investment isn’t just for moguls with deep pockets. This business idea is about acquiring, managing, and selling properties to generate profit.

Start by researching market trends and property values in your chosen area. You’ll need capital to make your first purchase, often through savings or financing options. Once you’ve acquired a property, the real work begins: renovation, tenant management, and consistent market analysis to maximize your investment.

The appeal lies in the potential for significant returns—with the right properties, you can earn passive income through renting or sizeable gains through property sales. However, be prepared for the challenges of property upkeep, tenant issues, and market fluctuations.

If you have a knack for numbers and a good eye for property potential, real estate investment can slowly build substantial wealth. It’s a tangible, rewarding way to see your money grow over time.

In this list, you'll find real-world real estate investor success stories and very profitable examples of starting a real estate investor that makes money.

1. Open Door Capital ($18M/year)

Brandon Turner, founder of Open Door Capital, came up with the idea of starting a real estate investment company after experiencing financial freedom through renting out properties at a young age. Inspired by the potential for passive income and property appreciation, he decided to focus on real estate instead of pursuing law school or selling kites online. Now, Open Door Capital has over 5,000 rental units and aims to make a billion-dollar profit from selling properties in the future.

How much money it makes: $18M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 23

How I Bring In $30M/Year Investing In Mobile Home Parks

Entrepreneur Brandon Turner explains how he started a real estate investment company, Open Door Capital, which now manages over 5,000 rental units, bringing in $30,000,000 per year in revenue while only working a few hours a week, and aims to cross $1,000,000,000 in real estate by the end of the year.

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2. Jake & Gino ($2.4M/year)

Gino Barbaro and Jake Stenziano co-founded Jake & Gino, a multifamily real estate education company, after meeting while working in the restaurant and pharmaceutical industries, respectively. They started by selling a book and micro-courses, but realized the need for coaching and in-person events to provide a higher level of service. They have since grown their company to include a community of successful investors and have set ambitious goals for the future.

How much money it makes: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 10

How We Started A $200K/Month Business Educating People On Real Estate Investing

Jake & Gino, a multifamily real estate education company founded in 2015, teaches people how to invest in apartments and become multifamily entrepreneurs, with over 125,000 monthly downloads on their podcasts and $4 billion in asset value closed by their students.

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3. Let’s Buy an Island ($300K/year)

Marshall Mayer, Gareth Johnson, and Jodie Joyce came up with the idea for Let's Buy an Island after a few drinks and a conversation about owning a private island. They reached out to friends and family, created a website, and convinced over 140 people to invest in their dream. They were able to buy an island in Belize and are now in the process of developing it into a boutique resort.

How much money it makes: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500K
How many people on the team: 7

The First Crowdfunded Private Island: How We Convinced 140 People To Invest In Our Island [Belize]

A group of founding partners have crowdfunded enough money to purchase a private island in Belize, which will soon develop into a boutique resort and is expected to open in 2023, following a successful launch through social media and press releases.

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4. Adventures in Mobile Homes ($120K/year)

Rachel Hernandez, founder of Adventures in Mobile Homes, came up with the idea for her business after becoming burnt-out as a landlord and deciding to sell her real estate portfolio. She read a book on mobile home investing and was drawn to the idea of being the bank rather than a landlord. Her first sale was a 2 bedroom, 1 bath mobile home that she bought for $3,600 and sold for $10,000, receiving her initial investment back within the first year. Since then, Rachel has built a successful business with a steady stream of passive income and plans to expand by buying land and moving mobile homes onto it.

How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3.6K
How many people on the team: 1

From Burnt Out Landlord To Real Estate Investor: How I Sold My Portfolio And Invested In Mobile Homes [$120K/Year]

Adventures in Mobile Homes founder, Rachel Hernandez, shares her experience of mobile home investing which has led to around $500 cash flow per month for every deal she does and has allowed her to achieve $10,000 per month from the business.

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5. Momentum Property Solutions ($60K/year)

Jordan Fulmer and his wife Melissa, both mechanical engineers, were inspired to start their real estate investing company, Momentum Property Solutions, after a coworker left his engineering job to pursue entrepreneurship. They learned about creative financing strategies and focused on buying distressed properties, renovating them, and either selling or renting them. They now make $2,000 per month in rental income and are averaging one deal per month, thanks to their increased marketing efforts.

How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 1

From Mechanical Engineers To Making $160K/Year Flipping Houses

Real estate investing company Momentum Property Solutions, founded by Jordan Fulmer and Melissa, makes about $2,000 per month in rental income with chunks of capital from selling properties and averages one deal per month due to increased marketing efforts.

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