ABOUT US
I started this podcast because I *really* like talking about real estate. Seriously.
I transferred to Auburn for the building science program in 1995, finishing it few years later. My first job out of school was working for a local company that built apartments around the state. It didn't take me long to figure out the real financial security came from collecting the rent not in building the apartment buildings themselves, so I walked in to the office and quit my job on a Monday morning in 1999, and I've been on my own ever since.
Like many people getting started, my first rental was a place that was my primary residence before that. I started with just one unit and built up a good size business where I had over 100 rental properties here in Auburn. Along the way I also picked up a Master's in city planning from Auburn, and found the time to go to about 250 Auburn football games all across America.
To make a long story short, I've done did all kinds of cool projects including apartment turnarounds and condo conversions. But ultimately, I focused too much on work and got burned out. So I decided to sell off all of my properties, simplify my life and change direction - and of course do some big time traveling! Since I had about $10M worth of property to sell off, I ended up starting a brokerage business of my own called Auburn Investment Properties as a way to save on listing commissions. Well, after I sold off my places, I started to have friends of mine asking me to help them buy their first rental house or grow their portfolio, and almost accidentally a new business was born.
For the past several years I've lived a dream of taking many long trips to Europe, seeing my favorite band play in the most amazing venues you can ever imagine, and exploring lots of cool places. Sounds like "living the dream", right? Well, as good as it has been, the reality is everybody needs an income. Even if you have a decent sized pile or strong stock portfolio, you're never going to feel totally at peace with your financial situation unless you have a steady income each month to match (or exceed) your expenses. In fact, if part of your pile is converted to safe & steady rental income, that retirement pile doesn't have to be nearly as big as you would think. The goal of retirement isn't just to not work, it's to enjoy your time while your living expenses are covered with little to no effort of your own. And that goal can be reached way before you turn 65 if you do it right.
Receiving a steady income is definitely possible with the high quality of renters you can find in a town like Auburn. As a matter of fact, my rental income has been steady through the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the financial meltdown in 2008-10, and even through the recent coronavirus. And my investor clients would say the same. Hey, it's not hard to make money when the markets are up, but how do you set yourself up to survive - or even thrive - when things are going badly all around you? Let me show you.
So even though I had escaped the rat race, I found I was in love with Real Estate. And now I have the wisdom of experience on my side. I've long since accepted the fact that rental income is going to be the foundation of my household budget for the rest of my life, and now the goal is just to do it as easily and safely as possible.
My Real Estate brokerage, Auburn Investment Properties, is there to help guide other investors on their own investing journey. Any Broker in town can show you houses and write up the contracts, but do they know the investment side? I'm not saying I'm the most experienced investor in the whole town, but I'm willing to bet I'm better at this part of the business than anyone else you can find to work with. Our Investor clients get all kinds of extra services and resources to help them succeed - at no extra cost.
Last thing... I can hold your hand and help in ways you can't even see from where you are today, but I can't do it for you if you're paralyzed with fear. You've got to be willing to take that first step toward your new future. Once you commit to doing that, I'm ready to show you the ropes and make this real for you.
If you're ready, just call me or email me and we'll get going. And if you're still unsure or confused, take the time to listen to some of our episodes, and keep listening. But don't let that be a reason for procrastinating forever. There's always going to be something more to learn, and the best way to learn is by doing.
All right enough for now, let's get started!
Chris Kearns
Auburn Investment Properties
E: info@AuburnInvestmentProperties.com
P: 334-821-1227
I transferred to Auburn for the building science program in 1995, finishing it few years later. My first job out of school was working for a local company that built apartments around the state. It didn't take me long to figure out the real financial security came from collecting the rent not in building the apartment buildings themselves, so I walked in to the office and quit my job on a Monday morning in 1999, and I've been on my own ever since.
Like many people getting started, my first rental was a place that was my primary residence before that. I started with just one unit and built up a good size business where I had over 100 rental properties here in Auburn. Along the way I also picked up a Master's in city planning from Auburn, and found the time to go to about 250 Auburn football games all across America.
To make a long story short, I've done did all kinds of cool projects including apartment turnarounds and condo conversions. But ultimately, I focused too much on work and got burned out. So I decided to sell off all of my properties, simplify my life and change direction - and of course do some big time traveling! Since I had about $10M worth of property to sell off, I ended up starting a brokerage business of my own called Auburn Investment Properties as a way to save on listing commissions. Well, after I sold off my places, I started to have friends of mine asking me to help them buy their first rental house or grow their portfolio, and almost accidentally a new business was born.
For the past several years I've lived a dream of taking many long trips to Europe, seeing my favorite band play in the most amazing venues you can ever imagine, and exploring lots of cool places. Sounds like "living the dream", right? Well, as good as it has been, the reality is everybody needs an income. Even if you have a decent sized pile or strong stock portfolio, you're never going to feel totally at peace with your financial situation unless you have a steady income each month to match (or exceed) your expenses. In fact, if part of your pile is converted to safe & steady rental income, that retirement pile doesn't have to be nearly as big as you would think. The goal of retirement isn't just to not work, it's to enjoy your time while your living expenses are covered with little to no effort of your own. And that goal can be reached way before you turn 65 if you do it right.
Receiving a steady income is definitely possible with the high quality of renters you can find in a town like Auburn. As a matter of fact, my rental income has been steady through the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the financial meltdown in 2008-10, and even through the recent coronavirus. And my investor clients would say the same. Hey, it's not hard to make money when the markets are up, but how do you set yourself up to survive - or even thrive - when things are going badly all around you? Let me show you.
So even though I had escaped the rat race, I found I was in love with Real Estate. And now I have the wisdom of experience on my side. I've long since accepted the fact that rental income is going to be the foundation of my household budget for the rest of my life, and now the goal is just to do it as easily and safely as possible.
My Real Estate brokerage, Auburn Investment Properties, is there to help guide other investors on their own investing journey. Any Broker in town can show you houses and write up the contracts, but do they know the investment side? I'm not saying I'm the most experienced investor in the whole town, but I'm willing to bet I'm better at this part of the business than anyone else you can find to work with. Our Investor clients get all kinds of extra services and resources to help them succeed - at no extra cost.
Last thing... I can hold your hand and help in ways you can't even see from where you are today, but I can't do it for you if you're paralyzed with fear. You've got to be willing to take that first step toward your new future. Once you commit to doing that, I'm ready to show you the ropes and make this real for you.
If you're ready, just call me or email me and we'll get going. And if you're still unsure or confused, take the time to listen to some of our episodes, and keep listening. But don't let that be a reason for procrastinating forever. There's always going to be something more to learn, and the best way to learn is by doing.
All right enough for now, let's get started!
Chris Kearns
Auburn Investment Properties
E: info@AuburnInvestmentProperties.com
P: 334-821-1227