Ex-Cop Creates Financial Freedom through Flips, Development, and Self Storage with Jay London

Jay London, a former cop, reveals how he created financial independence through real estate investing. He shares his journey of getting started in rental properties and flips, gradually building up to development and self-storage investing. Jay offers excellent lessons on how to get started in real estate investing, scaling up, managing time and money, and achieving financial independence. He provides valuable advice for those just starting, such as investing in VA foreclosures due to the lack of bank lending before the subprime error, living off one’s calendar and time blocking their day, and reading his book Stop Chasing Paychecks. He also details his experience in buying houses, flipping them, building two of their projects, discovering syndication and self-storage investments, and almost making a million-dollar mistake before learning more about the self-storage industry leading to their current success. 

Tune into this podcast episode for an inspiring conversation about creating wealth through real estate investment!

[00:01 – 06:02] Opening Segment

• Jay London shares his background and career
• Jay started by buying a house, renting it out, and learning about flipping houses
• How Jay got into home building and self-storage investing

[06:03 – 13:14] How a $3 Million Mistake Led to Investing in Self-Storage

• Jay bought his first house and owned 21 rented houses at one time, and flipped 30 homes a year until the market changed
• Venturing into new construction and commercial projects
• Jay bought a self-storage unit, which led to buying more self-storage units
• Developing self-storage units due to high cap rates and cash in the market

[13:15 – 20:58] Wealthy Real Estate Investors Think Differently About Time and Money

• Sacrificing time in the early years is essential, as you can’t buy more of it
• Live off your calendar and time block your day to maximize productivity
• People get rich in both up and down markets by educating themselves and waiting for good deals
• Look for ways to create value when investing in self-storage, such as raising rents or adding amenities
• Automation of self-storage facilities is now possible, allowing for easier management

[20:59 – 25:24] The Power of Commercial Property

• Self-storage is like mailbox money on the first of the month
• Underwrite 100 deals before getting one that works
• Raise rent in wintertime when people are less likely to move

[25:25 – 29:57] Closing Segment

• Best investment: first commercial property
• Worst investment: cannabis business
• The most important lesson learned: Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you

Quotes:

“Live off your calendar. Time block your day, and when it’s time to go home and see the family, go home. You’re going to be able to make that money tomorrow. You’re going to be able to make it next week. There’s always going to be an opportunity if you educate yourself properly.” – Jay London

“I don’t always remember how I made money, but I never forget how I lost money.” – Jay London

“You can’t just go in and raise rents without doing something to a property. You got to do what you got to do to justify your rent raise, to get it to the market value.” – Jay London

“Commercial is where the wealth is built. It took me 20 years to figure that out.” – Jay London

Connect with Jay London!

Website: https://www.londonequityholdings.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaylondonoklahoma 

Invest passively in multiple commercial real estate assets such as apartments, self-storage, medical facilities, hotels, and more through https://www.passivewealthstrategy.com/crowdstreet/

Track your rental property’s finances with Stessa. Go to www.escapingwallstreet.com.

Join our Passive Investor Club to access passive commercial real estate investment opportunities.

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