I’ve spent the last 15 years in the real estate business, working my way up from earning a license to sell single-family homes in New Mexico to my current position–managing a portfolio consisting of multiple sites and thousands of multifamily units in Illinois and Missouri. Before landing in Missouri, I spent 10 years on the West Coast, moving between San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, working as a regional manager with Equity Residential—one of the largest apartment owners in the nation. Along the way, I’ve experienced a lot—not only about what engages our various constituents, but more importantly, learning how to leverage that knowledge to improve service and the bottom line at the same time.
This blog is where I share my personal thoughts and experiences with all of you. This is where I let you know the things I’m trying—and what works and what doesn’t. With a proven track record in the apartment management business, comprising everything from creating budgets, team building, marketing, pricing, project management, and using Internet and computer technologies, I have a lot of thoughts to share!
I hope you’ll check in regularly to read the latest and give me some feedback. Welcome to my blog!
Email: mbrewerx [at] gmail dot com
Mike , got any cabinet leads , I have a great product ready to ship. Priced competitively.
Just curious how you went from selling single family homes to managing a portfolio of multifamily units? I made the move from selling residential real estate to managing residential real estate about a year ago. I am interested in getting into multifamily units but it's definitely a big jump from residential management to multifamily management. Any insight would be great.
Thanks
Tony –
My apologies – not sure how I missed your comment.
The reader's digest version is that I owned and operated a landscape business called the Lawn Ranger which exposed to me to a number of real estate agents in my market place. I happened across one that offered me a job managing 18 units for him. That quickly gave way to managing other buildings and eventually a residential sales license and ownership in a few deals. Then I got the wild idea to go back and finish my college degree in a different city so I sold everything and went for it.
I got a job as a leasing consultant for EPT management company and learned everything I could about the business – in short, I went about falling in love with the business. I never did finish my college degree but rather poured my heart and soul into meeting all the right people, fostering great relationships with them and graduated through the ranks. Today – roughly 15 years later I have lived and worked with some over the top amazing people in Texas, Seattle, Portland and as of late Saint Louis.
In short:
1. Get humble and don't forget your family along the way
2. Learn everything – and, get the understanding that the more you learn the more you don't know
3. Practice everything and fail fast – do more of what works and less of what does not
4. Become a servant – give without expecting in return
5. Foster amazing relationships – understand that you become like the seven people you hang around most and the things you read and watch – take inventory often
6. Work for love not money – the money will come in relation to the love that you give
7. Enjoy every step of the journey as you cannot take one moment of it back
Just curious how you went from selling single family homes to managing a portfolio of multifamily units? I made the move from selling residential real estate to managing residential real estate about a year ago. I am interested in getting into multifamily units but it's definitely a big jump from residential management to multifamily management. Any insight would be great.
Thanks