Becoming a real estate mogul once required family money, exclusive connections, and decades of experience. However, today’s marketplace brimming with foreclosures, short sales, and shifting generational priorities gives aspiring investors opportunities. With the right mindset and strategies, young entrepreneurs build significant wealth through property. Jack Levy entered the competitive Chicago real estate scene in his mid-20s armed with ambition and the goal of making his fortune. After early successes in buying and flipping residential homes, Levy founded the full-service real estate firm VEQ focused on commercial properties. Now only 38, his company holds over $1 billion in assets.
Adopting an abundance and boldness mindset
Far too many young adults approach real estate investing timidly, fearing significant risks and competition from more seasoned players. However, believers in scarcity thinking rarely challenge the status quo or pioneer new models. Levy encourages aspiring moguls to see ample upside potential instead of threat. Don’t buy into myths of oversaturation or that only Ivy League pedigrees unlock deal flow and backing. There are always emerging opportunities and plenty of money looking to invest. Rather than endlessly researching, jack levy veq pushes novice investors to jump into their first few small deals. Gaining firsthand experience builds knowledge and confidence to tackle bigger projects. Committing to massive value creation over decades rather than flips or get-rich-quick schemes sets moguls apart. Have courage in your own escalating potential.
Mastering commercial real estate
While buying, upgrading, and then selling residential properties offers a more straightforward path to profitability, commercial buildings better suit wolfish growth appetites. Investing at a bigger scale leads to bigger paydays for moguls-in-training. Commercial loans also often require 20-30% down payments, whereas home loans need as little as 3.5%. However, don’t let steep capital requirements dissuade you warns Levy. Harder access filters out most casual investors allowing you to find hidden gem properties. If you’re serious, creative financing solutions exist at all levels.
For example, raising funds from private lenders or crowdfunding now provides pooled capital for purchasing office plazas, hotels, or industrial warehouses once solely within institutional investors’ reach. To gain advantages commercial pioneers held for decades, educating yourself on zoning codes, permitting, appraising large assets, and managing tenants becomes mandatory. But, Levy believes digital tools make self-teaching easier than ever. Take advantage.
Build a future-proof portfolio
Rising interest rates amid record-high inflation make holding onto low-yield properties bought 5 or even 10 years ago painful for some real estate investors today. Moguls understand market cycles fluctuate constantly. Levy ensures VEQ’s longevity by emphasizing value-added investing across their portfolio. We target under-utilized buildings with fixable operational, financial, or physical issues in growing metro areas. Boosting NOI substantially over several years provides resilience whenever downturns hit.
Savvy moguls also watch macro real estate trends closely, getting ahead of seismic consumer shifts. The pandemic, for instance, accelerated e-commerce penetration rapidly, increasing logistics facility demand but reducing the need for traditional retail space. Young investors should especially note emerging preferences around sustainable buildings as climate change concerns escalate. High-efficiency Class A offices and multifamily complexes integrating smart tech for energy conservation and improved living quality attract premium rents and buyer interest. Developers are prescient enough to deliver on the coming demand for healthy, eco-conscious buildings today separate from the pack.
