Wealth Building Starts with a Conversation
From surviving the 2008 crash to building wealth through real estate, I'll help you navigate the path to financial freedom with proven strategies and honest guidance.
My Journey On The Trail
Like conquering a mountain trail, building wealth takes persistence, strategy, and the right guide. I've been navigating the real estate terrain since 2001, weathering crashes, discovering new paths, and helping others reach their financial summit.
Based in Northern Idaho's stunning landscape, I understand that every journey has its challenges. Whether you're tackling a steep climb or building your investment portfolio, the view from the top makes every struggle worthwhile.
My Journey: From Mortgage Lender to Wealth Builder
Like any mountain climb, this journey has had its challenges, victories, and lessons learned.
The Starting Line (2001)
My journey started in 2001 in the residential mortgage space. I was working a comfortable salaried job in marketing at a title company when a branch manager at a large national bank offered me a position as a mortgage lender. I was nervous to make this leap to a 100% commission-based position, and I didn't know much about the lending world. But I trusted him, and more importantly, he believed in me.
That belief pushed me to take the leap. I spent evening hours after the branch closed learning one-on-one with him, absorbing everything I could about structuring loans for first-time buyers, move-up buyers, and seasoned investors who were building portfolios. It was exciting—watching others create wealth—but I never considered doing it myself.
The Valley (2008-2010)
Things were going great... until 2008. The crash felt like a light switch had been flipped off. Realtors I'd worked with for years had no business. The loan industry changed overnight, and it became nearly impossible to get a deal done. I joined two colleagues in 2010 to start a new mortgage company with more flexibility in what we could offer. But no one had heard of this company, and it became the toughest financial year of my life.
That season taught me something essential: business has winters. You can't skip them—but you can survive them. I learned that if you weather the storm, a better season always comes.
The Pivot (2013)
By 2013, I could see the market recovering. I decided it was time to pivot again. I got my real estate license and went back to the basics. Even with over a decade in the mortgage business, becoming a Realtor felt like starting from scratch. I dove in headfirst—hosting open houses, building my brand, and devouring podcasts and YouTube videos for hours each day. I was fascinated by real estate investing and soaked up everything I could from places like BiggerPockets.
My First Rental Property (2017)
In 2017, I was finally ready to buy my first rental property. But in my local market, nothing penciled out. So I did what most wouldn't: I looked out of state. As long as the numbers made sense, I wasn't emotionally attached to seeing my properties in person. I bought an older house in East Texas, fixed it up, and got it rented quickly.
It proved the concept. From there, I figured out what my Tier 1 financial freedom number was—and how many rent checks it would take to get there. The roadmap was clear. I started scaling. I found opportunities to buy infill lots and build duplexes and single-family homes. Even a 25-acre subdivision project. I reinvested, strategized, partnered, and kept going.
COVID Disruption (2020)
In 2020, just as momentum peaked, COVID hit. Lumber prices exploded. Supply chains collapsed. Projects halted. And once again, everything stopped. Then, as we were coming out of Covid, my local market boomed. People were leaving big cities in droves, and prices shot up 26% one year, then another 24% the next. While I welcomed the business, it also distracted me from my wealth-building goals.
New Discovery (2023)
In 2023, I stumbled across a YouTube video by Pace Morby. At first, I thought, "No way this subject-to stuff is legit." I brushed it off. But later, I saw an ad for his Elephant Challenge. I decided to give it a few days—and it completely shifted my thinking about how to scale without relying on banks.
That path led me to private money lending, and I quickly realized how much it aligned with my background. It was a perfect fit. I started lending to experienced investors—low-risk, collateral-backed deals that created passive returns. But I ran into a new challenge: I could only lend what I had. Once that money was deployed, I was stuck until the loans matured. That's when I discovered capital raising.
Today: The Summit View
Now, I help people who want to invest in real estate but don't have the time, expertise, or desire to do it themselves. I can plug them into the network, strategies, and systems that have worked for me—and create success for them too. My biggest driver today is hitting Tier 1—financial freedom: enough cash flow to cover my monthly expenses through rental income and lending. From there, Tier 2—financial abundance—becomes the next target.
There's a story I often return to when I feel stuck: Three Feet From Gold. It's a reminder not to give up just before the breakthrough. I've lived that lesson, and now I help others see it too. Whether I'm helping someone buy their first home, exit a property during a life transition, or fund their next flip—I'm here to serve. To share what I've learned, stay grateful, and keep building a future where freedom and impact go hand in hand.
How I Can Help You Build Wealth
Whether you're taking your first steps or ready to scale, I'll help you navigate the path to financial freedom through real estate.
Real Estate Investing
Whether you're taking your first steps or ready to scale, I'll help you navigate the path to financial freedom through real estate.
Private Lending
Earn passive returns through secure, collateral-backed loans to experienced real estate investors.
Capital Raising
Connect with opportunities to invest in real estate without the time commitment of active management.
What Drives Me Every Day
Like the mountains that surround my Northern Idaho home, these values are my foundation.
Persistence
Every mountain has its challenges. I've learned that success comes not from avoiding difficulties, but from persisting through them with the right strategy.
Relationships
Wealth building isn't just about capital—it's about relationships. Every successful deal, every breakthrough moment, has been built on trust and genuine connection.
Purpose
My goal isn't just to build wealth—it's to help others achieve financial freedom. The best investments are the ones that create impact for everyone involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get to know me better through these insights into my journey and approach.
What's one real estate myth you used to believe?
That you need perfect credit and 20% down to start investing. I've learned there are creative financing strategies that can help anyone get started, regardless of their current financial situation.
What's a unique trait or skill I've developed?
The ability to see opportunity in downturns. Having weathered the 2008 crash and COVID disruptions, I've learned that the best opportunities often come during challenging times when others are pulling back.
What is my professional background or experience?
Over 20 years in real estate and lending, starting in mortgages in 2001, surviving the 2008 crash, becoming a Realtor, building my own portfolio, and now specializing in private lending and capital raising.
What motivates me to keep going, even on tough days?
The story of 'Three Feet From Gold' - that reminder not to give up just before the breakthrough. Plus, seeing others achieve financial freedom through strategies I've helped them implement keeps me energized.
What's a mistake you made that turned into a valuable lesson?
Getting too comfortable during the boom years and losing focus on my wealth-building goals. It taught me to stay disciplined and keep working toward financial freedom, even when business is good.
What inspired me to start this real estate journey?
Originally, it was a mentor who believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. That push to leave my comfortable salary for commission-based work changed everything. Now I want to be that person for others.