My 5 Year Roadmap of how I used Real Estate Investing to “Buy” My Time Back

My 5 Year Roadmap of how I used Real Estate Investing to “Buy” My Time Back

When I was in my 20s, I thought I was doing everything “right”.

Good grades. Decent school. Landed a “respectable” job in tech sales. Everyone told me I was living the American Dream.

Except… I hated it.

I was grinding 70 hours a week, working at a Fortune 100 Corporation, making 30 cold calls a day, and people were telling me to “F off” left and right. My paycheck was okay, but my soul was empty.

I remember my wife putting this book on Audible on while driving to Vegas (yes we were too cheap to fly back then) and that book ended up being Rich Dad Poor Dad.

Boom! It was like taking the red pill in the Matrix. I realized there was this whole other world where people weren’t just trading time for money — they were buying back their freedom through real estate.

That’s when my journey started. And let me tell you — it wasn’t pretty. I lost money. I made mistakes. I was terrified half the time. But 5 years later, I walked away from that corporate job. Today, we own over 1,200 units and run Zen Coast capital and Zen Coast University, where I mentor people like who I was over a decade ago, so they can have an easier path than I did.

Lesson #1:

You can learn real estate in two ways:

1. By trying to figure it out yourself (and paying tuition to the school of hard knocks).
2. Or by learning from someone who’s already been there.

When my wife Jennie and I started, we gave $100K to a flipper. Thought we were being smart. Turns out, she did not share in the same Morales and ethics that I thought most humans should have and poof that $100k was gone. That was all our savings. Gut punch.

Most people would’ve quit right there. But we turned that loss into fuel. We realized what we were missing: mentors, community, people who’d already walked the path. 

Because here’s the truth:

•  The right people can 100x your business.
•  The wrong people can set you back years.

And that’s exactly why we built Zen Coast University — to give people the mentorship and roadmap we wish we had when we started.

From Cold Calls to Cash Flow: My Story

Here’s the quick version of how we got here:

•  2015: Read Rich Dad Poor Dad, house hacked a condo in San Francisco, stumbled into mid-term rentals before it was even a thing.
•  2016–2017: Bought my first out-of-state rentals in Texas. Rookie mistakes — like forgetting AC units break (wiped out my cash flow year one).
•  2018–2019: Learned the BRRRR method. Started recycling capital and raising private money (first lender was my sister — my pitch was terrible but it worked).
•  2020: Did my first commercial multifamily deal. Created $600K of equity and $3,500/month in passive income in one deal. Quit my job.
•  2021–2025: Scaled to 1,200+ units, retired my parents, and built Zen Coast University to coach other people on their 5-year path to freedom.

Was it easy? Nope. Was it worth it? 100%.

Lesson #2: The Biggest Mistakes I See New Investors Make

After working with 500+ students, I see the same patterns over and over:

•  Waiting too long. Analysis paralysis keeps people stuck.
•  Forgetting big repairs. (I didn’t even know what CapEx was when I started).
•  Buying for ego, not cash flow. Appreciation looks sexy… until you’re cash poor.
•  Going solo. Watching YouTube videos isn’t a strategy.
•  Sitting on dead equity. Not using 1031s, refinances, or creative financing to scale.

Coaching helps you skip these mistakes. You still do the work — but you do it smarter and faster.

The 5-Year Roadmap to Passive Income

One of the first things we do with students at ZCU is create a 5-year roadmap. Because most people don’t even realize they’re on a 50+ year plan right now.

Here’s how it works:

1. Figure out your freedom number (what monthly cash flow covers your life).
2. Multiply it by 12 (annualize it).
3. Divide it by 8% (average return). That’s how much capital you’d need invested.
4. Compare it to your current savings rate.

Most people realize… at their current pace, it’ll take them 80+ years to get there. And that’s when the light bulb goes off.

Coaching helps collapse that 80-year plan into a 5-year plan. That’s what we do at Zen Coast University.

Why People and Mentors Is the Time Accelerator

Here’s the truth: I wouldn’t be here without the right people and mentors.

•  Mentors gave me the confidence to buy my first commercial property.
•  They showed me strategies like raising capital, cost segregation, and creative financing.
•  They gave me the community that pushed me to finally quit my job.
•  And they opened doors for me that I didnt know even existed

Mentorship doesn’t do the work for you. But it makes sure the work you do counts. 

Passive Income to Massive Impact: Real Results,  Real People, Real Impact

We’ve now helped over 500 students across 30 states. Some wins I love sharing:

•  Jason within 2 years quit a Private Equity job that was causing him mental health issues and was able to use Real Estate to quit and live bi-coastal traveling to wherever he wants when he wants
•  Matt able to start Real Estate quit his corporate job, start his own company, and now gives back by mentoring kids in need on financial literacy

And beyond the deals, we’ve been able to give back — through our nonprofit Zen Coast Cares, which provides financial literacy and scholarships for kids. I dont want anyone to loose focus on whats really important.

That is people and giving back to the next generation. We are all a community of human beings trying to live in our best selfs. Help empower more people!

Lesson #3: TAKE ACTION!

It took me 5.5 years to leave my job. It doesn’t have to be with us BUT with the right coaching, it doesn’t have to take you that long.

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and actually build a roadmap to freedom, this is your shot.

👉 Book a strategy call with Zen Coast University today and start your 5-year plan to passive income.