At Real Estate Knowledge Institute (REKI), our goal is to provide a team of experts from all corners of the real estate industry to work one-on-one with investors. We understand the futility of wasting time reinventing the wheel. Instead, we provide the education and training you need to get started in investing, as well as take your business to the next level.

Every REKI mentor is an active investor because we believe that teachers should have knowledge of the current market. Today, we’d like to introduce Geoff Nowlin.

A Bit About Geoff

Geoff started dabbling in real estate as an owner of an IT company. During a ten year span, he bought rentals and played the role of landlord. Because his job brought in plenty of money, he wasn’t even aware that the properties he owned lost money each year. Then IT hit its downturn.

Geoff determined that his real estate hobby should be his profession. So, after see a late night TV infomercial about real estate training, he jumped. First, he went to a two-hour preview. Next, he paid for the 3-day seminar. Finally, he invested in the big Platinum package that included classes, software, and a mentor.

In the first two years, he purchased over fifty properties. Since then, he’s been involved in more than 230 deals.

Becoming a Mentor

Geoff talked with his mentor on every deal during that first two years. He states, “My goal was to make certain that I was doing it right.” In the meantime, his mentor was watching all that Geoff did. In time, his mentor asked him to be a mentor to others. After an interview in Florida, Geoff flew home with a job as a mentor.

He was immediately put with five experienced mentors from different disciplines. Not only did they teach Geoff how to be a professional real estate mentor, but they also helped him continue his own education and build his own business. He, like the entire board at REKI, understand that no one knows everything. Working with the best of the best truly has its advantages.

On being a mentor, Geoff states, “I decided by chance, but now I really, really love it.”

Why Work With a Mentor?

We asked Geoff just that. He believes that although classroom teaching is great, a mentor can personalize the mentorship to maximize student needs and wants.

“I have had Professional General Contractors, 30-year Realtors, Title Company Escrow Officers, Mortgage Loan Originators, Appraisers, and brand newbies who don’t even own their own home. In a classroom, I have to teach to the lowest common denominator. With a one-on-one mentorship, I can specialize and customize the teaching to help them focus in order to be effective.

“The students that join us will enjoy life long personal support, whether they do 100 deals per year, 10 deals in 10 years, or are just happy buying their primary residence. One-on-One mentorship focuses on what the Student defines as success.”

When working with REKI, investors have the opportunity for book knowledge, first. Then, they gain video knowledge with videos that are available to watch over and over again. Then they get live, professionally-instructed training. Finally, they receive one-on-one personal, customized mentorship. No matter what an investor is interested in, residential, multi-family, office buildings, or sprawling retail complexes, they can get the information they need to pull it off, as well as the encouragement and motivation to do it again.

Advice From Geoff Nowlin

Geoff’s number one tip to real estate investors is focus. Pick a real estate training company, such as REKI, and take their basic classes. This will help you determine what you might like to do in real estate. It could be residential or commercial. It could be holding or flipping? It could be small upgrades or big renovations. It could be wholesaling or notes. There are dozens of options.

Once you have chosen a “major,” select a mentor that can help you be successful in that area. Continue to do transactions in that area until you are proficient. Then, if you choose, you can pursue other areas of real estate. Being laser focused is the only way to truly grow your business.

He also believes that now is a great time to invest in real estate. Just think, if you bought one house a year over the last 20 years, how would your life be different? It doesn’t matter how hot or cold the market is, people need someplace to live and work. So get involved now and watch your life change over the next 20 years.

Click here to learn more about obtaining a mentor from REKI.