Finding solid investments
Have you ever struggled with finding the right investments for your retirement portfolio? I know the feeling all too well. But today, I want to share with you a path to one of the most stable investments ever: Real Estate. You see, real estate never goes to zero. You can't lose if you don't sell in a down market, and there's something genuinely fulfilling about creating value for others and living in abundance.
If you're feeling apprehensive about real estate because you don't know much about it or how to get started, don't worry. I'm Anne-Michelle, and I've been where you are. Today, I stand here because of my investments in real estate, and I want to show you how you can start building your retirement income, even if you haven't done it before, even if you don't have large sums of money.
My real estate journey began out of necessity. I was a single mom with my own business, and no corporate 401k in sight. I was making a good income, but I knew I needed to create a safety net for myself and my two children – to save for their college and our retirement. I was able to qualify for a loan, but I didn’t have a down payment. That's when my sister, a veterinarian with considerable savings, stepped in. She lent me $20,000 to get started. You might be surprised to find a friend or family member who would be willing to help you take your first step into real estate. Nowadays, there are even professionals who will partner with you to buy your first house or investment.
I did my research and found a house that wasn't just a fun place to live but also a smart investment. It was a fixer-upper on the edge of Boulder, Colorado, sitting on an acre of land. I learned that if I annexed it to the city, I could divide it into four lots and sell them. And so I did. The project was so successful that I was able to pay my sister back, fix up the house, and even buy another similar property. Over time, I dabbled in projects that allowed me to divide properties into multiple lots, and then I moved into investing in rental properties. Eventually, I formed a group of private investors with family and friends. We owned rental houses, a duplex, and even a 44-unit apartment building. As I gained success, others began asking me to form groups and invest for them. We even bought a vacation home in Hawaii for five years.
Of course, not every venture was smooth sailing. During the 2008 recession, we faced challenges. Some investors couldn't hold on through the downturn, but it reinforced a crucial lesson: in real estate, you don’t lose if you don’t sell during a down market.
After wrapping up my partnerships and selling my businesses and investments, I pursued my dream of moving to a tropical island. My family and I traveled through Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, and more in search of our place in the sun. When we reached Panama, I knew we had found our paradise. I quickly purchased my first foreign investment, a piece of land on Solarte, the Island of the Sun.
Transitioning to our new life wasn't immediate. Over three years, we gradually increased our stays in Panama from weeks to months, until it was no longer a vacation but the start of a new lifestyle. We lived in a rented apartment in Bocas del Toro while we built our house, using cash as we earned it from liquidating investments. Now, we live debt-free in a beautiful home overlooking the Caribbean Ocean.
Now that you've heard a bit of my story, I'm eager to hear about you. Tell me your aspirations, your challenges, and let's explore how I can help guide you on your journey to real estate success and financial freedom. I'm here, ready to listen, and excited to share the wisdom of my experiences with you.
