One Rental At A Time Section 8 to Multi Millionaire: Her Origin Story
Nov 26, 2025
Ana Kelly, a resilient real estate investor and founder of the REI Mom brand, shares her inspiring journey from living in Section 8 housing to achieving financial independence. She discusses the importance of education and early exposure to wealth, her experiences in banking, and how the Great Financial Crisis shaped her focus on real estate. Ana emphasizes leveraging resources, the value of community, and her mission to empower women and families through investing. She encourages listeners to start small, act with faith, and never give up on their dreams.
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Childhood Poverty Fueled Determination
- Ana grew up in Section 8 housing with a single mom who worked multiple jobs and sometimes lived in battered women’s shelters.
- That childhood drove her determination to never be trapped by abuse or poverty and to pursue education and work hard for change.
Seeing Wealth Patterns In Private Banking
- Working in private banking exposed Ana to how wealthy people allocate capital and the recurring role of real estate in their portfolios.
- That exposure planted the seed to buy property herself as a path to wealth rather than only relying on traditional retirement accounts.
House Hacking Into Landlording
- After moving to Pennsylvania to start her husband’s business, Ana and her family house-hacked a four-unit building and became instant landlords.
- That hands-on start taught her landlord realities and anchored her shift from hobby buyer to active investor.