I Bought My First Rental in 2021, Now I Have 19 and Replaced My Salary!

34 snips

Apr 14, 2025

Lamontis Gardner, a former college football player and high school coach, shares his inspiring journey from a tight budget to owning 19 rental units that now replace his salary. He emphasizes practical strategies for investing without relying on cold calls or flashy tactics. Highlighting a transformative experience sparked by 'Rich Dad Poor Dad,' he discusses how collaboration led him to acquire multiple properties despite financial constraints. Lamontis also delves into the importance of creating quality living spaces and maintaining work-life balance in his rapidly growing real estate business.

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ANECDOTE

Career Shift

Lamontis Gardner, a former college football player, transitioned into real estate after his school shut down in 2020 due to COVID.
This period of job loss and free time spurred him to explore real estate investing through podcasts, books, and webinars.

ANECDOTE

First Deal Hustle

After losing a duplex deal to a cash buyer, Lamontis contacted every owner on the street.
This led him to a seller with three duplexes, requiring him to partner with his former football coach and another individual.

ADVICE

Persistence and Partnerships

Don't give up easily when facing financial limitations in real estate.
Explore partnerships and creative deal structuring to overcome challenges.

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This high school football coach grew a real estate side hustle over the past four years that now replaces his W2 income. He did it making a median salary, all while working his full-time job and raising his family. He didn’t use flashy methods, risky strategies, or constant cold calling. Starting with around $30,000, Lamontis Gardner went from zero to 19 rental units in just four years and is STILL growing!

After pandemic lockdowns left Lamontis with extra time and little work, he knew he needed to stop solely relying on his W2 income to fuel his life. Of course, Rich Dad Poor Dad found its way into his hands, and the real estate bug began. From there, Lamontis turned a lost deal into an opportunity to buy three duplexes from one owner. The problem? He only had a third of the money. It was time to partner up!

After a home run first real estate deal that gave him a six-figure equity upside, Lamontis knew this was the path for him. Since then, he’s been buying rentals, flipping houses, and doing whatever he can to reinvest in real estate, all while working his W2 job. Now, he’s replaced his W2 income but is STILL growing his portfolio even in 2025’s high-rate, “tough” housing market. Want to do the same? Copy Lamontis’s strategy!

In This Episode We Cover

How to invest in real estate when you don’t have enough money for a down payment

Why you DON’T need to cold call in order to find great off-market real estate deals

The easiest (and most profitable) homes to flip that ANYONE can find on-market

Why section 8 rentals are not what you think (and might be as good or better than regular rentals)

When to flip vs. renovate and rent a house (telltale signs of a great flip/bad rental)

How Lamontis scaled to 19 rentals and multiple flips per year WITHOUT a big team

And So Much More!

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