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Becoming a Real Estate Millionaire by Age 28 with Ryan Chaw


In the ever-evolving world of real estate, striking a perfect balance between strategy and innovation is crucial. For many aspiring investors, the question often is, “How do I start and build a successful portfolio?” Look no further than Ryan Chaw’s proven approach, which emphasizes student housing, automation, and smart property management.

From Pharmacy to Real Estate Mogul

Ryan Chaw’s transition from a full-time pharmacist to a successful real estate investor is both extraordinary and inspiring. By leveraging a “room hacking system,” he managed to multiply his rental income and accumulate significant wealth by the age of 28. At 31, Ryan retired from his pharmacy career, choosing instead to live off his rental income. His journey underlines the potential of real estate investment as a means to achieve financial freedom.

The Power of Room Hacking

Core to Ryan’s strategy is the concept of renting out single-family homes by the room, a model that significantly increases rental income as compared to leasing an entire property. For instance, by renting bedrooms individually at rates like $700 each, he maximizes earnings, often tripling the income compared to traditional rentals. His properties consistently generate substantial monthly cash flow even after mortgage and operational expenses, showcasing the financial viability of this model.

Automated Tenant Management

Ryan’s system relies heavily on automation and virtual assistance to streamline tenant management. By employing virtual assistants in the Philippines, he efficiently manages marketing, customer service, and day-to-day operations. This international team helps cut costs while ensuring smooth property management.

Ryan’s approach includes using automated platforms like Avail to list properties across various housing sites, coupled with Google Apps Script to manage lead responses automatically. He’s also able to scrutinize and select quality tenants using his PRIME method, thus ensuring stability and reducing tenant turnover.

Focused Strategy in Diverse Markets

Ryan’s success spans across various cities, from Sacramento and Stockton in California to Huntsville, Alabama, and Cleveland, Ohio. His focus primarily targets students in graduate programs, ensuring a reliable tenant base that seeks affordable yet quality housing. By avoiding distressed property purchases and instead acquiring properties at market value, Ryan’s model distinguishes itself from traditional real estate strategies.

Renting by the Room: A Community Approach

While some might view room sharing as unconventional, Ryan finds that many students prefer this co-living model as it tends to be more affordable than campus housing or apartments. By maintaining shared common areas and ensuring amenities like furnishings are provided, these properties become attractive options for students. Moreover, local “boots on the ground” and incentivized students also assist in property tours and maintenance, creating a community-driven management approach.

Achieving Real Estate Success for New Investors

Ryan is a strong advocate for new investors starting as soon as possible. His blueprint suggests that with the right number of properties—typically around 4-5—an investor can replace their traditional job income over 5-8 years, achieving financial freedom. Properties under his model yield between $1,500 and $4,000 in monthly net cash flow, enabling investors to build a sustainability-focused portfolio.

Resources and Support

For those eager to dive into real estate, Ryan offers a free PDF guide on his website, which outlines how to get started. Jay Conner, a host who collaborates with Ryan, also provides valuable resources for understanding the role of private money in real estate deals.

Ryan’s journey and system demonstrate that success in real estate isn’t merely about owning properties but developing a strategic and automated process for managing them. It’s about creating a balance between income potential and tenant satisfaction while embracing new tools and methodologies to streamline operations.

By following the roadmap laid out by Ryan Chaw, aspiring real estate investors have a comprehensive guide to building a lucrative and sustainable portfolio. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned investor looking to optimize your strategy, his insights offer valuable lessons on maximizing potential in the world of real estate.

10 Discussion Questions from this Episode:

  1. What motivated Ryan Chaw to transition from a career in pharmacy to real estate investing, and how did his initial experiences shape his current business model?
  2. How does Ryan Chaw’s “room hacking system” differ from traditional real estate rental methods, and what are the financial benefits of renting the room?
  3. Discuss the key elements of Ryan’s Prime Method for identifying high-quality tenants. How do these elements help ensure successful property management?
  4. Considering Ryan’s use of virtual assistants and automation in property management, what are the potential challenges and benefits of adopting similar strategies?
  5. How does Ryan evaluate potential markets for student housing investments, and what factors contribute to the success of his business model?
  6. How does Ryan Chaw handle the logistics of shared living spaces, such as bathrooms and kitchens, to ensure tenant satisfaction and minimize conflicts?
  7. Explore the financial implications of Ryan’s method that allows him to pay full retail value for houses while maintaining profitability. How does this contrast with other real estate investment strategies?
  8. What role does Ryan’s system of incentives and automation play in his overall business operations, and how do they contribute to efficiency and tenant acquisition?
  9. Discuss the importance of market research and strategic placement of advertisements in Ryan’s tenant acquisition strategy. How do these practices contribute to high occupancy rates?
  10. Reflect on Ryan’s advice to new real estate investors. Why is it important to start investing early, and how might this advice influence someone considering entering the real estate industry?

Fun facts that were revealed in the episode:

  1. Room Hacking Boosts Income: By renting out individual rooms instead of entire properties, Ryan Chaw triples his rental income. For example, renting six bedrooms at $700 each generates $4,200 monthly, compared to the traditional $1,500-$2,500 for the whole house. This innovative approach significantly boosts profitability.
  2. Cost-Effective Renovations: Adding bedrooms to a property can be surprisingly affordable. Ryan estimates that converting existing spaces like offices or family rooms into additional bedrooms costs only $1,500 to $3,000. This strategic repurposing can increase rental potential without breaking the bank.
  3. Global Team Dynamics: Ryan manages his properties with the help of a diverse team primarily based in the Philippines. This includes a part-time bookkeeper who handles the finances for 14 rental properties, showcasing how virtual assistance can effectively streamline property management from anywhere in the world.

Timestamps:

00:01 Room Hacking: Innovative Rental Strategy

05:19 Investing Across College Towns

08:32 Stable Long-Term Real Estate Investment

11:22 Underutilized Common Areas in Student Housing

15:01 Dividing Utility Costs Among Students

17:44 Student Tour Incentives and Management

19:06 Automated Rental Listing System

24:44 Connect with Ryan Chaw:

https://www.newbierealestateinvesting.com/guide

25:14 Begin Real Estate Investing Now












Private Money Academy Conference:

https://www.JaysLiveEvent.com

Free Report:

https://www.jayconner.com/MoneyReport

Join the Private Money Academy: 

https://www.JayConner.com/trial/

Have you read Jay’s new book: Where to Get The Money Now?

It is available FREE (all you pay is the shipping and handling) at

https://www.JayConner.com/Book 

What is Private Money? Real Estate Investing with Jay Conner

https://www.JayConner.com/MoneyPodcast

Jay Conner is a proven real estate investment leader. He maximizes creative methods to buy and sell properties with profits averaging $67,000 per deal without using his money or credit.

What is Real Estate Investing? Live Private Money Academy Conference

https://youtu.be/QyeBbDOF4wo

YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/c/RealEstateInvestingWithJayConner

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-money-academy-real-estate-investing-with-jay/id1377723034

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/jay.conner.marketing

Twitter:

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Listen to our Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2025961/episodes/16867638-becoming-a-real-estate-millionaire-by-age-28-with-ryan-chaw



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