From Nigerian Chemical Engineer to a $100M Houston Portfolio with Wale Lawal

Wale Lawal came to the United States from Nigeria to study chemical engineering, took the master’s, and spent five years in oil and gas before going looking for something that would fund a retirement. Everything pointed at real estate. He went to crypto instead, then Forex, then transportation, lost money in all three, and went all in on real estate in 2020. Today he owns 30+ rental units, has closed over $100 million, and has helped 400+ investor clients buy their own.

He is refreshingly unwilling to sell anyone a strategy. He has had clients spend $50,000 on coaching programs and own zero properties. His own BRRRR ended with the city condemning a fourplex that has been an empty lot since 2021 — and the lesson he draws is cheap and specific: the structure has to be good before anything else is true.

The most actionable minute is about builders. He buys new construction directly and times it to their fiscal year — September, October, November, when D.R. Horton and Lennar are discounting to hit annual targets. Mattias calls it a golden nugget on tape.

Also: a clear read on Houston after the 2020-21 run, a duplex closed $35,000 under appraisal, the ON FIRE acronym for picking an agent, why new agents should gladly hand over 50% of their first commissions, and the book he gives people — The One Thing.

Find Wale: @wale_lawal on Instagram · networthbuilders.com His coaching program: networthbuildersacademy.com Also mentioned: The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

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