Migrating to the US, Working in Tech and REI

Today’s guest migrated to the US with just 180 dollars in his account. Still, in only five years, he was able to source deals worth more than 40 million dollars and has recently closed on an $11,500,00 deal, a 160-unit apartment building in Houston, Texas, with his multifamily investment syndication firm, Dwellyn.com.

While working full time in tech, Ola Dantis, Founder and CEO of Dwellynn.com  was able to build up his success in the real estate investing space by networking with the right people and learning the real estate investment business. He continues to exceed his investor’s returns by focusing on value add deals in metropolitan cities across the United States. Ola likes to post his progress and encourages his community of 50,000 strong on Instagram.

Ola shared with me how he started in real estate investing, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned along the way. He also imparted some words of wisdom for people planning to venture into real estate investing.

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In this episode, we’re discussing…

  • [03:10] How Ola left his luxurious and cozy life to take a risk in pursuing the real estate business

  • [08:50] The positive outcomes that Ola experienced while developing his real estate career

  • [09:47] How real estate taught Ola a lot about himself

  • [11:00] Why Ola flash real estate on Instagram instead of red Ferraris unlike other millennials

  • [12:35] Other challenges that he experienced when moving to the United States, aside from looking for parking spots

  • [13:00] Olas’ take on overnight success

  • [13:25] How he stays grounded

  • [14:15] How Ola struggles with the “Shiny object syndrome”

  • [15:58] How he balances investing while working full time

  • [18:07] Ideas for people who are looking to get started in real estate investing

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Ola’s Top Tips:

  • “Opportunities never come in a ribbon. If I didn't come back, take the risk, and read the books, and if I weren’t willing to get uncomfortable to the edge, I wouldn't be here.”

  • “Knowing real estate, which for me is the surest asset class from the planet, has just given me a peek into what financial freedom could look like in my 30s.”

  • “I just thought I could solve any problem. But knowing what you are and what you can take, I think for me, was a learning process that I didn't even know existed.”

  • “Having the opportunity to help others is a huge one for me. So I know for a fact that I found something that can allow me to help others.”

  • As a millennial, I'm on Instagram. Sometimes I see young guys in flashy cars and red Ferraris and just trying to show off. But for me, real estate is something that I can use to help others even here in America or somewhere else in the world. So for me, having to get wealth in the future that I can use positively [is] a positive outcome.”

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  • “Being successful takes time. And for me, that's a big challenge because [I'm the kind of person who if] I start doing something today, I want to see results tomorrow. Maybe it’s kind of a generational thing.”

  • “I’m trying to hold myself back and kind of get myself grounded by meditating almost every morning [to] understand that, things will take time, this is a process, and this is not, Aladdin rubbing the lamp to get the Genie and getting a wish instantaneously.”

  • “Staying focused in a particular class is also a challenge. When I interview a lot of people for my podcast, sometimes I get that ‘shiny object syndrome.’ I'm like a kid in a candy store like ‘Oh, maybe I should go into land, or maybe I should go into the rental industry, etc.’ But it’s just having that discipline and foresight to say to myself, ‘Hey, when I get this asset class, and I wrap my hands around it, and I become successful  at it, then maybe I can go into that asset class.’”

  • “Just say no to the things that don't align with your future goals. That's what I try to do every single day.”

  • “If you go buy a property without building strong fundamental grounding in mindset, in how you see the world, you might fail. As a matter of fact, you're more susceptible to failing.”

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  • Nichole’s Top Tips:

  • “When I hear people, they want to feel like there's hope. There's an opportunity to grow your wealth beyond what you were always taught to do. I agree with that; that’s what real estate does - it's the greatest asset class possible. I agree 100% if you buy right.”

 

  • “I have such shiny object syndrome myself. I have to come back to goals, and you have to be focused on those because they meet your criteria. You've set your criteria, don't stray, but it sure is hard.”

 

  • “It's so easy when you just get the check every month from the tenant, they never call you, and they don't have any issues. But the reality is, you will have issues, and you will have those situations.”

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Resources:

 

Resources About Ola:





Categories: Real Estate, Investment, Real Estate Investing


Tags: Ola Dantis, Dwellyn.com, financial freedom, investment syndication firm, tech, networking, value add deals, challenges in real estate, advice, real estate business, real estate career, Instagram, parking spots, overnight success, shiny object syndrome, full time, balance, work balance,  millennials, wealth, the 30s, generational, meditating, process, focus, podcast, discipline, foresight, success, asset class, future goals.

ABOUT OLA DANTIS

Ola, the Founder/CEO at Dwellynn.com, a multifamily investment syndication firm, has successfully sourced deals of over 40 million dollars by working closely with Sellers and with other Apartment Syndicators across the country. Though Ola has only lived in the US for a few years, he has successfully completed rehab projects in excess of 1M dollars. Ola continues to exceed investors returns, building upon his success on the real estate investing space. Ola likes to post his progress and encourages his community of 50,000 strong on Instagram. 

Recently, Ola, via Dwellynn, closed on an $11,500,00 deal, a 160-unit apartment building in Houston, TX. Ola continues to meet or exceed investors’ returns by investing in Value add deals in strong metropolitan cities across the United States.













Nichole Stohler