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Episode 303: How Two Teachers Found Financial Independence Through Real Estate with Blaine and Lily Kosek

By Mark Ainley

Want to hear an inspirational story about two teachers leaving their W2 and amassing over 20 rental units over a few short years? If so, then this show is for you!

Blaine and Lily talk about their decision to leave their jobs as educators to become full-time real estate agents and investors! They discuss specific suburb markets that they target along with pros and cons of the BRRRR strategy. Lily and Blaine share their vast experience with short-term rentals and dive deep on top considerations to set yourself up for success. Through the show, the duo provides repeated examples of how they just took action and let experience be the best teacher and largely attribute their success to that!

If you enjoy today’s episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

02:11 Housing Provider Tip - Perform preventative maintenance on gutters and downspouts to be prepared for rain season!

03:58 Intro to our guests, Lily and Blaine Kosek!

05:32 Leaving teaching to pursue real estate!

19:27 The Kosek Meetup Group!

24:16 The Pitfalls of the BRRRR strategy.

29:32 Opportunity in DeKalb.

35:10 Ins and outs of short term rentals!

43:45 Considerations for lake-front AirBNBs.

50:50 Best suburbs for short term rentals.

60:20 The Future of the Koseks!

62:52 What is your competitive advantage?

64:06 One piece of advice for new investors.

66:00 What do you do for fun?

66:21 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 

67:12 Local Network Recommendation? 

67:48 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

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Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest Name: Blaine and Lily Kosek

Guest Company: The Blaine Kosek Team

Guest Link: https://www.instagram.com/krushitwiththekoseks/

Other Links for show notes:

Krush It With The Koseks (TikTok)

Rich Dad Poor Dad (Book Recommendation)

Atomic Habits (Book Recommendation)


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Author

post.authorName
Mark Ainley
Investor, Managing Broker, and Property Manager
Price is what you pay, Value is what you get! I want to provide value to others and make some money along the way. I have a solid foundation in Chicago real estate because I am a Real Estate investor in both Residential and Commercial/Industrial markets while being a founding partner at GC Realty & Development LLC and co-host of Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast. In the last 20 years we renovated 500+ properties, invested in commercial properties, managed over 7000 units/tenants, leased...
Price is what you pay, Value is what you get! I want to provide value to others and make some money along the way. I have a solid foundation in Chicago real estate because I am a Real Estate investor in both Residential and Commercial/Industrial markets while being a founding partner at GC Realty & Development LLC and co-host of Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast. In the last 20 years we renovated 500+ properties, invested in commercial properties, managed over 7000 units/tenants, leased over 4,000 properties, featured on CNBC’s TV show The Deed, co-host on Chicago's AM560 Real Estate Revealed Radio Show, and invited to speak & sit on panels at numerous investment summits across the country. I have also been blessed with the opportunity to be a guest on over 30 top podcast platforms. GC Realty & Development, LLC, currently manages over 1,200 investment properties throughout the Chicagoland area. In 2019, 2020, 2020 and 2022, GCR&D was featured on the Inc. Magazine list of top 5,000 fastest growing companies in the United States. I take great pride in providing valued feedback to beginners and less experienced entrepreneurs on what steps not to take or what steps to take sooner in growing a younger business.
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