We recently connected with Alex Barnett and have shared our conversation below.
Alex , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
My whole life has been music since I was an early teen, but when the music industry fell silent in 2020, it signified more than just the end of gigs and performances—it marked a profound shift in my professional trajectory. As someone deeply entrenched in touring, music production, performance, and sound design, I found myself at a crossroads, compelled to seek alternative avenues to sustain my family’s livelihood.
Realizing the need for a new direction, I turned to real estate investing—a field that held promise despite my initial lack of financial resources. With determination to adapt and succeed, I sought mentorship from a local expert, Joe Homs, offering my expertise in video/music production in exchange for invaluable insights into the world of real estate.
Within a mere three months of diving into this unfamiliar territory, I clenched my first real estate wholesale deal. From then on, I was obsessed. The transition from music to property investment was not without its challenges; each stride forward was accompanied by a profound sense of uncertainty and trepidation. However, my unwavering commitment to learning and perseverance propelled me through the obstacles.
The journey has been filled with continuing lessons, punctuated by countless late nights, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt. Nevertheless, through perseverance and dedication, I have forged a path toward a future that exceeds even my most audacious aspirations. Real estate is no longer merely a career path—it represents a cornerstone upon which I am building a legacy of stability and prosperity for my family.
As I contemplate the prospect of expanding my family, I am profoundly grateful for the risks I have undertaken. They have not only reshaped my professional trajectory but have also laid the groundwork for a future brimming with possibility and fulfillment.
Alex , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
With a background in touring in bands, running a recording studio, working with Facebook and Oculus my entire professional career was entrenched in music. When live music stopped in 2020, it was an awakening that what I thought would be my entire career, what had been my identity, was not going to be able to provide for my current and future family. That’s when I found Real Estate and never looked back.
Having such a creative background has given me incites into looking at Real Estate challenges differently. Since we focus on the investing side, rather than the traditional agent “retail” side we see problems everyday that most people have no idea how to solve.
From pre foreclosures, probates, major repairs, title issues we have seen it all and have helped dozens of people out of problems that other investors or agents we not able to solve.
For example, there was a seller in Huntington Beach who’s house was about to go to auction in 7 days. His brother was an agent, was not able to stop the sale. Other investors were offering way too low that he would not have been able to get his equity out to start fresh. We came in and held his hand through the whole process. I stayed on the phone with the lender for hours each day, until I got someone to help. We wired the arrears to the lender with only hours to spare, saving his home and allowing him to get his equity. I became close with him after we had gone through so many ups and downs. This is the part of the business I love!
Helping and providing value is what we lead with. After losing our family home in 2008 to foreclosure, being able to help people stay in their properties or sell and start fresh.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
When I first started out I had no money and no experience, but i did have time. I took the advice of my mentor and started looking for deal. In Real Estate if you have the deals, the money will follow. Once I started getting deals under my belt, I used that money to fund my business. In 3 years then we have flipped all over SoCal and wholesaled properties nationwide. Partnering is the best way to fund your business if you have no money to start.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
The book that pulled me in the Real Estate world was Rich Dad Poor Dad By Robert Kiyosaki. It seems to be a book that resinates with a lot people that start down the Real Estate investing journey. Its a pretty basic book as far as how to get start but its a really good high level overview of how investing in real estate can get you to financial freedom. I would start there and see where it leads you.
Contact Info:
- Website: newlyhomes.com
- Instagram: @thisisalexbarnett
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexbarnettrealestate
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexbarnettre
- Twitter: @thisisalexbarnett
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@thisisalexbarnett