Episode 070: Antonio Edwards - Father at 17 to Wholesaling Real Estate Investor

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This is the Rise of the Young Podcast, bringing you insights from the most innovative entrepreneurs and influencers of this era. Hosted by entrepreneur, author, public speaker and.

Branding expert Casey Adams.

Now let's get right into the show.

What's going on, everyone? Casey Adams here. Welcome to the Rise of the Young podcast and we have Antonio Edwards with us today. Fun story, before we get into it, me and Antonio met this weekend in LA at the Internet Earner Summit. Fun fact, we're both from Virginia. He's from Virginia Beach. I'm from a place called Chesterfield near Richmond, Virginia. So small world. We met an event in la. Does not happen often, but appreciate you coming on, man.

Yeah, man, I appreciate you. Allow me to come on your podcast and share the world. We got to share today, man. Dude, awesome stuff.

So I know we met, you talked about real estate at the event. And obviously real estate is a subject where that word can be mean a lot of things to different people, right? But before we get into it, I just want to catch people up to speed. More about what you're currently doing in the real estate market, how long you've been doing it, then we can kind of work backwards to kind of like how it all started.

Yeah, man. So, I mean, I come from the music business, okay. So prior to. Prior to me being in real estate, I was in the music business. I was banging out tracks 14, 15 hours a day in studio. And I'm just grinding out, man. And. And I. I just lost my hat. I did a big award show in Virginia. It's crazy that you're from Virginia. We met in California. I just wanted to say that.

Crazy, right?

It's crazy. But anyway, yeah, I was just banging out freaking tracks every day. Had a dream that would come like the next Pharrell, next Timberland, because, you know, they're from Virginia too. So it was like. It was my biggest inspirations and what I did. And I had a big prize in Virginia in like the seven cities. Yeah, yeah, yeah. A lot of people knew my name as a producer, so I was like, you know what? I'm gonna put on a freaking award show, okay? Like Grammys, BET Awards. But I was like, I'm putting on like a seven city bet, Grammy style award show. And I was like, 25 at the time, man. And it's like. And it was like, yo. It was like. I was like, you know what? I'm gonna put this shit on my credit cards and just sit down. So I did commercials on bet, mbt, promoting the whole award show. I had billboards all over the seven cities. And guess what happened, bro? Like, I put 30,000 into the award show on my credit card and like, a hundred people showed up.

Okay?

Like a thousand seat event.

Okay?

So I had. I had, like, rented out this freaking. Like, it's called the Sandler center in Virginia Beach. Like, it's like a thousand seat theater. I had this huge vision, like, yeah, this will be like the bet wars. I have had freaking grand hustle, like TI's label come out. Yeah, bro. I was like, doing it big time. Yeah. Had a big vision. Like, it was gonna be this big, huge turnout. People seeing the commercials.

Yeah. You're running like ads on tv.

Yeah. As on bt, mtv, all the networks, billboards, all. Yeah, man. It was like the prolific grand award show. Like, that was my company.

Yeah. Yeah.

And 100 people fucking showed up out of a thousand seat event.

Okay? Like, okay, that was the timeframe for, like, trying to get a thousand. Was it like, year in advance?

It was a six month marketing.

Okay? So it was like six months from this. Joe, you would need to fill up a room with thousand people in six months.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah. So a six month whole marketing plan grinding hard. And like, that day, seeing the freaking outcome in the Sandler center, like a hundred people was like so many empty seats, bro.

Okay?

I lost my whole. Like, I put all that my energy because my goal was to, like, you know, make. I was gonna, like, I was like, okay. I was gonna net like 100 grand.

Yeah.

And I want him to move to Atlanta.

Yeah.

Take that money, move to Atlanta and like, you know, get, you know, get those contacts up and be this huge producer. That was my. That was like my out. My exit out of Virginia, man. That Shit backfired on me, bro. Like. Like, that shit was like. Like, it's probably like my lowest time in my manhood life. It's still to this day where it's like. It's like, damn, like, you. You, like, you got your own place, blah, blah, blah. I had to give it up, bro. Like, I had to go back home to my mom and dad. I had no money.

Okay.

I put everything into it, really. I knew I was gonna make a profit. So for those out out there, that's like, you know. You know, don't count your duck. It's your money until you actually have it.

Yeah.

I don't like you. Like, you might see a potential. Like, I'm. I can make $20,000 from that, or I can make X amount of dollars from that. It's not guaranteed until it becomes, like, in your possession.

Yeah.

And I. I would look forward. I just knew I was gonna get that money, but I didn't. So what I did, I went back home to my mom and dad. I had to start from square one, man. So that's when I started studying real estate. Watching fucking YouTube videos. Yeah.

Yeah.

And I met this guy. I was in music business. I met this guy driving a truck. It's crazy, like, how we met. Like, yay. Time is everything, bro.

Yeah.

Like, he was. Had a we buy houses truck in my area, and I stopped him and I was like, yo, like, you know, I've been studying real estate. You know what I'm saying? Like, like, how can I get in? He gave me his card. He said, hey, I'm looking to buy five houses within the next two weeks. Big cash. Give me a call. And I'm like, yeah, who buys five houses in two weeks? So I called him the next day. I was like, yo, it's me that. I was like, can I take you to Starbucks? My treat. Blah, blah, blah. I think I had, like, $200 liquid cash in my name. I think I had, like, maybe. Maybe a thousand left on my credit card. So I was kind of. Oh, man. I was on the stream. Yeah, mom and dad.

Yeah.

And being a single dad, so. Okay. It was tough, bro.

Yeah.

And I told myself I was not going back to a 9 to 5, like, because I had quit my job.

Okay. Before the war show. So you were doing music and when you quit your job, or was it like you quit your job to do the show?

I quit my job to do music. And I was doing music for like a year.

Then I did, and successfully.

You actually, like, yeah.

On your own Doing your shit.

Yeah. Selling beats for a few hundred bucks. Locals, I had a studio. Studio time charging 40 bucks an hour. It was paying bills.

Yeah.

But the award show killed me. I had to go back home to my damn. Because I was. I'm not going back to it. I was freaking just, like, I had to do anything. But I met. I met this guy. I stopped this truck, we bought houses. We fast forward. We met at Starbucks and end up. Guess what connected us? He did music. Oh, he did the 50 Cent. I don't know if you remember the Winkster. That's 50 Cent. Biggest first single. Well, look it up. Like, he had the 50 cents. Biggest first single.

I hear it.

Yeah. And after that, he had In a club. I'm okay.

Yeah, yeah.

That was before that, but the Waystone was. He did that, and that instantly connected us. And he was like, yo, you know, I'm gonna take you on my wing. Because we just.

He did that.

He produced it.

Oh, wow.

Yes. He took his $240,000 publishing deal and went into real estate.

Dang.

He's like, you know what, man? I fuck with you, man. Like, we just instantly connect. He said, man, you seem like you're like my little brother. I'm gonna show you this real estate stuff. Because he said, he's like, I feel you.

Yeah.

My first deal, I was like, $12,500. Okay, bro. That's it. For like, $12 million. Like, you don't understand.

Like, yeah, yeah, yeah.

And after my first year, I did. I wholesale 26 houses. It's like, no, no. No operation, no employees. Just me. I just hustled, man. And I. Like, my first six months, I made, like, $105,000. Like, I. I. Because I. I felt. I knew the pain. I had like, mom and dad, single dad. I just grinded out, man. And I've been doing this for nine. Nine years now.

Real estate.

Real estate, bro. It changed my life. Built, building wealth. It's like, got freedom, and it can't put. You can't put a price to peace of mind.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So those of you out there, you know, whatever, nature. And it's very, very important to, you know, build a lifestyle or build a business around your lifestyle. And real estate can do that for you.

That's crazy, bro. So music was like. Before that, though. Like, you never thought about doing real estate? Like, what was your head up with between that, cuz? I mean, from doing music, this event, this turnout that you said was like, a crushing point in your life, then, like, boom. Real estate like, was that something that like an intentionally happened that just like you said you saw that truck. But like prior to that, was there any thought process about real estate?

Well, I was watching YouTube videos and my mom. I meant to say this earlier, but my mom gave me the rich dad, poor dad, you know.

She was on it, bro.

Yeah. Yeah. But guess she was. This is the crazy part though. She never read the book. She had the book, you know, because I was living with him. You know, she knows she should see me every day, but me being back in her house and she one day she was like, here, son. Like I had this book for a while. Somebody gave it to me. I haven't read it, but something laid me on my heart to give you this book. Yeah, my first book I read cover to cover was Rich dad, Poor dad. Like I hated, I hate in school. I hated books. Right. Those, those books and stuff. But yeah, so I read the book cover to cover and that opened me up, the real estate. So I watching YouTube videos and like Law of Attraction and that's all. Yeah, like that's how it happened.

That's crazy.

Like maybe like a two week span.

No way.

Law of Attraction is real. Yeah, totally real, man.

That's crazy, bro.

Yeah.

So that being said, so you said nine years ago. So how old were you nine years ago when you first started like in the real estate game?

My first deal was 26 years old.

Okay.

Yeah, 26 years old. $12,500 check I made in my first six months in real estate. I made 105K.

Damn.

Like, for where I come from. I come from the city Norfolk, Virginia. But I believe I grew up. You know about Norfolk.

Yeah, yeah.

And I grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. So it's like from coming from that, like, and how I was raised and seeing my family, where they come from, 105 freaking K. That was a lot of money to me at the time. Like this.

Yeah.

Like.

A year before that you were fucking living with your parents, right?

Yeah.

And then just like, damn.

Yeah, yeah. Real talk, man. Like that. That just like opened my eyes to a lot of shit.

Yeah.

Like that may be young to some people. That may be old to some people. Listen to this podcast. But that's super 2600 5K. Like that's still super young.

Yeah, yeah.

Like for sure. Like it's really. You can't put that. You can't put an age anything.

You can't.

But it's like the opportunities out there, guys, you just got a freaking grind. Focus on, focus on A niche and like grind on it.

Definitely, bro.

It's so like it. The fruits were. I promise you will come out. Yeah, stick to it and grind that.

Grind it out for sure, man. So, yeah, I think I want to touch on this because there's definitely a young audience and there's no really, like you said, age jurisdiction to like what's possible when you do things. But like let's say 17 year olds, 15 year olds, 16 year olds, 20 year olds, 21 year olds, 25 year olds. Right. People listening to this podcast that they're young when it comes to your situation when you were in high school, like, what was. Take us back to them. Like what was Antonio doing in high school? Mindset wise, hanging out good people, bad people. Like, just what was, what the hell was going on back in the day? Because I always think like sitting and talking with people, it's like we talk about them now. But like, what was it back then that like led to getting in front of this microphone today, you know?

Yeah, that's an awesome question, bro. Like, like for me, like I was a savage in high school, bro. Like, I have my, I had my son in high school. Yeah, I was a freaking.

We'll touch on that.

Yeah, yeah. So it's like for those of you listening to this, you know, I say from like the, the 17 to 21 bracket, you know, just really. And I want to like close it in, but just like the ones that's like younger than me, like, you know, in high school, like, I, like, I was thinking small because how I, how I was raising what I knew, like what you don't know, you don't know what's out. Yeah, you just don't know. Yeah, like, you know, I, it was no Instagram, there was no Facebook. MySpace was just popping.

I met the founder.

YouTube was not my boy, Tom. So, you know, so like all I knew was like freaking, like I have my son coming out of high school. So it's like, man, Antonio, you know, you just need to get like a full time job.

Yeah.

There's no college, you know, you need to get a support.

Support.

Yeah. I don't want to be no freaking deadbeat dad.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So it's like I instantly became a freaking. Like, like felt like not. I didn't feel like it, but I was in a 35, 40 year old man's shoes taking that responsibility.

I can't even imagine.

Yeah, like it's. Yo, it's stressful, bro.

Yeah. Listen, if you didn't catch that, so. Well, you said you were 18 when you had your kid.

18 years old.

So it was 18. Had a kid. You're graduating high school.

Yeah.

And but like as you're graduating, like you know, you have a kid or you actually have the kid in high school.

I had like I, I had him. I graduated in June. He was born July 3rd.

Wow.

Yeah.

So literally right out of high school, people expecting to go to college or like you just had. I wasn't like, it's a blessing. But for you in that time it was just. Was it the unexpected thing that like in a sense like you, it was just so unexpected in your life that you just had to change overnight. In a sense.

That's what it felt like, man. Like my friends like, like 90, maybe like one other friend, you know, maybe had a kid. But like majority of my friends in high school that my class I graduated with, it was like partying, having fun.

Yeah.

Lifestyle is the free. Like I had to. I was home taking care of my son. It was crazy, bro. And I end up getting. I was working three freaking job, man. Just like just lit like thinking about it just like gives me pain. Like. Yeah, that's why, that's why I don't, that's why I grind so hard because I think of that pain. It reminds me.

Yeah.

Those feelings. But like. Yeah. Like I was working three jobs, man. At 19 to like 22. I was working three jobs. Damn.

What were those three jobs?

I was shit, I like, I hate it. Like I was, I was working a 12 hour job packing up orders and like loading trucks or truck drivers. And I was. Yeah, that makes, it makes you cringe, right?

I have some homies that do that.

And on the weekends I was cleaning two buildings, like emptying out the trash, mopping the kitchens, like banks and stuff.

Yeah. Real work.

Yeah.

Fucking physical work.

Yeah, like stuff like a normal person that age or anybody. I don't care if you're 50 years old, you shouldn't be doing that.

Yeah.

Doing. Gotta do what you love, man. That's where it doesn't feel like work.

Yeah. Yeah. You know, that's crazy. So to get back to the point though, it's like yeah, you're 17 or 18, graduate high school, you have a kid.

Yeah.

And like in that moment like was college even that thought was. You said you worked three jobs from then on. But like what was, what was your current looking forward plan that you have this kid? Was it like you just in the now fucking grinding and focusing on supporting and like were you living at home like what was going on? Like having this kid, we still together with the mom or like how. What was the situation? Cuz I feel like even when I'm in my age, like that means like I'm turning 18 in June. It's like if I had a kid today, like I can't imagine. It's like, it's like in a good way. It's like, dude, you have to change, but like so dramatically. It's like you can't even put a. Can you put words to it in a sense?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So basically. Yeah. So at, at 18, have a kid. Obviously he was born. No. But basically like a few weeks after I graduated. Literally. Yeah. So based on my whole senior year in high school, she was pregnant. So I was thinking about.

So you knew? Yeah, knew and knew and knew and knew.

And that July came, he was out and it's like, man, bro, like, I gotta work. You know, my friends like they going out, you know, they're going to freaking Kings Dominion.

Yeah. Virginia type shit.

Yeah. Virginia type shit, bro. Like I gotta, I gotta stay here, you know. And I took it in like a man, bro. And it like, it like, it like created this like monster in me. Like I'm, I'm like, I got mature so fast and I understood what it was like to have real responsibility, bro. So at 19, I had my first apartment with my son's mom. At the time, my son's mom, not at the time like she still his mom, but my son's mom. And we was living together, but we was together at the time. And, and that didn't work out and I just stayed out on my own as a single dad. I was a single dad since 19.

Dang.

And so that fast forward to that war show thing. Yeah, I was out on my own since like 19 and I went back to my mom and dad, I think was like 25, going on 26.

Oh, wow. Okay.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because of the war show.

Yeah, yeah. So wait, that's. What was. That was a 10 year span or. Well, when it comes to like having your kid graduating, working three jobs, you're living on your own for how long before you had to move back and.

Seven years.

So.

Yeah, seven years.

Okay, so let's. I want to bring it back to. Boom. The award show, that's obviously like a dramatic point where it's like you think in this and it's the complete opposite in a sense when it comes to like making money. This can actually put money in your pocket to provide and everything in that Regard. But also in regards to the entire atmosphere of living on your own for seven years to then having to move back in with your parents when this event happened and you couldn't. It didn't turn out or whatever that may be. Was that something in the moment where like you're mentally like, dude, like I failed. What the hell happened? Like what was going through your mind in that standpoint? Was it like did you take that as like imma bounce back or like in a mental state? Were you like, like in a way, like drowning in a sense? You know what I'm saying?

Yeah. I'll tell you this, Casey. Like if I didn't have my son, probably just would have gave up.

Yeah.

But I had, I had him to take care of, man. It was like that was. That kept me going and like not wanting to give up on my. What I was.

Yeah.

And when I lost the music, the whole war show thing, I was like, yeah, same man, I gotta find some. Something is out there, man, that I can make money on without going punching the clock, you know. I'm saying for sure I didn't want to go back to that truck. Truck drive, not truck driver. Like no loading trucks and all that good stuff like I was doing prior. But that's when I, my mom gave it a book, like timing. I was telling you. My mom gave me that book, told me, you know, something later on, hard to give it to me. I read, I read the book cover, cover, Open Metal Real estate. Start searching YouTube and I'm watching all these videos on wholesaling. I met the guy. All this in a two week span.

That's crazy.

Yeah. So it was like.

So I started getting momentum.

Momentum.

Yeah, that's the key.

Yeah. The rubber was meeting the road. Yeah, man, I gotta utilize this. Got this. I gotta connect. If you get a connect, utilize that guy.

Yes.

That's like leverage it. Like some, A lot of people got connects, Casey. They don't even like really like utilize their connection. Yeah, I'm talking about entrepreneur people. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know people.

Like that, they have connections or they have resources. They have people in their life or resources that can navigate them in a certain direction, but they just don't even. And it's saying get in here and take this vehicle. But it's just, they don't take the action that's necessary.

Exactly. So you have something that can like, like help you out and like, you know, a connect is nothing but a vehicle. You know, you want to respect that vehicle and you know, build a relationship. That vehicle, like. And that's the most important thing is relationships, man. And I build a relationship with him. And I was like, that this is only. That was only connect I had at that time. I knew that was tangible for me to call and be like, hey, how can I do this? How can I wholesale? And I, you know, earlier case wholesaling and that. That whole year changed like freaking for the first six months, like. But that whole year changed my life on like everything.

Yeah, yeah.

Like stuff I didn't even see. I started to see that wasn't physically there is. I saw my brain.

Yeah.

Ideas and like what was possible.

Yeah. Just changing the whole mental framework type shit.

Yeah, yeah. So now I've been doing this for nine, nine years now. I'm 35 now. I got a freaking young heart, you know, my son's 17.

Yeah, yeah. My age.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's like he's all into the supreme height thing and I got. I love how he's like grinding and have the entrepreneur not mindset. And I tell him every time I was like, yo, son, like, I had you when I was your. Like, you're like literally in high school. You go into fourth grade. I was like, how would you feel like in my shoes? And I purposely put the pain in him. He's like, man, I don't see how you did it, man. I can't do like, I got dreams to pursue right now. I'm glad he has that mindset, bro.

I feel you, bro. Yeah, that's crazy. So He's. Your son's 17. Being a dad, what does that journey been like change your life? Like, like if you had to get put words to it.

For one. It gave me like, it matured me quick. I mean, obviously right out of high school, I had, I had to think 10 years, 15 years older than a natural 18 year old. I'll say most importantly, probably it gave me a grind, bro. Like, I knew what it was like to work 12 hours a day and additional jobs on week, seven days a week down there. For real. Like, I knew what it was like to put physical working. Like. So when I got into like, like real estate, I knew it was like from working. I was on music 15 hours at the time studio. When I had time, like, I knew it's like. So when I, I knew I was like, damn, I gotta do is like, you know, make sure I can like hope for wholesaling purposes when I was running time, like get this thing on a contract and flip a piece of paper and I can like make money. Let me explain what wholesaling is.

Yeah. For everyone that's listening, we're gonna, we're gonna break down wholesaling.

Yeah.

Something that you do in real estate that is a certain type of way to do it. Because I know real estate's a complicated game. Some people listening may be experts and killing it. If so you can skip this part. But if you're not, please listen. He's an explain more about what he does in the intent of just educating you based on his certain category of real estate. So let's talk about wholesaling, man.

Yeah man. All right, so guys, so for the people out there that okay, y' all probably heard wholesale a few times come on my mouth. So basically again I didn't have no money when I started. I met this, this guy in a truck with we buy houses on it. So he, he's like I'm gonna put you onto my wing. I'm gonna show you this wholesaling thing. He said I'm gonna show you how to flip properties. Guys, listen carefully. I'm gonna try to flip properties without using any of your money or your credit. So I'm like what? Like who? I never knew that existed guys. So. Alright, so, so, so we. He. I used to go to his office like daily, you know, I mean just, just like suck up all his knowledge and everything. So he, he showed me how to find properties with. Through marketing. Alright. So I just say if I have a. Just a post ad on Craigslist we're talking about, you know, this way different ways you can find leads. But I was just generating leads, putting out bandit signs. We buy houses and guys, you could do this. I mean you can. This is like a really good way to start off in real estate, especially investing side. But I will go into a property, just say the house, the seller wanted $50,000. Right. I ran my comps like on Zillow or something like that and I saw the houses were selling for 140 and I saw investors were buying them at $65,000. Okay. And I go inside a seller's house. You want, they want $50,000. I get it on the contract as a buyer. Like I'm the buyer on the contract I'm signing one two three Main Street $50,000. Antonio Edwards Properties LLC and or signs meaning I can assign that contract within my duration of the contract. Just say 30 days. So I instantly put that same property on Craigslist for sale and then real estate for sale section. I got on the contract for 50K I put up there for $65,000, you know, $65,000 worth 140 fixed up because, you know, we buy some stressed properties and a buyer calls me, say he wants to buy it at 65. So I assign my contract with an assignment agreement to him for $15,000 Simon fee. Right. He comes. So, so this is the no money down thing for me. At closing 30 days later, he wires or brings a check to the title company for $65,000. The seller get their 50, I get my 15. That's like I'm basically the middleman, guys. So yeah, I did that whole year, like 26 deals like that to get, get me first year, first year, first six months, I made 105k liquid. Like I didn't, like, I didn't know how to not act with that.

That's so crazy.

Yeah, I was like, wow. I got like, I thought it was like, I thought I was a millionaire or something, you know, at the time.

Yeah.

Like I was like, wow. Like it just, it felt like it happened from the time I met him to that six months later. Felt like overnight. Yeah, like, yo.

Wow, that's crazy. Yeah, that's super crazy.

Yeah.

So when it comes to the that six months. So like prior to that, no real estate experience, like didn't come from parents that did any real estate. It was just like, you dead ass ran into this mentor, he schooled you up, they kind of went under his wing, like. And then six months later, you're freaking bringing in six figures just from a tactic you learned six months ago and on a continuous basis.

Yeah.

That's crazy.

Absolutely, man. And like, you know how no we, you know, you spoke at the Internet earnings summit a couple of days ago. You know, I was just number a whole bunch of Internet marketers there, man. It was really cool to share the new way that I buy and flip properties, which the model is sexy. You know, I built it around my lifestyle today to travel, you know, spend time with my family, you know. Right. I currently, I live in Orlando, Florida. The past six years, you know, it just opened up a whole like opportunity the way that I can buy properties and live a lifestyle.

Yeah, you know, for sure, man. So I know we talked about this yesterday and I'll kind of get him to explain it. So when it comes to the current buying and selling route that you use, like you said you kind of built this entire system that's a digital side of stuff.

Yeah.

What is it in like a simplified manner just so people can kind of get the content before we dive into it.

Yeah. Yeah. So pretty much like my main business model for finding properties and flipping them is, you know, a lot of people that's outside of real estate, they, you know, most people think of real estate as being offline, but the way I do in. Find my properties is I do it online in. And I use real estate, online auctions, like to find properties. And I was showing Casey how I do it and it's just like, is. He's like, bro. Like, it's that simple.

Like, yeah, literally.

Yeah. And it's like, you know, I use three main platforms, which is, you know, you guys want to listen, you know, write it down. Is auction.com hubzu hu b zu.com and Zone X O M E comm and those like the three main platforms. I go and I. My main operation in my office today is in Virginia, even though I stay in Orlando. So I run my operation virtually. And it's sexy. I bid on properties, I have my virtual assistants. Like, I give them like a cap number. And when I say cap, like what's. Basically I give them a maximum number for them to bid on a property. So I can still make money. But I use these three platforms and I go through just say, like, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and I'll see how many properties this week that I can bid on in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Like literally from my phone or laptop guy. Like, this is super web based. You just got to know your numbers and know how much you can buy that property for and resell it for and flip it as is to an end buyer. So that's pretty much the simplicity of it.

That's so crazy, man. And I know when he first told me about that, it blew my mind away. And like he said he gave you those three links, they're all going to be down in the description. And if you want more information about all those, make sure to hit them up on Instagram. Same thing. It'll be all in the description as well. But I have a couple more questions for you, man. Like, when it comes to the journey of real estate and the concept of it, I think the major thing I start to think about when I meet all these crazy people is like, it seems so much harder from the outside than it does when you're actually on the inside making shit happen.

Yeah.

You know I'm saying, like, you hear real estate and doing real estate and wholesaling and like all this stuff, but like, you don't know the terminology because you're not putting in the effort. But it's like once you put in the effort of actually the day in and day out grind, like, you look back six months, you're like, Holy shit, I put 160 grand in my pocket. And six months ago I had no idea what this was, you know, saying.

Yeah.

So like the question is like, where do you think the boundary is between people that are like the wanters? And like, I'm gonna do that but never do. But to. And then the difference between the people that actually are six months later making a profit and six months later actually in the grind looking back and be like, damn, I didn't know anything six months ago. What do you think differentiates the two people there, man?

That's all freaking. Great question, Casey. I would say from, you know, from my experience is people don't go through enough pain. Like there. A lot of people in this world are like in 70 degree comfort zone every day. Like in their brain. They're like on Delta, like cruising.

Yeah.

But it's not like that. Like, even I'm talking about the people that's like working on the fight. Like basically the 97%.

Yeah.

They're in a comfort zone mode. Like, I was in freaking a pain. Like, like my, like I was in pain. Like, I didn't want to be in that position. Like, I think when you get to like, like, like, like a, like a, almost a. Like it's almost like a death mode. Like you, you have no choice. I had, like, I felt like I had no choice but to like change. Find something to change my life away because I had my son. That was my super wide.

Yeah, yeah.

Mom and dad. Like I had at 19. When I moved out, I had no clue to go back to that house.

Yeah.

But I did when I was like 26 and it was like, man, like, I gotta do something, man. Like, I had pain. I had a why. So when once you have a why, like, I think like, it's a law of attraction. You figure it out. Yeah, you gotta, you gotta execute guys. Like, you know, whatever you're doing, whatever niche you're in. This. Listen to this podcast here. Like, you know, you have to like focus. Like whatever you. If you know what you want to do, you got to focus on that thing and drive it. Yeah, yeah. Execute.

Yeah.

You won't have like, like you. A lot of people, like, no. Study, you know, listen to podcasts, which is amazing by the way. They listen to reads, read a whole bunch of books, watch YouTube all day. But if you're not executing like.

Yeah.

It's just Analysis paralysis. And it's just gonna be jumbled up in your head. Yeah, it's never gonna be perfect. Like, yeah, you can make a blueprint all you want, but I guarantee that, I guarantee that blueprint won't be go, go along.

Totally agree.

You're gonna be like, yeah, yeah. Editing along.

Yeah, yeah, exactly. So someone else told me that when it comes to, like, you can't plan just every moment or everything, especially in the one that comes to an execution plan moving forward. It's like if you try to map out to the 27th step, but don't even do the first yet, like, dude, what are you doing, man? You can't take the shot that you don't even have the ball for. You know what I'm saying? So it's like I see it all the time. It's like people just, they try to do things that it's like you require 1, 2, 3 before you even should think about 4. But you should know 4 is there when you get there. But it's like in the now, it's like, why focus on the 26th house when you haven't done one, right? So, like, I want everyone out there to really think and I want him to touch on this as well. Is like, whatever you're doing, let's say, let's say it's even building a personal brand. Like, if you're trying to build your audience, focus on building it today, not in a week and a half when you have that perfect picture or whatever it may be. Like, do it today. Interact with people that comment on your pictures, respond to those ten DMS that you got. Whatever it is, like, if you're not integrating, interacting with your audience today, why do you expect them to interact with you in a sense, you know? So I want to touch on that, but next question. You said your why your son. Just everything revolves around like this moment where like you had to become a man in a sense overnight, right? Yeah. Not people 17, not like they don't have. That's not like a lot of 17 year olds don't have kids, right? So it's like for you having that and circling around it, saying, like, that's my why. That's your driving force, right?

My driving force, yeah.

100%.

Yeah.

So when it comes to just that in general and what you've learned from that and like, I like to call it like transmission of energy. Like when it comes to your why and your driving force, if someone's listening right now and maybe doesn't have a why and really just can't find out why they should do that. And let's say they're suffering, but it's like, why should I even try? Because the road just punched me in the face. Down, down, down. What would you say to that person that's really stuck in a sense and like, don't even know where that first step is?

Yeah, man, that's a great question. So, yeah, I mean, you are who you hang with. I mean, if you're feeling like that, like, man, like, man, every day just fucking suck, man. I have no confidence, no motivation. You know, I would start because I guarantee you, you know, most, I would say all have a social media like account platform. And you're scrolling daily.

Yeah, for sure.

Who are you scrolling to see? Are you looking at negative? Because that's, that's driving in your brain. Yeah, I mean, that subconsciously has an effect. So you got to follow like a thousand cases, you know, I'm saying, like, is he gonna like make you feel like when you like see a thousand type cases, like Gary Vee, Gary V's, Antonio Edwards.

Yes.

Like, you gotta have that positivity around you if, you know, if you can't reach out, you can't touch these people, you know, like that at least follow these positivity type folks. Because if you like, you know, most of your friends, like, you know, because like you went to high school with them or they're living your neighborhood or just know them, you know, like, they, they probably not, I mean, it might not be positive. They're probably bringing negativity to you. So.

And it might even be conscious. It might be like, yes, you don't know. Yeah, yeah, you don't know what. You don't know. Bring it up that point.

Yeah, yeah. So, but, but the people that you hang around physically, the people that you text every day, you call every day, you, you want, you want to surround yourself. And I tell my son this all the time and I'm like, man, like, you know, like, like you said, you might not know, but. Yeah, yeah, like, you know, your circle is everything.

Yeah.

Your top five.

Yeah.

So that, that's going to lift you up, that's going to motivate you. Like, who are you? Group text and everything. Group text, talking about entrepreneurship, how they can, like help you out, how you can help them out. Did you talk about ideas or are you talking about, you know, something else?

Next party or the next party. Yeah, but it's like on a continuous basis. Not even like a one time to celebrate or whatever, but like if you're doing. If you're partying every day, it's like. And you say you're gonna do something, like, most of the time you're just gonna keep partying, you know?

But if you are partying, though, that's cool. Like, yeah, gotta party. But make sure that circle you're partying with. Make some moves.

Yeah, for sure, man.

I'm telling you. Yeah, they're not making moves and like, oh, fuck, I gotta go to 9 to 5 tomorrow. And you're like, oh, fuck, I gotta go to 9 to 5 tomorrow. Fuck, this shit sucks. My life sucks. It's your circle, man. But if y' all like, y' all partying, like, oh, dude, man, I gotta. I got a fucking idea that we need to execute. And you started about it, you're still like, party. You still living your life young, but you, like, it's so many young entrepreneurs out here that you can connect with today. It's not even funny. Like Instagram, like, follow the positive. The positive young guys like this that you can relate to that touch your heart. Not the negative ones. Like, yeah, follow the ones like the thousand cases. Follow those.

Okay.

Connect with them. You know what I'm saying?

Dope, dope. Last thing, last question. I think it's gonna wrap things around. So when it comes to music industry entrepreneurship, having a kid, like, yeah, I feel like everything, kind of like you learn from each thing, but it helps you progress in each thing, right? So it's like, how do you think the music industry and then having that transition of quote, unquote, failure in your eyes, like you said, when it comes to that, the entire event that you wanted to have to now crushing it in real estate, like, when I look back, like, there's moments that, like, you can see, like, that is the reason the pivot point for me. So what do you. What would you consider was not just the major pivoting point of, like, having a kid, but just when do you think it really clicked and you really had to go all in? And what I mean by all in is just like, there's no other option. Like, you hear that all the time where it's like. I hate when people say, like, what's your plan B? Like, dude, if there's. If you have another option, you're not focused on the first option enough. If you're 99% in, bro. Like, you. You take that L, you're that 1% that's taking the L's down there. You know, it's like, you have to be 100%. So what I mean by just the combination of one thing leading to the next, how would you say the moment was where you just went all in? And then for that, responding back to that is just how do you think young entrepreneurs or young people listening. Maybe your son's listening to this right now. It's like, what would you tell that young person that's just in that moment? He know he wants more, but he just. He doesn't know if it's right now or next year or whatever? Like, what would you tell that person that just needs something to just uplift them in a sense of just. Yeah. Important task. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, what got answer. Answered that. And I'll stretch more into it. It's like when I fill my first deal, that 12,5. $12,500 check, that's the moment I was like, you know what? I'm going all in with this real estate stuff, man. And, you know, that first year I did 26 deals. And by the way, when I only stayed my mom, dad for nine months, because that first six months, I was like, I did. I made 105K. And three months later, I was like, you know, I'm getting. I'm out. Yeah, you're like, I'm out. I don't want to be on with them.

Like, yeah.

So I was there for not nine months, but yeah. So I like, you know. You know, I've done for all notes up to this day. I went to well over 400 transactions, $30 million of real estate. 400 transactions, $30 million in different real estate. You know, far as transactions with students and stuff.

Yeah.

From all across the board. And I had, you know, my son did two deals already.

Really?

Yeah, he's done two deals. I had him. I had two deals last year before he moved to Florida with me, and he had him put out some bandit signs to find a buyer. So he found the buyers, and I paid him. We joint venture on two days.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So bringing leads in.

I wanted to say that. That, you know, he was. He was 16 at the time. So for the young guys out there, you can wholesale, like, you can get into real estate and do this. Like, eventually. You want to build cash flow.

Yeah.

Like the name of the game is to build cash flow. Passive income. Like, because it's gonna be a lot of days. You just want to, like, just maybe take off for a month. Probably can't do that now. But, you know, some days we have cash flow coming in. And when I say cash flow, basically building Passive income that's gonna take care of your monthly expenses. Whether you sleeping all day, it's coming in those checks coming in like that's the name of the game for me. It's like cash flow. But the people out there, like, you, you wanna like, you know, you want to do something and you just like, not sure. You're kind of on the fence. What Casey was asking. I think for the most part you really know what you want to do in your gut. Yeah, like, people just like dig it deep and kind of ignore nor the situation. But I feel like, no, especially like I wanted to do music.

Yeah.

I knew it. Because I mean, naturally I beat on the table freaking like, yeah, like get in trouble, get attention. Because I was so loud in class about it. Like beatboxing, rapping, like with my boys and stuff. Doing like. So I'll use this analogy with my son today. Okay. So like, my son skateboards. My son plays Fortnite. He plays. He's. He's into the supreme height thing and he said he wants to do real estate. Okay, what do you think? What do you think? He's like. And he. And he, he robbed. He. He loves Rob Dyrdek. Yeah, like, he's like, like, he loves skateboarding. Like the fashion thing. Yeah, he wants to do real estate. So what do you think he wants, like, from naturally. From hearing those things?

I mean, real estate is just like grounded from you. I feel like it's a transmission of energy from you. Yeah, it.

But naturally I tell him like, like you say you want to do real.

Estate, but wait, he really wants to do the things that are driving him daily?

Yes. That's in his gut. The dude was natural. You're freaking skating. You want to move to la, get a skateboard. Like, you're like, you're falling up. You fall in nothing but skateboard and fashion. People with that supreme, the height. But you say you want to do real estate, maybe because, you know, you see me, but naturally, when I see from you and you don't even think about it, you're naturally into the skateboarding, the fashion. So go with that.

Yeah, I feel you, bro.

So now the people listen to this. Go with what? You naturally look up on Instagram or what you naturally YouTube. Yeah, that's your thing. Because you're not even thinking about.

Yeah, yeah.

Like it doesn't feel like it's a. Is a fort, whatever. It doesn't feel like a force that you're like looking into on a daily basis. Go with that drive and hang with those People in that circle that are in that niche.

Yeah.

Like, it's very important, guys.

Good stuff, man.

Yeah.

So I think the thing I want to kind of get from this to kind of end it off is just like, bro, like, you had a negative situate, not a negative situation. You had multiple situations that just transformed your direction and path, like, for everyone. Young listening, make sure you keep following Antonio. All of his social medias will be down in the description below. Because I feel like a lot of people, especially they're young, like, they'll for sure be able to resonate. Because I mean, like, even from the thought process of if someone's young, like thinking about having a kid, like, if you just ask them that questions, like, yo, really think about this, like, how would your life change if this happened? And like, yeah, you persevered, took it to the next level, and now you're fucking killing it. Right?

Yeah, yeah.

But like, it's like, yeah, it's huge blessings. And like, I think a lot of people just, if they think about just the comfortability of like, where they are and they aren't feeling that pain, I think that's the thing holding them back, you know, I'm saying.

Yeah.

So where's the best place for everyone to connect with you, man?

Yeah. So you can follow me on ig, Antonio, underscore the letter J. Underscore Edwards. Easier to find your. Find me. You know, my, my website, you can go to rei, Rich and famous dot com, the letters R E I Rich and famous dot com. But most importantly, follow me on ig. That's like the modern day business card.

Yeah, Yeah.

I want to share one thing, though. For the young guys, entrepreneurs, you know.

Yeah, yeah.

This is very important, man. Some of you guys, 18, 19, early 20s, whatever the case may be. Some maybe 17, 16, whatever case may be, like, utilize your, your utilize what you have at that age to go to a bank because. And, and go into the bank with like a suit, you know, whatever, whatever you want to do, like go looking sharp and ask for the vice president and president at your age and ask for a business line of credit because with that you can utilize that to build your business. A lot, a lot of people young, like you, like, you, like, you can go into these banks and get like, I don't know, they say you guys have fresh credit now, you have a fresh slate. You don't have a foreclosure, a bankruptcy, you don't have a history.

Yeah.

So you can go into these banks and get business line of credit and specifically if you guys want to know about real estate, like get into real estate, you can say, I want to. You know, I want. I'm going. I'm coming here to get financing to fund some real estate transactions. You'd be surprised what you will come out with just by going to the bank, asking for the president, vice president, and sitting at their table and telling them what you want and why you want it. The result, you will come out just by asking.

Yeah, yeah.

Guys, I'm telling you that. That right there is priceless because that people out there that's looking for money to, like, fund their business, that's like, you're at that age. Like, you can go get credit. I mean, like lines of credit. Like, yes, do that. Guys. Try it. The worst case you would get is not right now.

Yeah.

Your credit. You know. You know, go to Macy's and start something that right there for six months and come back to us.

Yeah.

Boom. That's still a. That's a step.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

For sure, man.

Dude, crazy stuff.

Yeah.

For everyone listening, if you want to ask more questions, like I said, you'll follow him on Instagram, let them know that you came from the podcast. And overall, I just always remember that it's about the step you're on, not the step that 40 steps away. Right? So, Antonio, man, I appreciate you coming on the show and everyone listening to the Rise Young podcast. I will talk to you guys soon. Peace out.

Y' all are hopeless. This is a decade of devotion it's hard to stop my movement when I'm already in motion this ain't luck this is by design I had to work in the dark for my light to shine A lot of people are dope. They just quit too soon.

Legacy of Monsters an Apple Original series the world is on fire. I decided to do something about it on November 17th. This place, it's not ours. Believe me. The most massive event of the year arrives. If you come with me, you'll know everything. I promise.

Oh, my God.

Go, go, go.

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