How to Become Successful Real Estate Entrepreneurs?
Always Do What You Say You Are Going to Do and Do it With Integrity
Tim and Melissa Swartz are independent business owners with HomeVestors® of America, Inc. in the Columbus, Ohio, market, and Melissa is currently serving as the Ad Council President for that area. The couple started their HomeVestors business, HumbleBee Properties, LLC in 2017 after each having successful careers in business and education administration. Their driving factor is their family—to have the ability fully enjoy and support their three children through their formative years.
Life Before HomeVestors
After graduating from Ashland University in 2007 with a degree in political science and government, Tim became a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps serving as an attack helicopter pilot and operational planner. He left the Corps in 2016 and attended The Ohio State University where he earned his MBA. Upon graduation, he first worked for JP Morgan Chase and later transitioned to help grow a small insurance technology company called PolicyFuel. It was during his tenure at JP Morgan Chase that they bought the HomeVestors franchise.
Melissa met Tim while both were attending Ashland University. After graduation, she attended the University of West Florida where she earned her master’s degree in higher education and administration. For 13 years, Melissa worked in universities focusing on compliance, specifically with issues related to student conduct and sexual assault. It is in this trying environment where she developed her passion for helping people.
Becoming a HomeVestors Independent Business Owner
“We bought our HomeVestors franchise because we both had an entrepreneurial spirit and we also saw the business as a way of helping others,” Melissa explained. “In fact, the very first question we ask a prospective seller is, ‘What can we do to help?’ Much of the time we don’t buy their house, but we find some other way to get them through whatever difficult situation they may be in. Though most instances do not end in a financial reward, the intangible benefit of doing right by people is what makes us truly proud of what we do.”
True to their backgrounds in compliance and military planning, from day one they fully embraced the proven HVA process and focused on execution and operational flexibility. “In our first year, we concentrated on wholesaling and a few quick flips to establish a good cash base, giving us the ability to shift to building a rental portfolio, which we did,” Tim said. “We have completed 55 deals since we started, and we currently have 13 cash flowing single family rentals in suburban neighborhoods with good school systems. Today, we are concentrating more on fix-and-flips until interest rates cool down but are looking forward to getting back to growing a substantial, long-term portfolio to provide lasting financial prosperity for our family.”
The Swartz’s Crystal Ball
When asked what 2024 has in store for their business, Tim and Melissa are quite optimistic. Columbus, Ohio, is a very competitive and very hot real estate market and it is the fastest growing metro area in the United States. The housing supply remains historically tight but is also very profitable. Tim elaborated by stating, “Interest rates will come down but not nearly as low as we’ve enjoyed in recent years. At least not any time soon. However, Columbus will do just fine and there will continue to be strong growth in prices.”
Melissa added that they are boosting their ad spend this year to bring in even more opportunities. She is especially optimistic because “we are all in now.” Tim left his job in June 2023, and they are both now 100% focused on the real estate business.
Advice from an Expert
“Our advice for anyone getting started in real estate investing is simple.”
• Always do what you say you are going to do and do it with integrity.
• Have confidence in yourself.
• Be humble.
Homevestors
What exactly does it mean to be a HomeVestors® business owner? Owning a real estate business is life changing and naturally comes with risks! When you become a HomeVestors business owner, you get immediate access to motivated seller leads, financing resources for qualifying purchases and repairs, one-on-one coaching with your local Development Agent, proprietary software for analyzing properties and deals, and access to a nationwide network of coaches and peers. Your house-buying business is yours and you run it as your own venture with a focus toward your individual business goals.
If you are interested in a franchise, call 866-249-6932, email Sales@homevestorsfranchise.com or visit www.homevestorsfranchise.com. Each franchise office is independently owned and operated.
