Whitney Nicely is the queen of real estate investing in east Tennessee. She flipped her first house in 2009. Whitney’s real estate portfolio has grown from zero, ziltch, nada to 17 residential houses, 19 apartment units and 7 chunks of vacant land across east Tennessee. She doesn’t plan on stopping until she reaches $100,000 in monthly income from her real estate portfolio. If you, like so many Americans, dream of building a real estate portfolio but lack the time to manage your investments – then you can always employ a property management company. Whitney was tired of going to one boring real estate training session to another so in 2016 she launched an online academy for people who are serious about starting a real estate empire with limited amounts of time and money. Read our interview with the lovely Whitney below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
My mom has been a real estate investor since before I was born. I wanted to scale my portfolio faster than she did so I wouldn’t be committed to a 9-5 forever.
Tell us about your business.
I buy houses, flip them, sell them and rent them. In 2016, I started mentoring women across the country to become financially free with real estate investments.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
Yes. I have a quick start program to get any lady everything she needs to really know about real estate – FAST. I don’t use a real estate license, agent or bank to find and fund my deals. I’m a one woman show and I make the magic happen. I also hosted a ladies retreat at Biltmore Estate in North Carolina last weekend. The videos from that event will be available if you want to expand your brain with other leading ladies in real estate.
Where is your business based?
Knoxville, TN.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
I went to days upon weeks of BORING real estate trainings. OMG. It was awful. So, that’s one of my goals- to make learning about real estate fun and easy. People overcomplicate real estate. It’s not that damn difficult!
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Facebook, Craigslist, IFTTT, Bandit Signs.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
I buy houses. I say like that most women say “I buy shoes.” So, the biggest challenge has been stepping into that role and OWNING the fact that I buy houses like most women buy shoes. I have lost a lot of friends too. They want to actually go shoe shopping and complain about spending $100. I made $15,000 last week and you want to complain about a $100 bill? Suddenly, I’m in my own little world, buying houses and cashing checks.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I got myself really busy buying houses and living my life. I depended on family and my boyfriend even more than before. I surrounded myself with other women making bank.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
Sales cures all. Sometimes, houses don’t sell as fast as I’d like. So, I go out, take more pictures, maybe throw in some light staging, update ads online, put out more bandits signs and BAM! God sends me a buyer.
How did you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
PINK! Everyone in real estate uses red, white and blue for logos, branding and everything else. My stuff is bright, neon PINK and it stands out like a sore thumb. You can’t miss it!
What is the best advice you have received recently?
My latest mantra is “I only work with action takers.”
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Keep going.
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
I hate to admit this but I use Zillow more than I like to let people know about…
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @WhitneyBuysHouses
Twitter @WhitBuysHouses
Facebook Whitney Nicely
Facebook Group Cash Flow Queens of Real Estate
Website Start.WhitneyNicely.com
Hashtags #ibuyhouses #webuyshouses #whitneynicely #whitneybuyshouses #andyoucantoo
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
Salvatore Ferragamo’s “Shoemaker of Dreams”. I make a joke that Grant Cardone’s “Obsessed” book was taken straight for Ferragamo’s.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I am a real estate genius. But I cannot figure out a flipping landing page to save my life!
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
I want to help 10 people every month start building their real estate portfolio using no money down, no credit and no banks. It’s totally possible and I’m the best person to help you achieve those goals!
Homer Ward says
Hi thanks for the information and posts.