Today we’d like to introduce you to TJ Tijani.
Thanks for sharing your story with us TJ. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story began when I was eight years old. That was when my mom and four siblings moved to Houston from Nigeria. We lived in a two bedroom apartment. As a first generation immigrant, I watched my mother work very hard to provide for us throughout childhood. I got accepted into the University of Houston which was one of my top choices. I worked full time in college along with a full course load to pay for college. I graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics minor and was the first in my family to graduate from college. I worked as an engineer at an oil and gas company and I got the opportunity to travel quite a bit. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur but I wasn’t exactly sure which route to take. What turned me on to real estate investing was reading the book Rich Dad Poor Dad so I decided I wanted to own assets. I traveled quite a bit but when I was in town, I focused on real estate investing. The first major step I took was buying the house I grew up in from my mother and I moved into it. I then went on to purchase my first investment property and began renting it out. After that first investment property, I started other real estate investment strategies. I began wholesaling while I was still keeping some deals for my self as rentals.
In 2017, I was laid off from my engineering position due to the oil and gas market downturn. I saw it as my opportunity to transition into real estate investing full time. I was then turned to the Short Term Rental strategy and I decide to make that my main focus. I began buying, remodeling, and furnishing single and multi-family properties and turning them into short term rentals. My goal was to own my own version of a hotel boutique. I started Home Suites November 2017 with a three bedroom two bathroom house I own in 3rd ward. Since then we have grown to eight short term rental units with three more going live within the next two months. All our units are within the 610 loop in 3rd ward, midtown, and downtown. The business would not be successful without great mentors, great systems, and a great team.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road at all. While working as an engineer, I knew I wanted to do something more. My plans were to reach a certain level in my business then walk away from my engineering position. I didn’t anticipate the oil and gas prices to crash and being forced to leave my position. As I was growing my real estate business, it was still a difficult transition. I quickly realized that I needed to be more discipline when not having a 9-5 position more than if I had one. And not everything goes well while working a real estate deal. I have had buyers back out of a deal at the closing table, contractors that stole from me and or walked out on my project. The important part is your mindset towards failure. You can either let it cripple you, or you can stand on top of them, use it as a learning experience and KEEP GOING.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Home Suites story. Tell us more about the business.
My company is called Home Suites. We are where real estate investing meets hospitality. We offer fully furnished apartments and houses that make out guests feel like home away from home in Houston. We have professional maid service before each guest, fully stocked kitchen, dedicated high-speed internet, plus HDTVs in every room in our units with Netflix and Cable.
Our primary guests are business travelers, medical center travelers, and large groups/families. All our rentals are centrally and amazingly situated to enjoy everything Houston has to offer. Just minutes from business hubs, entertainment venues, restaurants, shops, stores, the Museum District and the renowned Houston Medical Center! We also provide accessible anywhere digital guidebook which has key information like parking, directions, access and local recommendations for great food and the most fun things to do in town!
Along with growing the business, I also began teaching and showing this particular real estate investing strategy to others in my Short Term Rental Masterclasses.
In 2018, we welcomed 1,507 guests from 14 countries. And we are on track to more than double that in 2019!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have an interesting theory about luck. I believe that we create our own “luck” in a way. You can start a business, invest money on equipment, marketing, advertising, to try and generate clients and you go for months or years without turning any profits. But because you stayed in the game and didn’t give up, you meet the right person, or you close a deal that changes your “luck”. But is it general luck, or did you create it by not giving up?
“Good luck is when opportunity meets preparation, while bad luck is when lack of preparation meets reality.” – Eliyahu Goldratt
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bookhomesuites.com
- Email: tj@bookhomesuites.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bookhomesuites?igshid=zap38h4wdsm1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Homesuiterentals/
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