A bad first investment can cost you years, but it can also teach you the patience that builds a better business. That is exactly what happened to William Holder, an associate broker who now leads 30 agents in southeastern Pennsylvania. On this episode of the REalizations Podcast, I talked with the founder of the William Holder Realty Team about his path from Trinidad to banking to real estate, the BRRRR method, and how he finds agents who do the work.
Curious about this episode? Here's a preview of our conversation, including the moment William explains why his first investment turned into three years of chaos.
From Banking Desk to Real Estate: How William Holder Bet on Himself
William grew up in Trinidad and moved to the United States in 2002. He finished high school, took community college classes, and worked three or four jobs while he figured out his direction. He landed a banking job, but he knew any desk job would frustrate him. His ideas went into a suggestion box.
A house changed his plans. Around 2011, he bought his first home. Then his mom told him the family property in Trinidad needed a roof, and the rent from its four units would cover it. That led him to read Rich Dad Poor Dad and decide he wanted to invest.
He earned his real estate license in 2012 and quickly learned he had no money to invest. So he started selling homes. By mid-2015, he liked it more than his day job. He was 28, a year from his wedding, and ready to decide.
"I know this probably isn't the ideal time, but I got to bet on me. It was sink or swim, right? It was, I'm going to pay my mortgage or not. I'm going to pay for this wedding or not. And I knew if I was in it half-heartedly, I wasn't going to actually give it everything. So that's what I did. Mid 2015, I pulled the plug. I went into real estate full-time and haven't looked back since."
I told him everybody should say that to themselves at least once. His background still shapes him. He stays grateful even in a bad year, and he works so his kids grow up with a very different life than his. I relate to that. I have supported myself since I was young, and I see it as a superpower.
Real Estate Investing Mistakes and the Patience They Teach
William still invests, probably more than he should, and he cautions others. His first investment in 2017 was a giant project he never should have taken on. He assumed that learning to sell homes meant he could handle it.
"Got into my first investment in 2017. It was a massive mistake. It was a giant project I should not have taken on. But I figured, well, hey, I learned how to sell real estate, I could do this, right? And that was three years of chaos of my life just figuring my way out of that thing. Since then, I've gotten much better at investing. That being said, I'm significantly more patient with it. What it's taught me is patience."
“Got into my first investment in 2017. It was a massive mistake. It was a giant project I should not have taken on. But I figured, well, hey, I learned how to sell real estate, I could do this, right? And that was three years of chaos of my life just figuring my way out of that thing. Since then, I've gotten much better at investing. That being said, I'm significantly more patient with it. What it's taught me is patience.”
He was rushing to replace his income with rental cash flow. That rush led to real estate investing mistakes, and paying for them pushed him to grow his business faster. He now learns across many deals, not just one.
At one point William owned 70 doors. He is working back down to 35 by selling the properties that make him roll his eyes when he sees the address. His portfolio includes single families, twins, duplexes, and an 11-unit building. He believes that if he had focused on his team instead of splitting his attention, he would own better investment properties.
How the BRRRR Method Works in Real Estate Investing
William fell for the BRRRR method in 2011 because the math makes sense. BRRRR is an acronym:
Buy a property with equity.
Renovate it.
Rent it out.
Refinance with a bank based on its new value.
Repeat with the cash you pull out.
Here is his simple example:
That returns more than the $70,000 invested, as long as the numbers work for the bank, including the DSCR and cap rate. William says it works at every level. On a strip mall, raising rents from $18 to $21 per square foot lifts the cap rate, and you can refinance for cash out.
He calls that an oversimplified version. The BRRRR method alone is not enough. He also flips homes to bring in income beyond his own paycheck. Pouring your earnings into rentals gets stressful fast. Slow down, do a few flips, and be picky.
How to Build a Real Estate Team of 30 Agents
The William Holder Realty Team is five years old, and he says they have just built the foundation. From his base in Swarthmore, he serves the Greater Philadelphia region, Delaware, and Southern New Jersey, and he now recruits instead of growing organically. Here is how the team breaks down:
20 experienced agents, many of whom have stayed three to five years
5 agents in onboarding
5 agents in transition, such as new parents or agents taking time off
13 support staff, including eight virtual assistants
To build a real estate team like this, he says you need a clear vision. He has refined his through many iterations. He also mentors agents through Real Works Real Estate Coaching and owns Classic Settlements LLC.
Choosing a Brokerage: Why William Left RE/MAX and Gave Up Broker of Record
William Holder, an associate broker with Real Broker, once co-owned a RE/MAX franchise and stayed with the brand for 11 years. About a year and a half ago, he and his partners reviewed their renewal paperwork and decided it no longer made sense. They felt the company was not innovating for what they paid. He considered going independent, then chose Real, which lets his team run two branch locations.
He no longer serves as broker of record. He held that role for three years and did not enjoy it. The broker carries the risk, and lawsuits pile up. His office completed roughly 2,500 transactions over five years and was sued three times. Each time, the company paid to make the claim go away, and the premium rose.
Stepping back improved his life. His broker-owner partners, with nearly 40 years in the business, are having their best individual years too. I work with Compass in Berkeley, so I see this from another angle. Real estate is about the people, not the brand.
Recruiting Real Estate Agents Who Actually Do the Work
William is selective about who joins the William Holder Realty Team. He has kept 80 percent of the agents he has brought on over five years. Of the eight who left, six left the industry and two still work in the Real office.
He recently met an agent who had joined three brokerages in three years. William did not sell him a dream.
"I said, listen, man, this isn't magic. I will give you all of the tools and I will train you and I will coach you. But if you're not willing to actually do the work, you're just going to be back to square one. I don't ever want to sugarcoat anything for anyone. I'm not going to overpromise and underdeliver. I'm here to tell you the truth. The truth is, if you haven't done the work there, what's going to make you do it here?"
I agree completely. A newspaper once ran a headline about me that said the harder she works, the luckier she gets. My top producers hear that from me often. When a client calls after three years of silence, it is not random. They followed up.
For recruiting real estate agents, William's filter is simple: will you do the work?
Frequently Asked Questions About William Holder and His Real Estate Team
What is the BRRRR method in real estate investing?
BRRRR stands for Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat. Investors improve a property, rent it out, and refinance based on its value and financial performance.
What can investors learn from a bad first investment?
William's first major investment caused three years of difficulties. It taught him patience and the importance of smarter purchasing decisions.
What does it take to build a successful real estate team like the William Holder Realty Team?
William emphasizes consistent effort, training, clear expectations, and recruiting agents who are willing to do the work.
How do you decide whether to keep or sell a rental property?
William is selling properties that create too many headaches and prioritizing better-quality investments.
How to Connect With William Holder
For more stories like his, visitandreagordon.com or follow me onFacebook. William wants every client to have the perfect experience, and his agents are now his clients too. If you want to buy, sell, invest, or grow as an agent, he welcomes the conversation. Find him onInstagram,Facebook, andLinkedIn. You can also reach him through theWilliam Holder Realty Team website.
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