How Real-Estate Investing Is About to Get a Gen Z Makeover

 

Real-estate investing locked whole populations out, but Zoomers are finding a new way in.

By November 7, 2021Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

As Gen Z comes of age, they’ve made a name for themselves by questioning the legacy systems previous generations have accepted as the norm.
But, Zoomers do more than cast shade at their predecessors. They demand better. If something is broken, they will push to fix it.

SPONSORED CONTENT:

Why Entrepreneurs Call Ohio Home By:JobsOhio 

Their influence is causing seismic shifts across industries from luxury retail to transportation.
And with Gen Z’s purchasing power expected to grow to $33 trillion over the next decade, it’s no wonder marketing, political and entertainment sectors alike are paying attention to them.
Now Gen Zers are shifting their focus to industries that have locked them out, like real estate investing.
In the United States, commercial real estate is rebounding quickly to pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile, commercial real estate in Canada is on track to post a record of nearly $50 billion in investments this year.
But while Zoomers want to own a home, as the millennials before them, the cost of entry is too high.
The average price of a home in the U.S. soared by an unprecedented 24%.
Here’s how Gen Z is finding a way in and revolutionizing real-estate investing in the process.

Related: 10 Pieces of Financial Advice I Wish I Knew in My 20s

They’re redefining home ownership

Zoomers have watched millennials struggle with a wage gap that’s made home buying in its traditional sense, unattainable.
Compared to Baby Boomers at the same age, millennials own eight times less American real estate and spend 39% more on a first home. Faced with the same challenges, Gen Z is marking their fate by redefining what homeownership means.
Instead of purchasing a home to live in, they’re leveraging crowdfunding and the sharing economy to take ownership in houses, buildings, and even commercial properties for as little as $1.
Simply put, they’ve realized being a homeowner doesn’t mean they have to live where they’ve invested.
In fact, there are advantages to not going all-in on one property.
In traditional homeownership, the process is stressful, drawn-out, and brings heaps of responsibilities like mortgage payments, property tax, maintenance, and insurance.
By not living where they invest, Gen Z is realizing the benefits of a lucrative long-term investment without giving up the freedoms they enjoy now: tickets to an unforgettable concert, a closet full of luxe yet sustainable fashion, dinners out, travel, and the latest gaming system.
They get the capital appreciation while someone else deals with landlord responsibilities.

Related: This Multimillionaire Millennial Shares the Top 3 Business Mistakes His Generation Makes

They’re prioritizing transparency and community

Realizing real-estate investing is no longer reserved for the wealthy elite, Zoomers are bringing the market out from behind locked doors and into the community.
The pandemic helped spark new interest in investing. Confined to their homes and concerned about their future, young investors took to their devices to educate themselves and make their money work for them.
Instead of looking to legacy financial institutions for help, Zoomers are building online communities on Reddit and Discord and using their influence to educate their peers on what they learn on TikTok.
These online communities allow Gen Z to ask questions in a way they’re comfortable with, lurk and engage on their own terms.
Ever-mindful of the power of tech to disrupt how things have traditionally been done, they are using the internet to democratize investing and bring their peers into the fold.
Transparency is the priority and authority takes a backseat to the community.
Under Gen Z’s influence, exclusivity is out; inclusive investing is in.

They’re sharing the wealth

Gen Z wants everything from their employers to their purchases to reflect their values – and real-estate investments are no different.
Instead of thinking of how their purchases can benefit themselves, they’re looking at how they can benefit others and the world around them.
I saw this recently when a community of young investors teamed up to invest in a 105 unit rental in Mission, British Columbia. Designed and built for long-term rental housing, it will also include 11 affordable housing units.
Consumption is being redefined as an act of activism, changing the world through purchase power – and that’s a good thing.
When people are shut out from an entire market, they get the message that the future they dreamed of isn’t possible.
Feeling like you can never get ahead takes a toll on mental well-being. But it can also create broader societal disillusionment.
I’ve heard from people who have detached themselves from local politics, quit watching the news, and no longer exercise their civic right to vote.
But that’s changing with Gen Z. Indeed, 66% believe communities are created by causes, not by things like economic background or level of education.

It’s not an option to keep up business as usual.
Let’s face it: The path to property ownership was due for a makeover.
For too long, entire populations have been left out of real-estate investment.
But ready or not, thanks to the cultural shift demanded by Gen Z, that’s changing.
If we follow their lead, we can look towards a future where ownership is possible for anyone who feels compelled to invest in their community.

Related:What’s Next for the Unluckiest Generation?

Mike Stephenson

WRITTEN BY

Entrepreneur Leadership Network VIP

Mike Stephenson is co-founder and CEO of addy, which is focused on making real-estate investing accessible to everyone.

 

Contact MEK Enterprises Blog Here for Article Suggestions and Inquiries!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

 

How The Gym Has Helped Me Deal With Chronic Pain

Jeffrey L. Klump

“My Second Home”

Dateline: Creve Coeur, MO. USA/October 21st, 2021/Written by: Jeffrey L. Klump


The gym has always been my second home. 

The first gym that I ever trained at was George Turners in Dellwood, Missouri in the late 1970s. 

It was at that gym that I knew I belonged. 

That gym, in particular, had real tough guys training there with names like Jay Rosciglione, Greg Tuck, and “The Beast”, Tom Sumner. 

I remember Sumner having 7 or 8 plates on each side of the barbell deadlift and that barbell was bouncing up and down like a rubber band. 

Guys were in there yelling and screaming while training and that was just a little intimidating for a skinny 15-year-old kid at the time. 

Over the years the names and places of gyms have changed, but for the most part, I have always been comfortable at the gym. 

It has always been a place for me to destress and clear my mind along with strengthening my body. 

Exercise has been the most effective way to strengthen your immune system. 

There is no substitute for exercise. 

The one time that I should have been going to the gym, in my late 40’s but slacked off, was right before my mind was blown and my wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer. 

From 2011 to 2015 my time in the gym was rare and at the same time, I was not eating well and abusing alcohol to cope with the stress that my wife would be leaving us. 

By the fall of 2015, I realized that I needed to make some changes quickly, or I would be headed for trouble as well. 

I started watching a chiropractor on YouTube by the name of Eric Berg and he was talking about something that I never heard of even though the gym was my second home. 

The word Ketosis and Ketogenics are the words that he kept using and after watching his videos, I started living the Ketogenic lifestyle.

I started seeing results within a few weeks. 

Then in April of 2016, the day before my wife died, I lifted her up on a porta-potty and she was dead weight. 

I tore something in my right upper back but didn’t know what it was. 

The pain lasted for a while and then over time especially from 2017 to the present, that pain trickled down to my lower back and both sides and all of the ways down to my feet. 

Pain is a constant part of my life now. 

I had my disability hearing yesterday and the judge asked me which positions do I experience the most pain, and I told her, it is worse when I lie down, and sitting down is a close second, and then standing up is still painful but not as bad as the previous two. 

The judge did not ask me when I feel the least pain. 

If she did, I would have told her at the gym. 

When my body is in motion, then and only then, do I feel some relief from pain. 

I rest briefly in between each set and exercise. 

Along with exercising in the gym, I do a lot of stretching and this is so critical especially for people over 40.

Before and after exercising, I sit in the sauna for between 10 to 15 minutes.

Saunas are incredible for ridding your body of toxins, excess water, and pain relief.

They are also important for anyone who has had a stroke or other cardiovascular issues.

After a while, I think I just become numb to pain. 

Taking pain killers and opioids is out, not just because of the dangers involved but also because they constipate me. 

In the summer of 2020, I had an X-Ray done on my lower back.

This was through the Social Security Administration and they would allow only one and no MRI’s which is what I needed and asked for.

The one lower back X-ray revealed Degenerative Disc Disease and Spinal Arthritis.

I am sure there is more going on there but I have not had health insurance since 2017, and there won’t be any way to tell unless my disability case is approved. I will then be eligible for early Medicare. 

If this wasn’t enough, at the end of October 2019, I had a series of 4 strokes.

I am just getting myself back to where I was before this happened. 

It has been a long road back.

The strokes really took it out of me and I still do not feel right. 

Regardless of the outcome of my case, I will be at the gym. 

It is here that I belong.

I am not afraid of a little cold virus. I keep my Vitamin D levels very high. 

I am not afraid of anything in this world except not being able to take care of myself long-term. 

That does bother me and that is why I am here. 

My Second Home.

RELATED:

7 Tips for Exercising When You Have Chronic Pain (spineuniverse.com)

Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence – Mayo Clinic Proceedings


RSS Error: Retrieved unsupported status code "404"
RSS Error: Retrieved unsupported status code "402"

Why is Elsa Deen Is the Best Massage Therapist in Saint Louis?

Elsa Deen is the Owner of True Touch Massage and is One of the Fastest Growing Businesses in Massage Therapy.

Dateline: Creve Coeur, MO. USA/October 10th, 2021/Written by: Jeffrey L. Klump


She came from humble beginnings.

Elsa Deen was born and raised in a small village outside of Cebu, Philippines.

Anyone who has ever been to the Philippines or knows someone who has will understand the abject poverty that many people in that part of the world, live in.

Elsa was taught at a young age how important family is and to always respect your parents no matter what.

She began working around the age of 12 to help her parents out and she continues to help them out by sending them money that she earns from her massage therapy business, including to other relatives in the Philippines.

She is one of the most unselfish and hard-working people that you will ever meet.

Elsa came to the United States in 2013 after marrying an American, which is the only way most people from the Philippines can emigrate here, and moved to Saint Louis.

Her husband tragically died and Elsa was left alone with her 4 kids wondering what to do.

She remarried 6 years ago and has 2 additional children with her new husband and decided to go to school for massage therapy.

Elsa attended the Healing Arts Center located in Manchester, Missouri.

She graduated in 2016 and received her certificate as a Certified Massage Therapist.

Later in 2016, Elsa set up her own massage therapy business known as True Touch Massage in Creve Coeur, MO.

Elsa came up with the name True Touch because she was told by several students at her massage therapy school that she really has the gift of touch to help heal any injuries or other physical problems you may have.

She is very attentive to detail and has strong hands for deep tissue massage and reflexology.

She has the ability to help you relax which also helps with any mental or emotional stress that you may be going through including Post-traumatic Stress and grief.

Massage Therapy has also received attention from the prestigious Mayo Clinic.

An article published in January 2021 goes into detail about all of the many benefits of massage therapy. CLICK HERE to read.

Elsa could have worked for one of the national chains in massage therapy but she wanted to be in business for herself and take care of her clients her way, not someone else’s.

Her clients have immense respect for her not just as a massage therapist, but as the beautiful, hard-working, and unselfish person, that she is.

Massage therapy is not only effective for physical problems including Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Arthritis, Herniated Disc(s), Spinal Stenosis, and, Osteoporosis but also for mental and emotional issues like Post Traumatic Stress, Grief, and Anxiety.

Elsa makes you feel comfortable and relaxed for your massage and every massage is just as good as the very first one.

Massage therapy use to be referred to as a luxury or pampering yourself.

Those caregivers like Elsa Deen in the Healing Arts Business would disagree with you from day one.

They know how important massage therapy is to your overall health and wellness and they understand that society has put a label on massage therapy that could not further from the truth.

Elsa Deen with True Touch Massage

Everyone should incorporate massage therapy into their overall healthcare routine and not just those who are suffering from physical, mental, or emotional issues.

Massage therapy has proven to be effective at preventing injuries as well as healing injuries. CLICK HERE for the report.

The majority of people sit down during the daytime whether at work or at home and as the years go on, more and more people will be suffering from back problems, in particular, because gravity has a way of compacting on your spinal discs over time and as you age.

Taking care of your back, glutes, and lower body will become a necessity with massage therapy unless you want to take the option of opioids.

Exercise and proper stretching are also necessary especially for those living a sedentary lifestyle.

Elsa Deen will be here to help you with massage therapy. The rest will be up to you.

Elsa Deen has the touch, the True Touch, that makes her the best massage therapist in Saint Louis.


Jeffrey L. Klump is a writer, blogger, digital marketer, and work-from-home business opportunity, specialist. He is also an original member of the Guardian Angels-St. Louis Chapter.




RELATED:



RSS Error: Retrieved unsupported status code "404"
RSS Error: Retrieved unsupported status code "402"

How to Stop Selling and Start Building a Business

Originally published on Aug 26, 2021

By Paul Cowan


The Day I Stopped Selling and Built a Business

The advertising agency I’d joined was the most competitive and ambitious in London. Building business was hardwired into every one of us. Competition with other internal teams as part of the process. Jumping to the top of the queue above other teams for the next new business prospect gave us more opportunities for winning new business. We were trained to present, to sell, and sell again and again. And I was desperate to succeed.

Failure could be challenging. Our creative teams could be fearsome to deal with. Emotions ran high — sometimes way too high, with unpleasant consequences. I planned to stay for a year or so. But twelve years passed quickly, and I ended up running a big group. The rewards for those of us who succeeded were good, but I wanted more.

I took a big, big risk and started a breakaway agency with seven colleagues. With a full team and a great office in the center of London, we had a stupidly large overhead from Day One. We also had no client and no income. We had to sell to survive. Every single opportunity, every new business prospect, however small, was critical. Our family houses, the school fees, the grocery bills, and everything we owned depended on winning business.

We were good — mostly, very good. Even if we lost a new business pitch, we didn’t give up. Sure, this irritated some prospects, but mostly they appreciated our hunger.

Every idea had to be sold and nurtured. Every opportunity, however small, is exploited. Our lives and our families depended on it. And at the end of the first year, we broke even. Our bankers were so amazed they threw us a private lunch to celebrate.

Then times got edgy. We had big debts. We restructured, redoubled our efforts, and focused harder on winning business. We survived — and produced some outstanding work.

After years and years of selling the agency to prospects, to staff, stakeholders, and selling work to clients, I realized something. I was dog-tired. I was exhausted from filling the leaky bucket of revenue over and over again. I knew it was time to merge my agency and get out. I stopped selling.

New Business. No Selling

After a stint at business school, I was back in business, but this time, on my own. I had no website and no nameplate in my office. I was invisible, and I didn’t sell. I just told past clients and colleagues what I was planning and doing.

For four months, the phone was quiet. Then it rang. I met with the prospect — and instead of selling and telling him about my offer, I just asked questions about his company and what problems required attention. I checked the size, importance, and cost of those problems.

He was interested in working with me, and I was interested in working with him. I wrote a two-paragraph summary of how to tackle the issues and added a price range. It was large and provided good value.

And the phone continued to ring, despite no website, no marketing, no sales activity, and no long submissions. I refused to write submissions – only one-page outlines. I just asked questions.

“Telling is not selling. Only asking questions is selling.” – Brian Tracy

Really. No Selling.

A few years later I co-founded The Client Relationship Consultancy. Again: no website, no marketing, no selling. I met with past colleagues and explained our philosophy. We made them sign a two-way NDA — we would never talk about them, and they would never talk about us.

But they wanted to work with us. As clients moved to new agencies, the word spread and we got more calls. These new prospects wanted credentials presentations. I explained that I would tell them about our business for less than sixty seconds, and about our philosophy and approach for four minutes. At that point, if they did not agree with our approach, we could cut short the meeting and I might be able to suggest others who could be a better fit for them. But no one ever said that. And we still had a two-way NDA.

We never chased after a meeting. If I thought a prospect would not be right for us, I would decline their business. Occasionally, existing clients wanted to do things differently. If whatever they suggested failed to meet our philosophy, we refused to work with them.

I loved this new way of carrying out business. I felt re-energized. And our clients stuck.

To my business partners’ intense irritation, I refused to set annual targets. I did not want to feel that I needed to sell. But over sixteen years, our business grew and grew — to offices and consultants in London, Windsor, Boston, Mexico, Munich, Singapore, and Sydney. Still no website. Still no new business or marketing activity. Still a two-way NDA.

Why It Worked

Why did this approach work? Not having objectives for sales, and not selling, meant that I had a powerful position, equal to that of a prospective client. I could relax. As a result, so could the client. We were able to have adult-to-adult conversations. The prospective clients became less defensive, and more open to me. They were comfortable disclosing deeper, underlying issues.

Both parties had the opportunity to ensure that the ‘fit’ between was tight. Both sides had the chance to ensure that our beliefs were in synch. The result: long-term, enduring relationships, and no leaky buckets anywhere.

RELATED:

How to Sell Anything to Anybody – business.com


RSS Error: Retrieved unsupported status code "402"
RSS Error: Retrieved unsupported status code "402"