Meet Sam

I help beginners get started in real estate because I was a beginner myself only a few years ago.

In 2021, I took a leap of faith and bought my first property with a simple goal: buy one property every year. I’ve stayed on that path ever since, and with each purchase I’ve learned more, built more confidence, and gradually improved the quality of the investments I make.

I’m not a big-shot real estate investor with hundreds of units. I’m a regular guy with a growing portfolio of cash-flowing properties and the confidence to keep building it year after year.

I didn’t start with a huge income or a pile of cash, either. When I bought my first place, I was working as a house painter making around $50,000 a year. Since then, my income has grown little by little, right alongside my real estate portfolio.

What surprised me most was how much each year began to build on the one before it. Experience made the next purchase less intimidating. Equity and rental income created more options. My network got better. I made fewer mistakes. Over time, real estate started helping cover more of my expenses and making the next investment easier to pursue.

That’s why I started First Rental Chicago.

I remember how overwhelming the beginning can feel. How much can I actually afford? What makes a good rental? What neighborhoods should I consider? Who can I trust? Am I even ready to buy?

My goal is to help you cut through that noise. I’ll share what I’ve learned, help you build a realistic game plan, point out some of the early mistakes worth avoiding, and connect you with experienced local professionals who understand investment real estate and have skin in the game themselves.

You don’t need to know everything before you get started. You just need to understand your next move.