How I Built a Million-Dollar Net Worth in 5 Years (And Why This Year Could Be Your Turning Point)

I’ve been thinking a lot about the year ahead—my goals, my health, and most importantly, the purpose of this channel. At the core of it all is one simple mission: helping as many people as possible build real wealth through real estate. I became a millionaire in five years using real estate as my primary tool, and I truly believe it’s one of the most powerful and accessible wealth-building strategies available today. If you’re interested in learning how to make your money work harder for you and potentially reach financial freedom faster than you thought possible, this year’s content is for you.

Why Real Estate Is Still America’s Greatest Wealth Builder

There is over $40 trillion in home equity in the United States today, and a massive portion of that wealth has been created within the last decade. Even when you zoom out over the last 25 years, the trend is clear: home equity consistently rises over time. Yes, there was a dip in 2008, but the long-term trajectory has remained strong. For homeowners who have owned their property for decades, the majority of their net worth often sits in their home.

About 36 percent of Americans own their homes outright, and roughly 72 percent have at least 50 percent equity. That is an enormous amount of untapped wealth. Equity that sits idle is a lot like cash sitting in a checking account—it doesn’t grow, and inflation slowly erodes its value. This year, we’ll focus on how to turn that dormant equity into an active wealth-building tool. One of my favorite sayings sums it up perfectly: don’t wait to buy real estate—buy real estate and wait. If you can afford the payment or cover it with rental income, time becomes your greatest ally. Over 10, 15, or 20 years, wealth compounds quietly and powerfully.

What the Boise Market Can Teach Us About Timing and Opportunity

Let’s zoom in on the Boise and Treasure Valley market, which mirrors many fast-growing markets across the country. Perfectly timing the market is nearly impossible, but understanding momentum is not. At the start of each year, many sellers pull their homes off the market or wait for spring. Right now, that’s exactly what we’re seeing. Inventory in Ada County has dropped from around 2,000 homes to 1,800, with roughly 700 homes leaving the market in just the last month.

At the same time, buyers begin to get curious. Historically, that curiosity turns into pending contracts by late January or mid-February. This creates a brief window where sellers face less competition while buyer demand quietly ramps up. Almost every year—regardless of interest rates or market conditions—I see more multiple-offer situations in the first two months of the year than later on. The data from 2022 through 2025 shows this pattern repeating consistently. It’s a reminder that opportunity often appears when fewer people are paying attention.

Stability, Debt, and Why Paying Attention Matters Right Now

Here’s the part that deserves your attention. Mortgage foreclosures are at an all-time low, which signals stability in the housing market. That’s the good news. The concerning part is what’s happening elsewhere. Student loan debt, credit card debt, and auto loan delinquencies are all rising. More consumers are struggling to keep up with non-housing debt, and that raises important questions about how the broader economy may shift.

This is not a panic moment—it’s a pay-attention moment. When financial pressure builds in certain areas, opportunity often emerges in others. I track this data closely every week, and I’m continuing to invest in real estate because the fundamentals still make sense. If you want to understand why, stick around. I’ll continue breaking down what I’m seeing and how to position yourself smartly moving forward.