Financial Independence Through Design and Architecture with Diana Ossa & Josh Dobken
In pursuing a real estate investing career, having a stable income from a W-2 position can provide a strong foundation for building wealth and achieving financial goals. But what if your W-2 career is directly related to the real estate industry?
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan introduces Diana Ossa and Josh Dobken, a couple whose expertise in architecture, design, construction management, and real estate investment propelled them to success. With their combined strengths and shared vision, Diana and Josh carved out a unique path in mid-term rentals and commercial real estate, demonstrating how a real estate adjacent career can be a springboard for other ventures. Diana and Josh are the founders of Design Invest FI and professional architects.
Jonathan, Diana, and Josh explore Diana and Josh’s backgrounds in architecture and their shared passions. The conversation delves into the pivotal moments that led them to pursue careers in real estate investing while maintaining their stable W-2 positions. Focusing on their initial investment in Kansas City and then pivoting toward commercial real estate, Diana and Josh share their experiences navigating the ups and downs of property deals and the importance of strategic decision-making. As they talk about future plans, Jonathan asks Diana and Josh to discuss their aspirations for a boutique hotel venture and how they’re staying true to their boutique aspirations.
Some points Jonathan, Diana, and Josh explore more thoroughly include:
Commercial real estate makes more sense to Diana and Josh than residential real estate, given their careers as architects working on projects with large teams and hundreds of thousands of dollars at their disposal.
Diana and Josh both lost their fathers to different illnesses, but the impact those losses made changed how they felt about creating more time freedom in their lives to pursue their passions and spend more time with the people they love.
A W-2 position can offer you stability to pursue real estate investing, and Josh attributes keeping his job as the reason for being able to pursue it at all.
As architects with commercial backgrounds, Diana and Josh felt their talents could best be used in the commercial space rather than residential, which has more regulations and restrictions.
Diana and Josh have a mutual goal of creating a boutique hotel brand that stays in that space.
Diana Ossa and Josh Dobken prove that a background in architecture can lead to great success in the commercial real estate world, and they’re sharing what they’ve learned over the past three years.
If you want to learn more about Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing Podcast, check out http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/120.