Getting fired from an internship can launch a career faster than you ever planned.

Hazem and Mack sit down with Joseph Jackson, longtime Houston real estate investor and builder. They hear how a Houston kid went from a Brevard, North Carolina internship, where he was fired for showing up late, to buying a $10,000 condo at age 22, fixing roofs himself, and building a construction company out of a little Chevy S10. Joseph explains why he hunts for the worst house on the block, how he stress-tests every deal, and why he calls relationships the real foundation of the business. He also shares why he wrote his first book, There is a House for That, and what he wants his children to learn from it.

Buy Joseph's book There is a House for That: https://a.co/d/05BNq30k

To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank.

Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Key Takeaways

1. Joseph got his start after an internship firing showed him he could cover six months of bills. He bought his first properties in the early '90s, when the savings-and-loan fallout had pushed prices down to the $6,000–$13,000 range.

2. He stress-tests every deal by asking whether the property can still cash-flow if rent and occupancy both drop by half. If it can, he knows he can hold it through any market.

3. He looks for the worst house on the block. Renovating the eyesore makes neighbors upgrade their own homes, and they then bring him leads for the next job.

4. Joseph built his contractor network by asking how he could help each subcontractor, not just who offered the lowest price. Some of his crews have worked with him for 20 years at close to 20-year-old pricing.

5. There is a House for That is a book on life philosophy that uses real estate as the backdrop. It starts with a "True North" self-evaluation, and it comes from his "travel house," "college house" and "car house" approach, where each property funds one part of life. It took about 18 months to write after ten years of thinking about it.

Getting fired from an internship can launch a career faster than you ever planned.
Hazem and Mack sit down with Joseph Jackson, longtime Houston real estate investor and builder. They hear how a Houston kid went from a Brevard, North Carolina internship, where he was fired for showing up late, to buying a $10,000 condo at age 22, fixing roofs himself, and building a construction company out of a little Chevy S10. Joseph explains why he hunts for the worst house on the block, how he stress-tests every deal, and why he calls relationships the real foundation of the business. He also shares why he wrote his first book, There is a House for That,&nbsp;and what he wants his children to learn from it.
Buy Joseph's book There is a House for That: https://a.co/d/05BNq30k
To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to <a href="https://www.itx.bank/">itx.bank</a>.
Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banking-on-integrity/id1809270239">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6hUwt34fVZynVGwtnt2aos">Spotify</a>, or wherever you get <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/banking-on-integrity/playlists/podcast">your podcasts</a>!
Key Takeaways
1. Joseph got his start after an internship firing showed him he could cover six months of bills. He bought his first properties in the early '90s, when the savings-and-loan fallout had pushed prices down to the $6,000&ndash;$13,000 range.
2. He stress-tests every deal by asking whether the property can still cash-flow if rent and occupancy both drop by half. If it can, he knows he can hold it through any market.
3. He looks for the worst house on the block. Renovating the eyesore makes neighbors upgrade their own homes, and they then bring him leads for the next job.
4. Joseph built his contractor network by asking how he could help each subcontractor, not just who offered the lowest price. Some of his crews have worked with him for 20 years at close to 20-year-old pricing.
5. There is a House for That is a book on life philosophy that uses real estate as the backdrop. It starts with a "True North" self-evaluation, and it comes from his "travel house," "college house" and "car house" approach, where each property funds one part of life. It took about 18 months to write after ten years of thinking about it.

Explore the heart of Houston's business community with Banking on Integrity, brought to you by Integrity Bank. Join founders Hazem Ahmad and Mack Neff as they interview local entrepreneurs, sharing their journeys of success, overcoming challenges, and driving Houston forward.

Explore the heart of Houston's business community with Banking on Integrity, brought to you by Integrity Bank. Join founders Hazem Ahmad and Mack Neff as they interview local entrepreneurs, sharing their journeys of success, overcoming challenges, and driving Houston forward.

Banking on Integrity

Banking on Integrity is your inside look at Houston's thriving entrepreneurial scene. Hosted by Integrity Bank's Hazem Ahmad and Mack Neff, this podcast features inspiring interviews with local business owners, offering valuable insights and lessons for anyone looking to succeed in business.

Banking on Integrity is your inside look at Houston's thriving entrepreneurial scene. Hosted by Integrity Bank's Hazem Ahmad and Mack Neff, this podcast features inspiring interviews with local business owners, offering valuable insights and lessons for anyone looking to succeed in business.