Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Donajkowski.
Jason, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started real estate investing in 2004 while working my career in engineering and construction in the energy industry. After some initial success, I lost almost everything due to the real state crash of 2008. While recovering from this setback, we used our experience and existing infrastructure to provide property management services for clients. Nathan Scott has been part of my team since the beginning, handling the property management while I continued to work full-time.
Later, in 2013 as the market recovered, I started working with friends and family to make investments in the improving market. As the market recovered from the biggest disruption to the U.S. housing market since the Great Depression, there has been plenty of opportunity, and the investment fundamentals have been very strong.
In 2015, I left my corporate career to build the business full time and continue to help my partners and clients to build wealth through real estate in the Chicago market. I have helped my partners build a portfolio of over $3M in real estate, and we are just gaining momentum.
Has it been a smooth road?
The real estate crash of 2008 led to a difficult time as I encountered foreclosures, creditors, lawsuits, and judgments. I recall getting served court summons from debt collectors at my place of work. I was completely insolvent and almost went bankrupt. At one point my net worth was negative by over $1M. It was hard but it became a pivotal life experience to build from.
More recently, a challenging time came when I left my well-paying corporate job in 2015 and cleared out what was left of my 401K to live on while I worked to build the business. I was still in significant debt, but decided that if I was going to make big things happen I needed to get after it. My job was too demanding for me to have the time or energy to build anything meaningful on the side. I decided to give up something good to go for something great. That led to lots of sleepless nights as I figured out how to make it work.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Paragon Property Group – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We help partners and clients to build wealth through real estate in the Chicago market. We do this through investment partnerships, real estate brokerage, project management, and property management. Our partners are able to benefit from our experience and expertise as we handle all aspects of the deals.
Much of what we focus on is buying and renovating distressed houses and small multi-family properties in stable lower and middle income neighborhoods of Chicago. We operate in areas with strong rental fundamentals. I am able to use my experience in project management as we bring these properties back to their full potential. As an experienced property management company, we are leverage that strength as we build a rental portfolio with our partners. We have a lot of experience in affordable housing and working with HUD agencies.
We have now completed over $1M in renovation projects, with $500K in just the last year. Through these efforts we are improving neighborhoods and redeveloping areas that we work in by transforming vacant properties and creating quality homes and apartments for homeowners and our residents.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like that Chicago is a great market for rental real estate investing. It offers an ideal combination of a large, economically diverse global city, with affordable home prices, and a good price-to-rent ratio.
I also appreciate the variety of diverse neighborhoods throughout the city, and the beautiful historic housing stock. Its inspiring to rejuvenate a 100-year-old property back to its full potential.
Pricing:
- We provide investment partners a fixed return of 12%, backed by real estate, over a period of one year. Our minimum investment is $10K. Many investors find it convenient to invest using their IRA and earn tax deferred.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2405 S Oakley Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
- Website: http://www.paragonpropertygroup.net/
- Phone: 312-618-4001
- Email: jason@paragonpropertygroup.net
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-donajkowski-93b5493/
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