Lawrence Guerguis builds 30-property real estate portfolio at age 24

Lawrence Guerguis, a 24-year-old based in Orange County, California, has built a real estate portfolio of over 30 rental properties. Guerguis began his investment journey while studying at the University of San Diego, pivoting from a planned career in investment banking to real estate after a chance encounter with a finance professional.

To launch his career, Guerguis sold his car to raise $16,000 in initial capital. He focused his acquisitions on the Midwest to take advantage of lower entry costs compared to coastal California markets. For example, he utilized $15,000 for a down payment on a property in Illinois.

Because he lacked traditional W-2 employment income during his studies, Guerguis utilized Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans. This financing method relies on the property's projected rental income to satisfy lender requirements rather than personal income, allowing him to bypass conventional underwriting constraints.