At 21, I control over 115 Section 8 rental properties — all built without a corporate job, without partners, and without traditional bank loans.
I didn’t follow the standard path. I created my own.
What people don’t talk about is what it really takes to win this game early — and why most investors overlook the opportunity that changed my life.
It Started at 17 — Not 27
Most people don’t know this: I began working in real estate at 17 as an intern with my county’s local housing authority.
For six months, I saw how Section 8 actually worked behind the scenes.
The inspections. The paperwork. The approvals. The delays. The opportunities.
That early exposure gave me an edge most investors never get — I learned the rules before I started playing.
From One Deal to 115+ Units — Before 21
By the time I turned 21, I had scaled my portfolio to over 115 rentals.
And I didn’t use banks to do it.
Instead, I used:
- Owner financing
- Subject-to deals
- Section 8-specific government programs
- Private money lenders
Most deals required just $5,000–$12,000 out of pocket. That’s less than what most people spend on a used car — and I was using it to build cash-flowing assets.
This wasn’t luck. It was a system. And I built it one property at a time.
The Hard Truth About Doing This Young
Being a Section 8 landlord sounds simple — until you’re actually in it.
When you’re young, you face a different kind of pressure:
- Vendors won’t take you seriously
- Inspectors question whether you really own the property
- Tenants test your boundaries
- Delays hurt more when you don’t have a financial cushion
I’ve failed inspections over minor issues like a missing door stopper.
I’ve waited 60 days for rent to arrive because someone lost my paperwork.
I’ve learned to navigate every part of the Section 8 system — because I had to.
And I’ve turned that into an advantage.
Turning Section 8 Into a Passive Cash Flow Machine
The key to scaling wasn’t just buying properties. It was building systems.
Systems for:
- Tenant placement
- Maintenance and repairs
- PHA communication
- Re-certifications and compliance
- Managing out-of-state units
With the right setup, I was able to run this like a business — not a hustle. Today, most of my portfolio runs without my daily involvement.
Helping 1,000+ Others Do the Same
Over the past year, I’ve helped more than 1,000 new investors start building Section 8 income — many of them entirely out-of-state.
They weren’t trust fund kids or real estate insiders.
They were everyday people who just needed someone to show them the blueprint.
The Real Problem Isn’t the Program — It’s the Misconceptions
People avoid Section 8 because they think:
- The tenants will destroy the units
- The government is too slow
- The process is too complicated
But I’ve proven that with the right structure and knowledge, this program can generate long-term, stable income — and allow you to scale fast.
- What I do isn’t theory.
- It’s not a course.
- It’s a system built on actual experience — from someone who has done it, repeatedly, and helped others do the same.
Ready to Start?
📍 Visit Section8Training.com to learn exactly how I built my portfolio — and how you can start yours.
📍 Want to understand the bigger picture of how this fits into housing policy and economics? Head to KarimNaoum.com
Final Thoughts
Most people wait until they’re 30 or 40 to buy their first rental property.
- I started at 17.
- Scaled before 21.
- And now, I help others do the same — not with hype, but with proven strategy.
If no one handed you a roadmap, let this be your first one.
