Jamelle Christian Journey From NBA to Building General Wealth Through Real Estate

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Jamelle Christian. I am a real estate investor and the founder of Pack Investments. I have made real estate investments all across the country, but I’ve recently found a home in the Chicago marketplace within the past year. I am on the verge of closing my third deal here in Chicago and will soon go for my fourth.

How did you get started in the real estate business?

I got started in real estate after speaking with my mentor, Jemal King. He went over the benefits of real estate investing and how I could build generational wealth. Thereafter I began my investigation and discovered a plethora of opportunities in the industry.

What are some hot markets for real estate that you are excited about?

I adore the Midwest, but I’m mostly interested with the figures. The numbers are never deceitful. My mentors, Jemal and Perdure, consistently told me to trust the figures and the rest will take care of itself. Major cities, especially Washington, DC, are usually an excellent location to start looking.

How do you source your real estate deals?

I source my deals by keeping to my metrics and determining how much I would like to gain from each transaction. I always aim to make a minimum of $50,000. If the figures don’t add up, I will not be emotionally invested.

What are some checks and balances you’ve put in place to protect your real estate transactions?

I ensure that I am surrounded by a team comprising my attorney, agent, general contractor, and lender. It is critical that we communicate so that we are in unison of the objective at hand. Everyone’s contribution is critical to our overall performance and the success of the projects.

What is one piece of advice you would give someone starting their real estate career?

I would advise them to constantly be a learner and ask questions. There will always be another level which requires a different level of knowledge. Another piece of advice is to be of good character and be a hard worker. Your work ethic will set you apart from other young investors. In fact, your word serves as your bond. These principles will propel you forward at an accelerated pace.

What is one software you use for your business and recommend to others?

I wouldn’t say that I have utilized a specific software, but I did invest in ‘Make Real Estate Real’ (MRER) and ‘Flipping with a Purpose’ courses. These courses aided me in selecting a career path in real estate and has equipped me with the resources and information I needed to succeed. For instance, I have connections with accountants, attorneys, agents, credit specialist, joint venture partners, contractors, material expertise, and gained an overall grasp of the industry. Remember to always invest in yourself.

What is your superpower in life?

My superpower is to create. Everything has art in it, in my opinion. That enables me to be obsessed about improving and producing something. For instance, I could even relate with the phrase “poetry in motion.” When I’m in a creative mood, I’m constantly flowing and producing what I consider to be a masterpiece. This is something I use daily for real estate investing. I enjoy watching a project grow from nothing to something. This is all art to me, from saving money on materials to choosing the right lighting, backsplash, and so on.

What is a failure you’ve had in life that set you up for eventual success?

Not making it to the NBA would be a failure on my part! That experience taught me all I needed to know to be successful in anything else I choose to accomplish. I had to learn appreciation, resilience, work ethic, patience, timing, sacrifice, teamwork, and most importantly, to never give up. We should finish whatever we have start!

What is one book that has influenced your life the most? Why?

There are about three books that I’d consider required for this question, but if I had to pick one, it would be ‘The Jewish Phenomenon’. This book transformed my perspective on business and emphasized the significance of generational wealth. The book contains several instances of why you should work hard, network, sacrifice, and plan intelligently in order to achieve generational wealth. Once you have finished reading, a light bulb will go off and you’ll have an ‘Ahhh’ moment. With that, you will be well on your road to success!