We were lucky to catch up with Patrick Kappel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Patrick , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose while serving in the United States Navy. While in the Navy I saw many U.S. military members becoming financially secure and wealthy not through their day job, but by investing in real estate. When I was a young officer in the Navy, I saw many of my mentors investing in real estate around the country at every duty station that they were stationed at. In doing so, they built up large portfolios of rental property while also creating financial security for their families through real estate ownership and investment. In fact, I saw many military members become millionaires, building legacy wealth for their families, simply by buying real estate at multiple duty stations over the course of their 20-year career. During my time in the Navy, I followed my mentors’ advice and I also purchased real estate as often as I could while converting the properties into rentals. Upon transitioning from the Navy, I made it my life’s mission to help other people, both military members and civilians, build financial security and wealth through real estate ownership. I now run the Kappel Realty Group, a team of top performing real agents in San Diego that focuses on helping others buy homes to live in and real estate to invest in. Our team’s mission is to help individuals and families find financial freedom through real estate.Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
At the Kappel Realty Group, we say we use data and education to move you. A lot of realtors focus on what I call flash – the brochures, the lifestyle, the marketing side with a focus on “selling” clients. Many don’t study the data or the market in-depth and they don’t understand the financial complexities of investment property. It’s rare that an agent truly takes the time to educate clients about real estate and the economic conditions affecting a local real estate market. My team is based on education, and importantly, educating our clients. Many of our team members have advanced graduate level degrees in business or real estate, or they are real estate investors themselves. While we work with buyers and sellers with a variety of focuses, from first-time homebuyers to military personnel using their VA loan, to empty nesters looking to downsize, we really specialize in those looking to build their wealth and financial security through real estate investing or home ownership. We specialize in 2 – 4 unit investment properties. These are great properties for everyday people like you and I building a portfolio of real estate, and 2-4 unit properties are often misunderstood by most agents. You need a combination of commercial and residential real estate knowledge, which our team has, to understand the contracts, the zoning, the management, and the financials for these properties. We take time to explain real estate using real data. We host a monthly webinar series to ensure our buyers and sellers feel confident in any real estate decision they make. We know that real estate is a significant investment, and we want you to be knowledgeable about your investment.
I’ve learned along the way that it is important to hire and surround yourself with the best minds who share your vision. I have Realtors call me every month wanting to join our team, but I have very strict criteria for being a member of the Kappel Realty Group because I want to provide our clients with the best of the best.
For me, this is not a job, it’s a passion. I had been through housing insecurity as a kid, and I know how owning a home in San Diego can transform your life and give you the financial security and return you simply can’t get from most investments. I’m passionate about people and helping families achieve that financial security.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Knowledge – My parents were both high school teachers and they imparted upon my sisters and I the value of education and knowledge. If you want to be the best at anything, you must have a deep level of knowledge and understanding of your subject matter which can only come through education – both formal and informal. For this reason, I am always focused on learning more. Along with a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, after serving in the Navy I went on to earn two graduate level degrees. Because I wanted to be as knowledgeable as possible for my clients, I utilized my GI Bill to earn an MBA with a focus in finance from UCLA and a Master of Science in Real Estate from the University of San Diego. Additionally, I have always focused on coupling my formal education with a “real world” education by working with and partnering with some of the brightest minds in real estate. 2. Hard work and persistence – I learned the value of hard work and persistence as a child. I came from a working family and my parents were always very adamant about us having jobs as children so that we could learn the value of work. As a 5th grader I began my first job as a paperboy, and I have worked a job every day of my life since then.
3. Learn how to fail, and then continue on – This is probably the most important aspect. As Michael Jordan once said, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed”.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
The ideal client that seeks to work with Kappel Realty Group is someone that wants to create a life of financial security and financial freedom while ultimately building wealth for their family. While not all our clients are investors, most of our clients are investment minded. For example, we recently helped and worked with a young first-time home buyer in their 20’s. While this client was not in the market to buy a large multifamily property, they did want their first home purchase to be a property that also made financial sense. We helped this young first-time home buyer purchase a four-bedroom condo in San Diego. The best part was we helped her buy her first home with no money out of pocket because we were able to connect her with a great down payment assistance loan program (something we do for many of our first-time home buyers). She lives in one of the bedrooms while renting out the other three bedrooms to friends. The rent on the three bedrooms she is renting out covers 100% of her mortgage and she is essentially now living in San Diego for free! While many people mistakenly think that San Diego is an expensive city to live in, we teach our clients how to live in a city like San Diego virtually for free by making wise real estate decisions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kappelrealtygroup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kappelrealtygroup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KappelRealtyGroup/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickkappel
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/patrick-kappel-compass-san-diego
