Why I Went All In on Real Estate Investing: A Father's Day Reflection on Freedom, Family, and Financial Legacy

As I write this on Father’s Day, I can’t help but reflect on the “why” behind everything I’ve built over the last several years. Not just the reason I got into real estate investing in the first place, but the eight reasons I keep going—my wife, Elyse, and our seven kids: Emma, Erik Jr., Charlotte, Olive, Gwen, Joan, and baby Jude.

In my former life, I had a high-paying job and what most would call “security.” But something was missing. Scratch that—a lot was missing. I was providing financially, but I wasn’t living the lifestyle I wanted. I wasn’t showing up the way I knew I could for my family.

My first real estate investment wasn’t just about ROI or cap rates. It was about escape. We had five kids at the time, and taking them to a hotel wasn’t exactly relaxing or easy. So we bought a short-term rental in Joshua Tree, California—not just for the investment, but because I wanted a place we could go as a family. A real home. A basecamp for memory-making.

That house gave us more than weekends of stargazing, hiking, rock climbing, and barbecues—it gave us a taste of passive income. We’d wake up after a night by the firepit and find new bookings in our inbox. It was the first time I saw what it meant to make money while I slept—literally.

That snowballed into other STRs in Southern Utah and Eastern Montana. I’ve since moved away from short-term rentals as a core investment strategy, but those early properties taught us the power of building income streams that didn’t require us to trade hours for dollars.

And while the investing side has evolved—these days I focus more on commercial and business-backed assets—the why has stayed the same.

So, on this Father’s Day, here are my eight reasons for going all-in on real estate:

1. Elyse – My wife and partner in everything. She believed in this lifestyle before I fully did and gave me the confidence to take the leap. She’s truly my better half—steadier, wiser, and more graceful than I’ll ever be. Without her, I’d be a far lesser man.

2. Emma – My oldest daughter, now 18. She’s solid, perseverant, and one of the hardest-working people I know. She’s grown up watching this journey and learning about ownership, freedom, and thinking differently—and she’s been right there with me, every step.

3. Erik Jr. – My namesake, and the wittiest person you'll ever meet. He’s like me in a lot of ways, but I know he’ll outpace everything I’ve done or ever will do—because he carries all of Elyse’s best parts too.

4. Charlotte – A spitting image of her mom. Quietly funny and bold in both her criticisms and observations. She’s sharp and sees the world in a way that catches me off guard—in the best way.

5. Olive – Pure joy in human form. I see her laugh every single day in a way most people only get to experience a few times a year. That kind of happiness keeps me grounded.

6. Gwen – Sweet and affectionate, and I think she genuinely enjoys having me home more often. She’s witty beyond her years and looks so much like Elyse that it throws me sometimes.

7. Joan – Fierce and full of emotion. She lives up to her namesake—St. Joan of Arc. She’s sweet when she wants to be, but strength is her default setting. You don’t forget her presence.

8. Jude – The baby of the family. His birth changed me. It was the first time I didn’t have to rush back to work. I had time. We had time. He’s stoic, even at this young age—watching, listening, quietly soaking it all in.

That’s the point of all this. It’s not about escaping work—I'm still working hard—but I’m working for something I believe in.

In my old job, I’d leave the house before sunrise. By the time Elyse was up with the kids, I’d already been at work for four hours. I’d miss breakfast. I’d miss most ballet drop-offs. I had two weeks of paternity leave—max. It was a good job. But it didn’t let me be the kind of dad or husband I wanted to be.

These days, I have coffee with my wife in the mornings. I drive my daughters to dance. I hold my baby in the middle of the day without worrying about a supervisor checking the clock.

Elyse recently said that her last pregnancy was her “easiest one yet” because I was around more. That’s one of the most beautiful—and bittersweet—things I’ve ever heard. I’m grateful I could support her differently, but I also wish I’d been able to do that from the start.

So yes, I’m all in on real estate. But not for the reasons most people assume. I’m all in because it gives me time. Presence. Options. Legacy.

If you're reading this and thinking about a shift—whether it’s to build passive income, buy your time back, or just explore what else is possible—I’d love to connect.

Because in the end, it’s not just about assets and equity. It’s about showing up for the people who matter most.

At the end of the day, real estate has given me more than income or opportunity—it’s given me alignment. Alignment with my priorities. Alignment with the kind of husband and father I want to be. I didn’t make this shift because I wanted to work less; I made it because I wanted to live more. And if this lifestyle can open those doors for me, I believe it can do the same for others. Whether you’re a parent looking to be more present, an investor searching for freedom, or someone just starting to question the traditional path—there’s nothing wrong with wanting a different kind of life. Sometimes, that’s where the best stories begin.