Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Whitney.
Hi Austin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first jumped into Real Estate in 2017 when my wife and I purchased our first house and rented out our basement. This paid for more than half of our mortgage at the time! A few years later, then purchased another house a few blocks away from where we lived to flip!
We did this in our “spare” time while my wife and I both worked full-time. Our typical day was: Go to our jobs from 8 am-5 pm, grab a quick bite to eat at home, and head to that project until about 9 or 10 in the evening. Sometimes later depending on what we were doing that day. After that, we decided to act as the investor and started focusing on growing our business instead of just handling the day-to-day operations!
Since that first project, we have sold almost $2,000,000 in product! But real estate has led to me starting three other businesses! I started an apparel company, Gun Nuts of Utah in 2020, an e-commerce business and managing an Airbnb rental in San Antonio, Texas. Both of which we started in 2021.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely not been “Smooth”. Overall we have lost tens of thousands of dollars from mistakes but have brought so much learning! But, that hasn’t stopped my motivation to keep moving forward and find what works! You can’t really learn what works until you understand what doesn’t work!
We’ve been impressed with Ragnar Homes and Gun Nuts of Utah, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Ragnar Homes, LLC was founded in 2018 as a Real Estate Investment company. Dedicated to improving communities from the inside out. Utah is experiencing a problem that at least I haven’t seen in my entire life – a MAJOR influx of new residents. That brings a housing shortage as well as skyrocketing prices! Our goal is to beautify existing properties within already established communities. Really taking the worst house in the best neighborhood and turning it into the best house in the best neighborhood.
We offer investment options to maximize your return on the money you invest, all backed and secured by Real Estate. Gun Nuts of Utah is an apparel company and has a mission to promote and gain support for the Second Amendment and gun safety throughout the great state of Utah! The biggest takeaway that I would want someone who is reading this to take away is that nobody is coming to save you.
My wife and I have very close ties with others in the real estate and entrepreneurial world. The biggest “A-Ha” moment that I had is just taking a chance on yourself and trying to find out what works! Nobody is going to come and hold your hand and walk you through the process, no matter how much you pay them! Eventually, you are going to have to take a step on your own! You are going to fail, but what’s the worst that can happen? You end up exactly where you were before you took that chance?
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The problem, solving integrity, and honesty.
Contact Info:
- Email: austinmwhitney@gmail.com
- Website: linktr.ee/austinmwhitney
- Instagram: @_austinmwhitney
- Other: gunnutsofutah.com
