This Black Girl From the Tasks of South Philly Constructed a Million Greenback Actual Property Portfolio at Age 30

Ayesha Selden currently owns over 40 rental properties thanks to early savings.

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March 22, 2021 3 min read

This story originally appeared on Black Enterprise

Ayesha Selden has inspired millions of people on her way to becoming a real estate millionaire at the age of 30.

The Philadelphia native now owns over 40 rental properties. She teaches others about the importance of ownership and what it takes to get started.

“Condition yourself as a saver first,” says Selden during a podcast interview. “There are steps to this game. You can’t go from one end of the process to being a disciplined investor and thinking that everything is going to be gravy. I always say that someone who hasn’t mastered the art of saving first … how do you become a landlord if you haven’t saved any money? If you can’t figure out how to save reserve money, you will lose your home and ruin your bankroll. Find out how to be a saver first, then an investor, and then a disciplined investor. “

First steps in the real estate industry

Selden was raised by a single mother in one of the under-resourced communities in South Philly. When she was 18, her family moved to a better area. Selden believed that the area she was leaving would turn and that her mother’s property would one day become valuable. She was right.

“I told her not to sell our house and let her rent it,” said Selden Shoppe Black. “She was nervous about finding a tenant and sold it in 1997 for $ 35,000. Within 10 years of her sale, this home was worth ten times what she sold it, and today it’s probably worth between $ 500,000 and $ 600,000. “

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Selden never forgot the moment and used the lesson as motivation to become a competent investor.

She started her real estate journey at the age of 24. Selden bought a foreclosure in Philly for $ 67,000 with her personal savings. She redeveloped the place, moved in and got a roommate. House hacking has saved Selden more money. She invested in stocks and bought a rental property two years later. In 2011 she used the equity of her first house to buy and renovate more properties.

From poverty to abundance

Despite building a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio, Selden still works as a private wealth advisor. She helps others manage their money as it has always been easy for her to do so.

“As a kid, money just always made sense to me,” said Selden during her podcast interview when she talked about growing up poor in Philly. “I could always save a dollar. If you gave me a $ 10 allowance, I would have the same $ 10 six weeks later. ”

But it wasn’t until she got a job at a bank that she began to broaden her view of money. “I started seeing real money. People came in with millions. “

The lightbulb went out when it noticed the customers weren’t working. They invested in stocks, mutual funds, and other assets that worked for them. Then Selden realized that she had to switch from saver to investor.

Although Selden has a number of investments in her portfolio, she shares that real estate is her favorite. She has published a digital guide to help more people build their wealth on 7+ numbers.