What if your first real estate deal wasn’t about deep pockets, but about trusting yourself to figure it out? Rajan Chida went from reselling sneakers in high school to closing his first development deal in Front Royal, Virginia all before turning 22.

When most people think about real estate development, they imagine needing millions in the bank and years of experience. But Rajan Chida’s story proves otherwise.

In this episode, Rajan shares how his journey started by flipping shoes, saving up his profits, and buying his first rental property using "shoe money." But his real leap came when his friend Renzo introduced him to a two-and-a-half-acre land deal in Front Royal, Virginia. Instead of waiting for the perfect conditions or funding, they leaned on scrappy creativity, social media leverage, and pure resourcefulness to make it happen.

From navigating rejections at multiple banks to negotiating with contractors, Rajan walks us through every gritty step of their first build. His secret weapon? Sharing the process openly on Instagram turned his audience into an asset that helped land partnerships, amenities, and even his builder.

This story is for anyone who’s been sitting on the sidelines, wondering if they’re "ready" to start. Rajan’s journey reminds us: you don’t have to have it all figured out, you just have to begin.

Episode Takeaways:

• You can start real estate development without millions if you’re willing to get creative and build trust.

• Social media isn’t just for marketing it can help you fund, furnish, and find partners for your project.

• Development is a learning-by-doing game. You figure it out as you go.

• Banks may say no, but the right co-signers and a solid deal structure can open doors.

• The first project is about building credibility, not just making a profit.
  

Bold Truth: You don’t need permission to start shaping your community. You just need a real opportunity, and the guts to chase it.

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