DON’T BUY A HOUSE IN YOUR 20s – THE BANK IS TRAPPING YOU
Why didn’t I follow the 99% crowd and choose to listen to my 1% mentor to build a business first instead of buying a house that allows me to make a humble amount of money and retire my mom in my 20s, but I still don’t live in the house I own?
Because if the crowd had it all figured out, why are most of them still living paycheck to paycheck?
And no, I’m not crazy.
Before you jump to a conclusion, let me explain.
Disclaimer: This advice comes from my own experience and personal situation; take it with a grain of salt; it worked for me doesn't mean it works for you. I do not own any houses still; my businesses own them.
“Buying a House” Almost Locked Me In Before I Was Ready
In my early 20s, I was doing everything right or at least what everyone told me was right.
I was working multiple jobs. Doing nails. Tutoring physics.Working a 9-5 job for Toyota, supporting my family. Saving every penny I could. Eventually, I had enough money for a down payment. And people around me started saying:
“Buy a house. It’s the next step. That’s how you build security.”
One night, I found myself staring at a Zillow listing.
"Nice house, decent neighborhood. The monthly mortgage would’ve been about $2,000. It seemed doable."
But something inside me felt off. Like I was about to lock myself into a decision that would eat up my future.
So I asked my first millionaire mentor for advice.
The Advice That Changed My Life
I told him I was about to pull the trigger on a house.
He paused, then gave me the one piece of advice that completely changed how I saw everything:
“You don’t need a house. You need a machine that prints money. Then you can buy the house, and never pay for it yourself.”
That hit me hard.
So instead of buying a house right away, I stepped back and looked at the numbers.
What Most People Don’t See
People think the mortgage is the only cost. But that’s just the beginning.
Here’s what I would’ve been paying every month:
Expense/Monthly Cost
Mortgage: $2,000
Property taxes: $400
Home insurance: $150
HOA + maintenance: $250
Utilities (water, electric, trash): $300
Total: $3,000 to $3,500 per month.
At the time, I was earning around $5,000 to $6,000 a month.
That means more than half of my income would have gone toward maintaining one house.
Before groceries. Before saving. Before building anything for myself.
The Interest Trap
Here’s what most people don’t realize.
In a 30-year mortgage, the first 10 to 20 years mostly go toward paying the bank's interest, not the home itself.
Unless you’re aggressively paying extra with your capped income, you won’t build much equity for a long time.
So while you think you’re owning more of your house, you’re really just feeding the bank first.
So I Took a Different Path
I didn’t buy the house YET.
Instead, I rented.
I stayed lean.
And I used my savings to start an Amazon business.
It wasn’t smooth. I failed early. Chose the wrong product. Maxed out my credit cards. Got stuck with a bad supplier.
But I didn’t stop. I kept learning and stayed consistent.
Eventually, the business started generating real income.
And later, when I had the cash flow, I bought a house.
But I didn’t live in it.
I put it under my LLC, and I rented it out.
Now, the tenant pays the mortgage. I get the tax write-offs. The home appreciates in value.
And most importantly, I still have my freedom.
Not Everyone's Path Is the Same
I know this isn’t one-size-fits-all.
If you come from a big family and need a shared space, sometimes buying a home together makes sense.
I’ve seen families pool their income and pay down the mortgage aggressively. That can turn into real equity and generational wealth.
But the key is to make that move with intention. Not pressure. Not ego. Not because someone said “it’s what adults do.”
So What’s the Better Path?
If you're not buying a house in your 20s, then what?
Build something that creates monthly income. A machine that keeps paying you—whether you work or not. That’s what I did through Amazon.
I built a business that didn’t just cover my bills. It gave me options. It helped me retire my mom. It bought me time. And it bought me houses without taking my peace.
You don’t need a business degree. You don’t need a perfect background. You just need the right information, the right guidance, and the commitment to execute.
Final Thoughts
Buying a house in your 20s might feel like a milestone, but it can quietly lock you into 30 years of payments before you’ve built the freedom to actually enjoy it.
You can always buy the house later.
But your 20s? That’s your time to take risks, move fast, and build your foundation.
Build the business first.
Let it pay for your house.
Then buy ten more if you want to.
But do it on your terms.
You were born to own. Not just survive.
Let’s get to work.
Want to Learn How to Build Your Own Cash Flow Business That Will Pay For Your Houses?
If you’re wondering how to actually start building your own income machine, I’ve laid out free tutorials on my YouTube channel.
I cover everything from product research, to supplier communication, to launching your first product.
These are the same steps I used, and the same ones I give to my private students today.
Start learning here: Amazon FBA $10k/m Free Crash Course
Our Mission
After I failed following bad advice from so-called gurus, I was lucky to find the right mentor who gave me the blueprint to succeed. I used it to build multiple million-dollar Amazon brands and change my life. Along the way, other sellers who had also failed started reaching out.
I shared the same process that helped me and it didn’t just pull them out of debt, it helped them build freedom. Some now work from anywhere and have more time with their families. That’s why we created AMZSHIFU to pass down the knowledge that actually works.
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