He went from homeless to owning real estate on two continents

At 19, Anthony O’Neal was sleeping in his car and $40,000 in debt. Today, he owns real estate on two continents and is the author of Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck. Here’s how he went from stretching McDonald’s burgers to buying six properties, plus his end-run around high rates.

Q: What were your “paycheck to paycheck” days like before you broke out of this cycle? “At 19, I was homeless and sleeping in my car with $40,000 of debt due to poor financial decisions. Fast forward a year or two later, I was still struggling. I’d cash my $900 paycheck, pay my bills, and be close to broke again. I vividly remember driving to McDonald’s, ordering two double cheeseburgers with my last few dollars. I cut the burgers in half and called that dinner for the next two days. That’s when my mindset shifted. I thought there has to be a better way. I started educating myself with personal finance books and podcasts. By the time I turned 29, I’d bought my first home.”

Q: Tell me about your first property. “It was a house in Columbia, TN, for $205,000. I later sold that property for almost $450,000. Since then, I’ve purchased six properties and still own four of them: three in the United States and a $140,000 condo in Ghana, where I recently gained dual citizenship. My rental properties pay the mortgage and build equity. I love the equity play. Seeing that balance go down is amazing.”

Q: What advice do you have for buyers struggling with today’s high rates? “Marry the house and date the rate. I just closed on a home recently, and the rate is high. I married the home because I love the home, and I’m going to date the rate. I’m always watching the market to see if interest rates are going down. The rate on my first home was 2.25%, and we’ll never see that rate again, but if I can get a rate around 4% or 5%, I would rock with that.”

Q: Any advice for real estate investors? “The key is to find a solid tenant who will take care of your home and pay the rent on time. It can become a headache if you have the wrong tenant. So don’t overextend yourself. Make sure you’re in a financial position to pay two mortgages if rent is late.”