Bill Manaserro tells his incredible life story which begins with him getting elected to public office at age 18, becoming a corporate VP by age 21, then becoming an entrepreneur, gravitating into the tech space, getting hired by one of Meg Whitman’s companies, and then losing it all when the tech bubble burst in the late 90s. Bill had 5 kids at the time and decided to make a major life pivot, become a professional musician, and travel the world long term with his wife and kids. Homeschooling his kids and teaching them life lessons through travel, Bill shares what life was like for his family as itinerant nomads for over 3 years before moving to Haiti where they would be based for the next 12 years. Bill explains how he and his family founded “Child Hope International” which established medical clinics, orphanages, schools and entrepreneurial trainings for the people of Haiti, and ended up getting his family featured on a CNN special with Soledad O’Brien and interviewed by Oprah. He explains how incredibly challenging yet incredibly rewarding life was for his family in Haiti. Bill then talks about how he transitioned back to life in the U.S. and started investing in real estate in 2014 at age 58 and explains how he has acquired 88 units since then. Bill gives his top advice for real estate investors over 50, and shares tips on analyzing and conducting your due diligence on out-of-state rental properties. Bill then explains why he started the “Old Dawg’s REI Network” podcast and shares his biggest takeaways from it.
Episode #26: Real Estate Investing for Old Dawgs, Nomading with Your Kids, and Being Interviewed by Oprah with Bill Manassero
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Bill Manassero
Bill Manassero was elected to public office at the age of 18, became a corporate VP at age 21, he then started his own business and gravitated to the tech space, and eventually got hired by one of Meg Whitman’s companies. When tech bubble burst in the late 90s, Bill pivoted once again and became a professional musician, dropped 3 albums, and toured the world with his family, and eventually moved with his family to Haiti for 12 years, where they lived for 12 years established and eventually founded Child Hope International which was comprised of medical clinics, orphanages, schools and entrepreneurial training. Bill’s work in Haiti got him featured on a CNN special with Soledad O’Brien and also attracted the attention of Oprah Winfrey who came down and interviewed Bill and his family and spend the day with them. Bill started investing in real estate in 2014 at age 58 and has acquired 88 units since then. Bill also hosts the “Old Dawg’s REI Network” podcast which provides education to seniors on how to build wealth through income properties.
What You'll Learn
- Real Estate Investing Strategies for the 50+ Age Group
- How and Why to Buy Out-of-State Rental Properties
- The Value of Traveling the World Long-Term with Your Kids
Links From the Episode
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BOOKS BILL RECOMMENDS
WATCH OPRAH INTERVIEW BILL AND HIS FAMILY (12 minutes Broken in 5 parts)
- PART 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6BClV290C8 (1:20)
- PART 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C37FTsGkTMY (2:25)
- PART 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNrL3lU2eaY (3:05)
- PART 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb0vx_qgC4w (4:11)
- PART 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr–WOyRsVA (1:00)
PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED
Check Flight Prices to Any of These Destinations
LISTEN TO BILL’s PODCAST
ORGANIZATION BILL FOUNDED
CONTACT BILL
Time Stamped Show Notes
[03:36] THE ROLE OF MUSIC IN BILL’S UPBRINGING
- Writing Songs as a Teenager to Cope with His Mother’s Death
- Teaching Himself to Play Rock and Roll on the Guitar
[05:31] WORKING IN THE TECH SPACE IN THE 90’s WHEN THE BUBBLE BURST
- Helping Software and Internet Companies Secure Venture Capital
- Getting Hired by a Meg Whitman Company
- Losing it All When the Tech Bubble Burst
[09:39] BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN AND TRAVELING THE WORLD WITH HIS FAMILY
- Pivoting in Life to Spend More Time With His Family
- Renting an RV and Traveling the U.S. Long-Term with His Family
- Home-Schooling his Kids and Teaching Them Lessons Through Travel
- Traveling Internationally Through Africa and Russia With His Kids
- Having the Kids Performing in the Band in Front of Audiences of Thousands
- The Lasting Impact of World-Travel on His Family
- Why His Kids Would Never Trade the World Travel Experiences for Anything
[18:33] FOUNDING CHILD HOPE INTERNATIONAL AND LIVING WITH HIS FAMILY IN HAITI
- His 9-Year Old Daughter Ariana’s Dream for Building Hospitals and Orphanages in Haiti.
- His Family’s First Trip to Haiti and The Connection They Felt with the “Street Kids”
- Ariana’s Reaction When the Plane Touched Down in Haiti
- His Family’s Decision to Move to Haiti and Stay for 12 Years
- Housing and Feeding Hundreds of Boys and Girls Daily
- Opening Schools and Medical Clinics
- Teaching 4 Languages, Computer Skills and Entrepreneurial Skills
- Launching Micro-Businesses, Creating Incubators and Teaching Business Management
[29:48] EXPERIENCE DURING 2011 HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE AND ITS AFTERMATH
- Doing Emergency Medical Work as Hospitals Were Collapsing
- Being Featured on a CNN Special with Soledad O’Brien
- Being Interviewed by Oprah Winfrey
- Bill’s Reflections on Spending a Full Day with Oprah
[38:34] LIFE IN HAITI ON BILL AND HIS FAMILY
- Meeting Inspiring Local People That Impacted Their Lives
- Escaping a Kidnapping Attempt and Being Shot at with AK47s
- The Impact of the Haitian Experience on Bill’s Kids as They Grew Up
- Dealing with PTSD upon returning to the U.S.
[49:03] STARTING TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE INVESTING AT AGE 58
- How Bill Decided to Invest in Turnkey Real Estate
- Buying His First 3 Turnkey Residential Investment Properties
- Bill’s Motivation to Use His Real Estate Proceeds to Build a Village in Haiti
- Learning the Value of Buying Multi-Unit Properties
[55:00] EDUCATING OTHER SENIORS ON REAL ESTATE INVESTING STRATEGIES
- Bill’s Advice to Seniors on How to Think About Real Estate Investing
- The Difference Between Active and Passive Real Estate Investing
- Why Bill Recommends ALL Real Estate Investors Should Focus on Cash Flow
- Covering Your Expenses with Passive Rental Income Without Drawing Down Your Retirement Nest Egg
- Bill’s Recommended Real Estate Investing Strategies for Seniors in Particular
[01:06:00] BILL’S “OLD DAWG’S REI NETWORK” PODCAST
- Real Estate Education and Fun without Selling Anything to the Listeners
- The Types of Guests Bill Has on His Podcast
[01:08:57] THE ADVANTAGES OF OUT OF STATE REAL ESTATE INVESTING
- Why Bill Personally Invests Out of State
- The Criteria Bill Uses to Identify Investor-Advantaged Real Estate Markets
- Why Bill Believes Real Estate is the Best Asset to Pass Down to Your Heirs
- How Bill Conducts His Due Diligence on Out of State Properties
- The Crucial Importance of Good Property Management
[01:15:35] THE LIGHTNING ROUND
- The Top Two Books that Bill Recommends
- The #1 Piece of Real Estate Investing Advice Bill Learned from 300+ Podcast Guests
- Bill’s #1 Tip for Seniors Wanting to Get into Real Estate Investing
- The #1 Blog Bill Recommends
- Bill’s #1 Tip for Raising Amazing Children
[01:25:22] HOW TO CONTACT BILL AND LISTEN TO HIS PODCAST
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