Success in real estate hinges on more than just buying and selling houses. It’s about strategy, persistence, and a willingness to do what others won’t. Grant Kemp is a great example of someone who carved out a unique path, using owner financing as his niche. Here’s the story of how he turned his ambition into a profitable and scalable business model.
Grant Kemp, the mind behind CreativeCashFlow.com, built his real estate career from scratch. Starting with minimal resources, he relied on creative thinking, grit, and partnerships to grow his business. Today, with over $70 million in real estate transactions under his belt, Grant is a mentor to aspiring investors and a key player in the owner financing space.
Entering Real Estate
Grant didn’t take the conventional route to success. Like many investors, his journey began in forums like BiggerPockets and through self-education. He read, researched, and absorbed everything he could about real estate. But instead of getting stuck in “analysis paralysis,” he took action.
Six months into his studying, he pulled the trigger on his first real estate deal: a duplex he purchased to live in and rent out. Known as house hacking, this gave him immediate experience and cash flow.
But a casual conversation with his tenant soon opened an unexpected door. The tenant, tired of dealing with an old property they were ready to “hand back to the bank,” gave Grant an opportunity to take over the house. This became Grant’s first owner-financed deal and set the tone for his future business.
Why Owner Financing Stood Out
Owner financing became Grant’s main focus because of its flexibility. With his limited capital, it allowed him to acquire properties without large upfront costs. Owner financing enables investors to take over existing financing or structure deals creatively.
For example, Grant took over many homes by buying “subject to” the previous owner’s loan. This means he took over the mortgage payments without needing traditional bank financing. He then resold these homes through owner financing, earning on upfront fees, monthly cash flow, and long-term appreciation.
Grant chose this route because it offered high returns without the need to pay full price for properties. He worked mainly with distressed sellers or those facing foreclosure, which brought motivated deals directly to him.
A Grueling Start
The first two years of Grant’s real estate journey were anything but easy. He poured countless hours into his work, clocking 15–18 hours a day, seven days a week.
He consistently marketed, closed deals, and cleared obstacles while others were taking holidays. He even recalled showing a property on Christmas morning—and making $30,000 from it.
Grant’s secret? Relentless hustle. Real estate isn’t a four-hour-a-week fantasy. It requires long days, hard decisions, and constant follow-up efforts. His approach from day one was to keep moving forward: “You’ve got to jump, and the net will appear.”
Smart Partnerships Propel Growth
One of the most critical decisions Grant made was to partner early with Scott Horne, a Texas attorney and experienced real estate investor. Scott’s name consistently came up during Grant’s research as a go-to person for owner financing.
Instead of hoping for a casual connection, Grant persistently reached out and pitched ways they could work together. This partnership turned into a pivotal mentorship, allowing him to learn the ins and outs of legal compliance, structuring deals, and scaling a real estate portfolio.
Working with Scott also taught Grant the value of partnerships. He describes his philosophy simply: “I’d rather make a little of a lot than a lot of a little.” By collaborating, he could leverage Scott’s experience while sharing the workload for mutual success.
Marketing Is Non-Negotiable
Grant emphasizes to new investors that marketing isn’t optional; it’s the backbone of a real estate business. You can have the best strategies or tools, but without steady leads, you’ve got nothing.
He suggests daily marketing efforts—whether that’s sending mailers, engaging with leads, or using tools like Propelio for consistent updates. One of Grant’s students proved this point after committing to send 20 letters daily. Within three weeks, this student landed a deal worth $60K in profit.
Success in marketing, Grant says, boils down to consistency: “If your name isn’t in the stack of offers, you won’t get picked.”
Building Systems for Longevity
Once Grant gained momentum, he focused on building systems to lighten his own workload. His goal was clear: work hard in the early years to set up a business that could run efficiently without constant hands-on input.
This meant hiring staff, automating processes, and partnering with the right people. It wasn’t immediate; it took him about three years to reach a point where he could step back slightly and trust the systems he’d built. Even now, Grant emphasizes the importance of staying involved to ensure those systems remain effective.
Overcoming Capital Barriers
New investors often see capital as the biggest hurdle, but Grant debunks this myth. According to him, “The money isn’t the problem—finding the deals is.” Once you bring solid deals to the table, private money will follow.
Grant illustrates this point with an example: early in his career, private investors practically thanked him for investing their money at an 8% return. “Money chases good money,” he says, highlighting how good deals attract plenty of willing partners.
His advice to beginners is to focus on finding discounted properties, then present the opportunity to experienced investors or private lenders. They’re often eager to fund projects but lack the time or expertise to execute them.
Actionable Advice for New Investors
For anyone starting out, Grant breaks down the essentials:
- Market daily. Great deals won’t find you—you have to hunt for them.
- Focus on income-generating activities. Skip the “busy work” like perfecting your LLC or organizing your desk. Prioritize tasks that bring in leads and revenue.
- Build partnerships. Don’t hoard opportunities. Look for experienced investors who can guide you and share the rewards.
- Find deals first. Capital will follow if the deal makes sense.
- Plan long-term. Balance “today money” (wholesaling, flips) with “tomorrow money” (long-term rentals, cash flow).
Trusted World: Giving Back
Real estate has also given Grant the freedom to contribute meaningfully to causes he’s passionate about. He works closely with Trusted World, a non-profit focused on supplying essentials to other charities, schools, and organizations.
Whether it’s meals for Iraqi refugees or clothing for domestic abuse victims, Trusted World’s efforts fulfill critical needs. The organization’s efficient, Six Sigma-inspired system allows caseworkers to request items through an intuitive online platform.
For Grant, this is a way to extend the impact of his success beyond personal income.
The Final Takeaway
Grant Kemp’s journey proves that real estate rewards those who are willing to hustle, learn, and adapt. Whether you’re focused on owner financing or another strategy, the keys to success remain the same: consistent marketing, building strong partnerships, and taking action before you have all the answers.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can make it in real estate, Grant’s story offers this simple truth: you can. The time will pass anyway—why not make it count?
