Time for a Career Change: How JP Haggarty Broke Free From a Limited Paycheck

For years, JP Haggarty worked in car sales at a Ford dealership. He was good at his job, but his income was capped. No matter how hard he worked, his paycheck stayed limited. That reality left him frustrated and wanting more.

“I’ve always just known that I could do something better in a way where I feel like I’m not restricted,” JP explained. “The harder I work, the more I get rewarded.”

That mindset pushed him toward a career change. Instead of sticking with car sales, JP took a risk and jumped into wholesale real estate. Just three and a half months later, his decision paid off in ways he never imagined. Today, he’s making nearly five times his old yearly salary and he’s only getting started.

JP’s story shows why many sales professionals are trading in their old careers for real estate. With commission-based opportunities and no income ceiling, wholesaling can open the door to financial freedom that a standard paycheck rarely delivers.

Discovering Real Estate Wholesaling

When JP first learned about real estate wholesaling, he realized it offered the kind of opportunity he had been searching for. In simple terms, wholesaling is about finding undervalued or distressed properties, securing them under contract, and then assigning those contracts to investors for a fee.

Instead of needing cash or credit to buy houses, wholesalers act as a bridge between motivated sellers and eager buyers. For someone like JP, who already had experience in sales and negotiation, the model made sense immediately.

His very first deal brought in a $35,000 profit. After that, he quickly completed five more transactions, averaging $25,000 per deal. His most recent closing earned him $29,000. By simply identifying rundown houses and connecting them with investors, JP built a new income stream that dwarfed his old salary.

The Process That Changed His Life

JP’s wholesaling process is both simple and effective. Here’s how he approaches it:

1. Driving for Dollars - He spends time driving around looking for rundown or neglected houses.
2. Reaching Out - He calls homeowners directly to ask if they’re interested in selling.
3. Negotiating Deals - He negotiates purchase prices well below market value.
4. Marketing to Investors - He spreads the word through:

• Emails to his buyer list
• Facebook groups and Marketplace
• Craigslist listings
• Investor open houses

For his first deal, JP contacted an owner about one property. That conversation led him to another house where tenants had just been evicted. After seeing the property, he negotiated the price down from $77,500 to $50,000. He then listed it at $65,000. Investor demand pushed the bidding up to $85,000, leaving him with a $35,000 assignment fee.

This experience taught JP a valuable lesson: competition among investors can drive profits higher than expected.

Pushing Through Early Challenges

Like most wholesalers, JP didn’t close his first deal overnight. He spent about six weeks cold calling before landing a property worth pursuing. Every evening after work, he would pick up the phone and make calls until 9 PM. Weekends were spent driving neighborhoods looking for distressed homes.

Persistence paid off. Two of his six deals came from follow-up calls with sellers who weren’t ready to commit right away.

“Some people move fast, some people need more time to think about it,” JP explained.

Consistent follow-up turned hesitation into closed deals.

Mentorship also played a huge role in his success in real estate. Working with wholesaler and coach Zach Booth, JP gained the confidence, contract templates, and step-by-step guidance he needed. Having someone experienced to lean on made the transition from car sales to real estate far less intimidating.

A Financial Transformation

The results speak for themselves. In less than four months, JP closed six deals with profits ranging from $15,000 to $35,000 each. On average, he now earns $25,000 per deal. To put that in perspective, that’s about 18 months of income from his old job, earned in just one transaction.

After his first deal closed, JP quit his car sales position. He was making just $1,400 a month at Ford. Now, his financial future looks completely different.

“I knew that this was something I could be really good at,” JP said.

His short-term plan is to keep building momentum and reinvesting in his business. While he hasn’t mapped out every step of 2024, his main goal is simple: keep growing profits and building a sustainable career in real estate.

Why Real Estate Wholesaling Attracts Career Changers

JP’s story is not unique. Many professionals in sales-heavy industries, such as car sales, insurance, or retail, are finding that a career change into real estate wholesaling provides:

• Uncapped income potential – No salary caps or commission limits.
• Low barriers to entry – You don’t always need a license or years of training.
• Scalable opportunities – Once the process is mastered, deals can multiply.
• Control over time and effort – Hard work directly impacts results.

According to data from IBISWorld, the real estate wholesaling market continues to expand as more investors look for off-market deals. With that demand in place, wholesalers who learn the process and stay consistent can carve out a profitable career.

Key Takeaways for Career Changers

For anyone considering a career change into real estate, JP’s story offers several clear lessons:

• Be prepared to grind in the beginning. Cold calling and follow-ups are critical.
• Mentorship can shorten the learning curve and boost confidence.
• Driving for dollars, combined with the right tools, makes finding leads easier.
• The first deal is the hardest, but persistence pays off.
• Real estate wholesaling can replace—and exceed—traditional career incomes in a short time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much money can someone make from real estate wholesaling?

JP’s deals ranged from $15,000 to $35,000 each, with an average profit of about $25,000. Actual earnings depend on your market, negotiation skills, and ability to connect buyers with sellers.

Q: How long does it take to close the first deal?

JP’s first deal took about six weeks of consistent cold calling and driving for dollars. The timeframe varies, but persistence is the biggest factor in getting results.

Q: Do you need a license to wholesale real estate?

In many states, no license is required to wholesale properties. However, laws vary, so always check your state’s regulations. Even without a license, mentorship and a strong understanding of contracts and property values are essential.

Q: Is wholesaling real estate a good career change for salespeople?

Yes. Skills from sales, such as negotiation, persistence, and communication, transfer directly into wholesaling. Many sales professionals find it a natural transition.

Final Thoughts

JP Haggarty’s career change from car sales to wholesaling shows what’s possible with hard work, persistence, and the right guidance. In less than four months, he transformed his financial situation, proved the power of uncapped income, and built a business that continues to grow.

For anyone stuck in a limited-income job, wholesaling may be the career change that opens the door to financial freedom.