We pulled together Trevor Mach’s first-hand story and reviewed public, state-level guidance on wholesaling and contract assignments to create a clearer and safer resource for investors.
Financial freedom through real estate is not only about making money. It is also about having choices. Choices like leaving a job that drains you, setting your own schedule, and building a business you can be proud of.
Trevor’s journey shows what this looks like in real life. It starts messy, gets harder before it gets easier, and then becomes repeatable once systems are in place.
After college, Trevor started working a sales job. At first, he liked the work and the money felt steady.
Then the company changed the commission structure and cut earning potential. The workload also increased fast. Trevor was dealing with evenings, weekends, long workdays, and a huge number of accounts.
That pressure started affecting his mental health, his relationships, and his general well-being. He knew he needed a change before he hit a breaking point.
A friend suggested Trevor look into wholesale real estate. The idea clicked for a simple reason: control.
Wholesaling gave him a way to build income without waiting years for a promotion. It also gave him the chance to help sellers who needed speed, certainty, or a clean solution.
Trevor did not have experience when he started. He chose to learn fast by joining a 14-day wholesaling challenge and committing to daily action.
Early on, Trevor created a basic online presence. He found a distressed property and wholesaled it for $8,500.
That first deal did more than pay a bill. It gave him proof the process could work. Once he had proof, he went all in.
Shortly after getting started, Trevor attended a real estate conference. It cost $2,500 for him and his wife to attend, which felt like a big risk after only one deal.
But it helped him connect the dots. He learned the wholesaling process end-to-end and saw how other investors built real businesses. He also learned about tools that help investors scale, including DealMachine.
A conference will not do the work for you. What matters is what you do after. Trevor took what he learned and applied it immediately.
Trevor described the early stage like this:
“In those early days, zero dollars to one hundred thousand dollars, you’ve got to be on the hamster wheel. You’ve got to hustle.”
This is the part where many people quit. Not because wholesaling “does not work,” but because they never build a pipeline that can survive a slow week.
Trevor pushed through for two reasons:
If you are working toward financial freedom through real estate, this phase is normal. The goal is not to hustle forever. The goal is to hustle long enough to build systems.
If you want this article to feel more “high-effort,” turn this section into a simple infographic image. Your designer can use this exact copy.
Lead found
Driving for dollars, list building, referrals, inbound lead
Contact and follow-up
Calls, texts, mail, and scheduled follow-up
Notes and tags for every conversation
Seller appointment
Walkthrough, photos, repair notes, motivation, timeline
Offer and contract
Clear price and terms
Required disclosures based on your state
Title work starts
Open title or escrow
Confirm payoff, liens, and closing date
Buyer match
Share details with the right buyers
Confirm proof of funds and ability to close
Assignment or double close
Signed documents and required disclosures
Use the method that fits your deal and your local rules
Close and post-close
Confirm funds received
Ask for a review
Document lessons learned for the next deal
Where DealMachine fits: DealMachine helps investors find off-market leads, track follow-up, look up owner contact info, and run outreach in one workflow so deals do not fall through the cracks.
Trevor eventually reached a point where hustle alone was not enough. He was earning strong income, but the constant grind was wearing him down.
That is where systems matter. Systems turn effort into repeatable outcomes. They also reduce burnout because you are not rebuilding your business every week.
Trevor shifted part of his effort away from only quick-payoff tactics. He worked on marketing that can keep producing leads over time.
That can include:
This is one way to reduce the stress of “what happens if I stop grinding for a week?”
Trevor focused on building local trust and credibility. A strong Google Business Profile helps sellers feel safer when they look you up.
Reviews can also help trust. Trevor shared that building a steady review habit improved his credibility over time.
Trevor hired help for tasks he did not enjoy, like driving for dollars. That freed him up for higher-value work like seller conversations, negotiation, and building the business.
If you are not ready to hire yet, you can still systemize:
DealMachine helps here because it keeps property notes, lead status, owner info, and outreach activity connected.
Wholesaling is a money topic, and it can cross into regulated activity if you are not careful. Laws vary by state and can change over time.
This section is not legal advice. It is a research starting point, so you know what to ask an attorney in your market.
|
State |
What to watch |
What the state materials emphasize |
Source |
|
Ohio |
New wholesaler disclosure requirements |
Ohio’s SB 155 revises real estate wholesaler law and lists an effective date of March 2, 2026. |
|
|
Texas |
Disclosure when assigning an interest |
Texas Property Code 5.0205 requires written disclosure before selling an option or assigning an interest in a purchase contract. |
https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._prop._code_section_5.0205 |
|
Florida |
“For another, for compensation” broker definition |
Florida’s statute definition of “broker” includes acting for another for compensation in negotiating or procuring sellers and buyers. |
|
|
Illinois |
Unlicensed practice and civil penalties |
Illinois materials describe civil penalties tied to unlicensed practice as a broker or salesperson. |
https://witnessslips.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=1364&ChapterID=24 |
A simple compliance system is a real asset. It keeps deals smoother and reduces the chance of a bad outcome.
If you want financial freedom through real estate, you need a process you can repeat. Here is a clean version that fits most markets.
Decide what you are looking for:
A tight buy box makes lead generation faster and offers more accurate.
Many new wholesalers get stuck here because they chase too many lead sources at once. Start with one lead channel and do it consistently.
Driving for dollars is simple and effective because you are finding properties that look like they need help. DealMachine supports this workflow by helping you:
Most deals do not happen on the first call. Follow-up is where many deals are won.
Use a basic schedule, like:
Marketing automation and reminders help because you do not have to rely on memory.
This is where “high-effort” content matters. Do not wing it.
If you want to embed a short video in the blog, this is the section to do it.
A buyers list is not just a spreadsheet of names. It is a list of real people with clear buying criteria.
Track:
This helps you move fast and protect your reputation.
Wholesaling can create active income by solving problems for sellers and connecting deals to buyers. That income can help you build reserves and fund consistent marketing. The long-term goal is to build systems so your business is less dependent on daily hustle.
Many new wholesalers quit because they do not stay consistent with lead generation and follow-up. A steady routine and simple tracking system can keep you from losing leads. This is where tools and automation help because they reduce missed follow-ups.
Rules vary by state and depend on how you operate and how you market yourself. Some states focus on whether you are acting “for another” for compensation, which can trigger licensing rules. Review your state guidance and talk to a local attorney before you scale.
You should understand any disclosures your state requires and use clear written documents. For example, Texas has a property code section that requires equitable interest disclosure before selling an option or assigning an interest. Confirm what applies in your state and get a legal review of your paperwork.