Making a successful career transition from a high-stress profession into real estate investing while balancing family life seems like an impossible dream for many professionals. Today’s guest, Christy Burakovsky, proves it’s not only possible but can lead to a more fulfilling career that aligns your professional goals with your investment objectives. Her journey from burned-out healthcare director to successful real estate professional offers a roadmap for others considering similar transitions.

Episode Overview

In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Christy Burakovsky, who successfully transitioned from a demanding career as a healthcare director and pharmacist to becoming a key team member at Property Llama. Christy shares her evolution from being a stressed-out working mom to discovering her passion for real estate underwriting and passive investing. We explore how she leveraged self-directed retirement accounts, built a diversified real estate portfolio, and found a career path that allows her to balance professional fulfillment with family priorities. Her story provides practical insights for anyone considering a career change or looking to optimize their real estate investment strategy.

https://youtu.be/iOxB4MndkAo Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction
(02:55) Burnout Recovery and Real Estate Investment Vision
(06:14) Discovering Passion for Real Estate Deal Analysis
(11:58) Denver Market Challenges and Capital Requirements
(17:47) Solo 401k Strategy and Portfolio Diversification
(21:04) Leveraging Professional Skills in Real Estate
(31:07) Building Teams and Standard Operating Procedures
(35:49) Empowering Women Investors and Entrepreneurship Advice

The Catalyst for Change: Recognizing Burnout and Prioritizing Family

Christy’s transition began during a particularly challenging period when she was pregnant with her third child while working as a healthcare director through the pandemic.

“I was not really enjoying my work anymore. I was maxed out on stress having come out of healthcare through the pandemic. That was an incredibly new high level of stress that I worked through and getting ready to welcome my third. I really just wanted to transition for myself. I was burnt out of healthcare.”

• Healthcare professionals, especially those in leadership roles, experienced unprecedented stress levels during the pandemic, making career transitions more appealing for work-life balance.
• The desire to be more present for children’s milestones often serves as a powerful motivator for career changes, even when leaving successful positions.

Christy’s recognition that she wanted to spend more time with her children while still maintaining professional fulfillment demonstrates the importance of aligning career choices with personal values and family priorities.

Discovering Self-Directed Retirement Investing

One of the most valuable aspects of Christy’s journey was her discovery and implementation of self-directed retirement accounts, particularly the Solo 401k, which opened up new investment opportunities.

“I wound up opening a Solo 401k. I wound up funding that partially with some existing retirement accounts and then actually setting that up to function alongside my business. So with that in tow, one of the things that was really intriguing with that was now the opportunity and ability to invest in real estate at my discretion and under my control.”

• Self-directed retirement accounts like Solo 401ks allow high earners to maintain control over their retirement investments while accessing alternative investments like real estate.
• These accounts can be particularly powerful for business owners and high-income professionals who want to diversify beyond traditional stock and bond portfolios.

The Solo 401k strategy became a cornerstone of Christy’s investment approach, allowing her to invest retirement funds directly into real estate deals while maintaining the tax advantages of qualified retirement plans.

From Direct Ownership to Passive Real Estate Investing

Initially focused on acquiring rental properties in the Denver market, Christy discovered that market conditions and entry points had shifted, leading her toward passive real estate investing strategies.

“It became very clear to me, one, that the window had closed in the Denver market. It was no longer open… I could not make the numbers work. And I did a lot of math and I reviewed a lot of properties… But if I could invest alongside someone or if I could get into a deal that made sense and I could get a part of it.”

• Market conditions can shift the optimal investment strategy from direct property ownership to passive investing, requiring flexibility in approach.
• Passive real estate investing allows investors to participate in larger, potentially more profitable deals without the capital requirements of direct ownership.

This pivot demonstrates the importance of adapting investment strategies based on current market conditions rather than forcing a predetermined approach that no longer makes financial sense.

Leveraging Skills and Finding Professional Fulfillment

Christy’s success in her new career came from identifying and leveraging her existing skills rather than trying to develop entirely new competencies.

“Nobody was going to be more anal about it than me. Nobody was going to be more meticulous about it than me. Nobody was going to care about it more than me. No one was going to research it more. And so that was what was really attractive to me.”

• Successful career transitions often involve applying existing skills to new industries rather than starting from scratch.
• Detail-oriented professionals can find natural fits in real estate underwriting, fund administration, and investment analysis roles.

Her evolution from investor to team member at Property Llama illustrates how passion for a subject, combined with relevant skills, can create unexpected career opportunities in the real estate industry.

Advice for Women Making Career Transitions

As one of the first female guests on our podcast, Christy offered specific insights for women, particularly mothers, considering career transitions in real estate investing.

“What you do in a day is incredible. It’s absolutely insane how much you’re able to get done in a day… Whatever makes us do all that, that drive, that energy, that power, you transition that into believing that if you’d make the transition into a career… you are going to be able to do all of that and more for your family.”

• Women often underestimate their capabilities and work ethic, particularly mothers who manage complex daily schedules while maintaining professional responsibilities.
• The organizational skills and multitasking abilities developed through parenting directly translate to success in real estate investing and related careers.

Christy’s emphasis on overcoming the tendency to wait until feeling “100% ready” resonates with many professionals who delay making beneficial career moves due to perfectionism or self-doubt.

Conclusion

Christy’s journey from healthcare director to real estate professional demonstrates that strategic career transitions are possible even in challenging market conditions. Her success came from recognizing her strengths, adapting to market realities, and finding ways to align professional goals with personal values. Most importantly, she discovered that working hard for herself rather than others brought both financial rewards and personal fulfillment.

For professionals considering similar transitions, Christy’s story emphasizes the importance of education, taking action on learning, and being open to unexpected opportunities. Her path from passive investor to active team member shows how genuine interest and applied expertise can create new career possibilities in the real estate industry.

Links from Podcast

• Property Llama: https://propertyllama.com/
• Email Christy Burakovsky: christy@propertyllama.com