Donovan (@DonovanBuilds) / X

Donovan

59.2K posts

Donovan

@DonovanBuilds

Developing infill for-sale housing | 40+ exits as GP | Missing middle housing in CA, MN & TX | Acquired (small) cleaning business

Saint Paul | Houston

gpletters.com/the-duplex-kid/

Joined May 2012

Pinned
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Dec 12, 2023
Very long re-introduction for the new followers! - grew up to working class parents who each made no more than $25/hr (still some of the most incredibly hard working people though) - my two brothers (I’m the middle) and I all shared a room until we went to college - went to Univ
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Jan 27, 2024
My little brother plays D1 tennis at a smallish school in Michigan They played Purdue today and he won his match Along with telling us he won - he sent a screenshot from 8/16/22 of the Purdue coach telling him he wasn’t developed enough 😆
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Jun 3, 2023
I have exited 16 (32 units) of these so far in a little over a year with 6 more finishing up in the next 60 days If I could raise all debt for a new build duplex up to 80% of the completed value here’s how I’d structure it - $80k for the land - $10k for plans/permits -$200k
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Apr 11, 2024
Houston is probably the best city in the country to move to - affordable cost of living - many solid corporate jobs for those that go that path - for business folks you don’t need any connections (just show up and get to work!) - #1 for food options by far - world class
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Apr 27, 2023
3 years ago today it all started! Closed on my house hack duplex during the middle of the panoramic (😆) Graduated college about 11 months before this w/ a petroleum engineering degree and came into my first job making more than both of my parents combined (my immigrant,
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Apr 27, 2021
Hit a financial milestone for me personally. This was the first month where my “passive” income exceeded my monthly expenses. Here is a list of each expense for transparency:
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Dec 28, 2021
Put my two weeks notice into my engineering job today Will be taking a sales role in RE full time with the ability still do all my own deals + work remote My job was beginning to really affect me managing my current projects
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Feb 6, 2025
We’re entitling a property in the most expensive housing market in the country They just rejected our physically printed Mylar and included this picture We have to reprint and go get signatures from 4 different people all over again since it doesn’t = 1 inch exactly Amazing
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Sep 25, 2021
Today is my 25th birthday I’m officially an old man. Basically 30. Here’s me in front of my house hack duplex I closed on last year. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Oct 5, 2023
Conventional loan on a Duplex - 15% down Triplex - 25% down Fourplex - 25% down Starting next month it’ll be 5% down for all of the above Previously the only loan product that made sense was FHA (3.5% down) but now more flexibility for buyers
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Sep 30, 2025
Under contract!
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
May 26, 2024
For college kids interning this summer: Leave nothing to chance May of 2018 I had finished up my junior year of college for my petroleum engineering major This was the most important one as it would determine if I got a full time offer at the end I knew by the time I
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Jan 21, 2023
First construction loan - after the GC signed the subordination agreement he called me and said the price went up 20% After we already had a contract in place His response: you can afford it, I saw the loan amount Immediately fired him and haven’t spoken since
Donovan
@DonovanBuilds
Apr 4, 2023
New design for our future 3/2 each side built to rent duplexes in Houston Made some adjustments to the floorplan to remove the massive laundry room we had previously 3 of these went into permitting last month I added 4 ft of brick for a little razzle dazzle