A Pro at Starting Over
Brett Caviness’s parents were furniture factory workers whose jobs moved to China and Mexico. Seeing them struggle, Caviness, 29, knew early on he didn’t want to be constrained by meager wages or working for others. He attended the University of Northern Iowa’s real estate program, was licensed by his junior year, and started selling before graduation. He built a lucrative business in Iowa, but dreamed of trying someplace new. He jumped on a Silicon Valley property management opportunity in 2013. Caviness took out $30,000 in loans to make ends meet as he pivoted toward sales and began building his business. Online buyer leads helped him get established as he figured out a system for connecting quickly with contacts. “I’m there for my clients 24/7,” says Caviness, who has paid off his loans. “My business style tends toward friendship.”