I didn’t start in real estate. I started with a saxophone.
At age 8 in Seattle, WA, I picked up the horn and dreamed of becoming the next John Coltrane. By high school, I was grinding late nights to earn a spot in the nation’s #1 high school jazz band. Freshman year, I got cut. Sophomore year, I worked harder than anyone else. By junior year, I was winning soloist awards up and down the West Coast.
Lesson learned: Talent doesn’t win, persistence does.
After college, I became a research engineer for the Navy. Respect to everyone who serves, thank you. But in 2005, while working 9-5 for the government and moonlighting as a mortgage broker, I got my first taste of real estate. The market was booming, and I realized I had found my calling.
When the crash hit, I didn’t quit, I doubled down. In 2009, I flipped my first foreclosure in Arlington, VA, making $120,000. That deal changed everything.
From Part-Time Hustler to Full-Time Investor
For years, I balanced my government job with investing. By 2014, I had become the biggest flipper in Falls Church, VA while still behind a government desk. In 2016, I finally “fired my bosses” and went all in.
That leap created DC First Properties, where we pioneered “Affordable Luxury”—new homes priced 30% lower than the competition. We built smarter, faster, and leaner.
I also launched DMV Deal Makers, which became the largest investor networking group in the DC metro. “Deal Maker” turned into a movement.
Tech + Real Estate = Scale
In 2019, I connected with Robert Wensley, who launched Investorlift, a platform that redefined residential real estate investing. In 2020, I co-launched Deal Maker Nation on YouTube, interviewing top investors nationwide.
At the same time, I built 3 Step Home Sale, a cash home-buying company powered by technology. We quickly expanded into 8 markets across the East Coast, becoming one of the fastest-growing off-market buyers in the region.
Where We Are Now
It’s 2025, and the market is shifting again. Many buyers are overpaying and failing to close. The investors who thrive now are the ones with real systems, skills, and networks.
I’ve been through the cycles. I’ve failed, lost money, rebuilt, and scaled. The one thing I never did was quit.
Now my mission is clear: To help others win in real estate while partnering with people who trust me with their leads.
Got a Lead? Let’s Partner Up
If you know someone who needs to sell their house fast, as-is, for cash, send them my way.
We can assist you with:
- Homes that need serious work
- Sellers facing deadlines or relocation
- Inherited or probate properties
- Pre-foreclosure / behind on payments
- Landlords done with bad tenants
Why people refer us:
- We close fast (as little as 7 days).
- We buy as-is (no repairs, no clean-up).
- We’re flexible (sellers pick their timeline).
- We pay referral fees because partnership should always be win-win.
Refer a Lead Here 👇🏼
*You send us the lead. We’ll take care of the rest, professionally, discreetly, and fast. And when the deal closes, you get rewarded.
The Excuse Zone
The 4 excuses that stop people from reaching their goals:
- Time
- Money
- Knowledge
- Right People
I’ve used them all. They’re not real, they’re fear.
At realjoshcohen.com, we’re not “gurus.” We’re active operators. We share what’s working right now, front to back, with zero fluff.
Coming January 2026: The Vault
For the first time, I’m opening the vault.
- 16+ years of wins, losses, and lessons.
- What works TODAY, not yesterday.
- The exact playbook I’ve used to scale flips, builds, and cash-buying companies.
YouTube University will get you 95% of the way. I’ll give you the final 5%—the difference between average results and life-changing success.
My goal: to create 10,000 millionaires.
Are you ready to be one of them?
#10000millionaires #seeyouatthetop #GO_TIME
Need Help with a Deal? Let’s Talk!