How Wonderful Togbey Built a 20-Unit Portfolio Against the Odds

Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com ============= Wonderful Togbey joins us to explain how he’s grinded to build a rental portfolio of 20 doors and is actively scaling! Wonderful shares his start in REI back in Omaha, Nebraska. He breaks down a deal in Bronzeville that closed right at the onset of COVID that came equipped with non-paying tenants! Wonderful reflects on lessons learned from gut renovations including considerations on layouts to maximize rents. He has multiple examples of pivoting while under, and even getting a second job to get deals done. This episode is a motivating one with countless stories showcasing perseverance and grit. If you enjoy today’s episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! ============= Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Wonderful Togbey Link: Wonderful's Instagram Link: How to Win Friends & Influence People (Book Recommendation) Link: Eric Workman (Network Referral) Guest Questions 02:17 Housing Provider Tip - Leverage Google Earth and other tools for measurements and floor plans! 03:55 Intro to our guest, Wonderful Togbey! 09:21 Starting real estate investing in Omaha, NE. 13:40 Challenging Bronzeville Deal with COVID looming! 19:51 The power of long term investing and dealing with non-paying tenants.  30:16 Wonderful’s first gut rehab project and buying another property simultaneously! 36:38 Cultivating perseverance in real estate. 41:56 Lessons learned from redeveloping a building. 47:41 Wonderful’s long term investing goals. 50:36 Management systems for small investors. 52:14 What is your competitive advantage? 52:50 One piece of advice for new investors. 53:34 What do you do for fun? 53:45 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?  54:23 Local Network Recommendation?  54:52 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.