Meet Niyi Adewole | Investor, Podcast Host, & Licensed Realtor Based In Atlanta

We had the good fortune of connecting with Niyi Adewole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Niyi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In 2015, I was blessed with an opportunity to join a fortune 300 healthcare company via an 18 month rotational development program. While in the program, I met individuals that had been with the company for 30+ years steadily climbing the ranks, and on the surface, this looked like the definition of success. They had nice cars and beautiful homes, However when i dug deeper and truly observed what was going on, most were operating with “Golden Handcuffs”. Lifestyle expenses had creeped to a level that they were dependent on this job to make ends meet, and at the same time the job was demanding more and more of these individuals time to where they were literally working around the clock, fighting to make it to the next vacation or extended weekend.

Their well being was highly dependent on how the balance sheet looked year to year, and in down years it was a scramble to not be on the “Q4 Overhead Cut” List. I could see very clearly what my life could look like 30 years down the road and I made a decision to start taking steps shift that trajectory. It was around this time that i re-read the books “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and “Richest Man In Babylon”, and the true meaning of these books clicked. I was inspired to start moving toward Financial Freedom as quickly as possible and building a life that I did not need to vacation from.

In 2016, I started funneling 70% or more of what I made into real estate investments, making mistakes and learning along the way. Initially I was very reserved in discussing what I was doing, but as I started to see the benefits of this pathway I began to encourage friends and family to do the same.

In 6 years, I worked my way up from a development professional to an Executive Account Director responsible for maintaining C-Suite relationships within 10 of our top 100 accounts in the country while simultaneously building up a rental portfolio of 25+ long term rental units and 2 owned/8 managed short term rental units.

In February of 2021, I moved Atlanta and launched the Ekabo Home Network to help those that do not believe we were put on this earth to work 40 to 50 hours a week for 40 to 50 years achieve financial freedom well before the “normal” age of 65+. I am a licensed Realtor based in Atlanta, and have been able to help a myriad of individuals buy their first or next investment that pushes them one step closer to financial freedom. Along with this I also host a weekly virtual mastermind group with sessions released in podcast form every Wednesday. Financial Freedom is a topic that i am truly passionate about, and i believe that achieving this is the true way to maximize your life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
For those that are not of Nigerian descent, Ekabo means “Welcome” in Yoruba. What I love most about the Ekabo Home is that our team members are on the same path as our clients. We do not giving advice or guiding individuals based on theory, but on actual experience of having taken these steps ourselves.

For example, one of the best ways to get started on the path to financial freedom is to flip your largest monthly expense into extra income via a “HouseHack”. I have helped a myriad of clients purchase homes with an in-law suite or other income suite (i.e duplex, triplex, quadplex) with as little as 3.5% (three point five) percent down and significantly reduce their housing expense and in turn their dependence on a W2. I have been able to help clients do this, because this is exactly how i got started.

In 2016, i bought a triplex for $190k by putting a downpayment of 3.5% (~$5000) down. The mortgage was $1350 per month, i lived in one unit and rented the other two out for $1400 a month effectively living for free. This allowed me to save what i was normally spending on housing for the next property/investment which i purchased the next year. Fast forward to 2021, i was able to sell that same house for $310k and reinvested the proceeds into two homes. Not bad for a $5000 investment.

When clients close on a home with the Ekabo Home team, we truly truly make it a celebration for them. We view this as one of the most important steps an individual can take toward becoming financially free and celebrate them as if it were their birthday. Handing keys to clients at the closing table is what we enjoy the most.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Le Petite Marche for brunch during the week Rock Steady for dinner and a vibe
Have to hit the beltline for a walk/bike around the city
High Art Museum to see the new contemporary collection
A walk through East Atlanta Village stopping into southern feed for the waffle bar and music

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to the BiggerPockets podcast and Community! I Stumbled across their podcast/forum in 2015 and it helped lay out a game plan for getting started in real estate

Also, a Major Shoutout to the @EkaboHome Mastermind Group for inspiring me to do more each and every week! I gain energy from the newer investors that join, knowledge from the seasoned investors, and ideas from the other entrepreneurs/business owners within the group.

Website: https://linktr.ee/ekabohome

Instagram: @ekabohome

Linkedin: Niyi Adewole

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/530839468550185/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo-iogGt9tlPsMDFKB7B-1Q

Other: Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ekabo-home-financial-freedom-mastermind-podcast/id1603535767