Around the fall of 2007, I could remember sitting in my cubicle at my Defense job in San Diego, where I frighted the daily commute from Riverside County. Knowing at the time, I want to do more then just be another programmer.  So, I operated 3 rental properties part-time helping my family managed tenants and roommates while holding a position as a software engineer.  As my lovely first tenant of 2 years deciding to part ways with the lease and relocating for a better job opportunity in Oceanside, CA, I was stuck in a binding situation.  Either put the house up for sell during a declining market, or rent out those rooms as units.  I realized there was still an opportunity to invest in a declining Real Estate market. However, the answer was far fetch as to how?

As I sat in my cubicle tackling complex situations as a train Blackbelt Ninja Assassin in development assignments, I couldn’t resolve this riddle as an young amateur in Real Estate investing.  Scratching my head and asking myself, “Where am I going to find a place to plug all my rooms?”  Then, the light bulb hit me.  Soon after, I went to purchase the name and organize a meeting to tell my closest friends how excited I was to program this venture and if they would join me.  At the extensive meeting later that evening, I could tell they had more doubts with questions and concerns than I had anticipated.  But, I felt strong and committed to an idea as if given birth to a child, I must nurture it and feed my baby.  Even if I must do it alone like a single parent.

During that time, I attempted to code this project single-handedly, and gosh question myself, “What did I get myself involve with?” So, a year ago after receiving a modest investment from my mom, I said I’m going to outsource this project to India in hope I afford a team for help, and I’ll be the lead programmer since my friends were busy keeping their jobs.  As soon I made my initial deposit, they took off  running with the entire coding development.  I was like SWEET! Me not touching codes and being a project manager.  I could do this.

Originally, they promised me they be done in one month.  Then, came two, then three.  Okay, I was starting to be concern, or maybe it was too much for them to handle because of my constant demands.  After 5 months, they completed the job and happy to release the finish product in February.  I was oozing with joy like the fat young kid inside of me unwrapping my 1st big mac.  Until, I saw the codes.

Horrified as if I came from watching a Saw movie, what was this? A nightmare, they butchered it!  No organizational programming structure, all procedural top-down design.  This was 2nd grade material.  Sad   I didn’t have the courage to face my mom and tell her how foolish I wasted her money she invested in me with this idea.  This was my child.  Love it or Hate it, I must man up and face it.

Since February of this year, I labored and nurtured, endlessly and sleeplessly.  Fixing all the codes and gutting everything out.   I ran into problems and couldn’t figure this tempered tantrum kid out. There were times, I just wanted to quit and run away.  Beginning of May, my good friends Linda and Markus took me away on a much needed camping trip to Yosemite National Park.  Originally, I didn’t want to go because camping wasn’t really my thing for a city boy.  They were kind and generous enough to pack everything and all I did was show up.

Our 2nd day there, Markus said we were going on a hiking trip up Yosemite Falls.  Geared with his son by his side, I knew this hiking trip couldn’t be that bad.  Then we walked, climb, and tirelessly dragged ourselves up those steps. Looking up this mountain as if it tag-team up with the Blazing Sun to serve me with an ass whopping for neglecting my kid back home.  Constantly berating me to get off, you can’t make it up!  In my head, I didn’t want to let the family down and checking back on them.  It was an agonizing 4 hour hike to the top, then Markus mentioned, “Hey bro, I forgot to tell you this hike were for avid hikers and advanced people.”  I wanted to drop kick him over that ledge for the abuse and torture, but appreciated and wanted to hug him at the same time for pushing me along the way.  For that, I thank him and Linda for making that trip happen.  I love you guys for that.

I arrived home with an new found appreciation after conquering that mountain.   And, the journey began.  Coding. Writing.  Everyday, one line at a time.  Pushing myself.  Keeping faith. Loving this child. It loves me back. It speaks, it listens, it understands my instructions.

Along the way, I had help and would like to thank John O for initially getting my server set up.  Randy for your early enthusiasm and energy, if only you had a technical background, Markus for the policies, Nguyen “The Jet Li” for giving input on user testing, and Amit for your insights on the design and User Interface.  Last, but certainly the mostest, my mom for being patience, being the biggest supporter, and for giving me your old school business sense.  You are sensei, my inspiration, and motivation for all this, minus all the grief and Nail Shop drama you must endured,  I continue to love you always and I’m proud to tell you, “I got a Beta!”

As the trip continues, and whoever join this site to follow the adventure, I hope to share my knowledge and experiences dealing with tenants, roommates, being foreclose on, evicting someone, being evicted, in attempt to run this start-up company, sort out the housing crisis, and get out of this Recession.

With love, and a hint of crazy,

Rodney
CEO & Founder