What began as an interest in real estate turned into a path to freedom, a better future for my family, and a way to help others do the same.
While stationed in Korea, I was working on my master’s degree in intelligence, but I found myself rushing through assignments just so I could get back to learning about investing. I had started reading books about real estate and investing. The more I read, the more I realized real estate wasn’t just a way to grow wealth—it was a way to create financial freedom.
The road to that moment had been shaped by persistence. Getting into the Air Force Academy took two tries. After missing out the first time, I spent a year in ROTC, taking 45 credits in one year, leading clubs, and doing everything I could to stand out. When I finally got in, I met my wife, Reagan. We didn’t know it at the time, but she was standing right behind me in line for the bus to basic training. Four years later, the day after graduation, we got married.
From there, I trained in Texas and then spent a year in Korea supporting U-2 reconnaissance operations. Reagan and I were twelve time zones apart for that entire year, but we finally reunited in Okinawa. I worked in intelligence there before transitioning into a special duty assignment as a sexual assault response coordinator.
Through all of it, real estate was on my mind. Especially with a family, I saw the opportunity to change our lives. The idea that a well-placed investment could multiply over time fascinated me. I spent months analyzing deals, listening to podcasts, and researching different markets.
In late 2021, Reagan and I finally took action. While still in Japan, we bought our first property—a townhome in Colorado Springs. Learning about second-home loans made all the difference, cutting the required down payment in half and making a high-growth market like Colorado Springs accessible. We hired someone to furnish it and listed it on Airbnb. By the end of the year, we had made a 30% return on our investment. That was the turning point.
In August 2022 I took the real estate exam while back in the U.S. for a wedding. A month later, a friend asked if I could help them find a rental property. While living overseas, I hired agents on the ground to do showings, leaned on my broker for support, and managed to coordinate the whole transaction from thousands of miles away. Even though the deal eventually fell through due to rising interest rates, I knew I wanted to keep going.
I committed to real estate - I learned everything from how to manage our own property to earning my lending license to help people with financing. When I got back to Colorado Springs in May 2023, I began working as a Legislative Affairs Special Coordinator for U.S. Space Command. Not long after, we had our daughter Savannah in October 2023.
In 2024 alone, Reagan and I expanded our portfolio, buying three more properties! Real estate gives us the freedom to focus on what matters—our daughter, our faith, and our personal interests. We attend a weekly bible study and because we live near so many military bases, often have friends visiting. Singing is also a passion of mine—I sang in an acapella group from the Air Force Academy that made it to the America’s Got Talent semifinals and have performed in a few barbershop choruses since then.
ManyMany people don’t realize what’s possible in real estate because no one has ever shown them. Taking what I’ve learned—everything from analyzing deals to financing strategies—I want to help people break through barriers and transform their lives, giving them the same freedom and empowerment that real estate has given me.
When it comes to real estate, I treat every client’s investment as if it were my own. Every deal is unique, and I enjoy the challenge of negotiating and structuring agreements that truly benefit my clients. Whether it’s helping first-time buyers navigate the process or strategizing with investors on ways to maximize returns, I focus on making sure people fully understand their options. I’ve seen too many people hesitate to buy simply because they didn’t have the full picture, and my goal is to change that by providing honest, straightforward guidance.
I’m focused on empowering people to make the best decisions for their future. That means being upfront about the realities of homeownership, sharing strategies that can save money over time, and ensuring that my clients walk away feeling confident in their choices. As your REALTOR®, I’m here to help you build long-term financial security and freedom, just like real estate has done for me.
Sincerely,
Josh Surver
REALTOR®
Mobile (719) 240-9055
