In grade 12, Đặng Trần Anh took the risk of borrowing VND 1 billion from his family to invest in real estate.
After 3 years, Trần Anh owns assets of nearly 5.5 billion dong, with monthly income of 12-15 million dong.Đặng Trần Anh (21, a Marketing student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking) currently owns a street-front house worth 4 billion VND, another worth 1 billion, and 500 million VND in the bank. All Trần Anh's assets came from property trading since grade 12. Anh also works as a real estate broker, selling handmade goods with clay, teaching students to read and write…
At 21, Trần Anh already owned substantial assets worth VND 5.5 billion.
The grade 12 student with assets worth billions
With a doctor for a father and a teacher for a mother, but Trần Anh did not want to follow his parents' profession. From childhood, he showed an aptitude for electronics and engineering. As a boy, Anh often cycled to Nhật Tảo Market (District 10) to buy components and assemble toys, or took apart electronic devices at home to tinker with them. In high school, Anh repaired and assembled computers and computer labs himself.
“My parents encouraged me to apply to the University of Technology. I once thought I would pursue engineering, but then decided to choose business,” Trần Anh said of selecting a university.
Trần Anh came to business through his parents’ experience. At the start of grade 12, Anh often accompanied them to learn about the real estate market, handle property paperwork and help post classified ads. The experience he gathered and lessons he learned encouraged the grade 12 mathematics-specialist student to start his own business.
Trần Anh explained: “I saw that my parents' and their partners' large houses and real estate companies' luxury apartments were hard to sell, while many people sought small grade-3 and grade-4 houses priced below 1 billion. So I wanted to enter real estate in that direction. When I turned 18, I boldly borrowed 1 billion đồng from my family to start.”
Trần Anh's idea initially lacked family support. “My parents thought small grade 3 and grade 4 houses would earn much less profit than luxury apartments. It took me some time to explain and persuade them before my plan was accepted. Then the 1 billion dong was quickly provided,” Trần Anh said.
With money in hand, Anh bought a small grade 4 house of just 27m2 in the Phú Lâm B residential area, District 6, for VND 400 million, then spent VND 50 million renovating and decorating it. Just over a week later, he sold it for VND 600 million.
Trần Anh shared: “Having 1 billion đồng in hand felt a little daring, but I was confident. I wasn't afraid of losses in real estate, and because my parents lent me the money, I didn't worry about foreclosure. I also had experience, knowledge gained at university, and guidance from my family.”
Just a side job
After his first house purchase and sale went smoothly, Trần Anh put his remaining more than VND 1 billion into 2 more houses worth over VND 1 billion in total. After three months, Anh sold the 2 houses and continued buying. After three years in real estate, he had sold 7 houses and a plot of land. He now owns a street-front house worth VND 4 billion, another house worth VND 1 billion, and VND 500 million in his account. He rents out both houses, earning VND 12 million per month.
Trần Anh beside his street-front house worth 4 billion đồng.
The VND 4-billion street-front house reminds Trần Anh of the unforgettable experience of gaining ownership. Its owner needed an urgent sale to repay debt and offered a price well below the bank's valuation. After paying the deposit, Anh was only VND 50 million short. During the 2 months the owner had to find a new home, Anh kept brokering property, making handmade goods, and tutoring students in handwriting to earn the remaining VND 50 million.
“Many nights, I lay awake trying to figure out how to raise enough money. I would return from class and immediately look for people to broker deals with, then stay up late at night fulfilling handmade orders. After that period, my skin was deeply tanned and I had lost 4 kilograms. Since then, I have never again bought or sold anything involving more money than I could afford,” Trần Anh shared.
Besides business and real estate brokerage, Trần Anh also makes handmade clay items to sell.
Trần Anh feels satisfied with his early successes. His parents and friends are also surprised at what he has achieved. He describes himself as satisfied, not complacent, because he is still inexperienced and a nobody in real estate.
Despite substantial assets and high income from property brokerage and rentals, Trần Anh regards this only as side job. Speaking of future plans, Anh said, “After university, I'll apply for work in marketing. My current work is only a side job.”
