J
eremy Barker, a real estate investor and entrepreneur, founded Murphy Door, a hidden door company, to supplement his firefighter income. The business grew rapidly, prompting him to explore larger commercial spaces. With just $30,000 of his own money, he purchased a $3 million building and expanded his portfolio.

    Barker's career path was marked by experimentation with various start-ups and jobs, including construction and working as a paramedic. He eventually settled on firefighting but struggled with the modest salary. To supplement his income, he started making hinges for hidden doors, inspired by a DIY home theater project for his kids. The company, Murphy Door, took off quickly, signing with Home Depot in 2016.

    As Murphy Door grew, Barker put most of its profit back into the business. However, it wasn't until he entered real estate that his wealth began to snowball. Despite having no experience buying real estate, he financed a $3 million space with just $30,000 in savings. He learned about financing commercial real estate through YouTube and discovered he could lease a large portion of the space before closing.

    Barker listed the building for lease, attracting tenants within 24 hours, and secured the rest of the capital needed for the down payment by showing investors the expected net operating income (NOI). The lease agreements also helped him secure a loan. Within 12 months, he refinanced the property and pulled out $2 million.

    Barker's strategy involves finding overlooked or undervalued properties, building a long closing period into the terms with the seller to set up lease agreements with future tenants. He has since fine-tuned his approach but continues to rinse and repeat, owning over 30 commercial and residential properties as of June 2025.

    For those looking to get started in real estate with little to no savings, Barker advises spending time understanding the marketplace, learning about buildings, and researching rent rates. He pitches potential investors within his network, framing it as a low-risk opportunity for them to invest in exchange for equity. With confidence and basic language, he convinces investors to join him on his real estate journey.

    Barker has achieved financial independence through his real estate portfolio, which generates $2.5 million in annual revenue. He continues to work part-time as a firefighter and at Murphy Door, emphasizing the importance of doing the homework and finding opportunities where others see none.