Many people dream of a lifestyle that gives them freedom from a 9 to 5 job. Justin Wilmot is one of those people who has made this dream a reality. As a real estate powerhouse who flips hundreds of houses valued at over $100 million and owner of three successful real estate companies, he helps others escape the 9 to 5 grind and live what he calls the “vacation lifestyle.”
His father was a boat captain, so boats and the water had always been a part of his life. “I loved being on the water, and washing boats seemed like a way better gig than working late nights at a fish market for a tough boss. Plus, as a competitive surfer, traveling the world with my surf team, the idea of a 9 to 5 job was suffocating.”
So, he started a boat washing business in 2009, thinking it was the ideal way to maintain the lifestyle he wanted - one with, as he puts it, “the freedom to experience a beautiful warm climate, amazing waves, and meet incredible people.”
By 2011 fallout from the economic downturn had deepened, and boat cleaning was one of the first things his high-end clients cut.
Many of Wilmot’s clients were in real estate sales or involved in buying, selling or flipping houses. Determined to figure out how to enjoy the same financial freedom his clients had, he immersed himself in learning about real estate. After two years of buying every book and course available, Wilmot flipped his first house, a HUD property.
This initial success led him to wholesale dozens of houses in a short period of time. However, eventually, he believed that true success was in rehabbing, fixing and flipping houses.
A Health Scare and a Vacation Epiphany
Years later, Wilmot was millions of dollars in debt, constantly worried about the economy, potential downturns, and glued to his phone. He recalls working seven days a week and feeling miserable. “It honestly felt like an adult daycare just keeping track of vendors, getting angry at each other and all of their personal issues. I tried property managers, site managers and general contractors but nobody likes to tell you that those positions almost suck up the majority of your profits.”
At 25, Wilmot found himself in a hospital bed with stress-induced health problems. He had been working 18-hour days, seven days a week, chasing what he believed was the American dream.
“I was in an MRI machine at 2 a.m. due to a severe hernia and an ulcer that made it impossible to swallow even a sip of water,” Wilmot recalls. “The diagnosis: stress-induced, from working nonstop, flipping houses and trying to ‘live the dream.' ”
This health scare was a wake-up call for Wilmot, forcing him to reevaluate his approach to life. Recognizing the need for a drastic change, he took a month-long trip to Costa Rica with his family.
It was during that vacation that Wilmot had an epiphany. He went surfing every day and in a surprise turn of events, successfully co-ventured a wholesale real estate deal, making $23,000 by simply connecting another investor with a cash buyer who already owned properties nearby.
He never saw the property, the seller or paid a dollar in marketing expenses to secure the deal.
“It was the easiest and fastest deal I have ever done.” It all happened with a shaky internet connection that would go in and out while Howler monkeys were jumping on the telephone wires, Wilmot recalls. “All it took was a few contracts and a call to three cash buyers who owned nearby properties.”
He realized he didn’t need to be constantly available or micromanage contractors to succeed.
The experience was a game-changer for Wilmot. It showed him that there was a better, easier way to make money in real estate while at the same time, living a fulfilling life.
How Justin Wilmot Discovered the 10-Hour Deals Approach
Inspired by his Costa Rica epiphany, Wilmot developed what he now calls the “10-Hour Deals” approach. This method focuses on remote wholesaling and flipping properties, allowing investors to work less while potentially earning more.
Wilmot discovered that the key to this new approach was leveraging innovative strategies and partnerships to achieve financial goals without sacrificing health and happiness. This revelation not only transformed his business model but also his personal life. “I became passionate about teaching others that there’s a better path to financial freedom—one that doesn’t involve grinding yourself into the ground,” Wilmot says.
Now Wilmot focuses on teaching his 10-Hour Deals method to aspiring real estate investors. His approach emphasizes self-responsibility and consistent action.
He dedicates himself to helping others achieve what he calls the “vacation lifestyle”—living every day as if you’re on an epic vacation. This philosophy emphasizes freedom, flexibility, and enjoying life while still building a successful real estate business.
“Helping others achieve this has become my passion, and seeing my students transform their lives has been the most rewarding part of my career,” Wilmot says. He is inspired by helping someone navigate from confusion and struggle to achieving a lifestyle they once only dreamed about.
He is a big believer in the power of self-development, and sees working on yourself as important as working on your business. “I am obsessed with personal development - not just for myself but for my team and family as well. I believe that growth is the key to happiness. It’s about progress, even if it’s just a little bit every day. Whether it’s in business, relationships or health, I'm always pushing to be better.”
Discipline and taking action are the keys to success, Wilmot notes. “Start taking action, build momentum, and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.”
For Jason Wilmot, true success isn’t just about making money, “It’s about having the financial freedom to enjoy life on my own terms without being tied down by work or financial constraints.”
