Darragh Doran

DD headshot 2018.jpg

how i built my empire

After graduating from university in Ireland, I moved to Charleston in 1999 to work as a mechanical engineer for Bosch. I’d been working there for six months when my boss announced that he was quitting. It turns out he had been investing in property and he owned 15 houses so didn't need the day job anymore. He was only 30.

I invited him out for a coffee, started to learn about property investing from him and less than a year after arriving in the US, I had bought my first rental property aged 23.

Since that first house, I’ve bought many properties in Mt Pleasant, Daniel Island, James Island, West Ashley & downtown Charleston where I now live. These have been investment properties, rentals, complete renovations & new construction quick flips.

GOING FULL TIME

I did this real estate investing as a side hobby while still working at Bosch, but one day my realtor asked me to come work with him since "you know more about real estate than most of the existing realtors". At this point my property empire was able to provide the financial security to quit the certainty of my corporate salary, so I handed in my notice at Bosch and got my real estate license.

I’ve been a full time agent for ten years now, I’ve been fortunate to build up a very solid client base because they know I’ve walked in their shoes as a buyer/seller many times before with my own money on the line, I didn’t just go to a two week course to get my license.

FREEDOM NOT RICHES

To me, investing is not about getting rich, money is not the motivator, I’m a minimalist who lives in a small house.

It’s about the freedom.

My property empire has given my the freedom to quit my corporate job, work for myself and it allows me to see the world which is my favorite thing to do.

I’m well on track to retire early, which is not something I could have achieved without my property empire.

What is your version of freedom ?.

Some Random things

  • I did all my schooling through Gaelic. My first ever class taught in English was in college.

  • I founded Charleston Irish, a networking group for the Irish in Charleston

  • I play soccer, am on the board of the local Arsenal Supporters Club & can be found watching our games at Edmunds Oast Brewery most weekends.

  • I kite board, usually on Sullivans Island & all my vacations are now kite trips. Kenya, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Cook Island are on my kite wishlist.

  • I just started doing yoga & it is phenomenal, can’t recommend enough !

  • I have a dog named Messi who comes to the office every day

  • I just became a US citizen after 20 years here

  • I used to Irish dance in school, not quite to Riverdance quality though

  • I had been to Tunisia 14 times by the time I was 15

  • My family had to sell our holiday house in Malta because it was haunted….seriously