A former firefighter started buying property with a $10,000 truck loan. He shares the strategies he used to grow his portfolio and quit his job.

Mike Savage and his family reside in South Carolina. Courtesy of Mike Savage Former firefighter Mike Savage bought his first rental with a $10,000 loan against his truck. He used home equity and other financing tools to grow his real-estate portfolio. Rental income and his business, SynergyStays, eventually let him leave the fire department. Mike Savage didn't let a modest...