Christle Stezskal traded the classroom for the rental market. The former high school math teacher from Chicago's northwest suburbs now runs a 19-unit portfolio spanning Kansas City, Missouri and Rock County, Wisconsin.
Stezskal's path from education to real estate investing reflects a growing trend among professionals seeking portfolio diversification and passive income. Her mathematical background provided a natural foundation for analyzing deals, running numbers on cash flow projections, and managing multiple properties across state lines.
The 19-door strategy places Stezskal firmly in the small commercial multifamily category. Properties this size sit between single-family rentals and larger apartment complexes, offering moderate management complexity while generating meaningful monthly cash flow. Investors targeting this tier typically seek properties in secondary markets where acquisition costs remain reasonable and tenant demand stays steady.
Kansas City and Wisconsin present different market dynamics. Kansas City offers stronger rent growth and investor-friendly landlord laws, while Rock County markets provide working-class tenants and affordable entry points. Both regions trade the high acquisition costs of coastal markets for lower property management sophistication and steadier tenant bases.
For current landlords considering expansion beyond single-family homes, Stezskal's transition demonstrates the scaling potential available in Midwest rental markets. The math-teacher-turned-investor model also speaks to a broader shift. Property ownership now attracts professionals from non-real-estate backgrounds who bring analytical discipline to acquisition and management decisions.
Buyers interested in replicating this strategy should focus on acquisition mechanics. A 19-unit portfolio typically requires institutional-level financing or portfolio lending. Stezskal likely assembled her holdings through multiple transactions over time rather than single acquisitions, averaging 3-6 units per deal.
For tenants, this portfolio type typically means professionally managed properties with responsive maintenance and consistent lease enforcement. For sellers in secondary Midwest markets, investors like Stezskal represent active buyers willing