Built From Nothing: How a High School Dropout Made Millions in Commercial Real Estate

Winners Aren’t Born, They Are Built

This book is for the scrappers. The grinders. The hustlers. The ones who can’t stop thinking about how they’re going to level up their life. The black sheep. The ones who simply can’t relate to most of society.
This book is for the obsessed.

Not everyone born into wealth succeeds. Not everyone born into poverty fails. No matter where you come from, you can build the life you want. You have the power to reach your goals through your unique skills and experiences. Jarred Elmar didn’t have an easy childhood, growing up in poverty and amidst crime, but despite having no money and no support system, he educated himself and built a successful commercial real estate business at a remarkably young age. His street-kid business perspectives have given him an advantage in the world of commercial real estate investing.

Built From Nothing is a blueprint for turning adversity into an advantage and proving that where you start doesn’t define where you finish. Elmar shares how he leveraged his background and aptitudes to find success in commercial real estate and build a financially secure and fulfilling life. Elmar’s approach to breaking free from your circumstances, taking risks, and building the life you desire comes from the point of view of someone who truly built everything he has from the ground up.


Jarred Elmar is the founder and managing partner of The Geneva Group, a commercial real estate investment and property services firm that specializes in finding value-add opportunities. The Geneva Group’s portfolio contains over 1.8 million square feet of retail, multifamily, industrial, and residential property. Jarred grew up in southern Florida in near-poverty conditions, but he took every opportunity he could to educate himself in finance and real estate. He is passionate about philanthropy and community service, and his family volunteers and gives regularly to organizations that support the community, veterans, suicide prevention, and mental health services.