Brandon Charles’ and Michael Carter’s friendship and business partnership goes back to 2009 in San Diego, California. Michael was a real-estate investor and agent who was greatly involved in the sky-rise condominium boom of the Downtown Gaslamp area, and residential zone expansion around the newly built Petco Park MLB baseball stadium. Brandon was a high school dropout, who worked part time at a fast-food restaurant. Their chance encounter happened when Michael was a drive-thru customer and Brandon took his order.
Their friendship quickly formed into a healthy mentoring. Just a month later, Michael represented Brandon as he financed a parcel of land in Ramona, California for $12,499. It was a 7-year finance term.
Michael’s successes continued in real estate. He also started an award-winning business in the foodservice industry, DoubleDippin. Brandon enlisted in the U.S. Army, and left San Diego. The two fell out of contact for nearly 8 years.
In 2018, Brandon was medically retired from the U.S. Army after suffering multiple injuries in Afghanistan. He finished his bachelor’s degree and became a middle school teacher back in San Diego. Around this time, Michael had formally begun his land business, “It’s Just Land”. Michael wrote Brandon a message on social media, asking him if he still had that land he purchased before he left for the service. The two agreed to sell the land. It sold for $62,500 within a week. Brandon netted over $50k!
In 2019, Michael moved to Guadalajara, Mexico. Travelling frequently back the U.S. for business and working remotely – he found happiness in the Mexican society. Nearly a year later, in 2020, Brandon followed suit – moving to Guadalajara as well. With that $50,000 he made from his first land investment; he opened a no-kill dog shelter in Chapala Lake, Jalisco, Mexico. Michael’s and Brandon’s friendship was back in full force. They golfed often and talked business. They relied on each other’s company as expats during COVID.
The idea sprouted on a sunny golf course in 2021. They would officially become business partners, Michael obtaining 50% of the not-for-profit dog shelter; Brandon gaining 50% of It’s Just Land.
Together, with their passion for business under high moral principal, It’s Just Land has grown immensely. Collectively, they own over 100 parcels of land over 16 states. They have completely over 2,300 land transactions.
Brandon has 2 children now and has migrated back to United States. He is currently building a home on land the duo purchased in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Michael just purchased a home with his fiancé on the very golf course that the two went into business on in Guadalajara, Mexico.
