Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1982)
Jensen Instructor thrives on variety j Laura Henkes The Print I Don’t let the genuine jendliness and smile fool you. I Born in Iowa and raised In the farm, John Jensen has lanaged to preserve -all of the [ositive traits that are typically Isociated with that lifestyle. |own-to-earth, gregarious, lard working, determined, a Le of the land, and an ap- leciation of nature are all Inonymous with his personali- However, the representa- bn would be incomplete ithout considering more bphisticated talents and in vests: Keen observer, lonomics/industrial engineer- lg graduate, astute business Lrson, former auto racer, rorvette collector and restorer, And around 1960, he left his job to go into real estate full time and moved to Oregon.' The purchase of farmland in Wilsonville about that time offered the temptation of the very thing Jensen had tried to escape in Iowa. He now con siders himself a. “city farmer,” and laughingly reiterates the saying: “You can take the boy from the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy.” As the years went on, Jensen became very successful in the real estate field. “I have as much experience as a mor tgage broker as I do as a real estate broker; and I am also a real estate broker in five states.” In addition to acting as a consultant in the field, Jensen delights in passing on his ex There is no bad time to get into real state—just some times are better than thers.” acher, consultant, real estate pvestor and broker. A chain of events started | Jensen’s life that helped him scape the Midwest farm and teenhouse syndrome. After (actuating from North West Missouri University, he headed lest to California and started lorking as an engineer for johr Aircraft. In a year, he had liorked his way into manage ment. However, while he was forking at Rohr, Jensen was Iso investing in real estate on lie side. It didn’t take long for lim to visualize the oppor- lunities available in that area. pertise to CCC evening students in his Real Estate l and II Investment classes. The con cept of pyramiding theory (buying one house and then pyramiding to others), which he teaches in the classes, at tracts students from all walks of life. Jensen emphasized, “I not only teach them how to make it-but also how to save it.” In response to the many comments about the depressed real estate market, Jensen said, “The market is down today. We all know that. There is no bad time to get into real estate- JENSEN PROPOSES INNOVATIVE planning for coastal property to Real Estate In vestment II students. just some times are better than others. And there are even ex cellent opportunities today in real estate.” Jensen did offer a word of . obviously agree as they eagerly advice, though, to prospective apply elbow grease during the investors. “Don’t invest in real twelve-hour class, which meets estate or any investment until every other Saturday. Jensen’s you fully understand what you skills as a teacher and auto are getting into.” restorer were evident in the first With the advent of his real class. Students who came to estate investment career, class without knowledge were Jensen also became addicted mastering techniques just hours to the enjoyment, restoration, afterwards. They displayed and collection of Corvettes their efforts with pride. after his first purchase in 1958. Unfortunately, the Auto “I have been kind of a Corvette Body Fiberglass class, which is fanatic off-and-on since,” he at the end of its third year at commented without remorse. CCC, will be terminated due to Jensen now has several lack of funds at the end of this Corvettes but justifies his pur term. Jensen defended his chases. “Early Corvettes ahd class: “The courses I. am other select automobiles are as teaching are not so much cur good a hedge against inflation riculum courses; they are a as real estate is,” he observed. chance for the taxpayers to use A person’s labor and their facilities.” (The Auto knowledge, he said, are the Body Fiberglass class is held in 1 have been kind of a Corvette fanatic off and on since my first purchase in 1958.” key in buying a run-down car, restoring it, and making a good return on the investment. Jensen grinned, “With a car you can have the fun of driving it and showing it, while wat ching it grow as an investment, and other things you cannot do that with.” The students in his Auto Body Fiberglass class (the only class of its kind in the nation) a Barlow Hall classroom which would normally be vacant dur ing the weekend.) Both Jensen’s classes are popular and not lacking in students. The key word to ex plain the success of the classes is “relevance.” Also, Jensen’s personal experiences and background serve as prime ex amples to students that “it can be done.” page 5