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.”
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