How shifting from coding to real estate investment freed me from overtime stress

I'm 33, graduated with an IT degree in 2014, and started a programming career like many friends. After a decade of working, saving, and receiving family support, I've accumulated about VND7 billion (US$274,760). It's not a massive fortune, but enough to give me financial security to try new things.

A woman is coding on her laptop and computer. Illustration photo by Pexels

Initially, I considered starting my own IT company. But after seeing too many startups fail and the economy struggle, I lost confidence in that path. The IT industry is fiercely competitive, technology changes constantly, and the relentless work cycle made me question whether I truly wanted to build an IT startup.

Last year, I turned my attention to real estate, particularly land in suburban areas. While many worried about potential property taxes impacting real estate prices, I saw things differently. Such a tax would not happen overnight, maybe not even in the next few years. That gave me confidence to invest, hoping for better returns.

Instead of chasing a risky startup, I put everything into land. After careful research, I purchased two farmland plots in Long An in the Mekong Delta, an area with affordable prices and strong growth potential. I converted the land for residential use, divided it into 100-square-meter lots, and sold each for VND400 million.

At first, people doubted my decision. They couldn't understand why I would leave a stable IT career for the unpredictable real estate market. But I knew what I was doing. I had bought the plots at a reasonable price in a promising area, and I was confident I would either make a profit or at least break even.

Sure enough, within months, the market picked up. Demand for affordable land surged, and my well-timed investment paid off - buyers snapped up my lots quickly.

I went from spending my days coding to investing in real estate, gaining financial freedom, and escaping the stress of office work. Later, I joined a new company, working 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a $3,000 monthly salary. With real estate as my side income, I now work at my own pace, without overtime or pressure.

Looking back on my decade in IT, I have no regrets. The industry gave me financial stability, but I needed a new direction. Real estate investment was the right move.