I quit my IT job to trade real estate, earning over $20K a day

"When I first graduated with a degree in Information Technology, I made a bold vow: I would become wealthy through technology and marketing. At the time, I was strongly opposed to real estate sales.

However, after achieving some success and saving a small amount of money, a friend invited me to invest in real estate in Ho Chi Minh City in 2015.

Since then, I left my IT job and focused solely on property speculation, buying early, selling quickly, and profiting from the difference. There were times when a townhouse could gain VND300–600 million (US$11,385–22,770) in value within a single day after launch. My assets grew rapidly, and now, up to 70% of my wealth comes from speculation.

I know this isn't something to be proud of, so I never share or boast about it. But I must admit, the speculative game is far more thrilling than working under constant pressure every day."

Real estate projects in eastern Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/ Quynh Tran

VnExpress reader Huy Hoang, who graduated in IT, shared his "get-rich" story and candidly discussed property speculation. His comment followed an article covering a report on how, despite an improvement in supply, apartment prices in HCMC remain high, with over half of available units priced above VND100 million per square meter.

Reader Kevin Duong argues that rising housing prices are an inevitable trend.

"I just read that gold prices have surpassed VND140 million per tael. This shows how quickly everything is climbing.

Real estate prices are rising because all input costs have increased, especially land, which is now valued at market rates. Experts have clearly pointed out that the core reason apartment prices keep going up is the limited supply," he said.

Reader vo9262205, who has been searching for a home, said: "The apartment supply in HCMC is still quite limited. I’ve been looking for months and found that only a few old projects with completed legal documents are available for sale. Many potential ones remain stuck in procedures, so the market has not truly revived."

Market research shows that at current prices, a middle-income household earning around VND1.3 billion a year would need 9–10 years of work to afford a 70-square-meter apartment priced between VND85–95 million per square meter (excluding VAT).

For low-income families earning under VND200 million annually, owning a home is out of reach. They would need more than 35 years of savings to afford a standard commercial apartment, reflecting the widening gap between income and housing prices.

Reader Sang Nguyen said he is reconsidering whether to pour all his money into buying a home at such high prices:

"For me, a house is just a shelter, not something worth spending a lifetime’s savings on. Many people think living in the city center proves success, but I do not understand why I should pay an enormous sum for a small apartment when the same money could buy a much larger home in the suburbs or neighboring provinces.

In some areas around Ho Chi Minh City, such as Binh Chanh and Hoc Mon, Nha Be or neighboring provinces like Tay Ninh and Dong Nai, land is still affordable, only a third or half the price of inner-city property, while infrastructure is also improving, making travel more convenient.

Nowadays, I prefer to enjoy my youth—spending money on learning, travel, and experiences—and saving for old age so I can afford a high-quality nursing home where I will have care and companionship.

To me, happiness does not lie in a piece of land or four walls, but in freedom and peace of mind. Wherever I live, as long as I feel comfortable, free from financial stress, and have enough to enjoy meaningful things, that is home. A house should be a place to return to, not a chain that binds one’s entire life."

*Readers' opinions are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress' viewpoints.