Scott Isaak, owner of real estate holding company 5D Holdings LLC and owner of the Spokane's Sweeto Burrito chain, describes 34-year-old real estate agent Jordan Tampien as a cross between "Mr. Rogers, your favorite life insurance salesman, and your grandpa," but in a good way.

Isaak also describes Tampien as this "tip of my spear in terms of my real estate investing wing," and contributes much of his success to Tampien's demeanor and ability to see industry trends—Tampien has probably secured $60 million in transactions for Isaak's real estate holding company over the three years they have been working together, he says.

"I think he understands the path of progress as well an anyone here in Spokane … and he's just done great things for me personally, but I know it doesn't stop there," says Isaak.

Graduating from Gonzaga University School of Law with both a law degree and master's in business administration in 2010, Jordan Tampien, co-founder of 4 Degrees Real Estate, says he interned with Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners while in school, says Tampien. He worked for the nonprofit until 2013.

"I ran their portfolio of multifamily projects, fell in love with real estate, what it can do, and what (SNAP) was doing in the community," he says. Working with SNAP until 2013, Tampien secured $7 million in grants for the program.

That feat led him to a job with Washington State University's extension program as an economic development specialist. 

While working with Washington State University, a post he left in January, Tampien says he "decided to get my real estate license, thinking it might be fun since I like looking at houses anyway," he says. 

By September 2015, he owned roughly 50 rental units and struggled to manage all of them while also working. 

He also had difficulty choosing a management company, so he opened 4 Degrees Real Estate with his brother, Joel.

Additionally, Tampien has been involved in a number of recent developments and transactions in the downtown area, including: the development of a seven-story multiuse building, the purchase of a 15,000-square-foot office building, and the purchase of two adjacent buildings for a restaurant and brewery concept.

Looking forward, Tampien is interested in real estate development and getting more invested in the entrepreneurship scene.

"As a career, I want to get into developing more housing opportunities and entrepreneurship … I think my dream job would be a venture capitalist, helping young, starting businesses get up and going."

As an economic developer for WSU, he had worked to get jobs for programs and rural communities, he says. However, he noticed he was able to form more positions by jumping into his own business ventures instead. 

"It was a really eye-opening experience of where I saw the most change and where I thought I would be most helpful," he says.

About 28 employees and 42 agents work at 4 Degrees Real Estate, says Tampien. 

Two other companies he owns, the Backyard Public House and Boiler Room Pizza, have roughly 12 and 28 employees, respectively.