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I reached financial independence before 40. I set out to do the impossible, and achieved it. I bought rental properties, worked hard at my job, saved and invested most of my money, and got to my goal. Then I realized something I wish someone had told me—everything I thought I knew about financial independence was wrong. If you are on this journey to free yourself from your job, retire early, or reach the magic “FI number” that will give you lasting security, I urge you—listen to this episode. While most financially independent influencers constantly stress saving all your money, effort-maxing to extremes, delaying vacations, trips, luxury purchases, or even your wedding, I did the opposite. I spent a lot on my wedding. I spent a lot on nice vacations. I eat out regularly. And sometimes…I just didn’t want to buy another rental. But at 39, financially free, I enjoyed my journey to the “goal.” Because the truth is, there isn’t a financial freedom number; there’s a financial freedom process, and if you don’t get it right, it won’t be worth any of the effort. In This Episode We Cover Why (almost) everything you’ve been told about “financial independence” isn’t true The “FI number” trap that so many real estate investors are falling into Are you wasting your life saving all of your money (why Dave says you shouldn’t) How to get more financially independent every day, even during bumpy times The “arrival” fallacy that makes so many retirees actually go back to work And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1305. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Many people assume house flipping doesn’t work anymore. They’re wrong. House flipping isn’t dead. The “easy” money is. While it’s true that flipping houses isn’t as forgiving as it was just a few years ago—and yes, the “bad” flippers are being exposed—the fear surrounding this investing strategy is actually creating massive opportunities for those who do their homework. Just ask Henry and today’s guest, Dominique Gunderson. They’ve been flipping houses for many years and are still finding plenty of real estate deals, even in this tough housing market. They’re just doing it a little differently than in years past. In today’s episode, we’re getting into what’s changed and what investors need to do to find, buy, renovate, and flip houses for a profit. We break down our own processes for analyzing properties, estimating rehab costs, pricing them on the back end, and so much more. Whether you’re a complete newcomer or a frustrated investor eager for the numbers to work again, follow our blueprint to make your next flip a successful one! In This Episode We Cover How Henry and Dominique are adjusting their approach to house flipping The “risk-reward ratio” Henry uses for every real estate deal he buys Market-specific advantages and challenges to be aware of How to prevent closing costs from eating away at your profit margins The number one way house flippers get burned when analyzing properties The “types” of projects we’re avoiding at all costs in 2026 Creative strategies you can use to mitigate risk when flipping a house And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1304. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When the Great Recession hit, Andy Gil lost his business. Suddenly, he was forced to start over. But the fear of losing everything again was the driving force behind what would come next. Andy got serious, raising his young kids in an 800-square-foot house, driving 10-year-old cars, and funneling every spare dollar into savings so he could start buying rental properties. These were the types of sacrifices the average investor probably wouldn’t make, but they became the catalyst for scaling to 58 rental units in just four years! What’s more, Andy has never had the benefit of 3% mortgage rates. He got into real estate investing at the tail end of 2022, meaning he’s been able to grow his large, cash-flowing real estate portfolio in a tough housing market with high interest rates—all while using very little of his own money. Today, he manages his own rentals and other people’s properties, deploying a unique investing strategy that has even helped him acquire a 30-unit property. In this episode, he’s sharing exactly what that strategy is (and how YOU can implement it), what he’s learned in over 20 years of contracting experience, and how to use AI to gain an edge in today’s market. In This Episode We Cover Andy’s journey from losing his business to buying 58 rental units in four years The massive sacrifices Andy and his family have had to make to invest in real estate How to accelerate your investing journey by living within your means The secrets to managing a large rental portfolio (on your own!) How Andy uses artificial intelligence (AI) throughout his real estate business Why persistence is the key to finding great real estate deals in 2026 And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1303. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you’re in your 40s, or even 50s, and think it’s too late to build a comfortable retirement, think again. We’ve done the math, we’ve crunched the numbers, and we've run the playbook ourselves—using rental properties, you can replace a significant portion of your income in just around a decade. Today, we’re sharing the exact strategy to get you there. Most retirees have a small sum in savings and a Social Security check to count on in retirement. But what if you want more income to travel, experience, or donate as you see fit? Even if you feel like the retirement timeline is closing in on you, you have options, but you’ll need to follow a plan. In this episode, I’m walking through exactly how to go from no rentals to comfortable retirement in around a decade, and how someone in their 40s or 50s can do it easier than someone in their 20s or 30s! I’ll share the multiple strategies you can take, the exact math that proves the system works, overlooked ways to fund your investments, and how to use your small, powerful real estate portfolio to retire, or even retire early! In This Episode We Cover The six steps to take you from no retirement to plentiful passive income The massive advantages 40+ year-olds have over younger investors Which real estate strategy works best for you and your stage of life How to fund your down payment with savings, home equity, 401(k)s, and more A step-by-step walkthrough of analyzing your first rental property (the right way) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1302. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When the dot-com bubble burst, Matt (the “Lumberjack Landlord”) watched his 100% stock portfolio go to dust. Having lost everything he had saved throughout his early twenties, his only option was to rebuild. But with what? He needed something that could help him offset his living expenses today and propel him toward retirement. That “something” was rentals. But Matt didn’t just buy a couple of rental properties and sit back. He did what many investors won’t: he house hacked. And again. And again. Nine times in 13 years. This, combined with the income from his nine-to-five job, allowed him to stack small multifamily properties quickly, and today, he owns a rental portfolio of over 150 units! Real estate investing has completely changed Matt’s life—not just the cash flow or the appreciation, but the freedom he’s already enjoying in early retirement. Despite self-managing all of their rentals, he and his wife spend just eight hours per week on their portfolio. In this episode, he’s giving you the simple framework you need to scale sustainably, whether you dream of owning a handful of rental units or a few hundred. In This Episode We Cover How Matt self-manages his 150-unit rental portfolio in just eight hours per week Matt’s journey from losing everything in the dot-com crash to retiring with millions The simple, scalable systems and processes every investor needs The biggest red (and green) flags to watch out for when screening tenants Why scaling with small multifamily properties is better than commercial real estate What most investors get wrong about house hacking (that can make you very wealthy) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1301. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
One day, Remington Lyman was brought into his boss's office, told that he did above-and-beyond at his job, and was handed a 2% raise with a smile. All the extra hours, all that hard work, equaled the equivalent of an inflation-matching salary bump. That was it—it was time to put his financial freedom in his own hands. Remington began building an income-replacing rental property portfolio, so when the day came that he was laid off, he’d be more than prepared. Remington was ready to go, and that’s when the real scaling started. Just ten years after buying his first rental, Remington has over 100 rental units, including sizable commercial buildings with strong cash flow, properties that are capital gains tax-free when he sells them, and units that generate 100% more cash flow than traditional rental properties. He scaled faster through smart partnerships, created significant equity with value-add BRRRRs (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), and even turned four units into 24 on a single deal. It’s not special, it’s not luck. Remington is sharing the repeatable strategies he used to build massive wealth and escape corporate before it trapped him until retirement. In This Episode We Cover The hands-down, best beginner rental that every new investor should buy How (not) to form a partnership when splitting a deal with someone else The perfect BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) strategy that builds huge equity The exact market Remington is investing in that has seen massive growth How to pay 0% capital gains tax (seriously) when selling a profitable investment property Triple net leases and commercial deals bringing in huge cash flow for Remington And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1300. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How many rental properties do you need to retire? A lot fewer than you think. When people start investing in real estate, they think they need 20, 50, or even 100 rental units to build wealth, retire early, and secure financial freedom for themselves and their families. This is not the case…and it’s not even close. The average American only needs eight—yes, eight—paid-off rental properties to retire with six figures in annual cash flow. But that would take decades to pay off, right? Not quite. Within just around a decade, you could go from zero rentals to a paid-off portfolio, giving you financial independence via passive income from a small, powerful rental property portfolio. Henry is walking through the math, how to get to financial freedom faster, and the strategy he uses to recycle the same down payment so he doesn’t need to wait years to buy the next rental. Your financial freedom is just eight rental properties away. What are you waiting for? In This Episode We Cover How many rentals you actually need to replace your income and retire (early) Recycling your down payment to scale your rental portfolio even faster How to (comfortably) get to $10,000 per month in rental property cash flow The timeline to go from zero rental properties to complete freedom with rentals How much money you need to start your real estate portfolio And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1299. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We’re all here for passive income, and when you say “passive income,” many people immediately think of rental properties. But, is real estate investing really the best path to get the income streams you’re dreaming of, and is there a certain threshold where it’s not worth the effort? You’re listening to this show because you’re either interested in or investing in real estate, but we’ve been invited to debate someone with a different perspective. Ryan Sterling, CEO of NerdWallet Wealth Partners, has owned real estate investments but has since sold them and opted for something simpler, easier, and, in his opinion, more worth the money. Ryan likes real estate investing and sees it as the quickest way for the everyday American to build wealth. But…he thinks many investors are operating under a dangerous premise, one that could delay their financial freedom. In this episode, we’re going well beyond the average “stocks vs. real estate” debate you’ve heard a dozen times. We’re debating whether “passive income” is a lie, when real estate is worth it, who should invest in rental properties, why a 20-year-old and 40-year-old must invest differently, and the boring, simple way to invest that has made many Americans millionaires. NerdWallet Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training and nothing contained herein should be construed as investment advice. NerdWallet Wealth Partners does not guarantee investment results and does not provide tax or legal advice. In This Episode We Cover Have Americans been lied to about the “passive income” real estate provides? Your real estate is not as safe as you think it is (but are stocks better?) Why Ryan sold his real estate investment in exchange for something much more passive Who should go all-in on real estate and scale to a sizable rental portfolio How to find a real estate-friendly financial advisor (who isn’t a salesperson) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1298. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In just six years, this single mom of three became a self-made multimillionaire with rental properties. She didn’t start with a ton of cash; she worked full-time, and she often put very little down. Using an owner-occupied strategy that 99% of investors won’t dare to try, she’s reached financial freedom while raising three kids. So how’d she do it? Today, we’re talking to Rachel Duck from central Texas. She took a popular strategy—the live-in flip—and made it even better: buying houses with 5% down, living in them for a year, fixing them up, moving out, and repeating. She did it with three kids and spent her 5-9 after her 9-5 renovating homes so she could rent them and repeat. The result? Millions of dollars in equity that has made her financially free. Today, she’s giving you the blueprint so you can do it too. Rachel shares the tips for your first live-in renovation rental, the expensive mistake she made that you can avoid, how to do it while raising kids and working 9-5, and the low-money-down loans she used to scale without putting up tons of cash. In This Episode We Cover One of the smartest strategies for growing your real estate portfolio fast The “uncomfortable” rentals that make you rich and give you a place to live Low-money-down loans you can use to buy your first property for 5% down Rachel’s exact buy box for rental properties and live-in flip-style rentals Tips before you buy a property that you’ll live in and renovate And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1297. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
New to investing in real estate? In an area that has high housing prices, tough landlord laws, or little-to-no cash flow potential? We’ve got you covered. We’re sharing 12 markets that are making money for real estate investors right now. Regardless of your strategy, we have markets for you. From long-term rentals to short-term rentals and Airbnbs, house hacking cities that will help cover your mortgage, and house flipping markets with high returns and low rehab costs. We didn’t want to give you just one option to choose from, so Dave, Henry, and Ashley Kehr from the Real Estate Rookie podcast brought along three separate markets for each real estate investing strategy. From overlooked affordable suburbs with solid population growth to tourist towns that are making killer nightly rates during busy season, and even some sneaky top-tier markets that many would assume house hacking wouldn’t work (but it does!). We’ll walk through why we like each market, their population and job growth, average home prices and rent prices, and the strategy that would make the most sense there. You can invest in real estate in 2026; you’ve just got to pick the right place! See Dave, Henry, AND Ashley at BPCON2026! In This Episode We Cover 12 top real estate investing markets in 2026 (most of which you may have never heard of) The cash flow and appreciation “hybrid” market with huge population growth A beach town with over 18 million yearly visitors and killer short-term rental rates One underrated city where you can be all-in on a house flip for $200K (and make serious profit) The one city where Dave would move if he were starting his real estate investing all over again We’d invest in this state…even if everyone else tells you not to And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1296. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is buying rental properties still worth it in 2026? There’s no denying that rising interest rates, sluggish rent growth, and other factors have taken the shine off many properties that would have been home-run deals only a few years ago. But this is real estate we’re talking about. Buy-and-hold investing tends to reward people in the long run. It’s just that, to buy in this market, you’ve got to adapt. Chad “Coach” Carson believes these market conditions heavily favor the “small and mighty” investor—the person who isn’t looking to buy at a massive scale but actually handpick one or two great assets every year. But there’s one caveat: you must have the time, grit, and hunger to go out and find real estate deals that the more experienced, “lazy” investors can’t be bothered with. And Chad’s about to show you how to do just that. He shares how his own buy box has evolved in the last 12 months, his favorite strategies for buying off-market properties today, and what every investor can do to slowly and steadily build a rental portfolio that provides the lifestyle they want—no matter the market. In This Episode We Cover The two biggest ways to win as a “small” real estate investor in 2026 Why getting a strong cash-on-cash return today isn’t as important as you think The new investor’s superpower when looking for off-market properties Chad’s 3-2-1 strategy for building a portfolio with new construction homes The number one mistake most investors make shortly after buying a rental property The exact blueprint Chad would follow if you dropped him in a new market today How to arrive at “enough” when everyone tells you to keep scaling And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1295. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Britton Eads was making $15 per hour putting up fences all day. He had no college degree; he dropped out of the electrician trade and didn’t have many other options. One day, he read Rich Dad Poor Dad, and realized his life didn’t need to stay on the same track it was going. Now, just four years later, he’s got over 15 rental units, his rental income replaced his fence job, he’s sitting on $200,000 in equity across his portfolio, and he couldn’t be happier. It only happened because he took action instead of second-guessing himself. Britton’s story is one of the wildest we’ve heard. Everything from burst pipes to ceiling holes, very low appraisals, and funding mishaps. But it didn’t stop Britton from pushing forward and creating the wealth he knew was possible. He just had to learn from his mistakes. If you feel like you’re stuck, wanting to get into real estate investing, but thinking you don’t have the cash, the income, or the experience, there is no better guest than Britton to prove you can start—you just need to start. In This Episode We Cover How Britton funded his first real estate deal when he had (almost) no money The big mistakes Britton made on his first real estate deal (that you should not repeat) Using equity from one rental property to fund the purchase of another Buying a fourplex with just 3.5% down using a loan most investors overlook When paying for a mentor (or community) is actually worth the investment The best beginner advice from Britton to get you in the game and stay out of trouble And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1294. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The housing market is doing what nobody expected—and none of the mainstream media is covering it. Trends are forming that most Americans thought were impossible in this type of economy, greatly impacting home prices, days on market, and buyers' negotiating power. If you know the truth, you can take advantage. If you don’t, you’ll miss what’s actually happening behind the scenes. This is our June 2026 housing market update! It could be the most encouraging sign for the housing market in years—prices haven’t crashed, Americans are actually buying more homes, and many traditionally hot markets are seeing complete buyer control. It’s a real estate investor's dream come true, but the media won’t tell you that. These numbers matter more than you think as investors. You can find better deals, negotiate tens of thousands off the list price, and get cash flow that many thought was dead in 2026. Today, I’m sharing the exact process you can go through to see how aggressive you can be in your investing market so that you can pick up a deal for a steal most people will wish they would have gotten in a few years. Don’t miss it. This is not going to last forever. In This Episode We Cover The surprising state of the housing market that news outlets aren’t covering Best (and worst) markets in June 2026 and which are seeing serious discounts A new reality for the housing market? Why buyers are coming back to bid Updated housing market risk report and whether foreclosures are rising or falling Investors: this is exactly what to do to get a better real estate deal in 2026! And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1293. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Morgan Housel, best-selling author of The Psychology of Money, Same as Ever, and The Art of Spending Money, has a “system” for building wealth that seems too simple, too easy to be true—but is. Most Americans think getting wealthy is only for those willing to work 100+ hour weeks, build a business from scratch, inherit millions, or get a high-paying six-figure job. That’s not the case. The average American can get wealthy—you just need to follow this “good enough” system. Morgan spent the early part of his career covering lessons from the fallout of the 2008 Great Financial Crisis. Economics couldn’t make sense of it, and what he found was that psychology could. Knowing how to win the money game puts you in the player’s seat, instead of watching from the sidelines. And today, Morgan shares the biggest lessons to get in the game. From the simple “system” both he and Dave use to build wealth to the #1 skill of a wealthy investor, when you should spend more money, and why merely working harder isn’t going to get you what you want. Morgan even shares his strong opinion on the #1 thing wrong with the housing market today—and how we could actually fix it. In This Episode We Cover Morgan’s simple “system” for building wealth even if you don’t have tons of extra income Why retiring early is not the goal worth striving for (and what is better) How much of a return should you be making on your investments? Morgan’s unique answer Knowing your “enough” so you can stop worrying, start living, and do what you’re meant to do Spend more money before it’s too late? The argument for why you shouldn’t wait to give And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1292. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ten years ago, Erika Brown bought her first investment property. Now, a decade later, she’s financially free, with a portfolio she’s slowly starting to scale down so she can do less, enjoy her life more, and build the early retirement lifestyle she had always dreamed of. But it wasn’t always like this. Back in 2012, Erika was working at a bank, climbing the corporate ladder, with no thought of ever retiring before 65. She just couldn’t ignore one thing—every wealthy client at the bank was investing in real estate. They were on to something she wasn’t, so she tried her first house hack—fixing up a basement unit while raising three kids and working nine-to-five. Then, a few years later, the real investing began. Erika did everything—short-term rentals, Section 8 long-term rentals, cashing out her 401(k) to renovate, renting out rooms, buying up entire blocks. She gives her true, honest take on which strategies are worth the effort, which have a bad rap but strong cash flow, and why she’s scaling down, not up, only 10 years into her investing career. In This Episode We Cover How to break out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle starting with one property You’re wrong about Section 8: How to get great tenants with government rent checks Is coliving (rent-by-the-room) really worth it? Would you trade your retirement account for a rental property? Why Erika pulled the trigger Why you need to change your rental strategy often to keep cash flowing And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1291. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Anyone can flip a house after hearing this episode. If you’ve got around 30 minutes and want to make a faster return on your money than rental properties, this is how you do it. And this isn’t just hype—Dave is putting this knowledge to the test, flipping his first house with the help of expert house flipper James Dainard. James has flipped over 4,000 houses, has made more mistakes than almost any house flipper on the planet, and knows exactly what to buy, what not to buy, and how to turn an average, outdated home into a top-seller with six-figure profits. If you’re a beginner, you’re in luck—James is breaking down everything a beginner needs to know when buying, budgeting, fixing, and selling a house flip in 2026. We’ll get into it all—why house flipping still works in 2026, the best properties to flip for beginners, the red flags to avoid (unless you’re very experienced), Dave’s actual first house flip numbers (with examples), how to protect yourself in a bad market, and what to do when costs rise faster than you anticipated. Give us 30 minutes, and you’ll be ready to try your first house flip. In This Episode We Cover The best properties for beginners to flip (with the least amount of risk) Dave’s actual numbers on a house flip property he’s buying and renovating The biggest red flags a beginner must avoid when buying a house to flip Profits shrinking? Here’s what to do ASAP to lower your flipping costs How to still make a sizable profit when the market is working against you The team members that will make or break your profit (and timeline) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1290. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the early 2010s, Joseph Moore was a history professor earning $60,000/year with no real estate investing experience. Now, he’s a real estate millionaire, still working the job he loves, with fewer rental properties than you’d think, and financially free from a handful of real estate investments. He got there by following the historical lessons of the wealthy that he’s sharing in today’s episode. After almost being wiped out in the 2008 housing crash, Joseph took a hard look at how he could financially protect himself and his wife. The answer? Invest in time-tested assets like real estate. Using a tactic called the “Johnny Appleseed Strategy,” he bought rentals in places where the demographic demand was flowing, and it paid off, but not without some massive hiccups. FBI raids, underground crime rings, destroyed properties—he learned his lesson, but even these extreme headache properties made him wealthy, proving the strategy worked. Now, with a select bunch of rental properties, Joseph has become a real estate millionaire by targeting the right homes, in the right markets, from the right sellers. Today, he’s teaching the five core lessons that made him a real estate millionaire and how to spot the properties with the highest upside so that you can build wealth with fewer rentals. In This Episode We Cover The “Johnny Appleseed Strategy” investors can use to buy in the best areas before the masses catch on The underground crime ring that was (unknowingly) run out of Joseph’s rental property How to reach financial freedom with far fewer rentals than you think you need Five lessons of the wealthy that every investor should follow when buying rental properties The one strategy that has helped more Americans pay off their mortgage early than anything else And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1289. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You don’t need a big, expensive, stressful rental property portfolio to retire on your terms. Today’s guest was able to leave her W-2 job in her late 30s, all thanks to a small, smart rental property portfolio. Most people think they need a dozen (or more) doors to reach a level of “freedom” that lets them walk away from their job. Lucy Hinds did it with half that amount. Did we mention she only started investing in 2022? After deciding that jumping out of airplanes for the Army was where Lucy wanted her excitement from, she decided to tackle her debt ASAP. But this former Dave Ramsey disciple quickly became a real estate debt enthusiast, buying three rental properties in three months, all using equity from her personal residence. From there, Lucy continued to scale until one day she decided she could step away from her job. The best part? She had only a handful of rentals at the time, but they’d cover her living expenses, giving her the freedom to do what she wanted with her days. Discovering her “enough” led to her early retirement, with far fewer rentals than most people think is possible. Think you’re still decades away from retirement? Lucy proves that even in this market, a few rentals can go a long way. In This Episode We Cover How to retire (early) with fewer rental properties than you think Using your home equity to fund your first (or your first three!) rental properties Scared of taking on debt for real estate? How Lucy switched from the zero-debt mindset to scaling with rentals Cash flow even at 7% interest rates? It’s still possible, and Lucy is proof! Pay off a rental property vs. your primary residence: why one can “free” you far faster And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1288. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Buying just one rental every two years can make you financially free—and by a lot. So many real estate investing influencers constantly talk about buying dozens, even hundreds of rental units to live your dream life and become a millionaire. But, as someone who’s been consistently investing, doesn’t own dozens of properties, and has made millions from real estate, I thought I’d do the math. Today, I’m going to show you how buying just one rental property every two (or even three/four) years can turn you into a millionaire with over $16,000/month in cash flow. You don’t need to buy sketchy properties or take on super risky debt; all you need to do is buy the right rentals consistently. But there’s a better way to do it. Instead of saving up a down payment every two years (hard enough in this economy), I’ll show you the way I “recycled” my down payments to turn one rental property into an entire real estate portfolio. This is how you slowly, safely, and strategically get to financial freedom with fewer rentals. It’s not magic, it’s math. In This Episode We Cover How to build a rental portfolio that will retire you by buying just one rental every two years How to “recycle” your capital so you don’t have to save up a full down payment The “BRRRR” strategy that allows you to increase home equity with smart repairs and renovations The even easier way to get into your first (or next) property with very little money down The “dollar-cost average” strategy that works for average Americans who want to invest And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1287. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is arguably the best real estate investing loan on the market today. It funds the purchase, renovation, closing costs, and up to six months of mortgage payments, so you’re not on the hook when renovating a vacant property, all for 3.5% down. Today’s guest used it to put down just $9,000 on a house and, less than a year later, had $150,000 in equity. It changed his life and enabled him to become a real estate millionaire, even in an unaffordable market. Matt Porcaro (AKA The 203k Way) was working in construction in America’s most expensive market—New York City. He could only get preapproved for a loan of a few hundred thousand dollars, which doesn’t buy much in NYC. When a local investor told him about the FHA 203(k) loan, his entire world opened up, and changed his trajectory forever. Now, he has over $1,000,000 in equity and over $2,000,000 in real estate—after just starting with $9,000. Today, Matt explains the 203(k) loan from start to finish—how much money you need to put down, how to get preapproved, finding contractors, paying for the renovation, what to know before you start, and a new change that makes it even more lucrative in expensive areas of the country. Beginners: This changes the game entirely. In This Episode We Cover The best beginner real estate investing loan that only requires 3.5% down Why getting a 203(k) loan is much less complicated than you think it is How Matt turned $9,000 into $150,000 in equity in less than a year The exact steps to take when getting a 203(k) loan (easier method) A new change to the 203(k) loan that makes getting approved even easier And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1286. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Before building an entire real estate portfolio, Matthew Garland was laid off from the TSA. He went from searching for contraband in your suitcase to searching for jobs ASAP. He had no degree, no office job experience, but he was good at connecting with people. He got a job as a loan officer and was making money hand over fist. Then the market crashed, his savings dwindled, his credit score plummeted, and he even got foreclosed on. It was time to build something real. That’s when a rich client of his introduced him to the “wealth hack” that helped him rebuild his life through rental properties. Now, you probably know Matthew as MG the Mortgage Guy, sharing as many insider lending secrets as possible so you can buy your next property. In this episode, he’s doing the same, telling YOU how to get preapproved now, what you need to get a lender to take you seriously on your first deal, and how he rebuilt his life, one property at a time. If you think you can’t build a real estate portfolio because you’re starting from zero, MG will show you how to get ahead and into your first deal, even if you feel way behind the starting line. In This Episode We Cover The “wealth hack” of the rich that gets you investment properties with little money down How to rebuild your financial foundation with real estate investing (even if you have little money or low credit) Why you never overleverage yourself and why scaling quickly (probably) isn’t worth the stress Four things you need to get preapproved for a mortgage (and what to do if you’re missing one or all) When to call a lender: Do you need to have perfect credit before you start? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1285. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are six “green flags” most real estate investors completely miss, but can make them serious wealth. Any of these six will allow you to buy an undervalued investment property, increase its value (and rents), and walk away wealthier than the other investors who simply glanced past it. The best part? These are often turn-offs for ordinary homebuyers, so your competition is even slimmer. Henry has been buying properties like these for years, and if he stumbles upon one with any of these six green flags, he stops and evaluates it. These signs are so powerful, they could allow you to buy a $250K on-market property that’s secretly worth $350K…just nobody knows it! So what are the six green flags? We’re going through each, piece-by-piece, from unused “space” that commands higher rents, to “free” land that can help you cover your down payment or renovation costs, and even secret second units most homeowners are completely unaware of. Find any of these, and it’s the needle in the haystack most investors wish they could buy. In This Episode We Cover Got extra square footage? Here’s how to turn space into tens of thousands in more equity One thing that every primary bedroom should have that’s missing from older houses Why Henry always looks for homes on a large lot (hint: it can pay for your investment) How to turn an unused basement into an entirely separate unit (but it requires this) Arguably the easiest way to raise rents without renovating the property And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1284. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you’re about to buy your first rental property, or are buying another, hear this. In today’s market, investors are growing more nervous before making a down payment on a property. That could be tens, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars you’ve worked for, and putting it in the wrong rental could set you back years to financial freedom. But if it’s the right property, you could fast-track your independence. So, how do you know which one is which? In this episode, Henry and I are sharing the “stress-tests” to perform before you buy a rental—if it doesn’t pass, we won’t buy the property, no matter how good the deal “looks”. But that’s not all, we’re answering other questions from the BiggerPockets Forums about how much money you should have in the bank before you BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), how to get around the hardest part of managing rental properties, and whether lowering rent is worth it for a great tenant (not so straightforward). In This Episode We Cover The “stress tests” we perform before we buy any rental property (you should, too) Feeling nervous before buying your first rental? Here’s why you’re not alone Lowering rent for a long-term tenant: Is sacrificing cash flow worth it for peace of mind? How much money should you have before you BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) an investment property? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1283. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Want to retire with rentals so you can buy back your time and travel the world? Despite a successful 35-year engineering career, today’s guest was still financially dependent on her nine-to-five—until she pivoted to real estate investing. In just four years, she has bought four rental properties and left her W-2 job for good. When Sandy Lee’s 50th birthday arrived, she realized she wasn’t quite where she wanted to be in life. At a crossroads in her career and still needing at least another five years at her current job before retirement, Sandy was ready for a drastic change (and a new challenge!). Now, with four short-term rentals and a highly profitable real estate business, Sandy has officially retired and designed her dream lifestyle, where she gets to travel throughout the year while spending only a few hours per week on her real estate portfolio. Whether you’re starting in your 20s or 50s, it’s never too early or too late to invest in real estate, and Sandy is living proof! In This Episode We Cover How Sandy built a four-property rental portfolio in just four years Making $5,000 in monthly cash flow from ONE rental property How to build a real estate portfolio that supports your ideal lifestyle Scaling a large portfolio versus having 100% paid-off properties What really moves the needle for Airbnb revenue and occupancy When to hire a “revenue manager” for your vacation rental portfolio And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1282. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if, today, you could “buy” a $500K/year income stream? You could replace your salary. You could become the boss immediately and reach financial freedom faster. It’s not a gimmick, it’s not a scheme, it’s something much more boring than that. In this episode, we’re talking about how to buy a business, especially small businesses, with Acquiring Minds’ Will Smith. Will spends his days interviewing the overlooked, but highly profitable, business owners who do exactly what we’re talking about today—find a boring business, buy it, improve it, profit, and repeat. Even the small businesses Will mentions can earn their owners hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. So, how do you get in on it? Will breaks down who should buy one of these businesses, where to find businesses for sale, how much they sell for, the returns you can expect, and the best business types to buy. Dave is heavily considering buying a business to complement his real estate portfolio. And after this episode, you’ll probably be feeling the same. In This Episode We Cover DON’T build a business, buy instead: entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) explained How much small businesses make (they can replace your salary!) The best business types to buy that have consistent, safe revenue What any beginner can do right now to find businesses for sale Who should (and should not) buy a small business, and how much they sell for And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1281. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You’re looking online and seeing properties priced at $300K, $400K, $500K, or more. As a real estate investor, that won’t cut it. What if you could get a deeper discount—we’re talking $150K rental properties. Don’t think it’s possible? Henry has been getting deals just like this in 2026, buying them, making upgrades, and walking into serious equity with way less money in. How does he find them? Today, we’re sharing the exact methods. This is how to find off-market properties priced well below your area’s average, even in 2026, even with methods people have written off as dead. This is the quick guide to getting your first off-market real estate deal. Henry goes over how to spot the “situations” that lead to lower prices, the list he builds to target the best potential investment properties, the methods he uses to contact sellers (it’s not just cold-calling), and the tool he recommends every beginner to use to choose their deal-finding method. Plus, if you don’t have time to search for deals, we’ll share an easier method to get them sent to you. In This Episode We Cover How to find investment properties for around $150K even in 2026 The off-market deal-finding methods beginners can use to get their first discounted property The two things Henry needs on his off-market list before he starts contacting sellers Got no time to look for deals? This method gets deals sent straight to your inbox How to use AI to speed up your deal-finding method and get in the game faster And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1280. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nick Burke knew he wanted to invest, but in his high-priced New Jersey market, buying a cash-flowing rental property was close to impossible. He needed to find an affordable market, somewhere with population growth, equity upside, and houses below the $100K price point. He did it, but in a city, 99% of investors have completely written off arguably too soon. Now, Nick owns a rental property portfolio of seven houses, using the “BRRRR” method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), to build an entire rental portfolio with very little money out of pocket. He’s done what most investors never thought of—buying his first true rental with a credit card, managing renovations from hundreds of miles away, and going 50/50 with a partner when he didn’t have the cash. If any of that sounds too risky for you, Nick proves that if you’ve got your head on straight, you can make it work with all of these options. Just two years later, Nick’s portfolio has made him hundreds of thousands of dollars richer in equity, and he’s even gotten paid to buy rentals! All it took was taking the leap and realizing he, too, could build wealth in real estate. This is his exact strategy for scaling so quickly, without a ton of cash to start. In This Episode We Cover How to use the BRRRR method to make tens of thousands in equity immediately Buying a rental property with a credit card?! The 0% interest move Nick made that paid off The #1 most important person on your out-of-state investing team (you cannot miss this!) Nick’s exact buy box for finding an affordable, cash-flowing real estate market Investing while working a 9-5 job? Why it’s more than possible even if you’re managing renovations And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1279. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s the middle of Spring, traditionally the busiest time in the housing market. But this year…things have changed. The market isn’t following regular patterns; some new concerns and opportunities are emerging and starting to approach the horizon. Are real estate investors prepared for what’s about to come? We’re back with this month’s housing market update, going over everything from mortgage rates to foreclosures and housing crash risk, how long homes are sitting on the market, and a silver lining for investors that most Americans are missing. But there are some concerns. One all-important metric for real estate investors is changing, and many rental property owners aren’t prepared for it. This could lead to lower profits, reduced cash flow, and, for those already struggling to pay the mortgage, foreclosures. Who’s in danger, and which areas of the country are most at risk? Plus, with delinquency rates rising and foreclosures increasing, are we at the tipping point of entering a dangerous housing market, or is this merely a return to normal, working its way through the system? In This Episode We Cover May 2026 housing market update: mortgage rates, foreclosures, rent trends, and more Why investors may see their cash flow get squeezed, especially in these areas More price cut opportunity? Homes sit on the market longer, but when should you bid? Americans (surprisingly) get back to buying, with pending sales seeing significant changes Updated risk of a housing crash: Does climbing delinquency signal a bigger problem? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1278. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are “tenant-friendly” states actually making investors richer? Ever since we started investing, people have always told us to invest in “landlord-friendly” states—places with quicker eviction laws, no or limited rent control, and fewer license requirements and fees. But most Americans will know that the top-appreciating markets like California, New York, Washington, and Hawaii are tenant-friendly. Are investors leaving money on the table by not investing in these more regulated markets? Today, we’re getting to the bottom of it. We’ll explain what a tenant-friendly vs. landlord-friendly state is, the real dangers of investing in a tenant-friendly state, whether rent control could kill your real estate investing business, and why not all “landlord-friendly” states are so friendly to your bottom line. The question is: would we invest in any of these “riskier” markets for landlords? Yes, but with one big caveat. If you can lock one specific skill down, you can invest in the most tenant-friendly states without ever going through an eviction, and make huge appreciation along the way. In This Episode We Cover Landlord-friendly vs. tenant-friendly states: the biggest differences between the two Do tenant-friendly states actually make investors more money? Rent control, rental licenses, and long evictions: how to plan for all of them States with the worst (and best) laws for real estate investors Would we invest in a tenant-friendly state? And if so, how would we protect ourselves? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1277. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5 paid-off rentals vs. 15 rentals with mortgages. We get this question a lot: Should I pay off my rental properties or use the cash flow to keep scaling? Many investors believe you need a dozen or more rentals to become financially free. So, in today’s show, we’re going to show you the overlooked math behind having five paid-off rental properties, and whether it’s worth it to keep scaling to over a dozen doors. I’ve modeled out both scenarios (pay off rentals vs. buy more) to see which gets you to financial freedom faster, which leaves you with a bigger net worth, and which pumps out more cash flow so you can do what you want with your time. We’re using real, inflation-adjusted numbers: $400K home prices, $250/month cash flow, 30-year loans. These are the types of deals we’re buying even in 2026. So which scenario would Dave pick? Dave has a clear answer on the option he thinks is best for most real estate investors, and what to do if you pay off your rental properties but want to scale slowly when the right deal arrives. If you’ve got some cash burning a hole in your pocket, this is the episode to hear before you make a move. How Logan scaled to 14 rental units and nearly $8,000 in monthly cash flow Buying his first rental property at 18 with no credit, no experience, and just $15,000 Several ways to find off-market rental properties for sale (and fund them!) How to scale your real estate portfolio faster while keeping your W-2 job Why house hacking is a no-brainer for people looking to break into real estate And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1276. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5 paid-off rentals vs. 15 rentals with mortgages. We get this question a lot: Should I pay off my rental properties or use the cash flow to keep scaling? Many investors believe you need a dozen or more rentals to become financially free. So, in today’s show, we’re going to show you the overlooked math behind having five paid-off rental properties, and whether it’s worth it to keep scaling to over a dozen doors. I’ve modeled out both scenarios (pay off rentals vs. buy more) to see which gets you to financial freedom faster, which leaves you with a bigger net worth, and which pumps out more cash flow so you can do what you want with your time. We’re using real, inflation-adjusted numbers: $400K home prices, $250/month cash flow, 30-year loans. These are the types of deals we’re buying even in 2026. So which scenario would Dave pick? Dave has a clear answer on the option he thinks is best for most real estate investors, and what to do if you pay off your rental properties but want to scale slowly when the right deal arrives. If you’ve got some cash burning a hole in your pocket, this is the episode to hear before you make a move. In This Episode We Cover 5 paid-off rental properties vs. 15 rentals with mortgages: which makes more money? How much faster do you reach financial freedom if you pay off your mortgages early? The multi-million dollar difference between the two scenarios (but is it worth it?) How Dave is combining the two scenarios to “harvest” his cash flow while scaling Proof you don’t need a huge portfolio to become a multimillionaire And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1275. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most Americans are worried about money. Paying the bills, having enough for retirement, and being able to afford emergency expenses. And, like many of us, you may have grown up in a household watching your own parents constantly worry or fight over finances. This is one of the crucial anxiety points of Americans—and rentals can change that. Today, Joel Larsgaard from the How to Money podcast shares his story about how rental properties, and just paying attention to his money, changed his worldview and his family’s financial future. He, too, saw his parents constantly keeping up with the Joneses—buying more house than they could afford, buying expensive cars, struggling to keep up. Joel vowed never to worry the way his parents did. After discovering personal finance, Joel did what most new real estate investors do: a “no-brainer” house hack. Then he bought another, and another, and another—and over the past sixteen years, built a slow, scalable, financial freedom-enabling rental portfolio, without taking a ton of risk or biting off more than he could chew. Joel admits it’s harder to invest in 2026, but that’s what makes it a necessity in today’s economy. In This Episode We Cover The “no-brainer” rental property new real estate investors should buy first Why money stress is much more dangerous than most Americans realize The slow, steady, low-risk rental property plan Joel followed to build an entire portfolio How to be prepared to invest in 2026 when home prices and rental costs are higher The world seems like it’s falling apart, but here’s why you should still invest And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1274. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brett Hundley doesn’t want an employer or a nine-to-five job. Ever. At just 32 years old, he has already retired from one career and is now chasing the freedom and flexibility that real estate investing can provide. During his eight years as an NFL quarterback, Brett spent evenings after practice learning the ins and outs of real estate from teammates who had already discovered its wealth-building potential. Early on, he tried a little of everything—short-term rentals, new construction, and other investing strategies—before zeroing in on house flipping, which has since become his bread and butter. Brett says the skills he developed running an NFL offense directly translate to the real estate investing world, where he now manages contractors, deadlines, and budgets instead of playbooks. His goal for 2026? Complete 24 real estate projects. But he’s not staying busy just to pass the time post-football. Like most investors, he’s after true financial freedom—not just the income but the flexibility to spend more time with family, travel the world, and retire on his terms. In This Episode We Cover Brett’s journey from NFL quarterback to veteran house flipper How to find “great” deals in competitive markets with strong deal analysis Quitting the nine-to-five grind and “retiring” with real estate investments How to build out your own real estate investing team in any market Completing 24 real estate “projects” per year (without working long hours!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1273. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you want to generate passive income with rental properties, reach financial freedom, and make the most money with the least stress, do not do any of these six things. There are six ways to fail at real estate investing in 2026, and if you get even a couple of these wrong on your first or next deal, you could be out of the game for years to come. Trust us, we’re now dealing with five-figure emergency costs because we didn't follow the tips we’re sharing today. Both Henry and Dave have reached financial freedom in around a decade by doing real estate the right way. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t made very costly mistakes. Whether it’s tenants, repairs, using the wrong calculations, or waiting to talk to this specific person, there are a few crucial landmines to avoid on your next investment property. So, we’re going through the six ways to fail at real estate investing. If you do the opposite of these six, you’ll make money faster, with way less stress, scale smarter, and probably reach financial freedom even quicker than Henry or Dave. In This Episode We Cover What Dave does every single time before he hires someone to work on his rental The one mistake that led to an $80,000 (that’s right) repair bill The wrong way to calculate “cash flow” that will have you losing money every month Why most new investors waste months or years by not talking to these two people Are home inspections really worth it? This is who should (and shouldn’t) pay for one The one true way to tell if a tenant will be a great renter or a nightmare And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1272. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Struggling to find cash flow these days? You’re not the only one. Today’s guest built a portfolio of 50 rental properties before margins started getting thin, but one giant pivot changed everything—a pure cash flow play to complement the appreciation and tax benefits from his rentals. If you want cash flow, he’ll show you exactly where to find it! Today, Devon Kennard makes 12%-14% returns with an investing strategy that doesn’t involve tenants or toilets: private money lending. Better yet, he’s often able to recycle the same capital multiple times per year for even faster returns. And yes, this is real, passive income. Despite scaling to over $12 million in assets under management (AUM), his tech stack allows him to spend just 25 hours a week on his real estate business. It sounds too good to be true, but with some capital and a few tools, you could start doing private money deals that give you the monthly income you’re unlikely to find with normal rental properties. Devon shows you how to get started with as little as $10,000 and even breaks down a standard deal where he makes $5,000 in monthly cash flow—plus fees upfront! In This Episode We Cover How to generate massive cash flow with private money lending Why Devon pivoted to passive investing after building a 50-property rental portfolio How to structure your own private money deals (with as little as $10,000) The three “levels” of private lending you can start using in 2026 The tech stack that makes private money lending easy for new investors And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1271. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At 20 years old, Jefferson Simmons was kicked out of his frat house. The entire property was getting remodeled, so he and 47 other college kids needed a place to live. Time to rent…right? After being discouraged by the rentals in his area, he switched his Zillow tab from “Rent” to “Buy” and saw a $250K house for sale. He was a sophomore in college. Could he really buy his first house? Thankfully, he had been saving up for tuition since high school, but an academic scholarship now put the entire down payment in his hands. He pitched his parents on cosigning, and next thing you know, he was renovating a basement to fit as many frat friends as possible. Now, just nine years later, Jefferson is financially free, with a rental portfolio generating $20,000/month in cash flow, all before the age of thirty. Today, Jefferson shares why he ditched law school to invest, the one thing that helped him scale his portfolio way faster, and how he’s consistently found underpriced deals that give him stellar returns. In This Episode We Cover How to buy your first rental, even if you’re young, and even if you have little money The partnership every new investor should look for to keep growing An expensive lesson Jefferson learned on his second real estate deal (huge renovation) Is dropping out of school worth it to invest in real estate? Why Jefferson did it Why you should always make a low offer even if it doesn’t get accepted (at first) The secret to scaling faster when you want to buy more than one rental per year And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1270. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is the worst real estate investing advice I’ve ever heard—and I KEEP hearing it. If you go on to any “real estate investing” TikTok page, they say the same thing: use other people’s money, wait for the crash, interest rates will go down…and that’s not even the worst of the advice. This type of real estate advice will make investors broke, put them in riskier positions, and stop them from retiring (early) with rental properties. I should know, I became financially free in just over a decade of real estate investing, and I didn’t follow ANY of the advice I’ll mention in today’s episode. If you’re about to buy a property with negative cash flow or skip small rentals and go right to the big buildings (multifamily), do not skip this video. Following any of this so-called investing “advice” could push you back ten, twenty, or thirty years from financial freedom, while the rest of the real investors hit their early retirement in just a decade. In This Episode We Cover Why you should not buy a “negative cash flow” rental and plan for appreciation Buying rentals with none of your own money? Here’s who should and shouldn’t do it The “passive income” myth that catches many “investors” completely off guard Why Dave never quit his job for real estate (and you probably shouldn’t either) Is BRRRR actually…dead? Why everyone has these “dead” strategies all wrong And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1269. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
By buying just One Rental at a Time, Michael Zuber was able to replace his entire W-2 income, scale from one rental to four, then to over 80 rental units, go from paycheck to paycheck to becoming a real estate millionaire, and survive the Dot Com bubble, the 2008 crash, and the post-pandemic meltdown. And in today's show, Michael has two things to say: First, the average American won’t make it without becoming an investor. Second, there’s good news—this year will be horrible for everyone but investors. Michael says we’re sitting in the best housing market in a decade. He’s putting his money where his mouth is, pulling a million dollars out of his properties’ equity to buy more, starting now. He’s aggressively making offers and getting deals for a fraction of their face value. Using a simple, but easily repeatable “wealth formula,” Michael has become the millionaire next door, and he says with just 20 minutes per day, you can, too. This is a masterclass from one of the most respected real estate investors in the country. Michael shares exactly how the average American can become an “elite investor” with his 20 minutes per day exercise, the properties Michael is looking to buy now, the two (yes, two) offers you should make on every house, and why he never bets on appreciation (and we agree). Michael says this market could last another year—are you going to make a move or wish you had? In This Episode We Cover Michael’s 20 minutes per day “elite investor” exercise anyone can use to become a rental millionaire How Michael replaced his W-2 salary with rentals even through multiple crashes Why Michael says 2026 will be the best year in a decade to buy real estate The “wealth formula” Michael uses to decide whether a property is worth it Why the average American will not be able to have a comfortable life without investing And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1268. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In 2021, Jesse Walters bought his first rental unit. Now, in 2026, he’s got a portfolio of around 30 rentals composed of small, affordable (mostly) multifamily properties that he’s getting killer returns on. Jesse did it even when mortgage rates were at 8%, even when home prices were flying up and subsequently correcting back down, and even when he didn’t know where he’d find the money to do it. So, how does someone with zero real estate investing experience scale from no rentals to close to 30 in just five years, during a very volatile housing market? Jesse is sharing exactly how he grew, even when financing was expensive or hard to come by, the small multifamily rentals he looks for that have the most demand in his community, and how he flips (and sometimes accidentally flops) to make five-figure, repeatable profits. And Jesse’s latest deal is something every investor dreams of. Converting a small hotel into 11 rental units, and, get this, for a $325,000 purchase price, putting just $0 down. It’s true, and after he’s done, this property alone will bring in a portfolio-producing amount of rent. How much? Jesse is sharing the exact numbers in today’s show! In In This Episode We Cover: How to scale in real estate investing and go from one rental to an income-replacing portfolio Jesse’s latest rental: turning a hotel into an 11-unit affordable housing property (with great returns) The five-figure profit strategy Jesse uses to make $15,000 on hands-off new builds How to buy (profitable) rentals even when interest rates are high (8%+) Why knowing an investor-friendly agent is the key to getting exclusive deals sent to you And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1267. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Iran War is already changing the housing market. Home sales have slowed, mortgage rates jumped back up, a reversal in crucial housing affordability is well underway—and we’re not done yet. Oil prices are causing interest rates to fly upward, and guess what? Gas prices might not go down for another year. Is this the nail in the coffin for the return to a healthy housing market? We’re getting into it all in April 2025’s housing market update. The implications of the Iran War are massive, and we’re feeling it right now. Homebuyers got a glimpse of hope when rates fell below 6% a couple of months ago. Now, we’re back up to the mid-6s. But with less competition in the market, buyers have greater opportunities. Real estate investors, especially those with cash on hand, may have even more time to take advantage. Dave shares the five things investors must do to get a good deal in this market. But will the housing market crash? Your favorite influencer on TikTok is telling you yes, but what does Dave say? If you want proof that a housing crash will/won’t happen, Dave is showing you exactly what’s happening in the market today and whether it could lead to a home price crash, real estate selloff, or something different altogether. In This Episode We Cover The massive consequences of the Iran War on the U.S. housing market Why mortgage rates cannot fall back down with the state of today’s economy Even more buyer power? Why you should be aggressively negotiating in today’s market Five things investors must do to protect themselves against buying bad deals Think real estate is an inflation hedge? Think again. Will the real estate market crash? Signs that the crash bros are wrong (again) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1266. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is not 2008 all over again…but the discounts are looking similar. A “slow unwinding” is beginning. Ken McElroy, a multi-decade real estate investor, owner of 10,000 rental units, and one of the biggest names in real estate, is seeing discounts…big discounts. Certain investment properties are being offered to him at 80% off peak prices, and, in his own words, the “blood in the streets” is becoming visible. Now is the time for ready real estate investors to strike. We’re coming straight from The Ken McElroy Show set, live with Ken and Danille McElroy, both real estate investors, but seeing very different realities. Ken focuses on large multifamily while Danille buys (and helps her clients buy) single-family rentals. Even though prices have fallen (dramatically) for multifamily but not single-family, both Ken and Danille are seeing deeply discounted deals, if you know how to spot them. Ken and Danille share their exact real estate investing buy boxes, guidance to investors starting in today’s market, the key to spotting neighborhoods with the best price growth potential, and the dangerous risk to real estate most are ignoring, a “canary in the coal mine” that Ken is paying attention to. In This Episode We Cover The almost unbelievable deals Ken is finding in the multifamily market (80% off) Multifamily’s “slow unwinding” and why we’re seeing more distress in the market The two types of single-family properties Danille says have the biggest deal potential Ken and Danille’s multifamily and single-family buy box for 2026 The key to spotting neighborhoods with the most appreciation (prices and rent) potential A dangerous problem that most real estate investors aren’t paying attention to And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1265. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After having her second daughter, high school math teacher Christle Stezskal had a choice to make—keep working for little pay and give up the time she had with her young children, or find another way to help provide for them. Her husband had just finished the personal finance classic, Rich Dad Poor Dad, and knew rentals were the right move—but Christle was only working with a teacher’s salary. She couldn’t buy $400,000 houses, let alone $300,000 or $200,000 houses. But $50K - $100K rental properties—that she could do. The duo set off, finding an out-of-state investing market where the numbers would work. They purchased their first deal, and then…lockdowns, and a tenant moving out—terrible timing. That wouldn’t stop Christle. Now, just six years later, she has a real estate portfolio of 19 cash-flowing rentals. She’s gotten creative, buying off-market properties, sending direct mail, and even bidding at courthouse auctions to get rentals at the right price. Because of her hustle, she’s quit her job, now gets to spend time with her girls, and provides her family the financial future they’ve always dreamed of—and she didn’t need deep pockets to do it. In This Episode We Cover: Why small, cheap rental properties can make you wealthy (even in 2026!) How to pick the right out-of-state investing market when you have no experience Buying rentals at auction, and the deal Christle was able to land for just $21,000 The best way to find discounted rental properties? One method Christle swears by Scared to buy your first rental? Christle was, too, and here’s what she says you should do And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Join us at the BiggerPockets Conference October 2-4 in Orlando. Buy tickets Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Real Estate Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerPockets Real Estate 1252 - I Had 4 Kids, No Cash, and a Traveling Spouse: Now I’ve Got 4 Rentals w/Joanna Caldera Rich Dad Poor Dad Connect with Christle Connect with Henry Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1264. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happened to real estate investing? From 2010 until 2022 everyone wanted to buy real estate. Fortunes were being made, cash flow was plentiful in many markets, and real estate seemed to only go up…until it didn’t. Now influencers are saying “real estate is dead,” some investors have given up on financial freedom, and many are taking a pause. But, if you ask any American if home prices will go up in the next ten years, they will reply “of course!” Is it the same with stocks, crypto, precious metals? Not at all. So, where are we at in the cycle? Is this the bottoming-out period that 2030s investors will look back on and wish they could have bought, or is this the new normal now that the “goldilocks era” of investing is over. Today, we’re answering two questions: What happened to real estate investing and why we’re still investing in it, today. It may not be as easy, but it’s still looking so worth it as crypto falls off a cliff, stocks see their worst weeks in years, and real estate deals get more meat on the bone. This is why we’re still investing in real estate today, even if we’ll never return to the 2010s era. In This Episode We Cover What happened to real estate investing? Why cash flow was uniquely easy to get in the 2010s Market pain = opportunity: the real reason why experienced investors are heavily buying in 2026 The “get rich quick with real estate” expectations are wrong (but you can still retire early with rentals) How we’re changing our strategies in 2026 to buy at bigger discounts and protect against downside risk And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1263 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We’re selling off rental properties. Nope, that’s not clickbait; we’re actually getting rid of cash-flowing rental properties from our real estate portfolios. But why? And why now? Is there a market crash we fear is coming? Do we think this is the peak of real estate? Have we finally decided to listen to the social media doomers who keep telling us it’s another 2008? Not quite. Instead, our reasoning behind selling might make a lot more sense than you think. In fact, after you listen to this episode, you might decide to sell some rentals. So, what are we doing with the money? Are we going to sit on cash, pay off properties, or retire early? Both Dave and Henry have different reasons for selling, but both agree there’s one thing you should do (at least twice a year) to see whether you should sell properties in your portfolio. Thought you were supposed to “hold forever,” as many of the traditional real estate investors have told you? We have proof that selling can often make you much wealthier than holding—here’s how. In This Episode We Cover Why we’re selling parts of our rental property portfolios in 2026 Signs you should sell a rental instead of holding, renovating, or paying it off What we’re going to do with the money from our property sales Is the market too risky to hold real estate right now? (We may buy even more) The one thing every investor should do (at least) twice a year to make the highest returns Buying from landlords? Great deal funnel or overpriced properties? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1262 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Five years ago, Martin Castro-Silva was working at a bank, earning $80,000 per year. Not a bad gig, but one thing was eating at him—he was missing the moments with his two kids, three and one years old at the time. It wasn’t until Martin picked up a pattern that everything changed—all his wealthy clients at the bank were in real estate, and one was willing to show him the ropes. So, using the limited savings he (and his mom!) had, he took a chance with zero investing experience. He knocked his first deal out of the park and replaced HALF of his salary while working on the side. This had to be it. THIS was his ticket to freedom. Now, in 2026, Martin has an income-replacing machine of a real estate business—he completely controls his schedule and has put his family in their dream home. He’ll talk about exactly how he found, funded, and profited on his first house flips, the huge trap that most beginners will easily fall into, and the reason why telling everyone you invest in real estate is one of the smartest moves you can make. Ready to replace your salary like Martin? He did it with just two deals per year—so why can’t you? In This Episode We Cover How to replace your salary with active real estate deals (even in 2026!) Using a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to fund real estate deals faster Quit your job for real estate? What Martin asked himself before he walked away The big mistake that cost Martin thousands of dollars on his house flip (easily avoidable!) The best way to find real estate deals that’s 100% free (but requires some talking) Afraid to buy your first real estate deal? Martin has some advice for you! And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1261 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is the most boring way to get rich with rentals. It’s not flashy, it’s not sexy, but it works—and it doesn’t even take that long to pull off. You don’t need to have hundreds of thousands of dollars saved up, investing experience, or dozens of rental properties. In fact, you can build over a million dollars in wealth with just four to five properties: no big apartment complexes, no complicated strategies, no sketchy financing. That’s what we’re all after, right? Boring ways to build wealth. We want consistent five and six-figure cash flow hitting our bank accounts every year with millions in equity. But if it’s so boring and easily accessible, why isn’t everyone doing it? Well, that’s where many Americans are wrong—thousands of real estate investors are using this same strategy to slowly and steadily build wealth without the stress of scaling a huge real estate portfolio. Dave has done it, dozens of top investors we’ve interviewed on the show have done it, and now you can, too—even if you’re starting from square one. This is the boring way to build wealth with real estate. In This Episode We Cover The most boring real estate investing strategy to become a millionaire How to get into your first investment property with significantly less than you think The best beginner rental properties to buy with value-add potential (increase equity!) Full math of how just a handful of rentals can become over a million dollars in equity (and $90K+/year cash flow!) How to use your home equity to invest so you can recycle your money The simple, beginner-friendly value-add renovations that can boost home value by $10K+ And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1260 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Few investors have gotten the real estate market as right as Brian Burke. He bought heavily discounted deals after 2008, sold at the post-2020 peak, waited years to buy, and finally just made his next big move—taking down a profitable, large investment property for 50%+ off. If he’s finally getting back into the market, should you, too? Brian has owned thousands of rental units across dozens of apartment complexes, bought and sold 500+ single-family homes, and seems to innately know the time to buy, the time to sell, and, as he puts it, the time to sit on the beach. Brian is seeing seller pressure start to peak across a specific type of investment property—loans are coming due, and banks are forcing owners’ hands. This is the opportunity we’ve all been waiting for. In today’s episode, Brian explains how to get in front of these deals before other investors, the sector seeing the biggest discounts (50%+ off), and what small, single-family investors should do now to capitalize on the growing opportunity everyone seems to be ignoring. Heaven in 2027 for investors? Brian’s been saying it for years—looks like he’s about to be proven right. In This Episode We Cover Are short sales back? How desperate sellers are giving up their properties at massive discounts How Brian scored 50%+ off on an investment property most investors overlook How to find seriously discounted properties before they reach the general public Brian’s real estate prediction for 2026 and 2027 (it could get a lot better for buyers) Are syndications…dead? What Brian says to do before you passively invest money And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1259 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Six figures in cash flow per year from nine paid-off properties. That’s the definition of a small, powerful, profitable rental property portfolio. And today’s guest, Greg Roedersheimer, did it all within the last five years by buying the type of property every tenant truly wants. Back in 2007, Greg’s agent told him it was time to buy. Little did he know that in just a year, he would be unable to sell that property and would be forced to become an accidental landlord. 13 years later, after having his pre-40s “midlife crisis,” Greg knew he needed a way out of corporate with cash flow to replace his salary. He settled back into real estate, but this time the market was very different. Through smart partnerships, savvy saving, and targeting the exact type of property that has the most demand potential, Greg has built a small, financially freeing portfolio that has allowed him to regain his time with his kids, dedicate hours to his hobbies, and partner up to make win-win deals for him, his partner, and his tenants! In This Episode We Cover The types of rental properties that have the highest demand from today’s tenants Why even small rental properties (condos!) can cash flow in the 2020s Don’t have enough money to invest? How to partner up and get your first deal Self-management vs. hiring a property manager: Why Greg does what he does for his nine-unit portfolio How to go from “turnkey” landlord to “value-add” investor and make serious equity gains The best beginner advice if you’re on the fence about buying your first rental And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1258 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you’re scared about the economy, you need to hear this. You probably either invest in real estate or want to, but nothing seems stable. Wars have begun. Gas prices are rising. Mortgage rates just went back up. It feels like things are getting more unstable by the day, and the average American is struggling to get by. This is a transitionary time in the economy, and we’re making proactive moves to limit the downside (and take advantage of the upside) starting now. Some real estate is more recession-resistant than others—and that’s what we’re focusing on now. Dave and Henry are outlining the properties they’re looking to buy as risk and opportunity rise simultaneously. If you’re new to real estate investing, we’ll tell you what we’d do starting now to get the lowest-risk rental property in 2026 and which markets could be worth putting your money into. Current investors—it’s time to start “pruning.” You said you’d never sell, but now may be the time. Both Dave and Henry are actively looking to offload some of their properties to make way for the buying opportunities to come. There are clear signs you should sell in today’s housing market, and if you own a rental property meeting this criteria, it could be time to get that cash out ASAP. In This Episode We Cover The best recession-resistant assets? Why we’re still buying this type of real estate How to invest in real estate even when it feels like the economy is falling apart Signs you should sell a rental property before the economy gets even worse The lowest-risk real estate investments that still have solid upsides in 2026 The “green light, yellow light, red light” exercise every current investor needs to perform on their portfolio And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1257 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This investor makes six figures in profit without putting a single dollar into her real estate deals. Using a new real estate investing “model,” Chauncey Pham has cracked the code to make as much profit as possible from a single property. It’s so genius, we’re surprised no one has come up with it before, but today we’re sharing it with you. Chauncey has always been good at sales—clearly, when she replaced her W-2 income in the first three months of being a real estate agent. She saw her investor clients making money hand over fist, and thought, “If they can do it, why can’t I?” So her husband quit to help her try flipping houses. The first deal netted a $60K profit. That was it. It was time to go all-in. But then Chauncey realized something crucial. In every house flip, dozens of people are getting paid. The buyer’s agent, the seller’s agent, the lenders, the contractors, the stagers, and the title company. This was six figures in expenses that she could be collecting. So, she created a new “model,” what she calls “turnkey house flipping,” that allows her to make six figures without putting a dollar into the deal. This is exactly how she does it. In This Episode We Cover How to make six figures with zero dollars invested in your real estate deals (Chauncey’s investing “model”) Why Chauncey thinks every investor should heavily consider becoming a real estate agent The perfect seller script when buying off-market real estate deals (real example) Chauncey’s exact house flipping numbers and how much she makes off of each deal Investors: you need to understand this before you talk to an agent (crucial!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1256 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 years ago, Matt McCurdy had everything—a good corporate job, a great degree, and a path to a comfortable retirement…in 30 years. The problem? Matt didn’t want to wait 30 years to live the life he envisioned, and spending three more decades on the “corporate treadmill” was looking increasingly bleak as the days passed. But within just five years, Matt escaped the cubicle life, replaced his income with rental properties, and then scaled up to 50+ rentals and financial freedom decades before traditional retirement age. How’d he get there so fast? The rental property “plan” Matt devised is something most investors ignore. This detailed strategy for acquiring rental properties helped him scale to millionaire wealth even without any prior experience. Matt’s secret to supercharged growth? Buying rental “packages” that are often underpriced and ignored by most of the small landlords in your area. Matt’s sharing all his secrets today—how he scaled to 50+ units, how he bought 20 (yes, 20) rental properties with just $35K down, and the dangerous sewer line problem that you don’t have to learn the hard way. In This Episode We Cover The rental property “plan” every investor needs to design before they start or scale up How to buy 10+ rental properties at once by investing in rental “packages” Quitting corporate in under 10 years? How Matt did it in just five years of real estate investing The one big mistake Matt made on his first rental property (you can avoid it) An affordable housing investment that Matt is doubling down on as the middle class shrinks And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1255 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The “Great Stall” is on. Home prices are stagnating or falling, and the hot markets are slowing down. Now, 40% of the U.S. housing market is in decline. This is exactly what we were waiting for. But new risks to the real estate market could flip this “stall” into something more serious. War. Spiking oil prices. A white-collar recession. What happens now? We’re back with March’s housing market update, giving you the newest data on home prices, inventory, affordability, and some surprisingly good insurance news. We’re living through what Dave predicted many months ago—the Great Stall. And while it may not sound all that great, there are actually some huge benefits of this stagnant market being passed on to homebuyers and real estate investors. In fact, your home insurance may actually be shrinking because of it. We’ll get into detail on that in the show. But what about new risks? War in the Middle East, spiking gas prices, and rising unemployment. All of these could have serious effects on real estate. This isn’t 2008 again, but we’re carefully watching one metric that (if increased) could pose a substantial threat to the housing market. In This Episode We Cover Why home prices “stalling” is actually a good thing for investors and homebuyers Cheaper mortgage payments? Huge news for U.S. housing affordability Why home insurance prices are actually going down in the areas you’d least expect How to save 5%-10% on your landlord insurance immediately (90% of people don’t do this) The biggest risks to real estate which could threaten the housing market Buyers: It’s time. Why you should start negotiating hard on home price And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1254 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In just around five years, these two investors went from zero rentals to financial freedom through real estate. In their own words, “I want as few doors as possible with as much money as possible.” That’s what we’re all after as real estate investors. How can we generate the most passive income with the fewest properties, headaches, and issues to deal with? A little over five years ago, Amelia McGee and Grace Gudenkauf were willing to buy any property with any problem, to get in the game. They wanted to quit their jobs, become their own bosses, own their time, and live the lives they imagined—not be tied to a paycheck. Now, they’ve achieved financial freedom and are sharing the five things that got them there. What’s the one thing Grace and Amelia say every new landlord should put in place at the start? Why is day-one cash flow overrated, and what’s the thing that actually makes you wealthy? Plus, why do they think “growing” to a big portfolio is too risky and not worth the effort? Grace and Amelia learned all these lessons the hard way over the past five years. Today, we’re giving them to you in under an hour so you can get to financial freedom even faster. In This Episode We Cover Why you don’t want a big real estate portfolio and the much better alternative Stop focusing so much on cash flow: Why chasing passive income is delaying your financial freedom Stop growing, start selling: The single most important piece of advice for current investors The one crucial metric that shows whether you should keep a rental or sell it One type of rental property that Grace says is solving all her problems And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1253 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Just three years ago, Joanna Caldera was working as a nurse, raising four children while her husband was gone most of the month in the oil fields. She wanted time with her kids and her husband to come home, but all of that required money. Now, just three years later, she has four rental units, has made $130K in profit from her first two house flips, has replaced her nurse’s salary with real estate income, and has her dream home. Anyone can do the same, using the strategies she shares today, even if you have no experience, even if you’ve got very little cash to play with. Joanna even overpaid for her first property by $20,000—a mistake almost every rookie investor is scared to make, but it paid off. She’s done everything—cosmetic flips, BRRRRs (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), added floors and rooms, dealt with hoarder houses, and did it all in between picking up her kids from school, taking them to practice, and oftentimes while working a nurse’s shift. Joanna proves real estate investing is possible for everyone, and within just a few years, your life can completely change because of it. In This Episode We Cover How to invest in real estate when you have very little time or cash Why “overpaying” for a property is not a bad idea (if your situation is like Joanna’s) Using your home equity to invest and why HELOCs are an investor’s secret weapon Pulling off the “perfect BRRRR” and getting a renovated house for very little money Raising private money from your friends and family when starting to invest (and how to protect their principal) Making six figures to renovate your dream home? Joanna did it, you can, too And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1252 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If we had to start our real estate portfolios over again in 2026, this is exactly what we’d do. If you’re just beginning to buy rentals or want to overhaul your current portfolio, this is the episode to listen to. Tim Yu went from zero rental properties to a dozen in just four years, but looking back, he would have done things very differently. He could have made more passive income, stressed less, worked smarter, and saved himself from a ton of headaches. Now, he’s sharing with you what to do instead, so you don’t make the same mistakes. Fast forward to today: Tim is now buying properties that cash flow $3,000-$5,000 per month thanks to the lessons he learned. Why does Tim regret scaling fast with single-family? Why do most people quit their jobs too soon after their first taste of real estate success? And why is Tim only trying to buy one solid investment property per year? His answers go against most real estate advice, but following his lead could accelerate your path to financial freedom. In This Episode We Cover The easiest first rental property new investors should try before scaling How to “test” new strategies so you don’t lose money (like Tim did) Why Tim kept his job even while making serious money in real estate The real estate analysis mistake Tim made that cost him time, sleep, and money Why you only need to buy one solid investment property per year (scale slower, make more!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1251 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is the proven path to becoming a real estate millionaire, retiring early, and gaining complete financial independence. It’s not hard, but it takes time, work, and forethought. If you can follow this financial freedom “stack,” you’ll be able to retire early, or retire much richer, like today’s guest. Andrew Giancola, host of The Personal Finance Podcast, beat the system. He reached financial independence in his 30s, not through luck, market timing, or big bets, but through slow, smart money moves and purchasing enough rentals to buy back his time. He reverse-engineered his path, creating the 11-step financial freedom “stack” that anyone can use to become a millionaire and retire early. The “stack” starts at the beginning. You don’t need any money or experience to start. The genius part of the system is that it almost automatically puts you in the best possible position to invest, reinvest, and finally retire how you want. We’re going into detail on each step of the “stack” so you can follow it, find financial freedom, and live life completely on your terms. In This Episode We Cover The 11 (repeatable) steps to go from no rentals to complete financial freedom How to trade your time for rental properties (if you’re starting with no money) The least amount of money you should have before you begin investing How much do you need to retire? Calculating your “freedom number” fast Still got “bad” debt? What to do ASAP before buying your first rental How to pick a real estate investing strategy based on your savings Don’t just invest in rentals: Why Andrew and Dave think "100% rentals" is too risky “Wealth accelerators” that supercharge your net worth And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1250 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This investor started with $0 in the bank, waited tables to buy rental properties, secretly moved into a retirement community to save money on rent, and borrowed a down payment just to get into his first home. Now, 16 years later, he’s financially free, has surpassed the millionaire mark, and never got caught in the “buy a hundred units” trap. This might be one of the most intriguing guests we’ve ever had on the show. He went against all odds to build wealth that a job couldn’t take away, found “secret” rental units everybody overlooked, and even reverse-engineered government documents to find out where the next prime rental property location would be, so he could buy exactly where the demand was going. Some would call him a genius; others, a pioneer. But we just call him the man with sandwich crumbs on his shirt because today we’re finally sharing the Dave Meyer origin story, and a lot of it we didn’t even know. In This Episode We Cover How to go from broke twenty-something-year-old to real estate millionaire before you’re 40 You don’t need a down payment? How to partner up to cover your first real estate investment Sneaking into a retirement community to pay lower rent (worth the risk?) The secret rental units that most people overlook (Dave and Henry have found them) The best rental ever? How to use local government data to pinpoint exactly where to buy Moving abroad while managing rental properties? How Dave kept his rentals running while in a different time zone And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1249 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you know these 10 things before you start investing in real estate, you’ll reach financial freedom faster, make more money with fewer rentals, and keep your stress levels in check. But if you don’t, you’ll learn them the hard way, as many investors do. These are the 10 things we wish someone had told us before we started buying rental properties. If you’re like most beginners, you’ve probably got a big goal: 50 rentals in 5 years so that you can be financially free by 30, 40, or 50! Or, you think you’ll buy a handful of rental properties, turn on property management, and coast into the sunset, a millionaire investor with your rentals running on autopilot. What if we told you the reality is very different, but the results are better than you can imagine? Both Dave and Henry reached financial freedom with rental properties in under fifteen years, without falling into the traps most aggressive “investors” do. Today, they’re sharing what actually works, so you can start building the life you dream of and do it all in a decade (or less!). What’s the one skill Dave and Henry regret never learning? Why will chasing cash flow too early delay financial freedom? And why is sticking to your investing goals actually a mistake? In This Episode We Cover The one thing every investor must decide first before buying any investment property You aren’t an investor: Why thinking like one can hurt your returns (and what to do instead) The real probability of going broke in real estate (stop being scared to invest) One skill that dramatically increases your returns on rental properties Want 50 doors? 100 rentals? Why Dave and Henry say it doesn’t actually matter how big your portfolio is Stop focusing on cash flow—this other goal will get you to financial freedom way faster And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1248 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This could turn an average real estate deal into a home run, and it’s nothing you can’t do right now. Today, we’re giving you seven tips to save thousands (if not tens of thousands) on your rental property expenses, so you keep more of your cash flow every month. Plus, we’re announcing something new at BiggerPockets—something we specifically negotiated to save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on every rental you buy. We’ll teach you how to close on your first (or next) rental property with less, get the seller to pay for your reserves or next repair, instantly save $250/year on landlord insurance, do top-tier renovations for budget prices, and save $10,000+ with just two phone calls. Want lower property taxes, too? We’ll show you the completely legal (and surprisingly easy) way to get the city to charge you hundreds of dollars less per year. Get access to all the BiggerPockets Pro discounts by signing up today! In This Episode We Cover The rule of thumb that has saved Dave and Henry $10,000+ during renovations How to immediately get $1,000+ off your closing costs on your next investment property Why you always (especially now) ask sellers for a credit/assist at closing Do not let your general contractor buy the materials (rookie mistake) How Dave gets his property taxes lowered by hundreds of dollars with one phone call And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1247 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This might be the smartest small real estate portfolio strategy we’ve ever heard. Today’s guest has done the seemingly impossible—gotten rental properties for one dollar, used dirt to cover his down payments, and achieved the (to many investors, extinct) “infinite BRRRR” strategy. He did it all out of necessity—starting with a $30,000-per-year salary and a 90-hour-per-week job. Joe Meehan didn’t have the resources to build a real estate portfolio—but he did it anyway. Seven years ago, Joe was coaching basketball on a grueling schedule, making a low income. He saved up all he could, bought his first house, and it all clicked—this is how he would get ahead. Just four years later, he quit his job. Seven years later, he has a cash-flowing rental portfolio of 11 units, and he works for himself. Joe shares the ingeniously simple strategies he’s used to turn very little money into a safe, scalable, profitable rental property portfolio. No off-market deals, no sketchy financing—he even did it with eight and nine-percent interest rates. The cards were stacked against him, but he came out (strongly) on top. The best part? You can use the same strategies in 2026. In This Episode We Cover The genius strategy Joe used to get a rental property for ONE dollar (yes, really—$1!) Using extra land to pay for your down payment (Henry loves this strategy) The “infinite BRRRR” and how to get a cash-flowing, renovated rental for (essentially) $0 down The single best rental property for beginners with limited funds Why you shouldn’t buy a vacation rental in a touristy market (what to buy instead) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1246 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Four rental properties by age 40? It’s possible, and if you can achieve it, your financial future will change forever. Henry and I have done it—both of us were able to buy four rental properties before our forties, and not only will it allow us to retire early, but our traditional retirement will be much wealthier. So, how do you start? This is exactly how to buy four rental properties by age 40, step by step. (And don’t worry if you’re over 40, you can use the same steps.) We’ll start with an easy property that many new investors can qualify for (with a bit of work), then a property with a huge upside for your net worth. Next, a cash-flowing investment that can help you have more rental income, and finally—where it all comes together—an investment property that you have expertise in. If you can acquire all four rental properties, your life and the life of your family could be changed forever as you create serious equity, grow cash flow, and leave a legacy behind. Four rentals by 40? This is exactly how it’s done. In This Episode We Cover The first rental any new investor should start with (least money down, no experience needed) How to add value to rental properties to increase your net worth Out-of-state real estate investing for cash flow, where home prices are more affordable The upsides to pay attention to when adding value to a property Real estate investor vs. average American’s net worth (the differences are huge) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1245 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are six numbers you need to know before buying a rental property. We run these numbers before we buy any investment, and knowing all six gives you the highest chance of making money instead of purchasing a headache. We’ll give you the full list of the six most crucial real estate numbers and how to calculate them so you get the highest return possible. Most new investors skip over most of these, and it costs them—big time. But calculating these in advance lets you know whether you’re buying at the right price, how much you can later sell your property for, if your rents will be high enough for you to cash flow, and whether the deal is even worth holding on to. Plus, we’ll throw in a bonus metric you can easily calculate that quickly shows you whether a rental property, fix-and-flip, BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), or any other deal is actually worth the effort you’re going to put in. In short, if you know these six numbers, you can confidently make a move on that first or next investment property. In This Episode We Cover Do NOT trust the list price! How to tell if the property you’re buying is overpriced, underpriced, or just right The one thing every real estate deal must have for Henry to buy it (it’s not cash flow) How to price rent (the right way) and ensure you’re going to cash flow The single most overlooked expense that can ruin almost any real estate deal Stop trusting "cash flow." This metric works much better at calculating returns And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1244 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Renovating two rental properties, while working two jobs, all in your twenties. Flo Jacques took it on so she could replace her $35,000/year college admissions salary—and it was so worth it. The first year after graduating college, at age 22, Flo decided she was done being a renter. With just $15,000 down, she bought her first home to live in. But being an investor? That wouldn’t come until 2024—arguably one of the hardest housing markets in recent history. When she saw a panel on investing in real estate (and started having literal dreams about owning rentals), she knew it was time. The first investment property? A $70,000 neglected house in need of a big rehab and in a flood zone. What could go wrong? If that wasn’t enough, Flo then—midway through the rehab—decided to buy another rental to renovate—a duplex. She was managing two rental renovations while working two jobs. But now, Flo has some strong cash flow she created. Flo learned a lot, especially since she’s only in her twenties, but she is already on to the next deal: a flip with six-figure profit potential. In today’s show, Flo shares why she took the leap, the lessons she learned managing two renovations at once, a sure sign to fire your contractor, and why her new goal is one of the biggest we’ve ever heard. In This Episode We Cover How to renovate rental properties the right way (Flo made the mistakes for you) Why you’re not too young or inexperienced to take on your first real estate deal One sign you should fire your contractor (they will start to price gouge you) Hard money loans explained, and whether you should use this financing on your next rental renovation New rules of thumb Flo always follows when renovating a house Stuck in analysis paralysis? Why it’s time to take action and start investing And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1243 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Homebuyers are getting the biggest discounts on properties in over 12 years—and it’s only getting started. At this point, nobody can refute that a full-on buyer’s market has arrived. Homes are selling below list price, buyers are waiting out the market, and sellers are getting increasingly desperate. All the while, mortgage rates are a full percentage point lower than a year ago, inventory is up, and mortgage payments are actually down. This is it. The “shift” that investors and homebuyers have been waiting for. In this month’s housing market update, we’ll get into it all—how much of a discount you can get on your next property (and markets with the biggest deals), why nobody is buying right now and how that gives investors an advantage, whether mortgage rates will drop below the low six-percent range, and how likely a housing market crash is with inventory rising but demand staying stagnant. In This Episode We Cover These housing markets are seeing 10% discounts off list price Signs pointing to a “full-on” buyer’s market, and whether it will last Inventory is rising by double-digit percentages, but is it enough to cause a housing crash? Will mortgage rates keep falling throughout 2026? The real reason so many homebuyers aren’t jumping back in as prices fall And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1242 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Single-family vs. multifamily rental properties—which gets you to financial freedom faster? A rookie real estate investor is wondering what he should do for his first rental property. Multifamily rentals can help you scale faster and have more cash flow, but single-family rentals mean fewer tenants (and fewer headaches) with less management. Dave and Henry have invested in both and have a clear answer for which is the winner. We’re back answering your questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. First, single-family vs. multifamily—if you’re starting in real estate right now, there’s one clear choice. Next, a young landlord just inherited a tenant who’s paying 50% below-market rent. Should he raise the rent and risk losing a 12-year tenant, or follow a much more “reasonable” strategy to get them to stay and pay a fairer price? BRRRRing vs. house-flipping: let’s say you have $100,000 ready to invest, which option gives you a higher return? BRRRRing (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) means you’ll have a long-term rental after the rehab, but is a flip worth it for the instant payout? And finally, we do the thing you never expected BiggerPockets to do…we tell someone not to house hack (but here’s why). In This Episode We Cover Single-family vs. multifamily rentals, and which Dave and Henry would almost always prefer BRRRRing vs. flipping houses: which is lower risk in today’s housing market? Who should not house hack, and what you should do instead with your money Raising rents on inherited tenants: the “stair-step” strategy that Henry uses And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1241 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you want financial freedom faster, you need to stop buying rentals and start buying rental portfolios. Most people have never thought about it. Instead, they slowly build their rental portfolio to 10 or (at the most) 20 units. And while we love the slow-and-steady approach, Jose Martinez is doing something much more—buying 10+ unit portfolios in a single transaction. He only needed a few “deals” to reach financial freedom. No risky creative financing or buying a bunch of $50K houses in the middle of nowhere. Jose’s portfolio rakes in steady rent, and now he’s a full-time real estate investor. And he did it all in just four years—starting in 2022. Two secrets helped him do this so quickly: the right mentor and the right financing. A lucky run-in at the gym changed Jose’s entire life forever, but you don’t need luck to use his financing strategy. This often-overlooked strategy has allowed Jose to use equity from other properties to buy bigger deals, often putting down less than 5%! If Jose could do it, starting with no experience, speaking no English, and being new to the U.S., why can’t you? In This Episode We Cover How to reach financial freedom much faster by buying rental portfolios (not single rentals) The genius financing strategy Jose uses that only small, local banks offer Why you need to stop waiting and start investing (don’t get stuck!) The key to finding a mentor who will help you scale significantly faster How to use your rentals’ equity to buy more rental properties and put way less down And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1240 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode alone could save you hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands in taxes—all with 100% legal means. If you own a rental property, you could be paying significantly less in taxes. With the US tax code being favorable to real estate investors and renewed provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill, real estate investing is one of the most tax-advantaged investments on the planet. Today, we’re showing you how to pay the least amount of taxes, before tax day 2026! Amanda Han, CPA and real estate investor, says 40% of the tax returns she reviews are not optimized for deductions. Investors are leaving thousands on the table and giving it straight to the IRS. But after this episode, you won’t have to anymore. We’re talking about how real estate investors can reduce their taxable income by up to 20%—instantly. Plus, the one renewed tax deduction that creates six-figure write-offs for investors, and what you can start doing right now to lower your taxes as much as possible starting in 2026. In This Episode We Cover How to reduce your taxable rental income by 20% instantly (many investors miss this) The biggest (six-figure) write-off that was renewed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Commonly missed real estate tax deductions that every investor can write off Are opportunity zones back? How to defer your capital gain to another year What to start doing right now to have the most tax deductions with the least stress If your CPA says this to you…consider finding a new one And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1239 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if you could create home equity and cash flow out of nothing? It’s not magic. We’ve done it hundreds of times, and most real estate investors still think it’s impossible; meanwhile, experts are making 30%-50% ROIs (return on investment) in places where nothing on the market will cash flow. The secret? Value-add investing. Today, we’re sharing the entire playbook, giving you actual examples and steps to turn basic properties into cash-flowing, high-appreciation investments. Your experts? James Dainard, arguably the best flipper in Seattle, who’s done (literally) thousands of flips, BRRRRs, and value-add investments, and Henry Washington, making killer returns by finding hidden space most people miss. We’ll go easiest to hardest, so even beginners can get their foot in the door. Anything from painting walls and replacing floors can massively improve your returns. Take it up another level, and you’re adding bedrooms and bathrooms, making a huge difference in the home. Finally, heavy value-add—want to rearrange the whole house and walk away with up to a 50% return? That’s James’ bread and butter. We’ll give you the exact steps to take, the properties to look for with value-add potential, the people you need on your team to get it done, and when to build rather than buy and rehab. See Dave, Henry, and James at the Value-Add Conference in Seattle! In This Episode We Cover The three types of value-add investments (easiest to hardest) and how much they can make How value-add investing can boost your equity and cash flow on your rentals The hidden “space” that can make a massive difference in home equity The “core team” James uses on every renovation he completes How to passively invest in a value-add renovation and learn how to do it while making a return Building vs. buying and renovating (which is more worth it?) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1238 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
One property can change your entire life. Less than a decade after buying your first, you could be completely financially free, like today’s guest, who has one piece of advice: “Just buy something.” Cameron Philgreen bought a small house in Kansas. Less than ten years later, that home’s profit allowed him to build his dream business—a coffee shop that he runs, instead of working a 9-5 job. But that’s just the effect of one property. After finding BiggerPockets, Cameron knew he needed to start actually investing. His goal? 25 rentals by 2025. He did it in under a decade. By trading comfort for cash flow (including sharing a bathroom with strangers), DIY-ing rehabs to save money, and learning how to scale instead of stress, Cameron now has a rental property portfolio producing $18,000/month in cash flow. His days consist of volunteering, running his dream business, For Keeps Coffee & Bakery, and spending time with his kids. Cameron shares how he finds perfect (on-market!) BRRRR deals with little effort, why outsourcing actually makes you more money, and the easiest way to get into the real estate investing game. Complete financial freedom in your 30s? Cameron has it, and you’re only a few years away from it yourself. In This Episode We Cover How to build a six-figure rental property income stream in under ten years Why just buying one property can change your entire financial future How to get renovated, high-ROI properties using the “BRRRR” method Trading comfort for cash flow: Would you house hack for complete financial freedom? Why you must become an entrepreneur to make it in real estate investing And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1237 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Renting vs. buying a house. Everyone has the debate completely wrong, and it’s costing Americans their financial freedom. “Live in Los Angeles? Guess you have to rent. Live in the Midwest? Guess you should buy.” What if there was a way to grow your wealth no matter where you live, how much home prices are, or what’s going on in the housing market? What if you could get richer while renting? What if your simple, affordable house could propel you toward financial freedom? What if you could make hundreds of thousands of dollars, tax-free, by buying the home everyone overlooks? Today, we’re showing you how to do all of them. We’ll give you three scenarios to buy, rent, or do a combination of both, and get wealthier in the process. Plus, Dave shares his “cheat code” investment strategy that gets him cheaper homes that he’ll love living in and makes him substantially wealthier in the process. It’s not buy vs. rent. It’s about building your wealth no matter your choice. In This Episode We Cover Renting vs. buying a house: The (not so obvious) answer nobody is talking about How to turn your home into future cash flow and what to look at before you buy The overlooked strategy Dave is using to make hundreds of thousands on his primary residence Live in an expensive city? This is how to rent and invest, so you always grow your wealth How just one house hack property can allow you to buy your dream home (Henry’s strategy) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1236 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are five rental property loans nobody talks about. 99% of people have never heard of them. 0% down payments. 5% interest rates. No W-2 needed. The loans we’re talking about today offer these benefits and (much) more. So, what are they, and why hasn’t anyone told you about them? If you’ve felt it was impossible to get a mortgage for your first or next rental property, the five investment property loans we’re sharing will change your mind. First, we’re talking about a mortgage with 5% interest rates, 0% down, and no closing costs. There’s a catch—but we think it’s well worth it. Next, a no-money-down loan that 97% of America will qualify for—there’s a good chance your next home will qualify for it, too. Then, a sneaky way to get around the bank and get a lower interest rate, down payment, or both. Want a 3% mortgage rate like back in 2020? There’s only one way to get it. Plus, for our self-employed and business-owner listeners, there’s one loan that doesn’t require a W-2. In This Episode We Cover Five game-changing rental property loans flying under the radar (low rates, no money down) No W-2? No problem! There’s one loan that self-employed investors must try Want your first property but have a lower income? This mortgage was designed for you How to buy a rental property without using a bank (and get much better terms) The only loan that lets you lock in a 3% rate (yes, that’s right) in 2026 And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1235 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Eight rental properties. That’s all you need to retire early. Don’t believe us? Today’s guest went from corporate life to early retirement, generating over $100,000 per year in cash flow thanks to a small, powerful rental property portfolio. He didn’t start with a ton of money, and he had no experience. But he followed a simple, genius strategy: Save, buy, repeat, pay off. Vicente Garcia wanted to build a college fund for his children. When he moved to a new home, he realized he had an income-producing asset right in front of him. So, he turned his old primary residence into a rental, recognized its potential, and a few years later bought his first full-fledged investment property. By combining savings from his job, recycling his properties’ cash flow, and using 401(k) loans (an incredibly underrated tool), Vicente grew to eight rental properties. His goal? Not to scale, but to slowly pay off the portfolio. Now, in his 50s, Vicente has six-figure cash flow, a paid-off rental portfolio of eight properties, and only one thing on his mind: what’s next? In This Episode We Cover Don’t sell, rent instead! The life-changing effects of turning your primary residence into a rental Don’t have enough for a down payment? Why a 401(k) loan could get you your first (or next) rental faster Paying off your rentals vs. buying more: The strong argument for a small, debt-free portfolio It’s not too late to start! Why you’re only around a decade away from retirement with real estate Why Vicente says now may be one of the best times to begin investing in years And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1234 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Every new real estate investor asks one question: How much cash flow should my rental property make? For years, you’d hear things like “$200 per month per door” or “it has to hit the 1% rule”. But with so many of these rules outdated, we need a 2026 refresh on real estate cash flow. In today’s housing market, what is good cash flow for a rental property? This is how much your rental properties should cash flow each month to help you reach financial freedom. We’ll show you exactly how to calculate cash flow, the cash flow goal Dave personally sets for his portfolio, and when a property doesn’t need to cash flow based on other crucial factors. Plus, how to create your “worst case scenario” when analyzing a rental property, so even if everything goes wrong all at once, you’ll still be able to pay your mortgage, keep your rental going, and not lose sleep. Is the cash flow you’re making enough, or are you falling behind? We’re sharing it all in this episode. In This Episode We Cover How much cash flow should you be making on a rental property (in 2026)? How to calculate cash flow, cash-on-cash return, and other crucial money metrics Why Dave doesn’t care (too much) about year one (or day one) cash flow Breaking even on your rental? Why this isn’t a bad thing if you’re in a specific situation The cash-on-cash return a rental property has to hit for Dave to move forward on it And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1233 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is a $100,000 rental property ever worth it? We see so many markets across the country that sport cheap rental properties. But, are you really just buying a problem that will never truly cash flow, or do these dirt-cheap deal-finders know something that we don’t? We’re back, as Dave and Henry answer your questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. First, we’re talking about cheap rental properties—$100K or less—and when Henry will and won’t buy them. How much money should you put down on a rental property? One investor has a different idea than the standard 20%-25% down, and Dave agrees—if you want more cash flow, less stress, and a more stable portfolio. Is flipping…moral? Concerned homebuyers say house flippers are taking inventory off the market, and Henry…thinks they have a point (to some extent). Finally, after years of working with hard money lenders, Henry shares (more like yells) some choice words at any lenders listening on how to make the industry suck a little less. In This Episode We Cover $100K rental properties: Are they too cheap to be a cash-flowing investment? How much money to put down on a rental property to cash flow in 2026 Interest-only loans: When Dave and Henry say it’s totally worth it Henry’s rant against hard money lenders and why investors must be careful The morally-right way to flip a house (without hurting homebuyers) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1232 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At age 47, Neil Whitney and his wife were living paycheck to paycheck—one bad day away from losing everything. Now, less than ten years later, he’s financially free with $8,000/month in passive income from rentals. Neil started with almost no money, promising his wife he would keep their life savings untouched while investing. He picked up side gigs, drove for Uber for a year and a half, and saved anything he could to buy a rental. And once he got his first rent check, everything changed for Neil and his family. Neil is now a millionaire in his 50s, thanks to “boring rentals,” all in affordable price ranges ($200K or under homes!). Once paid off, his rental portfolio will make him over $20,000 per month. In his own words, “If I can do this, anyone can do this.” Today, he shares the steps he took, how he finds the best tenants, and how to use rentals to fund the dream life you’ve always wanted (new cars, overseas trips, and more). So if you’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s and thinking it’s too late for you to turn your life around and get to financial freedom, Neil is ready to prove you wrong. In This Episode We Cover How to buy your first rental property even if you’re living paycheck to paycheck Are $200K houses really worth it? Neil says “yes!” and explains why lower-income tenants should not scare you The one side hustle that helped Neil save over $15,000 for real estate investing Using home equity to invest and build a real estate portfolio faster Want a new car? A nice vacation? How to have rentals pay for all of it The best piece of advice for new investors and those wanting to build financial freedom And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1231 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Buyers just got even more in control, and it’s excellent news for investors. Homes are now sitting on the market for the longest time in a decade, with sellers accepting thousands less than their original list price. For those who have been waiting to buy their first or next investment property, this could be the sign that it’s time to get in the game. But, with mortgage rates (slowly) coming down, will this window of opportunity last months or mere weeks? We’re back with our January 2026 housing market update! Dave is getting into it all—mortgage rates, inventory, demand, and why investors are becoming so bullish heading into this new year. Think there’s a housing crash on the way? Dave does his favorite thing—looks at data instead of guessing—to show some clear signs that those hoping for a crash will (unfortunately for them) be waiting quite a while. Demand is growing (steadily), and hungry homebuyers are itching to get back into the market. How much time do we have before steady appreciation returns? Stick around, we’re getting into it in this housing market update! In This Episode We Cover Sellers are accepting less: How much should you be bidding on houses? The best (and worst) housing markets in America (updated) Growing buyer demand and signs that the housing market (probably) won’t crash Why mortgage rates reversed after falling below 6% earlier this month Why investors are getting so bullish about rental properties in 2026 And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1230 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Last year, Scott Trench, former BiggerPockets CEO, made a big bet on real estate—selling $1,000,000 in stocks to buy rentals instead. A year later, he’s on the show, and we’ve got one crucial question to ask him. Was it worth it? The man behind the mustache (yes, he’s still got it!) is joining us today to give a life update and share how his huge financial decision played out. But a lot has changed in the past year, markets aside. Scott stepped down as BiggerPockets CEO and is now fully dedicated to BiggerPockets Money, helping as many people as possible find their own version of financial freedom. We’ll go over his $1,000,000 stock sell-off, how his investments have been performing since then, his 2026 outlook, and why he believes many investors will be proven wrong about the housing market and real estate investments. Scott believes the next three years will be an “absorption” phase for real estate, but what does that mean for your property values, rent prices, and cash flow? And don’t worry, Scott also shares what he’s been doing since stepping away from 100-hour weeks as BiggerPockets CEO. In This Episode We Cover Was selling worth it? The results of Scott’s $1,000,000 bet on rentals Scott’s growing fear about the stock market and AI-led price rallies Scott’s investment portfolio in 2026 and why he still has so much of his net worth in the stock market The “absorption” phase begins, and Scott’s 2026 rent price growth prediction Stocks vs. real estate: Are either truly safe in an economy like this? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1229 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Over $20,000 per month in pure cash flow from just eight rental properties—all achieved in around a decade. Dion McNeeley did it and has inspired thousands of others to repeat his “boring” and self-proclaimed “lazy” strategy to reach financial freedom. Today, he’s teaching you how to do it, too. A 40-year-old single dad with less than $1,000 in the bank and over $80,000 in debt is not who you’d think would become a multi-millionaire rental investor. But now, over a decade later, joining us from Thailand and making over $200,000 per year in cash flow, is the same man—Dion McNeeley! His tried-and-true strategy for rental investing is one anyone can replicate, and if you put in five years of hard work and another five years of patience, you, too, can be living your dream life, just like Dion. Dion is walking through his exact rental property criteria and what he plans to buy in 2026. Plus, he’ll share his best advice for beginners, the first step every new investor should take, how to know you’re ready to invest, and three tips to optimize your portfolio to make the most cash flow possible. This is the lazy path to early retirement with rentals! In This Episode We Cover How Dion went from making $17/hour to $20,000/month with just eight rentals Why “recycling” your cash flow makes you so much wealthier and massively increases passive income The two signs that you’re ready to invest in real estate (Dion still follows these rules) Proof that you can still retire with real estate in 2026 (it’s not too late to buy) Dion’s number one resource for real estate investing that you can use for free The “game-changing” skill that Dion says makes investors the most money And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1228 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If we could invest in real estate anywhere in the country, where would we put our money? It’s a new year, and markets have already shifted, changing where the best buying opportunities are. So today, Ashley Kehr (from the Real Estate Rookie podcast), Henry, and Dave are back to share their updated 2026 best places to buy rental property list! These markets span multiple states, but many have affordable home prices (some even below $200K!). But of these top markets, which one would we make the biggest bet on? These markets fly under the radar—we’re not talking about big cities like Miami, Austin, Chicago, or Denver. Many of these may be real estate markets you’ve only heard of once or twice, but once you hear the numbers, you might take a deeper look. If you want cash-flowing cities with landlord-friendly laws, we have them. If you want appreciation potential in affordable pockets of the country, we’ve got that, too. And, if you want to buy a rental in the birthplace of Mountain Dew, you’re in luck. Each of these cities is broken down into metrics that matter most to investors: average home price, rent price, rent-to-price ratio, population growth, job growth, and more. These aren’t just “cheap” markets with low home prices, but “sleeper” cities that only the savviest investors know about. In This Episode We Cover A cash-flowing college town with home prices that are below $200K The hurricane-safe southern city that is growing at lightning speed An affordable “sleeper” market between two very unaffordable cities Small multifamilies and Mountain Dew: this market has plenty of both You can buy a home for around $160,000 in this Midwest market with a (surprisingly) large population And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1227 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is how to buy a rental property in 2026. You don’t need experience, a big bank account, or a complicated spreadsheet. Anyone can follow these seven steps to acquire (at least) one rental property by the end of 2026. Real estate investments are one of the best ways to grow wealth, reach financial freedom, and retire early. But you need to start with your first rental property to get to your end goal. We know how to do it because both Dave and Henry went from zero rentals (and almost no money) to financially independent investors. It took Dave 15 years, but Henry only 7. And you might be able to do it faster. We’ll start by helping you define your goal: how much passive income do you want and by when? Then, how to pick the right strategy, market, and property to fit that goal. We’ll share key rules of thumb to help you analyze (calculate the profit of) your first rental and understand what a “good deal” really looks like. Then, how to make offers, manage your first rental, and repeat it, so you can reach financial freedom. This isn’t theory; we’ve followed these seven steps to achieve life-changing passive income. Now, it’s your turn. In This Episode We Cover How to buy your first rental property by the end of 2026 (it’s possible!) The first thing you should do before you look at a single rental property Why we choose our investing strategy before choosing a market to invest in The easiest way to analyze rental properties (and what a “good deal” looks like) The biggest mistake new investors make when submitting offers Do this during the first 90 days of owning a rental (very, very important) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1226 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You do not need a huge rental property portfolio to retire early. Today, Chad Carson (Coach Carson) will prove it, explaining how to retire with the fewest rentals possible. Trust him, because he’s already done it with fewer rentals than you’d think. Chad ditched the “buy 100 doors” mentality in exchange for fewer rentals, fewer headaches, and way more cash flow. Now, in his 40s and years into his lifestyle of two-hour workweeks, Chad has more than enough passive income to provide for his family, go on long (often up to a year at a time) international trips with his wife and children, and grow the wealth that will sustain him through traditional retirement age. Thousands have copied his “small and mighty” approach, as Chad’s name has become synonymous with “make more doing less.” Today, Chad is showing you how to do it in 2026, even if you only have five hours a week to dedicate to investing, even with today’s home prices and mortgage rates, and even if you’re starting with zero experience. Plus, the best properties for beginners and experienced investors, the exact deals he’s purchasing in 2026, and why now may be the best buying opportunity in years. In This Episode We Cover: How to retire early with the fewest rentals possible in 2026 The best real estate investing strategy for a beginner with limited free time Why Chad believes there is more “opportunity” for investing in 2026 than in previous years Put more money down? Plus, why Chad strongly believes paid off properties beat big portfolios Why “ugly” rental properties will get you to financial independence even faster How to “harvest” your cash flow once you’ve built a big enough portfolio And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1225 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Zillow released its new 2026 housing market predictions and…I’m not sure I agree with them. From home price to mortgage rate predictions, “kidfluence” steering decisions, and the rise of the lifestyle renter, I’m going through all 10 of Zillow’s predictions and sharing which I agree with, which I’m confused by, and which made me laugh. Even with a few very interesting predictions, I do think some core forecasts will actually play out in 2026. When’s the last time you asked your kid, “Hey buddy, where do YOU want to live?” and rented based on their answer? Well, Zillow believes that your toddler does have a serious influence on your next home. But that’s not all. In 2026, renting could become cool again as more “lifestyle renters” plan NOT to buy, even if mortgage rates drop. This could be a good sign for investors looking to keep long-term tenants, but you’ll need the right type of property. We’ll also touch on Zillow’s home price prediction (and why they’re more positive than Dave), the floor for mortgage rates in 2026 (will we break into the 5s?), and why buying a new-build could get even better. In This Episode We Cover Zillow’s 2026 housing market predictions (prices, rates, rents, and more!) Why housing demand could bounce back (but by how much?) The “kidfluence” and why your seven-year-old really calls the shots when house hunting One prediction that Dave audibly started laughing at (does anyone believe this?) The rise of “lifestyle” renters and a good trend for real estate investors Will AI find your next home? Why Zillow is betting on a breakthrough And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1224 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After 1.5 years of hosting the BiggerPockets Real Estate podcast, Dave is making a change…a big one. Today, we’re announcing the new co-host of the podcast—someone we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by… This investor went from having only $1,000 in the bank to 100 rental properties just eight years later. He started with barely any money, bad credit, and a spending problem, and has quickly become one of the most financially savvy real estate investors in the industry, inspiring thousands of others to take control of their futures and find financial freedom for themselves and their families. And after many of you begged us to combine forces, this investor is joining the BiggerPockets team to share the lessons they’ve learned so you can build wealth faster and better than before. In today’s episode, we’re announcing the new BiggerPockets Real Estate co-host, how one conversation changed their entire financial future forever, and proof that you can go from zero experience to a real estate millionaire, even if you know nothing about rentals right now. A new era for BiggerPockets Real Estate starts now. In This Episode We Cover BIG announcement: the new co-host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate podcast How to go from broke and no plan to financial freedom with rental properties Closing your first real estate deal, even if you have zero experience Why you need to start telling everyone that you want to invest in real estate Beginners: this is what you must know before you buy your first deal Got an idea for an episode? Let us know what YOU want to see in 2026! And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1223 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Real estate investing is about to get easier…much easier. And this could be the average American’s first opportunity in years to get in the game. Small investors are more optimistic, planning to buy—not pause—in 2026 as home prices stall, rents get ready to rise again, and affordability slowly trickles back. This is the State of Real Estate Investing in 2026, and the opportunities are growing. We’ve turned a corner in the housing market. Buyers have control, prices can be negotiated, and mortgage rates are coming down—this is what we’ve been asking for. Cash flow is even making a comeback after many investors thought it was gone for good. So, what strategies will work especially well in 2026, what are the pitfalls investors should look out for, and what is Dave buying in the next 12 months? Today, we’re sharing it all. Strategies. Tactics. Risks. Rewards. We’re cracking open the expert investor playbook, and even sharing brand-new insights from investors that contradict what major media networks have been telling you about the housing market. In This Episode We Cover Cash flow returns—the 2026 perfect storm for cash flow potential to increase The biggest buying opportunity in years—and why average Americans must take advantage Real estate investing strategies Dave is betting on (with his own money!) in 2026 Riskier strategies new investors should stay away from (and experts can win with) Four crucial considerations before you buy an investment property Housing crash in 2026? Here’s the real likelihood of it happening And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1222 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2026 is finally here! And if you can still read this sentence without seeing double, you’ve made it! But this year, things are going to be a little… different. We usually talk about the best places or strategies for buying rentals, but we’re going on a bit of a detour to start the year by discussing our real estate resolutions, all of which will actively help us retire early. Want to retire with rentals, too? This is the episode for you, and we’re sharing the strategies we’re using in 2026 to get there. Kathy Fettke shares a new way she’s optimizing her real estate portfolio, with the goal to increase cash flow by 10% on her current portfolio (not buying more rentals!). Henry takes an opposite approach to most investors, opting not to scale his portfolio and instead doing something much safer. Dave details his “End Game”—the ultimate real estate portfolio for early retirement. You can copy these experts’ strategies in 2026 to retire with rentals, too! In This Episode We Cover How to use AI to optimize your portfolio and find the cash flow blind spots where you’re losing potential profits Stop scaling? Why Henry is making moves to pay off some rentals instead (and whether you should, too) Building your “End Game” portfolio to retire with rentals you actually enjoy owning The three “buckets” of investing and a sign you’ve already outgrown yours (it could cost you) Henry and Dave’s real goal that has nothing to do with real estate (can you help them out?) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1221 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
These rental property deals are making us richer, even with high housing prices and interest rates. Everyone thinks it’s impossible to find cash-flowing rental properties in today’s housing market, but this is NOT the truth. We’re going to show you three real rental property deals we’re buying. All of these are being purchased in 2025—these are NOT cheap deals from 2020 with 3% - 4% interest rates. Each one will build major equity, cash flow, or both. Dave brought backup on this episode—the entire expert panel from the On the Market podcast—to share real deals they’re doing right now. We’ve got three to go through—a $55,000 heavy rehab rental property that will also serve as Henry’s own vacation home, a new build rental property at a super reasonable $214,000 price, and finally, a very creative (but somewhat costly) land-banking deal in Seattle, Washington. Each of these deals ranges in expertise needed. Some of the heavier rehab projects may require a few years of renovation experience, while Kathy’s new build deal is a profitable rental ANYONE can buy right now. Regardless of your experience, you can copy these strategies and get richer with these rentals! In This Episode We Cover Three profitable real estate deals you can do RIGHT NOW How to buy a brand new rental property, with a low interest rate, for just around $200,000 How Henry is turning a $55,000 disaster house into a $265,000 top-tier rental James’s super creative way to make $300,000 on land in high-demand areas The best investment if you’ve got a busy job, a family to take care of, or just a hectic schedule And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1220 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Growing to $8,000 in monthly cash flow and 35 rental units—all while working a W2 job?! Just two years ago, today’s guest knew nothing about real estate investing. But he found a deal and brought it to someone with money, and this single move launched his investing journey. Want to do the same, starting from zero? Then you don’t want to miss this one! Luke Tetreault was miserable at his W2 job. When he had finally reached his breaking point, he decided to take a swing at real estate—and at first, it wasn’t pretty. Without any investing knowledge or experience, Luke found his first property on Facebook Marketplace and didn’t even have the money to close it himself. So, he reached out to an old contact, who ended up funding the deal. Over time, he grew his network until he had contractors and private money lenders for all his deals! He started with a single-family home, but his most recent deal? An 18-unit mobile home park he bought with creative financing. Stick around as Luke teaches you how to find off-market deals no one’s looking for, use your everyday hobbies to build out your investing team, and scale your portfolio starting with little to no cash! In This Episode We Cover How Luke scaled to $8,000 in monthly cash flow and 35 units (in TWO years) Boosting your cash flow by pivoting to another investing strategy Buying an 18-unit mobile home park with zero money out of pocket Creative ways to find off-market real estate deals at a deep discount Two signs you’re ready to leave your W2 job for real estate investing Leveraging your own hobbies and passions to build your investing team And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1219 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The housing market correction is well underway, but the story looks very different depending on where you invest. Some markets are cooling gently, others are slipping faster, and a few affordability outliers are still holding up. With new Zillow data in hand, Dave breaks down the major regional patterns, why price growth is slowing almost everywhere, and what today’s shifts actually mean for investors buying at the end of 2025 and into 2026. He also looks at markets that may be “oversold” despite strong fundamentals, the places where buyers suddenly have serious leverage, and how rents are diverging sharply from home prices in some metros. We’ll even take a look at the data to see where corrections may continue. So, where should you buy? If you want killer deals, are these “oversold” markets prime places for rental property investing, or could they fall even further? In This Episode We Cover Zillow’s newest list of best and worst housing markets of 2026 Where buyers have strong leverage and where demand still holds Markets that have strong fundamentals but major concerns from buyers What rising or falling rents actually signal for investors Will hot, affordable markets keep their flame burning or freeze like the rest of the US? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1218 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This could make you much wealthier in 2026—and all you need is around 30 minutes of free time. Throughout 2025, three days a week, we’ve interviewed some of the best and brightest real estate investors in the country. They’ve launched new strategies that have made them millions, shared tips that can turn any rental from a dud to a deal, and even explained their exact buy boxes and techniques for building wealth. Today, we’ve compiled some of the most valuable advice we’ve received in 2025 into a holiday gift for you. We’ll talk about the real financial freedom you receive as a real estate investor, how just one rental property (not dozens) can be enough to change your life, why the most successful investors tell everyone that they invest in real estate—and how it pays off, a new BRRRR strategy, and the best rental renovations with significant returns. Even against the mainstream narrative, real estate investors grew their wealth substantially in 2025. And 2026 could get even better… In This Episode We Cover Why financial freedom is not what you think it is (the truth) One rental property can change your entire life, and how a beginner investor replaced her salary with real estate in four years The unbelievable real estate deal this rookie got by telling everyone that she invests in real estate The “slow BRRRR” method that makes you wealthy with way less stress The best rental renovations for $5,000 (or less) with up to a 300% return potential! And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1217 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This could be the most encouraging sign for the housing market in years. It’s the final month of 2025, and the housing market has flipped from this time last year. Real prices are down, mortgage rates are near a percent lower, inventory is stabilizing, and affordability…it’s actually improving. But hints at a wave of underwater mortgages are making people nervous. With the number rising, is this the “distress” signal many have been waiting for? Welcome to our last housing market update of 2025. We’re getting into it all: home price, mortgage rate, and inventory updates, plus a new seller trend that is causing serious confusion, and could be the final nail in the “housing market crash” coffin. With sellers doing what nobody expects, next year could get interesting. More homeowners are falling “underwater” on their mortgages. Is this a 2008 repeat or just a blip on the real estate radar? Some economists are worried about rising delinquencies, but a high-level view of the data could point to an entirely different conclusion. In This Episode We Cover Sellers do what nobody expects, and it’s killing the “crash” narrative Underwater mortgages are surging, but are homeowners really in danger? The best news we’ve had in three years? A massive win for housing affordability Mortgage rate momentum and whether now is the right time to refinance The key affordability improvements we’ve seen since the start of 2025 And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1216 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Has real estate finally bottomed? Ben Miller, CEO of Fundrise (managing over $7B in real estate), says it’s so. And he’s not just talking about commercial real estate. If true, one particular type of real estate investment could do exceptionally well over the next year, but most people (even Dave!) are going in a different direction. Where could the next big real estate boom happen? We’re getting into it! To continue this prediction season, Ben joins us to walk through a few crucial economic outlooks that could greatly affect the housing market. From AI stunting hiring to inflation actually going down (below 2%!), American wage trends changing dramatically, and the assets that will perform best, we’re getting his take as someone who manages billions of dollars in real estate. Want mortgage rates to go down? We need lower inflation, and Ben says there’s good news on the horizon for stable prices. New technology adoption could lead to much lower inflation (even deflation in some cases). Could this be what reignites the housing market as mortgage rates react to a more stable economy? Ben gives his full take, with some surprises even Dave wasn’t prepared for. In This Episode We Cover The bottom for real estate prices? Why Ben thinks it’s here (or very close) The end of runaway inflation: How AI could kill the concern over rising costs More Americans making less, and what happens when AI takes tens of millions of jobs The one type of residential real estate that is poised to perform best in 2026 A new AI tool that could be pivotal for rental property investing research And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1215 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your real estate agent is ignoring you and not sending you deals. You told them you’re interested in investing, but they’re leaving your texts on “read.” This happened a lot to Dave and Henry until they started saying the right thing to agents. Now, they have more investing opportunities than they can handle. What’s the secret to landing an agent who will put you first? They’re sharing the tactic today. We’re back, taking questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, helping you invest in real estate wherever you are. Speaking of locations, an investor is worried about this “big city” they’re about to invest in. But Dave and Henry push back, calling this one market a “sleeper” city for investment properties, one that Dave is actively looking to invest in. A house hacker with a high DTI (debt-to-income ratio) sees a property down the street that they want to buy. But with maxed-out credit, how can he make it work? We’ve got multiple options anyone can try. Would you buy a property with 0% down and a 100% loan? This investor is scared of overleveraging himself, but is it worth it for the low investment? Finally, we’re giving you actual steps to lower (or at least stabilize) your renovation budget even with rising material and labor costs. Do NOT start buying toilets in bulk, we’ll tell you why… In This Episode We Cover Signs of an investor-friendly agent, and the easy way to weed out average agents The most underrated real estate investing area in the country that is still affordable How to invest in real estate when your DTI (debt-to-income) is maxed out The real risk behind a VA loan (0% down loan) and how to ensure you’re not biting off more than you can chew Flipping or BRRRRing? How Henry and Dave keep their costs on budget And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1214 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Within three years, this high school teacher bought eight rental units, giving him an extra $1,600/month in pure cash flow and helping him pay for his child’s future. Through a combination of affordable markets, “reverse BRRRRs,” and beginner-friendly renovations, Ben Vidovich has built financial freedom that middle-class America rarely achieves. With his first child on the way, Ben knew he needed something more than the retirement account he was throwing his money into. As a high school teacher living in one of America’s most expensive markets, buying a rental property nearby was far from possible, and Ben wasn’t sitting on piles of cash. So, Ben hunted down “affordable” markets across America, took the leap, and bought his first rental property, a duplex, for under $200,000. Three years later, he’s perfected the reverse BRRRR strategy to scale quickly, using local banks to fund renovations and rehabs on multiple homes, all from thousands of miles away. Now, he’s starting to buy these houses in cash for better passive income and the ability to leverage them to buy even more rentals. This is a repeatable, middle-class investing strategy anyone can follow, and Ben is actively using it in 2025! In This Episode We Cover How to invest in real estate on a middle-class salary (while living in a pricey market) The “reverse BRRRR” strategy that you can use to put $0 down on renovated rentals Inherited tenants: worth it for the instant cash flow or problem for your portfolio? Beginner-friendly renovations that rookie investors can perform from out of state Is it worth it to buy rental properties in cash? How Ben uses paid-off properties as leverage to scale faster And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1213 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Before you buy your first (or next) real estate deal, you need to know one thing—how to calculate cash flow on a rental property. The problem? 99% of investors do this wrong and get burned as a result. That’s why after buying dozens of rental properties, we’ve come up with arguably the most accurate way to calculate real estate cash flow, and today, we’re showing you how to do it, too. Joining us is Ashley Kehr from the Real Estate Rookie podcast, who’s been buying rentals routinely for over ten years now. We’ll use the BiggerPockets Rental Property Calculator (which you can try for free!) to run numbers on a real rental property Dave is looking to buy right now. You’ll learn exactly how to estimate both fixed and variable expenses, how much emergency reserves to set aside, how to account for property management fees, vacancy, repairs, and more, plus what to do to instantly boost your potential cash flow before you buy! In This Episode We Cover How to calculate cash flow on any rental property before you submit an offer The easiest way to increase your cash flow if it’s not hitting the mark What a good deal looks like to Ashley and Dave (when they’d submit an offer) How to estimate your expenses (accurately) so you get the most cash flow possible How much cash flow should you be making in 2026? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1212 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We know you’ve been thinking about it. Dreaming about it. Talking to your spouse, friends, and family about it. Take our advice: don’t do it…yet. Obviously, we’re talking about the one thing every real estate investor is after: quitting your job. It’s the goal of every rental property owner to have enough real estate cash flow to pay for your life, tell your boss it’s over, and walk out the door, fading away into the sunset. But quitting your job for rentals could add years to your financial freedom timeline, limit your ability to scale your real estate portfolio, and force you back into the job market when things get tough. Today, we brought on someone who’s proof that keeping your job makes you richer (quicker) in real estate. Paul Novak has worked full-time for 20 years. At record speed, he acquired eight rentals in just five years. And guess what? In five more years, he could be financially independent and retire early, IF he keeps his job and invests. The best part? Paul has unlocked secret, low-interest loans that W-2 workers have easy access to but rarely know about, helping him supercharge his rental portfolio. If you really want to quit, do it. But if you actually want to get wealthy with real estate, listen to this episode. In This Episode We Cover How Paul scaled to eight rental units while working a full-time schedule The secret loan to fund your real estate deals that W-2 workers have easy access to Why you’ll retire much sooner if you keep your W-2 job vs. quitting Should you work in the real estate industry if you don’t like your job? The benefits of going full-time into real estate (only quit if these are worth it) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1211 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Home prices are about to “bend”...but will they break? The 2026 housing market could be another year of a correction, but how low could we go? Last week, we gave our mortgage rate predictions for 2026; this week, we’re focusing on home price forecasts. The housing market is stuck, and something needs to give. Americans can’t afford homes at these high prices, but with so many “locked-in” homeowners, where will the new supply come from? There are a few scenarios that could unfold, with different results that could greatly impact your buying, selling, and wealth-building. This year feels…different. And while Dave shares his “most likely” scenario for home prices, two other scenarios (“upside” and “downside”) aren’t worth ruling out just yet. One “X factor” could shoot home prices high, with Americans rushing back to buy. But a downside risk could drive our correction even deeper. Dave describes the rental properties he’s looking to buy during this year of opportunity, along with the rules you must follow so you don’t get burned. In This Episode We Cover 2026 home price predictions and whether the correction will continue into next year The one crucial factor driving home prices (and what happens when it changes) The “range” that home prices could be in this year, and what inflation-adjusted prices will look like The “X factor” that has a chance to reset the hot housing market and drive down mortgage rates What Dave is buying now and his exact buy box for “The Great Stall” market we’re entering And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1210 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
By the time you finish this episode, you’ll have your exact plan for financial freedom through real estate, starting in 2026. See if you can answer these questions right now: How much money do you want to make every month? When do you (realistically) want to retire? How much real estate will it take to get there? And which strategy will actually get you to the finish line? If you can’t answer all four of those questions, you’re like 99% of real estate investors—buying properties just to “build wealth.” While “building wealth” is worth striving for, it’s not actually a true goal. It's what keeps investors working longer, unsure of when or if they’ve “made it” or how much farther they have to go. If you do one thing before 2026, do this: define your financial goals. Today, Dave shows you exactly how to do that. You’ll learn the formula to calculate your financial freedom number, how much real estate you’ll need, how long it will take, the one- and three-year goals you should set now, and the best real estate strategies for your situation. You could be retired in under 10 years if you start in 2026. What are you waiting for? In This Episode We Cover How to actually retire with rental properties in 10 years (or less) with a personalized strategy The best real estate investments for those with low money or little time How long it will take you to replace your income with real estate 2026 goal-planning that is achievable and gets you closer to early retirement How it’s possible to double your money in a matter of years by reverse engineering your investments And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1209 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How does a 9th-grade dropout end up retiring early in his 40s with over 50 rental properties that generate the highest possible cash flow? And we’re not talking about big properties—no apartment buildings or commercial real estate. This investor built the perfect rental property portfolio from duplexes and triplexes—small multifamily properties that any new investor can buy. Instead of taking his energy and buying larger properties, he reinvested in the ones he had, which made him even more money, allowing him to scale faster. Matt (the Lumberjack Landlord) and his wife have self-managed over 100 rental units, meaning all that cash flow goes to them. Using his “acquire, stabilize, optimize” formula, Matt’s rentals make hundreds more in cash flow per unit than other properties. This has allowed him to retire in his 40s, all while supporting his family of six. Today, he’s showing you how you can make the most from your rental properties, too. Simple utility changes, smart renovations for higher rents, cheap (and efficient) upgrades, and more can put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket every month. Plus, he shares how to keep your best tenants, even during tough economic times. If Matt could do it all while working 60+ hour weeks, why can’t you? In This Episode We Cover How to make the most cash flow possible by self-managing your rentals Bigger isn’t better: Why Matt exclusively buys small multifamily properties The “formula” for the rental portfolio that can retire you in your 40s How to afford your first rental property even if you’re low on cash Why every investor should talk to local banks first about financing their rentals Easy ways to keep your best tenants even when the economy gets shaky Would you live in a jail? Why Matt’s tenants pay to get put behind bars And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1208 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Want lower mortgage rates? One economic “X factor” could give them to us. It’s time for our 2026 mortgage rate predictions! Is this the year we get back into the 5% mortgage rate range? It might be more likely than you think. But two things are currently holding mortgage rates in limbo, keeping the housing market “stuck” as buyers beg for a more affordable interest rate. These crucial factors could finally budge, and if/when they do, big changes to mortgage rates could follow. For four years, Dave has been sharing his mortgage rate forecast leading up to the new year—and he’s been right almost every time. But we’re not just sharing Dave’s take. We’ll also give you mortgage rate forecasts from top economists at Fannie Mae, NAR, and more. Waiting for lower mortgage rates? Stick around to see if Dave’s prediction is what you want to hear. In This Episode We Cover 2026 mortgage rate predictions and whether we’ll get back into the 5% range The “X factor” that could send mortgage rates into a free fall The two things keeping mortgage rates “stuck” right now (and whether they’ll move) A desperate move from the Federal Reserve to lower mortgage rates that could cause massive ripple effects throughout the economy Interest rate forecasts from top mortgage and real estate organizations And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1207 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The housing market has been flat or falling for almost three years, and last month we called it what it is: a correction. Not a crash…but a real correction. So what does that actually mean for investors right now? Today, the On the Market crew is taking over to talk through how to approach a correction, what smart investors are doing in this environment, and what WE’RE buying as opportunities start to surface. The market feels “slow,” but compared to the years of easy money, almost anything would. This is the part of the cycle where predictability returns, distress starts to show, and disciplined investors set themselves up to win after the Great Stall. Kathy Fettke shares how her strategy has evolved after 25 years of buying through multiple cycles, why she’s leaning into lower-stress investing, and what still hasn’t changed about finding solid long-term deals. Henry breaks down what a “balanced” market actually looks like, why multiple exit strategies matter more than ever, and the tactics he’s setting up to ensure he always walks away profitable. And Dave explains the deal analysis mindset you need during a correction—and the key market signals worth watching right now. If you’re waiting for perfect timing to invest, this episode might change your mind. This is what we’re looking to buy right now at the end of 2025. In This Episode We Cover What a real correction looks like (sorry, it’s not a crash!) The multiple exit strategies that will save you from a bad deal in 2025 and 2026 How investor psychology shifts during slower, more “normal” markets (don’t be scared!) How we’re actively adjusting our investing strategies—and what we’re buying now The key metrics worth tracking during a housing market correction Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1206 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Don’t buy in good school districts. Always end your leases in winter. NEVER raise rents on a tenant. These are just some of the “Dionisms” that have made Dion McNeeley, the so-called “lazy investor,” rich with rental properties. He achieved financial freedom, retiring early with a $200,000/year passive income after slowly, steadily, and lazily investing for the past decade. Want to never swing a hammer? You don’t have to! Want tenants to stick around as long as possible? They will! Too scared to have the rent raise talk? Let Dion do it for you! In this episode, we’re breaking down the ten different “Dionisms” (unconventional landlord advice) that have literally made Dion millions and can do the same for you. Dion went from debt-riddled to multi-millionaire in just over a decade, starting his journey making just $17/hour, with three kids and very little time. If Dion can reach financial freedom with FEWER rentals, why can’t you? In This Episode We Cover: Dion’s small (but mighty) financial freedom-enabling real estate portfolio Dion’s “binder strategy” that has tenants raise rents FOR you Why Dion never has his leases expire in the summer (even though EVERYONE says to do this) Buying in average school districts? Dion says DON’T buy near good schools (and he’s right) The surprising reason why the “worst states to invest in” will make you the richest And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1205 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mike Baum owns just one rental property, but this one property alone has changed his life. It’s allowed him to become such an investing expert that he’s constantly being asked for his opinion on the BiggerPockets forums, and he provides some of the most well-thought-out investing advice on the internet. So why does he have just one rental property, and why doesn’t he grow using his expertise? The answer isn’t that obvious. You wouldn’t know it, but Mike is permanently disabled. After overworking so hard that he ended up losing his vision, he was placed on disability for the rest of his working career. This high achiever was forced to slow down and find something else that could replace his day job. Shortly after his diagnosis, he found BiggerPockets and turned a family vacation home into a short-term rental. Now, he’s got systems and processes that help him self-manage with very few headaches, and he will probably keep this property as his one and only rental for life. Why didn’t he “FOMO” in when everyone was gobbling up real estate in 2020? Why didn’t he grow his portfolio to become the next tycoon? Mike has some clear answers for why he did what he did, and after listening to him, you might change what you want, too. In This Episode We Cover: Why you DON’T need a large real estate portfolio to find financial success when investing Why Mike tells beginner investors that they should NOT buy a short-term rental property The systems and processes Mike made to automate his vacation rental self-management (so he works less!) One thing you should do NOW before you start investing in real estate (it’s free!) The real result of “FOMO” investing and how to stop shiny object syndrome from blowing you off course And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1204 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you live in a market where home prices are hovering above $500,000, this is the episode for you. You’ve all told us loud and clear: real estate investing is tough when you live in an expensive market. Many investors feel like they can’t buy a single property, let alone scale to financial freedom. We hear you, and today we’re giving you multiple strategies that work in high-priced markets. We’re not only showing you which investments work, but sharing the cash flow “superchargers” that routinely make rental property investors even more money in markets that many assume won’t work. We have different strategies for every investor: value-add, high-cash flow, low money down, and how to combine them to make the most money possible on your next investment. Plus, Dave shares the hybrid approach he’s using to invest in his pricey market (Seattle) and build a cash-flowing portfolio out of state. In This Episode We Cover How to invest in real estate when you live in an expensive market The “slow BRRRR” value-add strategy that makes you rich with way less stress Rental properties you can buy with just 5% down (even in pricey markets) Cash flow “supercharger” strategies that turn ordinary properties into money-making machines How to combine cheaper out-of-state investments with local net-worth-boosting properties And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1203 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Someone drove a car into Henry’s house. Yes, through his rental property. For 99% of people reading this, that would put them in the hospital from stress. But Henry didn’t even need to lift a finger when this happened to him on vacation. Why? We’re about to tell you on this BiggerPockets Forum Q&A episode! You’ve got a few rental properties—maybe even a decent-sized portfolio—but you want to scale. How many rentals can you realistically self-manage? 10? 30? 50? What’s the tipping point where you go from managing it all to creating another full-time job for yourself? And when should you finally hire a property manager? Henry scaled up to 70 rental units before fully outsourcing, but he agrees that doing it sooner (and with fewer units) might have been the better move. Plus, Dave shares how to analyze real estate deals in under a minute when you’ve got dozens of potential rental properties in the pipeline. That’s right, the Data Deli himself is telling you NOT to open a spreadsheet for 90% of deals, and to use his quick “gut check” process instead. An investor also asks whether they should BRRRR in a rough neighborhood (C- or D-class) with low appreciation potential. Is there enough juice to make it worth it? Dave and Henry say it could be—but only in this circumstance. In This Episode We Cover How many rental properties can one person realistically scale to (self-managing)? Dave and Henry’s quick “gut check” process for analyzing real estate deals ASAP BRRRRing in a C- or D-class neighborhood (what if it doesn’t appreciate?) The first steps every beginner real estate investor should take before buying property How to run the numbers on a house hack to ensure it makes sense for your lifestyle And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1202 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ben Chester had no money. In fact, it was worse—he had $120,000 in debt. He was sleeping at work and renting out his own rented apartment just to survive in America’s most expensive market—New York City. Now, six years later, he has eight rental properties, is debt-free, and even owns Billy Joel’s former residence (yes, you read that right). If you’re living in an expensive market and think it’s impossible to invest, Ben has the formula for you. He turned very little money into a one-bedroom apartment empire—buying whatever he could in New York City, knowing it would all be worth the sacrifice. He’s split these small apartments into multiple rentals with up to four tenants, allowing him to make the numbers work even when everyone else says it’s impossible. But that’s not the best part. After unlocking a tax “loophole” when buying a lake house, Ben is now able to offset 100% of his W-2 income taxes, meaning he often gets a check back from the government every year, all thanks to his real estate. Thought it was impossible to invest in markets like New York City? Ben is about to make it a very attractive option. In This Episode We Cover Turning a one-bedroom apartment into four living spaces with multiple roommates The astonishing price Ben is paying for these tiny rentals (and why they’re worth it) The tax “loophole” that regular real estate investors can use to offset all of their income Buying (and renovating) Billy Joel’s house! Yes, Ben actually did that How to finance your home renovation when you don’t have the cash (0% interest) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1201 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The realities of a housing market correction are setting in. This could be the turning point for real estate that investors (and homebuyers) have been waiting for. Are you ready? We’re back with our November housing market update, giving you the latest data on home prices, housing inventory, days on market, affordability, and where (and what) are the best opportunities for investors. Sellers are growing increasingly desperate as the buyer’s market shifts further toward the investor’s side. And, with the seasonally slow winter months coming up, this could be the perfect moment to strike a deal. There’s even better news to come. New affordability measurements are showing what most Americans thought impossible: an improvement in housing affordability. Could this set us on a trend where buying a home (at least temporarily) becomes affordable, and makes deals more profitable for investors? Dave lays it all out in today's show! In This Episode We Cover Home price updates and signs sellers are getting increasingly desperate More choices for investors as housing inventory growth hits a recent record The areas where homes are sitting on the market for the longest (multiple months!) Dave’s pick for the best strategy in this buyer-controlled market Affordability for Americans? A major (positive!) shift we cannot ignore And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1200 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You’ve bought a few rental properties…now what? Odds are, like most real estate investors, you’ve got a small portfolio, but you definitely don’t feel “rich” yet. When does the actual wealth start coming into play? If you’re in this position, you’re already closer to financial freedom than you think. So, how do you move forward, and what moves do you make to get there faster? Both Dave and Henry have sat down and asked, “So…where’s the money?” years into their real estate investing careers. Now, farther down the line, they’ve created millions in wealth and thousands (if not tens of thousands) in monthly cash flow. This took time, but it also took some pivots. That’s why today, both these experts are laying out how you actually get to your financial end goals even if you feel like you’re not even close. Should you quit your job and go full-time into real estate? Should you reinvest cash flow or pay yourself first? Should you switch strategies if you feel like there’s more money to be made? And what do you do when you feel burnt out on buying rentals? This is how to unlock the real wealth in real estate after your first properties. In This Episode We Cover Yes, you can still reach financial freedom in 10 years with real estate How to use your cash flow to invest faster and get wealthier quicker Why you always need a “job,” even if that means working for yourself How Henry pays his bills while investing (he does not touch the cash flow…yet) The two benefits you must get from your real estate investing strategy (or change it ASAP) What to do when you’re burnt out on investing or dealing with tenants And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1199 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brian Waters was destined to work until he was at least 63 years old. Now, just five years after starting to invest intentionally, he’s got 16 rental units that can retire him a decade earlier! How’d he do it? A combination of easy, done-for-you out-of-state investment properties and the ever-profitable BRRRR method. Brian’s work isn’t sitting at a desk or crunching numbers. He’s a firefighter and is routinely one serious injury away from his career being over. With a family to support, losing his work wasn’t an option. So, in his 40s, he decided to pivot and go all-in on building a real estate portfolio. He bought a couple of properties in his home state of California before Southern California prices began to eat into his limited savings. So, things had to change. By being extremely clear about his plan, Brian began investing out of state, buying over a dozen properties without ever laying eyes on them. He tried a very beginner-friendly strategy that helped him build his out-of-state portfolio before moving on to the BRRRR method, where he gets paid to buy cash-flowing rentals in areas 99% of investors overlook. In five years, he’s completely transformed his financial future, using a method you can, too! In This Episode We Cover The best out-of-state real estate investment for beginners (completely hands-off) How to use the BRRRR method even when you’re living thousands of miles away from your investing market Using your primary residence’s equity to fund your first (or next) real estate deal What to do once you’ve run out of cash to invest (should you raise private money?) Why you do NOT need to wait until you're 65 to finally retire And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1198 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The housing market is not going to crash tomorrow. It’s also not going to boom soon. We’re not in 2008, and we’re also not in 2020. We’re in a strange gray area, a zone that most Americans have never experienced before. We’re entering the “Great Stall.” And this could last for years. All data points to a new kind of housing market forming. But why, and why now? Is there any chance of a housing crash or home price explosion like before? Yes, but Dave is going to break down the odds of each scenario, plus what to do in the most likely scenario, while home prices stagnate and mortgage rates stay relatively high. If you want to take advantage of the “Great Stall,” so that when home prices do go back up you’ll profit, there are four things you need to do. We’ll break down each step so you can prepare and pounce on the investment property that makes your future self wealthy. The “Great Stall” is here, and when it’s over, millions of Americans will wish they had bought. In This Episode We Cover Crash, boom, or plateau? The most likely scenario for home prices over the next few years How to prepare for the “Great Stall” and take advantage of frozen home prices The “upsides” you must look for that could explode your wealth when appreciation returns Why you need to start going “risk-off” in your investing to protect your wealth What will finally cause home prices to rebound and Americans to get back into the market And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1197 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Want to start investing in real estate? Then you’ll need an easy way to get into the game: no huge fix and flips or pricey renovations, no 20-unit apartment buildings or hotels. If you’re starting now (or starting over), we have four real estate investing strategies that still work in 2025 (and most likely will in 2026) for beginner-friendly budgets and solid returns. Tony Robinson, host of the Real Estate Rookie podcast, has heard from hundreds of beginner investors and helped many of them grow and scale. He sees that things are changing, and they’re changing quickly. Dead strategies are making a comeback, popular properties are no longer as profitable, and beginners are feeling more analysis paralysis. How do you actually get your first deal done? Don’t make it so hard! Tony is sharing four beginner strategies that rookies can use to start investing. From low-money-down homes that make average Americans millionaires, to the big cash flow (with small properties) strategy that could replace your job, and even a 100% passive investment many rookies don’t think they qualify for. This could be the day your financial future changes forever. So, are you ready to invest? In This Episode We Cover Four beginner-friendly real estate investing strategies that work in 2025 The fastest path to financial freedom that average Americans can take advantage of How “co-living” could replace your job with high cash flow from regular rentals An Airbnb rebound? Why dropping vacation rental prices is a sign of deals for investors Yes, even rookies can make 100% passive income (using this one strategy) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1196 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Retirement seemed way too far away for Jessie Dillon. She was burnt out, in physical pain every day, and tired of working so hard. What could get her to the semi-retired lifestyle she wanted faster? Rental properties, of course. Now, just four years later, Jessie has thousands of dollars in monthly cash flow and over a million dollars in real estate equity. Her dreams of location-independence are coming to fruition soon, and she’s sharing how you can do it, too, even if you have less money than you need to invest. Jessie was hooked on real estate from the start, buying rentals while she was renting herself. But after three property purchases, she was strapped for cash—but she didn’t give up. By creating an ingenious partner-finding system, she found her money partner and bought a rental that changed her life (and made them $1,000,000 in the process). Now, she’s repeated the system multiple times, with 50 units on a 50/50 partnership. And she did it all while in her thirties. She’s giving away her exact system so anyone can take it, repeat it, and retire early! In This Episode We Cover How to invest in real estate after you’ve run out of money (you don’t have to wait to save up) The one rental property that made Jessie and her partner over $1,000,000 How much cash flow you should be making on every rental property you buy Jessie’s ingenious system for finding a real estate investing partner in your network Stop self-managing: why Jessie (and Dave) think you should hire a property manager And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1195 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Federal Reserve just cut rates by another 0.25%, but mortgage rates went…up? This is now the fourth time the Fed has lowered its federal funds rate, and mortgage rates have defied them. It’s becoming clearer than ever before: real estate investors cannot rely on the Fed to save them. If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to get back in the mid-to-low 5% range, you might be waiting for a while. But you don’t have to. Dave (and the guests on this show) are actively buying real estate deals, building their portfolios, and increasing their cash flow, all while interest rates are high. You can do it too—no matter what the Fed decides. In fact, right now may be a low-rate period that future investors will wish they could return to. There are six things you can do right now to lock in great real estate deals, even with rates rising higher. This is the opportunity for investors. Average homebuyers are sitting on the sidelines, many investors are still scared to jump back in, all while sellers are lowering prices, offering concessions, and willing to negotiate. You wanted a time to get better deals? This is it, and the Fed’s moves are only giving you more control. In This Episode We Cover The Fed rate cut update and why mortgage rates went up after the announcement The real reason why the Fed’s cuts aren’t moving mortgage rates lower Six ways to take advantage of a high-rate, lower-competition housing market The “relatively affordable” pockets of the country that are seeing rising housing demand Why real estate forecasters could be dead wrong and rates could rise over the next few years And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1194 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
He was right in 2000, 2008, and 2020—now he’s saying it’s time to buy. Brian Burke is one of the most revered minds in real estate investing. Almost nobody has done what he has—purchased over $1 billion in real estate without ever losing investor money. He played it safe, made moves 99% of investors couldn’t believe (including selling 75% of his portfolio at the peak in 2022), and came out on top time and time again. Now, he’s saying it’s time to get back into the housing market, but for specific properties. Brian thinks now is the time to make moves and that this “stall” in pricing could last years and is a massive boon to real estate investors. Brian has historically purchased in these often-ignored lull periods, and even small deals he bought back then are now paying for his retirement and oceanfront Hawaii property. He stresses that you should buy these manageable, small, and powerful properties right now, too, so you can reach financial freedom faster like he did. What are the properties Brian says investors should be scooping up right now? We’re sharing in this episode. In This Episode We Cover Why Brian believes that these “stalled” home prices could last a while The perfect rental property for small investors that will pay for your early retirement Looking for “problem” properties that have huge upside potential A repeat of the mid-1990s? Why we’re following the same slow, steady trend Pay off your rentals faster! What Brian did to speed up his financial freedom timeline And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1193 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You’ve got little savings but want to buy a rental property. You see so many “no money down” investing strategies, but how do you know you won’t get burned trying them out? If you want to learn how to invest in real estate with no money, the right way, you need to take tips from those who have done it successfully without overleveraging themselves. Today, we’ve got two experts who bought rentals with very little savings and did it the legitimate way. Deandra McDonald went from $5,000 in credit card debt and a $28,000 salary to financial freedom with rentals in just a decade. Dave Meyer (your host!) was waiting tables when he bought his first rental. Both did it without sketchy loans, running up credit card debt, or getting in over their heads—and they started with barely any money. In this episode, we’ll walk through the steps you need to take and strategies you must try to buy real estate with no money. We’ll talk about how to fix your credit and become lendable, improve your income so you have cash reserves, down payment assistance programs that can get you into your first property for under $1,000, and the minimum amount you’ll need to invest safely. No money? No problem. This is the blueprint for buying rentals with little to no money! In This Episode We Cover How to invest in real estate with no money and a lower income Down payment assistance programs that can cover thousands in closing costs The #1 best strategy for beginner real estate investors that requires the least amount of money How to fix your money habits and build saving skills so you’re ready to buy rentals Real estate partnership setups that give you equity in exchange for work What to do when a bank won’t approve your mortgage application And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1192 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Home prices might not rebound for years. For many markets, we’re seeing negative price growth, and even in the “hot” markets, that growth is slowing way down. Inventory is up, affordability isn’t, and the supply-demand balance is shifting fast. But here’s the thing. If prices remain stagnant, investors may have years’ worth of opportunities to buy, and when the market swings in the other direction, those who did could see significant appreciation. This isn’t a guess—we’ve seen this many times before. Dave is here to break it all down in this October 2025 housing market update. We’re going to get into it all: home prices, housing inventory and demand, rent price growth predictions, and the huge upside for investors that many are already taking advantage of. Plus, a shocking statistic reveals the “real” home price appreciation in America and why it’s nothing like what you think. This could hurt real estate investors in the short term, but it could be life-changing for anyone who invests for the future. In This Episode We Cover Why home prices in America could stagnate for years to come The huge advantage real estate investors will have to scoop up discounted deals A shocking calculation on the “real” (inflation-adjusted) home price appreciation in America When home prices could rebound again (how long you have to buy more property) Rent price updates and the two things keeping rent growth so low And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1191 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Real estate investing is riskier today than it has been in years—and that’s a good thing. If you invest in real estate, what do you hope for? Opportunities to buy low, sell high, and cash flow in the middle. That’s exactly what’s happening in 2025—and it’s these “riskier” times that have made millions of real estate investors wealthy in the past. But if you don’t know the risks, you could get hurt. Today, we’re explaining the biggest risks to real estate investing in 2025, how to mitigate all of them, and how to use them to your advantage, so in five years, everyone will wish they did what you did. This is a “risk-off” time in the market, meaning big, risky swings on problem properties have even greater downsides. That’s why we’re sharing what our “perfect” property criteria is for a housing market like this one. These homes are easier to find, rent, sell (if need be), and can be purchased at sizable discounts. And if you think just sitting on the sidelines is keeping you safe, think again. We’re sharing another risk that could be even more threatening to your wealth. In This Episode We Cover The biggest risks of real estate investing in 2025 and how experts avoid them The single greatest financial risk to all Americans right now (and why investors won’t get hit) Our “perfect” property buy box for low-risk, higher-upside real estate investments The properties you should avoid buying today (they’re far riskier than you think) Dave’s three investing tips that will keep you afloat (and cash flowing) even during turbulent real estate markets And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1190 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Think you’re too young to start buying rentals and building wealth? You’re not! If you want to know how to invest in real estate while in college, or in your 20s, Daniel Kaplan has the blueprint. In three years, he went from having just $10,000 to his name to owning 99 rental units (and counting)! As a college sophomore, Daniel bought a rental property for less than $50,000 (yes, really!). Then, he used the Section 8 investing strategy to mitigate his risk, earn consistent rent checks, and lock in over $600 in monthly cash flow. This first investment was a home run, but as you’re about to find out, it was just the first of many deals for Daniel. Today, he’s closing in on 100 total units! Recently graduated, Daniel now uses wholesale real estate to help fund his investments and has a large real estate portfolio that spans three completely different markets—all because he took action with his limited money and resources. In this episode, you’ll learn how to do the same, no matter your age, experience, or season of life! In This Episode We Cover How to invest in real estate in your 20s (even as a college student) How Daniel went from having $10,000 in savings to owning 99 units in just three years Real estate side hustles you can use to fund your next investment How to create consistent cash flow with the Section 8 investing model Common home renovation mistakes that could cost you thousands And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1189 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30% of all jobs could be affected by AI. And if you work in sales, marketing, software engineering, or really any other white-collar profession, there’s a chance your job will be much different (or no longer exist) in a decade. This means that the “work for 40 years and comfortably retire” plan is slowly becoming less realistic. But what’s the one thing AI can’t take? Your real estate portfolio and the passive income that comes with it. Today, we’re talking about how you can AI-proof your income with real estate investments. In fact, for those who own assets, AI will most likely help you make even more money in less time. But why real estate specifically? Why is this asset class so primed to be the AI-proof answer? And how can you start investing now, so if your job disappears, your income streams don’t? AI may take your job, but it’s never going to take your real estate. In This Episode We Cover Why real estate is (arguably) the strongest way to protect your income in an AI-driven economy The end of traditional “retirement” and how AI could change the American working career Jobs that are becoming more and more valuable in the AI age Why ownership beats AI and why those without assets will struggle AI tools we’re using to automate our real estate businesses right now And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1188 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How much money do you need to invest to retire with real estate? We did the math, and it’s not as much as you’d think. In fact, in some markets, even with a small amount of disposable income, you could become financially free in just five years. We’re asked about retiring with rentals so often that we’re providing an in-depth answer in today’s show. You asked, Dave and Henry are answering. Today, we’re grabbing questions directly from the BiggerPockets Forums and shooting them straight at two of the most trusted real estate investors in the industry. One beginner wants to know how he can achieve financial independence in just five to ten years with rental properties. He has $3,000/month to invest, but will that be enough? Another rookie investor is considering the ultimate real estate portfolio to build: do you start with a single-family home and then move on to multifamily, or do something completely different? Dave and Henry both give a take that you might not expect. To end, we have a double debate: cash flow vs. appreciation (and which makes you richer) and existing vs. new-build rental properties (is a higher price worth fewer headaches?). Want to build wealth with real estate? Today’s answers might surprise you. In This Episode We Cover How much do you need to invest to reach financial freedom with rentals? What are the best rental properties for beginners? How to find the perfect fit for your situation Why, if you want to build wealth, you need to stop caring so much about cash flow The low-headache rental property: are new construction rentals really worth the cost? Why Dave is upset he hasn’t won the Pulitzer Prize yet And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1187 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How much passive income would you need to retire early? $60K/year? $80K/year? $100K/year? What if you could build a financially freeing passive income stream in just five years? Five years from now, you could retire early, quit your job, or keep building wealth. What would that freedom feel like? Joe Hammel has already achieved it, using a simplistic, beginner-friendly “bread and butter” rental strategy. Today, he’s generating $115,000/year in pure cash flow from his rentals, just five years after buying his first rental. In this episode, Joe shares exactly how he grew his six-figure passive income stream and the exact blueprint you can use to replicate it. Joe invests in a market that real estate investors used to laugh at—Detroit. However, the tables are now turning, as Detroit continues to see solid appreciation, cash flow, and affordable prices. Joe buys houses for $100,000 (yes, even today), often using the “slow BRRRR strategy”, and rents them out for well above his costs. He says out-of-state investors can do this easily as well, and he has helped dozens repeat his system. This could be your path to achieving financial freedom in under a decade, just like Joe! In This Episode We Cover The “bread and butter” rentals beginners can buy to build passive income streams Why Joe says Detroit is such a solid real estate investing market (especially now) Using the “slow BRRRR” method to build wealth faster and increase your equity The best rental property types to target (for beginner investors, especially!) How to invest in affordable markets even if you live hours away And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1186 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The buying window could be closing in these housing markets. For the first time in years, inventory is dropping in once-strong buyer’s markets. Sellers are tired of waiting for offers and refusing to get lowballed, so more are staying put. With less inventory comes more competition, rising prices, and vulnerable buyers. So, which markets are most at risk? Senior Economist at Zillow, Kara Ng, joins us to share the latest data on the housing market. Buyers have realized mortgage rates probably aren’t going back to 5% any time soon, but with sellers opting to stay in their homes, are would-be homebuyers stuck between high rent and high mortgage payments? But there’s good news for new investors and first-time homebuyers. A new resource allowing buyers to get down payment assistance was recently released, helping those who don’t have tens of thousands saved for a down payment. Want a return to an affordable housing market? Kara shares the single biggest variable that’s stopping affordability (it’s not mortgage rates) and how, if we can solve it, every American could benefit. In This Episode We Cover Zillow’s latest housing market update, price prediction, and mortgage rate forecast Buyer’s market no more? How sellers are taking their housing market power back The real reason why no one is moving (and why the housing market is stuck) Zillow’s new down payment assistance resource for first-time homebuyers The one true solution to our affordability problem (it isn’t lowering interest rates) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1185 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is how to make the most money possible from your rental properties without buying another unit. We got into real estate investing to build wealth, not have the biggest portfolio possible. Financial freedom isn’t so freeing when you have a hundred rental units and hundreds of tenants calling. So, can you make more money with fewer rental units? Yes, and today, we’re giving you five ways to do it. Each of these tips will help you increase your cash flow without having to put a down payment on another property. You can raise the value of each rental unit (growing your net worth) and boost rents by hundreds of dollars a month (more cash flow, same property). We’re discussing the amenities that renters will pay more for, the “convenience” factors you can charge for, and the strategies that generate more revenue than long-term rentals. You don’t need a huge real estate portfolio to achieve financial freedom, but you do need an efficient one. Follow any of these five tips, and you could make more with less, reaching your ultimate cash flow goal faster. In This Episode We Cover How to increase the “perceived” value of your rental property with inexpensive upgrades The amenities that renters will gladly pay more for (and aren’t difficult to add) The “capacity” renovations Henry uses to increase his cash flow by thousands per year When to switch from a long-term rental to a higher-revenue short or medium-term rental The “convenience” amenities that take spare space and turn it into extra income And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1184 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This investor turned a $25,000 rental property (yes, you read that right) into a real estate portfolio producing $5,000/month in actual cash flow. He had no experience, lived in a small town many would write off, and was working 60 hours a week. But small towns mean less competition and lower prices, and Dustin Cardenas was ready to take advantage. Seven years later, he’s financially free thanks to his small rental portfolio! Dustin’s small town of 30,000 people is located in one of the most affordable parts of the country. Houses routinely sell for $30,000 to $50,000, a down payment for many investors across the US. He’s what you’d call an “everyman”—he’s worked in pest control, as a car salesman, and in a juvenile detention facility. In other words, he had no silver spoon. When a local investor in town told him, “You can do this,” he took the chance. Now, seven years later, he’s got 20 rental units, left his full-time position at work, and is making a life-changing amount of rental income. These affordable, cash-flowing towns exist throughout the US, and like Dustin, you could use them to reach financial freedom! In This Episode We Cover The uber-affordable small Midwest towns where rentals are less than $50,000 The perfect starter real estate investment Dustin used to scale fast Why you must ask your bank for a line of credit if you’re ready to invest more Dustin’s tips to save money on your next rental renovation (huge savings!) Better than Airbnb? Why Dustin ditched his short-term rental and makes phenomenal cash flow with this strategy And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1183 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
House hacking is still the easiest way to start investing in real estate—and it’s getting even easier. You no longer need to live with roommates, share spaces with tenants, and give up your home to offset your mortgage. Instead, thanks to some new methods, you may not even need to live with or next to a tenant at all. These “house hacking” methods still make you rich, still save you tons of money, and work in 2025. In fact, they’re so good, Dave and Henry are doing them right now, even in their 30s and 40s, even with spouses and kids! So what is house hacking? House hacking is when you rent out a portion of the space in or on your property to offset your mortgage cost. This could be renting out one unit in a duplex while you live in the other, or renting out a bedroom in a single-family home. While those are the more “traditional” ways to house hack, there are new tactics that still make you money every month without giving up your personal space. We’re talking about renting out garages, extra land, swimming pools, and more. Plus, new house hacking loans allow you to put even less money down on your next property so that you can get in with little money down, have other people pay most of your mortgage, and use the savings to build your passive income streams faster. It’s made us wealthy, and thousands of other investors, too. So, when are you going to start house hacking? In This Episode We Cover Why house hacking is the easiest way to get started in real estate in 2025 How to house hack without having roommates (multiple methods) New 5% down loans you can use for single-family AND multifamily rentals Alternatives to renting rooms/units (renting swimming pools, garage space, office space, land, etc.) Why Fall 2025 may be an even easier time to get your first house hack (buyers in control!) Henry’s new home that he’s personally designed for house hacking (you’ll want to live there) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1182 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is how to buy rental properties on a lower salary ($50,000 or less per year) in six steps. If you think you need to be rich to buy rentals, you couldn’t be more wrong. In fact, real estate may be the best investment for those who want to go from low income to financial freedom. You can grow your portfolio faster by using loans, get cash flow that can retire you early, and even make hundreds of thousands completely tax-free. We’re going to share multiple strategies you can use on a lower income to get your first property for as little as 0% down. Dave is also highlighting three real estate investing strategies that beginners with little money can use to maximize their investment the most. This means you could turn one investment property into multiple, supercharging your investment so you can repeat it and become wealthier faster, regardless of how much you make at work. Listen, you DON’T need to make six-figures to buy your first property. This is how you do it with half of that. In This Episode We Cover How to buy your first rental property while making $50,000 per year or less Lower-income loans and down payment options that require little money down The three best real estate investing strategies to multiply your money so you can reinvest faster The first step you should take today if you’re serious about building wealth with real estate Homebuyer grants that offer thousands in assistance available only for lower income limits And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1181 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Have zero experience in real estate investing (literally no idea where to begin)? This guest proves you could be financially free in ten years or less if you start today. Just a decade ago, Peter Fife was broke, working a dead-end job, and never thought about investment properties. He had such little money that when a book on investing piqued his interest, he would sit in a bookshop reading it, but never buying it. His brother, who had some money but bad credit, asked Peter to use his credit to fund a renovation on a triplex. Both had no idea what they were getting into—essentially a second job after their nine-to-fives, painting, replacing floors, scrubbing walls. The profit from the first deal? Close to a six-figure check, replacing Peter’s income. He then did his spin on the BRRRR method—buying, renovating, reinvesting, and repeating—quitting his job with just two properties. Now, less than a decade later, he’s financially free with enough passive income to support him and his wife. He took some huge risks, including selling everything he worked for to buy one really run-down property. The gamble worked out, and he’s still using the same formula today! You don’t need experience to start investing, just follow Peter’s framework! In This Episode We Cover How to invest in real estate when you have no money or experience to start The shadiest lender ever (please don’t do what Peter did) Why you must reinvest profits from your first real estate deals How to know it’s time to quit your job to go all-in on real estate investing Peter’s repeatable BRRRR formula (buy, rehab, REINVEST, repeat) Why Peter sold his best rentals to buy a beat-up multifamily property (and how much it makes now) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1180 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We can definitively say it now: the buyer’s market is here. The housing market is cooling down, but the deals are heating up as a “mild” correction slows down hot markets and gives buyers even more power in cold ones. With it comes buying opportunities—ones that real estate investors have been starved of over the past few years. You can negotiate for more, offer less, and lock in a lower mortgage rate than last year. The question is: will this correction turn into a full-blown housing crash? Dave’s giving you his honest (and data-backed) opinion in this September 2025 housing market update! Mortgage delinquencies are rising rapidly in one subset of the market, the crash-bro clickbaiters say it’s a sign of a coming housing apocalypse—are they finally right about something? One thing is certain: a few housing markets across the US are in danger of slipping into an even more oversupplied market. But, with new data showing that sellers are quitting and walking away, will this reverse the worrying trend? Stick around, we’ve got your housing market update without the hype. In This Episode We Cover The “mild” housing market correction: what it means and whether it’ll become a crash Updated home price predictions and how much prices will rise/fall by the end of the year Signs that you can start confidently bidding under asking price (but by how much?) Why inventory is beginning to reverse (have sellers finally had enough?) Mortgage delinquencies are rising: who’s affected and could it lead to foreclosures? What investors should do now to prepare to buy discounted deals (be patient!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1179 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Small multifamily rentals may be the secret to turning average investors into millionaires. These unassuming properties are in the perfect “sweet spot” for scaling a real estate portfolio, helping you reach financial independence faster with more passive income than regular, single-family rentals, but with even fewer expenses. Today, we’re giving you the five steps to buy your first small multifamily and why 2025 may be the best time to get in the game. Dave, your host, is financially free right now primarily because of small multifamily rentals. His first rental was a small multifamily, he house-hacked a small multifamily, and over a decade later, this remains his favorite real estate investment—for good reason. Small multifamily properties bring in more rent but leave you with only one roof, one furnace, and one foundation to worry about. You can use the best, lowest down payment debt to get one, and just a few of these properties could make you financially free. So, how do you buy your first multifamily property? We’ll break down the five beginner-friendly steps to get there, from picking a market to finding deals, getting a loan, analyzing for cash flow, and closing and managing. This is the small multifamily blueprint that works in 2025 (we’re currently using it to invest!). In This Episode We Cover Why small multifamily rentals are in the perfect investing “sweet spot” for 2025 The five simple steps you can take this year to buy a small multifamily rental Why smaller multifamily rentals often outperform larger ones How to get into your first small multifamily for just 3.5% down The best real estate markets for small multifamily investing in 2025 And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1178 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ashley Hamilton had every card stacked against her in achieving financial freedom. She was a single mother with two children, earning just $20,000 per year working as a waitress, living in Detroit, one of the hardest-hit markets following the Great Financial Crisis. Sixteen years later, she’s making $50,000 per month in pure cash flow (and she has the receipts to prove it)! In Detroit, foreclosures were running rampant, houses were being repossessed left and right, but what could she do with almost no disposable income? Thanks to a $6,000 tax refund check, Ashley did what everyone told her not to do—buy a house during the crash. Fortune favors the bold, and Ashley was soon making $7,000 per year in cash flow from a single property. It was time to repeat the system and buy more rentals. With each tax refund, a new property was acquired, and get this—without using a mortgage. Ashley scaled fast thanks to her super-saver mentality, and now makes more passive income in one month than many people do in a year. She’s done it all with fewer rental properties, striving to have more cash flow instead of more doors. She’s walking through her portfolio, breaking down which properties make the most, and how to scale beyond financial freedom, no matter your starting point. In This Episode We Cover How to invest in real estate even if you have a low salary and little disposable income Why you don’t need a massive real estate portfolio for financial freedom The best piece of advice Ashley gives to new real estate investors The secret to scaling your real estate portfolio that 99% of people will ignore Breaking the generational poverty curse and giving your kids a greater life And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1177 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Federal Reserve has finally cut rates. Will mortgage rates follow? If you’ve been waiting to rate lock or refinance, is now the time, or does the market think we have even further to fall? With inflation coming down from past years’ peaks and unemployment slowly ticking up, the Fed made the decision everyone was waiting for: cut rates…cautiously. There are still more 2025 rate cuts lined up, but they may not have the effect on mortgage rates that many people think. Many expect mortgage rates could dip into the mid-5% range by late 2025—Dave isn’t so sure. Today, we’re giving you a full recap of the Fed meeting and their announcement, what current mortgage rates are, and interest rate predictions for the rest of 2025 and into 2026. Plus, Dave shares who should consider rate locking and refinancing right now as mortgage rates have fallen over the past couple of months. If you missed the Fed meeting, don’t worry, this episode will get you up to speed! In This Episode We Cover The Fed’s recent rate cut announcement and where mortgage rates are today Mortgage interest rate predictions and whether we’ll dip into the 5%-range by the end of 2025 Who should rate lock and refinance now, given that rates may go back up (what Dave would do) Future Fed rate cuts and where current Fed members think we’ll be in 2026, 2027, and beyond The two scenarios that could lead to us seeing 5% mortgage rates again And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1176 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Should you buy a rental property now or wait? If you buy now and prices rise, you’ll get all the appreciation that comes with it and have the chance to refinance at any point in the future. But waiting to have a larger down payment could get you a better loan and put you in a stronger financial position. You want to get into real estate investing soon, so what should you do? We’re answering this question, and more, on this Q&A episode where we field actual investor dilemmas and share what we’d do in these situations. First, the classic buy now or wait debate. Mortgage rates are falling, and so are prices in many areas, and if you’ve got just enough money to buy your first rental, is now the time to do it? Or, do you wait and save, bringing even more money to the table? Should you renovate a house as a first-time real estate investor? If done right, the benefits could be massive, but veteran house flipper James Dainard says there’s only so far into a renovation you should go as a beginner. Plus, do you want 100% financing as a new investor with no experience? We’ve got some interesting news for you! Finally, the one flipping metric to rule them all—what James uses on every flip to see if it’s worth it. See Dave and James live at BPCON2025. Limited tickets are still available! In This Episode We Cover Whether to buy a rental property now or wait until you have more saved up (is it worth it?) Should you buy a move-in-ready rental property or renovate as a beginner? Can new investors really get 100% financing on their first real estate deal? Why James stopped looking at “profit” before deciding on whether a flip is worth it How to get James’ personal advice on your next deal (you have to bring him this) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1175 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At 30, Sarah King was forced to liquidate all her assets after a messy divorce. She had to start over and rebuild any wealth she had acquired, all while being a single mom to her one-year-old. Now, just five years later, she has 17 rental properties and is on track to retire early as a multimillionaire over a decade before traditional retirement age. She did it all with very little money and creatively found ways to invest without having a huge bank account. And she’s done it all while working full-time. After building up a small rental portfolio with her now ex-husband, Sarah already had some of the skillset to invest in real estate. The problem? Those properties were sold to pay for divorce fees, leaving her with little money, but a basic plan. Her next step? Find a duplex, renovate it to increase the equity, rent out one side, and live in the other, and…repeat. She did a house hack BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat)! With proof of concept, Sarah went on to repeat this renovation and refinance process, allowing her to scale, with little money, into a sizable rental property portfolio that will pay for her early retirement. Now, she’s got a plan to retire with $6M (yes, you read that right) in assets, and is giving you the framework she’s using to get there so that you can repeat it! In This Episode We Cover How to build a rental property portfolio with little money but a need for financial freedom The best first investment property to start building wealth with (you can do it with kids!) Why you do not need to use your own money to invest in real estate (private money 101) Better than long-term rentals? Why Sarah pivoted to this high-cash-flow strategy Buying homes for $200,000 (or less) and still raking in serious rental income And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1174 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You’ve built up (or are about to build) a rental portfolio, but something is telling you it’s time to pivot. Maybe you’ve gone too far into one strategy, like owning eight short-term rentals. Or you’re seeing new build-to-rent properties with low prices, low maintenance, and low interest rates, and thinking “hmm…that seems like a good deal.” How do you know when to stay on course with your original plan or pivot to something greater? Which will get you financial freedom faster (and safer)? This is a dilemma that you’re probably facing, and if you aren’t right now, you will. Garrett Brown is facing this conundrum head-on. He’s spent years building a real estate portfolio, but he’s deep in the vacation rental realm. He wants a safer, more passive, less time-intensive way to diversify his portfolio, so what should he do? He’s got three options: buy a small multifamily rental, buy another short-term rental in a different part of town, or take advantage of new-build properties with price cuts and significant builder concessions. These are options that are probably open to you right now, and we’re about to show you which makes the most money, which has the least stress, and which is the best for real estate diversification. In This Episode We Cover Build-to-rent vs. multifamily vs. Airbnb: Which is the best bet in 2025? When to pivot strategies and do something new to diversify your real estate portfolio Red flags when buying a long or short-term rental that could hurt your cash flow Are the high returns of Airbnb worth the added stress/time to manage? The unbeatable benefit of new-build rental properties in 2025 And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1173 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The “Slow BRRRR” method. It’s less risky, comes with more cash flow, and is easier to pull off than the traditional BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) strategy. A couple of weeks ago, we shared why this was the best rental property investing tactic for 2025, and today, we’re walking through the steps so you can do a slow BRRRR this year. There are five steps to doing a Slow BRRRR. From finding the right property to planning a stress-free renovation to eventually refinancing, we’ll walk through each step, giving you the exact timeline it may take to get there. Busy job? Have other responsibilities? Need flexibility when investing? Great! This method is what you’re looking for, and it’s also the strategy Dave is using right now to invest. Plus, we’ll walk through an actual Slow BRRRR example to show you that the strategy works, can get you sizable cash flow and equity, and is significantly easier than the traditional BRRRR method. This works even with today’s high interest rates, so you don’t need to stress about rushing through renovations and refinancing. Ready to take the slow, steady, less stressful path to financial freedom? This is it. In This Episode We Cover The Slow BRRRR method explained and why it’s even better than the original How to find the right property for your BRRRR (on-market, no cold calls/letters!) The best loan to use for a Slow BRRRR that keeps your returns safe Using the BiggerPockets BRRRR Calculator to run your numbers easily Why now may be one of the best times to lock in your next BRRRR (buyers have control) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1172 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After a fateful encounter with a real estate investor on vacation, Pratik Shah's eyes were opened to the possibilities of real estate investing. Now, just eight years later, he has a rental property portfolio producing $12,000 per month in pure profit. Even better, he accomplished it all while working a 9-to-5 job, buying rental properties on the side, and managing them from afar. No creative financing strategies, no off-market deal hunting, just picking the right properties in the right markets. Pratik's secret to a six-figure passive income stream in under a decade? Move markets when deals no longer make sense. Pratik has switched investing markets three times now, going where the cash flow is and the prices make sense. This has helped him grow his real estate portfolio while other investors complain that prices in their markets are too high. The proof that his repeatable strategy works? An income-replacing amount of cash flow every month that could easily give him the financial freedom many of us dream of. Pratik turned a bad tenant who burned down his house into a huge payday, simple networking into rare real estate deals, and a duplex into a portfolio of just under 20 rental units! In This Episode We Cover How Pratik built a $12,000/month passive income stream while working 9-to-5 When it's time to switch real estate investing markets for better opportunities How Pratik made a six-figure win out of a burned-down house No more rentals? Why Pratik is pausing on rental properties for a different strategy Want more off-market deals? Why you need to go to meetups and connect with investors on the BiggerPockets forums! And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1171 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Here’s where we’d invest in real estate right now. The best markets to buy rental properties are often overlooked, affordable cities with strong rents, reasonable home prices, and robust job growth. These markets could not only appreciate steadily, giving you the long-term wealth you’re looking for, but also pocket you some decent cash flow, so you have more passive income to grow your portfolio faster. We’ve got nine expert-chosen markets lined up, and there’s probably more than one with precisely what you’re looking for! These are NOT teeny tiny markets with $50,000 home prices in some town you’ve never heard of. These are real cities, with serious growth potential and millions (if not billions) of dollars being poured into them by local governments. Cities where jobs are growing, populations are rising, and rental demand is strong. If you don’t know where to buy your first or next property, this is the episode to help you whittle down your list. By the time you’re done listening to this, you’ll have at least a few hot real estate markets to start analyzing! In This Episode We Cover The nine best (affordable) real estate markets that we would personally invest in A booming group of “satellite” cities that are already growing very fast The fastest-growing affordable city with a new $3B (yes, billion) investment The Northeast’s sweet spot city with high rents and median home prices One Midwest city investors LOVE to buy in…but is it still worth it? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1170 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Financial freedom—no boss bugging you, bills taken care of, vacations easily paid for, and time to do whatever you want. This is the goal of every real estate investor, and the goal Dave and Henry had when they bought their first rental properties. But now, they’re financially free, with real estate portfolios that can pay for their lifestyles and seven-figure net worths. Is financial freedom what they thought it would be? No. Dave and Henry could quit. They could vacation for much of the year. They could drive Ferraris. But…they don’t. They both continue to work and invest, even while being financially independent. But why? Today, we’re talking about why financial freedom is much different than you think, why Dave and Henry decided NOT to live off of their cash flow, and what actual financial freedom looks like (it’s not endless beach days). You want financial freedom, but what if the reality of financial freedom is even better than you thought? Today, we’re showing you how to get there, how to change your financial freedom goals as you grow, and why getting to financial freedom slower will make you even happier. In This Episode We Cover Paying off properties vs. buying more: which gets you financial freedom faster? The “levels” of financial freedom, and which one you’re at right now Financial freedom vs. financial flexibility: the real goal for real estate investors Why spending your rentals' cash flow delays your financial freedom Why you should have some lifestyle creep and upgrade your standards as your wealth grows And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1169 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode could save you tens of thousands, if not millions, in the long run. We get the same questions all the time: Do I need an LLC for rental property investing? Should I start an LLC before buying my first rental? Where is the best state for a real estate LLC? We’re not lawyers, so we can’t advise on this, but we do know someone who can—Brian T. Bradley, nationally renowned asset protection lawyer. Brian has heard all the “legal advice” from social media—an LLC makes you anonymous, an LLC helps you pay no taxes, and an LLC will completely hide your assets. If you’d prefer to 1. Keep your assets yours and 2. Not spend years in federal prison, this is the episode to watch. Just following any of the above (extremely incorrect) advice could not only risk your rentals, but also put you behind bars. In today’s episode, Brian shares a masterclass on asset protection, from which legal entities you need (LLCs, trusts, partnerships), to the biggest myth about where to start an LLC, how much it costs to keep your asset protection strong, and whether you really should buy your first rental without an LLC. Don’t know what an LLC even is? You better, and after this episode, you’ll be a pro! In This Episode We Cover LLCs explained (limited liability companies) and how they protect your assets The biggest myth about LLCs that will cost many investors in the long run When to upgrade from an LLC to an asset protection trust (you may already be there) How much an LLC costs to create, keep active, and where to start yours Offshore trusts that are virtually untouchable by US courts Own rentals? Do this right now, before you get sued And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1168 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You want to invest in real estate, but don’t know which property to buy. We’re about to make it much easier. These are the two best investment properties to buy in 2025, whether you’re a beginner with little to no real estate investing experience or a veteran investor ready for something with a bit more meat on the bone. We’ll share exactly how much they cost, where to find them, and how much they could make. Let’s start with the beginners/part-time real estate investors. If you’ve got limited time in the day to dedicate to real estate, we’ve got the property for you. Dave is investing in these types of properties right now, even with his packed schedule and full-time job. These rental properties give you long-term returns with the added upside of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands in equity growth. Next, for those who are a bit more dedicated, Henry will share the investment property “formula” you can rinse and repeat to build your real estate wealth. This works even better in today’s buyer's market and, when done right, can replace a six-figure salary, if you’re willing to put in the work. These are the investment properties working in today’s market! In This Episode We Cover The “slow” BRRRR method that makes you equity rich without the stress of a quick renovation How much money you’ll need to invest in either of these solid real estate deals Where to find properties like this (cheaper than the average home price!) How to replace a six-figure salary with Henry’s house flipping “formula” Funding a home renovation when you don’t have the cash (best options) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1167 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We’re going to show you how to make any rental property cash flow as soon as you buy it. Want to know how to analyze a rental property like a pro? This is how. Expert investors don’t just crunch the numbers once and submit an offer or reject it—that’s an easy way to miss out on the best real estate deals. Instead, we’re showing you how we tweak specific numbers in your offer to make the deal as profitable as possible, while giving the seller many ways to say “yes.” Today, our friend and fellow investor, Ashley Kehr from the Real Estate Rookie podcast, brought us a real deal she’s debating on buying. Here are the quick numbers: it’s a triplex (three units) being sold by a tired landlord. The price seems reasonable, but the expenses may be too high. We use the BiggerPockets Rental Property Calculator to run the numbers and see if it cash flows, then tweak the offer in multiple different ways to boost the returns substantially. Now, Ashley is taking these offers to the seller. Yes, offers—plural—to see which one they’ll choose. Either way, Ashley is in a position to make more money from this rental than before, and all she had to do was get a little creative. Today, we’re showing you, too, how to make any real estate deal cash flow. In This Episode We Cover How to analyze a rental property from start to finish (and calculate an offer) Seller financing vs. bank loans: how to give the seller the choice so you both benefit Estimating rents and how to ensure that your units will bring in enough revenue The numbers you can “manipulate” to make your rental cash flow more The three final offers Ashley will be giving this seller, and why you should not submit just one And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1166 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) was, for a few years at least, the real estate investor’s golden ticket to a million-dollar portfolio. It allowed investors to buy properties, fix them up fast, get their down payment money back, and recycle it. This created an “infinite” investing loop where someone with one down payment could turn it into five (or more) separate houses. But with high mortgage rates, the BRRRR method was thought to be over by many…until now. We’re introducing a new BRRRR strategy. It’s safer, with less risk (and stress), makes you more cash flow than before, and keeps your leverage lower so you don’t go underwater in a housing correction. Does it work? Dave and Henry are both using this new BRRRR method right now—and doing quite well, we might add. You (yes, you listening to this) can also use this new BRRRR method to buy houses, increase their value, get higher cash flow than regular rentals, and then recycle the money you put into the property to use toward your next investment. You can invest faster, but with lower risk than before, and scale your real estate portfolio the right way, so if interest rates rise, it might not even matter for your bottom line! In This Episode We Cover The new 2025 BRRRR method that’s safer, smarter, and produces more cash flow One big problem with the “perfect BRRRR” and why you should (probably) stop chasing it You don’t need to refinance: why a HELOC (home equity line of credit) may be better Expert tips for doing your first BRRRR in 2025 with the least risk and the highest reward The right amount of money to leave in your BRRRR property (how much equity to pull out after the renovation) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1165 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Do you make a middle-class income ($70,000 or less) per year and want to invest in real estate? This is how you do it. You don’t need a six-figure salary to buy your first rental property and start building generational wealth and early retirement. Dave is a testament to this, buying his first rental with barely any money, zero experience, and working as a waiter. If you’ve got a stable salary and some savings, you’re already leagues ahead of him. Today, we’re showing you how to put that money to work. We used median income and savings data to create a complete middle-class investor plan to get you on the fastest (and safest) path to financial freedom. We’ll walk through three investing strategies anyone in the middle class can use to buy their first rental, define how much money you’ll need saved, what to do if you don’t have enough in the bank, and how to repeat the system to finally retire early with real estate. Stop waiting, start wealth-building. This is how to escape the “middle-class trap” and move up the rungs to financial freedom even if you’re starting with a $70,000/year salary! In This Episode We Cover: The three best real estate investments for a middle-class income earner The “middle-class trap” that most Americans are stuck in (how to escape) Pro tip: How to get more money for your first deal if you don’t have enough How to retire in just a decade with rental property investing (even starting from scratch) The one high-profit, low-money-down, tax-free strategy Dave is using right now! And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1164 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
These investment property loans can get you a 4% interest rate, a lower monthly payment, or require very little cash at closing. They’re still available in 2025, but most real estate investors are unaware of them. We’ve used these exact strategies on our rental properties in the past, and with rates trending lower, this could be an even better time to take advantage. We’re giving you the full details in this 2025 rental property financing guide! Low credit score or high debt-to-income? You can still invest, but you’ll need to do it wisely. Jeff Welgan is here to help. Jeff is one of our trusted investor-friendly lenders, meaning he’s used to working with rental property investors, not your standard homebuyer who buys a house every thirty years. Jeff is on the inside of the mortgage industry, meaning he knows loans that beginner investors rarely ever hear about. Today, we’re talking about the real estate loans you wish you knew about, mortgage rate predictions and how low interest rates could go by the end of 2025 (Dave and Jeff even place a bet on it), the best beginner loans with little money down, and a sneaky way to snag a 4% interest rate while waiting for rates to get lower. See Jeff and Dave live at BPCON2025! In This Episode We Cover A lower monthly mortgage option most investors have no clue about The one rental property type that investors can get a 4% interest rate on Low credit score? Here’s how to get a mortgage even if you’re in the 500s How much money to put down on your first or next rental (and what it does to your rate) Best beginner real estate investing loans (and how to get 100% financing) Interest rate predictions and where Dave and Jeff think rates will be heading And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1163 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We may be entering a rare period where home prices stagnate for years. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen real estate prices not appreciate year-over-year, but this reality is becoming increasingly likely every day. With low affordability, high mortgage rates, rising supply, and steady demand, the tables are starting to turn for one of the hottest asset classes of the past decade (real estate). The question is, should you buy fully knowing prices won’t rise anytime soon? J Scott has been investing in real estate for decades. He’s been through the booms and the busts and has maintained a very even demeanor, even in the best and worst of times. So, we brought on a real estate veteran to answer a simple question: Is real estate still worth investing in with stagnant prices, and if so, how do you make appreciation when the market won’t give it to you? J shares why home prices will likely stay flat or even dip for years to come, the strategies you can still use to raise your property values by sizable margins, two types of financing that work best for times like these (and benefit the investor), and when real estate could bounce back. Scared to invest when you don’t know where prices are going? Listen to J’s advice! In This Episode We Cover Real estate price predictions and how long we could go with a sideways market The two things that control home prices and the direction they’re going in Could real estate prices crash in the near future? How to use inflation to your advantage and get more from the banks Two creative ways to finance your next rental that work best in price-stagnant markets One real estate niche that could be bottoming out with significant price discounts And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1162 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mortgage rates just hit their lowest point in 2025. The housing market correction spreads to nearly 50% of the country. Sellers are giving up as new listings begin to retreat. Is this just a normal correction or the signs of a housing market crash? Should you take the chance and buy now with lower rates and desperate sellers, or could this just be the start of a downward spiral? We’re giving the data on it all in this August 2025 housing market update! Interest rates got some serious relief at the start of the month. We’re now around 0.5% lower than we were at the beginning of the year, bringing some much-needed affordability to the housing market. The cause? New and revised jobs reports are getting investors worried about the economy, and increasing our likelihood of a recession coming our way. But with less labor stability, will homeowners be forced to sell? And will we see foreclosures begin to rise? Sellers are starting to realize what we all already know: it’s a buyer’s market. Would you sell your home when buyers have all the leverage? Probably not. And most sellers are feeling the same, choosing to hold onto their houses instead of putting them on the market. What’s the chance this locks up inventory yet again? Is this the tipping point for the housing market and a perfect window to buy? Dave’s giving his take today. In This Episode We Cover Mortgage rate updates: why they’re falling and whether this downward trend will continue Why we could be entering a nationwide housing correction as price declines deepen Foreclosure and delinquency updates: will homeowners be forced to sell soon? The growing buyer’s market and why would-be sellers have decided to wait it out Is now the perfect time to invest with low rates and high buyer power? And So Much More Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1161 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you know how to find investment properties the right way, your path to real estate wealth gets a lot shorter. Today, we’re giving you two methods anyone can try—one from an expert on finding great deals with incredible financing options, and another, more “lazy” method that even beginner investors can take advantage of. You won’t just find real estate deals faster, you’ll get the best deals in the market, while investors who don’t listen to this podcast doomscroll on listing websites, praying they’ll find a diamond in the rough. We’re back, answering your BiggerPockets Forum questions on today’s episode, and the first one is crucial—how to find profitable rental properties. Next, an investor wants to buy a duplex with tenants in place. The problem? They’re paying way below market rents. Is there a way to keep good tenants around while raising rent prices? Yes—we’ll show you how! When should you keep, sell, or reinvest in a rental? Run this quick calculation to figure out which properties need to be let go, which need to be upgraded, and which you should let ride. Finally, got $400,000 in cash? We’re sharing exactly what we’d do to turn that amount of money into consistent passive income. In This Episode We Cover How to find investment properties even if your local market seems low on supply The “lazy” way to get real estate deals sent directly to you (Dave’s method!) How to raise rents the right way and keep inherited tenants happy and paying When to reinvest in your rental to make more cash flow (or sell it and use the money elsewhere) How we’d spend $400,000 if we wanted 100% passive retirement income And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1160 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hosted by Dave Meyer, the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast is your trusted source for strategy, education, and motivation tailored to the everyday real estate investor. Whether you're just starting out or working on your next deal, you’ll get practical advice and data-backed insights to help you invest smarter and more confidently. No hype. No grindset. Just clear strategy, honest insights, and proven tactics from experienced investors and relatable guests. Every week, we bring you: Actionable how-tos Real-world case studies In-depth interviews with everyday investors Honest discussions about risk, strategy, and long-term thinking If you're looking to build wealth on your own terms, and want a community that supports realistic goals, you’re in the right place. Subscribe and start your journey today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Think today’s mortgage rates are stopping you from getting rich with rental properties? Think again. Today’s guest built an 11-unit rental portfolio—starting in 2022, with high interest rates—and is cash flowing on each property. In fact, he’s making more cash flow than most investors we know, even with still sky-high rates. How’s he doing it with such little money down? No creative finance, no expert skills—Justin Albrecht is just following a simple, repeatable rental formula. After moving back in with his mom, Justin was getting the itch to find his own place. The problem? This was 2022, where single-family homes for sale were rife with bidding wars. What about small multifamily properties, like a duplex, triplex, or quadplex? That seemed to be the sweet spot. With zero experience in property management or landlording, Justin took the plunge. Fast forward three years, Justin now owns four properties totaling 11 rental units, and just quit his W2 job to focus his full-time efforts on his rentals. He did it all without putting a ton of money down and dealing with 7% interest rates on most of his properties. Still, he’s making sizable cash flow, impressive return on equity numbers, and living for free. Today, he’s breaking down his blueprint. In This Episode We Cover The small multifamily rentals that average investors can use to build massive wealth How to unlock monthly cash flow even with interest rates at 7% (or higher!) Getting into your first real estate deal with just 3.5% down Does the 1% rule still exist in the 2020s? Yes! Here’s how Justin is finding these deals “Turnkey” rentals that are move-in ready but still produce serious cash flow And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1159 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is how to make $5,000 per month in passive income from rental properties on an average salary, starting with little money. You don’t need to have any real estate investing experience to follow this blueprint, but if you’ve already started investing, you could (and probably will) get there faster. How much money do you need? How long will it take? Which properties should you invest in? We’re sharing the complete blueprint in this episode. Financial freedom is the goal for almost every real estate investor; the way you get there is by having consistent cash flow that can pay for your life. Would $5,000 per month ($60,000 per year) in passive income make your financial freedom possible? If you’re like most Americans, there’s a good chance it would. Dave is walking through how to get there in less time than you’d think, so you can retire decades earlier and live life free from the pull of a paycheck. Want more than $5,000 per month? You can use this same blueprint and math to get to $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 per month through real estate investing. In This Episode We Cover How to make $5,000 per month with rental properties (and retire much sooner) The simple calculation that will tell you how much money you’ll need to invest Why you should not focus on cash flow first if you want to reach financial independence The types of investments that will multiply your money faster How to switch from more active to passive investments so you can “harvest” your cash flow And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1158 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sellers are already accepting lower offer prices. The data is clear—the buyer’s market is back. So, how do you ensure you’re getting the best price for you, without making a seller feel like they’re getting taken advantage of? This episode is all about how we negotiate the best real estate deals in 2025, using methods that everyday homebuyers are unaware of, and most investors never try. This is how to do real estate negotiation the right way. Listen: you don’t need to be the highest offer to win the house. We’re showing you other “levers” you can pull besides the offer price that give the seller confidence in you as a buyer and get you under contract quicker. What if you’re doing off-market deals? You know, sending mailers, talking to sellers, walking homes. Henry breaks down the three offers he gives every seller (yes, three), and why this strategy is a winner. Rather have a low interest rate than a slightly lower price? There’s one subset of sellers that’s basically begging buyers to take houses off their hands. The best part? They’ll actually pay to get you a lower mortgage rate. Don’t worry, we’re sharing all our expert tricks to get you the best price/rate/terms on your next investment property. Learn expert negotiation tips from former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss at BPCon2025! In This Episode We Cover The “pre-negotiation plan” that leads to you making a much better offer Negotiating for a lower interest rate and the sellers who will pay for it Data proving that sellers are ready to accept lower offer prices How to “build trust” with sellers before you make a lowball offer The three options you should give every off-market seller (don’t give just one) Other “levers” you can pull to make a great offer without raising your price And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1157 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This investor generates $30,000 per month in rental income from a single property. It’s not a short-term rental, or a beachside Airbnb, or anything even close to that. Within a couple of years of starting to scale, James Davis has a rental portfolio on track to gross $1,000,000 per year in rents, from just six properties. The best part? He’s not even doing it for the money. His investments are making lives better while securing him financial freedom. You may have heard of assisted living before, but probably not like this. While many assisted living facilities focus on older adults, James owns small assisted living properties that cater to individuals with disabilities. After taking on two traditional real estate deals, James’s brother, who worked in disability services, thought they could be treating residents better. So, they converted one of James’s properties into a compliant assisted living facility. They got their first monthly tenant—the rent: $15,000 per month for one bedroom. Sounds steep, right? James walks through the entire expenses and profit margins to prove that the caregiving business may be worthwhile, even just for the emotional benefits. Now, he has six properties and has already pulled in $500,000 just halfway through the year. Follow the same steps James shares in this episode, and your portfolio could grow just as fast. In This Episode We Cover How James went from making $16/hour to bringing in $1,000,000/year in rents How much assisted living investment properties make (cash flow!) Locking down a 3.5% interest rate using the creative “subject to” strategy The process of becoming legally compliant for running an assisted living property Why James still buys long-term rentals instead of more assisted living properties And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1156 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is it too late to invest in real estate if you’re in your 30s, 40s, or 50s? No! Today, we’re giving you the exact blueprint to retire in 10-15 years, even if you’re starting in your 50s with a median income and average savings. Got a small sum stashed for retirement and looking to real estate for relief? If you follow this strategy, you too could have retirement with plentiful passive income not too far in the future. We did the math—it’s totally doable. Tired of seeing 23-year-olds flaunt 50-unit portfolios on social media? You DON’T need to be in your 20s, have a high income, or get a large inheritance to retire early with real estate. The average American can still do it in just over a decade. Dave is giving you steps to take today to start on that journey, and he shares his fully mapped-out strategy for achieving early retirement in 10 to 15 years, regardless of your current age. Plus, how to “audit” your resources so you know the best strategy for you to take to reach your (early) retirement goals on time! In This Episode We Cover How to start investing in real estate in your 30s, 40s, or 50s “Auditing” your time, money, and skills to find the best strategy for investing The math that proves you can retire with real estate in just 10-15 years Dave’s exact blueprint for a 40-year-old who wants to retire by their mid-50s What to do if you don’t have much money saved for investing (you can still invest) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1155 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Within 10 years, today’s guest went from zero experience in real estate investing to millionaire through investment properties. Now, she’s reverse-engineering her path, showing you how to do it faster, even if you’re just getting started on your first deal. Almost every (successful) real estate investor goes through a few crucial “stages.” Today, we’re breaking them down so YOU know where you stand. First: Do you know how a mortgage works? If so, you’re already further ahead than Leka Devatha was a decade ago. She was not only an immigrant to the United States, but also had extremely basic financial knowledge, far from what a “real estate investor” should possess. However, even starting from zero, Leka was able to scale not only quickly but efficiently. A decade later, she’s one of the leading voices in real estate investing, with a financially freeing rental portfolio and fun projects that make her massive six-figure profits. We’ll detail the different investing stages, from complete real estate rookie to expert investor, plus show you how to get the funding for your first or next deal, how to buy back your time, and make more money while having fewer properties (it’s very possible). Unlock the hidden potential in every property with Leka’s guide to maximizing your real estate portfolio, Return on Real Estate! In This Episode We Cover The different “stages” every real estate investor goes through (and how to scale faster) The easiest, FREE way to start real estate investing (Leka did this!) Why you must (must!) buy an “easy” property for your first real estate deal How to start scaling to multiple rentals, flips, and deals each year Raising money from your network so you can grow even faster (and make others money!) Buying back your time so you can actually enjoy your financial freedom And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1154 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if you could shave 15 years off your working career? Whether you love your job or hate it, having the option to retire early on a schedule you choose is something we are all working toward. Thankfully, you don’t need 100 properties to do it. Today’s guest did it with 15, slowly building a rental property portfolio and recycling his home equity so he could scale faster and reach financial freedom sooner. Tony DeGiacomo lived with his parents for years while buying rentals. Every single dollar he made was designated for a new rental property. He knew his goal: long-term wealth through real estate, even if it took some time. Some twenty years later, he’s got 15 properties, 30 or so units, and could comfortably live off the cash flow of his first property purchases. How’d he scale his respectable portfolio? Using HELOCs (home equity lines of credit) to turn one rental into multiple. Today, he talks about the even bigger deals he’s doing, how to make money before, during, and after a crash, and the reason he’s switched from buying to building properties for better returns. Tony can comfortably retire at 50, but will he when he’s having so much fun with real estate? No matter what he chooses, you can follow his “formula” to retire over a decade earlier. In This Episode We Cover How to retire 15 years earlier with a small (but scalable) rental portfolio How to use HELOCs (home equity lines of credit) to invest in rentals faster Why it’s crucial to have active income to buy real estate (DON’T quit your day job!) Building and converting commercial properties into rentals Why real estate is the best “get rich slow” scheme for regular people And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1153 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Want a 3% interest rate? What about a lower purchase price? Maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax-free income? These real estate “hacks” unlock all of these benefits—and they work especially well in 2025. We’re entering a new type of housing market: sellers have lost much of their control, inventory is high, affordable areas are seeing stronger demand, and real estate investors need to pivot ASAP. So, how do you take advantage of today’s real estate market? Dave has five hacks he’s currently using to find real estate deals at better prices (and substantially lower interest rates) in 2025. You can use them to land better buys, too. Our hacks include how to “steal” a 3% mortgage rate even in 2025, the “rental property” that isn’t really a rental (but has way better upsides), how to perform renovations with less stress and more flexibility, a location hack that will get you a lower price while still having big-city demand and more! In This Episode We Cover How to get a 3% interest rate even in 2025, even if you’ve been quoted much higher The markets that have serious demand but much more affordable home prices Why a traditional rental might not be your best bet in 2025 The “delayed BRRRR” strategy that makes you more with less renovation stress How to “benchmark” rentals in your area so you know you’re getting a great deal And So Much More Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1152 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is how to start investing in real estate in 2025 from scratch, even if you don’t have any experience. You could be a brand-new investor or someone returning after years since your last purchase. One thing is clear: 2025 has changed the housing market. We are not in the same scenario as we were in 2020, 2022, or even 2024. Investors have more negotiating power now, and if you’ve decided to get in the game, now is the time to pick up deals. So, if we were starting from scratch in real estate investing, what would we do? Which strategies make the most sense for beginners? How do you find undervalued real estate deals and negotiate with sellers? Plus, should you even be buying now, or should you be waiting for greater price movement? If you want to invest in real estate in 2025, this is the exact place to start. We’ll walk through each step a beginner needs to take, from picking a strategy to finding an agent and lender, how to lock in a lower purchase price on your first investment property, and some deal-finding “hacks” even the most advanced investors rarely know about. In This Episode We Cover How to start investing in real estate in 2025, even if you have no experience Who should you talk to first: the agent, the lender, or somebody else entirely? The best strategies (with the LEAST risk) for beginner real estate investors How to find undervalued real estate deals in this new buyer’s market The single easiest investment strategy for any American to get started And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1151 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Want passive income? We mean truly passive—no tenant phone calls, no toilets, no evictions—just checks sent to your account. This is the dream of every real estate investor, and today’s guest, Chris Lopez, actually achieved it. He did what we preach on every single episode—bought single-family rentals and small multifamily buildings and ran them right—but at some point, he realized the cash flow was too low, and the headaches were too high. So he switched, finding a type of real estate that is truly passive. At one point, Chris’s rental property portfolio was only making him a meager $20 per hour. Doesn’t sound like financial freedom, does it? He dipped his toe into passive investing, invested a little more, then a little more. Now, he’s heavily on the passive side. Chris is on today to show you how to do the same. Got a lot of equity but low cash flow? Turn that rental into bigger, better, and more passive income. Tired of dealing with tenants but still want financial freedom? You can exchange your rentals for a passive income stream. We’re talking about debt funds, value-add syndications, and other passive investments that enable investors to earn more while doing less. Join Chris’s 5-week cohort to learn how to transition from active landlord to passive investor (while multiplying your cash flow). In This Episode We Cover Real estate investments that make double-digit returns (without the work) The one (easy) calculation every investor must perform annually How to vet a passive investment (and the person running it) before you invest Significant economic risks to be aware of before you start passive investing Keep, refinance, or sell? How to know your rental is past its useful period And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1150 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The real estate correction is here, but is a crash coming next? New data suggests sellers are getting increasingly frustrated as their houses sit—and they’ve finally had enough. Buyers are ready to pounce on lower-priced homes, but can they actually afford them? If you’re investing in real estate, is now the best time in a long time to fight for a price cut or seller concession? We’re back with our monthly housing market update, sharing our supply, demand, and home price predictions. Inventory is growing—fast. We’re up double-digit percentage points year-over-year. But buyers are starting to catch on, getting back into the market. So, if we’ve got supply and demand, why are home prices falling—and could they fall even more? With so many homes on the market, are we on a crash course? What’s stopping us from seeing double-digit home price declines in the most oversupplied markets? We’re halfway through 2025, with a much better outlook on what’s to come. Dave is giving a full update in today’s episode on home prices, new listings, buyer demand, and the likelihood that this correction goes even deeper, becoming a full-fledged housing market crash. In This Episode We Cover Why sellers are quitting the housing market even as buyer demand grows The key metric that proves you can get price cuts in 2025 (start negotiating!) The worrying trend for home prices that could foreshadow even more declines One sector of real estate that is seeing massive distress (and foreclosure problems) Markets with the best and worst home price trends (markets to target?) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1149 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s the situation every real estate investor wants to be in: your house just appraised for more than you expected. Now, you’ve got some home equity added to your net worth, but how do you use it? Should you keep it in the property and maintain low leverage, or use home equity to scale your real estate portfolio more quickly? We’re answering common real estate questions like this one and a lot more in today’s show! James Dainard joins the show as our veteran real estate investor, owning hundreds of rental units, flipping thousands of houses, and lending millions of dollars. He started as a rookie during the Great Financial Crisis, and today, he’s sharing his hard-earned lessons so you don’t have to make the same mistakes. We’re touching on: What to do with your home equity when your house appraises high How to estimate rehab costs on a renovation or house flip Becoming a private money lender (serious passive income!) Interior design 101, even if you have zero experience in home renovations Whether we should finally kill the 1% rule in real estate (maybe it’s time) Got an investing question? Ask yours on the BiggerPockets Forums! In This Episode We Cover How to use home equity to invest (and whether you should with 7% mortgage rates) Estimating renovation costs on your next rehab or house flip (for free!) Interior design on a budget and how to build a “spec list” of what your house flip needs Private money lending for beginners and how to (passively) make serious cash flow The 1% rule explained and why it isn’t so safe in 2025 And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1148 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After hearing this episode, you’ll have no excuse not to reach financial freedom in under a decade. Today’s guest did it in even less time, scaling up to income-replacing cash flow in just a matter of years, even with a very demanding full-time job and constantly moving around the country. Through pure hustle, Taylor Wing is now financially independent in his late twenties with a sizable rental property portfolio that spits out cash flow to pay for his South Florida lifestyle. He’s got so many tricks to reach financial freedom faster, but his best piece of advice? The number of rentals you own doesn’t matter. Taylor was a full-time military member, serving in the Army for the first five years of his career, bouncing between North Carolina, South Dakota, and beyond. Wherever he was stationed, he began buying houses as soon as possible. That meant Taylor spent almost every hour of the day working, either at his job or on his rental property portfolio, for years straight. Was it a grind? Yes. Was it worth it? 100%. Now, fast forward seven years after graduating from West Point, and his family is financially free. He has his beautiful house on the water in Florida and is spending more time with his new (and growing!) family. Through “rebalancing” his rental portfolio, strategically using “reverse 1031 exchanges,” and other savvy strategies, Taylor is now in complete control of his time. He’s teaching you how to do the same today! In This Episode We Cover Why “unit count” doesn’t matter for financial freedom, but cash flow does Buying rentals in multiple markets and how to maximize your profit with medium-term rentals Why every real estate investor MUST review and “rebalance” their rental portfolio (or it’ll cost them) How to do a “reverse 1031 exchange” and move your headache rentals into better cash-flowing real estate The $140,000 properties Taylor is buying today that make $300-$400/month cash flow! And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1147 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The golden age of real estate investing is over, and there’s a good chance it isn’t coming back (for a while, at least). We have to admit it—real estate deals aren’t nearly as good as they were in the 2010s. But here’s the thing…we’re still buying real estate. Even with low affordability, high interest rates, and still high home prices, real estate still makes much more sense as an investment than your other options. We can prove it, and we’re doing it in today’s episode. You know your crypto-buying uncle who’s always predicting a housing crash? Send him this episode. Dave presents the proof, backed by decades of data, showing that real estate remains one of the best risk-adjusted returns of any investment you can buy today. And with sellers significantly outnumbering buyers and home prices starting to correct, this could be one of the best times to buy before demand boomerangs back and supply dwindles. Dave is buying right now, after reviewing all the data. So, if the numbers make sense for him, what’s holding you back? In This Episode We Cover Who cares about 2010s home prices? Why you should be buying NOW Historical home price growth and why higher home price appreciation is likely Real estate vs. crypto vs. stocks vs. gold vs. businesses in 2025 Dave’s investing game plan for 2025 and the requirements a rental property must hit How to buy better real estate deals as sellers get even more desperate And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1146 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Can’t make the numbers work in your local market? No worries—long-distance real estate investing is the natural next step. We’ve done it before, many times, and made the beginner mistakes, so you don’t have to. Now, we’re gearing up to do it again. Dave and Henry are heading out on the “Cash Flow Road Show,” touring top Midwest markets, and maybe even making offers along the way. These trips are crucial for finding deals and getting to know an area. We’re sharing the exact blueprint to follow before you make a long-distance investment. Who should you meet? How do you know a neighborhood is safe? What are the exact questions you should ask an agent? We’re providing you with the complete list so your next long-distance or out-of-state investment is a success. Seriously, we’re giving you an actual list of things expert investors do before buying in any area. Don’t just show up and start touring houses—make your trip out to a new market worth the effort. Follow these exact steps before long-distance investing! In This Episode We Cover The two real estate professionals you must talk to when looking at new markets (it’s not just the agent) The exact questions experts ask real estate agents about their market Why you should look for smaller markets surrounding big cities (better prices and cash flow?) Not sure if a neighborhood is safe? Try this one thing every time The best time to take a trip out to a potential investing market And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1145 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In just three years, this investor scaled up to making over $100,000 per year thanks to real estate. He did it all starting in 2022 when interest rates were beginning to rise, the market was turning, and many investors decided to sit on their hands. Thanks to a strategy that allowed him to “recycle” his money, he went from one down payment to 16 rental units in record time. How’d he do it? Only in his 20s, Ricardo Adames already knew he wanted out of his career. Working harder wasn’t paying him dividends, so he knew he needed an extra income source. Even after taking a “risk” on his first deal, he was able to walk away with a perfect rental property that only cost him (after all was said and done) $5,000. How’s that possible? Simple—the BRRRR method. In this episode, Ricardo details this cash-recycling method investors can use TODAY to build a six-figure-producing real estate portfolio, even if you have little experience. Plus, Ricardo shares his exact “buy box”—the properties he’s targeting for more home-run real estate deals in 2025! In This Episode We Cover How to “recycle” your down payment money and scale way faster with the BRRRR method Why buying below-market-value is the ultimate risk-mitigator in 2025 How Ricardo went from zero experience to doing eight real estate deals at once just three years later Why high interest rates aren’t stopping you from investing in real estate Making money even in a down market (Florida!) that most won’t invest in And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1144 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Can’t (or don’t want to) get a bank loan? We have another option for funding your real estate investments: private money lending! If your DTI (debt-to-income) is too high, you’ve maxed out how many mortgages you can get, or you need quick cash to finance a renovation, house flip, or BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), private money loans can float you. Today, we’re sharing how to find a private money lender, what interest rates they charge, who these loans are best suited for, and what documents to bring to get approved. Dave is out on a search to find the perfect pickle for his sandwich, so we brought in a seasoned investor and trusted Real Estate Rookie host, Ashley Kehr. Today, she’s invited her private money lender, James Dainard, to the show to explain how private money works, how much money you’ll need to put down, rates and terms you can expect, and red flags a lender looks for. But this isn’t just for borrowers. If you’ve got a serious sum of cash and want to lend to investors and pocket the interest payment, James will show you how. Plus, Ashley shares her exact private money lending structure that she worked out with James on a recent deal he lent to her. No bank loan? No problem—here’s how private money works! In This Episode We Cover Private money explained, who should use it, and which investment properties it works best for Interest rates and mortgage points you’ll pay with private money loans Ashley’s actual recent private money loan broken down with her lender (James!) What lenders look for in a borrower and the exact documents you should bring to a lender Private money vs. real estate partnerships: which works best for which investors? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1143 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Don’t buy rental properties? What if there were investment properties that made way more cash flow than rentals (we’re talking $2,000 or more per month)? These unique properties are often cheaper than rentals but command higher income. You don’t need any special skills to run one, and you can own them while working a full-time job, accelerating your track to early retirement. Want to know what they are? We’re giving the exact property types (and profits) in today’s episode. Tony Robinson, host of the Real Estate Rookie podcast, and Nate Weintraub, head of Calico Content and copywriter for BiggerPockets, both ditched the long-term rental route years ago. The stress, low cash flow, and speed to scale weren’t worth it. Tony went one route, buying short-term rentals and eventually scaling into a money-making boutique hotel. Nate decided he'd had it with toilets, so he bought the ultimate toiletless investment—a self-storage facility. Today, they’re sharing their profit numbers, rents, and the cost of their investments (which are surprisingly affordable). Plus, how many hours do these take to run? When Tony isn’t hosting our sister podcast, and Nate isn’t doing podcast SEO, how do they handle the day-to-day operations? And finally, can they convince Dave that long-term rentals aren’t superior? In This Episode We Cover How much you can make with a boutique hotel or self-storage facility (it’s a lot) The surprisingly affordable prices of buying these “bigger” real estate deals Finding hotels, motels, and self-storage facilities for sale in your market How much time it takes to run a short-term rental or self-storage facility The risks you must know before trying either of these strategies And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1142 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This investor is producing $12,000 per month in cash flow and is well on his way to early retirement before the age of fifty, and he did it all after taking a DECADE off of investing. By cracking the real estate “formula,” Andre Taylor was able to buy larger properties faster. He used his financial independence number to work backward by picking up properties that would truly help him retire early. He’s still buying deals in 2025, and you can retire early, too, if you use his “formula.” Andre started with just $3,000 in the bank. Not $30,000—$3,000. With a bit of sweat equity, he converted a foreclosure into a cash-flowing rental, generating a solid $300 in profit per month per unit. Then, everything clicked—what if he bought enough rentals to replace his income? After calculating his “freedom number,” he knew how many rentals he needed. But then Andre…took a break. A long break. A decade of not investing. When he got back, it was time to go all out. In today’s episode, you’ll hear about the buying spree Andre’s been on over the past eight years, how he closed on over thirty rental units (some filled with black mold), and why “buying up the block” is the fastest way to reach financial freedom. In This Episode We Cover How many rentals you’ll need to retire early by calculating your “freedom number” Buying foreclosures and the pros and cons of these cheaper deals The many ways to finance a rental (mortgages, credit cards, 401(k) loans, etc.) Why you should start contacting owners of properties next to your current rentals How to make the passive income jump faster by buying commercial properties (five units or more!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1141 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The housing market is already predicted to see price cuts by the end of the year, but is now the time to buy, or should you wait for further price movement? We brought on an investor who has successfully timed the housing market (three times) to give his thoughts on whether we’re at the bottom or we have a long way to go. If you’ve been holding out for lower home prices and less competition, should you take the risk and wait, knowing a rebound could be on the way? Through a combination of genius and a bit of luck, Brian Burke has sold, bought, and sold at the right times repeatedly. He exited the majority of his real estate portfolio in the early 2020s as prices hit all-time highs and competition was fierce. For the last three and a half years, he hadn’t bought anything, up until very recently. Is this a signal that now is the time to buy? Today, we’re asking Brian whether 2025 is the right time to buy (and for which assets), how to get in “position” to make a profit as home prices decline, the sellers most likely to give you concessions and further price cuts, and signs YOU should sell your headache rental and trade it for something better. The second half of 2025 could be when the scales tip—are you ready to make a move? In This Episode We Cover Buying near the bottom and how to capitalize on the steepest price cuts What Brian looks for in a rental property during a down market How to get even deeper discounts (and seller concessions) in 2025 Signs that you should sell your rental and redeploy the profits How much debt to take on during volatile times in the housing market And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1140 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
All it takes is one (yes, ONE!) real estate deal to change your life and jumpstart your path to financial freedom. You could stop after just one, but more often than not, that first deal opens the door to even bigger opportunities, allowing you to build wealth, create more passive income streams, and finally reach financial independence. Every successful real estate investor has had that one deal that set off a domino effect, enabling them to build wealth. We’re sharing ours today so you can repeat them! Joining Dave are Garrett Brown and Matt Faircloth, two investors from different backgrounds, strategies, and parts of the country. But both had real estate deals that propelled them forward toward financial freedom. Dave also had a killer real estate deal (only his second deal ever!) that significantly increased his standard of living. We’ll share how Garrett made $50,000 (tax-free!) on a repeatable first real estate deal anyone in any area can try. Matt shares how he was able to scale up his portfolio fast when he realized he didn’t need to provide the money for his down payments and renovations. Finally, Dave shares the second deal he ever did that upgraded his life permanently and why he does not “sacrifice” to achieve financial freedom faster. In This Episode We Cover The real estate deals that defined our investing careers (and how they propelled us to financial freedom) The easiest real estate investment for beginners (make $50K+ tax-free!) Using other people’s money to invest in real estate? Why you don’t need to have the down payment How to live for free and speed up your timeline to financial independence like Dave Why you should tell everyone you know that you invest in real estate And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1139 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This investor used his primary residence to build a $6,000/month rental property portfolio—helping him semi-retire, cut his workload in half, and generate a sizable income stream outside his job. And he did it with affordable, small multifamily rental properties that he still buys in today’s market, all while working a demanding schedule that required his attention 24/7, 40 weeks per year. Bill Price has worked as a sound engineer for some of the music industry’s biggest names. He’s toured with Justin Bieber, Weezer, and Third Eye Blind (among many more), working intensive hours on global tours. But, in the background, when he was off the road, Bill was building an intentional real estate portfolio to replace his income. Today, less than a decade after buying his first true rental, he’s working just 16 weeks per year instead of 40. Bill made some mistakes and some BIG bets that paid off. We’re talking terrible tenants, eviction notices, bird cages, dog droppings, and flooded basements. But, through it all, Bill says it was well worth it, as 90% of his rental property investing career has been buying deals and collecting checks. If Bill can manage a rental portfolio while touring in Japan and setting up an impromptu skate park for Justin Bieber, why can’t you? In This Episode We Cover How to cut your workload in HALF with a small, cash-flowing rental property portfolio Turning your primary residence into multiple rental properties so you can scale faster A big eviction mistake that cost Bill months of time with a bad tenant Doing a BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat)? Why you should run your numbers as a flip, too Why you should tell EVERYONE within your circle that you buy rental properties! And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1138 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 2025 Housing Market Update: The Biggest Shift in Decades Podcast Description The housing market is experiencing its most significant shift in decades. Sellers are returning in full force, outnumbering buyers by a substantial margin. Homes are selling for under-asking, giving investors and first-time homebuyers discounts previously unheard of. Are we on our way to a housing market crash, correction, or a much-needed reset, which would return us to the “normal” housing market many of us have been asking for over the past few years? We’re breaking it all down—best and worst markets, home prices, mortgage rates, supply and demand, and more—in our June 2025 housing market update! Mortgage delinquencies are rising—which could spell trouble. Are we heading back to foreclosure territory of the last housing crash? Not quite, but this is good news for buyers. Dave shares his 2025 investing plan so you can follow along, find better deals, and reduce your risk. Plus, will we see interest rates reverse with good inflation data and a worrying jobs report? The Fed could make moves; stick around to hear how they'll affect you! In This Episode We Cover A June 2025 housing market update and the ballooning buyer’s market Home price shifts and how to get a serious discount on your next real estate deal Whether the Fed will finally lower rates with cooled inflation reports Why mortgage delinquencies are rising and whether we should worry The best and worst real estate markets to buy or sell in And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1137 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your agent just sent you a killer real estate deal with enormous upside, but it needs a bit of work. Here’s exactly how to estimate renovation costs, so you know you’re buying a property with a juicy margin instead of one that will just break even. Whether you’re renovating a rental property, planning to refinance after the rehab with the BRRRR method, or flipping a house for some quick cash, we’ll give you the formula to run your renovation numbers FAST. We’re back with real estate investor questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. First up: how to estimate rehab costs on a distressed property. And, if the renovation costs are high, is the rehab still worth it? Then, once you’ve got your rental portfolio, when should you hire property management? Your agent wants you to sign an exclusivity agreement so you only work with them; here’s when we will (and definitely won’t) do it. Finally, we share a way to access home equity WITHOUT refinancing at a higher rate and killing your cash flow. Got a question? Need answers? Share your real estate investing situation on the BiggerPockets Forums. In This Episode We Cover How to estimate rehab costs and the price-per-square-foot guidelines to follow Accessing home equity without refinancing (a way better option in 2025) How much money should you make on a flip? Why even $40,000 may be too low When to hire a property manager and signs that one will actually take care of your tenants/property Whether or not to sign an exclusivity agreement with your real estate agent And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1136 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Five rental properties are all you need to change your life. This income alone could cover all your bills, allowing your entire paycheck to go toward investing as you're fast-tracked to financial freedom and early retirement. Even if you’ve got a demanding job with long hours and limited free time, investing in real estate is STILL the right move. Today’s guest was able to utilize her (very limited) downtime to build a rental portfolio of six units, all while managing her hectic day job. Now, she’s in a great position to retire early and is even eyeing her dream retirement house as we speak. Jessica Cruel is editor-in-chief at Allure & SELF, but before the big title, she was living in expensive Newark, New Jersey, looking to invest in real estate while making less than six figures a year. After watching her ex-boyfriend successfully do a real estate deal, she thought, “If he can do it, I can do it better.” So, she bought a rental with multiple units but a sizable renovation checklist. It took her two years to turn it around, but now, she’s cashing the checks that will fund her early retirement. Six years later, Jessica has a six-unit portfolio, with enough income to cover her bills and a hunger to build her small, slow-but-steady, financial freedom-enabling real estate portfolio. If she can do it in her pricey area, why can’t you? In This Episode We Cover The single best strategy for starting in real estate (it will save you a TON) Why you DON’T need a huge real estate portfolio to retire early How to invest in real estate even with a demanding day job How NOT to get your AC unit stolen while you’re away (seriously) Buy your retirement home now! How to have your dream home pay for itself And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1135 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, we’re explaining exactly how to buy a rental property in 2025 as a real estate investing beginner. You don’t need to be a landlord already or have any investing experience to follow these steps; all you need is around 40 minutes and the desire to build wealth, find financial freedom, and start investing in your future. Ready? Let’s get you your first rental! These are the steps that Dave followed to eventually build a seven-figure real estate portfolio and reach financial independence himself. We’ll start with YOU—what do you want out of the rental? Cash flow or appreciation? How much time do you have? Want more passive income with slimmer returns or higher returns with a more hands-on approach? Then, we’ll cover tactical steps to help you find (and buy) your first rental before 2025 ends. Steps like picking your market, building your “buy box,” and the multiple ways to find cash-flowing real estate deals. We’re back in a buyer’s market, so you have the upper hand in negotiations. It’s time to make moves and start building serious wealth, one investment property at a time! In This Episode We Cover Why 2025 may be the best time to buy a rental in years! (The market has changed!) One thing you must do before you start looking into rental property investments How to pick a market (and neighborhood) that has the highest return potential The many ways to find real estate deals, both on listing sites and off-market How to negotiate with sellers for BIG concessions (price cuts, interest rate buydowns, and more!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1134 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Want to retire early? What about early retirement AND making millions of dollars tax-free? Only one real estate investing strategy gives you the ability to do both, but 99% of investors won’t try it. Why? We don’t know because today’s two guests, as well as Dave, are all using this investing strategy in 2025 to make a killing on their real estate deals. It’s not house hacking, it’s not medium-term rentals, and it’s not private lending—it’s live-in flipping. Never heard of live-in flipping? There’s a good reason—nobody is doing it, even though it boasts the biggest benefits of almost any real estate strategy out there. This method enabled Mindy Jensen to accumulate millions of dollars in net worth by her early 50s, much of which was tax-free. The same strategy is being used by Ashley Kehr and Dave to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit simply by buying a house, fixing it up while living in it, and reselling it. How does this get you to early retirement? Simple: you make hundreds of thousands tax-free, more than what your job might pay you over several years, dramatically boosting your bank account and allowing your investments to multiply way faster. Anyone can do it—whether you’re single, have a partner, or kids—and the benefits are unbeatable. Wanna know how to start? Mindy, the expert on live-in flips, is sharing her secrets in today’s episode. In This Episode We Cover Live-in flipping 101, the best real estate strategy for tax-free millions What type of house makes the best live-in flip (with the highest profits) What level of renovation to put into the house (DON’T pick your favorite upgrades) Tips to keep your family comfortable while live-in flipping, especially if you have kids Financing a live-in flip and one easy way to get a lower interest rate And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1133 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This investor is making $100,000 per year with small, affordable, repeatable rental properties. He started investing years ago but recently bought another home-run rental for just $87,000, which will continue to boost his passive income. His slow, steady “tortoise” approach is one that anyone (especially beginners) can use in 2025 to build wealth and massive passive income through rental property investing. How do you do it? He’s sharing his blueprint. Nathan Nicholson woke up one day in his 30s to realize that his bank account had only $32,000 in it. While by no means is $32,000 a small sum, as a top producer in the mortgage business, he expected to have much more—something needed to change. After watching clients close (and make it rich) on rentals, he decided to give it a shot. But instead of going for the biggest house his money could buy, he opted for a small, affordable property where less could go wrong. It was a good move and one worth repeating. Fast forward over a decade later, Nathan has 22 properties, 10 of which are paid off, with six-figure cash flow coming in every year. He scaled smart (and safely) using his “tortoise approach” to investing—an approach you can use, too! In This Episode We Cover Why buying small (less than 1,000 square feet!) rentals is a smart move for beginners Taking the “tortoise approach” to wealth so you safely get to early retirement Cashing out your 401(k) for rentals? Why Nathan says it’s worth it One quick calculation (that beats the 1% rule) every investor should use Why Nathan is buying even more as price cuts hit many major housing markets And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1132 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“Should I buy a house now or wait until prices fall further?” If you’re a first-time homebuyer or regular real estate investor, you’ve no doubt asked yourself this question. Home prices are falling in many major markets, and affordability could be improving for Americans. There’s a strong chance home prices could fall even further throughout this year, so should you wait for the bottom or take your chances and put something under contract now? Dave is sharing his exact investing plan today. With new home price predictions from top housing market data leaders like Zillow forecasting a drop in home prices, many buyers are remaining hesitant. But, as a real estate investor, you’re not buying your dream house—you’re looking for deals. Dave shares a simple strategy he uses to gauge when to buy, even when the housing market is going in different directions. If you follow this method, you’ll not only (most likely) be better off than the average investor, but you’ll be buying with far less stress and far greater strategy. Plus, what are the scenarios for the next year or two? Is there a chance that home prices could reverse and return to appreciation territory by this time next year? Dave is sharing his take so you can make better investment decisions. In This Episode We Cover Dave’s exact real estate investing plan for buying in 2025 and 2026 New home price predictions and why top experts have flipped their forecasts One simple, repeatable strategy to invest in rising and falling real estate markets The “upsides” you MUST look for when investing in real estate in 2025 Is 2025 the bottom? Why it may not even matter for savvy real estate investors And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1131 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your idea of a “dream home” or “dream investment property” is stopping you from building wealth and taking steps toward financial freedom. Don’t believe us? Today’s guest proves it. Mitra Kalita lives in her dream home today, but it’s only because she bought a house FAR from what was her dream back in 2002. With her family moving often, she was accustomed to packing up and making somewhere new her home throughout her childhood. So, when it was time to buy her first property, then later move, settle in, move again, and repeat, it was nothing new. This has now led to her dream home, but it only started because she made a move on that first property. Mitra went through the 2008 housing crash as a journalist, seeing what actual loss looked like for everyday Americans. However, even with memories of the last crash, she still owns real estate and hopes the new generation of first-time homebuyers can do the same. Today, we’re talking with Mitra about the impact 2008 had on the housing market and society at large, why your “dream home” often comes after your first home, and why working while investing is a superpower that most Americans are missing. In This Episode We Cover Why you should ditch the “dream” home/property idea and buy now instead How the 2008 housing crash changed America forever and still affects today’s buyers Is buying a house still worth it, and if so, will most millennials ever get their chance to buy? Why combining real estate investing and a strong career can be a wealth-building superpower And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1130 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It doesn’t take long to replace your income through rental property investing. Just ask Miller McSwain, who quit his job two and a half years after buying his first rental property! But it wasn't a standard rental with just one tenant and one income stream that got him there. Instead, a new “mega cash flow” strategy got him to his goal in record time. It’s not short-term rentals, mid-term rentals, or house flipping, but something that might work even better. Miller was a nuclear rocket scientist by day (yes, seriously) and a house hacker by night. He bought a property just after graduation, using his job offer as proof of income to the bank. He and his fiancée (now wife) lived in the basement while renting out the rooms on the top floors. He was saving tons on rent and living for almost free. So, why couldn’t he do this on a bigger scale? He could, and he did. This “co-living” strategy became Miller’s new obsession. Now, he’s got six rental properties with over 40 tenants, making thousands of dollars a month from each property in pure cash flow. He’s sharing exactly how to do it and does so in-depth in his new book, Co-Living Cash Flow, so you can quit your job, or at least replace some, or all, of your income with the fewest properties possible. In This Episode We Cover Miller’s “mega cash flow” strategy that produces way more passive income than regular rentals Exactly what to look for in the perfect “co-living” property for happy tenants (and neighbors) The “community” events Miller throws at his properties that lead to lower vacancy Discounting security deposits? The method behind Miller’s genius tenant screening tactic How to remotely manage co-living rentals yourself (no need to pay a manager!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1129 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You can buy five rentals in just five years, even with less than 5% down. Today, we’re teaching you three savvy strategies to quickly scale your real estate portfolio so you can start building wealth without waiting years and years to buy your first (or next) investment property. And no, we’re not just talking about house hacking—Dave is walking through three separate strategies you can use to buy five rentals in just five years. All three methods are effective in today’s market and can be repeated even by a beginner. These strategies are broken down by financial starting point: 1) starting with little money, 2) having a solid amount saved, and 3) having a lot saved for investment. So, whether you’re a graduate fresh out of college who's ready to invest in rentals or a doctor/lawyer/executive with hundreds of thousands sitting around, we have a strategy for you. The best part? As your portfolio grows, you can combine these strategies to reach your financial freedom goals faster and pick the path that works best for you as your wealth grows. Ready to get started? Follow this plan, and by 2030, you’ll have five rental properties! In This Episode We Cover How to buy five rental properties in just five years (even with 3.5% down!) The beginner-friendly strategy that successful real estate investors recommend How to recycle your money with the BRRRR method and supercharge your scaling Got a high income? Why buying turnkey, easy-to-manage rentals could be your best bet Full math examples of the methods, how much money it takes, and how much you’ll make And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1128 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rentals can give you much more than just bigger pockets. They can buy you time, flexibility, and the freedom to design an adventurous and fulfilling life. Just ask today’s guest, who built a simple real estate portfolio that runs itself—creating space for midday hikes, living abroad, and passion projects. In this episode, he’ll show YOU how to slow down and do the same! Today, Chad Carson, investor and author of The Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor returns to the show to share how real estate investing gave him much more than money. Chad has been investing for decades, but now, he’s making a major shift. Rather than accumulating more rental properties, he’s paying off the ones he already owns. Instead of putting in 80-hour workweeks, he’s traveling, taking mini-retirements, and prioritizing his life goals. And the best part? Some weeks, he spends as little as two hours on his portfolio! Want to copy Chad’s success? In this episode, he’ll show you how to trade the rat race—whether that means long hours at your nine-to-five or the relentless grind of scaling your investments—for time freedom, a flexible portfolio, and a real estate business that works for you. In This Episode We Cover How Chad optimized his real estate portfolio for a two-hour workweek Why real estate’s real return isn’t money—but time, freedom, and flexibility How to use real estate investing to build a fulfilling life (not just a big portfolio!) Swapping traditional retirement for mini-retirements that help you savor life while you’re young The power of paying down mortgages versus buying more rental properties How to ditch the rat race for a real estate business that works for YOU And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1127 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are still real estate deals even in 2025. To prove it, we’re taking three real (on-market!) deals and analyzing them three ways: as a long, medium, and short-term rental to see which will have the highest cash flow. All of these properties are around or under the median home price in the US and have at least one strategy that makes them profitable, even in 2025 with today’s high interest rates. To help run the deal analysis, Ashley Kehr from the Real Estate Rookie podcast and Garrett Brown from BiggerStays join us to crunch the numbers. You’re probably thinking, “Short-term rentals always make more than long-term rentals!” but that isn’t exactly the case. With the added expense of short-term rental management, some deals may work MUCH better as a long or medium-term rental. We’ve even got some bonus strategies to share to boost your rental property profits, like renting-by-the-room to get even more revenue and subdividing your lot so you can sell it and pay off your rental faster (more cash flow!). These deals still work in 2025, and today, we’re sharing exactly where we found them. In This Episode We Cover How to analyze a rental property as a short, medium, and long-term rental The one overlooked cost you should ALWAYS account for on a short-term rental A sneaky tactic to get extra cash if you’re on a BIG lot Using the “coliving” (rent-by-the-room) strategy to get even more rent every month Why short-term rental regulations are a good thing for investors And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1126 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Everyone wants to know how to become a millionaire in real estate. And surprisingly, getting there isn’t all that hard. You can create a seven-figure net worth by investing for just 8-12 years, and if you’re willing to put in a little more work, you can get there faster. Dave has done it, and a million of our BiggerPockets members have done it, too. So today, we’re sharing the real estate millionaire math so you can repeat it and reach your financial independence number faster. We’re not just showing you how to get to a million dollars in equity. We’re also discussing what you need to know to replace your salary with rental properties. This way, you’ll have cash flow to live off of and appreciation to build your wealth. Using the four “building blocks” of real estate, you can skyrocket your wealth in a (relatively) short amount of time. Maybe you want to be a millionaire in less than a decade and build a real estate portfolio faster. Great! We’re sharing two extra levers you can pull to make more money from your properties IF you’re willing to put in the work. What are you waiting for? Let’s make your first million! In This Episode We Cover How to become a millionaire with real estate in just 8-12 years (we did the math) Replacing your salary with rentals and how to “compound” your cash flow The four ways that real estate makes you rich (it’s not just rent checks) Two other wealth “levers” you can pull to get to millionaire status faster Should you buy a rental property in cash? Here’s what happens to your returns And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1125 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
49 of the nation’s 50 largest metro area housing markets are showing “weaker” home price growth in 2025. For some, this signals a long-predicted crash/correction on the horizon. But for others (like Dave), it’s something very different, and could be a huge help for the aspiring real estate investor. For years, we’ve been struggling with a dangerous combination of high rates, high home prices, and low affordability. If top markets are starting to weaken and prices are softening, could this actually be a good sign for investors and buyers waiting on the sidelines? If mortgage rates come down and wages continue to grow, are we inching closer to equilibrium and the more affordable housing market we’ve all been waiting for? In this bonus episode, Dave is explaining why housing market “weakness” is a sign of long-term strength and a huge opportunity for investors willing to make moves. Don’t believe him? Dave shares a personal bet he’s making on the housing market—with a lot of money on the line—that could turn out to be a genius move in the years ahead. What’s his plan? Stick around, we’re getting into it! In This Episode We Cover Why 98% of major housing markets are seeing “weaker” home price growth in 2025 Why price softness does NOT signal a crash or correction Good news for first-time homebuyers: purchasing could become more affordable The three factors of an affordable housing market (and are we shifting to better affordability?) Dave’s recent rental property move to capitalize on this window of opportunity And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1124-5 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When is the right time to invest in real estate? We’ve all asked ourselves this, and if you’ve been thinking about buying rentals, you probably have, too. Whether you’re 20 or 50, have a little money or a lot, that first real estate deal can seem so...scary. You’ve never done this before, and things can (and will) go wrong, so how do you know you’re ready? Have you read enough books, saved enough for emergencies, or looked at enough houses? We’ve got three investors who all started in different positions to help get you an answer. Dave started investing right after college when he was waiting tables and had barely any money in the bank. Henry began to invest well into his working career, but with a family to take care of in the near future, he had to invest differently. On the other hand, Jonathan Greene was born into real estate, with an investor father who taught him the ropes from childhood. Each expert started from a different place, but they all agree on when it makes sense to invest. How much money do you need to make? How much free time should you set aside? What should your bank account look like? Do you need to know how to renovate and repair? Each investor will share where they think you should be to successfully invest in real estate. Good news—you might already be there! In This Episode We Cover The right age to invest in real estate (and can you ever be too young/old?) How much money you should have in case your first deal goes wrong Growing your confidence to buy and how many houses you should view before bidding The time it takes to invest in real estate on the side (do you have the schedule for it?) Financial signs that you’re NOT ready to buy a rental (and how to fix your finances) Is it too late to invest with high home prices and interest rates? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1124 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Want to retire early? You don’t need millions of dollars in stocks, retirement accounts, or cash to do it. You might just need a handful of rental properties. Today’s guest, Paul Novak, only started investing four years ago in 2021, but he’s already nearly at his early retirement goal through rental property investing. He may only need one or two more rentals to fully retire in his mid-40s. Want to trim twenty years off of your working career? Follow Paul’s plan! After realizing that stock investing could only get him to retirement so fast, Paul knew he needed a better path to early retirement. He thought real estate could be the answer. The problem? This was 2021, where every house was going over asking and competition was steep. He finally got a deal done after previous ones fell through and found he was already making 10 times more money than his stocks were giving him. It became a no-brainer to repeat the strategy. Fast forward to 2025, Paul has five rentals, with seven units in total, and he’s nearly at his cash flow goal to retire from his job. He did it all through some very creative rental financing. One more rental could unlock the holy grail: early retirement, time freedom, and plenty of passive income. And this is just four years into his investing journey! In This Episode We Cover How to retire early in just ten years with boring, repeatable rental deals 401(k) loans, HELOCs (home equity lines of credit), and other ways to fund your rentals Why interest rates don’t matter as much as you think they do How to run your numbers on rentals so you’re ALWAYS making money Why you don’t need a dozen or more rentals to reach financial freedom And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1123 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The housing market is going through another significant shift. Sellers have lost even more control as price cuts become common in some top markets. Rents are flat, but will they stay this way? The Trump administration presents a groundbreaking proposal that could greatly affect many real estate investors. This is May 2025’s housing market update, where we’re filling you in on all the biggest stories affecting real estate! The market “softening” continues. Inventory is rising, and sellers are realizing this isn’t 2022 anymore. Price cuts have become common in Texas, Florida, and California. But other markets are still seeing price jumps, so have the southern states become the new buyer’s markets? Investing opportunities could be here for the right buyers, and Dave has already made a move, locking up his latest investment to capitalize on what’s to come. But what about mortgage rates? Do we have any hope that we’ll get below 6% this year? Dave shares his updated mortgage rate “range” for 2025. Have Section 8 renters? You’ll want to hear the end of today’s episode as a new proposal from the Trump administration could slash Section 8 funding, putting tenants and landlords in a tricky position. All that, and more, in today’s episode! In This Episode We Cover The housing market “shift” pushing us into a bigger buyer’s market The end of Section 8? A new proposal from D.C. could cause major cuts Markets with the most price cuts and areas where prices are rising instead Mortgage rate forecast and the range we could hover around for the rest of the year Investing opportunities with “juicier” returns as sellers lose control Rent price updates and which properties will get hit hardest as vacancy rises And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1122 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is how to find investment properties that make real money in 2025. No “off-market” deals, no mailing letters, no cold calling—we’ll walk you through how to find profitable, on-market rental properties that anyone can spot in any market across the country. Plus, how to separate “upside” potential from money pits that aren’t worth the price. Dave has been buying rentals for 15 years, and he’s showing you his exact method. If you’re used to browsing listing sites like Zillow, Realtor, or Redfin, prepare to get your mind blown. We just released a brand new tool, BiggerDeals (100% free, by the way), that allows you to quickly search on-market properties and instantly get their cash flow, cash-on-cash return, cap rate, and rent-to-value ratios. This trims down your search time for properties by a massive margin. Now that you’ve used BiggerDeals to find your next potential rental, Dave will show you how to run the numbers in-depth to ensure you’re buying a deal, not a dud. If the numbers work, and it fits your buy box, it’s time to make an offer! The deal-finding and analysis can all be done in minutes, which means you’re WAY closer to your first (or next) rental property than you thought! In This Episode We Cover How to find profitable rental properties in any market in just minutes with BiggerDeals Why you DON’T need to find “off-market deals” to invest in real estate The “funnel” approach to finding rentals and how to trim down your search time by 90%+ Using the rental property calculator to easily run your numbers How to estimate variable expenses on your next investment property The one thing you should always do before you offer on a property And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1121 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This investor quit her job for good, with just four rental properties. Not 40, not 400—four rentals. And she’s not looking to grow much beyond that. You’ve heard other investors talk about owning dozens, even hundreds of rental units, but you DON’T need to get to that scale to reach financial freedom. Antoinette Munroe is proof of that. After countless “I hate my job” Google searches, Antoinette found the FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early). This prompted her to start saving and investing at a far greater speed than before, hopefully giving her enough runway to quit. She had saved enough to buy her first house—but realized it could actually make her money. The accidental real estate investor was born! Fast forward around a decade later, Antoinette owns four rental properties with very high cash flow. She’s done flips, learned to renovate and rehab homes, added additions to increase value, split properties in two, and done whatever it takes to make more from one house. But does Antoinette want more rental units? Not really. She’s happy with her small and mighty real estate portfolio—unless an investment in one of her vacation destinations comes up for sale! In This Episode We Cover: Why you DON’T need a large rental property portfolio to quit your job The unique, high-cash flow rental properties Antoinette focuses on today Doubling your cash flow by “splitting” rentals with the right amount of space How to fight city code enforcement fines and reduce them by 90% Using a HELOC to buy rental properties (and get ALL your money back via BRRRR!) And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets YouTube Apply to Be a BiggerPockets Real Estate Guest BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Real Estate 710 - How to TRIPLE Your Rental Property Income with Group Home Investing w/Antoinette Munroe Baselane: Automate your real estate finances with banking and AI-powered bookkeeping. Claim your $100 bonus! Grab the Book, “The Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor” Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Real Estate Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders BiggerPockets Real Estate 710 - How to TRIPLE Your Rental Property Income with Group Home Investing w/Antoinette Munroe Connect with Antoinette Connect with Dave Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1120 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A recession isn’t a time to panic—it’s a time to build wealth. If you’re listening to this podcast, you’re already multiple steps ahead of the masses that shift their mindset with every news story shouting from the rooftops that a crash, correction, or recession is coming. Savvy investors are sitting, waiting, knowing that if a recession does come, deals usually do, too. Want to build wealth during a recession instead of losing your head? J Scott, author of Recession-Proof Real Estate Investing, is here to show you how. J says there are three things every investor should be doing before a recession to be in the best position possible. If you follow these three, relatively simple, steps, you’ll be ready to buy deals at a steep discount while average Americans miss out on yet another opportunity to invest. This happened in 2008, and many modern investors regret not having the means to buy back then. Plus, J outlines the real estate deals that work best in a recession, whether you’re a buy-and-hold landlord or a flipper/renovator. Some homes have serious risks attached to them during downturns, while others offer wealth-preserving (and building) opportunities. Here’s how to invest in real estate if a 2025 recession hits. In This Episode We Cover The three things every investor must do to prepare for a recession Time to sell? Why offloading a poorly performing rental now could be a smart move What to do right now if you have rental properties (and want to keep your cash flow going!) The business “cycle” and why we may be at the “peak” before the fall Building your recession-proof strategy so you DON’T deviate from it when times get tough And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1119 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It doesn’t seem like it, but the housing market could be getting a LOT healthier. After years of buyer-seller imbalance, with rising mortgage rates, low affordability, and frozen transaction volume, there are finally some signs of improvement. But are these changes enough to call the market “healthy”? Or are we still a long way from normal? We’re back with a bonus audio-only episode, touching on housing market expert Logan Mohtashami’s recent article, Why the housing market is actually much healthier in 2025. Dave breaks down the five key traits of a healthy housing market—and which ones the 2025 market actually meets. Although things have significantly improved from the supply-starved 2020-2022 period, affordability is still a huge issue. Can we somehow make the jump back to a healthy housing market? We might not be there yet, but things are shifting. So what does that mean for investors? With uncertainty comes opportunities, even if market conditions aren’t “ideal.” Do you NEED to wait for a healthy housing market to jump into the game? We’re breaking it down today! In This Episode We Cover Signs that the US housing market is becoming (surprisingly) healthier Five factors that make up a “healthy” housing market, and where we need to be to get back to pre-pandemic levels Can we ever solve our affordability crisis and get housing back to reasonable pricing? Signs we’re going in the right direction, EVEN with prices still high Why a “healthy” housing market doesn’t always mean a good time to invest (and vice versa) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The buyer’s market is back, and opportunities are growing. Inventory is rising, demand is shrinking, and sellers are more motivated to give you a price cut, concession, or repair. This is the time investors have been waiting for, and much of the housing market is already on discount. But which areas are the deepest buyer’s markets, and how are we investing today to capitalize? BiggerPockets CEO Scott Trench and Michael Zuber from One Rental at a Time join the show to share about deals they recently bought to take advantage of 2025’s housing market conditions. Plus, we give away free data on the markets with the most buyer control. Buyer’s market conditions don’t show up often—and they won’t last long. Finally, we’re unveiling a brand new, free tool from BiggerPockets that makes it easier than ever to find cash-flowing real estate deals in your area—BiggerDeals! No more scrolling through hundreds of listings. You can see estimated cash flow, cap rate, cash-on-cash return numbers, and more with BiggerDeals! In This Episode We Cover: The free, easy way to find cash-flowing rental properties in your area How to take advantage of the growing “buyer’s market” and which areas buyers have the most control Two real deals Scott and Michael are investing in right now How to get massive discounts (and interest rate buydowns) on new construction homes The four factors that make up a buyer’s market and free data to see if your market is one And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets YouTube Apply to Be a BiggerPockets Real Estate Guest BiggerDeals Data from Today’s Episode BiggerPockets Real Estate 1095 - Scott Trench: How I’m Protecting My Money From “Irrational Exuberance” One Rental at a Time YouTube Channel One Rental at a Time Book Earn 10-12% Without Landlord Headaches with Ignite Funding Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust Try BiggerDeals Today and Find Your Next Rental Grab “The Book on Rental Property Investing” Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Real Estate Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Connect with Michael Connect with Scott Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1118 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This investor turned $6,000 into financial freedom in just six years. He did it in a major market and became a millionaire by age 28 simply by repeating this beginner-friendly rental property strategy over and over again. And, even though he started earlier, you can STILL buy properties like his, at affordable prices, that cash flow, in the same market today. Where is he investing, and how did he scale up so fast? We’re breaking it all down in today’s episode. Jeremy Taggart saved every dollar from his college internship, knowing he wanted to invest in real estate after graduation. He bought his first house, a small multifamily, for just $6,000 down, lived in it, did some DIY renovations, and increased the value. Thanks to the rent savings, he bought another property the following year—this time, making $50,000 (tax-free!) by fixing it up. This was just the start of the “rinse and repeat” strategy that would turn Jeremy into a millionaire before he was thirty. But it wasn’t easy. Jeremy was fired from his job, had to start working for himself, and did what many real estate investors won’t. The result? Complete financial independence less than a decade after graduating college. His strategy still works in 2025, but will you use it? In This Episode We Cover: The easiest way to buy your first property with low money down (only $6,000!) Making $50,000 tax-free using the “BRRRR strategy” (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) The affordable, cash-flowing, stable real estate market Jeremy invests in (you can, too!) Is becoming a real estate agent worth it as a real estate investor? Why Jeremy switched from “cash flow” to “equity” investing for long-term wealth And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets YouTube Apply to Be a BiggerPockets Real Estate Guest Rich Dad Poor Dad Try REsimpli, The Only All-In-One Real Estate Investor CRM Software That Helps You Manage Data, Marketing, Sales, and Operations Grab the Personal Finance Classic, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Real Estate Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area The BRRRR Method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) Connect with Jeremy Connect with Dave Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1117 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Here’s the mortgage rate “range” Dave expects to see through the end of 2025. With so much rate volatility as of late, it’s getting harder and harder to predict when interest rates will rise, fall, stabilize, or go in a completely different direction. Behind all the fluctuations, we can see why this is happening: recession fears, inflation fears, and declining sentiment toward the American economy. There are a few ways future mortgage rates could go, and today, Dave shares his prediction for the 2025 mortgage rate “range.” You want lower mortgage rates, we want lower mortgage rates—everyone wants lower mortgage rates—how do we get there? Dave will spell out the scenario that has to happen for rates to fall, and if you start seeing these warning signs, you might want to prepare. Plus, if the opposite happens, what could cause rates to rise even higher? Finally, Dave shares his plan for investing with fluctuating rates and his strategy for building wealth in a volatile market. In This Episode We Cover The mortgage rate “range” to expect in 2025 (and what’s affecting rates now) Everyone is wrong about the Fed—here’s who actually controls mortgage rates The recession vs. inflation standoff and why the winner will greatly affect your rate The “Sell America” trade that’s putting the American economy under severe pressure How Dave is investing in 2025 and his plan for which properties to buy even with high rates And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1116 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Where would we invest in real estate if we could pick anywhere in the country? Even with many real estate markets stagnating, several markets are still primed for serious growth. Today, Ashley Kehr and Henry Washington join Dave to share the best markets to buy rental properties right now. These markets span coast-to-coast, and we curated a list of nine top markets with the highest potential across the nation. Want an affordable rental property with high rent prices? We’ve got plenty of places on the list. Looking for appreciating cities with super low vacancy so you’re never without renters? There are cities in this episode for you! We’ve even got markets that are great for fix and flips if you’re looking for some quick(er) cash! We broke the country into three zones: East, Central, and West. Each investor chose a market in each region that they would invest in TODAY, explaining why the market works, which strategy performs best there, the average home price, rent price, and economic data that makes it better than other cities in the region. Don’t know where to invest in 2025? After this episode, you’ll have nine great options! In This Episode We Cover The manufacturing “sleeper” market with high employment and low home prices A “steady” Midwest city with a BIG new investment that could drive up demand A super affordable Northeast city that is great for house flips (but maybe not for rentals) Looking for appreciation? This area has below-average home prices, but they could rise quickly The best market for new builds just outside of a major metropolitan area HIGH rental demand here and why Dave regrets not investing in this market And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1115 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We always say it, but buying just ONE rental property can change everything! For Jesse Walters, a coffee roaster by trade but a cash-flowing investor now, buying his first rental property opened up an entirely new world of not only passive income—but freedom. After his wife became a real estate agent, Jesse noticed the sizable commission checks and thought hundreds of dollars a month in passive cash flow beat wholesaling three-dollar bags of coffee. Was he right? Jesse didn’t do any expert-level real estate investing moves to get his first deal done. It was 2021—he found a listing for an affordable house, put 20% down on it, and rented it out. That strategy seemed to work, so Jesse did it again, finding another on-market, affordable rental property to purchase. Then, he took it up a notch, purchasing a fourplex (four units) by putting—get this—$0 down! He used a strategy ANYONE with access to a local bank can try, and this property lit the rocket fuel for his portfolio. Now, he has 11 rental units, runs multiple house flips a year that pay him five-figure checks, and is building a new triplex that will hit the 1% rule from the start. Jesse shares the exact playbook for building a small but profitable rental property portfolio, even with high interest rates, even in a small town, and even if you have no experience. In This Episode We Cover How Jesse used his two small rental properties to put $0 down on a fourplex! “Building” the 1% rule and why brand new rentals may make more sense than existing ones Why you CAN cash flow with affordable real estate in small towns The investor cheat code that Jesse has (thanks to his wife) and why you NEED an investor-friendly agent to get the best deals How Jesse made $21,000 on a quick, cosmetic, low-cost flip (as a complete newbie) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1114 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The housing market could do something it’s never done before—permanently reverse. For as long as home prices have been recorded, they’ve always increased over time. But, with one of the largest generations, the Baby Boomers, aging out, and household formation shrinking as birth rates decline, we could face a new problem—insufficient demand. This is a huge problem for Millennials and the Gen Z generation since buying a house, the primary asset that makes up the majority of many Americans’ net worth, may not be the same wise financial decision as it was before. James Rodriguez joins us on the show to break down his recent article, The millennial homebuying predicament, and why buying a home may get easier for the younger generations, but it could come with less long-term payoff. For years, economists speculated that a “silver tsunami” would flood the housing market with inventory. What actually ensued, however, was more of a “silver glacier,” since we’re still millions of housing units short. But once these boomer-owned homes hit the market, will prices grow, stall, or decline? What happens to home prices if the population stagnates or reverses? Does buying a home become a riskier decision? James is on to help us answer these questions and share which homes could be the safest bet for long-term demand. In This Episode We Cover The demographic dropoff that could transform the housing market forever Properties with the most (and least) demand as household sizes shrink With population concerns, does buying a house become a much riskier decision? The “silver glacier” that’s slowly melting and bringing inventory to the market Could immigration solve America’s population replacement problem? And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1113 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More price cuts could be coming this year. Zillow just made headlines by revising its 2025 housing market forecast, now predicting home values to drop in much of the United States. But do other top housing market forecasters agree, and if home prices fall this year, does it put you in a better position as an investor to lock down discounted deals? Dave is unpacking Zillow’s new prediction, plus sharing his own take on what might happen next. This is not the first time Zillow has revised its 2025 housing market forecast. They’ve updated their predictions several times throughout the year, with the newest release being the most negative for home prices. Some markets in the US are even predicted to see drops of up to 10%—other markets could have price growth, while the rest of the nation struggles. What’s causing the downward trend in home prices? Is it tariffs, inflation fears, signs of a recession, or just too much housing supply and insufficient demand? We’re breaking it down in this episode. If you plan on buying or selling this year, don’t miss this. In This Episode We Cover: Zillow’s new 2025 housing market forecast and why price declines seem likely The best and worst housing markets for home price growth (some could fall by 10%) What Fannie Mae, Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan are predicting for 2025 home prices Is this the start of a housing market crash, or just a break for buyers? What Dave is doing now to pick up more properties as home prices weaken And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets YouTube Apply to Be a BiggerPockets Real Estate Guest Get $100 Off BPCon 2025 Zillow Home Value and Home Sales Forecast (April 2025) Connect with Dave Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-bonus-4 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
These rental property deals are making us richer in 2025, even with high housing prices and interest rates. Everyone thinks it’s impossible to find cash-flowing rental properties in today’s housing market, but this is NOT the truth. We’re going to show you three real rental property deals we’re buying in 2025. All of these are being purchased in 2025—these are NOT cheap deals from 2020 with 3% - 4% interest rates. Each one will build major equity, cash flow, or both. Dave brought backup on this episode—the entire expert panel from the On the Market podcast—to share real deals they’re doing right now. We’ve got three to go through—a $55,000 heavy rehab rental property that will also serve as Henry’s own vacation home, a new build rental property at a super reasonable $214,000 price, and finally, a very creative (but somewhat costly) land-banking deal in Seattle, Washington. Each of these deals ranges in expertise needed. Some of the heavier rehab projects may require a few years of renovation experience, while Kathy’s new build deal is a profitable rental ANYONE can buy right now. Regardless of your experience, you can copy these strategies and get richer with these rentals! In This Episode We Cover Three profitable real estate deals you can do RIGHT NOW in 2025 How to buy a brand new rental property, with a low interest rate, for just around $200,000 How Henry is turning a $55,000 disaster house into a $265,000 top-tier rental James’s super creative way to make $300,000 on land in high-demand areas The best investment if you’ve got a busy job, a family to take care of, or just a hectic schedule And So Much More! Links Mentioned in the Show Get $100 Off Tickets to BPCon 2025! On the Market Podcast Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1112 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Andrew Freed turned one condo into a rental property portfolio that makes him $10,000 per month! Just four years ago, Andrew had little to his name—around $50,000 and a $200,000 condo. That’s what a decade of working had gotten him, but to Andrew, it was a sign he wasn’t doing enough. Like most real estate investors, Andrew stumbled upon Rich Dad Poor Dad and made an immediate change that would propel him to financial freedom. Four years later, he’s there—quitting his job and going full-time into real estate. How did he do it? Simple. “Recycling” his money is what allowed Andrew to scale so quickly. A HELOC (home equity line of credit) on his condo gave him the money for his first small multifamily—a house hack that would help him live for free. With each new property, he’d get a new HELOC and use it to grow his portfolio even faster. Now, Andrew has a sizable real estate portfolio, personally paying him six figures a year, while he focuses on the next property. If you want to quit your job and give real estate your all, you can do what Andrew did, recycling your money to build your wealth—and you can start with just a condo! In This Episode We Cover: How to use HELOCs (home equity lines of credit) to quickly fund your first real estate deal Using the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) to buy rentals for essentially $0 The “sweet spot” multifamily properties that are easier to manage and boast big cash flow How to take down huge real estate deals when you don’t have the money Why buying portfolios of properties (not single properties) is the cheat code for faster financial freedom And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets YouTube Apply to Be a BiggerPockets Real Estate Guest Try REsimpli, The Only All-In-One Real Estate Investor CRM Software That Helps You Manage Data, Marketing, Sales, and Operations Get $100 Off BPCon 2025 Start with Strategy Rich Dad Poor Dad Real Estate Rookie 267 - 24 Units in 2 Years by Making Your Rentals Match the Market w/Andrew Freed BiggerPockets Real Estate 1085 - Making $200K/Year With the Least Amount of Rentals Possible w/Dion McNeeley Connect with Dave Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1111 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Home prices could weaken, bringing big bargains to patient buyers who’ve been sitting on the sidelines. The housing market is seeing some turbulence, even if it remains more stable than other parts of the economy. Inventory is rising, and sellers are in a tough position, with many buyers still waiting out the market. Stock sell-offs and tariffs are keeping fear high, and the housing market could freeze because of it. Where is the housing market headed? We’re catching you up on all the data and big headlines in this April 2025 housing market update. First up: inventory. A few years ago, there was none—now, we may have too much. More homes are hitting the market, which could spell trouble for sellers. With inflation fears and stock market uncertainty dragging down demand, prices may soften. Don’t worry, this isn’t another 2008, even though a certain “delinquency chart” would have you thinking so. We’re also hitting on the condo market and why more than half of condo sellers should prepare to accept an under-asking price…and this could be just the start. In This Episode We Cover: April 2025 housing market update: home prices, inventory, mortgage rates, and more Why inventory is rising so quickly now and what it means for buyers (good news?) Home price predictions and whether or not we’ll see prices fall even more in inventory-heavy markets The condo market’s notable sign of weakness and why price drops are becoming more common With more economic pain, will foreclosures increase? Here’s why mortgage delinquencies aren’t exploding And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets YouTube Apply to Be a BiggerPockets Real Estate Guest Get Early Bird Tickets to BPCon2025 ($100 Off!) On the Market 309 - Americans Are Late on Their Mortgages: Why I’m NOT Worried About THAT Chart BiggerPockets Real Estate 1103 - April 2025 “Upside” Update: Making a BIG Change to My Portfolio (Cashing Out) Try REsimpli, The Only All-In-One Real Estate Investor CRM Software That Helps You Manage Data, Marketing, Sales, and Operations Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust Start Investing with Dave’s Book, “Start with Strategy” Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Real Estate Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders On the Market 309 - Americans Are Late on Their Mortgages: Why I’m NOT Worried About THAT Chart Connect with Dave Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1110 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices