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The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast|Real Estate Investing
The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast|Real Estate Investing
Author: Chris Prefontaine
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© Copyright: CHEW Publishing, 2021
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Welcome to the Smart Real Estate Coach podcast. Our episodes are designed to help YOU reach the next level of real estate investing no matter where you are right now.
To make this a reality, we lean into our 32+ years of experience, our huge network of experts, and our thriving community of Associates. With the right tools, the right education, and the right mindset YOU can take control of your financial future.
At Smart Real Estate Coach, we empower individuals and families to create the life of their dreams through real estate.
If you are an aspiring or seasoned real estate investor looking for a proven investment system, robust education, and a thriving support community, you have come to the right place.
We share the best information from our own deals, our Associate's deals, and our guest experts, helping you potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars in costly mistakes.
And we know what the work actually takes. Between our Associates and our own deals, we're still completing deals every month and control, at any given time between $60-100 million dollars worth of real estate with little to no money down. If you're serious about making money in the world of real estate investment, then keep listening to learn more!
To make this a reality, we lean into our 32+ years of experience, our huge network of experts, and our thriving community of Associates. With the right tools, the right education, and the right mindset YOU can take control of your financial future.
At Smart Real Estate Coach, we empower individuals and families to create the life of their dreams through real estate.
If you are an aspiring or seasoned real estate investor looking for a proven investment system, robust education, and a thriving support community, you have come to the right place.
We share the best information from our own deals, our Associate's deals, and our guest experts, helping you potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars in costly mistakes.
And we know what the work actually takes. Between our Associates and our own deals, we're still completing deals every month and control, at any given time between $60-100 million dollars worth of real estate with little to no money down. If you're serious about making money in the world of real estate investment, then keep listening to learn more!
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In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Yvonne Trost, happiness coach, certified hypnotherapist, and co-founder of Limitless You, for a conversation that hits the hardest part of our genius model head-on: mindset. We can teach skill set. We can teach systems. But when life throws curveballs, mindset is what determines whether you stay stuck or move forward. Yvonne shares her journey from a small-town upbringing in central Illinois, to a high-performing consulting career, to a life-changing personal transformation that led her into hypnotherapy, mindfulness, and transformational coaching. We unpack how limiting beliefs get formed, why so many high achievers are unknowingly running on subconscious autopilot, and how fear, judgment, doubt, and self-pity quietly cap your growth in business and life. We also talk about anxiety, nervous system triggers, identity, visibility, and why self-help is not selfish. If you're an entrepreneur, investor, or leader who knows the next breakthrough is not just about tactics but about who you are becoming, this episode will give you a fresh lens on how to stop recreating the past and start building your future on purpose. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Who is Yvonne Trost? 02:13 Yvonne's backstory: small-town Illinois and a sheltered upbringing 03:46 How love can still create limiting beliefs 04:50 Divorce as the wake-up call 05:35 How hypnotherapy changed everything 06:51 The yacht and dock metaphor: why so many people stay stuck 08:05 The past and future do not exist the way we think they do 09:02 Creating your future present instead of your past present 10:21 Why hustle and grind may be the wrong operating system 11:16 Understanding that things are happening for you, not to you 13:20 Anxiety is often a side effect, not the root problem 14:30 The zebra and lion analogy for the nervous system 17:23 Why mindset work matters more than the next tactic 20:20 What Yvonne's programs actually look like 21:27 The 3-Step Process: realize, recode, rewrite 24:21 Why most self-help does not go deep enough 28:11 Program delivery: Zoom and in-person experiences in Washington DC 29:43 How to choose a coach to work with 33:08 Free resources and the Limitless You quiz 34:20 Why self-help is not selfish Quotables "We cause ourselves suffering based upon the past or the future, but those things don't exist." "Your mind only will entertain things that are one, good to have done, and two, possible to do." "Self-help is not selfish." Links Limitless You https://unlocklimitlessyou.com/ The Limitless You Quiz https://unlocklimitlessyou.com/self-love-quiz/ 3 Paydays® Live https://3paydayslive.com/podcast Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery 3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Andre Stewart, founder and CEO of InvestFar Capital and host of Investing Uncensored, for a conversation that hits both mindset and market timing in a big way. Andre shares how growing up in poverty in the deep South, bouncing between family homes, and getting early exposure to a better life shaped his obsession with success, wealth creation, and real estate investing. He walks through the mentors, books, and moments that changed his trajectory, including how seeing a millionaire up close completely rewired what he believed was possible.  We also go deep on Andre's framework around money beliefs, "adaptive sovereignty," and the four domains he says secretly suppress most people's income: emotional command, strategic time orientation, cognitive immunity, and identity. From there, we connect the dots between proximity, association, AI disruption, job insecurity, entrepreneurship, and why creative real estate may be one of the biggest opportunities of the next several years. If you're trying to increase your income, break out of an old environment, build real wealth, or prepare for what AI is about to do to the economy, this episode is a serious wake-up call. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:35 Andre's backstory: poverty, military family, and growing up hungry 02:52 The first moment of exposure that changed everything 04:09 Why exposure and association are everything 05:25 Social media, borrowed environments, and distorted thinking 06:12 Learning from his father: working 3 jobs, thinking that was the only path 07:47 Why people hesitate to invest in coaching but not college 08:24 Borrowing someone else's capacity and confidence 09:16 What Adaptive Sovereignty actually measures 10:56 Cognitive immunity and narrative defense 14:15 The costly 2020 lesson: selling too early because of fear 15:34 The importance of identity and visibility 17:15 Why most people feel underpaid, but the problem is structural 18:20 Free Resource: the Adaptive Sovereignty test 19:19 Real estate in a changing market 20:15 Why AI and layoffs are about to create massive real estate opportunities 22:21 Real stories from six-figure employees looking for an exit 24:00 Why $100,000 is no longer security in today's economy Quotables "Most people feel like they're underpaid, but it's more structural than anything." "There's going to be a lot of opportunity for people to buy real estate without ever getting mortgages and just doing creative financing." "Knowledge is power, but you have to use it." Links Adaptive Sovereignty https://adaptivesovereignty.com Investing Uncensored Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/investing-uncensored/id1488578229 3 Paydays® Live https://3paydayslive.com/podcast Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery 3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with multifamily real estate legend Rod Khleif for a conversation that goes way beyond apartments and straight into the mindset required to build, lose, and rebuild real wealth. Rod is the host of the Lifetime Cash Flow Through Real Estate Investing podcast, a longtime multifamily investor, and a coach whose students collectively own hundreds of thousands of units. We use his story to unpack what really separates people who stay stuck from people who create momentum in real estate and business.  Rod shares how he went from a poor Dutch immigrant kid in Denver, to making over $100,000 in real estate by his third year, to building a massive portfolio, losing roughly $50 million in the 2008 crash, and rebuilding again through mindset, focus, and action. We talk about goal setting, decisions, fear, limiting beliefs, job insecurity, focus, peer groups, gratitude, and why your business should be your vehicle, not your identity. If you are stuck in a W-2, afraid to start, recovering from a setback, or trying to level up in multifamily investing, this episode will hit you right between the eyes in the best way. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Who is Rod Khleif? 02:38 Rod's background: poor immigrant to real estate investor 04:09 Early real estate success and the mindset turning point 05:08 Building massive wealth then losing $50 million 06:07 How your goals will shape your success 07:43 Why it's important for you to make a real decision, not a half-decision 08:16 The real risk: W-2 jobs vs real estate 10:30 How to get past your fear 12:55 The first step matters more than seeing the whole staircase 14:08 Fear regret more than failure 15:01 The truth about your limiting beliefs 16:47 Rebuilding after the 2008 crash 19:38 Why focus is your power in real estate 21:35 Play to your strengths and partner for your weaknesses 23:23 Multifamily and senior housing investments 26:06 How to connect with Rod and learn about multifamily 27:04 How your peer group can influence your success in business 28:43 Using gratitude as a wealth-building tool 30:40 Smart Real Estate Coach resources Quotables "It starts with goals. You've got to know what you want because you've got to have enough burning desire or hunger to push through fear or push through limiting beliefs." "Don't let it be your identity. Let it be your vehicle." "If you have one of these belief systems, recognize that the acronym for belief systems is BS, because there's no basis in fact." Links 3 Paydays® Live https://3paydayslive.com/podcast Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery 3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this solo episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I go straight into the trenches on a topic that frustrates most investors but fires me up: overpriced homes. Most investors run from them, argue with sellers, or waste time trying to prove them wrong. I want to show you why I love them, how to think about them differently, and how to turn them into real creative finance opportunities.  I break down why overpriced homes usually mean little competition, why motivation often reveals itself over time, and how to stop fighting with sellers over comps and instead move to their side of the table. I walk through the exact language we use to uncover motivation, how to position premium prices with premium terms, and why principal-only payments can make a "high" price completely workable. I also explain the one key question that tells you whether a seller is worth following up with or not. If you want more subject-to deals, owner financing deals, and three-payday opportunities without chasing dead leads, this episode will help you see overpriced properties as one of the best niches in creative real estate. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:26 A peek inside the In the Trenches Bootcamp 02:13 What most investors do wrong with overpriced homes 03:30 Why creative investors love overpriced homes 04:18 Stop sitting across the table from the seller 05:11 The key reframe: the market makes up the numbers 06:15 What happens in the conventional market 07:30 Why creative deals are the better path 09:10 Free discovery session with the Smart Real Estate Coach team 10:21 Sample scenarios: free and clear homes, sellers with mortgage and equity 11:03 Why longer terms can justify a premium price 12:11 The most important question in the whole script 13:20 How to decide your follow-up strategy 14:03 The Smart Real Estate Coach system in REI BlackBook 15:10 The one constant in real estate: market changes 16:20 Real 3 Payday potential and 6-figure deals 17:40 Subscribe, give feedback, and keep learning Quotables "The market makes up the numbers. You and I don't."' "If we can't make the price work, maybe we can make the terms work." "There's never been a better time to be creative." Links Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery 3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this family-cast episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with our High 6 Associate Richard Whitman to walk through his 20-year journey from mechanic and accountant to creative real estate investor building three-payday deals. Rich bought his first flip back in 2005, was actively buying foreclosures through the 2008 crash, and today holds 13 properties, 20 units, and an Airbnb—plus he's now stacking terms deals on top of that portfolio.  We break down how he turned an expired listing from a veteran on the brink of giving the house back to the bank into a subject-to, three-payday deal worth roughly $80,000 in total profit, with $30,000 down, strong monthly cash flow, and a solid back-end. You'll hear how the bootcamp "light bulbs" helped him stop over-rehabbing, how our buyer-side systems and Wednesday Q&A calls fast-tracked his confidence, and why his mission now is to help families avoid foreclosure while hitting his goal of two creative finance deals a month. If you're a W-2 earner, a seasoned flipper, or a buy-and-hold investor who knows there's more leverage in terms, this conversation will show you how to plug into the three-payday system and move from baby steps to "jogging" toward financial freedom. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 02:03 How Rich got the real estate itch 03:01 Buying foreclosures through the 2008 crash 04:10 Passion for foreclosures and helping people 05:26 From bootcamp light-bulb moments to joining the community 06:50 Why the three-payday structure clicked 07:25 Building a family business with his daughter 08:12 Deal breakdown: expired listing, veteran, and sub-to 09:10 Learning subject-to on the fly and educating the seller 10:02 Support from the Smart Real Estate Coach team 11:21 Why weekly buyer Q&A calls matter 15:02 The numbers: $30K down and ~80K total profit 16:04 Gratitude and impact: serving both sides of the table 17:55 Deal timelines: from lead to contract to funded buyer 18:37 Balancing helping family, flips, and three-payday goals 20:21 Leveraging coaches and a deep bench of experience 22:01 Mindset shift: from loss and fear to baby steps and jogging Quotables "I bought my first flip, cost me ten grand, put about twelve in it and sold it for fifty. So that gave me a good itch to start doing more." "I'm just thankful for anything. I'm thankful I could help somebody out… I'm thankful I got somebody in a house that weren't able to get qualified through banks." "Even if you just start out at the bottom level, get in there, put your foot in there and start taking the baby steps, and sooner or later you'll be jogging." Links Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery 3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Don Williams, entrepreneur, sales and leadership expert, and host of The Proven Entrepreneur Show, to talk about what it really takes to go from W-2 employee to wealthy business owner and long-term real estate investor. Don's founded a dozen companies since 1986, started his first one with just $6,000, and bought his first commercial building almost by accident—then held it for decades while tenants paid down the debt. We dig into why your tax situation changes the minute you stop taking a paycheck, the only two things that actually matter in business, how to use side hustles and coaching to de-risk the jump from corporate, and why buying the right deals and keeping them forever can quietly build "sleep-well" wealth. If you're sitting on the fence about entrepreneurship or wondering how to scale your income and your portfolio, this conversation gives you a real, no-fluff roadmap. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:01 Who is Don Williams? 03:15 Learning from failure and slow lessons 04:46 Leaving your W-2 and becoming a first-time entrepreneur 06:11 Side hustles, fear, and crossing the street 07:01 Why every serious entrepreneur needs a coach 08:05 Don's first commercial property deal 09:07 10,000-sq-ft office building breakdown 10:10 Negotiating a 10-year fixed-rate loan 11:16 Cash flow, repairs, and never feeding the building 14:14 A near-miss with property taxes and foreclosure 15:17 "Buy, pay-off, keep forever" strategy 16:37 Paying for the right coaches (and why cheap is expensive) 18:18 The 1% rule deal bought sight unseen 19:09 Reputation as your most valuable asset 20:07 Winning on the buy side, not the sell side 21:10 Skillset vs mindset for entrepreneurs 22:20 Paying $15,000 for a half-day with a "genius" 23:49 Why getting the right coach is key in entrepreneurship 25:25 College ROI vs elite coaching ROI 26:25 The XTO Energy story and not needing to own it all 28:04 Hiring the best people on planet Earth 29:45 How to connect with Don 32:05 Christopher Robin's advice for investors and entrepreneurs Quotables "I made about a zillion mistakes in everything I ever did, but I won often enough and big enough to get ahead of the game." "People overcomplicate business. There's like only two things to do in business: one is bring money in and the other is keep money from leaving." "When you deal with the very best people on planet Earth, you can't pay too much. They'll demand that they deliver an ROI to you." Links Don Williams Global https://donwilliamsglobal.com Don Williams don@donwilliams.com The Proven Entrepreneur https://provenentrepreneurshow.com/ Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery 3 Paydays® System Mastery Course - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Anthony Faso and Cameron Christiansen, founders of Infinite Wealth Consultants and hosts of The Infinite Wealth Podcast, to unpack how infinite banking fits hand-in-glove with creative real estate. We talk about using specially designed high-cash-value whole life insurance as your own private bank, why those policies don't go to zero the way stocks can, and how to store your "three paydays" in a vehicle that is safe, liquid, and tax-advantaged. Anthony and Cameron walk through how to tell if your current policy is built correctly, how much capital you really need to get started, and how to use leverage and policy loans to scale a portfolio faster without giving up control to Wall Street. If you're serious about passive income and long-term wealth, this conversation will give you a concrete game plan to evaluate infinite banking for yourself and your family. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:02 How infinite banking and our 3 Paydays System™ 01:20 Who are Anthony Faso and Cameron Christiansen? 03:01 What "Recovering CPA" means for Anthony 04:58 What is Infinite Banking? 06:48 The difference between infinite banking and traditional savings 08:13 Infinite banking vs. security backed line of credit 10:15 How much do you need to start infinite banking? 13:05 Good debt, bad debt, and fixing your mindset 14:13 How to change your mindset about debt 15:20 The disadvantages of paying with cash 16:15 Using leverage to scale your real estate portfolio 18:11 What to look out for when investing in your policies 19:57 Is your current whole life policy built for infinite banking? 22:14 FREE resources from Anthony and Cameron 23:33 Is infinite banking right for you? 25:00 How I personally use infinite banking 26:48 Free Smart Real Estate Coach resources Quotables "With infinite banking, it won't and can't go to zero. And with real estate, it won't and can't go to zero. Your house can't go to zero." "We're designing it to minimize that death benefit and maximize cash. You're going to have cash from day one." "I don't bring people on that do stuff that I don't do. I own policies personally in this arena, I own policies for the business, and I have each of my grandkids funded for a policy." Links Free Course: Infinite Wealth Consultants https://infinitewealthconsultants.com/smartrealestate Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery 3 Paydays® System - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Alan Weiss, one of the most respected consultants on the planet, to talk about how real estate investors can build a premium brand, attract deals without chasing, and scale beyond solo-operator status. We unpack why trying to satisfy every seller and buyer "want" turns you into a commodity, how to instead sell to real needs, and what it really takes to position yourself as the authority in your market. Alan shares how he built one of the strongest independent consulting brands in the world, why responsiveness is one of the most underrated differentiators in business, and how to create evangelists who send you deal flow you could never buy with ads. We also get into the mindset shift from W-2 to entrepreneur, why you must learn to handle rejection, and why every top performer you know (from Scottie Scheffler to Oprah) leans on great coaches. If you are a real estate investor, agent, or entrepreneur who wants to stop chasing leads and start running a real business with leverage, this conversation will stretch your thinking in the best way. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:02 Who is Alan Weiss? 02:08 How Alan's expertise will help real estate investors 03:28 Expert positioning for real estate professionals 04:10 Stop selling wants, start solving investor and seller needs 05:34 Attracting motivated seller leads without chasing 06:31 Creating raving fans that send you off-market real estate deals 08:16 Scaling your real estate business with reputation, not just more hustle 09:51 New real estate investors: how to build authority with no track record yet 10:31 Why you should sell transformations, not task lists 11:14 Thought leadership: being strategically contrarian in real estate 14:27 Market shifts, commissions, and charging for value 16:01 The most common mistakes people make in entrepreneurship 17:49 Why responsiveness is the secret weapon to success 19:54 Understanding that every top performer has coaches 21:20 How to connect with Alan and find his content Quotables "We are supposed to be experts. And part of the unique value is combining the real needs of the prospect with your expertise and helping shape that." "Trying your best to meet people's wants is not a good idea because it just makes you a commodity." "Responsiveness is as important as content. If you can just be responsive, you are going to have people's attention." Links Alan Weiss https://alanweiss.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alanweissphd Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this master's class episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Barone, co-founder and CEO of RentRedi, an all-in-one landlord app built specifically for independent owners from 1-50+ units. RentRedi helps self-managing investors streamline rent collection, maintenance, leasing, renewals, and accounting so they can scale without graduating to a big, clunky property-management platform or living inside spreadsheets and text threads forever. Ryan walks through how getting buried in paperwork as a first-time renter in NYC led him to build an app for tenants, then, after thousands of conversations with landlords, evolve it into a full platform managing over $30 billion in assets across all 50 states. We dig into the data on tenant retention and on-time payments, why a fast maintenance response and automated reminders move the needle on ROI, how RentRedi boosts on-time payments just by reporting rent to all three credit bureaus, and how their new built-in accounting and tax tools turn year-end chaos into one click. If you own even one rental, or you're doing creative terms deals and still managing doors, this conversation will show you how to run your portfolio like a real business, without losing your mind. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Who is Ryan Barone? 02:37 RentRedi: All-in-one app for the full rental life cycle 04:40 Origin story: from frustrated renter to founder 05:43 The pivot: landlords wanted tools too 07:20 Bridging the "good landlord / good tenant" gap 10:17 The RentRedi demographic 11:33 Growing without changing systems 15:20 Studying $30B in assets to find what actually works 16:58 Hack #1: Fast maintenance response = longer tenure 19:15 Hack #2: Automate rent reminders, late fees & autopay 21:25 Built for our community too (from 1 deal to dozens) 22:00 Constantly evolving with the market (COVID, e-signing, etc.) 23:17 New integrated accounting & tax tools 24:40 Roadmap driven by customer chats Quotables "RentRedi is an all-in-one app that allows anybody to self-manage their rentals in a simpler, more affordable way and ultimately make them successful in doing so." "Too often people get a bad rap of 'bad tenants' or 'bad landlords.' I think there's good people on both sides—they just don't have a good system in the middle." "We've been able to boost on-time payments by 13% if we just report rent to the bureaus." Links RentRedi https://rentredi.com/ QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this Smart Real Estate Coach master's class, I'm bringing back Brandon Cobb, founder of FBG Capital and host of Recession Resistant Real Estate Radio, to walk you through one of the most powerful and least taught niches in the business: entitling land for national homebuilders and turning dirt into 6–7 figure paydays.  Brandon shares how getting fired from his dream medical device job pushed him into entrepreneurship, why your W-2 is actually your biggest risk, and how he built a land development model where Wall Street-backed builders like Lennar, Pulte, D.R. Horton and others line up to buy his approved projects. We break down his three-phase entitlement process, why he never buys land until approvals are in place, what a typical 15-month entitlement timeline and $500K+ profit deal looks like, and who his Learn Land Development mastermind is actually for (hint: not brand-new investors or "no money down" thinkers). If you've been looking for a way to do bigger deals without swinging hammers yourself, this episode will open your eyes to a niche that works in every real estate asset class. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Recession Resistant Real Estate Radio 02:24 From dream job to "accidental entrepreneur" 03:35 Lessons from losing his dream job 04:51 Fast-forward: from hustling to large land deals with national builders 06:05 Why you can't rely on a single employer anymore 07:01 The opportunity in selling land to big developers 08:25 The "fastest-growing secret" niche in real estate 11:20 Working on a minimum of 50 units per project 12:50 Phase 1: Learn what the city wants & target the right land 14:05 Phase 2: Contract & entitlements (contingent on approvals) 16:18 Phase 3: Negotiate the best possible deal with your end buyer 17:36 Concept plan: aligning the city and the builder before spending big money 18:21 Resources: Skool community + training + coaching 19:01 Training Section #1: Land Development Blueprint 19:25 Training Section #2: Capital Raising Machine 19:46 Training Section #3: Weekly group coaching calls & in-person project walks 20:25 Land entitlement: Not an entry-level, no-money-down program 22:00 3 main exit paths for entitled land 24:22 Free course: LearnLandDevelopment.com Quotables "Nobody was going to look out for my financial well-being but me." "We never buy anything. That's rule number one: do not buy it until all the approvals are in place." "This is not a no-money-down, do-your-first-real-estate deal. This is for experienced investors who are ready to do bigger deals." Links Land Development Accelerator https://learnlanddevelopment.com/ Recession Resistant Real Estate Radio https://open.spotify.com/show/5tuCHd862XmOCviWocPt9o Episode 498: $20M Annual Developer Success Secrets with Brandon Cobb https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-498-20m-annual-developer-success-secrets-with-brandon-cobb QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this family cast episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down again with Jessica Johnson, one of our Wicked Smart® Associates who's quietly stacking 3 Paydays® while juggling a full-time job, two young kids, and all of life's curveballs. Since her first appearance back in October 2024, Jessica's added multiple terms deals, navigated a unique mixed-use property, and even had her second baby, all while leaning heavily on our coaches and community to keep moving forward.  We talk about how she went from her first taken to stacking several more, the emotional reality of dealing with a challenging buyer who moved out, and why she now believes the only real failure is not trying. Jessica shares practical advice for moms in real estate, how she builds a schedule around naps and newborn chaos, what she took away from In The Trenches Bootcamp, and how she's using books, audiobooks, and our "26 in 26" challenge to rebuild her mindset. If you're a working parent, a newer creative real estate investor, or someone who's tempted to quit when deals get messy, this conversation will show you what's possible when you stay in the game, rely on your coaches, and let the 3 Paydays® system work for you. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:14 18-month journey: from first taken to multiple 3 Paydays 02:52 New baby, no "pause" on deals 03:42 Real talk for moms in real estate 04:45 Navigating Mom brain vs. Builder brain 06:18 Leaning hard on coaches (and why that matters) 09:13 Book a discovery call with Smart Real Estate Coach team 11:20 Takeaways from joining the In the Trenches Bootcamp in 2023 12:26 Unique deal update & two properties on the market 14:05 Next 18–24 months: quit the job, grow a team, be home with the kids 15:02 Turning struggles into future mentorship 16:10 Advice to new investors: the only way to fail is not to start 19:01 Perspective & peace in the middle of the mess 20:06 Audiobooks, commute time & the "26 in 26" challenge Quotables "If I'm not making deals, I'm not going to be able to be where I want to be with you in the future." "The only way I can be a failure is if I don't try." "If you don't go through struggles, you're not going to get real-life experience. And if you don't get the real-life experience, you're not going to be able to help others in the future." Links FREE Discovery Session https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery Register for the 3 Paydays Live Event https://3paydayslive.com QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this solo episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm kicking off a fresh 12-month cycle by talking about something way more powerful than New Year's resolutions: rebuilding your thinking, your routines, and your environment so you can actually hit your real estate goals with certainty. Whether you're hearing this in January, March, or October, this is your invitation to "boom, reset" and design the next 12 months on purpose.  I share recent wins from our Wicked Smart® community—6-figure 3 Paydays® deals closed in December—and then walk you through how to stop letting the past dictate your future, why not hitting goals has nothing to do with who you are (and everything to do with who you think you're not), and how to use creative financing and terms deals to create money now, money over time, and wealth long term in any market. We dig into mindset, exposure, association, routines, plans vs. goals, and I give you a series of simple but uncomfortable questions that can change the way you show up for your business, your family, and your future. If you've been learning, learning, learning but not pulling the trigger in real estate, this solo cast is your wake-up call to build a predictable plan, plug into the right community, and finally take action. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:01 December wins: real 3 Paydays examples from the community 02:02 Stop learning endlessly and start engaging 03:05 12-month reset, no matter what time of the year it is 03:45 Your last 12 months don't define your next 12 05:12 Big mindset reframe: it's not who you are… it's who you think you're not 06:11 Why creative terms and the 3 Paydays beat the old way 08:41 Be hyper-conscious of your exposure 10:44 Routines aligned with your plans for the next 12 months 11:28 How routines help make fewer decisions and lessen brain clutter 13:00 "Would be cool" goals vs. real plans 15:18 What is Presidents Club? (Small, private, not advertised) 16:02 Final gut-check questions for your next 12 months 19:06 Apprentice program, In the Trenches Bootcamp, and other programs Quotables "You're never going to rise above the stories you tell yourself." "The routines will literally reduce the amount of decisions that you make that clog your brain and clog your progress." "If you knew you absolutely knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that success was guaranteed for you and it was six months away, what would you do differently?" Links A Happy Pocket Full of Money https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Pocket-Money-Expanded-Study/dp/1571747362 Free Discovery Call https://smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com/discovery QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down for a family cast with Annette Weber from Minnesota, one of our Wicked Smart® Associates whose journey perfectly illustrates what happens when you combine creative real estate, hands-on coaching, and a relentless mindset reset.  Annette walks through trying three other coaching programs before finding our community, joining the 90-Day Apprentice, attending QLS Live (now 3 Days Live), and leveling up into High 6 and Presidents Club. We unpack how she went from feeling "broken" with zero belief in herself to having a framed $321,648 projected 3 Paydays® check on her wall and a $1.1M goal check dated December 31, 2026.  We talk mindset, coaching access, updated training, community, and confidence on the phone, plus the real-life lows—family health issues, lost deals and how the right support system helps you keep moving. If you've tried other programs, hit roadblocks, or are wondering if you can really do this, Annette's story will give you a very real, very current look at what's possible. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Annette's background: insurance, mobile homes & the long road to real estate 02:07 3 coaching programs that didn't work (and why) 05:06 What clicked when Annette joined QLS Live 07:07 For listeners burned by other programs: what's actually different here? 08:31 Mindset, belief & rebuilding confidence 10:28 Why we obsess over mindset, not just "how to do a deal" 14:30 The $321,648 check & the $1.1M vision check for 2026 16:40 Hitting lows: health issues, lost deals & staying in the game 18:08 Day in the life: 4–6 touches with coaches & a 4:30 a.m. countdown 20:03 Live events: 3 Days Live & why proximity matters 22:20 Every coach, one mission: "Let's all get there" 26:54 Why taking action is the key to your success Quotables "I came in, in uncertain terms, I was broken. I believed in you and the other coaches, but not in myself. I had like zero belief in myself." "There's so many people that need our help, especially sellers… and not to mention the thousands of buyers that I have now on my list." "We're all in the game to win more deals. It's very simple." Links QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm bringing back a good friend of the community, Jim Oliver, one of the world's foremost authorities on Infinite Banking and the founder of CreateTailwind. Jim has 38 years in the financial trenches, 12 of those under the late R. Nelson Nash, the pioneer of the Infinite Banking Concept®. Together, we break down how to take back control from traditional banks, keep more of the interest you're giving away, and use properly structured whole life policies to fund cash-flowing real estate and businesses instead of Wall Street.  We talk about the big problems with indexed universal life (IUL) being sold as "infinite banking," why guarantees and design matter, and how to vet a real Infinite Banking coach. Jim then gives a simple, clear explanation of how banks actually make money off your deposits, how Infinite Banking makes you the depositor, bank owner, and borrower, and the three biggest mistakes people make when they start. We finish with a powerful conversation about escaping the 9–5, changing your identity to "investor," and designing a 2026 vision where you stop exchanging time for money and your assets pay you instead. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:49 What's new in the Infinite Banking world? 02:06 The IUL problem: when "infinite banking" gets bastardized 03:48 Whole life vs. universal life for Infinite Banking 04:12 Chasing short-term optics with low base / high PUAs 05:26 How to vet a real Infinite Banking mentor 08:22 How Infinite Banking really works 10:47 The problem with traditional banking 11:48 Why use a whole life policy as your "bank"? 12:50 How to reach Jim & what working with CreateTailwind looks like 13:58 3 biggest mistakes people make with Infinite Banking 16:17 Entrepreneurship and escaping the 9-5 grind 18:07 Identity & environment: two levers to pull for 2026 19:37 Observe, assist, lead, then teach 20:34 Media, markets & the danger of the herd Quotables "The problem is that we finance every single thing that we buy. We either pay interest to someone else or we give up interest that we could have earned somewhere else." "Any time you have a nine to five, I don't care if you're making millions of dollars a year, you're in captivity." "If you're in the herd, you're in the majority. You're wrong." Links CreateTailwind https://createtailwind.com Breakaway Wealth https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-nWVcVpkLqnDXSdqejEqDxR20TpKfe7z&si=fCMS-e95ckyrQQGw Jim Oliver jimoliver@createtailwind.com NREIG https://smartrealestatecoach.com/nreig QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this special coaching sit-down, I hit pause on tactics and deals and go deep into the mental game of real estate investing—the part that actually determines whether you ever hit your income goals, leave your W-2, or build the life you keep saying you want.  I walk our community through practical mindset work: scripting your perfect day and perfect year, shifting from reaction to creation, removing distractions, and getting brutally honest about where you are vs. where you say you want to be. We talk about vision, exposure, coaching, accountability, and belief, and I share personal stories from rebuilding after 2008 to helping my son Nick rewire his thinking after his accident to show you exactly how this work looks in real life.  You'll hear live questions from our group about negative self-talk, self-sabotage, overwhelm, and balance while juggling a W-2, and we break those down into clear, simple action steps you can implement this week. If you're serious about scaling your real estate business, leaving your job, or just getting unstuck, this episode will help you build the mindset, habits, and environment that make the deals, the 3 Paydays®, and the lifestyle inevitable. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 02:17 The importance of reviewing your vision daily 03:12 Do you have your perfect day/week/year scripted? 04:00 The "drunk monkey" and the biggest stumbling block 05:02 The real test of mindset: not when things are easy, but when things get tough 06:31 What is your biggest risk of 2026? 07:26 The "reaction" vs "creation" exercise 09:57 Should mindset be in your schedule? 11:40 Exposure & who you get around in 2026 13:17 Leveraging the power of community to make the connections you need 14:36 Visualizing your future: what does life look like a year from now? 15:39 Mindset coach & reframing limiting beliefs 16:45 Be brutally honest about where you are (and be okay with it) 17:55 The importance of learning to own your journey and future 19:18 Don't take advice from the average; look at their results 21:30 Should you follow the right coach 100%? 22:18 The "game of tennis" with your coach 24:24 Overcoming your recurring negative thoughts 25:24 Solution: script, record & loop your perfect future 26:48 Descriptive but not restrictive: get deep and don't hesitate 29:55 How the start of your day will impact your success 32:25 The philosophy behind "the action creates the belief" 35:20 The $321K check and visual anchors 37:05 Jim Carrey's $10M check story 38:32 Navigating challenges between balancing business and a W-2 40:13 CEO exercise: if you can only do 3 things 44:30 Mindset work takes longer than scripts Quotables "Your biggest risk in my opinion of not achieving your goals in '26 is not getting rid of distractions." "It's easier to act your way into a new belief than it is to believe your way into a new action." "If someone is where you want to be, and they give you advice, should you do it 100%… even when you don't feel like it?" Links QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm hanging out with someone who's been in the trenches in some of the toughest rental markets and came out retired on a Florida beach — Ron Faraci. Ron has owned and managed several hundred low-income rentals, transformed ugly, problem portfolios into highly profitable ones, and ran CT REIA, the fifth-largest real estate investors association in the country. He's also the author of Confessions of a Landlord and creator of the now-famous 31-page "Bulletproof Lease."  We unpack how Ron quit his job, cashed out his 401(k), and went all-in on class C/D "ghetto-adjacent" properties, why he cares more about terms than price, and how he used forced appreciation and systems to retire in his mid-40s. He shares real-world landlording tactics—no garbage disposals, painted "magic handles," orange-coated copper, even canine-unit letters to chase off drug dealers—plus why he runs his business with "no mercy, no quarter" and a lease tenants initial 80+ times. If you're a landlord, property manager, or aspiring buy-and-hold investor who wants cash flow, control, and fewer headaches, this conversation is a masterclass in how to make tough rentals profitable without losing your mind. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Who is Ron Faraci? 02:30 Semi-retired in St. Augustine, FL (and why the beach isn't "enough") 03:13 Blue-collar beginnings, LA sales job, and a fear of losing it all 04:34 Quitting the job, cashing in his 401K and burning the boats 05:05 Discovering creative financing early in his real estate career 06:02 Finding his tribe in CT REIA and buying it 07:11 Selling CT REIA and realizing that there's no finish line 08:45 Why joining your local REIA is key to getting started 10:20 Macro curveballs & building your "pivot muscle" 11:16 The pivot during COVID: Zoom meetings & over-delivering value 12:44 The money in tough, low-income areas 13:30 The million-dollar "worst two-family" example 14:02 No mercy, no quarter: If you want a friend, buy a puppy 15:16 The importance of knowing your fastball and letting someone else run your business 19:17 Appreciation vs. forcing NOI with cap rates as multipliers 20:38 What doesn't belong in low-income units 22:24 Magic handles, dirty copper & fly-free trash cans 25:30 Clearing out drug dealers with a single letter 27:57 The story behind The Bulletproof Lease 28:31 Where to find a copy of the Bulletproof Lease Quotables "You grow up with no money, you're stressed about having no money. Then you get a little bit, you're stressed about losing it." "If I was playing poker, I pushed all the chips in. If you want to take the island, burn your boats." "No mercy, no quarter… If you want a friend, buy a puppy… and if you want to eff around, you're going to find out." Links The Bulletproof Lease https://bulletprooflease.com QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm finally pulling back the curtain on how we insure our own portfolio. For about 12 years, my family and I have insured all of our non-owner-occupied, investment properties through National Real Estate Insurance Group (NREIG), whether it's buy-and-hold rentals, multifamily, or creative subject-to deals. I'm joined by Seth Markum, Executive VP of Sales at NREIG, with 20+ years in property and casualty insurance and a background in building one of the first national online commercial P&C agencies. We break down landlord insurance vs. homeowners insurance, why rental properties are treated as commercial exposure, and how NREIG structures real estate investor insurance across single-family, multifamily, short-term rentals, mobile homes, land, and creative strategies even if you're using multiple LLCs in multiple states. Seth also walks you through their monthly reporting program, how one flexible policy can follow a property from occupied to vacant to renovation without gaps in coverage, and how they handle subject-to insurance the right way. If you've ever wondered how to properly insure your rental properties and real estate investments, this episode will show you exactly what to ask for and how to get a proposal from NREIG. Key Talking Points of the Episode: 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Who is Seth Markum? 03:19 Landlord vs. homeowner policies (and why homeowners "never works") 04:18 One company vs. multiple niches: why customization matters 05:08 No one-size-fits-all: mix forms, deductibles & locations 06:21 What makes NREIG different from other insurance companies 08:19 Why you don't want "agent Bob on the corner" for creative deals 09:01 Making insurance simple for real estate investors 10:02 Dealing with vacancies and fix and flips with NREIG 11:21 How to get a proposal from NREIG 13:10 The importance of understanding the kind of insurance you have Quotables "If you're not getting a customized policy… that may not be the scenario that you want to entertain." "All phases of occupancy are contemplated on our single policy form." "If you just want something that's going to be all encompassing, no matter what your strategy is, this is going to be the best solution for you." Links NREIG https://nreig.com/ sales@nreig.com QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Alex Arguelles—CEO, co-founder, and operator who scaled from a two-man startup in a garage to 9,000+ units across multiple states by his early 30s. We unpack how he started buying distressed debt right out of college in 2007–2008, raised 100% investor capital, vertically integrated management, and navigated all the headaches that come with growing from 3 employees to 175 and working through 15,000 apartments over 13 years.  We talk about raising credibility when you're young and broke, hiring (and firing) your first key people, managing teams in multiple states, and why Alex believes your unfair advantage is your willingness to "just learn" by getting your hands dirty. Then we fast-forward to today and dive into his new national sale-leaseback platform, Sell2Rent, how it helps investors buy cash-flowing homes with prepaid rent, and why he thinks the people willing to take smart risks in this cycle will be the ones ahead in 2–3 years. If you're trying to go from one or two deals to building something scalable, whether that's a lean portfolio or a full-blown company. This one's a real-world masterclass in cycles, capital, people, and mindset. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:01 Meet Alex Arguelles: From 21-year-old founder to 9,000 units 02:16 Scaling from 3 people to 175 employees before exiting in 2020 03:24 Running toward the fire: distressed debt & vertical integration 05:03 No burn, no money, and desensitized to risk 06:48 The problems with building credibility as a young investor 08:02 Dealing with doubters and how pain tolerance plays into his success 09:06 Learning through Mortgage for Dummies and no YouTube 10:05 Lessons from scaling across states on culture, DNA & hiring remotely 11:20 The importance of hiring better people to avoid big, expensive mistakes 15:04 Where investors can find opportunities in real estate today 16:36 The Florida real estate market: valuations and rents holding (for now) 17:22 The differences between 2008 and 2025 18:30 How data access can help you collaborate with other investors in your area 20:08 The first step to getting involved in multifamily real estate 21:06 How you should navigate the single-family real estate market 22:37 Sell2Rent: A nationwide platform that connects investors with off-market properties 23:49 What makes Sell2Rent different from other similar platforms 25:02 How taking smarter risks today will put you ahead in 2-3 years 27:14 How to get in touch with Alex and his team Quotables "We started running towards the fire. We started buying distressed debt. We had no money, so we had to raise 100% investor funds." "You make all your money in real estate when you hit the returns or when you use other people's money." "For the people who are willing to take a risk right now, I think they're going to be ahead in two years to three years." Links Sell2Rent https://www.sell2rent.com/ QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books 3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this masterclass episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Trevor Mauch, founder and CEO of Carrot, a five-time Inc. 5000 company that's helped thousands of real estate investors and agents generate highly motivated seller leads online. Trevor's not just a "software guy" either—he's a buy-and-hold commercial investor himself, doing owner-carry deals and turning dead space into productive luxury apartments in his small town of Roseburg, Oregon. We start with something almost everyone asks me at bootcamps: lead gen. Trevor breaks down what he calls evergreen marketing, online lead systems that work for you 24/7 instead of keeping you on the hamster wheel of cold calling and direct mail. Then we go deep on AI search visibility, how Google's AI overviews and tools like ChatGPT are changing SEO, and what you can do right now to win in that new world. From there we shift into entrepreneur mindset: breaking through revenue "pain lines," designing your calendar around energy instead of just money, and building a business that actually funds your life vision instead of trapping you. Trevor shares exactly how he scaled Carrot to an eight-figure company, the role coaching and masterminds played, and why your business should give you energy, income, and impact, not just revenue. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:04 Who is Trevor Mauch? 03:02 Trevor's background: Growing Carrot and investing in real estate 04:55 The problem with "hamster wheel" marketing 06:56 How evergreen marketing generates inbound online leads 07:57 The impact of AI in how SEO works today 09:15 Practical AI SEO tips you can implement today 12:26 Taking advantage of hyperlocal links to build credibility online 15:56 Where to find Trevor and the AI Search Visibility Challenge 17:20 Business growth in 3s and 10s: The "Pain Lines" 19:50 Avoiding the "shiny object" churn through 12-month contracts 21:02 Optimizing for revenue vs optimizing for energy 22:01 The Quarterly Energy Audit: Identifying top energy-drainers 23:07 Redefining success and the purpose of being in business 27:09 Business game-changers: Coaching programs and masterminds 31:21 Fitness, faith, and proximity 34:04 What's next: EPIC Coaching, AI, and expanding Carrot Quotables "Business should give us work that interests and energizes us, it should fund our vision, and it should help us deliver an impact we're proud of." "Evergreen marketing might take a little bit longer to get going, but it builds this foundation and it builds amazing momentum." "You're the best person to mentor the person you used to be." Links Carrot https://carrot.com Trevor Mauch https://instagram.com/trevor.mauch QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Arizona real estate advisor and coach Asher Cohen to talk about building a real estate career and portfolio you actually enjoy. We cover how he went from marketing and commercial real estate through the 2008 crash to closing nearly 1,000 deals, focusing on buy-and-hold rentals, high-demand markets, and turning your current home into your first investment property. We also dive into leaving the W-2, using coaching the right way, working with investor-savvy agents, and Asher's core value of "love where you live." If you're an investor, agent, or aspiring full-time real estate entrepreneur, this episode will help you design a values-driven, cash-flowing real estate business. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Who is Asher Cohen? 03:04 From marketing to commercial real estate before the 2008 crash 04:02 Pivot to residential: buy-and-hold, fix-and-flip, and hedge funds 05:08 Personal investing strategy: long-term buy-and-hold & "monopoly boards" 06:10 Arizona market shifts & why cash flow is harder today 07:55 Getting out of your W-2: Take the plunge & have faith 09:28 The role of coaching in making big transitions 10:44 Beware the gimmick coaches: 12:02 Ethics, values & the whole-life approach to coaching 16:09 Asher's three pillars: team, coaching, and transaction management 18:45 How investors should leverage relationships with investor-savvy agents 20:18 The difference between having a dedicated agent vs "whoever brings me a deal" 21:53 Primary transaction markets: Phoenix Metro, plus northern Arizona 23:24 How to get in touch with Asher and his team 24:10 Upcoming episode on The Real Deal with Asher Cohen Quotables "The best investment property is probably the one they own already." "You have to just take the plunge.You have to have the faith in yourself to make that leap." "Everyone should have a coach. The coach should have a coach, the coaches' coach should have a coach." Links Asher Cohen (480) 650-2995 BUYAZRE https://buyazre.com QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources




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Right on. It's crazy to think you can go very far by yourself. Thanks for your insights.