BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

Every landlord has some wild tenant stories. We’re sharing the ones you probably won’t believe in this episode. And we’re not just talking about a bad eviction or an upstairs neighbor blasting loud music. Instead, we’re talking about identity theft, living room toilets (this actually happened), random people sleeping on YOUR couch, and the mystery of the magically appearing staircase.  Being a landlord isn’t always easy, but some stories make real estate investing truly worth it. We’ve seen some of our tenants turn their lives around completely, all by having a safe place to live. Even with all the chaos, broken toilets, non-paying tenants, and occasional hard conversations, being a landlord can be pretty rewarding.  Do you have a tenant story you want to share? Drop it in the BiggerPockets Forums! In This Episode We Cover: Why you MUST have a (secured) separate entrance when house hacking  The reason Henry now double-checks the identity of his tenants before signing a lease with them Turning bad tenants into good friends by taking shots with them  What to do when your tenants turn your living room into a bathroom (this one was pretty bad) Why taking a chance on a tenant isn’t always a bad thing and how being a great landlord can turn people’s lives around  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Landlord the Right Way with “The Book on Managing Rental Properties” Property Manager Finder 12 Tenant Nightmare Stories I Swear Are Actually True Connect with Henry Connect with Dave (00:00) Who's In My House?! (05:20) My Tenant Isn't Really My Tenant... (12:04) Taking Shots with My Tenant (16:39) They Did WHAT in the Living Room? (25:53) The Tenants Everyone Wants (29:35) Tenant Turning His Life Around Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1045 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if, within ten years, you could reach financial freedom? Imagine it. You may have a high-stress job where you’re working long hours and making good money but feeling burnout creeping in. You NEED an exit strategy if you’re going to keep up with this lifestyle because before long, you may need an early retirement. That’s precisely how Benjamin Aaker, emergency medicine physician, felt. Benjamin loves his work, and he’s still working today, but now, he has the option to leave when the burnout gets too much. After becoming an “accidental landlord,” Benjamin quickly saw the benefits of investing in real estate. He bought a few more houses and a multifamily building, then went bigger and bigger. Now, he’s equity-rich with a real estate portfolio that can support his lifestyle if he decides not to work. Even if you’re not stressed out at your job (yet), Benjamin encourages you to financially prepare to exit your career, if just for peace of mind. He talks about how you can scale smarter, faster, and better with partners, why sometimes you need to get dirty to succeed in real estate, and how to juggle investing with your full-time job.  In This Episode We Cover: How to scale your real estate portfolio fast and reach financial freedom  The crucial mistake Benjamin made when he bought his first big property  Determining your financial independence timeline and when you want to be able to quit  Appreciation vs. cash flow and the surprising choice Benjamin made to reach financial independence faster  Vetting a real estate partner BEFORE you invest and red flags to look for Syndication investing for beginners and using other people’s money to buy real estate  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Invest in Turnkey Properties with REI Nation Grab “The Intention Journal” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Build a Real Estate Portfolio & Quickly Scale Your Investments Connect with Benjamin Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (00:48) Got a High-Stress Job? (02:30) The “Accidental” Landlord (03:54) Becoming Work-OPTIONAL (10:22) Equity Over Cash Flow (14:31) Multifamily and BIG Syndication Mistakes (23:55) A Really Crappy Problem (27:30) Finding (and Vetting) Partners (30:35) WAY Bigger Deals Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1045 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a “good” real estate deal in 2025 and beyond? How much of a return should your investment property be producing? Are real estate returns good enough in this tough housing market to beat out other performing assets like stocks? Today, we’re sharing our exact investing criteria, defining what makes a “good” real estate deal to us, and how you can use key indicators to identify deals worth the effort. We’re breaking this episode into a few parts as we touch on the primary types of investment properties: long-term rentals, short-term rentals, and house flips. Garrett Brown is our resident vacation rental expert and shares how he’s routinely getting twenty percent (or greater) returns by reinvesting in his short-term rentals. Next, familiar face James Dainard discusses the unbelievable house-flipping returns he nets, but are they worth the risk? Finally, Dave shares the metric he goes after when investing in long-term, low-risk rental properties. Plus, we’ll share when it’s a better use of your money to reinvest in your current properties vs. going out and buying new ones! In This Episode We Cover: What makes a “good” real estate deal in 2025 and beyond The massive return James is making with house flipping (and the HUGE risks he takes) Garrett’s unique short-term rentals pulling in twenty percent (or higher!) average returns  IRR (internal rate of return) explained and why everyone should calculate this when investing When to buy more properties vs. reinvest back into your performing portfolio And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Get a Quote on Your Next Short-Term Rental Loan with Host Financial Calculate IRR with Dave’s Book, “Real Estate by the Numbers” Property Manager Finder What's a "Good" Deal in Real Estate? 5 Criteria to Consider Connect with Garrett Connect with James Connect with Dave  (00:00) Intro (00:51) What's a "Good" Return? (06:21) IRR (Internal Rate of Return) Explained (07:59) What Makes a "Good" STR Deal? (11:14) Flipping Houses (High Risk/Reward) (16:43) Long-Term Rentals (Low Risk) (23:17) When to Reinvest vs. Buy More (29:23) Do This NOW! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1044 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re talking about the easiest way to find profitable rental properties in 2024 (and 2025!). It’s not through cold calling homeowners, sending mailers, networking with wholesalers, or doing any other “off-market” strategy. It’s so easy that even real estate investing beginners will have no trouble finding deals. What are we talking about? On-market, MLS (multiple listing service) properties for sale. You might think, “But everything on the market is overpriced; there are NO good deals left!” That’s where you’re wrong, and today’s guest proves it. Dan Nelson has been buying on-market investment properties for two decades now, and he’s built an entire portfolio doing so (even in recent years). Dan knows there’s a time and place for off-market deals, but he has found so many hidden opportunities on the market that he keeps returning to buy. During this episode, Dan shows YOU precisely what to look for when browsing listing websites for rental properties or potential house flips. He shares the hidden opportunities most investors miss and why you should NOT be focused on properties that make money from day one. Instead, he walks through his simple strategy to create serious cash flow only a couple of years after purchasing properties most investors overlook. In This Episode We Cover: Why (for the most part) off-market deals are NOT great for beginners  The reason Dan doesn’t care about “day one cash flow” when buying rentals  Signs that you should offer a lower price on a potential rental property  Why you should always look for on-market deals BEFORE deciding on a market  When it’s time to start buying off-market deals (Beginners should avoid this)  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! BiggerPockets Rental Property Calculator BiggerPockets Real Estate Rent Estimator Grab Dave’s Newest Book, “Start with Strategy” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Top 10 Real Estate Markets for Cash Flow in 2024 Connect with Dan Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (02:16) Why Buy On-Market Deals (03:26) On-Market vs. Off-Market Explained (06:57) HUGE On-Market Opportunity (13:24) Buy at Asking Price? (15:19) The Cash Flow Secret (19:13) Where Does This Strategy Work? (25:47) Where Does This Strategy Work? (31:59) When to Look Off-Market? (32:55) Buy Your FIRST Rental! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1043 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clay White has done the seemingly impossible. He’s bought five rental properties, completed multiple flips, and done it all in the past fifteen months with high mortgage rates. To make it more impressive, he did it WITHOUT a W2 job at just twenty-three years old! So what sets Clay apart from ninety-nine percent of other investors? As you’ll hear in today’s episode, he went through an almost comical amount of failures, but how he solved them makes him an elite investor. If you think you missed the boat on real estate investing, Clay proves that you couldn’t be more wrong. He not only built an entire rental portfolio in one of the most challenging times to invest but did it with no consistent income, no experience, and in a market you’ve probably never heard of. If you can follow Clay’s advice, mimic his ingenuity and tenacity for problem-solving, and are willing to put up with small failures to achieve massive success, you, too, will be able to build serious wealth, no matter your timeline, no matter your age, and no matter your job. In This Episode We Cover: How to invest in real estate even if you’ve got little money (and no job!)  Returning a house after you bought it (yes, you can do this!)  Why bringing in a partner is an excellent idea for your first real estate investment  Clay’s straightforward solution when you can’t find the right licensed contractor  Cash-out refinances vs. HELOCs and when to use each to pull out equity  Why you should always overestimate your home renovation costs  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Learn How to Flip Houses with “The House Flipping Framework” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders The Rookie’s Step-by-Step Guide to Home Renovation Projects Connect with Clay Connect with Henry Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (01:04) Refusing To Get a 9-5 (04:23) Buying (and Returning!) a House (07:58) Home Run Second Deal (12:54) Rebuilding a Duplex (16:52) Using Equity to Flip a House (26:38) Final Flip Numbers (27:49) A Flip Goes Wrong…Again (31:04) Financing Deals (33:13) Buying Even MORE Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1042 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So you want to start investing in real estate but have ZERO experience. What should you do? The good news is that even if you don’t know how to invest in real estate, you can get started relatively quickly, especially if you avoid the common rookie mistakes. To help you jump over the investing hurdles, instead of running right into them, Dave brought on Tony Robinson, top short-term rental investor, and Henry Washington, repeat co-host and long-term rental investor, to share exactly what they’d do if they were starting from scratch in 2025. Both Henry and Tony have scaled very fast. They own seven-figure real estate portfolios producing hundreds of thousands in rent yearly. But neither of them has been investing for more than ten years. How did they scale their real estate portfolios so quickly? They learned from their mistakes FAST and are teaching you the same lessons on today’s show. In this episode, we’re going through the beginner steps you should take to build a real estate portfolio starting in 2025. We’ll discuss whether you should buy long-term or short-term rentals, how to choose a market to invest in, knowing how much you can afford, the many ways to find real estate deals, and the one thing Henry and Tony WISHED they had done earlier. Ready to start investing in 2025? This is your quick guide! In This Episode We Cover: Best beginner real estate investments and whether you should buy or build your first rental What to do when you don’t have tons of money to invest and how to calculate your buying power How to find real estate deals even if you’re low on time or money The one thing Henry and Tony advise every rookie real estate investor to start doing NOW Emergency reserves and why you must keep cash on you when you start investing And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Real Estate Rookie Podcast On the Market Podcast  Get a Quote on Your Next Short-Term Rental Loan with Host Financial Start from Scratch with “The Book on Rental Property Investing” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Investing For Beginners: How To Get Started Connect with Henry Connect with Tony Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (01:01) Best Starter Investments (03:08) Short-Term Rentals (08:42) 1. Choose a Market (10:04) Long-Term Rentals (14:42) 2. Know Your Buying Power (18:39) 3. Finding Real Estate Deals (24:21) 4. Document EVERYTHING (28:39) 5. Start a “Reinvestment” Fund Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1041 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you invest in real estate with just $75,000? And not only invest but can you find cash-flowing rentals in solid markets with long-term profit potential without spending six figures? Yes, to both. Today, we’re proving it’s more than possible because we’re finding on-market rental properties for sale that can be bought, renovated, and rented with a $75,000 (or less) investment. These are LIVE deals, meaning you could make an offer on them right after this podcast airs (seriously!). To help us out, Dave asked fellow investors Ashley Kehr and Henry Washington to bring a deal to the show that: 1. Has an all-in cost of $75,000 or less 2. Is on-market (on the MLS) 3. Isn’t a house hack (you don’t have to live in the property). Dave found his own deal and brought it along, too. So today, we’re sharing three actual deals in three solid real estate markets, all that you can invest in with $75,000 or less. We found rental properties that not only cash flow hundreds of dollars a month but come close to (or beat) the 1% rule, AND one is already renovated, meaning you just need to find renters, and you’re already making money. Don’t let the naysayers fool you—this is PROOF you can find good rental properties even in 2024.  In This Episode We Cover: How to invest $75,000 in real estate if you want cash-flowing rental properties  Three distinct real estate markets that all offer below-average rental property prices  How much to keep in cash reserves for your first investment property  “Value-add” potential you can spot that’ll help you boost equity in your property  The one cost that you really need to check before you buy in a new market  Key indicators that point to a real estate market growing (or slowing)  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Invest in Turnkey Properties with REI Nation Grab Henry’s New Book, “Real Estate Deal Maker” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Top 10 Real Estate Markets for Cash Flow in 2024 Connect with Ashley Connect with Henry Connect with Dave Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1040 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is property “rezoning” the trick to making much more money in real estate? Our guest is using zoning laws to his favor by finding areas with hidden potential but NO space left to build. He then changes the zoning, builds new homes, and sells them FAST (and often over-asking price) to the local buyers waiting in line for inventory to arrive. You can do it, too, but you’ll need some beginner information before you start. Since 2016, Stuart Udis has been building homes in areas most investors overlook. The average investor sees an area with growing demand but realizes that they can’t build a home because a piece of land may NOT allow residential units, so they give up. Stuart instead gets both the city AND the local residents on his side, having all parties favor a zoning change, helping him be the only investor to build on that once-overlooked piece of land. So how do YOU do this, too? In this episode, Stuart walks through how he finds hidden opportunities in often-overlooked neighborhoods, the groups you’ll have to meet with before you try to change the zoning, and the types of units he’s building that give him the highest return on his money. In This Episode We Cover: Why “rezoning” property might be one of the most overlooked investing strategies  The big cash flow mistake that Stuart made earlier on in his investing career  The #1 reason you must look into school districts BEFORE buying in an area  Getting approval for rezoning from the city and the neighbors you MUST get on your side  How to tell exactly what a buyer/renter will want BEFORE you rezone/build  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Grab Henry’s New Book, “Real Estate Deal Maker” Grab Dave’s Newest Book, “Start with Strategy” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Can You Build Wealth by Rezoning Your Property? Yes! Here’s How Connect with Stuart Connect with Henry Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (01:20) Buying $50K Houses! (05:06) BIG Cash Flow Mistake (09:05) Finding a Hidden Opportunity (13:45) Changing “Zoning” to Meet Demand (20:36) Getting Zoning Approval (24:57) What Buyers/Renters Want (26:37) Buying, Building, and Renovating Rentals Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1039 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real estate investing is great…sometimes. Other times, it’s NOT fun to be a real estate investor. While the pros, like financial freedom, generational wealth, and passive income definitely outweigh the cons, there are times when real estate investing makes you sit back and think, “Wow, I’m not having fun right now.” So we’re here to vent some of our biggest frustrations about the real estate industry, and if you’re an investor, landlord, house flipper, or property manager, you’ll probably relate.  These are the things that grind our gears the MOST. Now we’re not saying to ditch rental properties and real estate investing because of these downsides. Despite all these investment property pains, we still believe real estate is the best asset class for investing. But you will be hit with the headaches that we go through if you decide to invest. The good news? We will give you actionable tips to avoid the worst of these throughout the episode. If you’re brand new to real estate investing or are thinking of buying your first property, this is advice you need to hear before you begin so you can make the most money with the least amount of stress.  In This Episode We Cover: Why you really (really) don’t need to become an agent just to invest in real estate  Getting blinded by “exit strategies” and how it’ll cost you in the long run How Henry learned to work with contractors so he doesn’t get scammed or ghosted Why we’re begging you to stop doing “virtual staging” when selling a house  Etiquette for agents writing property descriptions (stop saying everything is “cozy”) How to improve your relationship with your tenants so you both can enjoy your lives  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Grab Henry’s New Book, “Real Estate Deal Maker” Property Manager Finder How to Work With Contractors and Manage a Job Site as a Flipping Newbie Connect with Henry Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (00:41) 1. Becoming an Agent Just to Invest (04:58) 2. Bad/Slow Communication (07:30) 3. Being Blinded by Exit Strategies (12:30) 4. Unrealistic Expectations (17:03) 5. Working with Contractors (23:22) 6. Agent Property Descriptions (25:07) 7. Virtual Staging (30:47) 8. SO. MUCH. PAPERWORK. (33:19) 9. Shady Wholesalers (37:36) 10. Tenants vs. Landlords Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1038 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discounted real estate deals could be coming THIS winter as the housing market begins to “thaw.” Today, Dave is flying solo, bringing you a housing market update on all the crucial factors real estate investors are looking at—home prices, mortgage rates, housing supply, and rent prices. Even with home sales falling by a massive margin, home prices are still at all-time highs, and the housing market is “stuck,” but we could see some sellers taking price cuts this winter if you’re willing to take advantage. Okay, but how can home prices still be THIS high when the total home sales are twenty percent lower than average and around fifty percent under the recent highs? It’s simple—affordability struggles. High rates, high prices, and “locked-in” homeowners staying in place keep the market frozen. So, why does Dave believe sellers will be more inclined to drop their prices this winter? Where does he believe interest rates will be by the end of the year? And what’s the one thing that could get the housing market “unstuck”?  In This Episode We Cover: Why Dave believes real estate deals are coming THIS winter  Mortgage rate predictions and how low rates could go by the end of this year Whether to buy now or wait for affordability to improve, prices to drop, and rates to fall  Why home prices are still rising EVEN with homebuyer demand plummeting  The MASSIVE drop in home sales since the pandemic boom and why prices have remained high  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Nearly A Quarter of Prospective First-Time Homebuyers are Holding Off Until After the Election: Redfin Survey Grab Dave’s Book, “Real Estate by the Numbers” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area The Fed Finally Cuts Rates, but Will It Even Matter? Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (00:50) Home Prices Are Changing (04:57) The Deals Are Coming (06:05) MASSIVE Decline in Home Sales (11:12) So…Why Are Prices High? (16:19) Mortgage Rate Forecast (18:14) Buy Now or Wait? (19:17) Rents Still Struggling (21:56) Winter Opportunity Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1037 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These two college teammates built a sizable real estate portfolio in just three years by using what they call the “delayed BRRRR strategy.” They’ve used this specific real estate investing tactic (and the regular BRRRR strategy) to turn one duplex into more than a dozen rental properties for their portfolio. They didn’t start with a ton of money and only got into investing together in 2021 when housing competition was high, and rates were soon to rise sharply. So, how does their strategy work, and how can YOU use it to buy more rental properties? In this episode, these innovative investors, Joe Escamilla and Sam Farman, talk about why it’s CRUCIAL to have great real estate investing partners and how choosing the right one can be the rocket fuel you need to build a financial freedom-enabling rental property portfolio. They share the new “BRRRR” strategy (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) they’re using to get steady real estate cash flow AND boost their equity at the same time.  We’ll also talk about raising private capital and creating your own real estate syndication so you can buy more real estate using other people’s money and pass along the returns to your investors. Joe and Sam have built a real estate portfolio most investors can only dream of achieving, and they did it all in only three years, during high rates, and while working full-time jobs. Stick around to hear how you can do it, too!  In This Episode We Cover: The new-and-improved “BRRRR” strategy that lets you “recycle” your money  Signs of a perfect real estate partner and why getting this right is CRUCIAL for growth  Cash-out refinancing to reinvest in real estate and grow your portfolio faster  Why you DON’T want to sit on the sidelines while rates are high and competition is low Syndications and how to raise money for your next real estate deal  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Rich Dad Poor Dad Grab the Book on the “BRRRR” Strategy Find Investor-Friendly Lenders The Beginner’s Guide to “Infinite Investing” with the BRRRR Method Connect with Joe Connect with Sam Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (01:26) The Perfect Partnership? (03:59) First Duplex in 2021 (11:38) This Works WITH High Rates (16:25) Using Other People’s Money (23:33) The New 2025 “BRRRR” Strategy (28:25) Who Does What? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1036 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Lake Effect” cash flow is starting to make landlords rich in this under-the-radar region of the United States. For the past few decades, mainstream real estate investing platforms have almost forgotten this region, and we’ve even overlooked it a few times. Here, landlords can buy affordable homes, make serious cash flow, and see significant investing advantages they can’t get in most other areas. Where are we talking about? Salt Lake? The Great Lakes? Lake Tahoe? Welcome back to this week’s BiggerNews, where we’re discussing everyone’s favorite subject—cash flow (and a LOT of it). We brought Real Estate Rookie co-host Ashley Kehr, a predominantly cash-flow investor, to the show to share why her home region is finally getting the recognition it deserves for real estate investing. If you want the residual income that will lead you to financial freedom and an early retirement, this is the region to look at. You can buy homes for a fraction of what they cost elsewhere, all while getting surprisingly high rent prices, leaving you with a serious supply of cash flow at the end of the month. We’re talking about the MOST affordable cities in this area, why the tech industry is moving in, and one crucial advantage that makes this market almost future-proof.  In This Episode We Cover: “Lake Effect” cash flow and why it’s making landlords wealthy in this affordable area  The most affordable (and cash-flowing) markets in this under-the-radar region Why more and more tech companies are moving into this overlooked area  Appreciation potential and the cities with cash flow AND rising home prices  The “booming” area that has serious infrastructure support for more jobs/businesses  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Get Banking Built for Landlords with Baselane Ready to Start? Grab “The Book on Rental Property Investing” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Top 10 Real Estate Markets for Cash Flow in 2024 Real Estate Rookie Podcast 10 Deals on a $20K Waitress Salary With Ashley Hamilton Connect with Ashley Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (03:22) Still SUPER Affordable (08:32) Most Affordable Markets (11:30) Tech Industry is Moving In (14:57) Climate Resilience (18:56) Under-the-Radar Markets? (28:58) This Area is Booming (32:18) Even More Advantages? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1035 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Should I refinance my home NOW or wait?” If you have bought a property in the past two years, every day looks like a better and better time to refinance your mortgage. After the Fed’s big rate cut last month, mortgage rates did the unexpected…they went UP. But, even with these slightly inflated rates, now is looking like a good time to refinance if you bought a home with a higher interest rate. So, should you take the risk of waiting for mortgage rates to drop or lock in these substantially lower rates now? We don’t know what will happen next, so we brought on veteran lender Caeli Ridge to answer some of our more nuanced questions. Caeli summarizes where rates were, where they are today, and where they could be headed. If you want to know what refinance and HELOC (home equity line of credit) rates are right now, stay tuned because she shares exactly what her clients are getting. What about paying no or low interest on your next HELOC? Caeli shares what may be the greatest HELOC hack we’ve ever heard of—one that gives you lots of liquidity while keeping your interest payments at the absolute rock bottom. You may have never heard of anything like it, so don’t miss this one! In This Episode We Cover: Where mortgage rates are right now for refinances and HELOCs The HELOC hack that greatly minimizes your interest in your next equity line  Caeli’s interest rate forecast and where she thinks rates could be in the near future  When waiting to refinance could cost you, and whether rates may go UP again  The metrics that influence where mortgage rates will go next (what to pay attention to) And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Wall Street wants a strong economy. It also wants Fed rate cuts. The two aren’t necessarily compatible Invest in Turnkey Properties with REI Nation Grab Dave’s Book, “Real Estate by the Numbers” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders With Mortgage Rates Falling, When Should Investors Refinance? Connect with Caeli Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (01:52) Interest Rate Update (06:34) Why Rates Went UP (11:59) Should You Refinance? (18:17) Current Refi Rates (19:37) Best HELOC Hack (29:01) Interest Rate Forecast Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1034 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could not only replace but make MUCH more than your W2 salary with real estate investing? Now, imagine you could do it all in just two years. Sounds impossible, right? Today’s guest did precisely that, with more barriers than most. Jon Boyd left his W2 job to pursue real estate investing full-time, all while having to provide for his family of six! Now, he’s making much more than his job ever paid him and is building serious wealth in the process. How’s he doing it? It’s simple: direct-to-seller strategies anyone can try.  Unlike many real estate investors, Jon skipped heavily investing during the 2010s, so his wealth is NOT due to the rapid appreciation of 2020 - 2023. As his W2 whittled him down day by day, Jon knew he needed an exit option. So, he tried one simple direct-to-seller marketing strategy, found a great deal, made a serious profit, and decided, “Let’s go ALL-IN!”  Now, just a few years later, he’s a full-time real estate investor, doing over a dozen house flips in a year, with a portfolio of five rental properties, and making MUCH more than his job was paying. The best part? He does almost all of it himself, and if you’re willing to push past your comfort zone, you can, too! In This Episode We Cover: The one direct-to-seller marketing strategy Jon uses to find off-market, undervalued deals How to plan your financial safety nets when quitting your job for real estate  How to talk to a potential seller so they feel comfortable giving you the deal  The one thing you should do before you quit your job (or you’ll regret it!) How Jon does over a dozen house flips a year with ZERO employees  An unbelievably creative seller finance deal that most investors would never think of  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Grab Henry’s New Book, “Real Estate Deal Maker” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders 10 Steps to Kickstart a Winning Direct Mail Campaign Connect with Jon Connect with Henry Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (01:09) Given Golden Advice Early (03:43) Quitting His W2 Job (08:54) Taking a Big Risk (12:21) Looking for Off-Market Deals (16:10) Profit on Direct Mail (19:09) How to Talk to Sellers (22:56) Jon's Current Portfolio & Business (24:24) Doing 12-14 Flips by HIMSELF! (28:28) Most Creative Real Estate Deal Ever? (31:49) Can Anyone Do This? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1033 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are there “clues” that point to phenomenal real estate investing areas? We mean the areas nobody knew about until it was too late. The neighborhoods that seem to jump in price overnight, and everyone ends up saying, “I should have bought there when I had the chance!” What if there was a way to easily identify WHICH areas are in the “path of progress” and could make you serious wealth IF you buy today? We brought in an expert with two decades of experience picking these markets. James Dainard is a rental property investor, house flipper, private money lender, and every other role you can think of in real estate. He’s been investing primarily in one market for his entire career: Seattle, Washington. But, even though he’s sticking to this specific market, he’s diversified by having investments all around the entire metro area, even in places most people wouldn’t DARE to buy in. Today, he’s sharing his secrets, showcasing precisely what he looks at to identify these hidden but growing real estate areas WITHIN a market. We’ll discuss whether you should focus on the deal or the neighborhood first, “clues” that point to a solid investing area, why zoning will become your wealth-building best friend, and how to identify markets with solid cash flow or appreciation.  In This Episode We Cover: The “clues” that point to a rising real estate area most people DON’T know about yet Whether to choose a neighborhood FIRST or evaluate a deal based on its neighborhood  The magic of “upzoning” and how James uses this to boost his portfolio’s worth  The “path of progress” that will have your home value rising FAR faster than others  What to be cautious of when investing in a new area (these could ruin your real estate deal) Data sources you can use right now to pinpoint exactly where to buy And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Grab James’ New Book, “The House Flipping Framework” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Is That Neighborhood Up-and-Coming? Here’s How to Tell Connect with James Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (02:35) Neighborhood or Deal First? (06:51) “Clues” of a Great Neighborhood (13:14) This is CRUCIAL (19:57) The Path of Progress (25:41) Stay Away from This (31:44) Do This FIRST Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1032 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to invest in real estate but feel like you don’t have everything it takes? You know you need money for a down payment, skills to manage tenants/perform renovations, and time to find the deals in the first place. But what if you only have one of these? Can you still invest in real estate even without the missing pieces? Today, we’re going to show you how to do just that, no matter how much time, money, or real estate experience you’ve got.  We’re walking through three scenarios with three different investors: Dave Meyer (who had no money/experience), Devon Kennard (who had money but no time/experience), and Tyler Madden (who had skills but limited time/money). Each of these investors was able to build a successful real estate portfolio, all while either being time-stretched, money-stretched, or not knowing how to swing a hammer. They’re sharing the secrets to hiring out/building the other skills so you CAN take down real estate deals, no matter what you’re working with. If you can combine all the pieces of this “resource triangle,” you have FAR higher chances of succeeding in real estate investing and reaching financial freedom. If you’re a rookie with no real estate to your name, worry not—we’re teaching you what you need to know in today’s episode.  In This Episode We Cover: The “resource triangle” investing theory and the three things you need to succeed (YOU don’t need all three!)  The most overrated skills in real estate that you can survive without  Building a team and hiring out/outsourcing the resources that you lack  How to start investing if you ONLY have time, money, OR real estate experience  Crucial skills that we WISH we had (you can make a LOT more money with these)  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Invest in Turnkey Rentals with Rent to Retirement or text “REI” to 33777 Grab the BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) Book Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Mastering These 2 Skills Is Critical to Success in Real Estate Investing Connect with Devon Connect with Tyler Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (04:54) Got Skills, But No Time/Money? (11:51) Got Money, But No Time/Skills? (18:24) Got Time, But No Money/Skills? (20:23) Getting Your First Deal Done (39:51) Building Valuable Skills (37:18) Most Crucial (and Overrated) Skills Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1030 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the best way to build wealth in 2024? For many, it’s “value-add” real estate investing. You might know what this is, but you may have never heard the term before. Value-add investing is when you buy investment properties, improve them, increase the cash flow, equity, or both, and reap the rewards by holding onto them as rentals or flipping them for quick cash. Today’s investor, Tom Shallcross, is doing just this, but he’s making BIG returns (six figures on flips!) and funneling those profits into his sizable rental portfolio. And he’s doing it all in 2024. We know that everyone has told you how impossible it is to invest in real estate in 2024, but Tom instantly proves the naysayers wrong. Not only is he flipping houses, but he’s also buying rentals, BRRRRing (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), and doing it all in a competitive market—Chicago! So what’s he doing differently? Tom gets the deals before the rest of the investors in his area can, takes on BIG house flips that most investors are too scared to, and constantly reinvests the profits into more real estate. He’s been doing it since 2016 and is STILL finding success in today’s market. How’s he getting the best deals sent to him? How’s he making such large profit margins? We’re uncovering his exact strategy and method in today’s episode.  In This Episode We Cover: “Value-add” real estate investing explained and why it still works in 2024 Knowing your neighborhood “class” and why Tom switched from C to A How Tom is making six-figure profits on house flips even in today’s market  Real estate partnerships and the skillsets you need to build a profitable flipping/rental/rehab business  How to get real estate agents to send you properties BEFORE they hit the market  Using short-term projects (flips!) to fund your rental property portfolio  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area The “Value-Add” Playbook: How to Boost Equity and Bring in MORE Cash Flow Connect with Tom Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (02:11) "Accidentally" Investing (06:46) Getting Started in Cheap Neighborhoods (09:47) Switching to A-Class Investments (11:59) Finding Deals Before The Rest (18:02) Current Flip Profits + Costs (26:30) Boosting Your Rental's Income (32:24) What's Next? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1030 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real estate “boomtowns” present a massive opportunity to investors in 2024. A few years ago, buyers were fighting tooth and nail to purchase properties in Austin, Boise, Phoenix, and other red-hot markets. Demand was growing in these cities, and prices were shooting up with no end in sight. But then…it stopped. Prices started declining, vacancy rose, and investors were stuck holding onto properties now worth less than what they paid. The interesting part? These market declines might be only temporary, and those who don’t buy now could be kicking themselves a few years down the road. To give us insight into which boomtowns are worth buying in and which are worth ignoring is Matt Faircloth, multifamily real estate investor. He saw many investors rush to these real estate boomtowns during the peak and are now struggling to fill their rental units as the boom became a bust. He’s identified a sneaky strategy that allows you to buy properties at a discount in these markets to make money while the FOMO investors search for an exit option. We’ll talk about the cities with the most hype, the ones worth investing in, the future boomtowns that most are ignoring, and the massive opportunity of “economic spillover” that could lead you to markets with the best future potential. In This Episode We Cover: The future “boomtowns” that most investors have no clue about (get in early) How boomtowns form and what to look at to tell if one is worth investing in  When is it too late to invest in a growing city (metrics to check before buying) The secondary markets with “economic spillover” boasting huge opportunity The sneaky move Matt is using to buy boomtown properties at a discount  What to do if you bought in a boomtown that is already declining  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Grab Matt’s Book, “Raising Private Capital” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Corporate HQ Relocations Could Signal the Next Real Estate Boomtowns Connect with Matt Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (02:39) Real Estate "Boomtowns" (06:07) How "Boomtowns" Form (09:44) Cities with the Most Hype (12:11) Hyped vs. Solid Housing Markets (16:33) When Is It Too Late to Get In? (20:41) HUGE Opportunity for Investors (29:26) What “Boomtown” Investors Should Do (35:15) Upcoming Boomtowns Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1029 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to know how to invest $50K in real estate? We’re going to show you exactly how to do it, EVEN in 2024. You can use any of the four strategies we share to start investing in real estate with $50K or less, and you don’t need previous real estate investing experience to try them out. Some of these strategies are best for those who already own a home or are willing to invest out-of-state. But even if you want to stay in your area while investing in real estate, we have an option for you! Okay, so you’ve got $50K (or less) that you’ve saved up for your first real estate deal. Do you immediately start investing? NO. There are a few quick things that you need to do first (don’t worry, they’re free) before you can make your first real estate investment. Following these steps will help you make MUCH better choices on your next investment property and will let you sleep at night if/when things go wrong. After that, you can choose any of the four beginner strategies to start investing in real estate (we’re not just talking house hacking!). We even share an expert tip about some of the best markets to get into as a beginner with solid demand and lower home prices, allowing you to invest if you’re getting priced out (or have too much competition) in the bigger cities! In This Episode We Cover: How (and where) to invest $50K in the 2024 housing market  What you MUST do before you make your first real estate investment  A tax-free way for homeowners to build wealth with properties they already own The solid rental markets that have cheap home prices Why you DON’T have to do it alone, and how to increase your investing budget  The one tried-and-true best beginner investment almost every expert agrees on  And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Buy Box Resource  Real Estate Rookie Podcast Real Estate Rookie YouTube Channel Get Free Property Management Software for Landlords with Hemlane Grab Ashley’s Book, “Real Estate Partnerships” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area See Ashley and Dave at BPCON2024 in Cancun! Why Your Small Town Is (Probably) the Best Place to Buy Rentals Connect with Ashley Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (02:50) Can You Start with $50K? (07:44) What to Do BEFORE You Invest (13:02) 1. Add Value to Your Home (19:10) 2. Buy a $160K Rental Property (25:05) 3. Get a Money Partner (32:21) 4. House Hacking (34:47) DON'T Overlook These Markets Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1028 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a strong case of “mommy guilt” working as an assistant principal, pregnant with her second child, Deba Douglas knew she needed a way out of the rat race. A run-in with Rich Dad Poor Dad prompted her to begin saving so she could start buying rental properties. She called her lender, found a property, and spent her and her husband's entire savings on the down payment. Little did she know that this one decision would set her life’s course in an entirely different direction. Now, just seven years after first looking into real estate investing, Deba has thirty rental properties and doesn’t work at her W2 anymore! How did she do it so fast, especially with kids to care for, bills to pay, and no prior experience in real estate investing? One BAD piece of beginner advice could have thrown her entire investing career off track, but she quickly learned from her mistake and leveled up at light speed! Deba is sharing how she went from real estate investing zero to hero, doing everything from BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) investing, building new construction rental properties, flipping houses, and becoming an agent herself to help other investors. Want to escape the nine-to-five grind and get on the fast track to financial freedom? Do it all like Deba! In This Episode We Cover: The one critical mistake Deba made on her second deal that could have cost her severely The truth about becoming a real estate agent (and why it isn’t as easy as you think) Regular realtors vs. investor-friendly realtors (you CANNOT mix them up!) When it’s time to quit your job and become a full-time real estate investor Why Deba is still buying in a market that is seeing price declines in 2024 The massive benefits of new construction rental properties (and why they make sense in 2024) And So Much More! Links from the Show Join BiggerPockets for FREE Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! Grab the Book, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area See Dave at BPCON2024 in Cancun! Do You NEED an "Investor-Friendly" Agent? Connect with Deba Connect with Dave (00:00) Intro (02:00) Chasing Financial Freedom (05:16) First Property, Then BIG Mistake (14:16) Did It Work Out? (15:59) Quitting Her Job (20:53) Investing and Selling Homes (23:06) Deba's Portfolio (24:18) Building New and BRRRRing (26:50) Investing in a Declining Market (33:38) Goals and Best Beginner Investment Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1027 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices