Real Estate Rookie

What do you need to know about the 2025 real estate market before you buy your first (or next) investment property? Dave Meyer, host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast and one of the industry’s most respected analysts, will tell you everything a rookie real estate investor needs to know when buying in 2025. We’re talking about the best markets, predictions, and one type of property that could be a phenomenal buy this year. Dave believes now is a great time to invest and is backing it up by increasing his investments in 2025. But, he says you need to find the “upside” in your market or your strategy to make more money this year. What does he mean? Dave spells out a few key ways to find often overlooked “upside” potential so you can build wealth even with high home prices and interest rates. Which markets does Dave believe have the most growth potential this year? He’s laying out his top investing areas and the property types that could see the most demand. Plus, why is it cheaper (and arguably better) to buy a new home in 2025 instead of waiting for homeowners to sell? If you’re ready to invest in real estate, use Dave’s roadmap to invest better than the rest this year.  In This Episode We Cover: The 2025 state of real estate investing and why Dave sees plenty of “upside” to come Why Dave is NOT focusing on “cash flow” when buying his real estate deals Top real estate markets of 2025 and the cities/areas with the most demand  A “big shift” that is pushing more and more renters to certain parts of the city  Free data you can use right now to see which markets will grow or slow in 2025  Why buying a new build could be a much better investment than buying existing homes And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube BiggerPockets Market Finder BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast On the Market Podcast Real Estate Rookie YouTube Channel Real Estate Podcast 1065 - It’s About to Get Good! (2025 Housing Market Predictions) Real Estate Rookie 123 - ‘Building’ Wealth as a 24-Year-Old with 12 New Construction Projects w/Donovan Adesoro Real Estate Rookie 473 - Moving 1,500 Miles Away to Buy His First Rental with Just $25,000 w/Austin Wolff Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-513 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

Laura Sides had zero real estate investing experience not too long ago. But, within just six weeks, she made $100,000 on her first real estate deal. How is that even possible? That type of profit is usually reserved for expert real estate investors, not middle-school science teachers! Today, Laura is uncovering the fast-flipping formula that helps her do quick, profitable real estate deals even in her competitive market. During a beach vacation to Florida, Laura read the personal finance and investing classic Rich Dad Poor Dad, and, seemingly overnight, her brain rewired as she became dead set on multiplying her money instead of working for every dollar. So, she took out a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to buy her first real estate deal, but where would it come from? A chance encounter with a neighbor would set her on a path that would change her life forever. Now, she’s cracked the house flipping formula, has two killer rental properties she uses as her own vacation homes, and makes significantly more than her teacher’s salary working on her schedule, building wealth her way. Want to be like Laura? We ALL do, and today, she’s sharing how you can do it, too! In This Episode We Cover: How Laura made a six-figure profit in just six weeks on her FIRST real estate deal The house flipping formula Laura uses to buy low-stress, quick flips that make great profits Why you should ALWAYS be friendly with your neighbors (they might sell you their house) Using a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to buy your first investment property  What Laura looks for on property listings as telltale signs they’ll be good deals  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Rich Dad Poor Dad Laura’s Instagram Land More Off-Market Deals with Crucial Property Owner Contact Information from DealMachine Buy the Book, “The House Flipping Framework” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Start Flipping Houses for Huge Profits in 2025 (Step-by-Step!) Connect with Laura (00:00) Intro (01:02) ZERO Investing Experience (04:49) I’ll Buy Your House! (08:56) $100K Profit on FIRST Deal!? (12:41) From 1st Flip to Beach House (19:55) Laura’s Portfolio (22:32) The Fast Flipping Formula (26:41) Finding Deals (34:18) Connect with Laura! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-512 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

Thinking about buying a duplex, triplex, or even a quadplex? Small multifamily properties are often some of the BEST investments for cash flow, especially if you plan to live in one of the units! But how does this type of property differ from a single-family home? What do you need to know before buying? Listen in to find out! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re scouring the BiggerPockets Forums and answering more of your questions. After covering the ins and outs of small multifamily investing, we’ll get into financing your first property. What’s the best loan for first-time home buyers—FHA, conventional, or another option entirely? We’ll put them head-to-head and point you in the right direction! Finally, we’ll discuss several ways to use your home equity to grow your real estate portfolio. From 1031 exchanges to lines of credit, there are all kinds of options! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: What you NEED to know before buying a small multifamily property The pros and cons of FHA and conventional home loans Putting twenty percent down versus paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) with less money down How to defer capital gains tax through a 1031 exchange The BEST ways to leverage the home equity in your rental property And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube FreddieMac PMI Calculator Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Buy the Book “The Multifamily Millionaire, Volume 1” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 261 – How Nancy Rodriguez from ‘Love Is Blind’ Hit Financial Freedom BEFORE Fame Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-511 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

Home renovations can substantially increase your equity and cash flow on a rental property, but when doing one, there are two key things you need to pay attention to: budgets and timelines. Today, rookie real estate investor Rene Hosman is back to teach you how to do both after just finishing a three-month, $36,000 rental renovation where she turned an outdated apartment into a cash-flowing condo! Rene was able to rehab the entire unit (two bedrooms, one bathroom) with a budget of around $30,000, and although she may have gone slightly over, her returns look nothing less than phenomenal. How did she do everything—new floors, electrical, bathroom, AND furnishings—with such a reasonable budget? If you’re ready to renovate your home or rental property, take her tips. Rene goes through every aspect of the project: the good (renting it out right after finishing) and the bad (a BIG flood in the master bedroom), plus everything in between. She’ll share what she chose to DIY, what was smarter to hire out, and how she paid for it all. We also get the final numbers of the renovation—what the property appraised for AND how much it’s renting for now! In This Episode We Cover: How to stay on budget and on timeline when doing your next home renovation  Unexpected costs that led to thousands of more dollars in renovation expenses  Whether you should buy the materials or let your workers buy them instead (cost-saving tip!) Furnishing your rental property for cheap and where Rene finds low-cost, quality furniture  How to negotiate with your bank so you can get a LOWER interest rate when you refinance  How much cash flow Rene will make off of this small (but mighty) medium-term rental  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube BiggerPockets Forums $1,000,000/Year with 22 Rentals by Focusing on This Ultra-Profitable Niche w/Jesse Vasquez  Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA Join BiggerPockets Momentum 2025 to Supercharge Your Investing This Year Grab Your Copy of “The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders How to Do Your FIRST House Flip in 2024: Budgets, Renovations, and Loans w/Rene Hosman Connect with Rene (00:00) Intro (01:07) Property Renovation Progress (03:35) How to Hit Your Renovation Timeline (06:56) Staying On-Budget (11:38) Unexpected Costs... (19:29) Building Your Renovation Budget (21:18) Paying for Materials and Rehab Expenses (30:42) Furnishing the Property (32:18) Refinancing and Rent Numbers (40:12) Connect with Rene! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-510 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 start investing in real estate but don’t know where (or how) to begin? Even as a brand-new beginner, you can buy your first investment property in 2025, regardless of how high home prices and interest rates get. Today, we’ll break down how to find your first investment property, finance it, build a team (so you’re not doing all the work), and manage it to start building real estate wealth. Feeling scared to start? Thousands of rookies were in your shoes at the start of 2024 and are now experienced investors. It’s common to feel fear before buying an investment property, which is why, in this episode, we’re going over the common worries and pitfalls that stop investors from starting and how you can get around them! We’ll even share the exact markets we’re looking to buy in this year, what types of properties we think have the most potential, and get into interest rate predictions for 2025! Don’t sit on the sidelines; this is your chance to get into the game! Join BiggerPockets Momentum 2025 to supercharge your investing this year! In This Episode We Cover: How to start investing in real estate in 2025, even if you have zero experience Beginner steps to start and the two things you MUST do now before you buy The real estate markets we’re looking to buy in during 2025 (copy our strategy!) What to do if you’re too scared to start and stuck in analysis paralysis Building your investing team so you don’t have to do all the work And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube BiggerPockets Calculators BPCon2025 BiggerPockets Forums Real Estate Market Analysis for Beginners | Rookie Resources Landlord-Tenant Laws of the US Join BiggerPockets Momentum 2025 to Supercharge Your Investing This Year Grab the Book “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area BiggerNews: This Area Has the BEST Cash Flow Potential in the Country (Lake Effect Cash Flow)    Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-509 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 great real estate deals gone for good? Not so fast! High interest rates, inflated home prices, and low inventory have made things difficult for investors, but by looking beyond the multiple listing service (MLS), you could uncover off-market properties that fly under the radar. In today’s episode, we’ll show you how! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! If you’re struggling to make the numbers work in today’s housing market, you’re not alone! Tune in to learn how we find “rare” rental properties that are either undervalued or overlooked. Not sure where to start your investing journey? We’ll share three key factors that will help you narrow down your options and pinpoint the best real estate market for you. Stick around till the end as we discuss lease renewals, tenant turnover, and how to deal with a renter whose financial situation has changed! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: Creative ways to find more off-market real estate deals in 2025 Three key factors to consider when choosing a market to invest in Why proper deal analysis is even more crucial when buying off-market How to determine whether you should offer tenants lease renewals Keeping your BEST tenants and avoiding costly tenant turnover And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube PropStream Privy NeighborhoodScout BrightInvestor Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Buy the Book “Finding and Funding Great Deals” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area 5 Ways to Find Off-Market Real Estate Deals Like a Pro Real Estate Market Analysis for Beginners | Rookie Resources  Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-508 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

Fixing up a distressed property might be the BEST way to add value, whether you’re looking to flip houses, BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), or charge higher rents. But to avoid losing money, you’ve got to know what you’re doing! Today’s guest is an expert in home renovations, and in this episode, she’ll walk you through the entire process! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Investor Serena Norris has done over 200 deals (including more than 130 flips) in just TEN years, so she knows a thing or two about home improvements! Today, she will show you how to complete a rehab project, step-by-step. You’ll learn about everything from forming partnerships and analyzing rentals to creating a pricing sheet in a new market, building a scope of work, and effectively managing your contractors. Whether it’s your first time managing construction or you’re looking for systems and processes that will help your jobs run smoothly, you don’t want to miss this renovation masterclass. Serena offers plenty of nuggets that will help you finish your projects on time AND on budget! In This Episode We Cover: Serena’s BEST renovation tips, tricks, and hacks (learned from 130+ flips!) How to manage a home renovation project from start to finish How to divvy up responsibilities in a real estate investing partnership Building your pricing sheet when diving into a new market How to estimate rehab costs and create your own scope of work The two most common mistakes new investors make on rehab projects And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Grab “The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Rookie 488 – How I’m Flipping 12 Houses (at Once!) All While Traveling Serena’s Instagram (00:00) Intro (00:50) Serena’s Portfolio & Partnerships (07:23) Building Your Pricing Sheet (15:55) Creating a Scope of Work (25:24) Working with Contractors (34:08) How to Manage Rehab Projects (43:47) Connect with Serena! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-507 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 build a thriving real estate business in 2025? There’s a major mindset shift you need to make if you want to be successful in today’s market. Whether you want a couple of cash-flowing rental properties or dream of building a multimillion-dollar company, like Steve Rozenberg did, you won’t want to miss this episode! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When Steve was furloughed from his job as an airline pilot, he knew he needed another way to make money. He dabbled in several real estate strategies—flipping houses, wholesaling, and buy and hold investing—and experienced his fair share of failure along the way. But what he discovered was that the cost of inaction was much higher than the cost of action. By educating himself, learning from his mistakes, and laying the proper foundation for his business, he was able to scale a multimillion-dollar property management company! In today’s episode, Steve will give YOU the blueprint for starting your own real estate business this year. You’ll learn about the two biggest mistakes new investors make, the systems and processes that will allow you to scale, and how to identify the perfect investing strategy for you! In This Episode We Cover: The blueprint Steve used to build a multimillion-dollar company The crucial mindset shift you need to succeed in today’s market The two biggest mistakes new investors make when starting out How to lay the proper foundation for your real estate business (in five steps!) Creating systems and processes that allow you to scale your real estate portfolio The number of standard operating procedures (SOPs) you actually need How to choose the perfect investing strategy for you in 2025 And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube The Checklist Manifesto Buy the Book “Scaling Smart” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Build Effective Systems in Your Real Estate Business Connect with Steve (00:00) Intro (01:22) Starting from Zero (05:07) Mindset Shift & Critical Mistakes (10:41) HUGE Lessons Learned (18:35) The Secret to Scaling (25:43) Building Systems & Processes (33:31) The “One-Page” SOP (40:23) Connect with Steve! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-506 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 “right” way to build your real estate portfolio? Once you’ve taken down your first rental property, should you focus on paying it off? Or should you buy more properties, even if it means taking on even more debt? You’ll want to hear where we stand in today’s episode! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, Tony and Ashley are digging through more of your recent real estate-related questions. First, we’ll discuss paying off your mortgage versus using that money to buy more rental properties. After that, we’ll compare the pros and cons of FHA loans and show you an easy way to estimate closing costs. We’ll also cover some other low-money-down loans that you may have never heard of! Finally, are you struggling to fill vacant units? Tired of apartment tour no-shows? Stay tuned because we’ve got a strategy that makes “serious” applicants stick! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: Whether you should focus on paying off your mortgage or buying MORE rentals The pros and cons of getting an FHA loan for your rental property The “hidden” closing costs you CAN’T afford to miss (and how to calculate them!) The best ways to put low money down on your next property Finding “serious” applicants for your rentals (and lower vacancy rates!) How to save time by streamlining your rental application process And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Sample Closing Disclosure NACA USDA Eligibility Map Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Grab “The Book on Rental Property Investing” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 261 – How Nancy Rodriguez from ‘Love Is Blind’ Hit Financial Freedom BEFORE Fame Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-505 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

Do you lean into data when analyzing real estate deals? In a competitive market, ANY kind of advantage goes a long way towards helping you land better deals. And guess what? Harnessing the power of data is much easier than you think. Today’s guest delivers a handful of helpful tips, tricks, and tools that all rookie investors can use! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re joined by Ariel Herrera—data scientist by day and real estate investor by night. Five years ago, Ariel decided that real estate was going to be her path to financial freedom. Like any eager investor, she devoured as many articles, podcasts, videos, and books as she could get her hands on at the time. Once she realized that she could combine her love for data science with real estate, there was no looking back! In this episode, Ariel shares about the competitive edge you can gain by being a data-driven real estate investor. She recommends several tools and systems, all of which are easy to implement and require ZERO coding. Additionally, you’ll learn how to choose your market, invest out-of-state, and save a ton of time with a few deal analysis shortcuts! In This Episode We Cover: How to find better real estate deals through the power of data science Tools and systems you can use to analyze deals (WITHOUT any coding!) Leveraging the equity in your portfolio to purchase MORE properties Creating consistent cash flow with the house hacking strategy How to find and purchase properties in other states (and countries!) And So Much More! Links from the Show Apify Browse AI ChatGPT Google Bard Redfin Zapier Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-504 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

It’s the season for housing market predictions, and we know who to call! Altos Research and HousingWire’s Mike Simonsen joins the show to share where his team thinks mortgage rates, home prices, housing inventory, and buyer demand will be in 2025. Every year, the HousingWire team puts together a phenomenal housing market forecast, touching on the topics investors, agents, lenders, and housing nerds care about while recapping the wildest surprises of the year prior. Will mortgage rates finally fall below six percent in 2025? Will home prices dip with housing inventory up a substantial percentage year-over-year? And could agents and lenders finally get some relief with home sales, or will we still see sluggish purchasing and buyer activity? Not to spoil it, but Mike is optimistic about the 2025 housing market and what will come over the next twelve months.  Mike breaks down each prediction and what could affect YOU the most, whether you’re buying or selling homes. Plus, he shares the one metric his team is watching carefully to see which direction the 2025 housing market is headed.  In This Episode We Cover: HousingWire’s 2025 housing market forecast and 2024 housing market recap The mortgage rate range you can expect over the next twelve months  Home price growth and exactly how much the HousingWire team expects in 2025  Why housing inventory is starting to climb again (and whether it will continue in 2025) One metric Mike and his team are paying very close attention to in 2025  The market’s reaction to the 2024 election and President-Elect Trump’s win And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube On the Market Altos Research HousingWire’s 2025 Housing Market Forecast Check Out "On the Market" Get Ready to Invest in 2025 with Dave’s Book, “Start with Strategy” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders 2025 Housing Market Predictions (+ How’d We Do Last Time?) Connect with Dave Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-503 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

This might be the fastest path to FIRE we’ve ever seen. In just two years, Emily and James were able to retire early and travel the world full-time. They didn’t have a trust fund, some huge inheritance, or a winning lottery ticket. But they did make some serious sacrifices, cutting almost everything unnecessary out of their lives to retire early and quit the jobs they were itching to get out of. How’d they do it?  After realizing they were throwing away every cent they made, James stumbled upon a popular personal finance blog. He devoured it that day at work and came home a changed man. The AC temperature was going up, the restaurant expenses were going down, and he was deadset on achieving financial freedom. His wife, Emily, needed some convincing. But, with time, they both became locked in on FIRE. They moved to a cheaper house, rode bikes to work, and rarely ate out anymore.  Just two years after discovering FIRE, they achieved it, and they did it without millions of dollars in the bank. And here’s the thing: you might be able to do it, too, IF you’re willing to put in the work. How much money are they living on? How did they cut their expenses so significantly? And how do you convince your partner or spouse to follow you on the path to financial independence? Emily and James are showing you how in today’s episode!   In This Episode We Cover: How NOT to convince your partner/spouse to chase FIRE (do THIS instead) Cutting your expenses significantly and how to save money every single month The big lifestyle changes you must be willing to make to retire early  Rental property investing and how to have income property cash flow fuel your FIRE Why you DON’T need to be a millionaire to retire early  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube The BiggerPockets Money Podcast Rethink The Rat Race Check Out "BiggerPockets Money" Reach FIRE Faster with the Personal Finance Classic “Set for Life” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Saving Money Connect with Scott Connect with Mindy (00:00) Intro (01:51) Poverty to Overspending (06:42) Convincing Your Spouse on FI (09:39) 0% to 85% Savings Rate (17:00) Buying $50K Rentals (23:59) Retiring on $31K/Year (30:10) The Secret to FIRE (33:13) Are They Still Retired? (35:06) Advice for Finding FIRE (36:54) Connect with James and Emily! (37:49) Use These FIRE Tips Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-502 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

Mike Baum owns just one rental property, but this one property alone has changed his life. It’s allowed him to become such an investing expert that he’s constantly being asked for his opinion on the BiggerPockets forums, and he provides some of the most well-thought-out investing advice on the internet. So why does he have just one rental property, and why doesn’t he grow using his expertise? The answer isn’t that obvious.  You wouldn’t know it, but Mike is permanently disabled. After overworking so hard that he ended up losing his vision, he was placed on disability for the rest of his working career. This high achiever was forced to slow down and find something else that could replace his day job. Shortly after his diagnosis, he found BiggerPockets and turned a family vacation home into a short-term rental. Now, he’s got systems and processes that help him self-manage with very few headaches, and he will probably keep this property as his one and only rental for life. Why didn’t he “FOMO” in when everyone was gobbling up real estate in 2020? Why didn’t he grow his portfolio to become the next tycoon? Mike has some clear answers for why he did what he did, and after listening to him, you might change what you want, too.  In This Episode We Cover Why you DON’T need a large real estate portfolio to find financial success when investing Why Mike tells beginner investors that they should NOT buy a short-term rental property The systems and processes Mike made to automate his vacation rental self-management (so he works less!) One thing you should do NOW before you start investing in real estate (it’s free!) The real result of “FOMO” investing and how to stop shiny object syndrome from blowing you off course  And So Much More! Links Short-Term Rental & Airbnb Investing Forum The BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast (00:00) Intro (03:03) Losing Sight After Overworking (05:53) Empty Lake House? (09:21) Managing a Vacation Rental (12:49) Know This BEFORE You Buy (18:00) Just ONE Property (21:25) No-FOMO Investing (26:49) A “Very Interesting” 2025 Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-501 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

Covering your entire mortgage payment in ONE day?! Today’s guest is proof that you don’t need a full-blown real estate portfolio to start making money. She has only ever owned one property, her primary residence, but it brings in up to $16,000 a month being rented out part-time! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When searching for her first home, Nicole Lulinski Weill wanted a property that could bring in some extra income. She started looking at duplexes and homes with accessory dwelling units (ADUs) before stumbling on her dream house—a vintage home that had been used for film productions—and deciding to tap into its money-making potential as well.  Despite not owning any “rentals,” she can pay her mortgage with a single project. The best part? This unconventional strategy is scalable! Now that Nicole has proof of concept, she plans to buy more of these niche investments in emerging markets and rent them out in the same way! If you want to make money without house hacking or becoming a landlord, you don’t want to miss this episode! Nicole will show you where to find a money-making primary residence, how to rent out your home to film production companies, and steps to protect your home from damage along the way! In This Episode We Cover: How this rookie investor covers her entire mortgage payment in ONE day Why you DON’T need to own rental property to make money in real estate How to turn your own primary residence into a money-making machine Renting your home out to film production companies for a huge payday Crucial steps to protect your house from damage while renting it out And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Nicole’s Instagram Buy the Book “First-Time Home Buyer” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Rookie 497 - $1,000,000/Year with 22 Rentals by Focusing on This Ultra-Profitable Niche (00:00) Intro (00:59) Buying (and Renting!) Her Home (10:51) Permitting & Logistics (14:42) Paying Her Mortgage in a Day?! (17:53) Protecting the Property (22:450 Extra Fees & Rental Rates (26:27) The Booking Process (37:08) Connect with Nicole! (33:39) Scaling & Revenue Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-500 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 right investing strategy for YOU? In this episode, we’re going to hear from an investor who has scaled their real estate portfolio to twenty rentals in just TWO years! Despite their rapid success, they feel “stuck” and aren’t sure which strategy to use moving forward. Stay tuned as we show you how to choose the right strategy while helping them get unstuck! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, Ashley and Tony are diving into the BiggerPockets Forums and Real Estate Rookie Facebook group to answer more of your recent questions. After showing you how to nail down an investing strategy, we’ll get into landlord anonymity and provide you with several creative ways to protect your personal information from tenants. But that’s not all. We’ll also discuss short-term rental rates and share the dynamic pricing tools we use to find the “sweet spot” for ANY property or market! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: How to nail down the perfect real estate investing strategy for YOU Creative ways to hide your personal information from tenants How to return security deposits to tenants (while staying anonymous!) Determining the ideal nightly rate to charge (for your short-term rental and market!) Maximizing your Airbnb revenue with the BEST dynamic pricing tools And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube OpenPhone Google Voice PriceLabs Beyond Pricing Wheelhouse Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-499 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

Don’t have a ton of money to invest in rental properties? No problem! You don’t need hundreds of thousands of dollars to start building wealth. Chris Young, a (not-so) rookie investor from Southern California, started with just five percent down. He bought a $500,000 home in pricey Los Angeles for just $25,000 out-of-pocket. Now, Chris has four rental properties, one of which he uses as a vacation home, and hundreds of thousands in equity! Plus, he did it all while working a W2! Chris knew he wanted to invest in real estate early on. So, when he started his full-time job, he also got his real estate agent license, allowing him to have a backup source of income in case his career didn’t work out. But, thankfully, his real estate has been doing more than alright! He performed a “live-in BRRRR” (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) on his first property, making him hundreds of thousands in equity, then bought another one! But, after attending BPCon, Chris knew he needed a true investment property. What gets you monthly cash flow and a vacation home to use whenever you want? A short-term rental! But not everything went as planned—one unlucky event put his entire house out of commission for months! However, Chris is still thrilled that he has bought this property. He shares why he picked its specific market, how he dodged local competition, and did it all with just ten percent down! In This Episode We Cover: How to start building your real estate portfolio with just five percent down! The “live-in BRRRR” strategy that made Chris hundreds of thousands of dollars  Picking your vacation rental market and why you DON’T want to go where everyone else is Using a ten percent down second home loan to buy your first short-term rental  The one very unlucky event that cost Chris $40,000 (you CAN’T avoid it!)  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Grab the Book, “Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 486 - Quitting His Job with Real Estate After Cracking the Cash Flow Code w/Miller McSwain Connect with Chris (00:00) Intro (02:24) 5% Down First Property (06:57) Property 2 (Rent-by-Room) (11:04) Finding 1st Short-Term Rental (19:36) 10% Down Sequoia Vacation Rental (29:26) Losing $40K! (30:01) Setting Yourself Apart (39:44) Connect with Chris! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-498 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

You can make money in real estate—with or without owning rentals! How? There’s a growing segment of the industry that rookies NEED to know about. It’s more lucrative than long-term rentals, more consistent than short-term rentals, and today’s guest is bringing in $1 million a YEAR with it! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Jesse Vasquez has mastered the medium-term rental strategy, bringing in over $1 million in revenue each year from twenty-two rentals. But here’s the thing. You don’t need a huge real estate portfolio to use this investing strategy and repeat his success. In fact, you don’t need to own ANY rentals to get started, making it the perfect option for new investors. But make no mistake—you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty to build this type of real estate business! In today’s episode, Jesse will show you how to tap into this emerging segment of the market. You’ll learn how to build your network, land your first contract, and become a trusted “broker” for human resource and recruiting companies throughout your market. You’ll also learn the ins and outs of setting up medium-term rentals and how to convert an existing rental property into a thirty-day stay! In This Episode We Cover: The corner of the real estate industry that investors are still overlooking How to set up your own medium-term rental property in 2025 How to build your network, land your first contract, and earn money from referrals The clients that make the BEST guests (and how to find them!) Must-have amenities to include with your medium-term rental property How Jesse makes over $1 million in annual revenue from twenty-two rentals And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Buy the Medium-Term Rental Guide “30-Day Stay” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Invest in Medium-Term Rentals Connect with Jesse Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-497 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 you looking to grow your real estate portfolio and build wealth faster? There’s a tax “loophole” that allows you to sell your property and roll your equity (and profits) into a bigger and better rental property—all while deferring thousands of dollars in taxes. Stay tuned to learn how to use a 1031 exchange to your advantage! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, Ashley and Tony are answering some of your recent questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. After discussing 1031 exchanges and “like-kind” properties, we’ll help an investor determine if they should sell or rent a property that, despite the potential to bring in decent monthly cash flow, has some costly capital expenditures looming. Next, is it better to stabilize a rental property by making home improvements that help you raise rent or use the same funds to buy another property? We’ll dive into the numbers and show you which option gives you the highest return! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: The tax “loophole” that allows you to defer thousands of dollars in capital gains tax Building wealth and growing your portfolio with a 1031 exchange Whether you should rent or sell a property that needs major repairs When to stabilize your current portfolio versus buying another property Prioritizing renovations that increase home value and allow you to raise rents  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums Put Your Vacation Rental on Autopilot with Hospitable Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Buy “The Book on Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders What Is a 1031 Exchange in Real Estate? How to Guide & Examples (00:00) Intro (00:46) 1031 Exchanges (11:50) Should I Rent or Sell? (18:43) Making Home Improvements (23:59) Ask Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-496 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

Burned out at your W2 job? Tired of climbing the corporate ladder? Starting a real estate business could give you financial freedom, but is it worth giving up the security of a biweekly paycheck? This entrepreneur thinks so, and today, she’ll give you the blueprint for forging your own path in real estate! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Melissa Shelton is not only an investor, but also the founder of Dear Valentine, a business that blends luxury, hospitality, development, and management. Quitting her nine-to-five job to become a full-time entrepreneur wasn’t an easy decision since she had worked tirelessly for many years to reach the top of her field. But, in the end, her “why” won out, and she mustered up the courage to go all-in on her dream! In this episode, Melissa will show you how to launch a “small and nimble” real estate business. You’ll learn how to set goals, grow your clientele from scratch, and build a business plan that keeps you afloat. But that’s not all. Melissa also has tips for limiting overhead costs, finding deals that give the highest returns, and hiring people who propel your business forward! In This Episode We Cover: How to start a real estate business that gives you financial freedom How to get your “foot in the door” and land your first client Creating multiple income streams that insulate your new business venture Crafting the perfect “pitch” that gets new investors and partners on board How to overcome the fear of failure when pursuing entrepreneurship And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums Melissa’s Instagram Canva Buy the Book “The Quitter’s Manifesto” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Stay-at-Home Mom to “Accidental” Investor with a $600K/Year Business Connect with Melissa (00:00) Intro (01:40) Catching the Real Estate “Bug” (04:59) Leaving Her W2 Job (09:42) Preparing for Entrepreneurship (21:51) A Day in the Life (23:37) Melissa’s Business Model (27:04) How to Find Clients (35:56) Staying “Small and Nimble” (39:36) Connect with Melissa! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-495 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

$50,000 cash flow from ONE rental!? Not many properties will give you this kind of return in today’s housing market, but this investor beat his competition to an innovative investing strategy, and it’s paying huge dividends. Want to find out what it is and how he did it? You don’t want to miss this one! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Garrett Brown envisioned himself running restaurants or operating hotels before real estate investing took him down a different path. He got his real estate agent license, flipped a few houses, and then, in a full circle moment, put his background in hospitality to good use—buying three condos at a discount and converting them into short-term rentals. But when Houston, Texas, like many Airbnb markets, became oversaturated in 2021, Garrett landed on a new strategy that would allow him to stand out. It gives vacationers a taste of the great outdoors without sacrificing the luxuries and comfort of a cozy home! If you want to know how to earn five-figure cash flow from a single rental and keep your vacation rentals booked year-round, stay tuned. We’ll also get into why you should document your investing journey online (even if you’re just starting) and the trick to finding discounted properties! In This Episode We Cover: How this investor makes $50,000 in annual cash flow from one rental “unit” The innovative rental property that blends luxury and the outdoors How to stand out in any market by offering “unique stays” Where most short-term rental bookings are coming from in 2025 Why every rookie should document their investing journey on social media Scoring a deep discount on property by knowing a seller’s motivation And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums Pre-Order the Book “Smarter Short-Term Rentals” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 91 – 8 Units, 10 Wholesale Deals, and $0 Spent on Marketing w/ @liliinvests Connect with Garrett (00:00) Intro (00:53) Agent to Investor (04:00) Garrett’s FIRST Deal (09:59) The Motivation to Sell (14:21) Creating “Unique Stays” (21:54) Land Hacking 101 (28:04) Permitting Challenges (32:28) Funding the Dome (35:42) Cash Flow & Bookings (44:31) Connect with Garrett! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-494 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