The REAL in Real Estate

Tune in to this episode of the Real in Real Estate Podcast as host Jean interviews Lane Kawaoka, a former civil engineer, author, and CEO of The Wealth Elevator. Lane shares his incredible progression from purchasing a single rental house in 2009 while working as a railroad construction supervisor to managing over $2 billion in real estate acquisitions. The discussion covers transitioning out of single-family rental properties into private placements and commercial real estate syndications, navigating the different "floors" of the wealth-building process, and the value of surrounding yourself with accredited investor peers. 4 Things You Will LearnNavigating the "Floors" of Wealth Building: How investors move from Floor 1 (accumulating individual rental properties) to higher floors involving private placements, value-add commercial syndications, and eventually forming a family office upon reaching critical mass net worth ($5M to $10M+). Strategies for Buying Out-of-State Turnkey Properties: How to acquire out-of-state rental properties remotely by connecting with key brokers and identifying standard commodity homes (such as 3-bedroom, 2-bath properties priced near 80% of median market values). The Limits and Headaches of Single-Family Rentals: Why managing multiple single-family rentals eventually creates caps on cash flow and operational headaches like evictions, property management oversight, and maintenance catastrophes, prompting high-earning or accredited investors to shift toward institutional assets. Building an Accredited Investor Network & Asset Allocation: Why it is essential to cultivate a peer network of at least five accredited investor buddies to access quality deal flow, and why allocating more than 80% of a portfolio purely to commercial real estate can be a mistake. Connect with Lane KawaokaDirect Email: Reach out to [email protected] if you are an accredited investor looking to arrange a 1-on-1 call. Team Email: Send a screenshot of your Amazon review of his book to [email protected] to receive the PDF and MP3 versions. Book & Podcast: Read his book, The Wealth Elevator, on Amazon, and listen to The Wealth Elevator podcast for free educational materials and insights.

Tune in to this episode of the Real in Real Estate Podcast as host Jean focuses on the choice between buying versus renting a home, dispelling common market myths for first-time buyers. The episode breaks down the financial realities of mortgage payments versus rent, demonstrating how interest rate fluctuations affect monthly payments and why waiting for the "perfect" interest rate can cost buyers long-term wealth. 4 Things You Will LearnYou Do Not Need a 20% Down Payment: Down payments can be as low as 3.5%, 5%, or 10%, and zero-down loan programs exist beyond just options for veterans or specialized professions. "Marry the House, Date the Interest Rate": Interest rates from the COVID era (2–3%) are unlikely to return. Instead of waiting on the sidelines and missing out on property, you can buy now and refinance if rates drop later. Homeownership Builds Wealth Through Equity: Monthly mortgage payments build personal equity and net worth over time, whereas rent payments permanently go into a landlord's pocket. Starter Homes Don't Need to Be Million-Dollar Dream Houses: Options like condos or townhouses offer lower maintenance and lower price points, allowing you to enter the market, build equity for a few years, and upgrade later. Connect with the PodcastSubscribe and Review: Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes. Explore Lender Options: For more information on mortgage comparisons and finding the right interest rates, explore options and work with lenders like Blink Lending.

Tune in to Episode 92 of the Real in Real Estate Podcast as host Jean brings together an expert panel—mortgage loan officer Ben Shores, affordable housing specialist LaTisha Grant, and realtor Claudia Russo—to dispel widespread real estate myths and explain how everyday renters can achieve homeownership. The conversation highlights actionable strategies to overcome financial barriers, from zero-down loan programs to massive down payment assistance, while emphasizing the importance of starting with a modest property to build long-term equity and wealth.4 Things You Will LearnFlexible Financing Eliminates the 20% Down Payment Myth: You do not need a 20% down payment or high income to buy a home. Buyers can utilize 100% financing programs that carry no income limits or location restrictions, or leverage down payment assistance (DPA) up to $150,000 to bridge the price gap between what they qualify for and current market rates.Underutilized Assistance Programs Can Fund Your Home & Furnishings: Up to 75% of eligible Texans do not take advantage of available housing assistance funds. Tailored programs exist for various income brackets—including fast-food workers, school paraprofessionals, and Section 8 renters converting into homeowners. Available aid includes Harris County discounts up to 45% on sales prices, dollar-for-dollar IDA savings matches, and Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency checks (up to $53,000) that buyers can keep after closing.Starter Homes Are the Stepping Stone to Generational Wealth: Instead of waiting for a dream home or paying high monthly rent that profits a landlord, purchasing a starter property (such as a condo or townhouse) allows you to accumulate equity and property appreciation right away. This equity serves as a financial catalyst, enabling you to upgrade in the future or retain your first property as a rental to start building a real estate portfolio.Expert Guidance Helps Overcome Fears of Repairs and Hidden Costs: Uncertainties around insurance, maintenance, and interest rates often stem from a lack of information rather than actual roadblocks. Working with full-time real estate professionals ensures buyers can utilize residential service agreements (home warranties) to handle repairs, understand the wealth benefits of an appreciating home, and navigate the market with realistic expectations.Connect with the ExpertsBen Shores (Mortgage Loan Officer, First Community): Call or text 281-798-4712 or visit FCCU.org (NMLS: 217323).LaTisha L. Grant (Executive Managing Broker, TAS Realty Group): Reach her at 713-929-3411 (Office) or 832-528-5706 (Mobile), email [email protected], or visit www.tasrealtygroup.com.Claudia Russo (Realtor Associate, Trilogy Realty Group): Call 281-217-4396, email [email protected], or visit www.trilogyrealtygrouptx.com.

Can you build a real estate business without cold calling, purchased leads, or sales scripts? Rachel Kilmer sold 231 homes and over $75 million in volume in her first five years using two things: the people she already knew, and consistent social media contentHost Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Rachel Kilmer, known as Rach the Realtor, to break down the systems behind a referral based real estate business.In this episode you will learn:- Why you should post for the people who already know you instead of chasing followers, and why a video that gets 25 views beats a Saturday open house- How to pick the one social platform you already scroll, learn its trends, and use repurpose.io to push that content out to six others automatically- The annual referral plan Rachel prints as a poster and hangs in her garage: three to five client events, ten postcards, and regular pop by visits- How a $300 photos with Santa event built a database she is still marketing to six years laterRachel Kilmer is a Kansas City area agent and coach who started her career in sports broadcasting. She has more than 22,000 TikTok followers and is on pace to sell about 75 homes this year. Her coaching program, Rach the Realtor Coaching Collaborative, is a $99 per month subscription that includes her template library, a monthly live call, weekly Mini Pod Monday episodes, and an Ask the Chat community.Connect with Rachel: @RachTheRealtorKC on TikTok and Instagram. Coaching: @RTRCCO. The link in her bio includes a repurpose.io discount.Subscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Show Notes:Think you need 20% down to buy a home in Texas? You don't. A true 100% zero down loan exists right now, and it is open to any buyer purchasing a primary residence -- no income limits, no location restrictions, no requirement to be a first-time buyer, a veteran, or a doctor.Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Ben Shores of First Community Credit Union to walk through exactly how this loan works, who qualifies, and how buyers are walking to the closing table with little to nothing out of pocket.What you will learn:✅ Who qualifies for 100% financing and what the credit score floor actually is (700 -- not 780, not 800)✅ How combining zero down with seller concessions can get you to closing with almost nothing out of pocket✅ Why this loan is not just for first-time buyers -- and how to use it as a starting point for building a rental portfolio✅ How self-employed borrowers can qualify using bank statements instead of tax returnsBen Shores is a mortgage lender with First Community Credit Union and has 25 years of experience in the industry. He works with buyers across Texas on conventional, alternative, and investment financing -- and attends his closings personally.Phone: 281-798-4712 Email: [email protected]: You do not need to be a credit union member to use Ben's services.Subscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.