What if all those long days on the job site could actually help you build real wealth? In this episode of Hard Hat to CEO, Chris G chats with Cody Stegeman, a former contractor from Minnesota who’s now making a living through real estate. Cody shares how he went from swinging a hammer to flipping homes and owning rentals that bring in steady income. They talk real numbers, real stories, and what it actually takes to get started. If you’re a contractor who wants to make your money work for you (instead of working harder), this episode is packed with helpful advice.

Connect with Cody:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/codystegeman/

Episode highlights:
(0:00 ) Intro
(1:15 ) Cody’s path from contractor to investor
(2:35 ) Flipping houses with a partner and sweat equity
(3:45 ) Transitioning from flips to rentals
(5:43 ) Rent or sell? Making smart exit decisions
(6:35 ) Rent-to-own pros and cons
(8:13 ) Budgeting and managing properties like a CEO
(11:36 ) Using refinancing to scale faster
(13:34 ) Building a real estate team
(14:47 ) Expense ratios and what contractors often forget
(17:11 ) The power of tax advantages in real estate
(18:57 ) Finding deals through wholesalers
(22:55 ) Scaling up with the right strategy and staff
(26:51 ) Why small multifamily can be smarter than big deals
(31:30 ) Renting vs flipping
(33:52 ) First steps for contractors to get started in real estate
(36:52 ) How to connect with Cody for advice or help
(37:41 ) Outro

Connect with Hard Hat to CEO on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BrHqc3wdF/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardhattoceo/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgilman/