The Real FI Podcast - Real Estate Investing to FI

How many times do you need to hear from us that STRs are a reliable way to massive real estate profits? Our guest, Michael Elefante, is yet another example of how someone can quickly scale with short-term rentals, even in a hot real estate market. Michael started as a college baseball athlete, but when it wasn’t picked up by any of the majors, he had to scrap to make ends meet. His first best idea was to apply for Chick Fil-a, but he wasn’t even able to get a job there! He had to settle for a position at Dunkin’ Donuts, and then eventually an entry sales position in Dallas, Texas. It didn’t take long from there for Micahel to realize that a change was needed. Michael purchased his first STR in 2020, and his current portfolio stands at 6 STRs total that gross him about $100k in revenue per month. Michael also owns a property management company that manages early 100 properties for other investors. Michael took the time to share with us all of his insights on the STR business. If you’re ready to get started in STRs, or even expand upon your current knowledge, this is the episode for you. Don’t miss out!You can connect with our guest on Instagram @melefante6. Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Our guest Pete Reese is the President of Reelvest Properties, a land development and investment company. After some experience with flipping houses through the Great Financial Crisis, Pete and his wife ran an online education business about travel blogging. They turned it into a very successful business and were able to parlay those profits into real estate around 2017. Today, Pete focuses his energies on flipping raw and vacant land for very high profit margins. Last year, Pete was looking at making just about $4 million in revenue with his land flipping business. This episode is a valuable one because of how transparent Pete was with his numbers and his processes for generating tons of consistent leads for his business. There are lessons here that can be learned and applied to any business! With a 50% gross profit margin on each transaction, land flipping is a real estate strategy that should not be ignored. You can connect with our guest online at www.turningprofit.com. Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Our guest, Sam Primm, is a real estate investor who has built an impressive $42 million portfolio using other people's money (OPM). The most impressive part is that he started on his real estate path in 2014! At the same time that he was selling CAT construction equipment, he decided to get into real estate wholesaling and flipping on the side. In order to build his portfolio to what it is today, Sam has used OPM to acquire, fund, and develop properties, including multifamily apartment buildings and single-family homes. In addition to using OPM, Primm has also employed creative financing techniques and built a network of trusted partners and investors to secure funding for his various real estate ventures. Overall, Primm's success in real estate can be attributed to his ability to find and utilize alternative sources of funding, as well as his dedication to continuously learning and growing as an investor. But the best has yet to come for Sam. One his BHAG is to someday bring an NBA team to St. Louis. Tune in to learn more about Sam’s ventures in real estate and what the future might hold for him.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @samfasterfreedom. Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Our guest Doug Peacock is a financial expert and advocate of the concept of "infinite banking," also known as "bank on yourself." This strategy involves using a type of permanent life insurance policy as a personal bank to generate cash value that can be used for a variety of purposes, including saving for retirement, paying off debt, and funding big expenses such as a child's education or a down payment on a home. Doug believes infinite banking is a vital wealth building technique because it allows individuals to have more control over their money and build wealth in a tax-advantaged way. With infinite banking, policyholders can access their cash value through loans and withdrawals, which can be done without incurring taxes or penalties as long as the policy remains in force. One of the key benefits of infinite banking is that it provides a guaranteed rate of return on the cash value component of the policy, which is typically higher than what is offered by traditional banks. You can connect with our guest online at https://www.peacockwealthgroup.com.  Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

In this episode, our guest Jas Takhar shares his experience building a successful real estate team and how they are able to serve 700 families per year. Jas discusses the importance of having a clear vision and mission for your team. He believes that having a strong sense of purpose can help keep team members motivated and focused, and can also help attract top talent. Jas also talks about the importance of building a strong team culture. He believes that having a positive and supportive team culture can help foster a sense of belonging and create a more enjoyable work environment for everyone. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of ongoing training and development for team members. Overall, Jas’ insights on building a successful real estate team and serving a large number of clients are valuable for anyone looking to grow their own real estate business. By setting clear goals, building a strong team culture, and leveraging technology, it is possible to create a highly effective and efficient team that can help you achieve your business objectives.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @jastakhar13Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Our guest Marco Bario transitioned from a career in the Hollywood TV and film industry to become a full-time real estate note investor. Today, Marco is the President and Founder of Porch Swing Funding, a niche and focused business that allows those owning seller-financed mortgage notes to sell their future payments for immediate cash. Marco’s investment history includes passive commercial syndications, SFRs, and various iterations of note investing. Tune in to learn about what jurisdictions are best suited for note investing, and how to purchase seller-financed notes for pennies on the dollar!You can connect with our guest online at https://porchswingfunding.com/ where you sign up for his newsletter. Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Casey Franchini is a testament to the time-tested adage of “slow and steady wins the race”. Since 2007, Casey has been acquiring rental properties one-by-one and building her portfolio. Today, she’s amassed 6 SFRs that gross $100k/year, and has plans on getting into the STR space to bump up her income and FI numbers. Tune in to hear about Casey’s story and building a sold rental portfolio!You can connect with our guest on Instagram @brickbybrickwealth.Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCouple Let's kick the 9 to 5!Decide! Commit! Take Action!

Despite being relatively new to the real estate business, Kody Thompson is absolutely crushing it. After 14 short months, Kody went from broke to becoming the integrator of various real estate businesses. Kody started by cutting his teeth in the wholesaling business, and has since transitioned his efforts over to building a real estate agency. Kody’s biggest tip to a new real estate professional–partner with someone so you can add value and learn fast. After you’ve learned the business, immediately begin implementing systems and processes. You can connect with our guest on Instagram @kodythompson_Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram: James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Anthony Scornaienchi’s journey into real estate started as many investor stories begin … with struggle and a desire for time freedom. Anthony was living in Philadelphia and working as a health and PE teacher and paying nearly $1,000/month to rent a tiny 1 bedroom apartment. Wanting to have more control over his living situation, he took the leap and bought his first property in 2016. Anthony bought in an up-and-coming neighborhood that was being overlooked at the time, and even took advantage of a $15,000 city grant by just buying his home! Anthony bought that property for $189,000 and 5 short years later was able to refinance at $305,000. The power of real estate! Anthony is now on the path of stacking up many STRs in Pennsylvania and building a business that offers unique, personalized experiences. Don’t miss this episode where Anthony tells us about how he “balls on a budget” with his properties.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @elmwood_escape and @ajscorni, and by phone at (215) 518-0541. Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

We love to see former military members absolutely crushing it in business and real estate after they’ve concluded their patriotic service. Our guest, Naaman Taylor, is a perfect example of how someone can prepare their transition from the military to building a successful business. Naaman joined the Army at the young age of 18 and had the opportunity to travel the world for 13 years, but he quickly realized that he needed to prepare himself for life outside of service. After dabbling in real estate in 2013 by buying a duplex, it wasn’t until 2022 when Naaman really kicked things into gear. While in active service, Naaman hired a mentor and began doing some BRRRRs in Texas. He was able to complete 10 of those deals from his barracks in Germany! Fast forward to today, Naaman is sitting on 25 units, a flipping and wholesaling business, a car rental business, and the aspirations of soon obtaining a $10 million net worth.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @naamantaylorinvestor.Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Our conversation with Jeremy Stevenson was hands-down one of the more interesting conversations that we’ve had on this show! PWC, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan–a pedigree that would make any young professional salivate. Jeremy seemed to have it all with his corporate career path, but as he began to evaluate his peers and superiors something became clear–they were living a material life and simply didn’t share the same life values. Seeing time and freedom as being Jeremy’s guiding life pursuits, he decided to shake things up and create the life he desired. From real estate to investments in stock, crypto, and even whiskey, Jeremy found the key to independence. Now, Jeremy has found himself on the beaches of Tulum, Mexico working on his niche villa real estate business of helping foreign investors acquire second homes and high-class investment properties. Jeremy has since concentrated his investment efforts into Tulum and is quickly becoming an expert in the market. Don’t miss this one.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @tulum.land and @dreamlifetulum. Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCouple Let's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Our guest Rodney Harris, Jr. is working his way to a million dollar real estate portfolio by using this one often overlooked strategy–FHA loans! Rodney is utilizing FHA loans to acquire 4-unit multi-family properties that he renovates, improves, and forces major appreciation with. So far, Rodney has bought two 4-unit buildings with this strategy, which is great because each deal required that he put down very little capital to get started. The power of this househacking multi-family strategy can’t be overstated! Rodney’s goal is to get to 100 units owned individually, and eventually get into self-storage.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @rodneyinvestor.Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCouple Let's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Jacqueline Marshall went from being a dental hygienist to real estate investor extraordinaire in a short period of time. What did it take to get there? It all started with a strong dissatisfaction with having to commute 2 hours to work each day and not having enough money to enjoy life the right way! Jacqueline found real estate as her saving grace! Jacqueline has been investing for 8 years now and focused on buying quality homes in good neighborhoods. By doing this, she’s benefited from massive appreciation and increased rents. A-class neighborhoods have been her go-to investment product. After being in the STR business for several years, Jacqueline started a flipping business to make more money for additional investments. After buying her first 4-plex, she’s now ready to scale up and get into an even larger multi-family property.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @diyinvestherjacqueline Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCouple Let's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

Shannon Robnett is the son of a builder and the fourth generation of his family to take on the real estate business. After witnessing his parents retire at the age of 50 from rental cash flow, Shannon quickly saw that the way to wealth could be achieved by acquiring one real estate investment at a time. After a few years in the game, and rubbing shoulders with the likes of investors such as Robert Kiyosaki, Shannon developed a keen eye for utilizing the incentives of the internal revenue code to fund profitable lifestyle investments. For Shannon, it all starts with planning around tax strategy and he’s filled his corner with experts in the field. In a way, Shannon’s tax strategies are the ultimate forms of wealth hacking–working with the IRS, rather than against it, to build wealth. By using this strategy, Shannon has amassed a huge real estate portfolio, relocated to Puerto Rico, started a flight school, started a bitcoin mining fund, and created a car rental business. You won’t want to miss this episode!You can connect with our guest on Instagram @real_estate_run_down and email at connect@shannonrobnett.com. Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

The willingness to take risks is where success is found. For Jason Griggs, his make-or-break moment was deciding to purchase a one-way ticket to Las Vegas, Nevada to explore a new market and make a name for himself. Within one year of relocating from Long Island, Jason gave up his job as a PE teacher and transitioned into a career in real estate. After becoming an agent and seeing the success of other investors with owning the properties, and not just transacting in them, Jason realized his calling was to start investing for the long-term. Jason started purchasing real estate at the depths of despair in the market when many were terrified of buying. That was his opportunity. Since then, Jason hasn’t sold a single deal, and he’s sitting on a massive amount of equity and considerable cash flow. Jason Griggs shared his contrarian view on real estate with us, which is to buy in the best neighborhoods, reduce debt, and own properties outright. In today’s market with interest rates and holding costs rising, Jason’s conservative strategy may turn out to be an incredible move over the next few years. Instead of taking on more leverage for the sake of passive income, Jason pursues flip and wholesale deals to create his cash flow. You won’t want to miss this conversation with Jason Griggs.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @jgriggsrealestate or at Winwithairbnb.com.Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCoupleLet's kick the 9 to 5!

Our guest Clay Hepler went from failed diplomat with the State Department in Buenos Aires to multi-family real estate investor in a very short period of time. It all started when Clay met a developer while working for the family’s boutique chocolate company. This developer helped Clay to understand the secrets and benefits of owning and building a career in real estate. From there, Clay joined a mom and pop real estate company that managed 100’s of units and spearheaded the creation of a wholesaling arm to the business. Notwithstanding some bumps and bruises along the way, Clay was able to utilize a FHA loan TWICE to acquire multi-family properties. Clay is now working towards, first and foremost, becoming a present husband (and future father), and also building a 7-figure land flipping business and a rental portfolio that yields $50k/month. You won’t want to miss this conversation with Clay Hepler! You can connect with our guest on Instagram @clayhepler or email at clay@creative-capitalist.comDo you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCouple Let's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

While Camille Spinelli has always been an entrepreneur at heart, she found herself in the real estate business by accident when her grandmother left her a property through an estate. From there, Camille immediately recognized the power of real estate and made it her life goal to accumulate a solid rental portfolio that would provide her and her husband with the ability to live life on their own terms. After a ton of lessons and some creative financing deals, Camille was able to build her portfolio up to $2.6M in assets, with $1.2M in equity. Camille and her husband’s portfolio nets them approximately $10,000 per month in cash flow. As Camille says, “hard road now, easy life ahead.”You can connect with our guest on Instagram @thesicilianbosslady or by finding “Camille Peligrino Spinelli” on Facebook. Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCouple Let's kick the 9 to 5!

Our guest TJ Cremeans isn’t building the “Legacy Real Estate Group” so he can drive around fancy cars and live a showboating life. His purpose is much deeper than that. Beginning with a conversation that TJ had with his mentor in corporate america, he charted a path to becoming an entrepreneur and real estate investor. After starting with single-families and flips, TJ finally found himself playing with the big boys, taking down multi-million dollar deals and eventually building his portfolio up to nearly 400 units and $12 million under management, will without using ANY personal money. His wife might have had something to do with that! Through his efforts, TJ will be leaving something huge behind for his family. Generational, and legacy, wealth. You can connect with our guest on Instagram @tjcremeans and online at legacy-reg.com.Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCouple Let's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action.

Mike Scarpa & Jae Morales-Irizarry are a creative financing and real estate duo! You might recognize some of their strategies from our guests on Ep. 22 with Joe & Jenn Delle Fave. The proof of the strategy can be found in the success of these mentees! Mike and Jae met in college, entered the corporate world in 2018, and decided in 2020 to make a life pivot towards building their own business which is primarily wholesaling, but also creative rent-to-own deals and some good old fashioned long-term rentals. If you’re looking to grow your business, and create more than just a real estate “job” this episode will help you learn about delegation, leadership, and establishing key performance indicators.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @roman.with.mike and @roman.with.jae.Do you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCouple Let's kick the 9 to 5!Decide. Commit. Take Action!

We’re not going to lie, Axel Ragnarsson is doing exactly what Patrick and I dream of doing in the near future with real estate. Some people are content with building a job around real estate and calling it a day. To a large extent, we’ve fallen victim to that mindset, but Axel sees things a little differently. From day one, Axel has been set on building a reputable, branded, kick-ass multi-family real estate business, and his efforts show in his results. Starting out as a car salesman in college, Axel has since grown his portfolio to 70 units owned individually and 300 units managed through his syndication business. In Axel’s words, “it’s so much easier to run a big business than a small business.” You won’t want to miss this episode with Axel Ragnarsson. He changed our perception of the real estate business, and he might do the same for you.You can connect with our guest on Instagram @multifamilywealthDo you have any questions you'd like for us to answer on the show, or a success story you'd like to share? Shoot us an email to info@TheRealFI.com and we'd be happy to connect with you. And If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a glowing 5 start review on your podcasting platform–it would really help us out!You can connect with you hosts on instagram:James on Instagram: @James_RippeonPatrick on Instagram: @RentalPropertyCouple Let's kick the 9 to 5!