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Real Estate Rookie

Real Estate Rookie

705 episodes — Page 4 of 15

Playing the Real Estate “Long Game” with 10 “Boring” Rental Properties

If you bought and held 10 rental properties—each being paid down by tenants—imagine where you would be 10, 20, or 30 years from now. Financially free? Retired? Today’s guest isn’t worried about cash flow or making a quick buck. He’s using a proven, repeatable formula to build wealth with real estate, and in this episode, he’ll show YOU how to mirror his success! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Zach Stanley went from selling printers to buying a pair of rentals without really knowing what he was getting into. Now, at just 28 years old, Zach already has 10 properties to his name and over $1 million in total equity. The cherry on top? He brings in $3,500 in monthly cash flow, even though he’s playing “the long game” with his investments. This allows him to reinvest his profits, save for down payments, and scale his real estate portfolio faster! In today’s episode, Zach will show you how to find great real estate deals with “conservative” analysis and share the number one mistake new investors make when looking for properties. You’ll also learn why appreciation beats cash flow, especially if you want to scale quickly and build long-term wealth! In This Episode We Cover: How Zach scaled to 10 rental properties and over $1 million in equity Reinvesting your cash flow to build your real estate portfolio faster The massive advantage you gain by teaming up with an investor-friendly agent The rookie’s biggest “blind spot” when analyzing real estate deals Why a sales job can help prime you for real estate investing success And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Automate your real estate finances with banking and AI-powered bookkeeping. Claim your $100 bonus! Grab the Book, “Pillars of Wealth” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Rookie 537 - BUILD, Don’t Buy: The Rookie-Friendly Investing Strategy with 6-Figure Upside Connect with Zach BiggerPockets Agent Finder BiggerPockets Calculators Zach’s Instagram Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-549 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 16, 202544 min

$5,000/Month Cash Flow from 3 Small Multifamily Properties in JUST 5 Years

Making $65,000 in yearly cash flow from three rental properties?! Today’s guests are on a mission to create generational wealth, and they’re doing it with an investing strategy YOU can use to scale your real estate portfolio fast, too—small multifamily properties! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Daniel and Rebeca Hawthorne didn’t come from money, but they’re looking to reverse that trend and give their family a much better life. In just FIVE years, they have built a small multifamily portfolio of 32 rental units. How did they do it? In this episode, they’ll share how they leveraged home equity to buy their first, second, AND third rental property! Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Daniel and Rebeca have had a few tenant horror stories, including one that involves a fraudulent caretaker and over $30,000 in property damage. But despite all the hurdles and growing pains, they’re building massive wealth by amassing units and slowly converting long-term rentals into medium-term rentals for higher cash flow. Stay tuned to hear their full story from childhood poverty to financial freedom! In This Episode We Cover How Daniel and Rebeca scaled to 32 rental units in just FIVE years The blueprint to create generational wealth with small multifamily real estate Leveraging your home equity to fund investment property down payments How to defer capital gain taxes on your property sale with a 1031 exchange Freeing up your time, energy, and ability to scale by hiring a property manager And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-548 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 14, 202541 min

3 Things YOU Can Do to Find More Real Estate Deals That Cash Flow (Rookie Reply)

You’ve got some money. You’ve got your strategy. You’ve even analyzed a bunch of rentals. But you still can’t find real estate deals that cash flow. What gives? Today, we’re going to share three things YOU can do to turn more “okay” deals into great deals! Welcome to another Rookie Reply! We’re back with more questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, the best place to ask your questions and get top-notch advice from other investors. First, it can be disheartening to analyze rental properties and come up dry, but we’ve got a few simple adjustments that could change your fortune. We’ll also hear from an investor who’s worried about an appraisal that could break their deal and show them how to use it to their advantage instead! Finally, we’ll share the number one investing strategy all newbies should be paying attention to in 2025. This is a low-risk way for any beginner to break into real estate investing. The best part? It can be seriously profitable! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: Three things you can do to find real estate deals that cash flow The number one thing new investors get wrong when analyzing properties Getting an even better deal by using an appraisal to negotiate with sellers The “hottest” investing strategy beginners need to pay attention to in 2025 How to “soup up” your cash flow with co-living and rent-by-the-room And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram BiggerPockets Agent Finder BiggerPockets Calculators Real Estate Rookie 195 - Financially Free in 2.5 Years by Buying “Low Risk” Rental Properties Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Grab the Book “Real Estate by the Numbers” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Rookie 265 - Making $90K/Year with Just ONE Rental by Combining Compassion and Cash Flow Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-547 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 202532 min

From Making $28,000/Year to Replacing Her W2 in Just 5 Years Thanks to Rentals

Could rentals give YOU financial freedom? Today’s guest took a giant leap of faith to invest in real estate, and it allowed her to quit her low-paying W2 job in just five years. If you’ve yet to take the first step in your investing journey, this rags-to-riches story will inspire you to get off the sidelines and into the game! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Earning just $28,000 a year as a lab tech and struggling to pay rent on a property she didn’t even own, Deandra McDonald was determined to buy a house and enjoy the long-term benefits of owning real estate. But when her lender told her she couldn’t qualify for a mortgage, Deandra did what so many aspiring investors are unwilling to do—she cut out ALL unnecessary spending to pay off her debts, rebuild her credit, and save for a down payment. In just 18 months, she was able to buy her first house—all while working the same low-paying job! And that’s just the beginning of Deandra’s story. After realizing that renting out a room in her new home could cover her mortgage payment, she caught the multifamily investing bug. Fast forward to today, and Deandra has built a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio. Tune in to find out exactly how she did it and how you can copy her success! In This Episode We Cover The investing strategy that helped Deandra to quit her W2 job in just five years How Deandra bought her first property while making just $28,000 a year Fast-tracking your down payment by cutting unnecessary expenses Leveraging your current properties to grow your real estate portfolio The secrets to self-managing your properties (and keeping tenants happy!) How to seamlessly pivot from single-family homes to multifamily investments And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-546 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 9, 202544 min

Nearing Financial Independence with Just ONE “Luxury” Rental

Seeing investors with hundreds of rental units can be intimidating, but you DON’T need a massive real estate portfolio to achieve your financial goals. As you’re about to hear, buying just one rental property could allow you to live rent-free and put you on the path toward financial independence! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! From a young age, Ronny Heredia knew he wanted to achieve financial independence, but there had to be a better way than grinding away at a W2 job for 40-plus years. Naturally, he started investing in stocks, but before long, his curiosity had led him to real estate investing. He consumed as much information as he could, saved up some money for a down payment, and purchased his first property—a “luxury” house hack that covers his entire mortgage payment each month! Now, Ronny has (good) problems on his hands. Should he pay off his mortgage or buy more rentals? We’ll explore all his options in today’s episode. But that’s not all. Ronny will also share some of the real estate investing hacks he’s picked up along the way—like the easiest way to raise rent (and keep your tenants happy) and how to use 100%-free AI tools to find the best real estate deals in your market! In This Episode We Cover: Fast-tracking financial independence with a “small and mighty” portfolio Paying off your first property versus scaling your real estate portfolio How to eliminate your mortgage payment with the house hacking strategy The easiest way to negotiate rent increases with your tenants How to use AI to find “hidden gem” properties that other investors overlook And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Real Estate Rookie 429 - The Investing “Map” You NEED to Uncover Hot Markets, Neighborhoods, & Deals Real Estate Rookie 47 - 0 to 7 Deals in a Year Using Other People’s Money with Andres Bernal Ronny’s Instagram Browse AI ChatGPT Manage Your Rental with RentRedi! Collect Mobile Rent Payments, Find Qualified Renters, and Manage Accounting and Maintenance from Anywhere! Buy the Book, “The Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Rookie 463 - The “Lazy” Landlord’s Guide to Finding (And Keeping) Tenants & Raising Rents Connect with Ronny Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-545 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 7, 202535 min

How to Start Investing in Real Estate with $25,000 or Less (Rookie Reply)

Do you have around $25,000 saved? Good news—you can invest in real estate! There are several ways to get started, but which investing strategy reigns supreme? We’ll show you how to get the best bang for your buck so you can buy your next investment even faster! Welcome to another Rookie Reply! We went back into the BiggerPockets Forums and Real Estate Rookie Facebook group and found more investing questions from beginners just like you. Today’s first question comes from an investor who’s struggling to pick a market. Should they hone in on a single area, or will scouring multiple markets speed up their search for the perfect deal? You might be surprised to hear where Ashley and Tony land on this one! Then, we’ll hear from an investor who has saved $25,000 to put towards their first rental property. Like many rookies, they’re looking to scale their real estate portfolio fast, so we’ll share our favorite strategies for doing just that—including a few outside-the-box ideas. Finally, how do you vet a co-signer when screening tenants? We’ll show you how to cover all your bases! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover How to start investing in real estate with just $25,000 (or less) The best ways to put low (or no) money down on a rental property How to pick the right market to invest in (and when to pick multiple!) The key to finding more real estate deals with a “narrow” buy box How to properly vet a co-signer for your new tenant’s lease And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-544 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 202530 min

How I’m Finding Profitable Properties in 2025 (Shotgun Method)

Have high interest rates and home prices affected your ability to buy cash-flowing real estate deals? If you’re struggling to find properties that pencil out, you don’t want to miss this episode. If there’s anyone who can teach you how to find great deals, even in this housing market, it’s today’s guest. He wrote the book on it! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re joined by fellow investor, On the Market co-host, and author of Real Estate Deal Maker, Henry Washington. Given today’s difficult market conditions, is Henry pivoting to another investing strategy? Nope! He’s sticking to “boring,” single-family and multifamily properties that he either rents out to tenants or flips for a profit. But he is changing how he analyzes deals, and he’ll show YOU how to do the same in today’s episode! Stay tuned if you want to know how to buy your first or next rental property in 2025. Henry will show you the four-step approach he uses to find undervalued deals today and how to buy discounted properties from builders looking to move old inventory. But that’s not all. You’ll also learn how to fund these deals using small local banks, retirement accounts, and other people’s money (OPM)! In This Episode We Cover: The four-step “shotgun” approach to finding real estate deals in today’s market Why the way you analyze deals must evolve (even if your strategy doesn’t!) Creative ways to source “undervalued,” off-market real estate deals in any market How to fund your next property by leveraging your retirement accounts Buying discounted properties from builders looking to “offload” inventory How to get your spouse on board with your real estate investing goals And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Henry’s Instagram Grab Henry’s Book, “Real Estate Deal Maker” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders 5 Ways to Find Off-Market Real Estate Deals Like a Pro (00:00) Intro (00:45) Breaking Into Real Estate (03:18) Funding His First Deal (08:48) Analyzing Deals in THIS Market (12:48) “Conservative” Underwriting 101 (22:18) How to Find Deals TODAY (29:57) Getting a Spouse on Board (37:34) Connect with Henry! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-543 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 2, 202541 min

$6,000/Month Cash Flow from 4 Rentals in 2 Years (Without a Ton of Money)

Making $6,000 in monthly cash flow from just four rentals?! Given the current housing market, it seems impossible, but today’s guest is about to show you the secrets to building a profitable real estate portfolio. There are opportunities out there—you just need to know where to look! While many beginners hope to one day earn enough rental income to quit their W2 jobs, Jamie Banks did the reverse—leaving her job to go all-in on real estate investing. This risky move paid off, as in just two years, she has already built a portfolio with enough income to replace her salary. She started out co-hosting, and while this strategy helped her learn the ropes of residential investing, it wasn’t going to help her build wealth. So, she turned her attention to buying rental properties instead—using her superpower, networking, to find private money lenders who could help fund her deals! Jamie’s journey hasn’t been all smooth sailing. She has heard “no” more times than she can count, tried several investing strategies, and bought a property that barely breaks even. But despite the setbacks, she has always found a way to learn and grow. And Jamie isn’t taking her foot off the gas any time soon. Stay tuned to hear how she plans to scale to $10,000 in monthly cash flow and break into commercial real estate! In This Episode We Cover How Jamie scaled to $6,000 in monthly cash flow in just TWO years The secret to finding “unlimited” money to fund your real estate deals Two strategies you can use to make money before you buy rental properties Using “inside information” to uncover the next up-and-coming markets How to pin down the perfect investing strategy for your long-term goals Getting a mix of stability and high cash flow with medium-term rentals And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-542 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 202538 min

Do You Need an LLC When Buying Your First Rental Property? (Rookie Reply)

Many “experts” say you need a real estate LLC once you buy a rental property, but are they right? They also say you need money and great credit to invest in real estate, but we know of other creative ways to get started. Stick around to learn how! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Ashley and Tony have pulled more of your recent questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, and today’s first question comes from an investor who just bought their first rental property. Do they need to set up a limited liability company (LLC) right off the bat, or can they hold off until they grow their real estate portfolio? We’ll show them the best ways to protect their personal assets! We’ll also hear from an investor who wants to get into house hacking. The only problem? They live in an expensive market, and the deal they’re looking at doesn’t pencil out. Could pivoting to another investing strategy make it profitable? Finally, a lack of money keeps many beginners from breaking into real estate, but it doesn’t have to. We’ll share some creative ways to kickstart your investing journey if you don’t have a ton of money or credit! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: Whether you need a limited liability company (LLC) for your first rental property The differences between umbrella policies and LLCs (and which one YOU need) How to create more cash flow from a house hack (even in a pricey market!) How to start your real estate investing journey without much money or great credit Learning the industry and making extra money with real estate side hustles And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook The Millionaire Next Door The Psychology of Money Build Your Investing Network at BPCON2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Grab “The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Rookie 105 - Don’t Lose Your Portfolio to Lawsuits! Here’s How to Protect Yourself Real Estate Rookie 106 - Asset Protection for Rookies: 7 Wealth-Saving Answers from an Expert (00:00) Intro (00:31) Do You NEED an LLC? (06:32) House Hacking in a Pricy Market (13:50) Investing Without Money or Credit (23:56) Ask Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-541 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 202527 min

The 4 Best Types of Rental Properties for New Investors to Buy in 2025

So, you want to invest in real estate…but where should you start? What’s the best type of rental property for a beginner? It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the options, but in this episode, we’ll provide the four-step framework you need to make the right choice! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! First, we’ll share four steps that will help you pin down the right investing strategy for your budget, lifestyle, and long-term goals. Then, we’ll introduce you to a few of the most beginner-friendly types of rental properties. Are you light on cash? House hacking could help you take down your first investment property with relatively little money out of pocket. Are you looking to scale your real estate portfolio as quickly as possible? The BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) is one of the fastest ways to build wealth in real estate. Would you prefer your real estate investments to be mostly hands-off? Perhaps a long-term rental is more your speed. Stick around till the end to learn about the three most common mistakes we see new investors make and what YOU must do to avoid them! In This Episode We Cover: The four BEST types of rental properties for new investors The four-step formula for choosing the right investing strategy Creative ways to get into real estate investing when you’re light on cash The secret to scaling your real estate portfolio quickly (without a ton of money) Three common rookie investing mistakes (and how to avoid them!) And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Monarch Money RealBricks Buy the Book, “Start with Strategy” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Which Real Estate Investing Strategy Is Best for Your Goals? (00:00) Intro (01:05) Step 1. Define Your Goals (03:44) Step 2. Determine Your Involvement (07:32) Step 3. Assess Your Finances (13:04) Step 4. Know Your Market (15:49) House Hacking (17:24) The BRRRR Strategy (22:12) Short-Term Rentals (25:20) Long-Term Rentals (29:51) Analysis Paralysis (32:25) Shiny Object Syndrome (35:22) Taking Bad Advice Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-540 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 26, 202540 min

Making $2,400/Month Cash Flow and Getting Rich Slowly with “Boring” Rentals

Want the time-tested investing strategy that will make you rich 10, 20, or 30 years from now? Despite market uncertainty, buying rentals is still a savvy move if you’re playing the long game. That’s what today’s guest is doing—using a mix of steady cash flow and appreciation to reach financial freedom! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! After a bad experience with a financial advisor, Anthony Finger decided to take control of his investments. He started with everyone’s favorite “boring” investment, index funds, and before long, he had brought his slow and steady approach over to real estate—buying seven long-term rentals over seven years. Today, his real estate portfolio brings in $2,400 in monthly cash flow, and Anthony has already built up over $600,000 in total equity! The conservative approach might not be as “sexy” as Airbnb or as exciting as flipping houses, but it’s a surefire way to build wealth with real estate. Tune in as Anthony shares the perks of investing in your own backyard, the benefits of buying turnkey rentals, and the secret to buying new construction at a discount! In This Episode We Cover: How Anthony scaled “slowly” to seven properties in seven years “Safe” investments that will put you on the path to financial freedom Building a stable portfolio with low-maintenance, turnkey rental properties How to achieve a mix of equity and cash flow in THIS housing market The benefits of investing in your own backyard (and when to look elsewhere!) The crucial mindset shift you need to succeed in real estate And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook BiggerPockets Calculators Rent to Retirement Anthony's Instagram Get Your Tickets to BPCON2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada Grab “The Book on Rental Property Investing” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Property Manager Finder Real Estate Rookie 123 - “Building” Wealth as a 24-Year-Old with 12 New Construction Projects Connect with Anthony (00:00) Intro (00:51) Buying His First Rental (05:30) Crucial Mindset Shift (09:34) Anthony’s Portfolio (14:45) Tough Lessons Learned (21:44) Scaling “Slowly” (28:25) Cash Flow AND Equity (35:09) Connect with Anthony! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-539 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 24, 202539 min

5 Things You Can’t Afford to Get Wrong When Analyzing Deals (Rookie Reply)

Anyone can analyze a rental property, but if you’re not careful, it’s easy to overlook significant costs that wipe out your cash flow and put you in the red. Thankfully, we’ve got some timely tips that will help you avoid these critical mistakes! Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Ashley and Tony are back with more questions from the BiggerPockets Forums and BiggerPockets Facebook groups. Worried that your “good” real estate deal might not be a good deal after all? We’ll show you some of the things you must account for before you buy! Next, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of real estate partnerships. Whose name should go on the mortgage? How do you ensure that both parties own the property? We have the answers! Finally, how do you make an offer on a property you haven’t seen? What if you receive a low appraisal? We’ll show you how to find “boots on the ground” in any market, renegotiate with the seller, and close on your property for a great price! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: Costs you must account for when analyzing a rental property The biggest pros and cons of turnkey real estate investing How to properly budget for capital expenditures, maintenance, and repairs Why you need a five-year exit plan when structuring a partnership How to find “boots on the ground” when investing out of state Renegotiating with the seller after receiving a low appraisal And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook BiggerPockets Calculators Grab Our Book, “Real Estate Partnerships” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 326 - The Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the BEST Off-Market Real Estate Deals (00:00) Intro (00:18) Good or Bad Deal? (07:31) Structuring Partnerships (17:32) Making Offers (Out of State!) (28:25) Ask Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-538 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 202531 min

BUILD, Don’t Buy: The Rookie-Friendly Investing Strategy with 6-Figure Upside

A single-family home could give you some extra cash flow, but what if there was a way to make six-figure returns from “rentals” that breathe new life into your town? Today, we’ll share a rookie-friendly investing strategy that allows you to do just that, all while using very little (if any) of your own money! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Katie Neason is a big believer in “investing where you’re invested” and has built a real estate business that allows her to make huge returns while revitalizing her hometown of Bryan, Texas. Unlike normal real estate development, which involves new construction on raw land, redevelopment is the process of taking an area that was previously built on and giving it a new purpose. The best part about redevelopment? Your city might actually want you to do it—meaning you could get all kinds of grants and tax breaks to bring your vision to life! In this episode, Katie will give you a detailed walkthrough of her most recent deal, show you the perfect “gateway” redevelopment project for a new investor (step by step), and teach you how to get started with this strategy using other people’s money (OPM)! In This Episode We Cover: Redevelopment explained (and why it’s even better than new development) Making huge returns and revitalizing neighborhoods with the new BRRRR strategy The perfect “gateway” project into redevelopment for new investors How to fund a redevelopment project with little to no money A step-by-step walkthrough of Katie’s most recent redevelopment deal How to determine whether your town or city is “developer-friendly” And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Build-to-Sell Calculator Katie’s Instagram Start Earning Passive Income from Rental Properties with Realbricks Grab the Book, “Raising Private Capital” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Urban Redevelopment & How to Capitalize on a Profitable Trend Katie's BiggerPockets Profile (00:00) Intro (00:59) What Is “Redevelopment”? (04:57) The “Gateway” Into Redevelopment (07:06) Next Steps for Rookies (16:13) How to Fund Your Project (21:41) Katie’s Most Recent Deal (30:55) 4 Tips for New Investors (34:32) Connect with Katie! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-537 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 19, 202538 min

Waiter to Financial Freedom in 18 Months (5 Rentals & $5,000/Month Cash Flow)

Think you can’t create cash flow in this housing market? Think again! Today’s guest will introduce you to a strategy that can take a regular rental property and maximize its profits. It’s allowed him to net $5,000 each month and quit his W2 job in just 18 months! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Just two years ago, Andres Martinez was waiting tables and saving every penny possible for a house. But when he was told he still couldn’t qualify for a mortgage, he turned his attention to wholesaling in order to learn more about real estate investing and make some extra money. Little did he know that he would soon stumble upon a strategy that would change his life and give him financial freedom—co-living! After buying a couple of properties, Andres quit his job to go all-in on this strategy. This move paid off, as he’s been able to scale his real estate portfolio to five properties (soon to be six!) and over $5,000 in monthly cash flow. The best part? He’s been able to buy all of his properties using other people’s money (OPM), seller financing, and subject to deals. Stick around as Andres tells you all about his buy box, how he analyzes rental properties, and why co-living might just be the next big thing in 2025! In This Episode We Cover: Making $5,000 in monthly cash flow from five rental properties How Andres was able to quit his W2 job in 18 months with real estate The investing strategy that maximizes your rental property’s profits Why co-living presents a huge opportunity for investors in 2025 and beyond The best real estate side hustles to fast-track your investing journey And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook PadSplit Andres’ Instagram Buy the Book, “Wealth Without Cash” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Co-Living Units Are Helping Investors Generate Higher Returns—Here’s What You Need to Know Connect with Andres (00:00) Intro (00:33) Hustling for a House (07:33) Co-Living 101 (11:40) “Testing” His Strategy (17:51) Andres’ Current Portfolio (24:29) How to Find Properties (27:32) Quitting His W2 Job (31:25) $5,000 Monthly Cash Flow! (32:12) Connect with Andres! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-536 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 17, 202535 min

If Your Rental Property Is Doing THIS, You Should Sell It (Rookie Reply)

Is it time to SELL your rental property? Not so fast! Bad cash flow isn’t the end of the world if you’re banking on appreciation, and there are several ways to increase your cash flow. But certain problems aren’t worth the headaches, and in this episode, we’ll share some telltale signs that you should sell! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today’s first question comes from a new investor who’s looking to go from buying beginner-friendly, turnkey properties to scaling with the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat). Is this a doable next step or should they stick with what’s been working? We’ll show you why this investing strategy isn’t as intimidating as it might seem! Next, we’ll discuss what you should do if your property is bleeding money. At what point should you move on? Maybe you’ve already decided to cash out but are struggling to sell your investment property. We’ll show you how to move that stubborn listing! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover Signs you should SELL your rental property (and when to hold instead) Properly analyzing rental properties so you DON’T get stuck with a bad investment How to use the BRRRR method to scale your real estate portfolio Earning semi-passive income with turnkey rentals How to choose the right real estate investing strategy for YOU Creative strategies for moving an old listing that has been sitting on the market And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-535 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 202535 min

How to Buy Your First Rental Property in THIS Market (2025 Ultimate Guide)

Tired of spending your money on rent or stashing it in a traditional savings account? You could make your money work harder for you and get on the path to financial freedom with real estate investing. Today, we’re going to show you exactly how to buy your first rental property in 2025, step by step! Despite rising home prices and high interest rates, now is an ideal time for new investors to buy real estate, as they face less competition and have even more leverage. So, in this episode, Ashley and Tony are going to show you seven steps that will get you off the sidelines and into the game! First, we’ll help you lay a foundation for investing. You’ll not only need to get your financial house in order but also set clear investing goals, determine your purchasing power, and choose your investing strategy. You’ll also learn how to do things like find a lender, choose your market, and assemble your investing team. Then, we’ll start looking at deals! We’ll share how to build your buy box, analyze properties, and negotiate with sellers. Most importantly, we’ll teach you the right way to build your business so that you succeed today AND as you scale your real estate portfolio! In This Episode We Cover: How to buy your first rental property in 2025 (step by step) Why NOW is the perfect time for new investors to get into real estate The three things you must do before buying an investment property How to create your “buy box” and start analyzing rental properties The value of building relationships with small, local banks and credit unions Must-have systems and processes for your real estate business And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook The Rookie’s Cheat Sheet for Market Research (Find Where to Invest in 2024) Real Estate Investing Resources Property Buy Box Worksheet How to Financially Prepare to Buy Your First Rental Property (7 Steps) Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Pick Up Ashley’s Book “Real Estate Rookie” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 523 - The “Secret Sauce” for Buying Rental Properties BELOW Market Value (00:00) Intro (00:36) Why Real Estate? (04:49) Step 1. Lay the Foundation (09:25) Step 2. Talk to a Lender (11:27) Step 3. Choose Your Market (14:59) Step 4. Build Out Your Team (18:49) Step 5. Create Your Buy Box (25:03) Step 6. Make an Offer (31:53) Step 7. Prepare for Closing (33:56) Find Your NEXT Deal! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-534 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 12, 202538 min

Creating $3,000/Month Cash Flow Just by Pivoting to THIS Investing Strategy

Are you stuck with a problematic property? What if you could create thousands of dollars in monthly cash flow just by pivoting to the right investing strategy for your property and market? That’s exactly what today’s guest did, and if you stick around, she’ll show you how to repeat her success! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Aleea Stanton’s grandparents gave up their home to put her through college, so after graduating from law school, she saved up and bought them a house. Little did she know that this would ignite a passion for real estate investing and home renovation projects. Before long, Aleea had gone on to fix and flip eight houses—averaging $40,000 in profit per home—and even pocketed a whopping $200,000 on her most recent flip! Despite the huge profit margins she earned with this lucrative strategy, Aleea decided to diversify her real estate portfolio with buy-and-hold investing. Now, she brings in an additional $3,000 in consistent monthly cash flow, all thanks to a combination of long-term and medium-term rentals. Tune in as Aleea shares her biggest successes and several critical mistakes to avoid! In This Episode We Cover: Making thousands in monthly cash flow by pivoting to another investing strategy Why diversification is one of the most powerful tools in a difficult housing market The number one thing that will make or break your renovation projects Why you should always order your own home inspection (even if you waive one) Creative ways to find off-market real estate deals in a competitive market And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust Buy the Book “Start with Strategy” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Which Real Estate Investing Strategy Is Best for Your Goals? (00:00) Intro (00:35) Buying Her First House (05:35) Flipping 8 Houses! (08:12) Pivoting to Long-Term Rentals (16:58) Finding Great MLS Deals (28:20) Mid-Term Rentals & Off-Market Deals (31:49) Connect with Aleea! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-533 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 10, 202535 min

Stop Buying Rentals (You Have Enough) and Do THIS Instead (Rookie Reply)

Should you STOP buying rentals? How do you structure a seller financing deal? Can you invest out of state without a property manager? Whether you’re looking to improve your cash flow or buy a property without the bank, there’s something for you in today’s Rookie Reply! Our first question comes from an investor who is looking at a potential seller financing opportunity. Should they make multiple offers? How should they structure terms? Tune in to hear the tips Ashley and Tony have used to get low-money-down seller financing in the past! Next, we’ll hear from an investor whose real estate portfolio is barely breaking even. We’ll discuss whether they should stop buying rentals, but we’ll also dive into their assets and see if there’s an even easier (and more passive) way to build wealth with real estate! Finally, is there a cost-effective way to manage your properties from afar while still having boots on the ground to handle things like showings and move-in inspections? Ashley has some outside-the-box ideas you could try! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: How to reach your real estate investing goals without buying more rentals How to pitch seller financing (and negotiate terms) when buying property Whether you should make multiple offers on the same property (and how to do it) Building wealth through passive real estate investing opportunities How to leverage your retirement accounts to invest in real estate How to manage rental properties when investing out of state And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook PropStream Buy the Book “Start with Strategy” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Which Real Estate Investing Strategy Is Best for Your Goals? (00:00) Intro (00:32) Seller Financing 101 (11:14) STOP Buying Rentals? (21:50) Managing Rentals from Afar (24:20) Ask Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-532 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 7, 202527 min

How to Invest in Real Estate with an AVERAGE Salary (Under $75K) in 2025

If you want to know how to invest in real estate in 2025, even if you earn an average salary, you’re in the right place. In this episode, we’re going to break down the exact steps YOU can take to buy your first or next rental property—yes, even in today’s tough housing market! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, Ashley, Tony, and investor Luke Carl are going to share how they would invest in real estate in 2025 if they were starting from scratch. We’ll look at today’s housing market from the perspective of someone who earns an average salary of $75,000 or less and share our favorite strategies, property types, and loans for a beginner. Stay tuned to learn why Ashley recommends forming a partnership for your first real estate deal, why Tony loves the NACA mortgage, and why Luke likes to target properties that need a little love. We’ll also share our top tips for new investors—from getting a mentor and building rapport with lenders to avoiding “shiny object syndrome” and fast-tracking your savings for a bigger down payment! In This Episode We Cover: How to invest in today’s market with an average salary ($75,000 or less) Creative ways to put low (or no) money down on an investment property The best real estate investing strategies for a new investor Whether you should pay off debt before investing in real estate Managing your own rentals versus hiring a property management company And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook NACA Luke’s Website Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust Grab the Book “Smarter Short-Term Rentals” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Investing for Beginners: How to Get Started Connect with Luke (00:00) Intro (00:57) First Steps for Rookies (07:44) Building a Financial Foundation (11:40) Getting Preapproved (16:35) Best Property Types (23:04) Finding the Deal (29:38) Paying Off Debt vs. Investing (33:29) Advice for New Investors (36:16) Connect with Luke! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-531 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 5, 202540 min

17 Units in 3 Years During High Rates with This Low-Risk “BRRRR” Strategy

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 Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Rich Dad Poor Dad Try REsimpli, The Only All-In-One Real Estate Investor CRM Software That Helps You Manage Data, Marketing, Sales, and Operations Grab the Book on the “BRRRR” Strategy Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter 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 (01:01) The Perfect Partnership? (03:35) First Duplex in 2021 (11:09) This Works WITH High Rates (15:56) Using Other People’s Money (29:59) The New 2025 “BRRRR” Strategy (27:51) Who Does What? Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-530 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 3, 202532 min

7 Best (Beginner) Markets to Buy Rental Properties in 2025 (Rookie Reply)

Where should YOU invest in 2025? Stay tuned because we’re going to share our top seven real estate markets for buying rental properties this year. We’ll tell you why we like them, why they’re growing, and whether it’s worth moving there to invest! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, Ashley and guest cohost Garrett Brown are answering recent questions from new investors just like you. Do you feel behind in your real estate investing journey compared to other investors? You can’t believe everything you see on social media, BUT if you have big plans to grow your real estate portfolio, we’ll show you some of the secrets to scaling! Next, we’ll dive into our favorite markets in 2025. Whether you’re investing in long-term rentals or short-term rentals, we have beginner-friendly options for all strategies. Finally, we’ll break down a real estate deal an investor is working on and steer them in the right direction! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: The top seven real estate markets we’re investing in this year The secret to scaling your real estate portfolio (without a ton of money!) How to buy an investment property without a 25% down payment Discovering profitable short-term rentals using the 20% revenue rule Why stabilizing your properties is more important than buying more Why you should always choose your investing strategy before buying property And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook BiggerPockets Rental Property Calculator BiggerPockets Market Analysis Template BiggerPockets Top Investment Housing Markets for 2025 BiggerPockets Buy Box Checklist BiggerPockets How to Pick a Short-Term Rental Market Guide BiggerStays YouTube Channel AirDNA Navigate The 2025 Tax Season with an Investor-Friendly Tax Expert Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Grab the Book “Smarter Short-Term Rentals” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 473 - Moving 1,500 Miles Away to Buy His First Rental with Just $25,000 Connect with Garrett (00:00) Intro (00:38) The Secret to Scaling (12:12) 7 Best Real Estate Markets (23:37) Property Analysis 101 (32:59) Connect with Garrett! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-529 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 28, 202537 min

How to Find “Hidden” Deals That Most Investors Miss (Even as a Beginner)

There are all kinds of “hidden” real estate deals floating around, and if you take action in this housing market, you could beat everyone else to them—even if you’re new to real estate investing. Today’s guest used this tactic to buy 250 rental units in just FIVE years, and she’s about to share it with you! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Off the back of her new book, Smarter Short-Term Rentals, Avery Carl joins the show to teach YOU how to find “hidden” deals that turn into profitable vacation rentals. If you look closely, real estate listings are riddled with errors that could help you buy a rental property well below market value. A few of these properties could give you financial freedom, and in this episode, Avery will show you exactly which “clues” to look for! You’ll also learn how to choose an Airbnb market and why investing in a saturated area is a better bet than trailblazing in an unproven market. But that’s not all. Avery will shed light on “over-amenitization” and show you how to make your short-term rental pop with smart furniture and décor choices instead! In This Episode We Cover: Why the 2025 housing market is the perfect playground for new investors The biggest opportunities and challenges new investors face in 2025 Listing “clues” that could tip you off to an undervalued property Creative ways to make your short-term rental stand out in any market The number one mistake investors make when analyzing a rental property Telltale signs that it’s time to sell your investment property The BEST Airbnb markets to invest in right now (and which ones to avoid!) And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook AirDNA PriceLabs Rabbu Buy Avery’s New Book “Smarter Short-Term Rentals" Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Rookie 429 - The Investing “Map” You NEED to Uncover Hot Markets, Neighborhoods, & Deals Connect with Avery (00:00) Intro (00:43) Making “Low” Offers (04:18) Common Listing “Clues” (08:28) Picking Airbnb Markets (17:19) How to Stand Out (22:38) When to Exit a Property (28:47) Markets to Avoid (32:34) BEST Markets in 2025 (34:43) Connect with Avery! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-528 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 26, 202537 min

Snowballing to 6 Properties and $75K+/Year Cash Flow (After a Late Start!)

Do you want to get into real estate but fear you’re too late to the party? This middle-aged, middle-class couple thought so, too. Instead, they discovered a strategy that helped them fast-track their financial goals, bringing them to six rental properties and over $75,000 in annual cash flow! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Brianne and Doug Hamilton didn’t want to rely on their W2 jobs for their financial security, so like many, they turned to real estate investing. In just a few years, they have scaled to six properties and built two real estate businesses. They’re on the path to financial independence, even though they started in their late 30s. If they can do it, YOU can, too! As you’re about to hear, Brianne and Doug have done it all. They’ve launched vacation rentals. They’ve bought properties with other people’s money (OPM). They’ve even cohosted and managed properties for other investors. But their secret to snowballing one rental property into six? The BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat). Stick around to learn more about this strategy and copy the Hamiltons’ success, no matter what stage of life you’re in! In This Episode We Cover: Snowballing to six properties and over $75,000 in annual cash flow Scaling with the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) The power of networking when you’re just starting your investing journey Choosing an investing strategy that aligns with your goals, skills, and passions How to buy a rental property using other people’s money (OPM) Tips and tricks for increasing your short-term rental bookings And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Brianne & Doug’s Instagram Buy the Book “Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders What Is the BRRRR Method & How to Use It to Invest in Real Estate Connect with Brianne (00:00) Intro (00:45) Why Real Estate Investing? (03:36) Buying the First Property (08:52) “Diversifying” with Vacation Rentals (16:31) Using Other People’s Money (22:08) How to Increase Bookings (31:10) Brianne & Doug’s Portfolio (34:35) Connect with Brianne & Doug! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-527 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 24, 202538 min

Real Estate vs. Stocks: Which Will Make You MORE Money? (Rookie Reply)

Should you invest in real estate or stocks in 2025? What if you DON’T have to choose? Today, we’ll share how you can have the best of both worlds with strategies you’ve probably never heard about! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, Ashley and guest cohost Mindy Jensen are answering more of your recent questions. First, what’s the best way to build credit so you can qualify for a mortgage? We’ll debate the legitimacy of credit repair companies and provide some crucial tips for raising your credit score. Next, we’ll not only settle the real estate versus stocks debate but also show you some of the best ways to invest in both! Finally, sometimes deals go south, but this is why you need to have multiple investing strategies up your sleeve. We’ll get creative and help an investor get out of a sticky situation! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: Whether you should invest in real estate or the stock market in 2025 Leveraging your brokerage and retirement accounts to buy a rental property The five factors that make up your credit score (and steps to improve them!) The BEST financing options for those with less-than-perfect credit Why you must have multiple exit strategies for your investment property And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Get Your Financial House in Order with an Investor-Friendly Financial Planner Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Buy the Book “Recession-Proof Real Estate Investing” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate vs. Stocks: What 145 Years of Returns Tells Us Connect with Mindy (00:00) Intro (00:37) Building Credit 101 (08:42) Real Estate vs. Stocks (23:16) Changing Your Strategy (30:38) Connect with Mindy! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-526 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 21, 202534 min

Ep 525The “Secret Sauce” for Buying Rental Properties BELOW Market Value

Want to learn the secret to snagging rentals below market value? Every successful investor has this one crucial skill, and it’s often the difference between getting the door shut in your face and coming away with a discounted property. Even rookies can learn this skill, and today, we’re bringing on a pro to show you how! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re joined by J Scott, who delivers a masterclass on real estate negotiations with sellers, agents, contractors, vendors, and anyone else you encounter in your real estate investing journey. In this episode, J will show you the best way to sharpen your negotiation skills, the questions that will help you determine a seller’s motivation, and how to stand out to sellers in a competitive housing market. But that’s not all. If you’ve ever wondered where you should set your starting offer and how to get over your fear of insulting the seller with a “lowball” bid, J’s got the answers. Better yet, he’ll show you how to do this without creating any kind of animosity between you and the seller. In fact, he’ll share how you can do the exact opposite by building rapport and creating a win-win for both sides! In This Episode We Cover: Using the power of negotiation to buy rentals below market value The number one way to sharpen your real estate negotiation skills Crucial questions that will help you determine a seller’s motivation How to make your offer stand out (even in a competitive market) The two tactics you must master to become a successful negotiator How to avoid an adversarial relationship when entering negotiations Two telltale signs that it’s time to end negotiations with a seller And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Get $100 Off Your Tickets to BPCON2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada Grab “The Book on Negotiating Real Estate” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Building Rapport and Negotiating with Sellers for a Great Deal Connect with J PropStream (00:00) Intro (00:37) Negotiations 101 (04:24) Why Negotiation Matters (08:00) BEST Negotiating Tactics (15:45) How to Sharpen Your Skills (21:34) Making “Lowball” Offers (28:00) Questions to Ask Sellers (35:36) How to Stand Out in 2025 (38:24) When to End Negotiations (40:44) Connect with J! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-525 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 19, 202544 min

Ep 524BRRRR-ing to 16 Rental Units (WITHOUT a Ton of Money)

Buying sixteen rental units in one market?! Today’s guest has discovered the perfect investing strategy for newbies. You don’t need a ton of money or resources, and you can use it over and over to buy your first, second, third, or twentieth rental property. Tune in to find out what this secret strategy is and how to use it! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! After Seamus Nally’s brother showed him the off-campus housing model, they formed a four-way real estate investing partnership with other family members. Pooling their money helped them fast-track their first deal—a duplex they renovated and rented by the room. Before long, they had BRRRR’d (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) their way to sixteen units within the same neighborhood, which revitalized the entire community and forced HUGE appreciation across their real estate portfolio! In this episode, Seamus will show you how to combine the BRRRR strategy and partnerships to not only kickstart your investing journey but also scale your portfolio faster than you ever thought possible. Along the way, you’ll learn how to use home equity to fund more deals, find the best subcontractors for your home renovations, and more! In This Episode We Cover: The strategy Seamus used to scale to sixteen rental units in one market How to use the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) Growing your real estate portfolio through the power of investing partnerships Crucial dos and don’ts when real estate investing with family members Buying rental properties faster by tapping into your home equity The value of building relationships with small banks and local credit unions Keeping high-quality tenants happy by focusing on customer service How to find (and keep!) the best subcontractors in any market And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram TurboTenant Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust Grab Your Early Bird Tickets to BPCON2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada Grab Our Book “Real Estate Partnerships” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 486 - Quitting His Job with Real Estate After Cracking the Cash Flow Code Connect with Seamus (00:00) Intro (00:34) Seamus’ First Deal (06:34) The Power of Partnerships (10:20) Revitalizing a Neighborhood (18:03) How to Fund Multiple Deals (23:50) Scaling with the BRRRR Method (29:01) Sweat Equity & Finding Contractors (34:41) Self-Management Tips (36:52) Connect with Seamus! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-524 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 202540 min

Ep 523Is Cash Flow STILL King? How to Get More of It in This Market (Rookie Reply)

Cash flow is hard to come by in this market. Just a few years ago, it was easy to find rental properties that met the one-percent rule, but today, you need to get creative if cash flow is your main goal. Is buying more rentals the most obvious fix, or is there another strategy that people aren’t talking about? Stay tuned to find out! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re returning to the BiggerPockets Forums to answer more of your recent questions, and first up, an investor needs some help managing their rental property from afar. Who handles showings? Move-out inspections? We’ll show them how to turn their out-of-state investing operation into a well-oiled machine. Next, we’ll hear from an investor who wants more cash flow. They already have one rental property, so should they pay it off or start looking for their next rental? We’ve got several strategies that they (and YOU) can use! Finally, what happens when a property you’re looking to buy needs repairs? We’ll share some crucial dos and don’ts when negotiating with sellers! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: The BEST strategies to increase your portfolio’s total cash flow Tips and tricks for self-managing your rental property (out-of-state!) Must-have property management and maintenance software for your portfolio Four ways to tap into your rental property’s equity and redeploy it What to do (and what NOT to do) when negotiating repairs with sellers And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Get RentRedi for FREE with BiggerPockets Pro Membership Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook TurboTenant Avail Innago Latchel Lula Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Grab “The Book on Rental Property Investing” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Maximizing Your Portfolio: How to Get the Most Out of Your Real Estate Investments Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-523 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 14, 202536 min

Ep 522Why We Regret Buying (So Many) Rental Properties

It’s true—we regret scaling our real estate portfolios. We’ve learned (the hard way) that less is often more, especially in today’s market, where great deals aren’t as easy to find. Want to make sure your quest for more rentals doesn’t derail your investing journey? We’ll share where we went wrong so that YOU don’t make the same costly mistakes! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Social media would have you believe that a large portfolio is the key to reaching financial freedom, replacing your W2 salary, and retiring early. And while you may need more than one or two rental properties to achieve your biggest investing goals, scaling too quickly can have the opposite effect—killing your cash flow and leaving you with more headaches than you bargained for! In this episode, you’ll hear how putting all his eggs in one basket caused Tony to lose over $200,000 on ONE deal and how growing too fast caused Ashley to miss out on one of the BEST years to invest in real estate. Stay tuned to learn what we would have done differently if we could wind back the clock! In This Episode We Cover Why Ashley and Tony regret buying so many rental properties so quickly The pitfalls of scaling your real estate portfolio (and how to avoid them!) Why “less is more” when it comes to building a rental portfolio What WE would do differently if we started investing today Why stabilizing your properties is more important than acquiring more Creating necessary procedures, processes, and systems in your real estate business And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-522 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 12, 202532 min

Ep 521Avoid Paying Taxes (Legally) with THIS Rental Tax Loophole

Most people invest in real estate for cash flow or appreciation, but there are enormous tax benefits as well. In this episode, we’re going to share the number one tax strategy you need to know about—the short-term rental tax loophole—which could save you thousands! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re joined by Sean Graham, who is not only a certified public accountant (CPA) but also a fellow real estate investor. He’s going to show YOU how to avoid paying Uncle Sam (legally) with just a few savvy tax strategies. The best part? You don’t need to be a big-time investor with a large real estate portfolio to take advantage of these benefits. Even if you have just ONE rental, these strategies are for you! First, Sean will share the ins and outs of the cost segregation study, which allows you to frontload depreciation rather than spreading it out over the next few decades. He’ll also get into bonus depreciation and the different line items that qualify, as well as the tax “loophole” that allows you to use tax deductions to offset active income—yes, including your W2 wages! In This Episode We Cover: Offsetting active income (and saving thousands) with the short-term rental loophole How to avoid paying taxes (legally!) on your rental property Cost segregation studies explained (and when you should get one) How to retroactively claim depreciation through a “look-back” study Why you can have as little as ZERO taxable income and still be lendable And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Cost Segregation 101 Get Early Access to Real Estate’s Biggest Event of the Year, BPCON2025 Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust Download the Cost Segregation 101 Resource Buy “The Book on Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Connect with Sean (00:00) Intro (00:36) What Is Cost Segregation? (06:33) Short-Term Rental Loophole (13:10) Other Strategies & Pitfalls (20:21) Bonus Depreciation 101 (25:24) How to Do a Cost Seg Study (28:05) Cost Segregation Study (33:28) Connect with Sean! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-521 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 202538 min

Ep 5204+ Ways to Fix Negative Cash Flow (and When to Sell Instead) (Rookie Reply)

Does your rental property have negative cash flow? This doesn’t necessarily mean you bought a bad deal, though losing money probably isn’t what you signed up for. But not to worry—in today’s episode, we’ll share a few changes that could get you back in positive territory in no time! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re answering more questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. First up, we’ll get into house hacking—the easiest way for a new investor to build a real estate portfolio—and show you how to use this strategy to keep buying properties with low money down. Next, should you invest in Columbus, Ohio in 2025? This investing hotspot is drawing plenty of attention, but we’ll show you how to find other markets just like it! Finally, is your Airbnb giving you little or no cash flow? Tune in to learn how to plug the holes in your business, when to hold for appreciation, and when it might be wise to sell! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: The number one thing you must do before looking at Airbnb markets The most crucial data for Airbnb market analysis (and where to find it!) The BEST short-term rental markets to invest in this year Must-have Airbnb amenities to add to your rental property Why we’re choosing secondary markets over primary markets in 2025 And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPockets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Top Investment Housing Markets for 2025 Market Analysis Spreadsheet BrightInvestor NeighborhoodScout Breezeway Sign Up for BiggerPockets Momentum 2025 to Fast-Track Your Investing Journey Get Early Access to BPCON2025 and Learn Real Estate from Industry Experts Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Grab the Book “Smarter Short-Term Rentals” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Improve Your Real Estate Returns by Optimizing Your Existing Properties When Deals Are Hard to Find (00:00) Intro (00:40) House Hacking 101 (10:58) How to Pick a Market (21:14) Airbnb Listings & Cleaning Fees (31:36) “Fixing” Revenue & Exit Strategies (39:49) Ask Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-520 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 7, 202543 min

Ep 519The BEST Airbnb Markets in 2025 and How to Do Your Own Market Research

Want to get into short-term rentals in 2025? Your first step is to find the right Airbnb market for you. But we know that wading through 20,000 US towns and cities can be overwhelming, which is why we’re turning to our resident short-term rental expert for everything you might need to know! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Vacation rentals are Tony’s specialty, and in this episode, he’s going to share his best tips and tricks for choosing a market in 2025. First, he’ll help you pin down your investing goals before covering some of the most crucial factors to consider when analyzing a short-term rental market—including home price, supply and demand, competition, and others. You’ll also learn how to perform your own market research from scratch so that you’re armed with the most accurate data when making your decision! But that’s not all. Once you’ve chosen your market, you’ll need to determine which types of amenities to include. We’ll show you what’s needed, what’s not needed, and which additions could give you a competitive edge in your market. Finally, we’ll share a list of the best places to invest in 2025, which may even feature a certain Louisiana market Tony notoriously invested in years ago! In This Episode We Cover: The number one thing you must do before looking at Airbnb markets The most crucial data for Airbnb market analysis (and where to find it!) The BEST short-term rental markets to invest in this year Must-have Airbnb amenities to add to your rental property Why we’re choosing secondary markets over primary markets 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 Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram AirDNA “Best Places to Invest in Short-Term Rentals in 2025” Try REsimpli, The Only All-In-One Real Estate Investor CRM Software That Helps You Manage Data, Marketing, Sales, and Operations Sign Up for BiggerPockets Momentum 2025 to Supercharge Your Investing This Year Buy the Book “Smarter Short-Term Rentals” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area The 5 Best Housing Markets for Short-Term Rentals in 2025 (00:00) Intro (00:43) What’s Your Motivation? (02:12) Crucial Data Points (10:22) Choosing Your Market (18:46) Must-Have Amenities (21:40) Supply, Demand, & Competition (27:03) Ongoing Market Research (28:59) BEST Markets in 2025 (34:46) Do Your Own Research! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-519 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 5, 202538 min

Ep 518Tiny Investments, Killer Cash Flow, and Starting with Just $12K

“Tiny” investments with BIG upsides? Today’s guest turned a $12,000 down payment (all the money he had) into four rental properties and a unique real estate investing business. After an injury from his time in the Army left Manny Reyna with altered life plans, he had to decide what to do next. He didn’t have much money but wanted to provide for his wife and young son. The best option: use his VA loan to buy a house. With every dollar he had, he bought a home, knowing it could one day be a rental, but little did he know that it would kickstart a very different real estate investing journey. Fast forward a few years later, and Manny has a glamping/tiny house business that he started with just $20,000. This tiny home brings in some respectable cash flow but wasn’t without its struggles. In this episode, we’re going through the big ups (and big downs) of Manny’s journey, from having to literally move a house to bad guests ruining his first short-term rental, installing utilities on completely raw land, and managing his properties from very far away (he’s in Japan right now!). In This Episode We Cover: Why every veteran or active duty military member should use THIS loan to buy a house How to start investing without much money by buying “tiny” investment properties Whether you should hire property management or self-manage your first property Why lowering your rent price is worth it to avoid prolonged vacancies (don’t make Manny’s mistake!) How much it cost Manny to install utilities (electrical, septic, etc.) on a raw land for his glamping properties 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 Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram Get Casita on Instagram Sign Up for BiggerPockets Momentum 2025 to Supercharge Your Investing This Year Grab the Book, “Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth” Property Manager Finder $11,000/Month with One VERY Unique Rental Property w/Garrett Brown Connect with Manny (00:00) Intro (02:10) First House for $12K Down! (06:00) Hiring Property Management (09:34) I Can't Get Tenants! (10:37) $50K Tiny Homes and Land Investing (16:15) Setting Up Utilities on New Land (21:21) Tiny House Amenities (24:11) Cash Flow and Current Rent (26:37) Tenants Trashed My Property! (29:58) Buying MORE Tiny Homes (33:44) Managing Properties from Abroad (35:09) Connect with Manny! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-518 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 3, 202539 min

Ep 517Fund Your FIRST Rental Property with These Side Hustle Ideas (Rookie Reply)

Do you need more money to buy your first rental property? Fortunately, there are all kinds of real estate side hustles you can use to supercharge your savings, all while learning the ropes of real estate investing. And in this episode, we’re going to share some of our favorites that YOU can start today! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re tackling more of your recent questions from the BiggerPockets Forums and BiggerPockets Facebook groups. First, a new investor has a lofty investing goal they want to achieve in just five years, and we’ll share our best advice and side hustle ideas to help them reach it. Next, we’ll hear from an investor who wants to buy their dream home. Can they leverage their current real estate portfolio to help fund it? Should they sell their rentals? Stay tuned to find out! Finally, what’s the best way to structure a real estate investing partnership? Should you go into business with a family member? We’ll share some crucial dos and don’ts! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: The BEST side hustles for making extra money and learning real estate Whether it’s ever too late to start your investing journey How many rental properties you need to achieve your cash flow goals Our biggest fears, headaches, and lessons learned when WE started investing How to leverage your current real estate portfolio to buy your next property What you must know before forming partnerships (and how to structure one!) 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 Follow Real Estate Rookie on Instagram “Like” Real Estate Rookie on Facebook Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Grab Tony & Ashley’s Book “Real Estate Partnerships” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders 6 Real Estate Side Hustles to Make Extra Money & Gain Experience (00:00) Intro (00:35) Cash Flow Goals (07:24) Biggest Fears & Headaches (11:36) BEST Side Hustles (18:42) Buying Your Dream Home (24:24) Partnerships 101 (32:02) Ask Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-517 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 31, 202535 min

Ep 516How to Manage Your First or Next Rental (and Save Thousands of Dollars)

Managing rental properties doesn’t have to be hard. You can do it without the midnight tenant phone calls, “lost” rent checks, and other common landlord headaches. Looking to buy your first or next rental property? Today, we’re giving a masterclass on how to manage a rental property, even if you’re a real estate rookie with zero experience in investing. Ready to start? Here’s what we’re breaking down in this episode: What to do before you buy, getting your lease agreement together, handling maintenance requests and repairs, move-ins and move-outs, security deposits, and more! What software do we use to streamline all the tenant communication so we don’t deal with a dozen phone calls a day? How do we handle tenant complaints and damages to the property without having our hair fall out (Tony optionally shaves his head!)? We’re giving you complete lists of every app and software we use so you can manage with ease, too! Also, why did Ashley publicly weep in a courthouse early in her real estate career? She shares one key tip to save you time, money, and tears! In This Episode We Cover: What you should do BEFORE you buy your first/next rental to make your life much easier Lease agreements 101 and the crucial additions that most landlords miss How Ashley handles all her tenant maintenance requests without picking up a single phone call What you MUST have a tenant fill out when moving into your property (this will save you a TON of money) Every rental property software Ashley uses to manage her long-term rentals What you should NEVER do during an eviction filing (Ashley’s BIG mistake) 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 Resource Hub Lease Agreements by State Rookie Resource Hub RentRedi Stessa Sign Up for BiggerPockets Momentum 2025 to Supercharge Your Investing This Year Grab the Book “The Self-Managing Landlord” Property Manager Finder 9 Incredible Resources To Help You Self-Manage Your Rental Properties (00:00) Intro (00:28) BEFORE You Buy (07:40) Lease Agreements 101 (15:11) Maintenance, Repairs, Tenant Requests (20:17) Move Ins and Move Outs (26:39) Security Deposits (28:05) Best Rental Property Software Best Rental Property Software (33:49) Landlord-Tenant Laws (40:23) You’re Ready for Your First Rental! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-516 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 29, 202544 min

Ep 515The Beginner’s Guide to Finding (and Funding) Small Multifamily Real Estate

Small multifamily investing might seem scary to a new investor, but what if we told you these properties are less risky than single-family homes and even easier to buy in many cases? In this episode, we’ll bust the most common multifamily myths that keep rookies on the sidelines so that YOU can take down your first multifamily property in 2025! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, Amelia McGee and Grace Gudenkauf return to the show to deliver a masterclass on small multifamily investing. They’ll show you how to find off-market real estate deals at a deep discount, why cash flow is king when analyzing multifamily properties, and which neighborhoods to target for long-term appreciation. We’ll also get into zoning and permitting issues to be wary of—pitfalls that could wipe out your cash flow if you’re not careful! But that’s not all. Of course, the BIG question on every rookie’s mind is, “How do I get financing for these deals?” and we’ve got the answer! Amelia and Grace will show you how to buy larger properties with low money down and provide you with the perfect pitch for seller financing! In This Episode We Cover: Why small multifamily properties are even less risky than single-family homes Boosting your cash flow by using multiple investing strategies for the same property Taking advantage of HUGE appreciation by targeting developing areas Buying multifamily properties with LOW money down by house hacking The BEST way to pitch seller financing for off-market multifamily deals Multifamily investing “myths” new investors are taught (and why they’re wrong!) Common zoning and permitting issues that can kill your cash flow The keys to managing multiple tenants (and how to keep them happy!) 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 Real Estate Rookie 111 - 26 Doors in 1 Year? Here’s How You Can Do It Too! Get RentRedi for FREE with BiggerPockets Pro Membership Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA Buy Amelia & Grace’s Book “The Self-Managing Landlord” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Rookie 401 - Boost Your Cash Flow in 2024 with These “Self-Management” Tips Connect with Amelia Connect with Grace (00:00) Intro (02:27) Small Multifamily 101 (08:32) Finding Deals & Choosing Markets (16:55) Due Diligence & Tenant Management (25:13) Creative Finance Strategies (29:20) Key Systems & Processes (32:11) Connect with Amelia & Grace! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-515 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 27, 202535 min

Ep 514Stuck at ONE Rental Property? The Secrets to Scaling Your Portfolio

Is it possible to scale your real estate portfolio in this market? What if you only have one income? Getting past one rental property is a huge hurdle in every investor’s real estate journey, but increasing your rental income and lowering your mortgage costs can help you maximize your cash flow and get over the hump. And in this episode, we’ll show you how! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re diving back into the BiggerPockets Forums and answering your questions. First, we’ll hear from an investor who wants to scale their portfolio but feels stuck with one rental. We’ll show them how to squeeze more money out of their property and fund their next purchase. Our next question is from an investor who wants to refinance a “unique” property that doesn’t have comparables. What type of loan do they need? Should they sell the property? Stay tuned to find out. Finally, we’ll help a few landlords with some “unusual” rental maintenance headaches! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: Whether you can build and scale a real estate portfolio on ONE income House hacking, renting by the room, and MORE ways to grow your rental income Homeowners insurance, property taxes, and MORE mortgage costs you can reduce How to turn your accessory dwelling unit (ADU) into a short-term rental Creative ways to get refinancing for a “non-traditional” rental property How to handle unusual (or unreasonable) maintenance requests from tenants What you MUST keep in mind when working with Section 8 tenants 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 AirDNA Ownwell Land More Off-Market Deals with Crucial Property Owner Contact Information from DealMachine Ask Your Question for a Future Rookie Reply Grab the Book “The Self-Managing Landlord” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 443 - How to Use “Asset Management” to Build Wealth (Even with a Small Portfolio) (00:00) Intro (01:01) Scaling with 1 Income (11:14) Refinancing “Unique” Properties (17:08) “Unreasonable” Maintenance (26:05) Section 8 Tenants (31:37) Ask Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-514 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 24, 202534 min

Ep 513Everything You Need to Know About the 2025 Housing Market

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 22, 202544 min

Ep 512Middle-School Teacher Makes $100K in 6 Weeks on Her FIRST Deal

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 202537 min

Ep 5115 Things to Know Before Buying a Duplex, Triplex, or Quadplex (Rookie Reply)

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 17, 202531 min

Ep 510How I Spent My $36K Home Renovation Budget for the Highest Rents

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 15, 202543 min

Ep 509How to Invest in Real Estate in 2025 (For Beginners!)

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 13, 202549 min

Ep 508The BEST Ways to Find “Rare” Off-Market Real Estate Deals in 2025 (Rookie Reply)

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 10, 202530 min

Ep 507Renovations 101: Estimating Costs, Working with Contractors, & Managing Rehabs

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 8, 202547 min

Ep 506How to Build a Scalable Real Estate Business (While Working a W2!) in 2025

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 6, 202544 min

Ep 505Paying Off Rentals vs. Buying More and Low-Money-Down Loans (Rookie Reply)

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 3, 202533 min

Ep 504How to Find Real Estate Deals Faster Using Data 99% of People Ignore

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 1, 202547 min

Ep 503HousingWire’s 2025 Housing Market Predictions: Rates, Prices, and More

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 30, 202432 min

Ep 502Financial Freedom in 2 Years by Scaling Their Rental Portfolio FAST

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 27, 202442 min

Ep 501Why This Expert Investor Owns Only ONE Rental Property

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 25, 202430 min

Ep 500Covering Her Mortgage in ONE Day with THIS (Up to $16K/Month!)

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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 202440 min