House of Horrors: The Legal Podcast For Real Estate Investors

A Fort Worth couple with a gorgeous Instagram feed and a Chip-and-Joanna-Gaines brand identity collected nearly $5 million from over 40 homeowners for custom renovations they never intended to finish — then spent $82,000 on Amazon, $27,000 on their own mortgage, and $10,000 on plastic surgery while one client lost her dream home entirely and another lived in an RV for 18 months. In this episode, B...

One of the most recognized names in real estate education. Millions of podcast downloads. Bestselling books. And his Class B investors just lost 100% of their capital in a single Houston deal. This episode breaks down the Open Door Capital / Heights on Katy collapse: what the numbers actually showed, what the offering documents said, and the 5 things you must do before writing a check into any syn...

The FBI just arrested 11 people in Los Angeles for allegedly stealing $17.4 million — not by breaking into homes, but by stealing identities and using elderly homeowners' free-and-clear properties as loan collateral without their knowledge. In this episode, Bonnie breaks down exactly how the fraud worked, why owning your home outright can paradoxically make you a target, and what every proper...

Cost segregation is everywhere on real estate social media — but what the TikTok gurus aren't telling you is how fast it can go sideways when it's done wrong. In this episode, Bonnie sits down with cost seg specialist Rom Neidhardt to expose three real horror stories: an engineer who forgot you can't depreciate land, a CPA who couldn't read a drawing, and a $500 software report...

Zillow is facing a massive multi-state lawsuit after allegedly paying Redfin $100 million to exit the rental-advertising market — a move Attorneys General say could create a monopoly and drive up rental listing costs nationwide. In this episode, Bonnie breaks down what really happened, why the deal triggered antitrust alarms, and how this shift could raise your marketing costs, increase your vacan...

A $240 million luxury development in Hawaii, a world-famous baseball star, and a dream partnership that collapsed in chaos. In this episode, attorney Bonnie Galam breaks down how a high-profile real estate deal involving Shohei Ohtani spiraled into lawsuits and accusations of sabotage — and what every investor can learn from it. Whether your project is $240 million or $240,000, the same legal less...

In this episode of House of Horrors , attorney Bonnie Galam dives into the jaw-dropping true story of billionaire real estate mogul Donald Bren, who publicly disowned his son with a cold, 12-word statement. But beyond the headlines, this episode explores a deeper truth: Sometimes, generational wealth isn’t the goal. Tune in as we unpack: The full backstory behind the Bren family fallout What to kn...

This one’s personal, Justin’s been a client of mine for years, and in this episode, we finally unpack the horror story we’ve been sitting on for two years. What started as a killer commercial deal turned into a sewer line lawsuit with a surprise twist… and a happy ending (yes, with beer). We talk due diligence, problem-solving under pressure, and lessons from navigating the unexpected. 👩‍🏫 In Th...

Frankie D'Astoli's first deal with a partner looked like a textbook BRRRR win until the tenant moved in. From a cracked sewer line and a porta-potty in the backyard to unpaid rent, court dates, and an excuse involving kidnapping, this story has it all. If you’ve ever been tempted to skip a background check or sewer cam, let this episode stop you in your tracks. 👩‍🏫 In This Episode You&...

This week on House of Horrors, I’m joined by Bob Lachance, a former pro hockey player turned investor who shares how he lost $150K on a knockdown rebuild in Greenwich, CT and what it taught him about trusting partners, doing due diligence, and not falling for “can’t-miss” deals. We also dive into a shady property management horror story and how Bob uses VAs to scale smart. 👩‍🏫 In This Episode Yo...

A condo fire, stolen plywood, and insurance headaches this episode dives into the real-life horror stories behind small-scale development with Katie Neason. We talk about how she’s building a better Bryan, Texas while dodging disasters most investors never see coming. If you're thinking about stepping into development or scaling smart, this is a must-listen. In This Episode You'll Learn:...

In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, attorney and host Bonnie Galam talks with John Todderud, a multifamily investor and syndicator, about a terrifying moment in his real estate journey—when he got a call that one of his properties was on fire. John shares how a simple cleaning mishap led to a fire scare, what he learned from the experience, and how it shaped the way he manages propert...

In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, attorney and host Bonnie Galam talks with Kaydee Smith Myers, a former commercial real estate attorney turned part-time investor, about the challenges of real estate investing and how to navigate unexpected issues. Kaydee shares a series of unfortunate events she encountered in the past year, from tenant evictions and property damage to plumbing eme...

(TW: Suicide) In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, attorney and host Bonnie Galam talks with Sarah Weaver, a real estate investor and coach, about a heartbreaking experience she faced as a landlord: a tenant’s suicide. Sarah shares how she handled the shocking news, worked with the police, and supported others who were affected by the tragedy. You’ll learn: What to do if a serious cris...

In this episode of House of Horrors, attorney and host Bonnie Galam welcomes Grace Gudenkauf, co-founder of the WIIRE Community (Women Investing in Real Estate). Grace shares her wild first-time landlord experience managing inherited tenants in a duplex. From 3AM toilet emergencies to family drama, hoarding, and a tenant moving out one box at a time on his mobility scooter, this story showcases cr...

In this week's horror story, real estate attorney Bonnie Galam dives into the ever-increasing crime of listing fraud. Bonnie also shares an interesting professional dilemma for semi-professional real estate investors. You'll learn: 1. 5 ways to protect your listing 2. Red flags to look out for in rental listings 3. The way scammers get rentals to fall for their scams DISCLAIMER: Although...

In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, host and real estate attorney Bonnie Galam dives into the world of mortgage fraud. According to recent studies, a lot of investors and lenders are playing fast and furious with their loan applications.  In this episode you'll learn about: A fistfight at a closing The illegal actions Fannie and Freddie Mac say are running rampant in the investin...

In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, host Bonnie Galam delves into the fraudulent schemes of Theodore 'Teddy' Miller, the so-called 'Wolf of West Virginia' who got people to invest hundred of thousands into properties he didn't even own. In this episode you'll learn: To anticipate securities regulations when investing passively How to conduct due diligence...

In this episode, real estate attorney Bonnie Galam recounts the harrowing tale of Herbert 'Herb' Whalen, a fraudulent property manager in Indianapolis. Learn how Whalen's web of deceit led to massive financial losses for investors and discover essential legal tips to safeguard your investments from similar scams. In this episode you'll learn: The trust but verify method of enga...

In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, host Bonnie Galam, dives into an in-depth discussion on a harrowing case of contractor fraud involving a contractor who defrauded multiple homeowners out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, turning their renovation dreams into nightmares. In this episode you'll learn: Practical advice for vetting contractors The importance of written contracts...

Would you buy a property that had a residential tenant with a 30 year lease? I suppose there's a price for everything. To know the price, you have to know what your dealing with.  In this episode you'll learn: Listing strategy with an "undesirable" tenant Legal options when inheriting a tenant The legal steps to evaluate a tenant-occupied property DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is...

In this episode, real estate attorney Bonnie Galam discusses the legal implications of tenants having emotional support animals, specifically focusing on unusual case of an emotional support alligator. She explains the difference between service animals and emotional support animals, and how the Fair Housing Act and ADA apply to emotional support animals in rental properties.  In this episode you&...

In this episode, Bonnie Galam discusses a real estate horror story where a developer built a house on the wrong lot.   In this episode you'll learn:   The absurd reason why the wrong property got a new house on it  The two types of legal mistakes  How to avoid making an expensive mistake like this when dealing with contractors DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal...

You heard the buzz about WY, NY, DE LLCs, but what's the real deal with them? Let's pull back the curtain and reveal the truth about how these "special" LLCs actually work. 👻 Plus, you'll hear a horror story about shootings in AirBnBs. In this episode you'll learn: The three ways WY, NY, & DE LLCs *are* different What these differences practically mean in terms o...

Want to be proactive and not reactive? Then you gotta have a lay of the land! Because if you don't know what you're working with, then it's really hard to make smart investing and management decisions to move forward and scale easier. In this episode you'll learn: The management mindset I carry over from my other businesses to my rentals The power of tracking KPIs in your renta...