Real Estate Rookie

You've got very little savings, almost no credit history, and you want to buy a rental property. Most people would tell you to wait, but today, we’re giving you clear, actionable steps you can take toward getting that first property under contract! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re answering three questions that cover the anatomy of a first deal: where the money comes from, where...

Don’t want to wait until 65 to retire? With a combination of rental properties and some of the other investments we’re covering on today’s show, you may not have to. Whether you’re starting from zero or diligently building your nest egg, use these eight steps to build a diversified portfolio and reach financial freedom much faster!  Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today Ashley...

What if the one thing stopping you from buying your first rental property isn’t money, or connections, but the belief that it’s just not possible for someone like you? Today’s guest is proof that with the right game plan, real estate investing offers a path that can set anyone free, including YOU, from the nine-to-five grind! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Crystal Lloyd didn't hav...

What if you could take the rental property you already own and make 2-3 times more? Whether you’re in the red, barely breaking even, or wanting more from your rentals, we’re showing you multiple ways to boost your cash flow! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re answering three questions from the BiggerPockets Forums that cover some of the most searched and most overlooked strategies...

What’s stopping you from buying your very first rental property? For most rookies, it’s rarely ever the market, the interest rates, or even the competition–it's a number in their head. Today, we’re breaking down that barrier with real rookie use cases that will inspire you to take that next step in your real estate investing journey! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! In this episode,...

Not everyone gets into real estate investing when conditions are perfect. Some, like our next guest, get in because they have no other choice. The path Brent Beard was on just wasn’t cutting it anymore–especially when people were depending on him. If your back’s against the wall and you want to build a better life for your family, rental properties could be the answer! Welcome back to the Real Est...

The property you spent months working on is about to lose you money. What should you do? Sell? Pivot? Invest for long enough and you’re bound to run into this scenario at some point. But not to worry—today, we’re showing you exactly what to do when things go south! Welcome to another Rookie Reply! We’re back with three more questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. One investor is about to lose mon...

What if the best real estate investment isn’t the one with tenants, toilets, or employees, but the low-maintenance property everyone else is ignoring? Today’s guest is making thousands each month from one of these properties, and there are many more just like it. She’ll show you exactly how to find them! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today we're sitting down with Bree Hartman, wh...

At 31, James sat down at a kitchen table with his wife Aida, ran the numbers on the next 30 years, and didn't like what he saw—$200,000 in student loans and a retirement plan neither of them believed in. So they stopped waiting for a change, and built something instead. Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Our guest, James Doren, and wife, Aida, didn't have a trust fund or an obvious pa...

Do you need a real estate LLC, and should you form one before or after buying a rental property? This is a very common rookie question, and liability protection is one of the most misunderstood topics in real estate investing. But not to worry—today we’re setting the record straight and showing you how to build bulletproof protection for you and your assets! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! D...

Many rookies assume the best real estate deals are already listed on the market, but what if that’s not the case? The truth is, it’s getting harder and harder to find rental properties on the MLS that actually pencil out. Thankfully, there are dozens of ways to find profitable off-market properties that can make you more money, and today, we’re sharing our exact playbook! Welcome back to the Real...

Real estate bookkeeping might not be the most thrilling part of owning a rental property, but it’s often the difference between bleeding money each month and earning cash flow you can count on. Today’s guest will show you exactly how to get your books in check so you can make your properties even more profitable! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Grace Wills is a CPA, a homeschooling...

Thinking about self-managing your rental property? Then, you’ll need property management software to help with things like processing applications, collecting rent, and managing maintenance requests. In this episode, we’re sharing our favorite tools so you can pick the right one for your portfolio!   Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! There are dozens of property management tools floating aroun...

Many rookies think things become easy once you’ve built a large real estate portfolio, but that’s far from true. Even with 26 short-term rentals, a 13-unit hotel, and a few house flips under his belt, Tony deals with many of the typical rookie challenges. In today’s episode, he’s sharing the lessons he’s learned and the rental pivots he’s making so YOU can grow and scale like him! Welcome back to...

The real estate investing moves you make today could change your life. Those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s often look back and regret not starting sooner. Today’s guest isn’t letting that happen, and in this episode, she’ll show YOU how to take advantage when that next rental property comes your way! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When Megan Chou’s father challenged her to read the p...

Do you have home equity sitting in your primary residence? You could use it to buy your first or next rental property! There are several ways to do this, and in today’s episode, we’re sharing them so you can make your money work harder!   Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Whether it’s a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a cash-out refinance, there are multiple ways to access the equity in...

Struggling to find great real estate deals on the MLS? What if we told you some of the best rental properties are often found elsewhere? If you want better cash flow and bigger margins, you may need to start looking for off-market properties. Thankfully, today’s guest is an expert on these types of deals and will show YOU exactly how to find them! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Wh...

You don’t need a big market, huge salary, or even a college degree to invest in real estate. Today’s guest had a very simple goal when he started: replace his $12/hour construction job. He’s already achieved that, and today, he owns seven rental properties…and counting! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Nathan Shelby has dabbled in several investing strategies, from mobile home lots...

Rental properties can give you cash flow, appreciation, and loan paydown from tenants. But tax benefits are often the unsung hero of real estate investing. Today, we’re sharing some of the best real estate tax strategies so you can keep more of your hard-earned money from Uncle Sam!   Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Should you do a cost segregation study? Many investors use this tax strategy...

Did you know that you could get a 3% mortgage rate on your next rental property? With rates hovering around 6%-7%, this would shave hundreds of dollars off your monthly mortgage payment and save you a few hundred thousand dollars in total interest. That alone could flip a deal with negative cash flow into a profitable one. But rates don’t appear to be coming down any time soon. So, how is this pos...

Fear your market is too competitive for you to stand out? Today’s guest bought her first rental property right before developers started buying up the land around her. Thankfully, she didn’t back down. Since then, her property has already climbed to the top 1% of Airbnb listings and now brings in over $10,000 a month! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Erin Robinson had always wanted...

Should you pay off your mortgage early or buy more rental properties? The first option gives you peace of mind, while the other allows you to build wealth much faster. In this episode, we’re fleshing out both strategies so you can make the right choice!   Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! What’s better—a debt-free property or a larger real estate portfolio? The answer depends entirely on the i...

Rookies think they need millions to invest in commercial real estate, but that’s only a myth, and today’s guest is about to show you why. In this episode, we’re talking all about an asset that might sound big and scary but is actually much easier to buy than you probably think: self storage! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Cameron Barsanti has owned single-family homes, multifamily...

Don’t have enough time or money to invest in real estate? These are, by far, the two most common roadblocks for new investors. Today’s guest didn’t let them stop her. Instead, she used creative means to find and fund real estate deals without much free time or a big bank account. If you follow her blueprint, you’ll be able to do the same! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Beth Decler...

Have some home equity built up in one or more of your rental properties? What should you do? Get a line of credit? Sell? You have more options than you think, and in this episode, we’ll help you crunch the numbers and weigh your options so you make the best possible decision!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! There’s a property you want to buy. It’s affordable, it’s in a decent market, and it cas...