Real Estate Rookie

Fear you’ll never invest in real estate because you’ve been dealt a bad hand? Today’s guest had a struggling business, a $70,000 tax lien, a pending divorce, and was on the brink of bankruptcy, but through hard work and persistence, she was able to completely flip her circumstances. Now, she owns a real estate portfolio of cash-flowing rentals, despite starting in her 50s! Welcome back to the Real...

Do you have ANY skills that could help fast-track your real estate investing journey? Many rookies do! Whether you’re good at finding deals, remodeling kitchens, or managing rental properties, there are several ways to use these in-demand skills to your advantage. In this episode, we’ll show you how!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Ashley and Tony are back with three new questions from the Bigg...

What if your next tenant wasn’t a short-term guest or a Section 8 renter but the U.S. government? You’re about to hear about a real estate business that makes not hundreds or thousands, but millions in predictable rental income, and the best part is that it doesn’t require huge startup costs or a large portfolio! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When Noble Crawford took time off wor...

Feel like you’re still years away from investing in real estate? Maybe you’ve got shaky finances, or you think you need more education. Today’s guest was practically broke and sleeping in his truck while buying a seven-bedroom rental property with minimal money down! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Isaac Mann was done paying rent. He wanted to start building equity in a home, but w...

Is 2026 quietly shaping up to be a great time to buy a rental property? Following a sluggish year for home sales, the housing market could become “unstuck” in 2026, giving you a clear window to buy—IF you adjust your investing strategy accordingly!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Today’s first question comes straight from the BiggerPockets Forums, and it’s all about closing day. What do you nee...

Many rookies are freaked out by the thought of tackling rental renovations and things going south. But what if there were ways to lower your risk, save money, and almost guarantee success? Today’s guest graduated from “chaotic” rehabs to better, cheaper, faster house flips—all because she implemented the tools and tips you’re about to learn! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, S...

Think building a portfolio or “retiring” with real estate is too far out of reach? Just eight years ago, today’s guest was graduating from college and starting a full-time job. Now, he makes six-figure cash flow and has ditched his W-2 job before the age of 30—all thanks to an investing strategy that allows you to build wealth without tenants or toilets: self-storage. Welcome back to the Real Esta...

Want to finally buy a rental property in 2026? You’ve listened to the podcast. You’ve read the books. But what’s the best way to actually start? Today, we’re pulling back the curtain and sharing a beginner-friendly strategy that gives you a bit of everything—cash flow, appreciation, loan paydown, AND tax benefits! Welcome to another Rookie Reply! We’re back with more questions from the BiggerPocke...

Still stuck on step one in your investing journey? There are countless success stories from investors who started five, 10, or 20 years ago. But getting started in 2026 is a different ballgame. Not to worry—we’re sharing exactly how we’d approach real estate investing if we were starting over today! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, Ashley and Tony own dozens of rentals, but n...

Think you need a trust fund, seed money, or a rich uncle to invest in real estate? You don’t! With just 10 years of simple, “boring” investing, rental properties could completely alter your life’s trajectory. Today’s guest started from zero but now owns a small real estate portfolio that brings in over $2,500 in monthly cash flow! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Kadeem Kamal didn’t...

Should you use your home equity to buy a rental property? Whether it’s your primary residence or another investment property, this strategy could help you scale faster. But between a cash-out refinance, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a different method entirely, what’s the best way to tap into your funds?   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Today, Ashley and Tony are answering more questi...

Want to buy your first rental property in 2026? You’ve come to the right place! Whether you dream of becoming a “small and mighty” investor or building a large real estate portfolio, buying that first property is often the biggest hurdle. But today, we’re going to show you how to do just that, step by step! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Real estate investing might seem daunting,...

The what-ifs of real estate investing keep many rookies on the sidelines indefinitely. But when today’s guest determined his “safe” nine-to-five was just as uncertain as buying a rental property, he took the plunge. Now, having bought four small multifamily properties in just two years while keeping his W2 job, he’s fast-tracking financial freedom! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! L...

Stuck at one rental property? Maybe you spent years saving for that first down payment, and now, your funds are depleted. Where do you go from here? Not to worry—we’ll show you how to get past this common rookie roadblock and buy your second, third, and fourth deals! Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Ashley and Tony are back with more questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, the first of which is a...

If you’re like most rookies, you probably won’t buy a rental property in 2026. After all, there are too many things working against you: high mortgage rates, fewer deals, and concerns about the housing market. Plus, you’re just not “ready” yet, right? Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re breaking down the three biggest reasons why most rookies won’t invest in real estate th...

Think you’re too busy to own rental properties? Real estate investing doesn’t have to dominate your time or energy. Today’s guest is living proof, having built a three-property rental portfolio in just two years—all while juggling a 50-hour workweek! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When Rashad George sold his primary residence for a $100,000 payday, he realized that real estate was...

Money. It’s the first BIG hurdle every rookie faces when buying a rental property. Can’t put 20% down? Maybe you don’t need to!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! We’re back with three new questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, and first, we hear from someone who’s looking to scrounge up the funds for their first real estate investment. If you have the right deal, you could bring very little, an...

Ashley just did her worst real estate deal. Ever. We always talk about the good real estate deals, but what about the bad deals? The rental properties with the nightmare rehabs or the messy evictions? The truth is that the lessons learned from these blunders often propel us toward bigger and better deals. Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re going over one of Ashley’s recen...

Tired of working a nine-to-five job that dominates your time and energy? You could be closer to financial freedom than you think, even if you’re like today’s guest—living alone, working multiple jobs, and hustling to make ends meet. In just four years, she built a rental portfolio that now cash flows $4,000 a month! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Recently separated, virtually brok...

Mortgage rates have dropped recently, which is great news for rookies looking to buy a rental property. But is NOW the right time for a cash-out refinance?   On one hand, tapping into the equity you’ve built up in your property could help you take down bigger and better investing opportunities, but on the other hand, a completely paid-off property might help you sleep better at night. We’re weighi...

Do you want to own not one rental property, or two, but an entire real estate portfolio that gives you financial freedom? Then, you’re going to need help as you grow. Thankfully, there are many tools and systems that can make running your rentals much easier. With the right resources, today’s guest built a very profitable real estate business in just TWO years! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rook...

Fear you’ll never be able to invest in real estate because of money, credit, or bad timing? This single mom lost her house and had a 200 credit score, yet she was still able to rebuild her life and buy rental properties. If she can find a way to build wealth, so can YOU! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Just months before the 2008 housing market crash, Sarah Weatherbee found herself...

Buying a rental property in another city, county, or state? Then, you’re going to need boots on the ground in that market to help find, fix, and manage your investment property. How do you make sure you’ve got the right people in place from many miles away? We’ve got the tips you need in today’s episode!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Tony and Ashley are back with three more questions from the...

Can’t break into real estate investing? Maybe you don’t have enough money to buy a rental property or the track record of a confident investor. Thankfully, there’s a way to make money in real estate without owning rentals, and it could even help fund your first property. Today’s expert makes $20,000 in monthly cash flow with this strategy—Airbnb co-hosting! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie p...

Feel trapped at a nine-to-five job that promises “success” but robs you of all joy, peace, and freedom? Today’s guest was in the same boat, but when everything came to a head, she traded it all for a new life that would allow her to pursue actual financial freedom—with rental properties! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Casey Nguyen had (almost) everything. She and her husband were...