Real Estate Rookie

Here, by popular demand: the Appraisal Episode! Josiah Smelser – podcaster, two-time BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast guest, and Certified General Appraiser – is here to answer your many questions, and he delivers the goods. We played some questions from the Rookie Request Line and touched on subjects like which data and documents you can provide an appraiser, how to challenge an appraisal, and h...

On today's show: how U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Naaman Taylor is combining house hacking, partnerships, and VA loans to build himself a comfy retirement... all while serving his country overseas! This episode has something for everyone – from structuring partnerships to stretch your dollar farther, to hiring property managers and identifying a trustworthy mentor. Be sure to let Naaman (he said we could...

Interested in real estate investing... but wary of taking on debt? That's the situation Sarah Brandenberger found herself in, and today shares her journey from a staunchly anti-debt "penny pincher" to a creative financier raising private money! Sarah also gives us the goods on portfolio loans – including a ninja tip that allowed her to tap the equity in multiple properties and use those funds to t...

Curious how to manage a rental portfolio in your limited free time? Learn from today's guest Ruben Galindo, who had his hands full managing hundreds of law enforcement officers in Texas... but didn't let that stop him. Ruben is 48 years old, and in the past five years, he's acquired five rental properties that require about an hour of his time each week. In this episode, he'll teach you how he use...

Rookie FAQ time! Today Ashley and Felipe run through the top 5 questions from the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group and the Rookie Request Line (leave us a voicemail at 1-888-5-ROOKIE). From finding and financing deals to the infamous LLC question and beyond, our co-hosts offer their advice and discuss various approaches new investors can use to build momentum. Plus, former BiggerPockets Real Esta...

Today: how Lexington, KY investor Charlie Ashley uses lines of credit and construction loans to build his portfolio while working full-time. Charlie walks us through his year-long education phase, his first couple deals, and the expensive lessons he learned while renovating a property he lovingly calls "The Pit"! Sure... finding deals is important. But today you'll learn how understanding financin...

In today's episode, you'll meet a power couple who both immigrated to the U.S. seven years ago and soon decided real estate would be their path to financial freedom. Arvi Carkanji and Dave Arlaud are Nashville-based flipper-investors, who are dividing and conquering to run a successful business while building a stable of rental properties. Arvi handles acquisitions (listen for the Rookie Request L...

She read Rich Dad Poor Dad, got angry at herself for not having built multiple income streams... and decided to do something about it! Tricia Baxter is a real estate rookie who got in the game in her mid-40s. In this episode, she shares how she built a healthy portfolio of small multifamily properties on the Jersey Shore. Tricia's a busy professional with her own law practice, but she still decide...

From humble beginnings... to Division 1 football, military service, and now three rental properties in his 20s! Derrick Ziglar Jr. is a man on a mission, and today he shares how he converted a wrong turn into a $30K duplex purchase that kick-started his journey toward generational wealth. If you're interested in securing your financial future, then don't miss Derrick's tips on how he finds deals,...

What better way to learn a concept than a real-life, real-time case study? Today, we listen in on rookie investor Jamie Gallagher as he compares and contrasts two markets. Meanwhile, BiggerPockets' data wiz David Meyer is there to walk him (and us) through the numbers. You'll learn how to use population growth, rent-to-price ratio, rent-to-income ratio, and historical performance to weigh the pros...

In 2017, she had done zero deals. Today, she's got 20 units and is nearing her goal of financial freedom by age 45. In this episode, Elyse Rasmussen shares five tips for rookies interested in long-distance investing... although each can easily be applied to investing in your own backyard, too. Check out her Instagram page @investingforfinancialfreedom for some #landlordmemes, and be sure to join t...

Between his career and a podcasting side hustle, Robert Leonard's a busy guy. So how does he—and how can you—build a small but mighty rental portfolio in your spare time? For Robert, it comes down to 4 major elements: 1. Use a series of house hacks to lower expenses and build equity. 2. Find an MVP real estate agent. 3. Align with a partner. 4. Invest out-of-state. In this episode, Robert goes int...

Everything you've ever wanted to know about direct-to-homeowner marketing... but may have been afraid to ask! From exactly what Drew writes in a letter, to how he builds rapport when running an appointment, to making offers and getting to the closing table, it's all here in plain English. This episode follows up on show #9, where mentor/mentee duo Ryan Dossey and Drew Wiard broke down how Drew bui...

BiggerPockets legend J Scott was once a rookie, and he's got the stories (and scars) to prove it! Today J stops by to give us a primer on economic cycles and how they impact real estate investors. You'll learn what to expect when housing prices soften and which strategies work best in each economic phase. Plus, J shares the tale of his first (years-long) flip, tells us what he's learned along the...

OK, you've got a property under contract. Now the real work begins! In today's episode, you'll learn all about about a crucial step in the home-buying process: home inspections. Find out how they work, how much they cost, and how they could wind up saving you a boatload of cash—or help you negotiate a sweet deal! Rose Buckley is a certified home inspector who has walked 1,000-plus homes. And with...

Tony Robinson had every excuse NOT to invest. Expensive local market? Demanding full-time job? Family responsibilities? Check, check, and check. So, how did he pull off his first two deals in a cash flow-friendly market 1,500 miles away? Today, Tony spills the beans: how he got a bank to loan him 100% of purchase AND rehab cost, how he managed contractors from afar, two crucial lessons he learned...

Can't find deals on the MLS? Dreaming about off-market deals, but not sure how to go after them? Today's show lays out a step-by-step, repeatable strategy for those of you who have what it takes to approach homeowners directly. It's not easy. It takes patience. And It costs money (or time). But for those precise reasons, it's where the real money is. Today we bring in Drew Wiard, a Fort Wayne, IN...

Banks tend to love a certain type of borrower... and Mallori and Lucas don't quite fit the mold. They're not 9-to-5ers. They rely on tips and seasonal work. And they live modestly but aren't swimming in cash. So, when they took the plunge into real estate investing—in pricey Tacoma, Washington—they had some work to do to become "bankable." Today you'll learn how despite a few roadblocks, they dump...

If you've been telling yourself, "I'll invest in real estate when prices come down," well... that time may be coming. So, what should rookie real estate investors be doing now to prepare? Today we outline six action items—from shoring up your financial position to making yourself an attractive partner. Also, we bring back the "Rookie Request Line" so you can hear Ashley and Felipe's answers to a f...

Today we tackle the often-overlooked -- but perhaps most important -- element of real estate investing: actually placing a (great!) resident in your property. Our guest Lucas Hall built website Landlordology.com (which he later sold to Cozy, where he now works) and is an expert on best practices for landlords self-managing small portfolios (that's you!). Lucas walks us through his exact process fr...

Yes, newbies ARE still closing deals out there. This week, we talk to three up-and-coming investors who either recently closed or are currently under contract on investment properties. Despite entire parts of the economy being shut down, real estate continues to be classified as "essential" -- and Jeremy Goldizen (Avon, OH), Kristen Johnson (Columbia, SC), and Rafael Estrada (Denver, CO) are all t...

In this episode, we hand the mic over to YOU. Yesterday (March 24) Ashley and Felipe took took live listener calls and real-time questions from Real Estate Rookie Facebook group members. "Should I go through with my deal?" "How do I handle my short-term rental?" "How are more experienced investors shifting their big-picture strategy?" Those are just FEW of the questions we take on in this fast-pac...

It's a new week... and, seemingly, a new world. So -- we've got a new (and very fresh) episode for you... with a twist on our usual format. On Tuesday, March 17, Ashley and Felipe sat down with Joe Asamoah and Steve Rozenberg to discuss the topic on everyone's mind: the COVID-19 outbreak and its inevitable impact on real estate investors. Think of it as a virtual coaching session with two seasoned...

Ever felt like you're close to breaking into real estate investing, but not quite getting anywhere? Today's guest, Tim Goutos, was right there with you. But after taking a trip abroad to clear his head, Tim narrowed his focus and went ALL-OUT in pursuit of his first deal. He talked to everybody about his goal. He went driving for dollars in his hometown of Lake George, NY. Then, after seeing a For...

How will YOU transition from the "getting educated" phase to taking direct action toward your real estate goals? Start by taking cues from Lauren and Kyle! In this premiere episode, they share how they powered through their initial hesitation to build a "small but mighty" rental portfolio in less than 3 years' time... a portfolio that has them well on their way to a life of financial freedom (and...