Real Estate Rookie

The economic landscape is shifting fast. With tariffs driving up material costs, does the BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) method still work? In this episode, we’ll share some creative tips and tricks that will help keep your renovation projects on budget and make the numbers work in any market!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Today, Ashley and guest co-host Garrett Brown are answering more of your recent questions. First, we’ll hear from an investor who is looking to buy in their favorite short-term rental market. But is the area too expensive for their budget? Should they look elsewhere? We’ll show them how to find the right data, crunch the numbers, and pick the perfect market for them!   Then, we’ll tackle tariffs, their impact on rehab projects, and what YOU can do to get material costs under control. Finally, what do you do when a seller tries to raise the purchase price days before closing—even after a signed purchase agreement? We’ll break down your legal options, negotiation tactics, and what to watch for so you don’t lose thousands at the closing table. Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover Keeping your renovation projects on budget despite high material costs How to BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) in 2025 How to pick the perfect short-term rental market to invest in What to do when a seller tries to raise your purchase price before closing Escalation clauses explained (and potential pitfalls to avoid) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-565 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Which rental renovations give you the biggest bang for your buck, turning a few thousand dollars of materials and labor into hundreds of more dollars of rent per month and tens of thousands more in home value? Today, we’re going through each tier of rental renovations: easy and cheap ($5,000 or under), moderately challenging and expensive ($25,000 – $50,000), and hard/pro-level ($50,000+). This will give you a roadmap of high-ROI rental renovations you can make right now to increase your property’s value and rent. Why are these rental renovations (AKA value-add) so important right now? Because with so many investors and homebuyers sitting out of the market, you can take your pick of homes with overlooked potential and turn them into high-value investment properties. This not only makes tenants happier due to new renovations and upgrades but also gets you higher rents and wealth-building equity to boot. We’ll start with some easy ones—painting, tiling, adding backsplashes, etc.—and work our way up to the pro-level renovations like adding square footage and turning a single-family home into a multifamily. Based on your experience, you can go either route, but both have enormous potential to turn your initial investment into a killer real estate deal. In This Episode We Cover: How to increase your property’s value (and rents) with high-ROI rental renovations The easiest (and cheapest) upgrades to make that take little time What to look for when buying a home for “value-add” and signs of money-making potential The one appliance you should NEVER include in your rental property The easy bathroom conversion that will massively boost your home’s equity Pro-level rental renovations that could make you six figures And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-564 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many rookies assume they’re years away from buying rentals, but what if your first (or next) property is much closer (and easier) than you think? Today’s guest devised a detailed plan that took him from having no real estate experience to closing on his first rental property in just ONE year. Tune in to learn the tactics he used and how YOU can copy his success! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Aaron Mann was tired of renting, hopping from apartment to apartment, and paying someone else’s mortgage. Once his wife convinced him that homeownership was not just a dream but very achievable, they curbed their spending and saved aggressively. But that’s not all. Aaron also launched a few creative side hustles that boosted their income, accelerated their down payment saving, and helped them buy their new home sooner than expected! The best part? Now they’re using the house hacking strategy to help cover their mortgage payment. Whether you’re actively saving for a home or need an inspirational nudge to get started, this episode has something for you. Aaron shares the “MOAT” method that helps him find side hustles worth scaling, how to negotiate with sellers, and more! In This Episode We Cover How to buy your FIRST rental property (much faster than you think!) Fast-tracking your property down payment with wildly creative side hustles Having others pay down your mortgage through house hacking Maximizing your monthly rents with the rent-by-the-room strategy How to discover scalable side hustles using Aaron’s “MOAT” method And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-563 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Home prices are seeing some serious cuts—but is this happening across all markets, and what does it mean for new investors? For many beginners, this could be the perfect time to buy a rental property, and in this episode, we’ll share what YOU can do to take advantage of a shifting housing market!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re back with more questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, and first, we’ll hear from an investor who has noticed sharp price cuts in major markets. Should all real estate investors jump at this window of opportunity, or is this a market-specific trend? Ashley and Tony will share their game plan for those looking to buy! Next, we’ll hear from an investor who owns two properties. The kicker? They can’t afford them! Should they sell or pivot to another investing strategy? We have a few creative ideas that could help them make money off their primary residence and get back in the green. Finally, what should you do with a bad property inspection report? Move forward with the deal or walk away? Stick around to find out! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover The markets where home prices are dropping (and what YOU should do) How rookie investors can find HUGE opportunity in a “buyer’s” market Three ways to make money off your primary residence (no rentals needed!) What to do when you can no longer afford your rental property Increasing your monthly cash flow with the rent-by-the-room strategy When to have the seller make repairs versus asking for concessions And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-562 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you really need an LLC for rentals? What about a trust? What kind of insurance should you get? With so many questions (and confusion) surrounding asset protection for real estate investors, we’ve brought on an expert to set the record straight so you can protect your assets—without going overboard or breaking the bank! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re chatting with real estate attorney and fellow investor Bonnie Galam about the nuances of asset protection. The truth is that there are two sides to this coin, but most investors only focus on the defensive or “reactive” side. Bonnie will show you the keys to 360-degree protection—like setting up strong legal structures before problems arise and the essential documentation you should have from day one. You’ll also learn about the potential pitfalls of equity partnerships, how personal events can put your properties at risk, and why car insurance and prenups matter more for your portfolio than you might think. Asset protection doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be strategic, and this episode will help you prioritize what’s important now, what can wait, and how to create a legal framework that evolves as your real estate portfolio grows! In This Episode We Cover Two sides of asset protection to focus on when starting a real estate business Three actionable steps new investors can take to protect their assets today Why you need to create an estate plan (even if you don’t have rentals yet!) How much you should expect to pay for different types of legal protection Debt versus equity partnerships (and why one is better for asset protection) Revocable and irrevocable trusts explained (and which one you need) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-561 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could rentals help YOU achieve financial independence and even retire early? That’s the goal for today’s guest, who, despite growing up with very little, is now building wealth with real estate. In just three years, she has already scaled to 10 properties…and counting! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! After discovering the FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early), Lindsay Barrientos decided that real estate investing would be the lifeline from her high-stress W2 job. In just three years, this healthcare professional has already scaled her real estate portfolio to 10 rentals and is on track to leave her job in the coming years—all thanks to a combination of hard work, out-of-state investing, and creative financing. These “home run” deals include a $135,000 property that cash flows over $500 a month and a $79,000 property that recently appraised for over $150,000! In this episode, Lindsay will share the strategies that helped her find high-cash-flow, off-market deals beyond her backyard. Along the way, you’ll learn how to build your network, scale faster through the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), and unlock seller finance deals that allow you to put low money down on investment properties! In This Episode We Cover: How Lindsay grew her portfolio to 10 rental properties in just three years Scaling fast with the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) Creating MORE cash flow through the power of out-of-state investing How to lower your living expenses with the house hacking strategy The three keys to finding seller finance deals (even as a beginner!) 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 Lindsay’s Instagram Earn Passive Income by Investing in Shares of Rental Properties with Realbricks Grow Your Network at BPCON2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada Grab the Book, “Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area What Is the BRRRR Method & How to Use It to Invest in Real Estate Connect with Lindsay Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-560 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Need more money to buy your first (or next) rental property? The right real estate side hustle could help you learn the industry AND pocket some extra change to put toward your next investment. In this episode, we reveal a low-cost real estate business that nets $4,000 a month. Don’t believe us? Tony’s done it himself, and he’ll show you how to get started!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re answering questions from the BiggerPockets Forums and Real Estate Rookie Facebook group, and to kick things off, we’ll hear from an investor who’s tired of house hacking. What’s the best way to transition to another investing strategy without sacrificing the killer cash flow that renting by the room provides? We’ll share our favorite pivots!   Next, we’ll discuss buying mortgage points, a strategy that could help you save money and create more monthly cash flow—IF you plan to keep the property for the long haul. And finally, launching a side hustle is a great way to break into real estate, learn the industry, and make more money to buy rentals. We’ll share an overlooked Airbnb business that has very low startup costs yet could net you $4,000 per month! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover How to make an extra $4,000 a month with an “overlooked” side hustle The pros and cons of the house hacking and rent-by-the-room strategies Telltale signs it’s time to pivot to a different investing strategy Mortgage points explained (and whether they’re worth the cost) Crucial systems and processes for managing short-term rentals And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-559 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you dream of ditching your nine-to-five and living off rentals full-time? Today’s guests did more than dream—they engineered their exit from corporate America and built a $10,000,000 rental portfolio in just FOUR years. And the best part? They did it without a ton of money and without swinging a single hammer! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Niti Jamdar and Palak Shah spent 15 years climbing the corporate ladder before realizing they weren’t really building wealth. So, they set a clear goal—to leave their W2 jobs in just five years with real estate. They ended up crushing that goal, building a multimillion-dollar portfolio in just four years! If you want to scale your real estate portfolio fast, there’s arguably no better investing strategy than the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), which allows you to continuously tap into your equity to buy more rental properties. In this episode, Niti and Palak will share their “SCALE” framework, step by step, which simplifies this strategy so that even the greenest investor can understand it! In This Episode We Cover: How Niti and Palak built a $10,000,000 portfolio in just four years Growing your real estate portfolio faster with the “SCALE” framework How to create time, location, and financial freedom with real estate investing Tips and tricks for managing a successful rehab project from start to finish Leveraging commercial financing to scale faster than you thought possible Boosting rents with high-ROI renovations and tenant-friendly finishes 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 Niti & Palak’s Instagram Grab Niti and Palak’s Book The Investor Accelerator Baselane: Automate your real estate finances with banking and AI-powered bookkeeping. Claim your $100 bonus! Catch Niti and Palak at BPCON2025 in Las Vegas Grab Niti and Palak’s Book, “Accelerate Your Real Estate” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Property Manager Finder What Is the BRRRR Method & How to Use It to Invest in Real Estate Connect with Niti Connect with Palak Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-558 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would you do with $8,500 in monthly cash flow? Quit your W2 job? Travel the world? Reinvest it? The possibilities are endless, and by blending investing strategies and getting creative when hunting for deals, today’s guest was able to “snowball” to $8,500/month with 10 rental units in just a few years! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! In this episode, we’re chatting with Kelsey Porter, a real estate agent who caught the investing bug when a client introduced her to BiggerPockets. While most new investors focus on one strategy, Kelsey has tried a little bit of everything—house hacking, live-in flips, and short, medium, and long-term rentals. She has even rented out her primary residence for months at a time, a move that fully funded her wedding! With “smedium”-term rentals, unique experiences, and even a Taylor Swift-themed Airbnb—which features a full-blown scavenger hunt—Kelsey has built a highly diversified real estate portfolio. Stay tuned to learn about Kelsey’s strategy for finding off-market deals and the “all-in-one” mortgage she used to tap into her home equity and scale fast! In This Episode We Cover: How Kelsey makes $8,500 in monthly cash flow from just 10 rental units Blending investing strategies to maximize your rental cash flow Tapping into home equity with the “all-in-one” mortgage How to land more off-market real estate deals with strategic lead nurturing How to diversify (and lower your risk) within your real estate portfolio 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 Earn Passive Income by Investing in Shares of Rental Properties with Realbricks Grab 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? Connect with Kelsey Kelsey’s Instagram Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-557 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is money getting in the way of you and your first (or next) rental property? You’re not alone! This is perhaps the most common pain point for new investors. Fortunately, we have some game-changing tips to help you get financing for rental properties—even if you don’t have a high-paying job or perfect credit score!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Today’s first question is from a student looking to purchase their first house hack. They’re not sure if they’ll be able to qualify for a mortgage based on their current income and job history, but we’ll provide some actionable steps to help them reach their end goal as soon as possible.   Next, we’ll hear from an investor who’s looking to tap into their home equity and fund their next rental property. The catch? If they refinance, their new interest rate will jump up by 5%. Is the investment worth it? We’ll weigh the pros and cons. To wrap up, we’ll tackle some common landlording problems—high utility bills, tenant headaches, and more! In This Episode We Cover Common money problems new investors face (and how to overcome them) How to find the best financing terms for your rental properties Several ways to tap into your home equity (and fund your next property) The pros and cons of cash-out refinancing at a higher interest rate Keeping your utility costs under control and managing difficult tenants And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-556 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could create multiple income streams and live for “free” with just ONE rental? Today, we’ll show you why a small multifamily property is still one of the best investments you can make and how buying one in 2025 could catapult you toward financial freedom! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! With less competition than both single-family homes and large multifamily properties, small multifamily is the “sweet spot” for investors looking to break into real estate and buy their first rental property. Ashley started her investing journey with a duplex and still believes this is the best investing strategy for rookies today. In this episode, she will show you how to find and buy your first small multifamily property, step by step! Along the way, you’ll learn everything from developing your buy box and analyzing rental properties to getting the best financing terms with the house hacking strategy. But that’s not all. Once you have your property under contract, you’ll need to know how to find and manage tenants, so we’ll share the biggest (and most common) multifamily management mistakes to avoid! In This Episode We Cover How Ashley would invest in small multifamily if she were starting in 2025 House hacking to get low-money-down financing and live for “free” The investing strategy that gives you cash flow, appreciation, and tax-free gains The two biggest multifamily management mistakes (and how to avoid them) Why it’s easier to scale with small multifamily rentals than single-family homes And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-555 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing to $8,000 in monthly cash flow and 35 rental units—all while working a W2 job?! Just two years ago, today’s guest knew nothing about real estate investing. But he found a deal and brought it to someone with money, and this single move launched his investing journey. Want to do the same, starting from zero? Then you don’t want to miss this one! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Luke Tetreault was miserable at his W2 job. When he had finally reached his breaking point, he decided to take a swing at real estate—and at first, it wasn’t pretty. Without any investing knowledge or experience, Luke found his first property on Facebook Marketplace and didn’t even have the money to close it himself. So, he reached out to an old contact, who ended up funding the deal. Over time, he grew his network until he had contractors and private money lenders for all his deals! He started with a single-family home, but his most recent deal? An 18-unit mobile home park he bought with creative financing. Stick around as Luke teaches you how to find off-market deals no one’s looking for, use your everyday hobbies to build out your investing team, and scale your portfolio starting with little to no cash! In This Episode We Cover How Luke scaled to $8,000 in monthly cash flow and 35 units (in TWO years) Boosting your cash flow by pivoting to another investing strategy Buying an 18-unit mobile home park with zero money out of pocket Creative ways to find off-market real estate deals at a deep discount Two signs you’re ready to leave your W2 job for real estate investing Leveraging your own hobbies and passions to build your investing team And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠ and ⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-554 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email ⁠advertise@biggerpockets.com⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding the right rental property isn’t easy. It needs to fit your budget and buy box, and if you’re house hacking, you’ll want to buy in a neighborhood you’re comfortable living in. These are just a few of many roadblocks rookies face, but we’re going to show you how to thread the needle in today’s episode!   Welcome to another Rookie Reply! We’re back with more questions from the BiggerPockets Forums and the Real Estate Rookie YouTube channel, and first up, we’ll hear from an investor who is struggling to find a property that checks all the right boxes. Should they settle for what they can afford or save up for something better? Should they shop around for different types of financing? Stay tuned to find out!   We’ll also hear from an investor who wants to use the home equity from their first rental property to help buy their next one. Should they get a HELOC (home equity line of credit), use a cash-out refinance, or sell their property? We’ll weigh the pros and cons and help them make the smartest move. Finally, if you own rentals for long enough, you’re bound to have friction with neighbors. We’ll show you how to defuse tension and build rapport! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover The biggest hurdles new investors face when buying their first rental property Settling for the property you can afford versus saving for something better Narrowing down the right neighborhood for your first house hack Three ways to tap into the equity you’ve built up in your property How to find the right financing for your first real estate deal The best ways to respond to neighbor complaints (that build rapport) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-553 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A traditional rental property gives you one stream of income, but what if you could multiply that cash flow by two, three, four, or more times? You’re about to get a masterclass on the co-living strategy, and to help break it all down, we brought on someone who not only quit their job with this model but also wrote the book on it! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Co-living is making waves in 2025, but it’s not just a fleeting trend or gimmick. This is an investing strategy with real staying power, and you’re about to find out why. Today, we’re joined by Miller McSwain, a nuclear rocket scientist turned real estate investor and author of the brand-new book, Co-Living Cash Flow. Miller’s six-property portfolio brings in a whopping $8,000 in monthly cash flow, which has allowed him to quit his nine-to-five and focus on real estate full-time! In this episode, Miller will tell you everything you need to know about co-living—including how to pick your market, analyze properties, and convert unused square footage into rentable space. He’ll also provide some potentially property-saving tips, like how to reduce turnover and keep renters living in harmony! In This Episode We Cover The secrets Miller used to scale to six properties and $8,000 in monthly cash flow Everything you need to know before using the co-living strategy in 2025 Three ways to determine whether a new strategy will work in your market How to make more income by converting unused space into extra rooms Why co-living has staying power and will likely avoid an Airbnb-like “crackdown” The keys to happy renters, longer leases, and minimal tenant turnover And So Much More! Links Mentioned in the Show BiggerPockets Agent Finder BiggerPockets Calculators Real Estate Rookie 486 - Quitting His Job with Real Estate After Cracking the Cash Flow Code w/Miller McSwain  Miller’s Room Rent Calculator Miller’s Instagram Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-552 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to leave your nine-to-five for a “job” that gives you more time, flexibility, and potentially more money? Rentals could be your golden ticket to financial freedom. After tragedy turned her world upside down, today’s guest went all in on real estate investing. Just ONE year later, she makes $13,000 in monthly cash flow and has waved her W2 goodbye! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Shortly after buying her first rental property, Allison Craft lost her brother in a tragic accident. With a new perspective on life, she decided to chase after what she valued most—more time with her young family. With just one short-term rental and a new co-hosting business, she now brings in more income than she ever did at her corporate finance job of 10 years! In this episode, Allison shares how she bought, renovated, and furnished her first rental property with limited cash and launched a real estate business that cash flows close to $10,000 a month. If you want to do the same—build a profitable business without owning rentals—stay tuned because Allison has the secrets to finding clients and scaling fast! In This Episode We Cover: How Allison scaled to $13,000 in monthly cash flow (in just ONE year) Building a profitable real estate business from scratch (step by step) How to make money in real estate without owning rental property When to quit your W2 job and go “all in” on real estate investing Fast-tracking your investing journey with networking and mentorship 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 BiggerStays YouTube Channel Garrett’s Instagram Allison’s Website Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-551 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great cash flow is hard to come by in this market, but fortunately, there’s a strategy that can help you maximize your property’s rentable space and profits. In this episode, we’ll show you how to convert your own rental property for co-living or renting-by-the-room! Welcome to another Rookie Reply! Tony and guest co-host Garrett Brown are diving back into the BiggerPockets Forums, and first up, we have a question about one of 2025’s up-and-coming strategies—co-living. This rookie investor wants to maximize the amount of cash flow their property can earn, so we’ll steer them in the right direction with the best arrangement and profitable value-add ideas! Then, we’ll hear from an investor who already has their investing strategy and financing lined up but can’t decide where to invest. We’ll share some crucial market analysis advice and some potentially property-saving tips for managing their rental from afar. Stick around till the end for a question we’ve never been “axed” before, which involves a dangerous short-term rental amenity and potential lawsuit! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover: Boosting your cash flow with the co-living and rent-by-the-room strategies Value-add renovations that create more rentable space on your property The three keys to a profitable out-of-state investing operation How to properly analyze a market for short-term rentals Must-avoid Airbnb amenities that could get you into legal trouble 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 BiggerStays YouTube Channel AirDNA PriceLabs Breezeway Garrett’s Instagram Pre-Order the Book, “Co-Living Cash Flow” Sign Up for the Real Estate Rookie Newsletter Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Real Estate Rookie 447 - Making $300K+ Profit Per Rental and Scaling FAST with “DADUs” Connect with Garrett Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-550 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 advertise@biggerpockets.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 advertise@biggerpockets.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 advertise@biggerpockets.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 advertise@biggerpockets.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices