Real Estate Rookie

You’re planning to move soon and are asking yourself, “Should I sell or rent my house?” What if you’ve got little-to-no cash flow potential? Is future appreciation worth betting on? Maybe you need to renovate before you sell or rent; now, the question becomes, “How to finance home renovations?” Don’t stress; we’ve got you covered on all fronts in this episode as we walk through how to decide whether to sell or rent, the best ways to fund home renovations, and answer the mother of all rookie questions, “Is house hacking dead?” With mortgage rates rising yet again and home prices still unaffordable in many areas of the country, does house hacking (renting out other rooms/units to pay your mortgage) still make sense? What if you can’t live for free anymore? Should you abandon the house hacking strategy entirely? We have some interesting thoughts on why we would or wouldn’t house hack in this housing market. Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question on the BiggerPockets Forums! In This Episode We Cover: Whether you should sell or rent your primary residence once you move out  The math behind house hacking and whether high interest rates ruined this strategy  How to finance home renovations on your next rehab project  Taking out a line of credit on your investment properties to fund future investments  Whether to convert your property into a short-term rental (more work) or keep it as a long-term rental (less work)  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie YouTube Protect Your Properties with an LLC through Corporate Direct Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums Grab “The House Hacking Strategy” Book Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Should You Sell Your House or Rent It Out? (00:00) Intro (00:49) Sell or Rent Out Your House? (07:12) Short-Term vs. Long-Term Rentals (08:47) Bet on Appreciation? (12:41) How to Finance Home Renovations (18:48) Is House Hacking Dead? (26:41) Ask Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-481 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

Real estate investing could help you achieve your financial goals, whether it’s to make enough cash flow to replace your W2 income or build wealth for an early retirement. Like many, today’s guest is chasing financial freedom, and thanks to a unique property that brings in $5,000 in monthly cash flow, he’s well on his way! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Rocky Gibson knew he wanted to invest in real estate since his college days, so after landing his first “real” job out of school, he wasted no time buying his first property. Since then, it’s been full speed ahead for Rocky, and in just five years, he has built and scaled his real estate portfolio from zero to fifteen units and two flips. His main investment property, an eleven-unit RV park, nets $5,000 per month alone! In this episode, Rocky talks about the power of renting by the room, leveraging your personal network, and using home equity to grow your portfolio and get access to private deals. You’ll even hear about the $100,000 mistake that Rocky almost made and how altering his strategy allowed him to not only salvage the deal but also make a profit! In This Episode We Cover: How Rocky built his real estate portfolio up to fifteen units (and two flips) in just five years The unique property that can give you $5,000 in monthly cash flow Why house hacking is the BEST investing strategy when you’re just starting out How to achieve financial freedom through real estate investing Creative ways to fund more rental properties without traditional bank financing How altering his strategy on the fly helped Rocky avoid a $100,000 mistake And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Put Your Vacation Rental on Autopilot with Hospitable Buy the Book “Real Estate Campgrounds” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Start Making Millions from These Overlooked RV Park Investments Connect with Rocky (00:00) Intro (00:31) Why Real Estate? (04:23) House Hacking 101 (12:01) Building the RV Park (19:47) Tapping Into His Network (27:28) Funding the Campers (30:17) Cash Flow & Investing Goals (34:57) Cash Flow & Investing Portfolio (35:49) Connect with Rocky! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-480 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

Can you start investing in real estate WITHOUT a stable W2 job? How will you get a loan? What happens if you have a fluctuating income? Are you completely out of luck? Not at all! Today’s guest, David Sladewski, proves that you can STILL invest in real estate no matter your age, experience, or whether you have a “stable” job. At just twenty years old, he already has three rental units and a live in flip; plus, he did it all while self-employed. At the age of seventeen, David learned about real estate from his brother. Poised to become his own boss and make money without an earning “ceiling,” he decided that getting his real estate license and becoming an agent was the best bet. Within half a year, he went from having no money to building a solid real estate agent business and was ready to invest. The problem? Lenders WON’T give you a loan without multiple years of income history.  But that didn’t stop David. He was able to buy a great first rental property, a duplex, thanks to one brilliant move. David then found other lender “loopholes” that helped him close on his dream rental property and a flip he’s working on as we speak. How did he get around the seemingly impossible task of finding funding WITHOUT a W2 job? Stick around to find out! In This Episode We Cover: Why you DON’T need a W2 job to start investing in real estate  Doing your first real estate deal with ZERO experience and why you MUST “bet on yourself” Real estate partnerships for beginners and how to invest without having a ton of money  The lender “loophole” David found after going through FOUR different mortgage lenders (try this, too!) Why you should live in your rental property BEFORE you rent it out  Doing a “live in flip” and home renovation mistakes that David learned the hard way  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Easily Identify Great Investing Markets with BiggerPockets Market Finder Grab Ashley and Tony’s Book, “Real Estate Partnerships” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders BiggerNews: This Area Has the BEST Cash Flow Potential in the Country Connect with David (00:00) Intro (01:08) Starting at Just 17 (06:04) First Deal WITHOUT Stable W2 (13:15) Structuring a Partnership (14:43) Finding a Lender Loophole (20:53) Home Run Rental in THIS Neighborhood (24:52) Trying to Flip a House (33:48) Future Goals and Advice Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-479 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 build your rental portfolio FAST? Today, we’re teaching you how to buy multiple rental properties per year, the best tips to raise rents while keeping tenant turnover low, and what to know before you start buying houses at auction. Each of these topics will help you not only build a real estate portfolio but also keep it profitable so you can reach financial freedom and realize your goals faster! Since it’s a Rookie Reply, you know that these are all real questions coming directly from real estate rookies, just like you. First, an investor wants to know how to buy multiple houses per year, especially when you’re locked into an owner-occupied mortgage. While you may not be allowed to move for at least a year, we’ve got some strategies to help you buy rentals on the side. Next, what happens when you’ve inherited tenants paying under-market rent? How do you raise rents without increasing vacancy? Finally, buying homes at auction may be a killer strategy to find deeply discounted real estate deals, but there are some red flags you MUST know about before you bid... Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question on the BiggerPockets Forums! In This Episode We Cover: How to buy multiple houses a year using primary and investment property loans  Our best tips to make (or keep) more money so you can invest even faster  Inheriting tenants and how to raise rents without causing tenant turnover Buying properties at auction and the non-refundable deposit that you must be aware of Why you always (always!) should budget more for home renovations on auction-bought houses  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Rookie 463 - The “Lazy” Landlord’s Guide to Finding (And Keeping) Tenants & Raising Rents Real Estate Rookie YouTube Protect Your Properties with an LLC through Corporate Direct Grab the Book “Real Estate Partnerships” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Rookie 127 - Buying Property While Stationed Overseas (and a $40k Rookie Mistake!) w/Angel Garcia (00:00) Intro (00:57) Buy Multiple Rental Properties a Year? (06:39) How to Raise Rents (14:13) Buying a House at Auction Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-478 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 know how to flip a house in 2024? We brought on a rookie with a real-life deal to walk through every beginner step of flipping houses so you can go out and make money, too! We know Rene Hosman as our community manager here at BiggerPockets, but she’s also a brand new house flipper! She just got her first house flip under contract, so we’ll be bringing her on the show to share her progress and teach YOU how to do it today. In part one, Rene describes how she found this deal in the pricey and competitive Denver, Colorado, area. Next, when she wanted to make an offer on the property, she realized it HAD to be made in cash, but she didn’t have the funds. What did she do? She found a lender who lent her the money in just around twenty-four hours! Don’t think it’s possible? Rene shares exactly how she found this lender, how much they charge, and why she went with them. Next, how do you estimate rehab costs for a home renovation? Rene brings her ACTUAL house flipping budget to show off in today’s episode, plus where she’s finding materials and how much of a financial “buffer” she’s giving herself (in case something goes wrong). In This Episode We Cover: How to flip your first house in 2024 by following Rene’s basic steps  Flipping a condo and how already owning in the building can be a HUGE advantage  Private money lenders and how to fund your first flip in just twenty-four hours! How to estimate rehab costs and why you MUST give yourself a “buffer” The exact costs Rene will pay to fund this $190,000 flip  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Start with Strategy House Flipping Investing Calculator Rehab Cost Estimate Calculator Follow Rene’s ACTUAL House Flipping Budget Learn How to Flip Houses with “The House Flipping Framework” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Flipping Houses: How to Get Started and Everything You Should Know Connect with Rene (00:00) Intro (02:49) Buy the Whole Building? (07:14) Making a QUICK Offer (10:37) Finding $190K in 24 Hours (17:20) Private Money Lending Numbers (21:03) Renovation Budgeting (25:49) Renovation Timeline and Plans   Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-477 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

Today’s guest bought his first rental property within just ninety days of learning about real estate investing. So, if you’re wondering how to buy a rental property or get started with out-of-state real estate investing ASAP, Jeff Costa is the person to listen to. Instead of sitting in analysis paralysis, Jeff knew it was CRUCIAL to pull the trigger on an investment property once he had heard the podcasts, read the books, and felt educated enough. Within just two years, Jeff has bought two small multifamily rental properties, with a combined four units total, bringing in $1,300/month in cash flow! He was EVEN able to do this recently with higher mortgage rates, and shares EXACTLY what he was looking for, how much money the properties cost, where he chose to invest in real estate, and every FREE tool he uses to do market research BEFORE buying from a distance. If you’re tired of waiting to get in the game but still feel nervous to invest in your first rental, you NEED to listen to this episode. Jeff describes, in detail, each step he took that allowed him to build his rental portfolio fast and a few tips that’ll stop you from choosing the WRONG property manager on your first or next rental property purchase. In This Episode We Cover: How to start buying out-of-state rental properties in the next ninety days  The free tools that Jeff uses to scope out a market before he invests in it Why Jeff went “turnkey” on his first investment property (and why you should, too) How to pick a property manager and red flags to look for when interviewing for one  Why you must (MUST!) have emergency reserves before you buy your first rental  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Try BiggerPockets Property Manager Finder Grab the Book on “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing” Property Manager Finder 78 Questions To Ask A Property Manager Before Hiring Them Connect with Jeff (00:00) Intro (01:06) Ditching Stocks for Rentals (03:57) Buying a Rental in 90 Days! (08:49) First Rental ($500/Month Cash Flow!) (13:47) Market Research (16:02) Second Rental ($800+/Month Cash Flow!) (21:24) How to Pick a Property Manager (28:58) Next Steps and Rookie Advice Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-476 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 know how to find off-market properties WITHOUT cold calling and talking to sellers all day? Where is the best place to find furniture for your short-term rental or Airbnb? Is real estate wholesaling nearing its end as buyers and sellers get frustrated with these middlemen? It’s another Rookie Reply, so we’re taking these questions (and a few others) and answering them on this episode! First, if you have a long-term and short-term rental on the same lot, how do you keep the tenants and the guests from creating conflict? Plus, how do you furnish a short-term rental so you aren’t replacing couches every few months? To get a great deal like this in the first place, you might need to find off-market properties with undervalued prices. Do you go through a wholesaler or find off-market real estate deals yourself? We’ll share our advice for both! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question on the BiggerPockets Forums! In This Episode We Cover: The MANY ways to find off-market real estate deals that don’t include cold calling  Why investors and sellers are starting to get frustrated with real estate “wholesalers”  Ashley and Tony’s favorite stores to find durable furnishings for your short-term rental Tony’s quick tip to avoid bed bugs in your rental property (it’s easy and cheap!) The first thing you should say when approaching a potential seller  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie 468 - How to Start, Manage, and Scale an Airbnb Business in 2024 Real Estate Rookie 326 - The Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the BEST Off-Market Real Estate Deals Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums Ready to Find Deals? Grab the Book “Real Estate Deal Maker” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area A New South Carolina Law Would Severely Crack Down on Wholesaling (00:00) Intro (01:14) STR and LTR on the Same Lot? (05:50) Best Furniture for Short-Term Rentals (09:30) How to Avoid Bed Bugs! (10:47) Is It WRONG to Wholesale Real Estate? (21:28) Advice for Wholesaling (23:35) How to Find Off-Market Deals (29:43) How to Approach Sellers (32:37) Post Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-475 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

This rookie investor decided that instead of purchasing her own home, she’d buy rental properties in other areas, helping offset her high cost of living. Within just around a year, Mary Ho has bought a run-down property, performed a six-figure renovation project, got her first renters, refinanced the property, and then bought ANOTHER rental right after! Now, she’s sitting on two properties with three units in total, managing her rentals remotely and building wealth without the traditional boundaries. Mary and her family live in Manhattan, an infamously expensive real estate market. She and her husband wanted to invest, but there was no way they could do it locally. So, she decided to start investing with “training wheels”—investing in a market she was familiar with that was within driving distance of her. She went WAY over budget on this first property, but it worked out in a way that would help her with deal number two! From there, she went much farther, buying a multifamily property over a thousand miles away from home. How did she handle renovating, furnishing, and finding tenants, all while she was so far from her new property? How does she juggle it all with her job and kids to take care of? What’s the secret to her productivity? She’s sharing it all in this episode!  In This Episode We Cover: Where mortgage rates are right now for refinances and HELOCs The HELOC hack that greatly minimizes your interest in your next equity line  Caeli’s interest rate forecast and where she thinks rates could be in the near future  When waiting to refinance could cost you, and whether rates may go UP again  The metrics that influence where mortgage rates will go next (what to pay attention to) And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Find Trusted Property Managers with BiggerPockets Property Manager Finder Get the Book on BRRRR “Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Should You Invest Locally or Long Distance? Connect with Mary Mary’s Instagram (00:00) Intro (01:52) Interest Rate Update (06:34) Why Rates Went UP (11:59) Should You Refinance? (18:17) Current Refi Rates (19:37) Best HELOC Hack (29:01) Interest Rate Forecast Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-474 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

Your first rental property is out there; it just may not be where you live. Austin Wolff came to this conclusion quickly. After paying his “cheap” rent of $1,600 per month for a small place in Los Angeles, he knew he needed to start saving up the money to buy his first investment property if he was ever going to afford to live in Southern California full-time. So, he began compiling a list of America’s most affordable, growing real estate markets. He found what he believed to be the best bet, packed up his bags, and moved 1,500 miles away to get the deal done. He left behind his friends, girlfriend (don’t worry, they’re just doing long-distance now), and filmmaking passion temporarily to do what he felt was best to build wealth. What was the real estate market so good he couldn’t let it pass him by? How did he get into his first property with just five percent down and only $25,000 in cash? And why does he believe NOW is the time to buy? Stick around to hear why this real estate-focused data scientist made such a radical move in the name of financial freedom and exactly how he analyzes markets and rental properties to see whether they’re worth the effort.  In This Episode We Cover: Moving 1,500 miles away to “house hack” in a much cheaper market  Ranking the top affordable, growing real estate markets in the country  How to get into your first investment property for just five percent down! Conventional vs. FHA loans and what Austin thinks is the better option for rookies  Austin’s deal analysis formula that will get you more accurate cash flow estimates  Serious advice for rookies and why waiting on the sidelines could cost you  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group BiggerPockets Deal Finder BiggerPockets Lender Finder Find Your Perfect Market with “BiggerPockets Market Finder” Grab “The House Hacking Strategy” Book Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area The 10 Best Markets for Your First House Hack Connect with Austin (00:00) Intro (01:01) Film Director to Data Scientist (03:56) Ranking the BEST Markets (09:41) Saving Money EVEN in LA (12:32) Moving 1,500 Miles for First Deal (20:59) Financing, Rent, and Management (25:32) Future Goals and Next Steps (28:35) Advice for Rookies Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-473 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

Let’s say you’ve got $40,000 to invest. You could split the money into two down payments and buy more properties or partner with someone with money and build a bigger real estate portfolio. But even though you CAN do this, it might be a better idea to stay a small investor. Why? We’re talking about it in this episode, along with some of the regrets we have from scaling far too fast. Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, we’re showing you how to run real estate “comps” to find the right rent and asking prices for properties, plus whether or not your new rental will have enough demand to stay occupied. We’ll also discuss when a house is TOO big to house hack and how to find tenants for a rent-by-the-room investing strategy. Finally, can you buy more than one rental a year? Yes! But be careful, doing this could put you in a dangerous spot (we’ll explain why).  Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question on the BiggerPockets Forums! In This Episode We Cover: How to run “comps” in real estate and estimate rent prices accurately  Whether or not a neighborhood is worth investing in with many units for rent already  Why you may NOT need to buy a huge house for house hacking  Finding tenants when using the rent-by-the-room investing strategy  How to build a real estate portfolio with $30,000 - $40,000  And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Try the BiggerPockets Rent Estimator Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums Learn the Real Estate Formulas with “Real Estate by the Numbers” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Real Estate Rookie 287 - From 70 Hour/Week Burnout to Getting Paid to Buy Properties w/Danielle Daly (00:00) Intro (00:44) Comping Rent/Home Prices (08:21) Too Big House to Hack? (16:25) Starting with $40K and Scaling SMALL (26:23) Post Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-472 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

Has the Airbnb market become TOO saturated? It might not matter if you can rise above the competition and make your property stand out like Katie Cline did. Thanks to luxury amenities, personalized touches, and an unforgettable guest experience, her two rental properties bring in a whopping $30,000 in annual cash flow! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When Katie saw a golden opportunity to combine her extensive background in hospitality with real estate investing, she bought two short-term rentals and focused all of her energy on creating places where she would want to vacation. In just eighteen months, this move has already paid off, as this pair of New York properties generates constant five-star reviews and a huge amount of profit that helps build her real estate portfolio! In this episode, Katie offers some game-changing advice that will elevate your property, increase your bookings, and boost your cash flow. Tune in to learn about the “little” details that will raise your bottom line, using social media as a powerful marketing tool for your business, and the two things Katie believes will set new investors up for success! In This Episode We Cover: How Katie makes $30,000 in annual cash flow from just TWO rentals Making your vacation rental stand out in a saturated market The keys to crafting an unforgettable guest experience for your Airbnb The luxury amenities and personalized details that will explode bookings How to use the power of social media to grow your Airbnb business Two types of short-term rental portfolios (and which one you should build!) And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Try Baselane, the One Platform for All Your Property Banking & Finances Buy the Book “Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth” Property Manager Finder The “Luxury” Rental Property That Brings in $150K/Year of Pure Profit Connect with Katie Katie’s Instagram   (00:00) Intro (01:35) Hospitality in Real Estate (03:02) The Lake George Property (06:54) Making Your Rental Stand Out (13:23) Airbnb Strategy & Using Social Media (19:52) The Saratoga Property (23:53) Katie’s Investing Goals (28:45) HUGE Cash Flow Numbers (32:13) Connect with Katie! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-471 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 want to buy your first rental property but can’t find affordable real estate in your area? You’re not alone! As a science teacher living in New York City, Lauren Mattina was priced out of her own market. But a simple move helped her find a cash-flowing property and brought her one step closer to financial freedom, and YOU could do the same! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Lauren never had a high-paying job, but she knew that real estate investing could give her the option of early retirement. So, she continued living below her means and saved for her first property. With NYC out of the question, she turned her attention to Oklahoma City, where she found, bought, rehabbed, and rented out her first single-family home! Are you being priced out of your own backyard? In this episode, Lauren will show you the steps she took to choose an out-of-state market, analyze her first deal, and build an out-of-state investing team. You’ll learn the secret to overcoming analysis paralysis, how to properly vet a property manager, and how to get your offers accepted in a hot market! In This Episode We Cover: How Lauren bought her first rental property (on a teacher’s salary) Analyzing rental properties (and markets) as a complete beginner How to find up-and-coming, out-of-state markets to invest in The number one thing that will help you overcome analysis paralysis The “rule of three” to follow when building your real estate investing team How to make your offers more enticing in a competitive market And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Team Builder Buy the Book “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area How to Choose an Out-of-State Market for Investment (in 3 Easy Steps!) Connect with Lauren (00:00) Intro (01:13) Why Real Estate? (06:55) Lauren’s First Deal (13:25) Out-of-State Investing 101 (20:34) How to Build Your Team (25:12) Buying the Next Property (28:35) Advice for New Investors (29:20) Connect with Lauren! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-470 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

Investing for cash flow or equity is an age-old debate, but what’s the best approach for a new investor? Should you focus on making a monthly profit right off the bat or play the long game with equity growth and appreciation? You might be surprised to hear where Ashley and guest co-host Noah Bacon land on this topic! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! How much money do you actually need to buy your first rental property? Should you put down as little as possible and use debt to get your foot in the door, or is it best to save enough cash for a large down payment, closing costs, and reserves? We’ll break down your best options. Finally, house hacking can help you get started in real estate, but eventually, you may want to move out and put your unit up for rent. We’ll discuss whether you should get a property manager or self-manage from afar when that time comes! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question on the BiggerPockets Forums! In This Episode We Cover: Cash flow versus equity (and which one new investors should focus on!) Which property types deliver the highest cash flow (or appreciation) Leveraging the power of partnerships to help fund your first deal How much money you need to save before buying your first property How to transition out of a house hack (and whether you need a property manager) And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums Buy Ashley’s Book “Real Estate Rookie” Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Should You Invest for Equity or Cash Flow? Connect with Noah (00:00) Intro (01:31) Cash Flow vs. Equity (11:26) Replacing Your W2 Income (14:43) Saving Cash & Using Debt (24:59) How Much Money Do I Need? (28:32) Exiting a House Hack (36:03) Post Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-469 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 want to break into the short-term rental space? It’s not as simple as picking a popular market, buying a rental property, and listing it online. To have a successful Airbnb business, there are three crucial steps you need to take, and we’re going to break them down in this episode! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! In just four years, Tony and Sara Robinson have built a very successful vacation rental portfolio that is on track to make over two million dollars in revenue in 2024. Today, they’re going to discuss the most important components of their business, what they wish they had known before they started, some of the biggest mistakes they’ve made along the way, and what has allowed them to scale so quickly. We’ll start at square one, helping you devise a game plan and analyzing markets to invest in. Then, we’ll show you how to make your property stand out with several helpful (and affordable) furnishing and design tips. Finally, we’ll show you how to craft systems and processes that will allow you to streamline management and scale your portfolio to multiple properties across several states! In This Episode We Cover: Three steps to build and scale a successful Airbnb business The most crucial data points to consider when analyzing rental markets When to buy the “cheaper” property and budget for design and amenities instead Affordable furnishing and design hacks that will elevate your property The best tips, tools, and tech for streamlining short-term rental management Investing in an out-of-state market (and why it’s easier than you think!) And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Breezeway Stessa Easily Identify Your Next Market to Invest in With the BiggerPockets Market Finder Buy the Book “Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth” Property Manager Finder Investing in Short-Term Rental Properties: A Beginner’s Guide & How to Get Started (00:00) Intro (01:08) Keys to a Successful Airbnb (06:00) Step 1. Analyze Your Market (09:48) Step 2. Make Your Airbnb Stand Out (16:17) Step 3. Scale Your Business (24:44) Tips for New Investors (27:24) Check Out the Forums! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-468 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

Three years ago, Luke Otto knew next to nothing about rental properties. His interest was instantly piqued when he got into a conversation about real estate investing with an old friend. He went home and immediately started reading The Book on Rental Property Investing, and from there, he knew what his next move was. Shortly after, he was at the closing table, feeling the “fear” of putting a five-figure down payment on a rental property. Did it work out for Luke? It did, indeed! Fast forward to today, Luke has an eight-unit rental property portfolio and has become the investing “expert” in his group. He’s done what most rookies wouldn’t even think of, taking on renovations of old, outdated homes and turning them into performing rental properties for his portfolio. He’s done seller financing, got five percent interest rates (yes, even in TODAY’s market), and did most of it while self-managing his portfolio remotely and working a full-time nine-to-five. Luke has taken the right risks, leveled up his skills to scale the right way, and made massive progress in a short amount of time. Today, he shares how he pushed through fear to build wealth, when to hire a property manager, and how having the right agent can help you explode your real estate portfolio. In This Episode We Cover The “fear” of investing in your first rental property (and why it’s OKAY to be scared) Real estate partnerships and how to invest even when you’re low on cash Why you DO NOT need to quit your job to build a sizable real estate portfolio The gold of old and why outdated homes may make great renovation projects HELOCs, seller financing, and other creative ways to buy more real estate  How to get deals sent straight to you by having an investor-friendly agent  And So Much More! (00:00) Intro (01:14) Finding Real Estate 3 Years Ago (05:36) First Deal FEAR (08:11) First Deal Numbers (13:37) Scaling to 8 Properties! (18:52) Get Properties Sent to YOU! (22:10) Restoring Old Homes (24:42) Seller Financing Deals (28:56) Creating a 5% Interest Rate (32:33) Balancing a W2 and Real Estate (35:02) Advice for Rookies Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-467 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

Floods, evictions, and bad property managers on ONE rental property?! These are the kinds of things that spook rookies out of real estate investing altogether. Fortunately, many of these issues are avoidable, and today, we’ll equip you with some property-saving advice that could help you prevent a major blunder! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! While scouring the BiggerPockets Forums this week, we stumbled on a full-blown horror story that involves several problems with the same property. Tony and guest co-host Noah Bacon have encountered similar issues throughout their investing journeys, and in this episode, they’re going to break them down and show you how to handle them. You’ll learn why you should think twice before passing up on a sewer scope, how to adjust your tenant screening process and avoid evictions, and how to effectively manage your property managers! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question on the BiggerPockets Forums! In This Episode We Cover: Why home inspection packages aren’t just another sales scam to ignore Why doing your due diligence upfront could stop you from buying a “problem” property How to save thousands in eviction costs with a “cash for keys” offer Why you need to create strict tenant screening requirements (and stick to them!) The number one attribute to look for in a property management company How much money a new investor should be keeping in reserves And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Get Free Property Management Software for Landlords with Hemlane Buy “The Book on Managing Rental Properties” Property Manager Finder See Tony and Noah at BPCON2024 in Cancun! Skipping That Home Inspection? These Horror Stories Will Make You Think Again Connect with Noah (00:00) Intro (01:00) $30K Sewage Repairs! (07:34) HUGE Eviction Costs (20:14) Property Management Woes (27:53) Advice for New Investors (30:53) Post Your Question! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-466 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

How hard is it to buy a rental property in 2024? With all the buzz around high interest rates and soaring home prices, you’d think that investing in today’s market is a lost cause. But if a nineteen-year-old can take down his first real estate deal with very little education or experience, there’s no reason why you can’t invest, too! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! After learning about FIRE (financial independence, retire early), Elijah Berg realized that wealthy people had something in common. They weren’t just investing in stocks; they also owned real estate! Determined to follow in their footsteps, Elijah started saving for a down payment and built his buy box. Next, he found an investor-friendly agent and lender to help him find and fund his property. Eventually, he found a diamond in the rough—a duplex in an A-class neighborhood. Tune in as Elijah walks you through his first deal and shares some personal finance tips that helped him prepare for his first investment. In this episode, you’re going to learn why time in the market is still more important than timing the market, and why new investors shouldn’t allow fear of the unknown to stop them from investing in 2024! In This Episode We Cover: How Bryan snowballed $20,000 into eleven properties (in under four years) Building your real estate portfolio faster by moving to a low-cost-of-living area How to get your spouse on board with your real estate investing dream Using a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to fund more real estate deals How to pivot to another investing strategy when things don’t go to plan Why you always need an exit strategy whenever you buy a new property And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Buy the Book “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area See Ashley and Tony at BPCON2024 in Cancun! Real Estate Rookie - Episode #452: The Rookie’s Cheat Sheet for Market Research (Find Where to Invest in 2024) Connect with Bryan Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-465 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

Snowballing a $20,000 investment into eleven rental properties…in under four years?! Most investors are happy to add ONE property to their real estate portfolio every year or so, but this rookie wants to get a head start on his ultimate goal—creating enough cash flow to retire him and his wife! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! After years of job hopping, Bryan Field wondered whether settling into a traditional nine-to-five job would ever be in the cards for him. As fate would have it, Bryan stumbled on BiggerPockets at a crossroads in his life, and real estate investing quickly became his new obsession. The only problem? His hometown of San Diego, California was well outside his price range. So, he and his wife took a leap of faith and moved to Arizona, which is where he found his first rental property! In just a few short years, Bryan has had the FULL investing experience—changing investing strategies mid-deal and investing in markets all over the country. Along the way, he has moved to low-cost-of-living areas to save money, rolled home equity into more deals, and found rare off-market properties (seller-financed)! In This Episode We Cover: How Bryan snowballed $20,000 into eleven properties (in under four years) Building your real estate portfolio faster by moving to a low-cost-of-living area How to get your spouse on board with your real estate investing dream Using a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to fund more real estate deals How to pivot to another investing strategy when things don’t go to plan Why you always need an exit strategy whenever you buy a new property And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Buy the Book “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing” Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area See Ashley and Tony at BPCON2024 in Cancun! Real Estate Rookie - Episode #452: The Rookie’s Cheat Sheet for Market Research (Find Where to Invest in 2024) Connect with Bryan   Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-464 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, screening, and placing new tenants for your rental property is not only difficult—it’s expensive! Want to attract the best tenants in town and ensure that they stick around for the long haul? You won’t want to miss this episode! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! As the self-proclaimed “lazy investor,” Dion McNeeley wants to have long-term tenants and as little turnover as possible. Today, he’s going to share the tips, tricks, and tactics he uses to keep tenants around for not just months or years but decades. The best part? He’s not doing anything the average investor can’t do. By implementing these same strategies, you can find high-quality residents and reduce turnover! Of course, not every investor can devote twenty hours to their real estate business each week. Fortunately, Dion offers some portfolio-saving advice that will allow you to become a more hands-off investor. You’ll hear about a strategy that will have tenants asking YOU to raise rent, as well as a crucial document that could protect your investment when inheriting tenants. Finally, you’ll learn why retention isn’t always the best option and when to let a tenant go. In This Episode We Cover: How to ensure that your best tenants stay at your rental property long-term How to get tenants to ask for a rent increase with the “binder strategy” The agreement you MUST have in place when inheriting tenants How to properly vet tenants before offering them a lease renewal Retention versus turnover (and when it’s time to let a tenant go) What you should know before raising rents on Section 8 tenants And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group BiggerPockets Lease Agreements by State BiggerPockets Glossary Canva Get Free Property Management Software for Landlords with Hemlane Buy the Book “The Self-Managing Landlord” Property Manager Finder See Ashley and Tony at BPCON2024 in Cancun! Real Estate Rookie - Episode 369: Financial Freedom in 10 Years and $200K Cash Flow with a Small Portfolio w/Dion McNeeley Connect with Dion Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-463 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

This assistant principal slowly and steadily used home equity to invest, helping him acquire seven properties in just over ten years. These properties have now seen sizable appreciation, and he has hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity, all thanks to taking it slow and making the right moves on the right rental properties. This might be one of the most repeatable paths to wealth out there, and you can copy it to a tee to build wealth, too! James Likis got his start where many rookie investors do—house hacking. Except it started WAY before he was an adult. James remembers his family house hacking as a kid, which prompted him to buy, not rent, as soon as he started looking for his own place to live. After house hacking for years, he saw his equity grow and later used this one property to buy his dream home, which would help him build even MORE equity. James has used this equity-recycling strategy to buy over a million dollars worth of real estate, and it all started from ONE house hack. You can do it, too, and like James, you may begin searching for even more affordable housing markets where your dollar can stretch further. Today, he’s sharing how he used his home equity to grow his real estate portfolio, why he decided to invest out of state, and a specific home renovation loan he used to turn his second property into a fully-renovated, high-appreciating family home! In This Episode We Cover: Why you DON’T need to rush to build a successful rental property portfolio  Using home equity to invest and cash-out refinances vs. HELOCs The easiest way to start investing in real estate that rookies should try Home renovation loans and what you MUST know before using an FHA 203(k) loan Why focusing on investing for appreciation (not JUST cash flow) will make you wealthy Long-distance real estate investing and buying in more affordable housing markets And So Much More! Links from the Show Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile Tony's BiggerPokckets Profile Join BiggerPockets for FREE Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group Invest Out-of-State with “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing” Property Manager Finder See Ashley and Tony at BPCON2024 in Cancun! Home Equity: What It Is, How To Calculate, & How To Use It Connect with James Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-462 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