Real Estate Rookie

Money—it’s the number one thing that keeps new investors from buying a rental property. Maybe you’ve got your market and buy box figured out, but the finances? Not so much. But not to worry—today, we’ve brought a personal finance expert on to help with these common challenges. Whether you’re starting from zero or already working hard to build a financial foundation, this episode is for you!   Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Amberly Grant, fellow real estate investor and co-host of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, joins the show to share her own personal finance tips for someone who’s looking to break into real estate investing. Whether you’re deep in debt or struggling to save, Amberly has been in your shoes and provides a clear blueprint anyone can use to get from point A to buying a rental in record time.   Along the way, we’ll point out some financial red flags that could be keeping you broke and show you how to break free. We’ll also share with you how to create an anti-budget that makes saving easy, the best place to stash your real estate funds, and creative ways to increase your income so you can throw even more money at that first down payment! In This Episode We Cover How to save for your first rental property—even if you’re starting from scratch Simple steps you can take today to get your financial house in order The financial red flags that could be keeping you broke (and how to break free) Creating an anti-budget that fast-tracks saving for a down payment How to diversify your investment portfolio (beyond real estate!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-570 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 DON’T need a huge network, online presence, or social media following to invest in real estate. This small-town investor got started the old-fashioned way—picking up the phone and pounding the pavement—which helped him scale his real estate portfolio to 25 rental units in just five years. Want his personal playbook? Then stay tuned! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When the University of Minnesota Crookston dropped its football program, former offensive coordinator Jared Hottle didn’t know where to turn. After moving back to his home state of Iowa in search of his next career move, a friend introduced him to BiggerPockets. Jared caught the real estate bug, became a licensed agent, and started driving for dollars. It wasn’t long before he had closed on not one but two duplexes—in the same week! Since then, Jared has scaled to 25 rental units in just a few years. What’s more? He’s done it without a big personal brand, social media presence, or podcast, and prefers to hustle offline and host his own local meetups. In this episode, he’ll share why real estate investing is a “contact sport,” how to use partnerships to grow your portfolio faster, and when to pivot to another investing strategy! In This Episode We Cover How Jared built a real estate portfolio with 25 rental units in just FIVE years How to find off-market deals using the driving for dollars strategy Estoppel agreements explained (and why you NEED one when inheriting tenants) How to build your investing network without a strong online presence The secret to a successful real estate partnership (and how to structure one!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-569 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

Should you use retirement funds to buy rentals, pay for renovations, or scale your real estate portfolio faster? Saving for a down payment can be tough, and dipping into a retirement account might seem like a tempting shortcut. But is it worth paying the hefty penalty? We’re breaking it all down on today’s episode! Welcome to another Rookie Reply, where Ashley and Tony answer questions from the BiggerPockets Forums and Real Estate Rookie Facebook group. First, what do you do when a tenant wants to end their lease before it even starts? There are several factors to consider, from your state’s landlord-tenant laws to additional turnover costs, but we’ll steer you in the right direction. Next, we’ll hear from an investor who’s considering withdrawing funds from their Roth IRA before retirement age to build their portfolio faster. Is it worth it? We’ll crunch the numbers and find out! Finally, where should you list your short-term rentals online, and how do you prevent your property from getting double-booked? As our resident short-term rental expert, Tony has the answer, and it’s much simpler than you might think! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover Whether you should use retirement accounts to buy more rentals The real cost of withdrawing from your Roth IRA before retirement age What to do when a tenant unexpectedly backs out before their lease begins Where to list your short-term rentals online (and how to avoid double-booking!) The best property management software for your Airbnb business And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-568 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 2025 a scary time to invest in real estate or your biggest opportunity yet? Whether you’re scaling back or doubling down, this episode is your survival guide for today’s shifting market. Ashley and Tony are sharing the pivots they’re making to shore up their rental portfolios and grow their wealth faster!   Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When your portfolio no longer aligns with your investing goals, it’s time to make changes. That’s exactly what Ashley and Tony are doing in 2025—tweaking their investing strategies, offloading unprofitable properties, and trimming the fat from their businesses to create more cash flow. Stay tuned and we’ll show you how to do the same!   This year, Tony is rolling out new, high-ROI amenities across all of his short-term rentals, while Ashley is BRRRR-ing (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) her primary residence and preparing the property she plans to one day turn into her dream home. Stick around till the end to hear about our new investments outside of real estate—from index funds to tech startups and more! In This Episode We Cover The biggest rental portfolio pivots Ashley and Tony are making this year Adapting your short-term rental strategy for an oversaturated Airbnb market Why reinvesting in your portfolio often beats buying more rental properties The high-ROI Airbnb amenities that will make your properties stand out How to instantly boost your cash flow by cutting unnecessary business expenses When to SELL an underperforming property (and where to invest the money!) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-567 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

Are you tethered to your W2 job as your main (or only) source of income? What if it disappeared tomorrow? After a huge wake-up call, today’s guest realized he needed to take control of his financial future as soon as possible. In just two years, he scaled to 10 rentals that bring in a whopping $6,000 in monthly cash flow…and he’s not done yet! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Lorenzo Decaria thought his 18-year software engineering career was stable until his employer started making cuts. With his family’s finances in jeopardy and no backup plan, Lorenzo decided it was time to become self-sufficient. After a friend introduced him to real estate investing, Lorenzo committed all of his time and energy (and savings!) to buying rental properties, and in just two years, he has built a real estate portfolio that brings in $6,000 a month. The best part? His ultimate goal—achieving financial freedom—is within reach!   In this episode, Lorenzo shares the secret to his rapid success—using the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) and reinvesting his profits back into his portfolio! You’ll also hear about the pitfalls of hiring shady contractors, the pros and cons of Section 8 investing, and how to maximize your cash flow by stabilizing your properties! In This Episode We Cover How Lorenzo built a 10-property rental portfolio in just TWO years Scaling fast with the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) How to use real estate to achieve financial freedom and leave your nine-to-five The keys to managing contractors, renovations, and evictions remotely The pros and cons of Section 8 investing (and why this strategy could change in 2025!) How to increase your cash flow by stabilizing your rental properties And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-566 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

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