This one’s personal, Justin’s been a client of mine for years, and in this episode, we finally unpack the horror story we’ve been sitting on for two years. What started as a killer commercial deal turned into a sewer line lawsuit with a surprise twist… and a happy ending (yes, with beer). We talk due diligence, problem-solving under pressure, and lessons from navigating the unexpected. 👩🏫 In This Episode You'll Learn - Why your due diligence process needs to go beyond the checklist - How to d...
Apr 24, 2025•41 min•Ep. 100
Frankie Dulli’s first deal with a partner looked like a textbook BRRRR win until the tenant moved in. From a cracked sewer line and a porta-potty in the backyard to unpaid rent, court dates, and an excuse involving kidnapping, this story has it all. If you’ve ever been tempted to skip a background check or sewer cam, let this episode stop you in your tracks. 👩🏫 In This Episode You'll Learn - Why tenant screening is non-negotiable - How to handle ongoing tenant drama without violating fair hou...
Apr 17, 2025•31 min•Ep. 99
This week on House of Horrors, I’m joined by Bob Lachance, a former pro hockey player turned investor who shares how he lost $150K on a knockdown rebuild in Greenwich, CT and what it taught him about trusting partners, doing due diligence, and not falling for “can’t-miss” deals. We also dive into a shady property management horror story and how Bob uses VAs to scale smart. 👩🏫 In This Episode You'll Learn - The hidden risks of joint ventures and handshake deals - Why legal costs aren’t always ...
Apr 10, 2025•27 min•Ep. 98
A condo fire, stolen plywood, and insurance headaches this episode dives into the real-life horror stories behind small-scale development with Katie Neason. We talk about how she’s building a better Bryan, Texas while dodging disasters most investors never see coming. If you're thinking about stepping into development or scaling smart, this is a must-listen. In This Episode You'll Learn: - Why skipping an insurance claim might save you long-term headaches and cash - How material theft, rising ra...
Apr 03, 2025•38 min•Ep. 97
In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, attorney and host Bonnie Galam talks with John Todderud, a multifamily investor and syndicator, about a terrifying moment in his real estate journey—when he got a call that one of his properties was on fire. John shares how a simple cleaning mishap led to a fire scare, what he learned from the experience, and how it shaped the way he manages properties today. You’ll learn: How to safeguard your rental properties from fire hazards and implement bet...
Mar 03, 2025•25 min
In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, attorney and host Bonnie Galam talks with Kaydee Smith Myers, a former commercial real estate attorney turned part-time investor, about the challenges of real estate investing and how to navigate unexpected issues. Kaydee shares a series of unfortunate events she encountered in the past year, from tenant evictions and property damage to plumbing emergencies and insurance battles. You’ll learn: How to manage unexpected property maintenance and larg...
Feb 24, 2025•41 min
(TW: Suicide) In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, attorney and host Bonnie Galam talks with Sarah Weaver, a real estate investor and coach, about a heartbreaking experience she faced as a landlord: a tenant’s suicide. Sarah shares how she handled the shocking news, worked with the police, and supported others who were affected by the tragedy. You’ll learn: What to do if a serious crisis happens in one of your rental properties. Why having strong systems and policies in place makes h...
Jan 20, 2025•35 min
In this episode of House of Horrors, attorney and host Bonnie Galam welcomes Grace Gudenkauf, co-founder of the WIIRE Community (Women Investing in Real Estate). Grace shares her wild first-time landlord experience managing inherited tenants in a duplex. From 3AM toilet emergencies to family drama, hoarding, and a tenant moving out one box at a time on his mobility scooter, this story showcases creative problem-solving in property management. You'll learn: 1. How to balance being compassionate w...
Jan 13, 2025•31 min
In this week's horror story, real estate attorney Bonnie Galam dives into the ever-increasing crime of listing fraud. Bonnie also shares an interesting professional dilemma for semi-professional real estate investors. You'll learn: 1. 5 ways to protect your listing 2. Red flags to look out for in rental listings 3. The way scammers get rentals to fall for their scams DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episode...
Nov 19, 2024•16 min
In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, host and real estate attorney Bonnie Galam dives into the world of mortgage fraud. According to recent studies, a lot of investors and lenders are playing fast and furious with their loan applications. In this episode you'll learn about: A fistfight at a closing The illegal actions Fannie and Freddie Mac say are running rampant in the investing community What changes to commercial underwriting to expect to see in the future DISCLAIMER: Although Bo...
Oct 28, 2024•21 min
In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, host Bonnie Galam delves into the fraudulent schemes of Theodore 'Teddy' Miller, the so-called 'Wolf of West Virginia' who got people to invest hundred of thousands into properties he didn't even own. In this episode you'll learn: To anticipate securities regulations when investing passively How to conduct due diligence on passive investments Red flags in "too good to be true" investment opportunities DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she...
Sep 30, 2024•16 min
In this episode, real estate attorney Bonnie Galam recounts the harrowing tale of Herbert 'Herb' Whalen, a fraudulent property manager in Indianapolis. Learn how Whalen's web of deceit led to massive financial losses for investors and discover essential legal tips to safeguard your investments from similar scams. In this episode you'll learn: The trust but verify method of engaging a property manager Practical advice for vetting property managers Leaning in during the age of quiet quitting DISCL...
Sep 23, 2024•16 min
In this episode of the House of Horrors podcast, host Bonnie Galam, dives into an in-depth discussion on a harrowing case of contractor fraud involving a contractor who defrauded multiple homeowners out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, turning their renovation dreams into nightmares. In this episode you'll learn: Practical advice for vetting contractors The importance of written contracts Avoiding large upfront payments Knowing when to escalate disputes to criminal proceedings DISCLAIMER: Al...
Sep 16, 2024•19 min
Would you buy a property that had a residential tenant with a 30 year lease? I suppose there's a price for everything. To know the price, you have to know what your dealing with. In this episode you'll learn: Listing strategy with an "undesirable" tenant Legal options when inheriting a tenant The legal steps to evaluate a tenant-occupied property DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors...
Sep 11, 2024•24 min
In this episode, real estate attorney Bonnie Galam discusses the legal implications of tenants having emotional support animals, specifically focusing on unusual case of an emotional support alligator. She explains the difference between service animals and emotional support animals, and how the Fair Housing Act and ADA apply to emotional support animals in rental properties. In this episode you'll learn: What kind of documentation can you request from a tenant with an unusual service animal or ...
Jul 09, 2024•16 min
In this episode, Bonnie Galam discusses a real estate horror story where a developer built a house on the wrong lot. In this episode you'll learn: The absurd reason why the wrong property got a new house on it The two types of legal mistakes How to avoid making an expensive mistake like this when dealing with contractors DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and infor...
Jul 01, 2024•22 min
You heard the buzz about WY, NY, DE LLCs, but what's the real deal with them? Let's pull back the curtain and reveal the truth about how these "special" LLCs actually work. 👻 Plus, you'll hear a horror story about shootings in AirBnBs. In this episode you'll learn: The three ways WY, NY, & DE LLCs *are* different What these differences practically mean in terms of asset protection What (if any) asset protection you NEED DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advic...
Sep 25, 2023•29 min
Want to be proactive and not reactive? Then you gotta have a lay of the land! Because if you don't know what you're working with, then it's really hard to make smart investing and management decisions to move forward and scale easier. In this episode you'll learn: The management mindset I carry over from my other businesses to my rentals The power of tracking KPIs in your rental business The CEO step you have to take after auditing your rentals 👉🏼 Access the links and resources mentioned in th...
May 22, 2023•23 min
Passive income as a landlord is a myth and .... you probably shouldn't be chasing it anyway. Whether you still think passive income is the goal or are wondering *what exactly * is passive in real estate after diving into it, this episode is for you! In this episode you'll learn: Why passive income is a deceptive term The 3 types of taxable income & the MAJOR tax benefit of being an active landlord The sweet spot between active and passive landlording DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorne...
May 17, 2023•29 min
Feel like its gotten a lot harder to be a landlord over the past few years thanks to increasing regulation, oversight, and ? Yeah me too. Let's take a look at where we are, where the political landscape is going and what you can do about it. In this episode, we'll chat about: What investors can do to have a seat at the table How much should laws affect your market shopping? How to keep your investing biz compliant in an rapidly changing legal landscape DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney ...
May 08, 2023•31 min•Ep. 81
Real estate investing is just part of our lives. Not our whole life. So how do you manage it all? These are the 3 rules I swear by to keep me sane and on track. In this episode you'll learn 1. How to stay ahead and on top of everything you need to do as a landlord 2. What a proactive management system looks like in my rental business 3. The "10 Minute Rule" that saves me hours every week DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement a...
May 03, 2023•20 min
With the "perfect BRRRR" getting increasingly harder to find and the fed increasing interest rates multiple times a year, the financing world we've lived in the last decade or so is over. Many landlords have built their portfolio using the power of cash-out refinances but now the threat of cash-in refinances is very real. In this episode you'll learn: What type of financing is at particular risk of a cash-in refinance What to do to prevent a cash-in refi How to evaluate deals in an increasing in...
Apr 25, 2023•22 min
You already know that lawsuits are a risk to your assets, but have you ever considered the size of your portfolio? In this episode you'll learn: Why the small landlord stage is so risky The unspoken reasons why small landlords sell off their properties Why staying small is unsustainable in the long run DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The ...
Apr 10, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 78
Lease renewals are deceptively difficult. It’s something that can be easy to not give much thought but has long-term trickle down effects to not just your cashflow but your ability to easily navigate an eviction or tenant disputes. In this episode, we’re going to cover: Why I don’t like letting leases lapse into month to month When to use a lease addendum vs new lease Legal landmines surrounding long-term tenancies Read the full show notes here. DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doe...
Jan 31, 2023•25 min
There's more to a lease than its terms. As a landlord, the systems and processes around your lease are often just as important to prevent legal headaches and save your sanity. In this episode you'll learn: 1. Where to get a good lease 2. What documents should be included in your lease package 3. Who needs to sign the lease 4. How to legally & efficiently accept security deposit and advance rent More episodes on leases⤵️ Episode 68: 7 Things You Should Never Do During Tenant Turnover Click he...
Jan 24, 2023•23 min
Accessory Dwelling Units & Mid Term Rentals are two of the hottest residential investing trends right now. In this episode, Bonnie breaks down how to protect them. In this episode you'll learn: 1. Considerations to determine if a separate entity is even possible for an ADU 2. What type of entity to put a MTR or ADU into 3. Some offensive asset protection options for ADUs DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All...
Dec 27, 2022•12 min
News You Can Use: Let's talk about office space conversions! In this episode you'll learn: 1. What types of financing do these projects entail 2. What investors are turning office space into 3. The government incentives available for office space conversions 4. The demographic indicator where office conversion succeed DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informat...
Dec 21, 2022•11 min
Contracts are the cornerstone of your investing operations & growth. But understanding and optimizing them is a missed opportunity for most real estate investors. In this episode we'll cover: The contract drafting mistake putting your off-market deals at risk My 6-step contract review process Key terms all contracts to purchase real estate need. Read full show notes: bonniegalam.com/73 DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement...
Dec 12, 2022•26 min
Estate sales are a great way to score investment properties. But what happens when you’ve got 2 layers of probate? In this week’s episode with David Dodge, you end up with an unenforceable contract, a year long contract period, and a whole family tree to deal with. In this episode you’ll learn: What to look out for when signing a contract for an estate property How to provide value to sellers of an estate property The clunky administrative hurdles you need to overcome to close an estate sale DIS...
Dec 05, 2022•43 min
This week’s guests on House of Horrors, Mel and Dave DePuis, shared due diligence and entity structuring mistakes they made early on in their career but affected over a dozen of their properties. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Structuring mistakes that can be expensive to unwind The costs of failing to properly do due diligence How to continuously level up, even as an experienced investor DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement a...
Nov 07, 2022•39 min
