Real estate investors are a hard-working bunch. They put in long hours every day to create passive income and find financial freedom . Many investors resort to doing what they hate, day in and day out, simply to escape the clutches of a nine-to-five job. If you’re a rookie real estate investor, you’re probably the property manager , head of acquisitions, tenant contact, and accountant all rolled into one. But this “all or nothing” way of working could slow you down faster than you know. If you w...
Sep 10, 2022•46 min•Ep. 216
Want to become a millionaire ? After this episode, you’ll have everything you need to start your journey to a seven-figure net worth through real estate investing . Most people think that to become a millionaire you need to have a high-paying job, a large inheritance, or hundreds of rental properties. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as regular real estate investing allows almost anyone to build wealth , attain financial freedom , and live the life they dream of in only a matter of years...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 215
This week’s question comes from Ricky through Ashley’s direct messages on Instagram . Ricky is asking: I’m about to start my investing journey with short-term rentals. How do I build a real estate team, and which positions should I look for first? On your way to building a short-term rental empire , you’ll need to build out your real estate investment team . These are the people who will help you scale, manage your properties, and handle host headaches that come up, so you can focus on finding b...
Sep 03, 2022•13 min•Ep. 214
The older you get, the more you realize how much life costs. As a kid, it's easy to take for granted the free rent and free meals, but what if you could get back to that? What if you could live mortgage or rent-free as an adult? What if you could have your meals paid for on someone else’s dime ? In today’s episode, our guest, Nate Weintraub , shares how he lives for “free” with his three properties that total sixty-five units. With a real estate investor as a father, Nate has always been around ...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 213
This week’s question comes from Carolyn through Ashley’s direct messages on Instagram . Carolyn is asking: I just bought my first investment property in cash. Am I still considered a first-time homebuyer ? What happens if I take out a mortgage on that property? First-time homebuyer loans tend to confuse many real estate rookies. When it comes to first-time homebuyer loans and programs, what options do you have? Some investors think that they can only use loans like the FHA loan for their first h...
Aug 27, 2022•11 min•Ep. 212
While constantly hearing success stories can be encouraging, it can also start to seem unattainable when you don’t know where to start. How did all these successful investors get to where they wanted to be? And if they can do it, why can’t you? Today’s guests, Simon Murillo and Kristina Vaio adjusted their mindset from “why them?” to “why not us?,” which resulted in some serious short-term rental success. It took a while for Simon and Kristina to become cohesive in their real estate partnership ...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 211
The term “ other people’s money ” is common in the rental property industry. You may hear successful investors use it all the time—but what does it mean? Who are these “other people,” and why are they giving out money so freely? Don’t worry—rich relatives are not necessary for this episode of the Real Estate Rookie Podcast . We’re not talking about taking money from your Grandma. We’re talking about private money lending . Who better to bring on to the show than Alex Breshears and Beth Johnson ,...
Aug 20, 2022•51 min•Ep. 210
As an investor, finding and closing on a deal is only the beginning, and it sets the tone for how the rest of the deal will go. So what criteria should you have to make finding a profitable deal easier? Once you find a deal that's promising, how do you do your due diligence before submitting an offer? In today’s episode, Kenneth Donis shares his bulletproof process for finding and underwriting profitable deals . Kenneth is the Head of Marketing and Acquisitions in the Donis Brothers’ operation. ...
Aug 17, 2022•58 min•Ep. 209
This week’s question comes from Aaron on the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group . Aaron is asking: How do you set up your rental income for tax season? Do you just show your accountant, for example, a Stessa report? Do you give receipts to your tenant when they pay so you have one for tax season? Navigating the world of real estate accounting can be tricky. Do you write everything down by hand or update your numbers in tax software? Ask two real estate experts like Ashley and Tony and you’ll see ...
Aug 13, 2022•10 min•Ep. 208
As an entrepreneur trying to build wealth, how do you find work-life balance ? How do you prioritize your family and life when you work long hours for a better future? Is the time freedom you’re ultimately working towards worth the time you have to give up presently? Amanda Salovitch , today’s guest, shares the balance she’s been able to maintain as a full-time working mom, building a short-term rental business while going from zero to six units in a year and a half. Amanda has been passionate a...
Aug 10, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 207
Not knowing how to deal with a bad contractor can cost you thousands, if not tens of thousands, on a single deal. The wrong contractor can cause months more of holding time , thousands in materials wasted , and drain your energy when trying to get the project done. But, once you know the common contractor red flags , you’ll be able to spot which workers won’t work out in the future so you can hire the right ones faster. Ashley and Tony both have horror stories when hiring general contractors. Th...
Aug 06, 2022•17 min•Ep. 206
Sometimes in real estate, less is more , and as the saying goes—quality over quantity. You don’t need a portfolio with 100+ properties if you have a strong cash flow from five. This approach allows less to fall through the cracks and a more personalized experience for the tenant while still building wealth like never before. Today’s guest, Kelly Cronin , explains how she has created Cronin Castles , a variety of unique experiences in various locations , and is now profiting off people’s desire t...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 205
New short-term rental regulations are sprouting up around densely-populated states like California and New York. These regulations can stop new investors from setting up shop while making established hosts much wealthier. With stricter short-term rental laws , what should real estate investors do to hedge their risk against being stuck with a property that can’t be rented out? Both Ashley and Tony own short-term rentals. Ashley’s is situated in a town with no regulations, while Tony has vacation...
Jul 30, 2022•10 min•Ep. 204
Property management can be one of the more complex decisions when it comes to investing. Do you save money and ensure the job is done exactly how you want it by self-managing, or do you invest in someone with experience and save yourself time, energy, and headspace? Today’s guest, Karen Lane , breaks down property management in bite-size chunks , so whether you’re deciding between property management vs. self-management or hoping to pursue property management already , this episode is perfect fo...
Jul 27, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 203
This week’s question comes from Brandon on the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group . Brandon is asking: On a cash-out refinance , is this considered income? If so, will I have to report it on my taxes? Real estate investing provides a lot of tax benefits , some that new investors or everyday homeowners simply don’t know about. One of the greatest tax benefits ? No taxes on loans and liabilities! That means that the cash-out refinance can be done without paying any taxes on the cash given to you fr...
Jul 23, 2022•6 min•Ep. 202
The beautiful thing about real estate is that there is endless room for growth . While some jobs have a capped amount of opportunity, real estate encourages constant advancement . Today’s guest, Gus Ofili , began his investing journey after the pandemic and now has nine properties with twenty-three units. Gus turned to real estate after deciding to leave his nine-to-five at a bank . He didn’t hate his job , in fact, he was doing very well, but there wasn't adequate room to grow . Gus started rea...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 201
You’re here to buy your first rental property . This is the Real Estate Rookie Podcast, and as a rookie, where should you start? Most new real estate investors think that the steps to buying a rental property are simple—find an agent, find a property, buy the property. And although that could buy you a rental property, the chances of you becoming successful are very low. Real estate investing requires much more than just purchasing a property if you’re trying to build generational wealth , finan...
Jul 16, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 200
We are in the age of social media , so how do you use that to your advantage ? How do you create a platform that helps you reach your career goals ? What content should you create to target your desired audience? Today’s guest, Kerwin Donis , shares how he and his brothers have built the platforms that have helped them partner in over 600 units of apartment syndication deals . The Donis Brothers have a wide range of platforms, from YouTube to TikTok, where they document their journey and share t...
Jul 13, 2022•48 min•Ep. 199
This week’s question comes from Mantas on the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group . Mantas is asking: My buddy placed an offer substantially above asking price and the seller, before accepting the offer, asked my friend if he would pay the difference if the appraisal came in lower than the offer. Anyone encountered this situation and what would be the best response if any? Ah, the classic appraisal gap /appraisal contingency . During hot housing markets (like we’ve been experiencing over the past ...
Jul 09, 2022•8 min•Ep. 198
If you’re unsure about real estate, run the numbers. It’s that simple. Once you run the numbers, you’ll have clarity on which decisions to make and tangible reassurance that you made the right ones. Today’s guest, actress Brec Bassinger , shares how focusing on the numbers has given her the confidence to become the successful investor she is today. Brec’s name may sound familiar to some of you. She’s been the star of Bella and the Bulldogs and the new hit show, DC’s Stargirl . Brec’s interest in...
Jul 06, 2022•55 min•Ep. 197
This week’s question comes from Tony’s Instagram direct messages! This rookie real estate investor is asking: I have a good chunk of equity in my home, should I pull out cash to purchase a rental property? If not, what should I do with the equity? If you want to know how to use home equity to buy real estate , you need to know your options first. As many homeowners are sitting on massive equity gains, thanks to the past two years worth of price run-ups, they’re asking how they can use this equit...
Jul 02, 2022•13 min•Ep. 196
You often hear about house hacking as a means to an end , a simple way to start your real estate journey, but what if it could be more? What if house hacking could be your ticket to financial freedom ? Today’s guest, Craig Curelop , author of The House Hacking Strategy , shares how he reached financial freedom through house hacking and how to follow along in his footsteps. Craig started where most do, hating his W-2 and working too much . He began researching how to earn a passive income and cam...
Jun 29, 2022•50 min•Ep. 195
The best real estate investing apps are ones you could not live without. Whether you’re a full-time real estate investor, managing a few properties, or still trying to get your first deal done , these apps can help you find, manage, and cash flow your rentals quicker . Ashley and Tony both use these apps daily and probably couldn’t run their real estate investment portfolios without them. To help you scale up your real estate investing , Ashley and Tony have written down their most-used real est...
Jun 25, 2022•17 min•Ep. 194
Your connections and relationships are invaluable in real estate, so how do you get to know the right people? How do you build a lasting, mutually beneficial relationship ? The answer is simple—you show up, get your name and face out there, and listen . Building a network can seem intimidating, especially starting from scratch, but today’s guest, Jeffrey Donis , breaks it down step-by-step. Jeffrey Donis of the Donis Brothers is in charge of nurturing investor relations , so networking is his br...
Jun 22, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 193
This week’s question comes from Natalie on the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group . Natalie is asking: How did you narrow your focus to determine your strategy? And how do you get good at analyzing real estate deals ? This is one of the most-asked questions we receive. When you’re starting as a rookie real estate investor, every strategy seems like a good one. You may hear a guest on the Real Estate Rookie show talk about wholesaling or flipping or short-term rentals . Before long, you’re already...
Jun 18, 2022•15 min•Ep. 192
What differentiates a top producer from everyone else? The most common answer is hard work, ambition, and charisma, but what does that even mean? Hard work, while a universal concept, changes depending on the context, so what does hard work entail in real estate ? Today’s familiar guest, David Greene , answers all these questions and more in today’s episode and his new book, SKILL . SKILL is only part two in his three-part book series where David teaches you how to excel as an agent or investor....
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 191
What is due diligence in real estate? If you ask most new investors, they’ll have some sense of what due diligence is, but may be confused about what it really means. Is due diligence when you analyze your deal? Who should you be in contact with during due diligence? How long does a due diligence period usually last? And what happens if your deal turns out to be a dud in due diligence? In reality, due diligence isn’t all that confusing . It’s simply the time that you, and your partners (if you h...
Jun 11, 2022•27 min•Ep. 190
House hacking is one of the easiest ways to get into real estate investing . Thanks to its flexible financing options, low down payment loans, and ability to cut your rent in half (or eliminate it), house hacking is truly a phenomenal investing strategy . In short, house hacking is when a homeowner or investor buys a house or multifamily and rents out the other rooms or units while they live in one of them. The house hacking strategy can be mixed and matched in any way you like. Want to live wit...
Jun 08, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 189
Networking tips only matter as long as they work. Everyone knows the classic ones—bring a business card, wear a nametag, and look people in the eye. But, when you’re meeting with investors who have big portfolios , it can be easy to get flustered all of a sudden. Maybe you run into your dream mentor at your next real estate meetup —what do you do? Both Ashley and Tony were able to buy their first rentals and grow their portfolios thanks to networking. At first, they didn’t know what to do or say...
Jun 04, 2022•18 min•Ep. 188
Cash flow and revenue should always be your main focus, but that’s not always the case. Often, the focus tends to be on the number of doors , with many investors not realizing you can make more with less . Today’s guest, Welby Accely , has mastered the art of maximizing revenue per unit and automating his flips . Despite his primary focus being quality over quantity, Welby has done over 100 flips in just four years ! Welby’s success didn’t come overnight, in fact, most of it has come from trial ...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 187
