BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA from Equity Trust

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How to Analyze a Short Term Rental Investment (The Enemy Method)

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(00:00) Intro

(01:43) Short-Term Rental Market Update

(04:54) Newbies Scared Off?

(06:52) What to Buy Right Now

(09:52) Picking an Airbnb Market

(12:10) RELAX with the Amenities

(17:42) Is Your Airbnb Underperforming?

(23:57) Future of Short-Term Rentals

(27:45) Grab Avery’s Book!

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Regular Investor Makes $1.5M by Recognizing This Rare “Upside” on Her Rental Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Imagine making $1,500,000 on one regular real estate deal. We’re not talking about a huge apartment complex or commercial real estate investment. $1,500,000 on a single-family home purchase. How is that even possible? Dina Onur is more than a million dollars richer after spotting one rare real estate investing “upside” at the closing table. And the best part? She’s just a regular, everyday investor.

Dina runs her own home healthcare business and is a mom of three, but she decided, “I’m not busy enough; let’s start buying (and renovating) rentals!” So, that’s exactly what she did. Her clients routinely had houses to sell, so instead of passing them along to real estate agents she knew, Dina made the jump, buying a triplex to test her hand at rental property investing. She did a BIG renovation but created some serious sweat equity as a result. The next rental? Double the size—a six-unit investment property.

But, none of these compare to the one deal that is making her over a million dollars. This was such a rare find that Dina was offered hundreds of thousands of dollars over the asking price to sell it to other investors. She refused, and if you can find a property like hers, you too could make a seven-figure profit on your next real estate deal.

In This Episode We Cover:

How Dina made $1,500,000 on a real estate deal everyone else overlooked

Pulling yourself up from bankruptcy to rebuild your financial life

The one reason you ALWAYS check the zoning of a property before you buy

Why Dina refuses to invest in single-family homes and sees them as too risky

Using a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to fund your home renovations

Financing new construction and a sneaky way to get around the massive down payment

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Save $100 on Real Estate’s Biggest Event of the Year, BPCon2025

Invest in High-ROI Turnkey Rentals with Rent to Retirement or Txt REI to 33777

Buy the BRRRR Book, “Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat”

Find Investor-Friendly Lenders

10 Hidden Ways to Buy Properties with Huge “Upside”

Connect with Dina

(00:00) Intro

(00:55) Young Business Owner to Bankruptcy

(02:17) Accidentally Finding Real Estate

(06:41) Finding Her First Deal

(09:29) Huge Renovations, But BIG Rewards

(17:12) Tearing Down Her House for This?

(20:12) Making $1.5M on One DEAL!?

(26:19) What's Next?

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1081

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How to Buy Your First Out-of-State Real Estate Investment (Step-by-Step) Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Out-of-state real estate investing is making a comeback, becoming one of the best investing strategies of 2025. Why? Home prices in most coastal markets have exploded, forcing investors in pricey areas to look elsewhere for real estate deals that work. Thankfully, America is a big country with plenty of profitable real estate markets, so even if you’re priced out of your own area, you can still invest elsewhere.

So, how do you start? What should you do going into a new market as a new investor? Kathy Fettke is returning to the show as our resident long-distance real estate expert, showing you how to buy out-of-state investment properties in just a few simple steps. Anyone (and we mean ANYONE) can follow these steps to purchase a profitable property from a distance, even if it’s your first rental.

We’re giving you an exact roadmap of everything you need to know: how to choose markets, find deals, analyze them, get property management, and start renting them out even if you live thousands of miles away.

In This Episode We Cover:

How to pick an out-of-state investing market and whether you need to visit it first

Analyzing deals from a distance and key factors to get right (insurance, property taxes, and more)

How to buy a house sight unseen, EVEN as a beginner investor

The one type of rental property Kathy says you should buy for your first rental

What to tell a property manager as soon as you close on your first long-distance rental

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

BiggerPockets Market Finder

Try REsimpli, The Only All-In-One Real Estate Investor CRM Software That Helps You Manage Data, Marketing, Sales, and Operations

Grab the Book on “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing”

Should You Invest Locally or Long Distance?

Connect with Kathy

(00:00) Intro

(01:31) Why Invest Out of State?

(05:51) 1. Pick (and Visit!) Markets

(11:00) Meet with Agents/Property Managers

(15:17) 2. Define a "Good" Deal

(17:16) Buy New/Turnkey?

(20:45) Know Your "Advantage"

(23:43) 3. Make an Offer

(27:47) How to Buy Sight Unseen

(30:18) 4. Close and Manage the Rental

(33:22) Reviewing the Steps

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1080

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How to Capture the “Upside” in the 2025 Housing Market Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

How do you get higher rents, more appreciation, and bigger returns from real estate investing in 2025? It’s easy—copy the experts. They’re doing it over dozens of deals, so why not apply their same tactics to your properties? That’s precisely what we’re sharing in today’s episode—the “upside” tactics ANYONE can use on ANY investment property to create more cash flow, better equity upside, and make their future selves richer.

Last week, we discussed the ten different “upside” investing tactics you can use in 2025 to boost your real estate returns. Today, we’re walking through six of them, in-depth, with investing experts Ashley Kehr and James Dainard. Ashley has been investing in rentals for over a decade, seeing basic properties become home-run rentals over time. James has made millions of dollars flipping houses with HUGE “upside,” he’s teaching you how to do the same, even if you’re only buying rentals.

We’re walking through our favorite “upside” strategies and how to spot the properties that have multiple "upsides" for investors. Follow these steps, and in a few years, the properties you buy in 2025 could become your best investments yet!

In This Episode We Cover:

Why you CAN’T just focus on today’s rent prices/cash flow and how basic properties can become cash flow kings

The “rocket fuel” James used to explode his net worth and real estate portfolio

Hidden zoning opportunities that most homebuyers have no clue about (MASSIVE price appreciation potential)

How to pinpoint the “path of progress” so you know exactly where to buy

Why putting more cash down on a real estate deal is such an underrated move

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

The Best Markets to Buy Rental Properties Right Now (2025)

Get Fully Customizable Insurance Coverage for All Phases of Occupancy on One Monthly Schedule and Bill with NREIG

Grab Dave’s Book, “Start with Strategy”

Find Investor-Friendly Lenders

BiggerPockets Real Estate 1075 - 10 Hidden Ways to Buy Properties with Huge “Upside”

Connect with Ashley

Connect with James

(00:00) Intro

(03:50) Make Your Future Self Rich

(05:07) Which Properties to Buy?

(09:20) 1. Rent Growth

(13:24) 2. Value-Add

(14:49) 3. Zoning Opportunities

(19:11) 4. More Equity, Less Debt

(22:14) 5. Path of Progress

(26:33) 6. Learning (and Earning)

(29:26) Find YOUR Upside

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1079

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The Repeatable “Stack” Method to Buy Rentals Faster (and with Less Money) Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

One of the most repeatable, scalable ways to build a real estate portfolio is using “The Stack” method. This investing strategy allows you to slowly scale your real estate using low-money-down loans, turning one down payment into multiple properties. It’s one of the smartest, safest ways to build wealth, but it’s almost been forgotten. Today, we’re talking to an investor reviving “The Stack,” using it to build an eight-rental real estate portfolio starting with just $15,000.

Like most investors, Connor Anderson had barely enough money to close on his first house, a condo. He scrounged together just $15,000 to buy his first property and immediately began to rent out the other rooms. But this was just the beginning for Connor.

Over the next few years, Connor slowly turned the rent savings from that one condo into a single-family house, a duplex, and now a fourplex, which he is still house hacking in. The best part? Those properties he used to live in are now cash-flowing rentals WITH equity, which he has used to buy more properties. This is “The Stack” method done the right way, and if you want to safely, slowly, and steadily grow your rental portfolio without a ton of money, this is how to do it.

In This Episode We Cover:

“The Stack” method and how to use it to build a rental portfolio with little money

Why you DON’T need to rush building a real estate portfolio to be successful

One investing area that both Connor and Dave are very bullish on

How Connor scored a zero-dollar-down, off-market duplex

Interest rate buydowns and other strategies to create cash flow in 2025

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA

Grab the Book “The House Hacking Strategy”

The Stack: The Perfect Blueprint for Scaling Quickly in Real Estate

Connect with Connor

(00:00) Intro

(02:36) First Deal for $15,000 (Condo)

(08:23) Home Run Rental for 5% Down (House)

(12:03) Off-Market $0 Down Duplex

(17:36) The “Stack” Method

(23:20) “Turnkey” 5% Down Fourplex

(25:58) How to Find Cash Flow in 2025

(29:00) Best Area to Buy?

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1078

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4 Cities Where You Can Live for Free in 2025 Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

One of the best ways to “live for free” is a strategy almost every successful real estate investor uses at some point in their journey: house hacking. You’ve probably heard of it before—house hacking allows you to significantly reduce (or eliminate) your mortgage/rent payment, so your housing cost hits rock bottom or even zero. This helps you save more money every month, invest faster, and reach financial freedom after a short (but worthwhile) period of sacrifice.

Which US markets are best for house hacking, getting a great job, and paying next to nothing for housing? We’re presenting four of the best house hacking markets in the country, some of which you’ll probably be tempted to move to. These markets all have lower home prices but respectable wages, things to do, and great rents for you to collect.

Who better to judge these markets than the man who wrote The House Hacking Strategy, Craig Curelop? Data scientist Austin Wolff is pitching these four real estate markets to Craig and Dave as the house hacking duo votes on whether they’d move to that market to house hack or stay put where they are.

In This Episode We Cover:

How to reduce (or eliminate) your monthly mortgage/rent payment with house hacking

The different levels of house hacking (comfort vs. profitability)

What makes a market worthwhile to house hack in (it ISN’T just about the money)

A mountain biking capital with booming job growth and low home prices

A “smart-grid” affordable city close to two major markets

Great jobs, an excellent airport, solid schools, and strong growth from this underrated southern market

Buying a house for under $300K in this city with a sports atmosphere

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise

Grab Craig’s Book “The House Hacking Strategy”

The 10 Best Markets for Your First House Hack

Connect with Austin

Connect with Craig

(00:00) Intro

(01:57) What is House Hacking?

(05:11) Should You Move to House Hack?

(07:51) 1. Fayetteville, Arkansas

(11:59) 2. Chattanooga, Tennessee

(15:39) 3. Charlotte, North Carolina

(20:08) 4. Indianapolis, Indiana

(24:56) How to Start House Hacking

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1077

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How to (Legally) Reduce Taxes with Real Estate + Crucial New Trump Tax Plans Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

The clock is ticking to tax day, and you could be stuck with a big tax bill. Thankfully, if you own real estate, reducing your taxes is easy. Don’t know which write-offs to take? We brought CPA and real estate investor Amanda Han on the show to break down the most crucial tax-saving tips for real estate investors. Plus, she sheds light on President Trump’s tax plan, how it could significantly benefit real estate investors, and what changes to watch for.

If you’re not taking advantage of write-offs like depreciation or boosting your retirement with tax-deferred real estate investing, you could be missing out on tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, in tax savings. Keep more money in your pocket come tax day by following Amanda’s tips (you don’t even need a CPA to take advantage of some of these!).

Will Trump bring back the holy grail of tax deductions—100% bonus depreciation? Could he make “SALT” (state and local tax) deductions uncapped so you can lower your federal taxes even more? What about the other “tax-free” income source that could become a reality in President Trump’s second term? Amanda is sharing info on all of it so you can pay less taxes, keep more of your hard-earned money, and invest faster!

In This Episode We Cover:

The one massive real estate tax deduction that President Trump could bring back soon

One real estate write-off every single investor should take advantage of NOW

How to use your retirement accounts to buy real estate (and defer your taxes!)

“SALT” deductions and how this could significantly reduce your federal income taxes

Do you really need a CPA to take advantage of real estate tax deductions?

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Grab Amanda’s Books on Real Estate Tax Strategies

Invest in High-ROI Turnkey Rentals with Rent to Retirement or Txt REI to 33777

Find Investor-friendly Tax and Financial Experts

4 Real Estate Tax Strategies That Can Protect You From Inflation

Connect with Amanda

(00:00) Intro

(02:27) Huge Tax Savings of Real Estate

(08:05) DON’T Forget About This

(13:08) Investing with Retirement Accounts

(20:53) New Trump Tax Policies

(26:22) “SALT” Tax Savings

(31:37) Will Capital Gains Change?

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1076

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10 Hidden Ways to Buy Properties with Huge “Upside” Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

If you don’t want to make money in real estate, skip this episode. If you hate the idea of having hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in equity and six-figure passive cash flow in the not-so-far future, ignore the ten strategies we’re sharing today.

When followed, these ten tactics will help you buy real estate deals with phenomenal “upside” potential in markets that most investors overlook but will WISH they bought in within a few years. Anyone can use this information to unlock the “upside” in whatever market they choose to invest in, but they aren’t obvious.

You’ve probably been told the opposite of the advice we’ll give you today. But here’s the thing: the housing market has CHANGED. In 2025, those 2015 strategies will not work. To unlock the “upside” potential that will lead only savvy real estate investors to generational wealth, plentiful passive income, and serious returns, you must shed the old ways and embrace the new strategies. That’s why Dave is outlining the ten strategies he would use to find hidden “upside” in the 2025 housing market and sharing how he’s doing it (right now!) with some of his properties.

In This Episode We Cover:

Ten ways to unlock the hidden “upside” in your next real estate deal (make MORE money!)

How to “design” a real estate deal BEFORE you buy it (this is a BIG change)

Four "upside" fundamentals to follow if you want to buy the best deals in the best areas

How Dave boosted his cash flow and secured a rental in an appreciating area by using his “upside” tactics

Why day one “cash flow” is NOT as important as it used to be (this could be costing you deals!)

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Maximize Your Real Estate Investing with a Self-Directed IRA

Buy Dave’s Book, “Start with Strategy”

The State of Real Estate Investing: What You Need to Know for 2025

(00:00) Intro

(01:37) Deal Design

(03:06) The “Upside” Fundamentals

(07:36) Dave’s Real “Upside” Example

(09:50) Dave’s 2025 “Upside” Strategies

(17:56) 5 More “Upside” Tactics

(23:25) Follow the “Upside” Formula!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1075

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The Best Markets to Buy Rental Properties Right Now (2025) Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

New to real estate investing? Stuck in an area with expensive housing prices or not-so-landlord-friendly laws but want to buy real estate? We’ve got you covered. We’re sharing our favorite 2025 real estate markets for rental property investing, many of which are so affordable even a real estate rookie will have no trouble buying in. But these aren’t just cheap markets; they all have strong fundamentals that drive appreciation and rising rents.

We brought the market-picking experts, Ashley Kehr and Henry Washington, back to the show to share their picks and see how they compare to Dave’s. We’ve got “sleeper” markets that are growing but fly under the radar, a new Midwest manufacturing hub that will soon become one of America’s most prized chip-building markets, and the next boom city with great jobs and even better cash flow.

Then, we’ll share bonus affordable markets for those who don’t have much money to start. Got some more cash saved and looking to buy in a big city with big upside potential? We’re listing the three big cities we’d happily call home and invest in, with phenomenal housing market metrics and much more affordable prices than New York, Seattle, and the other “big” real estate markets.

In This Episode We Cover:

The best rental property markets of 2025 that sport appreciation, cash flow, and affordable prices

Why Henry thinks this “unsexy sleeper” market could be a phenomenal place to buy

The chip-manufacturing Midwest market that could see massive growth

One market with a booming economy but still very affordable home prices

The “big” cities we’d buy in that are poised for growth and home price appreciation

How to find the perfect market for YOU to invest in (free data on HUNDREDS of markets)

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Ashley’s Free Market Worksheet

Free Market Data

Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise

Grab Dave’s Book, “Real Estate by the Numbers”

Real Estate Podcast 1007 - Where We’d Invest in Real Estate in 2024 if We Were Starting from Scratch w/Ashley Kehr and Henry Washington

Connect with Ashley

Connect with Henry

(00:00) Intro

(04:18) Best “Sleeper” Markets

(09:29) The Next Tech Market

(14:28) Midwest Boom Market

(18:56) Most Affordable Markets

(21:46) Best Big Cities to Invest In

(27:04) How to Find YOUR Market

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1074

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The Opportunity is Coming in Commercial Real Estate (How to Take Advantage) Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

The multifamily and commercial real estate crash seems to be nearing its end, which means some incredible buying opportunities are on the way. Big apartment owners have been decimated after their occupancy rates dropped, interest rates shot up, and loans got called due. But when prices fall and the masses turn away from an asset, it’s usually time to buy, and 2025 could be one of those times for commercial real estate.

But YOU don’t have to be the one to go out and find the deal yourself, do all the renovations, and deal with tenants—you can invest all while someone else does it for you. That’s exactly what today’s guests, Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon from the PassivePockets podcast, are on to talk about. They see coming opportunities to invest in multifamily real estate deals passively and will teach you exactly how to do it.

Both Jim and Paul previously owned rental properties but moved over to real estate syndications, a passive real estate investment, as they grew. Now, they can have someone else do all the work for them while they reap the benefits. The best part? 2025 is looking like an opportune time to get in on investments like these, as many of the inexperienced syndicators have fled the market. Still, the veterans remain, ready to buy underpriced assets and pass the profits on to you!

In This Episode We Cover:

Why the historic commercial real estate crash could be close to over

Real estate syndication investing 101 and how to invest without the stress of landlording

Better, safer multifamily real estate deals that are coming to the market

How to analyze a passive real estate investment AND the syndicator running it

What to ask any syndicator before you invest in their deal (this is crucial)

And So Much More!

Links from the Show