BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

965: Seeing Greene: Insurance and Taxes Killed My Cash Flow, Should I Sell? Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Want a quicker way to buy rental properties? One that takes less cash, less time, and is beginner-friendly? Then you’re in the right place! In this Seeing Greene, we’re talking about the “sneaky rental tactic” that can help you build a real estate portfolio in just a few years. And if insurance and property taxes have been eating away all your cash flow, we go through a real-life investor’s situation to determine whether he should hold, fold, or change his real estate strategy. All that, and more, is coming up!

Like most investors in America, your property expenses are rising, but rent isn’t climbing at the same rate. What do you do when your cash flow disappears? That’s what our first investor is asking. Then, a house hacker wants to know how to get into his second property and what rules he has to follow to house hack once again. A rent-by-the-room investor gets given an ultimatum by his potential tenant—what should he do? We’ll also discuss the difference between “cheap” and “bad” houses, what to look for in a home inspection, and what to do when guests throw a party at your Airbnb.

Want to ask David a question? If so, submit your question here so David can answer it on the next episode of Seeing Greene. Hop on the BiggerPockets forums and ask other investors their take, or follow David on Instagram to see when he’s going live so you can jump on a live Q&A and get your question answered on the spot!

In This Episode We Cover

Whether to keep or sell a rental property if it no longer brings in monthly cash flow

The “sneaky rental tactic” anyone can use to buy their first (or next) investment property

How many checking accounts you should have for your real estate portfolio

Renting-by-the-room and what to do when a tenant has make-or-break demands

The problem with buying “cheap houses” and why we steer clear of them

What we look at in a home inspection report and what you should always ask the inspector

How to stop parties and large gatherings from happening at your Airbnb or short-term rental

And So Much More!

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Sell My Low-Cash-Flow Rental?

(07:30) The “Sneaky” Rental Tactic

(12:55) How Many Checking Accounts?

(15:05) Buying “Cheap” Houses

(21:50) Home Inspections 101

(27:58) Ask Airbnb Guests for ID?

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-965

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964: Retiring His Parents by Buying Unwanted, Overlooked Real Estate Deals w/Logan Koch Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

One investment property could change your life, especially if you buy the right one. Logan Koch, an investor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was buying investment properties for one specific goal: To retire his parents. With a $45,000/year cash flow target in mind, Logan and his parents went to work, finding small multifamily rental properties to buy, fix, and increase rents on. But one day, Logan stumbled across a commercial real estate deal that nobody wanted, one with huge signs of opportunity.

In today’s show, Logan lays down step-by-step exactly what he did to find this unwanted and unnoticed commercial real estate investment, how he was able to DOUBLE the cash flow on it, the massive return on investment he’s walking away with, and even how he got the city to lower his property taxes by two-thirds! The best part? None of what Logan did requires expert-level investing knowledge. Anyone, even a complete real estate investing beginner, can follow Logan’s same thought process to find and buy undervalued real estate deals.

Do you want to start building some retirement (or early retirement) cash flow for yourself or your parents? These are the exact types of deals you should be on the lookout for! Stick around as we discuss Logan’s almost unbelievable return on this cheap investment property everyone else was overlooking!

In This Episode We Cover

Telltale signs that a property’s expenses are WAY too high (and how to lower them significantly)

Setting a cash flow retirement goal that’ll allow you to retire (or retire early) on your timeline

How Logan cut his property tax bill on this investment by over sixty percent!

Seller financing and how to get creative when buying commercial real estate

BRRRR-ing a big property and how Logan bought $15,000/year cash flow for just $20,000!

And So Much More!

(00:00) Intro

(01:58) Investing to Retire His Parents

(05:50) Small Multifamily, Big Cash Flow

(11:42) Finding the Opportunity

(19:01) Cutting Property Taxes by 66%

(22:22) A 75% Return!?

(29:19) The Rental Retirement Plan

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-964

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963: BiggerNews: 6 Rules for Real Estate Investing in 2024 w/J Scott May 31, 2024

Show notes

Real estate investing in 2024 isn’t as easy as a few years ago. When interest rates are low, housing inventory is high, the economy is booming, and everyone’s happy, real estate investors can take considerably more risks with bigger payoffs. But now, only the most savvy investors are finding cash flow, appreciation potential, and wealth-building properties. So, with little hope in sight for lower rates or home prices, how do you ensure you’re building wealth, not getting burnt, in the challenging 2024 housing market?

If there’s one person who knows how to invest during tough times, it’s J Scott. He literally wrote the book on recession-proof real estate investing and has flipped, landlorded, and syndicated through booms, busts, and the in-between periods. Today, J is laying down his six rules for real estate investing in 2024, which he’s following himself to ensure his portfolio doesn’t just survive but thrive, no matter what the housing market throws his way.

First, we dive into the factors causing such a harsh housing market and whether J thinks home prices will rise, flatten, or crash. Next, J walks through the six rules for real estate investing in 2024. We’ll talk about appreciation potential, rising expenses like insurance and property taxes, the riskiest investing strategies of today, loans that’ll put your real estate deals at risk, and why you MUST start paying attention to your local housing laws.

Support today’s show sponsor, Rent App: the free and easy way to collect rent!

In This Episode We Cover

The six rules for successful real estate investing in 2024 from a time-tested expert

Inflation, interest rates, home values, and why the housing market has significantly slowed down

What rising expenses like insurance premiums, property taxes, and labor will do to your rentals

The one thing you CAN NOT assume when analyzing real estate deals (big potential mistake)

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) and why J is avoiding these at all costs

Rent control, short-term rental regulations, and housing laws that could put your rentals at risk

And So Much More!

(00:00) Intro

(01:30) What Affects the Housing Market?

(11:20) 1. Don’t Bet on Appreciation

(15:46) 2. Expect Higher Expenses, Lower Rent

(20:37) 3. Know the Risks of Flips

(26:46) 4. Avoid Adjustable-Rate Loans

(28:48) 5. Buy What You Can Hold

(33:15) 6. Pay Attention to Local Laws

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-963

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How to Use the BRRRR Method to “Invest on Repeat” May 30, 2024

Show notes

Want to reach financial freedom faster? The BRRRR method is how you do it. Seriously—the BRRRR strategy is almost too good to be true, which is why so many real estate investors use it as the stepping stone to start building wealth. In short, the BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) method allows you to reuse and recycle your money repeatedly, turning one sum of cash into multiple investment properties or an entire portfolio! This allows you to build your real estate portfolio faster WITHOUT having to wait around to save up tons of capital to invest.

But how do you use the BRRRR method to build wealth, passive income, and financial freedom? We’ve got a financially free investor, Dave Meyer, on the show to walk through the three steps of completing a BRRRR real estate deal. From finding the properties to analyzing them for maximum profit potential and refinancing to get your money back out, these are the steps a beginner needs to take to do their first BRRRR deal. Plus, we’ll even show you a tool that runs the numbers for you in just minutes so you can get your first or next investment property even faster!

Want to do BRRRR deals like the pros? Sign up for BiggerPockets Pro to unlock unlimited BRRRR calculator usage and access all the elite investor tools by using code “BUYPOD24” at checkout. Plus, you’ll score a sweet discount and over a thousand dollars in bonuses!

In This Episode We Cover

The BRRRR method explained and how to use it to “invest on repeat”

Why BRRRR may be one of the best ways to reach financial freedom FAST

The risks of the BRRRR method (and easy ways to get around them)

How to find perfect properties for the BRRRR method (and Dave’s favorite way to find deals)

Analyzing a BRRRR deal from start to finish (in just minutes!) with the BRRRR calculator

How to get funding for your first or next BRRRR deal with these investor-friendly lenders

And So Much More!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-no-number

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962: How to Buy a Home (or Entire Neighborhood) With Your Friends and Family w/Phil Levin May 29, 2024

Show notes

Imagine living in a home where your next-door neighbors are your best friends or family members. We know you’ve thought about it before—starting a compound with all the people you love, everyone helps each other, watches each other’s kids, the community stays safe, and you barely have to drive! This is exactly what co-ownership homes, co-buying, and co-living can do for you! But getting a dozen or so people together to do a real estate deal can be a little tricky; that’s why we have Phil Levin, founder of Live Near Friends, on the show to help.

Phil lives in his own housing “cluster” with nineteen (yes, nineteen) of his closest friends. He believes that being near your loved ones helps you live a happier, safer, and more contented lifestyle—and we agree! There are massive positives to living in a neighborhood with your friends. We’re talking free babysitters, consistent helping hands, less driving and more walking, and, of course, being able to see your best friends almost every day of the week. But practically, how does one start building a community like this?

Phil walks through the different setups anyone can try to begin living with and around their friends and family, from co-buying with one or multiple others to starting a “minihood” and making your own part of the block, or building an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) for a close friend or two to live in. He even talks about the rising demand for this type of co-living and what developers and real estate agents can do to make serious profits from this growing trend.

In This Episode We Cover

Co-ownership, co-living, and co-buying explained and how to live with your best friends

The massive benefits of living near family and friends (especially if you have kids!)

The “law of proximity” and boosting your lifestyle by co-living with more happiness and less stress

Creating a “minihood” where you and your friends all live within walking distance

How real estate developers can get a jump on this fast-growing co-ownership trend

And So Much More!

(00:00) Intro

(01:24) Compound Living

(04:00) How to Start Coliving

(07:15) Benefits to Living with Friends

(10:51) “Cobuying” with Friends/Family

(16:39) Huge Demand for This Housing

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-962

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961: Seeing Greene: How to Avoid High Down Payments and When to BRRRR vs. Buy New May 28, 2024

Show notes

One of the biggest hurdles to rental property investing? High down payments. Most lenders want you to come to the table with twenty to thirty percent down, but with home prices averaging around $400,000, it might not be easy to come up with $80,000 to $120,000 on your next deal, especially with today’s high cost of living. So, how do you skirt the high down payment requirements while still locking up solid real estate deals? We’re showing you how in today’s Seeing Greene!

First, a Hawaii investor struggles to scale his real estate portfolio with the state’s significant down payment requirements. David and Rob give him some creative ways to still get deals done. A median-income-earning new investor wants to know whether to buy a new construction home or BRRRR his way to wealth. Then, we debate whether a high down payment with cash flow beats a low down payment with negative cash flow. Looking for a better interest rate on your next deal? We’ll share the seller finance strategies you can use to buy off-market properties, plus whether or not you can buy two houses at once with the same preapproval.

Support today's show sponsor, Rent to Retirement, by checking out their turnkey rental properties for sale!

In This Episode We Cover

How to get around high down payment requirements on your next deal

BRRRRing (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) vs. buying new build homes

Weighing the pros and cons of a high down payment with higher cash flow

The ONLY type of investor who should purchase negative cash flow properties

Seller financing 101 and how to find these hidden deals with rock-bottom rates

Buying two houses with the same preapproval and whether it’s even possible

And So Much More!

(00:00) Intro

(01:07) How to Avoid High Down Payments

(11:36) BRRRR or Buy a New Build?

(20:35) Take Negative Cash Flow?

(24:50) Comment Section Callout

(27:36) Getting Seller Finance Deals

(34:24) Buying Two Houses at Once?

(36:53) Ask Us Your Question!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-961

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960: No Cash Flow in Your Market? How to Invest Out-of-State Like a Pro w/Jessica and Shyd Coloma and Michael Gallagher May 27, 2024

Show notes

Looking for monthly cash flow but live in an expensive real estate market? It sounds like you need to start buying rental property OUT of state. After realizing that real estate investing could be the wealth-builder they needed, Jessica and Shyd Coloma wanted to get in the game. But in pricey Southern California, finding passive-income generating rental properties was next to impossible. So, they began looking out of state. Thanks to BiggerPockets Agent Finder, they met Ohio-based agent Michael Gallagher, and now, just a couple of years later, they have a cash-flowing rental property portfolio!

Michael was able to quickly show the couple which cities offered cash flow, appreciation, and a bit of both, as well as the parts of town that were seeing the most growth. They ended up buying a duplex for under $100,000, saw instant cash flow, and decided they needed more! In today’s show, they’ll walk through all the numbers of their first and second deals, how their rock star agent saved the day multiple times, and what you MUST look for in an out-of-state investing market.

Need an investor-friendly agent? Use BiggerPockets Agent Finder to connect with local agents in your investing area for free!

In This Episode We Cover

Long-distance real estate investing and how to buy rentals from 2,000+ miles away

Building your "buy box" so you know exactly what you want in an out-of-state market

Cash flow vs. appreciation and which cities in Ohio offer which benefits

Finding a property manager remotely and whether local managers beat national ones

Short-term rentals, medium-term rentals, and the strategies to get even more cash flow out of your rental

One huge closing hiccup Jessica and Shyd ran into that you should be on the lookout for

And So Much More!

(00:00) Intro

(01:22) Investing Out of State

(08:24) $87K First Rental Property!

(13:07) Finding a Property Manager

(15:06) 2nd Deal in Columbus

(23:34) Closing Hiccups and Final Numbers

(29:09) Keep Investing in Ohio?

(31:29) Ready to Invest Out of State?

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-960

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959: BiggerNews: 2024 Housing Market Update and Why Prices Are Still Rising May 24, 2024

Show notes

The 2024 housing market isn’t turning out how most of us thought. At the beginning of the year, real estate investors were hopeful that mortgage rates would fall, affordability would return, and home prices would have a chance to stabilize before going back up. But none of those things happened. Rates are still high, affordability is at a forty-year low, and home prices are slowly rising even with diminished demand. Why is this happening, and what’s causing these market moves? All that and more, with VP of Market Intelligence at BiggerPockets, Dave Meyer, in this BiggerNews episode.

We’re giving you an entire wrap-up of the 2024 housing market (so far) on today’s episode as Dave goes through the data behind affordability, home prices, inventory, sales, and which real estate markets are faring the best. With more and more homeowners “locked in,” the US as a whole is still experiencing low housing inventory—HALF the amount of inventory from just a few years ago. This puts buyers in a tough spot. Should they buy now with limited choices and high rates or wait for mortgage rates to drop? And if they do decide to wait, what happens to rent prices?

Dave answers it all plus shares the region-by-region differences affecting each corner of the US housing market. From high inventory in the Southeast to the often overlooked real estate regions with massive demand, we’ll get into where money is moving and which states you should be most concerned about investing in. All that, and much more, in this BiggerNews housing market update!

Support today’s show sponsor, Rent App: the free and easy way to collect rent!

In This Episode We Cover

A 2024 housing market update and the data you should pay attention to most

Why home prices continue to rise EVEN with low demand and record-low affordability

Our ongoing affordability crisis and how mortgage rates are stunting home sales

Why inventory is exploding in one specific region of the United States (and what it means for investors)

Slow rent growth and the multifamily overbuilding problem that could affect many investors

Exactly what Dave is investing in this year, plus the one big concern he has for future real estate deals

And So Much More!

(00:00) Intro

(02:11) Affordability at 40-Year Low

(06:13) Inventory is Rising (Good News)

(08:41) Home Sales Are Up…Kind Of

(10:48) Rent and Home Prices Increase

(15:04) Hot and Cold Housing Markets

(21:51) What Investors MUST Know

(26:42) How to Track the Housing Market

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-959

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958: Hiring a Property Manager 101: Make More (in Less Time) from Your Rentals w/Luke Rzepiennik and Michael Vialpando May 22, 2024

Show notes

Hiring a property manager can be one of the best or worst decisions in your real estate investing career. The right property manager can give you the time to scale your portfolio to new heights, all while increasing the revenue on your rental properties. But the wrong property manager can drown you in unnecessary fees, push time-consuming tasks back on your plate, and leave your properties worse off than they were before. How do you distinguish between the two when every property manager tells you they’re the best in the business? In today’s show, we’ll show you how.

After building their real estate portfolios, Luke Rzepiennik and Michael Vialpando struggled to find property managers that fit their standards. They both had portfolios of short-term rentals, but no manager in their area was making the cut. With busy schedules and full-time jobs, neither of them could drop everything to become the perfect property manager. So, instead, they started Renjoy to not only manage their own properties but other investors’ properties as well.

If you’ve struggled to find the right property manager in your area or are at the tipping point of needing one, Luke and Michael can help. They give a masterclass on property management, from the exact questions to ask a property manager to signs of a great one, red flags to watch out for, and when it’s time to stop managing your own properties and start hiring it out. Plus, we’ll share the huge mistake most rental property investors make and the little “fees” that can kill your cash flow when using a property manager incorrectly.

Find a trusted property manager in your area today with BiggerPockets Property Manager Finder!

In This Episode We Cover

How to hire a property manager so you can spend less time managing and more time scaling

What a property manager does and the roles and responsibilities you should expect them to take on

Questions you should ask any short-term rental property management company BEFORE you hire them

Death by fees and the tiny charges that are draining your rental of any cash flow

When it’s time to hire a property manager and common property management pricing

And So Much More!

(00:00) Intro

(01:25) Building Their Rental Portfolios

(04:07) Property Management Problems

(11:59) Questions You MUST Ask

(18:42) When to Hire and Pricing

(24:53) These Costs Will Kill Your Deal!

(28:26) Medium-Term Rental Management

(31:25) Saving Your Time

(36:35) Connect with Luke and Michael!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-958

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957: Seeing Greene: Flood Zones, New Builds, & Does Mexico's Cash Flow Beat the US? May 21, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever thought about buying rental properties abroad? It might surprise you, but investing overseas could bring in much more cash flow and appreciation than you thought possible. Bobby, a real estate investor from Arizona, moved his money down south, buying in both big cities and small tourist destinations in Mexico. He’s here to share everything you need to know about buying international investment properties and how you, too, can beat the US housing market by moving your money elsewhere.

It’s time to practice your Spanish because, on this Seeing Greene, señor David Verde and Rob Abasolo are here to talk about investing in Mexico’s cash-flowing coasts and appreciating capital city. Bobby details finding properties for sale when investing abroad, how to get a rental property loan (and today’s mortgage rates), the challenges American investors will encounter, and the tourist markets to look for. Plus, we’ll answer some questions from the comments and listeners about buying in a flood zone, financing an ADU (accessory dwelling unit), and how to run your numbers on a build-to-rent property.

Want to ask David a question? If so, submit your question here so David can answer it on the next episode of Seeing Greene. Hop on the BiggerPockets forums and ask other investors their take, or follow David on Instagram to see when he’s going live so you can jump on a live Q&A and get your question answered on the spot!

In This Episode We Cover:

Investing in overseas rental properties and everything you need to know to find deals

Financing investment properties in Mexico and the sizable mortgage rate differences

Signs that your international investment is actually a scam (red flags!)

Tourist markets with solid signs of growth and how to spot them so you can see BIG appreciation

Should flood zones scare you, and when is it worth it to invest in a property in one

Build-to-rent calculations and the top things the experts look at before buying a NEW property

And So Much More!

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