Real Estate Rookie

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Latest Episodes:

THIS Is Killing Your Real Estate Profits (Do This Instead!) Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

Stuck with an underperforming property? You may be overlooking a crucial aspect of real estate investingthat isn’t talked about nearly enough—design. Whether you’re flipping houses, BRRRR-ing (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), or running an Airbnb, design can make or break a deal. Want to potentially boost your revenue by thousands? Then you won’t want to miss this episode!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re joined by Brianna Amigo—owner of Brianna Michele Interiors and the creative mind behind many of Tony’s investment properties. In the last few years alone, Brianna has helped design over 200 properties in markets across the US. But not only that—she’s also an investor with experience in short-term rentals, long-term rentals, flips, and more. Today, she’s sharing her best interior design tips for rookies who may be leaving thousands of dollars on the table!

In this episode, Brianna shares timely tips for every investing strategy—including how much of your budget to allocate to design and how to create the perfect “experience” for your ideal guest or buyer. Along the way, you’ll learn about not only the deal-killing mistakes beginners make but also the hottest design and amenity trends that can take your property to the next level!

In This Episode We Cover

Why real estate design can make or break your rental property’s returns

High-ROI, low-cost design upgrades that actually increase revenue

The latest interior design shifts and trends that will help boost your bottom line

The biggest rookie design mistakes to avoid (that could cost you thousands)

How to craft the ideal “experience” for your target guest or buyer

Why do-it-yourself (DIY) design could be killing your profits (and when to hire a pro!)

And So Much More!

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How I’m Making “Passive” Income with 4 Rentals (Working 9-5!) Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Think you need to be a hands-on landlord, do your own renovations, or sacrifice time with family to invest in real estate? Think again! Today’s guest is making “passive” income and building long-term wealth with just four rentals—without swinging a hammer or fixing a single toilet. In this episode, he’ll share the secrets to a profitable real estate portfoliothat virtually runs on autopilot!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When Mike Buska realized his home state of New Jersey was outside his budget, he turned his attention to a Midwest market hundreds of miles from home. But rather than trying to self-manage rental properties from afar, he poured his time and resources into smart deal analysis and assembling the right team. By committing most of his spare time working on the business rather than in it, he’s been able to scale quickly to four cash-flowing rentals!

In this episode, Mike will walk you through the exact steps he took to build a full-fledged real estate business in another part of the country—from picking a market and working with local lenders to creating systems and hiring a property manageryou can trust to take care of the day-to-day!

In This Episode We Cover

Why you DON’T need to quit your nine-to-five to build a profitable rental portfolio

How to choose a market that delivers a mix of long-term appreciation and cash flow

Building your investing team from scratch (even in a market you’ve never visited!)

Why the stability of long-term rentals beats the cash flow upside of short-term rentals

Must-have systems and processes to create for each rental property

The tax blunder that cut Mike’s projected cash flow in half (and how to avoid it)

And So Much More!

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DSCR Loans: No Income to Qualify, But Worth It? (Rookie Reply) Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to another Rookie Reply, where Ashley and Tony answer questions from the BiggerPockets Forums and Real Estate Rookie Facebook group.

This time, we’re covering questions like:

Should you house hack in a high-cost-of-living area, or invest remotely to start your real estate journey?

What exit strategies make sense when your flip project starts to drain your resources?

Are DSCR loans a good option for first-time investors or too risky?

Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here!

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The Beginner’s Guide to ADU & DADU Investing (2025) Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Wish you could get more income out of your rental property? Then we’ve got the perfect investing strategy for you in today’s episode. It gives you another income stream, instantly increases your property’s value, and according to today’s expert, it’s even easier than making renovations. We’re talking about ADUs (accessory dwelling units) and their detached counterparts, DADUs!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Leka Devatha, investor and author of Return on Real Estate, has created hundreds of thousands in added value just by building ADUs and DADUs on her existing properties, and YOU can do the same. You don’t need to bring more money to the closing table or know the ins and outs of new construction. This is a strategy any rookie can follow, as long as you surround yourself with the right people!

In this episode, Leka will share everything you need to know to transform regular lots and single-family homes into income-producing goldmines. You’ll learn how to identify the right markets, lots, and properties for this strategy, and how to work with your local city or county to get your new build underway. But that’s not all. Leka will even show you the easiest type of ADU any rookie investor can build and some critical mistakes to avoid!

Unlock the hidden potential in every property with Leka’s guide to maximizing your real estate portfolio, Return on Real Estate!

n This Episode We Cover

How to transform single-family homes into high-cash-flow properties with DADUs

The easiest type of ADU conversion project any rookie investor can take on

Lot types to target when planning your first DADU (and which ones to avoid)

Creative financing strategies to fund your purchase and DADU construction

The biggest mistakes that derail new investors (and how to avoid them!)

Key team members you need to streamline permitting, design, and construction

And So Much More!

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Making $200K (in 4 Months!) and Waving Her W2 Goodbye Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Tired of working inflexible jobs or living paycheck to paycheck? Elizabeth Esplin’s back was against the wall when she made an all-in bet on real estate investing. Once living off food stamps, Elizabeth and her husband have been able to leave their W2 jobs and are firmly on track to achieve financial freedom—all thanks to the power of real estate!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Elizabeth was caring for a toddler and pregnant with her third child when her husband’s health started to deteriorate—quickly leaving her family with a financial crisis. With bills piling up, Elizabeth turned to real estate. Although her first deal didn’t go to plan, a $2,000 lesson set the stage for a wildly successful second deal—a house flip that not only pocketed her $200,000 (with just four months of work!) but also allowed both her and her husband to trade the W2 grind for full-time real estate!

In this episode, she talks about using handwritten mailers to find off-market properties, winning “probate” deals, and surviving stressful renovations. Whether you need an escape rope from your nine-to-five job or creative ways to find your next real estate deal, Elizabeth shares all kinds of helpful nuggets you won’t want to miss!

In This Episode We Cover

How Elizabeth flipped her first house during a family crisis (while pregnant!)

The $2,000 mistake that helped Elizabeth take down a $200,000 deal

How to create financial freedom through the power of real estate investing

Leaving your nine-to-five job to become a full-time real estate investor

Creative ways to find (and buy) more off-market properties

And So Much More!

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I’m Buying Land to Build Rentals…But Should I? (Rookie Reply) Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to another Rookie Reply, where Ashley and Tony answer questions from the BiggerPockets Forums and Real Estate Rookie Facebook group.

This time, we’re covering questions like:

Should I Subdivide, Build Single-Family, or Hold Out for Multifamily?

Should I Invest in STRs I Can Use or Stick to Long-Term Rentals?

Should I Cash Out My 401(k) to Buy My First Property?

Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here!

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Mortgage Rate Drops Are Coming: How to Prepare Today Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Looking to buy a rental property in the next 12 months or so? The housing market is shifting fast, and today’s guest has some major insights on what’s changing in the lending space. Whether you’re actively trying to find the right loan or holding out for lower mortgage rates, you won’t want to miss this episode!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re joined by mortgage expert Jeff Welgan for a masterclass on what rookies should be doing when getting a mortgage for their investment property. Jeff’s optimistic about the lending opportunities that could be on the horizon for real estate investors, but he’s also seen plenty of deal-killing mistakes. Want to make sure you get the best real estate financing? Then stay tuned!

Along the way, Jeff will share his biggest lending predictions for the next year, the best types of loans to consider in 2025, and crucial advice for new investors as they’re starting their investing journey. He’ll also tell you why buying mortgage points could be a bad idea and when to start working with a lender during the property-buying process.

In This Episode We Cover

How to choose the right type of financing for your investment property

Why you shouldn’t wait for interest rates to drop before buying your next property

The best loan products investors are using today (and where to find them!)

How potential rate drops could impact buyer demand and home prices

How to find the best mortgage lender for your next real estate deal

And So Much More!

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Teaching Real Estate Literacy Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Links Mentioned in the Episode

Episode Show Notes

Join BiggerPockets for FREE

Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area

Find Investor-Friendly Lenders

Property Manager Finder

Connect with Ashley

Connect with Tony

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$6,800/Month Cash Flow with 4 Small Multifamily Rentals Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

You can still get rich buying “boring” rental properties. Today’s guest pockets $6,800 in pure cash flow every month and is building an enormous amount of equity in four small multifamily rentals, and he’s not doing anything YOU can’t do. You don’t need a ton of money or even the flashiest investing strategy—you just need to get started and play the long game!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Ryan Allsop hated paying rent—so much so that he bought his first rental property without really knowing what he was doing. But with some rookie-level analysis and savvy networking, Ryan found that first duplex, which has been his “cash cow” ever since. Then, Ryan used home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) to scale a real estate portfolio that delivers nearly $7,000 in combined monthly cash flow!

Want to copy Ryan’s success? In this episode, he’ll show you the steps he took to go from complete beginner to confident investor in no time. You’ll learn about the real power behind buy and hold investing, a lucrative Airbnb side hustle you can use to fund deals faster, and a surprisingly effective way to negotiate with sellers—without ever picking up the phone!

In This Episode We Cover

How Ryan makes $6,800 in monthly cash flow with just four rental properties

Using the buy and hold strategy and “delayed gratification” to pay your future self

Scaling your real estate portfolio through home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)

Critical mistakes to avoid when hiring a contractor for your renovation projects

The easiest (and cheapest!) way to find off-market properties for sale

Living for free by having someone else pay down your mortgage for you

And So Much More!

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This Real Estate “Rule” Is Costing You Wealth! (Rookie Reply) Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to another Rookie Reply, where Ashley and Tony answer questions from the BiggerPockets Forums and Real Estate Rookie Facebook group.

This time, we’re covering questions like:

How to approach house hacking when high listing prices and rents don't align?
Should you delay refinancing a BRRRR due to high interest rates?
What's the best strategy when your tenant wants to break their lease early during winter?

Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here!

Check out more resources from this show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-586

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