In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of REI Deal Finders, I sit down with my favorite guest ever—my wife, Michelle Lucas. We're taking you behind the scenes into how we stumbled into real estate, learned by doing (and sometimes failing), and built a business that now supports our family of five.

From painting cabinets in our first home to managing flips, rentals, and a team of deal finders, Michelle shares the real story of how we went from weekend warriors to full-time investors. You'll hear the messy, beautiful reality of working with your spouse, raising kids, and taking that leap of faith to build something meaningful together.

Episode Highlights

[0:00] – Introduction

[1:09] – Michelle's surprising journey from Macon, Georgia to real estate entrepreneur

[2:50] – Trading Spaces, family DIY projects, and the early love of houses

[4:40] – The real start: renovating Andrew's rental while dating

[6:05] – When real estate became more than just a retirement plan

[8:12] – The turning point: conversations that led to quitting our jobs

[10:19] – Flipping houses, juggling rentals, and why Andrew quit first

[12:21] – Michelle's advice for couples thinking about diving in together

[13:06] – Our game plan: replacing income through rentals and flips

[15:01] – The unexpected joy of building a team that feels like family

[16:48] – Watching others succeed in the Deal Finders community

[18:17] – Michelle's top tip for finding deals (yes, it involves a minivan)

[19:39] – DealMachine, driving for dollars, and texting your way to a lead

[20:32] – Working back-to-back in the same office—marriage-tested and approved

[21:34] – Why now is the time to take action and get in the game

5 Key Takeaways

1. You don't need a grand plan—just a willingness to start and figure it out together
2. Real estate can be the foundation for freedom, family, and faith-led purpose
3. Working with your spouse is possible—with humor, grace, and boundaries
4. Deals are everywhere—if you keep your eyes open and take action
5. Success in real estate isn't about being special—it's about being consistent and connected

If this episode gave you hope, laughter, or motivation to keep going, follow, rate, and review the podcast—and send it to someone who's building something with their spouse or family.

Let's go find that next deal—together.