Derrick Acuff was hungry for success in real estate. So hungry for success, that he would be picking up calls from sellers in the middle of performing his job as a waiter. He was trying to do everything he could to get his first deal; sending out direct mail, texting probate listings, and meeting with potential sellers. Finally, he scored his first wholesale deal, netting him and his wife a combined assignment fee of $8,000.
Now, four years later, Derrick Acuff has built a business around wholesaling and flipping. He and his business partner Ben have done over 100 deals in the Houston, Texas area. He also has a team of VAs (virtual assistants) to help him scrub lists, call potential sellers, and follow up whenever possible. A lot of his success derives from him and his team members treating sellers like people, and not going for the quick and easy sale or selling white lies.
Derrick’s mindset has changed throughout this process and there were times when he felt like giving up. Through perseverance, business optimization, and the will to succeed, he’s built a business that produces not only large amounts of profit but a trail of happy customers ready to give him more deals.
In This Episode We Cover
Choosing to forego college when it may not be a good option for you
Knowing that rejection and failure is part of the process
Staying motivated even when deals become hard to close
Treating sellers with honesty, integrity, and sticking to your word
Finding the “traction” your business needs to grow and succeed
Building rapport with a seller and letting them talk 90% of the time
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Real Estate Rookie Youtube
Ashley's Instagram
Tony's Instagram
Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group
BiggerPockets Podcast
Screencast-o-matic
Mojo
Google Voice
TTP
Loom
BiggerPockets Conference
Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/rookie103
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103: From Restaurant Waiter to 100+ Deals in Only 4 Years w/ Derrick Acuff

Ready to build your real estate empire… but not sure where to begin?
Think of us as your personal trainer.
From detailed breakdowns of real-world deals… to one-on-one coaching sessions and a warm, welcoming community… hosts Ashley Kehr and Tony J Robinson bring on a wide range of guests to tackle the “newbie” questions you've wondered about but might be afraid to ask.
Looking to 10X your real estate investing business this year? This show isn’t for you.
Looking for your first, second, or third deal -- or envisioning a more modest portfolio? Step right up. 
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we’ll arm you with the tips, tools, and roadmaps you'll need as you embark on your journey toward financial freedom.

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You want to invest in real estate, but you don’t have the money. Are you out of luck? Good news—money is NOT a dealbreaker. There are several levers you can pull to get the capital you need, and today’s guest is going to share them with you!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Shortly after being cut, former professional football player Darnell Leslie was determined to try his hand at real estate investing. There was only one problem: he needed money. But, after convincing some family members to partner with him, Darnell quickly realized that he could use other people’s money to fund ALL of his real estate deals. He started building his network and found private money and hard money lenders, using a polished private capital “pitch” to bring them on board. Over the last few years, he has completed five deals using very little of his own money!
Is money the ONE thing stopping you from buying real estate? In this episode, you’ll learn everything you need to know to start using other people’s money instead. From structuring private money and hard money agreements to buying materials for your renovation projects, Darnell walks you through each step!
In This Episode We Cover:
How Darnell uses other people’s money to fund his real estate deals
How to start raising private money today (tips for new investors!)
Why you MUST have multiple exit strategies when buying property
The private capital “pitch” to help you raise funds for your next investment
How to structure your private money and hard money agreements
The interest-free way to buy materials for your rehab projects
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Find an Agent
Find a Lender
Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile
Ashley's Instagram
Tony's BiggerPockets Profile
Tony's Instagram
Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Submit Your Real Estate Rookie Question!
Get Tips, Advice, & Support in the BiggerPockets Forums
Rookie Podcast 275 - From $40K Debt to 4 Doors and Six-Figure Net Worth (In 1 Year!)
BiggerPockets Podcast 334 - Using Other People’s Money to Fund Flips, Multifamily, & Self-Storage Deals With Ben Lapidus
Book Mentioned in the Show
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Raising Private Capital by Matt Faircloth
Connect with Darnell:
Darnell's BiggerPockets Profile
Darnell's Facebook
Darnell's Instagram
Darnell's LinkedIn


(00:00) Intro
(01:23) Football Player to Investor
(09:26) The Private Capital “Pitch”
(17:39) Structuring an Agreement
(23:44) Using OPM & Choosing a Strategy
(31:59) How to Find & Analyze Deals
(40:46) Funding Rehab Projects
(50:04) Connect with Darnell!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-396
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396: 5 Real Estate Deals Using Other People’s Money w/Darnell Leslie

House hacking and renting by the room are two of the easiest ways for rookies to dive into the world of real estate investing. Both investing strategies are affordable, low-risk, and easy to implement. The best part? They can help cover your mortgage payment each month and give you MORE money to invest!

Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Want to earn some extra cash flow by adding an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to your rental property? In this episode, we’ll show you how to present your plan to the city and get your new unit approved. If you need money for a down payment, you’ll want to hear about the creative method one of our recent guests used to come up with funds. We even talk about buying abandoned houses—how to locate the “missing” owner and swoop in with your irresistible offer!

If you want Ashley and Tony to answer a real estate question, you can submit a question here, post in the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group, or call us at the Rookie Request Line (1-888-5-ROOKIE).

In This Episode We Cover
House hacking explained (collecting rents, renovations, and tax benefits!)
How to add an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to an existing property
Creative ways to fund the down payment for your next rental property
How to find the owner of an abandoned house and make an offer
Why you MUST have a lease agreement in place when renting by the room
How to remove squatters from your property (with a 100% success rate!)
And So Much More!


Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-395
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email: advertise@biggerpockets.com
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395: Rookie Reply: Using a Car as a Down Payment (!?), ADUs, & House Hacking 101

Added home renovation costs can ruin your plans to own the perfect rental property. When this happens, how do you come up with the extra funds? More importantly, how do you prevent this from happening altogether? We’ve got plenty of answers for you in today’s episode!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Jessica Bryant Walton owns several doors in Anchorage, Alaska. As you’re about to find out, investing where winters are long, water damage is common, and frozen pipes are everyday occurrences isn’t for the faint of heart. Jessica and her husband had just bought a duplex, only to find out that the previous owner had disguised a MAJOR leak and extensive damage with a second roof. What they anticipated would be a $40,000 rehab ended up costing over $130,000!
Fortunately, Jessica and her husband came up with creative ways to fund their renovations, increase rents, and lower their overhead by self-managing the property. But there are valuable lessons to take away from their experience. You’ll learn why you should consider getting your real estate license, how to find the best contractors for your rehab projects, and the importance of always keeping a paper trail!

In This Episode We Cover:
How Jessica’s $40K renovation turned into a $130K+ “nightmare” rehab
Self-management tips for long-term and short-term rentals
The BEST way to source contractors for your renovation projects
Why you shouldn’t speak with your tenants over the phone
What you need to know before investing in an Alaska rental market
Why you should get your real estate license (even if you don’t plan to use it!)
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Find an Agent
Find a Lender
Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile
Ashley's Instagram
Tony's BiggerPockets Profile
Tony's Instagram
Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Submit Your Real Estate Rookie Question!
Rookie Podcast 277 - Leaks, Surprise Rehabs, and the Reality of Buying Your First Rental Property
Rookie Podcast 313 - The REAL Side of Real Estate: When Rehabs and Rentals Go Wrong
The Difficult Path to Wealth: Losing Money on Your First Real Estate Deal w/ JL Collins
Connect with Jessica:
Jessica's BiggerPockets Profile
Jessica's Instagram


Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-394
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email: advertise@biggerpockets.com
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394: The Hidden Property Damage That Could Ruin Your Home Renovation…w/Jessica Bryant Walton

If you want your rental property to succeed, you’ve got to give people a reason to keep coming back. That’s exactly what today’s guest is doing—creating a one-of-one experience that people can’t get anywhere else. It’s what keeps his property booked year-round!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Just three years ago, Chase Charifa bought his first rental property—a black, mid-century cabin tucked away in Big Bear, California. By engaging each of the guest’s five senses and adding intrigue with a “secret” amenity, Chase and his wife, April, have created an unforgettable guest experience that allows them to stand out in their market. As a result, this short-term rental brings in about $120,000 per year!
But that’s not all. Since launching his Airbnb, Chase has taken on another four rentals, three new construction projects, and a parcel of land. How has Chase been able to scale his portfolio in only a few years? In this episode, he shares how he was able to fund several deals using creative financing and smart tax strategies. He also talks about the huge opportunity that exists with real estate development. You’ll learn how to find land, get approved for a construction loan, and build your own development team!
In This Episode We Cover:
How Chase brings in $120,000 per year from ONE rental property
The best way to get FREE real estate marketing for your short-term rental
How to create an unforgettable experience for your Airbnb guests
Scaling your portfolio with creative financing and tax strategies
How to incorporate a creative skill set into your real estate business
Getting started in real estate development and building your team
How to get approved for a construction loan (in three steps!)
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Find an Agent
Find a Lender
Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile
Ashley's Instagram
Tony's BiggerPockets Profile
Tony's Instagram
Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Submit Your Real Estate Rookie Question!
Protecting Your Future in Short-Term Rentals: It Starts By Providing a Powerful Guest Experience
The “Luxury” Rental Property That Brings in $150K/Year of Pure Profit
How to Start an Airbnb Business in a Brand New Market
$11,000/Month with One VERY Unique Rental Property
Connect with Chase
Chase's BiggerPockets Profile
Chase's Facebook
Chase's Instagrams:
@lightfootcabin
@janchasecharifa
Chase's LinkedIn


Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-393
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email: advertise@biggerpockets.com
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393: $120K/Year from ONE “Sensory” Rental Property with a “Secret” Amenity w/Chase Charifa

Can’t afford to buy a rental property due to your area’s high cost of living? At what point should you quit your W2 job and move elsewhere to realize your real estate investing dream? There are several factors at play here, but we tackle this exact scenario and much more in today’s Rookie Reply!
We also talk about partnerships and how to determine who should be responsible for capital, holding costs, and other expenses when flipping houses. Are you inhering tenants? There’s an important agreement you must have in place when taking over the property. Could one of your residents be subleasing your unit without your permission? You’ll learn how to navigate this situation when it comes to light, as well as what to do when a tenant violates your lease agreement. Want to avoid troublesome tenants altogether? Stick around until the end to hear how Ashley finds the best tenants in town!
If you want Ashley and Tony to answer a real estate question, you can submit a question here, post in the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group, or call us at the Rookie Request Line (1-888-5-ROOKIE).
In This Episode We Cover:
When you should consider moving (and quitting your job!) for real estate
How to evict a subtenant who is illegally occupying your unit
The agreement you MUST have in place when inheriting tenants
How to determine who provides the capital in an investing partnership
What you should do when a tenant violates your lease agreement
How to attract the BEST tenants for your rental properties
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Find an Agent
Find a Lender
Ashley's BiggerPockets Profile
Ashley's Instagram
Tony's BiggerPockets Profile
Tony's Instagram
Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group
Join BiggerPockets for FREE
Submit Your Real Estate Rookie Question!
Enroll in the Real Estate Rookie Bootcamp Today
Become a BiggerPockets Pro Member for Lease Agreements in Your State
Rookie Reply: How to Structure a Real Estate Partnership
How to Find Your Perfect First Rental Property (Even in an Expensive Area)


Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-392
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email: advertise@biggerpockets.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

103: From Restaurant Waiter to 100+ Deals in Only 4 Years w/ Derrick Acuff

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