If you’re currently collecting rent using Venmo/Zelle/Cash…. No shame…. But you might want to think twice about it. The risks of using these payment apps may feel like just another real estate investing boogie man but the consequences can be ugly.

In this episode you’ll learn:

1️⃣  Why your current usage of these payment apps is probably illegal

2️⃣  The consequences of using these apps besides risking account shut down

3️⃣ A refresh on rent collection best practices

Check out the show notes at bonniegalam.com/60

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC

There are no cheap tax mistakes just like there are no cheap legal mistakes. In this week’s episode, Bonnie is joined by CPA Amanda Han to discuss common tax mistakes real estate investors make. 

In this Episode, You’ll Learn:

           1️⃣  The tax consequences of having too many entities

           2️⃣  The importance of understanding key terms when speaking with your CPA or attorney

           3️⃣  Obtaining the deductions you want through proactive tax planning

// RESOURCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

• Download Amanda Han’s free E-Book
• Purchase Amanda Han’s Biggerpockets Tax Books
  • The Book on Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor Amazon | Bookshop
  • Advanced Tax Strategies: Cracking the Code for Savvy Real Estate Investors Amazon | Bookshop

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC

Tenants can do the darndest things and unexpectedly finding a SWAT team outside your building is up there on that list. That situation happened to Amanda Micire with a rental she purchased just days beforehand.

In this episode you’ll learn:

          1️⃣  Eviction alternatives to put on the table when the tenant technically didn’t do anything illegal

          2️⃣  Navigating communication with a tenant in tricky situations

          3️⃣  Conducting due diligence on tenant-occupied properties

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll worry about the legal stuff once I get bigger”... I want you to pull the podcast emergency break and tune in to this episode. Because judges, attorneys, and plaintiffs don’t care if this is your first property or your fiftieth.

In this episode you’ll learn:

     1️⃣  Why more properties don’t mean more risk

     2️⃣  The reasons why asset protection doesn’t work retroactively

     3️⃣  Why legal can actually be MORE expensive down the line 

• Check out the show notes

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC

The way you approach repairs should be the way you approach legal. You prepare for the worst-case scenario, but you also prepare to manage the little annoying stuff - especially so it doesn’t turn into the big stuff. Legal is the same. 

Tune in to learn: 

     1️⃣  Why I’d pick a house flood over a leaky faucet

     2️⃣  How to identify the “leaky faucet” legal problems in your investing business

     3️⃣  What you can do to stop losing time and money

     4️⃣ Why “flood” asset protection strategy leaves you exposed

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC

Contractors are legal landmines. They can sue you, they can blow up your budgets and deadlines, they can put liens on your houses, and they can run away with your money. What's an investor to do?! In this week's episode, you'll learn the 5 steps you can proactively take to avoid contractor problems.

In this week’s episode you’ll learn:

1️⃣ How defensive asset protection tools like LLCs and insurance cover you in contractor disputes

2️⃣ What to look for when vetting a contractor

3️⃣ What type of documentation you should have for your contractor relationship

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC

Getting sued is awful, even if you win. This week I pull back the curtain on an awful personal lawsuit so that you can hopefully avoid a similar fate. 

1️⃣ Unexpected situations that arise in lawsuits

2️⃣ What to do if and when you get sued

3️⃣ When you should consider having additional LLCs and insurance

4️⃣ How to fill in the gaps that lawyers leave open

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC

John Oliver, the host of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, shared his thoughts on rental housing crisis in America  from evictions, to rental increases, to proposed solutions and Bonnie has thoughts!

Tune in to this special bonus episode to hear real estate lawyer and investor Bonnie Galam react to John Oliver.

In this episode you'll learn:
1.  How we as small housing providers need to reframe our position and gain a seat at the policy table
2. The economic drivers of increasing rent
3. What are some reasonable policy steps both Landlords and Tenants can agree upon?

Audio credits: HBO Max

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC

LLCs aren't the magic bullet most lawyers make them out to be. Whether you have all your eggs in the "LLC basket" or are investing without one, understanding that LLCs won't make you or break your asset protection plan is key. 

In this week's episode you'll learn:  

1. The situations where LLCs won’t make a difference  
2. How I realized that reliance on LLCs left real estate investors seriously exposed  
3. The difference between internal and external threats to your real estate  
4. What an LLC does help with during a lawsuit

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC

Could you imagine wanting to get rid of a paying tenant? Now imagine the law getting in your way BECAUSE they are paying! The frustration is palpable in this week's episode with Frank Semo.

In this week's episode you'll learn:

1. Navigating your tenant calling the police on you
2. Tenant due diligence best practices
3. Selling a tenant-occupied property

DISCLAIMER: Although Bonnie is an attorney she doesn’t give legal advice without a dually signed engagement agreement. All episodes of House of Horrors are educational and informational only. The information discussed here isn’t legal advice and isn’t intended to be. The information you listen to here isn’t a substitute for seeking legal advice from your own attorney

© 2021-2025 Bonnie Galam LLC | All rights reserved | Any use of this intellectual property owned by Bonnie Galam LLC may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free of paid, written or verbal), produce, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Bonnie Galam LLC