Commercial real estate investing might seem intimidating, but in many cases, this kind of rental property is even easier to buy than a single-family home. After two failed attempts, our own Tony Robinson unlocked the blueprint for buying commercial properties as a beginner!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Recently, Tony took down his very first commercial deal—a thirteen-unit property he plans to transform into a hotel with self-check-in convenience. But this huge triumph didn’t come without a few costly mistakes. Before landing his “golden goose,” Tony missed out on two properties and lost thousands of dollars in the process. By his third attempt, however, he had cracked the code!
If you want to scale your real estate portfolio and become a full-time investor, buying a commercial property might be your best bet. In this episode, Tony dives into the numbers and projections for his new hotel, as well as the biggest takeaways from his experience. He also shares how to find a market for a niche property, how to raise private capital for a large deal, and why it’s easier to approach an owner about seller financing on a commercial deal!
In This Episode We Cover:
How to buy commercial real estate as a novice investor
Finding the right market for your niche property
How to raise capital to take down even bigger real estate deals 
The five factors that determine if you can compete in a market
Why you NEED to develop your network before buying commercial real estate
When to hire your first employee for your real estate business
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!
Apply to Be a Guest on the “Real Estate Rookie” Podcast
Grab Your Copy of “Real Estate Partnerships”
Why Self-Storage Beats Rental Properties
Commercial Real Estate Fundamentals for Successful Investors
Scaling from Single Family to Commercial Real Estate
Find Your Next Commercial Property:
Crexi
LoopNet
BizBuySell

Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-367
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367: How to Buy a Hotel: Breaking Down Tony’s FIRST Commercial Real Estate Deal

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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How To

This episode could make you $40,000. Seriously, one property management mistake cost our own expert investor, Dave Meyer, anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000, BUT it’s easier to avoid than you think. If you’re a rookie real estate investor, this single mistake could sink your portfolio and put you back years on your journey to financial freedom. So, what’s the mistake you must avoid, and how do you circumvent it to make more money while having less stress? It’s Real Estate Rookie episode 400, so let’s save you $40,000!

Dave has been investing for over a decade, and he’s made his fair share of mistakes, but this one takes the cake. One simple property management judgment error sent his short-term rental trajectory off a cliff, with a filthy house, no bookings during the peak season, safety problems that left his property in jeopardy, and guests leaving less-than-flattering reviews. But this is a mistake anyone can make, so how do you avoid it?

In today’s episode, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty of what cost Dave $30,000 - $40,000, the exact way he’d prevent this from ever happening again, what you should look for in a property manager BEFORE you hire them, and the contract clause that could kill your cash flow!

In This Episode We Cover
The one property management mistake that could cost you up to $40,000
Property management fees and how to tell a company is a little too cheap
Signs you need to fire your property manager before it’s too late 
The one short-term rental contract clause that could ruin your entire year 
How Dave’s house almost froze thanks to overlooking one BIG utility 
And So Much More!

(00:00) Intro
(03:12) Buying a Property ASAP!
(06:57) Great Property, But…
(12:23) One Big Mistake 
(16:05) Things Go Really Wrong 
(20:07) Losing A TON of Rent 
(22:48) Costly Lessons Learned 
(28:43) Get a REAL Property Manager 

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-400
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email: advertise@biggerpockets.com
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400: Rookie Investor? Never Make This $40,000 Mistake w/Dave Meyer

What’s YOUR reason for investing in real estate? For today’s guest, it was to achieve financial freedom and have a flexible schedule. By focusing on education, forming partnerships, and, most importantly, taking action, she was able to quit her job and acquire seven properties in just THREE years!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Sarah Msuya was firmly entrenched in her successful banking career when life threw her a series of curveballs. After her son was born prematurely and complications caused her to miss nine months of work, Sarah knew that a traditional nine-to-five was no longer an option for her and her family. She spent the next three years learning as much as she could about real estate and building a portfolio that provides $80,000 in cash flow per year!
Like many new investors, Sarah has dabbled in several investing strategies on her journey to financial freedom—from house hacking to flipping houses and everything in between. Eventually, she was able to pin down her niche—the BRRRR method. In this episode, you’ll learn how to find the best strategy for YOU and scale your portfolio through partnerships and creative financing!

In This Episode We Cover:
How Sarah brings in $80,000 cash flow each year from seven properties
Why you DON’T need to look ten years ahead before investing in real estate
How to cover your mortgage payment with the house hacking strategy
Three property management strategies you can use for your rental property
How to scale your portfolio FAST with partnerships, creative financing, and more
FHA loan limits explained (and how to avoid a surprise at closing!)
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
Grab Your Copy of “Real Estate Partnerships
Real Estate Rookie 207 - Working Towards Time Freedom “In the Trees” with 3 Treehouse Rentals:
Real Estate Rookie 742 - How to Achieve Financial Freedom Through Real Estate in 4 Steps:
Connect with Sarah:
Eileen's BiggerPockets Profile
Sarah's Bigger Pockets Profile
Sarah's Facebook 
Sarah's Instagram 
Sarah's LinkedIn 

Jump to topic:
(00:00) Intro
(00:50) HUGE Life Changes
(06:42) $80K/Year Cash Flow!
(13:31) Sarah’s First House Hack
(20:52) How to Scale FAST
(27:51) Property Management 101
(31:57) Connect with Sarah!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-399
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

399: $80,000/Year Cash Flow & Financial Freedom with 7 Properties (in 3 Years!) w/Sarah Msuya

Small multifamily real estate investing can lead you to financial freedom faster than you think. Compared to traditional single-family rental properties, small multifamily properties often offer more cash flow, the ability to scale quicker, and less competition than the properties every first-time home buyer is looking for. Small multifamily investing is so good that it remains seasoned investor Dave Meyer’s favorite way to invest after over a decade of investing in rental properties. So, how do you get started?
In this episode, we’ll walk through the three beginner steps anyone can take to start investing in small multifamily real estate. We’ll show you how ANYONE can get into this asset class, even with ZERO experience, why small multifamily is the perfect “sweet spot” for rental property investing, and how to overcome the biggest challenges to getting your first deal.
But that’s not all. We found a small multifamily rental property for sale and go step-by-step through it, analyzing it within minutes so YOU can do the same for your first or next property. Small multifamily is the perfect place to start your real estate investing journey, and after you watch this episode, you’ll have EVERYTHING you need to start investing!
Ready to become a BiggerPockets Pro? Click here to sign up and use code “MULTIPOD24” for a special discount!

In This Episode We Cover:
Why small multifamily real estate is the perfect “sweet spot” for rookie investors
How to get to financial independence faster than you think with duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes
The easiest way to find deals in your target market (for FREE!)
How to analyze a real estate deal from start to finish in just minutes
The #1 challenge to real estate investing and a simple solution to overcome it
Our favorite real estate investing tool that’ll help you do your first or next deal even faster
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
Find an Agent
Find a Lender
Dave's BiggerPockets Profile
Dave's Instagram
Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group
Get 20% Off a BiggerPockets Pro Membership with Code “YTMULTI24”
Analyze Deals in 5 Minutes or Less with Our Rental Property Calculator
Determine Monthly Rent with Our Rent Estimator Tool
Join a BiggerPockets Bootcamp
“On the Market” Podcast
Book Mentioned in the Show
Real Estate by the Numbers by Dave Meyer and J Scott

Jump to topic:
(00:00) Intro
(05:43) Want Financial Freedom?
(10:11) ANYONE Can Do It
(11:47) The Investing "Sweet Spot"
(12:57) Why Small Multifamily? 
(16:16) 1. Where to Find Properties 
(20:09) 2. How to Analyze Multifamily 
(31:23) 3. How to Get Financing 
(36:08) Scared to Invest?
(38:44) The One Tool You NEED

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-398
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

398: 3 Steps to Buying Your First (or Next) Small Multifamily Property

If you own a rental property, it’s YOUR responsibility to provide a safe environment for tenants. This starts with things like tenant screening, security upgrades, and most importantly, acting swiftly when a resident is in danger!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Eileen Daugherty is not only the property management business consultant here at BiggerPockets but also a fellow real estate investor, and today, she joins the show to talk about property management, new construction homes, and the importance of tenant safety. Eileen even shares her own real estate horror story, which occurred shortly after buying her first rental property and renting it out. You’ll hear how a neighbor’s seemingly innocent “crush” quickly escalated into a situation where her new tenant was being stalked, hacked, and harassed!
In this episode, Eileen shares the biggest learning lessons from this unfortunate experience and the MAJOR changes she made to improve tenant safety at her properties—from installing security cameras to providing virtual private networks (VPNs) and much more. But that’s not all! Stick around until the end to learn what it’s like to invest in the fast-growing market of Asheville, North Carolina!
In This Episode We Cover:
How to keep your tenants safe with landlord best practices
Why it’s worth building relationships with your neighbors and tenants
How to find an investor-friendly property manager for your rental properties
The three most important factors for choosing an investing strategy
How to scale your portfolio FAST with new construction homes
The pros and cons of investing in the Asheville, North Carolina market
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
Real Estate Rookie 203 – The Ultimate Property Management Masterclass
Real Estate Rookie 389 – Rookie Reply: How to Find a Property Manager & Set Up Rentals Out of State
3 Ways to Enhance Rental Property Security
Connect with Eileen:
Eileen's BiggerPockets Profile

(00:00) Intro
(50:00) Eileen’s Investing Portfolio
(05:17) The Asheville Horror Story
(08:23) Stalked, Hacked, & Harassed!
(17:12) Relisting the Property
(20:27) The BEST Security Additions
(27:21) Building a Team & New Construction
(32:02) Investing in Asheville, NC
(35:26) Connect with Eileen!

Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-397
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

397: The BEST Ways to Protect Your Rental Property and Keep Your Tenants Safe w/Eileen Daugherty

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
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

367: How to Buy a Hotel: Breaking Down Tony’s FIRST Commercial Real Estate Deal

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