Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who turned a simple idea—renting out spare rooms—into a thriving real estate empire.

Sam Wegert is the founder of Scale Your Co-Living Real Estate and leads the largest co-living mastermind in the world. He and his wife reached financial freedom by their early 20s and have since built a 2,500-door portfolio that blends strong cash flow with affordable housing.

Listen as he shares how he went from running a martial arts school at 16 to discovering the co-living model by accident, why shared housing can outperform traditional rentals, and what systems make it work sustainably at scale.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Sam Wegert and his background

[02:27] Getting into real estate from the martial arts business

[03:50] Creating a second financial engine in your life

[07:10] How Sam discovered co-living by accident

[09:48] Why co-living outperforms Airbnb and traditional rentals

[13:43] Key differences between Sam's model and PadSplit

[14:40] Typical co-living members and lease lengths

[18:00] Handling tenant conflicts and maintaining harmony in shared homes

[20:17] Using membership agreements instead of traditional leases

[22:58] What rent pricing looks like in the co-living model

[27:18] Turning square footage into rentable rooms

[33:55] Can you resell co-living homes?

[36:32] The invoice authorization strategy

[39:34] Sam's advice for first-time real estate investors

[42:46] Connect with Sam Wegert

[43:08] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://scaleyourrealestate.com/

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us on this milestone 300th episode of Living Off Rentals is... me!

I can hardly believe it's been five years and 300 episodes since launching this show back in January 2020. What started as a way to document my own journey—transitioning from Army officer to full-time real estate investor—has turned into something much bigger.

In this episode, I look back on what's changed since those early days of flipping houses, what I've learned from hundreds of conversations with other investors, and the lessons that have shaped how I live and invest today.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[03:00] The surprising journey from episode 1 to 300

[04:53] Reality of running a podcast

[06:19] Lesson #1: Recognizing your stage in real estate investing

[11:13] Lesson #2: Simplicity always wins in real estate

[15:37] Lesson #3: Your deals will always deliver the lowest return you're willing to accept

[20:25] Lesson #4: Build cash flow before chasing net worth

[25:03] Lesson #5: Keep an active income stream while building your portfolio

[28:33] Lesson #6: Buy based on fundamentals, not speculation

[34:20] Lesson #7: Why quality trumps quantity

[38:12] Lesson #8: Think in decades, not years, in real estate investing

[41:34] Lesson #9: Invest in strategies that produce outsized returns

[44:11] Lesson #10: Choosing the right spouse as the most important investing decision

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who knows what it takes to rebuild from the ground up.

Dave Seymour is a former firefighter, star of the hit TV show "Flipping Boston," and now a respected multifamily investor and educator.

After working 120 hours a week and nearly losing everything, a chance radio ad about real estate became the turning point that changed his life.

Listen as he shares how he went from the firehouse to financial freedom, the lessons that shaped his approach to business and leadership, and why financial literacy and discipline are the real keys to lasting success.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Dave Seymour and his background

[02:15] Dave's early days as a firefighter

[05:15] His wake-up call to financial freedom

[07:18] Pivotal moments that led Dave into real estate

[15:22] The power of discipline from firefighting to real estate investing

[16:58] Proven systems and failure in business

[19:23] How he structured his business in his first deals

[25:40] Transitioning from single-family flips to multifamily investing

[29:54] How to identify your special gift and bring it to the marketplace and partnerships

{31:30] What is Legacy Alliance?

[33:09] Dave's insight about multifamily investing in the present and future

[38:27] His competitive advantage over other businesses

[39:48] Building partnerships that actually work

[41:17] Dave's real advice for anyone stuck in a 9-to-5 job

[44:15] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: legacywealthmasterclass.com INFLATION NATION: https://legacyalliance.link/Pod-Inflation-Nation FREE Multi-Family Masterclass: https://legacyalliance.link/Pod-Multi-Family-Class

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who has built multiple successful real estate businesses and learned firsthand what it takes to recover after things go sideways.

Ronnie Walker is a real estate investor and founder of Cedar Rock Homes. He shares his journey from working as a private banker at JPMorgan to leaving his 9-to-5 and diving headfirst into wholesaling, subject-to deals, and creative financing —scaling quickly but learning hard lessons along the way.

Listen as he shares the realities of rapid growth, the financial missteps that nearly derailed his business, and how he rebuilt a more intentional and sustainable investing model that prioritizes profit and peace of mind over volume.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Ronnie Walker and his background

[01:56] Before getting into the real estate

[02:30] How he scaled his flipping business to 30+ projects a year

[05:30] Learning about subject-to deals and closing eight in one month

[10:57] What is Wrap Mortgage?

[12:08] Leaving his corporate job with savings and a clear plan for freedom

[13:33] Paying more than its actual worth

[19:44] Getting a premium on the sale price and interest rate

[21:56] The crash and burn in scaling too fast

[24:55] How to use "impasses" and follow-ups to build creative deals

[29:35] The concept of financial dominance in demonstrating credibility

[33:07] How messy books and poor accounting nearly cost him everything

[36:05] The $130K tax wake-up call that changed how he ran his business

[40:02] How to build a client's trust through confidence, integrity, and transparency

[45:31] Ronnie's advice for new investors

[48:12] Connect with Ronnie Walker

[48:40] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.youtube.com/@WalkWithRonnie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkwithronnie/

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who's helped countless people escape the trap of long-term loans that can end up costing nearly twice the original amount.

Adam Carroll is a financial educator, speaker, and founder of The Shred Method. Through this approach, he's helped families and real estate investors accelerate their mortgage payoff timelines through smart money management and the strategic use of lines of credit.

Listen as he breaks down a simple but powerful strategy that turns traditional banking upside down and helps homeowners and investors eliminate debt, build equity faster, and save thousands in interest.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Adam Carroll and his background

[02:36] What makes Adam interested in The Shred Method?

[04:40] The Shred Method defined

[06:28] How The Shred Method optimizes your cash flow and what it actually does

[09:05] Understanding amortization and how most payments go to interest

[10:51] How lump-sum payments speed up principal payoff

[11:59] Turning rental income into a faster wealth-building tool

[13:57] Why simple interest (HELOC) beats compound interest over time

[15:10] Using short-term borrowing to save long-term interest

[16:50] The benefits of the Shred Method

[18:50] Why traditional banking habits keep most people stuck

[22:45] Paying off vs. leveraging. How to decide what's right for you

[23:45] Why paying properties to zero isn't always the best move

[27:09] Can you get a KLOC on a rental property?

[32:51] Success stories from Shred Method

[38:47] How small wins create a financial snowball effect

[41:00] Most people don't have an income problem; they have a payment problem

[44:04] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://theshredmethod.com/

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who helps investors keep more of what they earn by using powerful, legal tax strategies.

Ryan Carriere is a Client Services Manager at Hall CPA, a firm that specializes in helping high-income earners maximize tax savings through real estate. As both a CPA and real estate investor, Ryan has worked with hundreds of clients to save millions by leveraging strategies like bonus depreciation and the short-term rental (STR) loophole.

Listen as he shares how to make the most of these tax advantages, what a cost segregation study actually involves, how to qualify for the STR loophole, and how even everyday investors can use these tools to build long-term wealth.

He also breaks down creative tax-saving strategies like shifting income to your kids—and why documentation is key to staying audit-proof.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Ryan Carriere and his background

[02:06] Getting into the niche of tax strategy in real estate

[07:12] How he combined CPA work with real estate investing

[11:00] Bonus depreciation is back to 100% and why it matters

[12:40] How bonus depreciation works

[14:41] 100% bonus depreciation explained in plain English

[16:31] Real-world example of $35,000 in tax savings on a $500K property

[17:52] The most common kind of tax strategy for short-term rental investors/W-2 earners

[19:05] How the short-term rental loophole works and who qualifies

[20:30] Meeting the 100-hour material participation test

[25:32] The beauty of being married: Seen as one taxpayer instead of two

[26:47] Is it too late to use tax-saving tools?

[28:42] Determining the price point for the cost segregation study

[31:36] Bonus depreciation beyond real estate—vehicles, equipment, and more

[35:44] Benefits of shifting income to your kids

[42:05] Does using these strategies increase audit risk?

[48:08] Best practices for bookkeeping and compliance

[49:28] Connect with Ryan Carriere

[50:47] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.therealestatecpa.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryancarriere/

Cost Segregation Study Affiliate:

Get 10% off on Rental Property Refund's tax tool by checking out their free webinar here: https://www.livingoffrentals.com/costseg

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

What if you could build a rental portfolio and launch a multimillion-dollar business in just 20 minutes a day?

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who built eight cash-flowing rentals across three states while working full-time and raising three young children. Now, alongside his wife Andrea, he's developing Everwood Reserve — a $13M, 32-bed luxury assisted living and memory care facility in Texas.

Aaron Ameen is a real estate investor, business strategist, and host of the Hybrid Real Estate Professional Podcast. Listen as he proves that you don't need endless hours or massive capital to start. By focusing on strategy, consistency, and purpose-driven investing, he shares how you can build lasting wealth while creating a business that makes a meaningful impact.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Aaron Ameen and his background

[02:28] The "20 Minute Investor" mindset and how to apply it

[04:16] Defining your real strategy: What is the end goal?

[07:32] Getting into real estate

[10:50] Balance between career and building additional income through real estate

[16:15] Lessons from going from local to long-distance rentals

[21:50] Financing strategies when you think you're out of money

[28:04] Transitioning from rentals to senior living investments

[30:23] The assisted living project

[31:44] Why senior housing is a massive opportunity right now

[34:39] Development process of Aaron's assisted living facilities

[39:18] The need for a premium offering

[46:03] The biggest lessons Aaron learned from building his portfolio

[47:25] Connect with Aaron Ameen

[48:06] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://aaronameen.com/ Free resources: https://aaronameen.com/free-resources/ 20-Minute Investor Workshop: https://20minuteinvestor.com

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who is redefining what it means to travel, disconnect, and create meaningful experiences through short-term rentals.

Eric Moeller is the co-founder of Freewyld, a design-forward short-term rental brand that helps guests truly unplug through nature. From flipping his first house at 19, to navigating the 2008 crash, to building a business that blends hospitality with intention, Eric's story is one of resilience, clarity, and bold decisions.

In this episode, we talk about the tough lessons he learned early in real estate, why he went all-in on Freewyld during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how he scales the real estate side of his business while running Freewyld Foundry, the revenue management side of Freewyld that oversees 1,700+ Airbnb listings worldwide.

Whether you're just getting started or dreaming about something bigger, this episode is full of honest insights on building a brand that's meaningful to you from the ground up.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Eric Moeller and his background

[01:56] Eric's blue-collar roots and first flip at 19

[04:27] Buying a vacation rental before Airbnb even existed

[06:59] Going against the norm made Eric stay in real estate

[09:07] The whole process of winning and losing

[12:17] The journey from the 2008 market crash to building Freewyld

[14:13] Why he moved to San Diego and discovered STR arbitrage

[15:36] Three things Eric loves in the short-term rental business

[16:39] Epic Entrepreneur House in San Diego

[20:20] The moment he went all-in on Freewild during COVID

[24:25] How Freewyld Foundry now manages $60M in Airbnb revenue

[28:45] About the revenue pricing business

[33:24] Building a hospitality brand that helps guests unplug

[35:04] Developing unique properties

[37:38] Finding the perfect property

[41:52] Energy and time management lessons from top entrepreneurs

[47:18] Connect with Eric Moeller

Guest Links:

Website: freewyldfoundry.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stayfreewyld

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdmoeller

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who has mastered the art of raising and deploying private capital.

Matt Faircloth is the Founder & CEO of The DeRosa Group and has been a full-time investor for 15 years. Today, he has amassed a portfolio of nearly 2,000 units and raised millions of dollars from passive investors to fund his projects. He's also the author of Raising Private Capital, a best-selling book published by BiggerPockets, which has sold over 50,000 copies.

From starting with small BRRRR deals funded by friends' IRAs to scaling into large multifamily and hotel acquisitions, Matt shares how any investor can use other people's money to grow, without losing themselves or their relationships in the process.

If you have ever felt stuck because you "don't know any millionaires" or worry about asking people to invest with you, this conversation will change your perspective.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Matt Faircloth and his background

[02:35] How Rich Dad, Poor Dad sparked his start in real estate

[04:34] After Matt quit his full-time job

[05:33] Rebuilding and learning to raise capital

[06:51] The misconception of raising money

[11:22] The challenge of getting an appraisal

[12:40] Using self-directed IRAs and retirement accounts to fund deals

[17:12] The best way to educate people about investing

[20:37] The right way to combine private money with bank loans

[22:10] What Matt looks for in deals today: cash flow first

[24:48] Your spouse is...

[27:24] Separating work and personal issues

[32:53] Educating your kids about finances

[35:30] What incentive-based landlording is

[37:32] Residents, not tenants; communities, not apartments

[41:04] His advice for people who want to leave their jobs

[45:52] Clear goals to keep you moving forward

[48:30] Connect with Matt Faircloth

[50:16] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.derosagroup.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/derosagroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themattfaircloth/ Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us on this week's episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who isn't just focused on building businesses, but is also passionate about building a life that actually matters.

Trevor Mauch is the founder of Carrot, the software platform that has helped thousands of real estate investors and agents generate leads online.

Beyond business success, Trevor is a strong advocate for designing your company in a way that supports your health, freedom, and purpose, rather than becoming a trap that drains you.

In this conversation, Trevor shares the habits, marketing strategies, and mindset shifts that allow entrepreneurs to scale without sacrificing their personal lives.

He breaks down why most real estate websites lose deals, how to build online authority that ranks in both Google and AI searches, and why stacking credibility signals like testimonials and local content is now more important than ever.

If you've ever felt like your business owns you instead of the other way around, this episode will give you the clarity and tools to make a change. Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[02:15] Introducing Trevor Mauch and his background [04:09] Building Carrot and lessons from scaling a software company [10:39] Off-market vs. MLS. Why the best discounts come from networking and probate deals [15:18] Why website performance directly impacts your deal flow [18:38] How to optimize marketing for different real estate models [19:17] Offline + online marketing work together [23:47] Carrot sites are already ranking in ChatGPT results [25:06] The future of search: one trusted answer, not endless results [28:50] Building authority so algorithms rank you higher [31:10] Trevor's take on the biggest opportunity for investors today [34:21] How to build online credibility with content, reviews, and testimonials [37:47] Why your business will never outgrow your personal identity [39:09] Breaking free from limiting beliefs that hold entrepreneurs back [41:40] The Entrepreneur Freedom Formula explained [46:37] What to do if your business is pulling you away from family, health, and faith [51:42] The repeatable process builder that helps you delegate effectively [55:28] How coaching helped Trevor grow Carrot to where it is today [58:42] The "big unlock" that changed everything for him [01:01:51] Evaluating the value of a business [01:04:24] Carrot's buy vs. build decision in acquiring InvestorFuse [01:11:04] New AI tools that instantly summarize leads and streamline deal flow [01:12:29] Outro

Guest Links:

Carrot Website: https://carrot.com/ Trevor Mauch Website and Podcast: https://www.trevormauch.com/freedom/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevor.mauch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetrevormauch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetrevormauch

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/ Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals