Using your real estate business to fund your DREAM vacation—with all or most expenses paid!? As a real estate investor, handling large amounts of money for materials, rehabs, and other expenses has its benefits. Today, we’re excited to talk about a simple but clever debt strategy that real estate rookies often overlook.
Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! If you’re looking to take advantage of the many benefits of real estate investing, tune in as Tony and Ashley share how they use credit cards to travel hack their way to luxurious, five-figure vacations each year! We also talk about when you should and shouldn’t use a HELOC to help fund an investment property. Ever wondered how you should use the money from cash-out refinancing? Our hosts cover some of the limitations you may encounter. Finally, Ashley and Tony discuss their top investing analysis strategies in 2023 and how to choose the best one for you!
If you want Ashley and Tony to answer a real estate question, you can 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
How to leverage real estate debt the right way (and fund your DREAM vacation!)
When you should and shouldn’t use a HELOC for an investment property
New investing analysis strategies we’re using in 2023
Why you should say “no” more often than “yes” when choosing an investing strategy
All about cash-out refinancing (and what you can use the money for!)
How to find the best investor-friendly real estate agents in your area
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
How to Earn Free Vacations With Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Find Top Rewards Credit Cards with The Points Guy
Learn More About Travel Hacking with Aunt Kara on TikTok
Book Mentioned in the Show:
Real Estate by the Numbers by J Scot and Dave Meyer

Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-286
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286: Rookie Reply: Real Estate "Travel Hacks" We Use to Score FREE Vacations

Ready to build your real estate empire… but not sure where to begin?
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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.
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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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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
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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

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

286: Rookie Reply: Real Estate "Travel Hacks" We Use to Score FREE Vacations

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