If you're interested in real estate—and the stories that come with it—this Client Horror Story is for you. Spencer Sutton, VP of Marketing at Evernest, takes us back to his early days as a young real estate investor.

At the time, Spencer was flipping houses but dreamed of building long-term wealth through rental properties. The problem? He had no idea how to be a landlord or set boundaries with tenants. Still, he pressed on and purchased his very first rental home—located 45 minutes from where he lived.

For nearly five exhausting weeks, Spencer showed the property to potential renters. Finally, an older woman seemed like the perfect tenant, offering to pay two to three months' rent upfront. Excited and eager, Spencer handed her the keys—skipping the screening process entirely.

That decision came back to haunt him. After the initial months, rent payments became late, then stopped altogether. Communication broke down, the police had to be called, and Spencer was left with a property in shambles.

This episode is a raw look at humble beginnings and the hard lessons that come with them. Tune in to hear how Spencer navigated the setbacks, what he learned the hard way, and how you can apply those lessons to your own real estate journey.

Morgan Friedman

Spencer's Website

Spencer's LinkedIn