This week’s episode is different. I pressed pause on everything else to give my full attention to my son as he prepared for three big performances in The Little Mermaid. Watching him on stage reminded me exactly why I invest: for time, freedom, and the chance to be present for moments like this.

But while I was celebrating that proud dad moment, reality hit. My hard money lender reached out asking about my exit strategy on the flip — and the truth is, I may need to extend the loan. With my agent reviewing the market trends, I’m staring down tough decisions about whether to sell, refinance, or pivot.

This is the real journey. The wins, the risks, the stress, and the motivation that keeps me moving forward.

Picking up the phone to call an agent can feel scary. What if you sound clueless? What if they don’t take you seriously? In this episode of The Ricky Ricardo Show, I sit down with investor-friendly agent and investor Nico Garcia to help beginners push past that fear and approach agents with confidence.

We break down:

✅ How to tell if an agent is truly “investor-friendly”

✅ 3 ways to make your offers stand out without overpaying

✅ The right way to submit below-ask offers (without burning bridges)

✅ Nico’s first rental story and what he’d do differently

✅ A BRRRR pivot that turned a flip into a cash-flowing rental

✅ Lessons learned from foreclosures and bankruptcies

✅ Why community and networking fast-track your growth

By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly what to say on that first call, how to avoid wasting time with the wrong agent, and how to start making offers like a confident investor.

📲 Connect with Nico and Ana:

Instagram →@ngarciaofficial @anabialek_realtor

Podcast → Agent2Investor (available on all platforms)

👉 Subscribe for more real, raw lessons from my journey to financial freedom.

What do you do when your first tenant leaves you with repairs, a lawsuit, and no guarantee you’ll ever see the money back — while your flip gets called “too much DIY” at showings?

In this episode of The Ricky Ricardo Show, I share the raw updates on my first rental vacancy at Margybeth and the latest feedback from showings on my Wetumpka flip. From property managers offering two very different paths forward, to the reality of small claims court, to the emotional rollercoaster of waiting on buyers — this is the behind-the-scenes truth of real estate investing.

If you’re a beginner investor, this episode is for you: the gritty, unfiltered side of the journey to financial freedom.

I’m back on the market with my Wetumpka flip — listed at $389,900. In this episode, I break down the real numbers: a $170k loan payoff, $40–45k down, plus $60k out of pocket on top of the $100k scope of work, and $2,300/month holding costs since last October.

This time around I’ve got a new agent, fresh photos, landscaping dialed in, and punch list discipline to finally deliver a complete home. I’ll walk you through my decision tree — sell, refinance, or rent — and the exact 5-point checklist I’m now using to keep flips from dragging and bleeding cash.

DM me CHECKLIST on Instagram (@RickyRicardoShow) and I’ll send you the relaunch playbook.

Episode 50 is here — and this one’s a little different.

To celebrate, I’m sharing my very first guest appearance on the Agent2Investor podcast, where I sat on the other side of the mic and opened up about my real estate investing journey.

From buying my first property at 23 to navigating out-of-state rentals and my first fix-and-flip, this conversation dives into the real wins, the tough lessons, and the mindset shifts that have shaped my path so far.

Huge thanks to Nico and Ana of the Agent2Investor community for having me on and letting me share it here with you.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

My journey from homeowner to real estate investor

The creative financing strategies I’ve used to get deals done

The biggest mistakes and lessons learned so far

How mindset and action go hand-in-hand in building freedom

We’re just getting started — here’s to the next 50 episodes!

What happens when you pay a contractor in full… and the job still isn’t done? In this episode, I break down the frustrating reality of trusting too soon as a remote investor. My flip was supposed to be ready — instead, I’m chasing unfinished work, setting final deadlines, and weighing my options, including possible legal action.

But this isn’t just about what went wrong — it’s about taking ownership, setting standards, and leaning into the relationships that are working. From shady workmanship to solid support from my agent and landscaper Mason, I’m sharing the full truth.

If you're flipping remotely or building your investing team, this is the episode you need to hear.

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of two properties that are testing me hard — my very first rental in Indiana and a never-ending flip in Alabama. One cost me more than it made. The other still isn’t sold. I break down the real numbers, the setbacks, and the decision I’m wrestling with: Do I double down or finally cut the cord? No fluff — just raw talk on what it really means to be an investor when things aren’t going right.

The flip in Wetumpka is finally almost back on the market — but not without one last lesson in taking ownership. In this quick update, I break down why I had to hire my agent’s cleaning crew, how a dusty walkthrough almost held us back again, and what I’ve learned about trusting the wrong people, even when they mean well.

From firing my first agent to rebuilding the punch list, this episode is about learning to lead your investment like a business — even when you’re remote, even when it’s uncomfortable. I also share why I’m feeling confident again, what still needs to happen, and how I’m planning to handle things differently next time around.

Photos coming this week. The finish line is close.

One of the quietest, most boring properties in my portfolio just got loud — real loud.

After years of steady cash flow, my very first rental just hit me with a vacancy, a mess, and a decision: re-rent, refinance, or sell?

In this short but real-time episode, I break down the numbers, the missteps, and what I’m learning now that my tenant's gone and a new property manager says the rent could jump by $445.

This is what they don’t post on Instagram.

Let’s talk about:

Why market rent ≠ PM rent

How I found out I was underpriced by $400+

Whether I should sell, fix, or hold

And the mindset shift this little rental sparked

I’ve been talking a lot about the flip lately — the stress, delays, and unknowns. But today I’m shifting gears and sharing a quiet win. A while back, I bought two rental properties for just $24,000 total, and they’ve been paying me $900/month ever since. No drama. No gray hairs. Just solid, boring real estate that works.

In this episode, I break down:

How I found and financed these two deals

What cash flow really looks like after reserves

The mindset shift from “sexy flips” to steady plays

Why out-of-state rentals might be the play for beginners

Whether you're stuck in analysis paralysis or chasing the next big win, this episode is your reminder: you don’t have to start big — you just have to start.