How should I be spending my time?

Question

Hello BP! Wishing everyone great success in 2026!

I currently own one rental property (2 units) that has good tenants signed through this summer. I completed some necessary repairs this year, but now there is very little maintenance to be done on this property.

As someone looking to grow my portfolio, what can I do that has a direct impact on my ability to buy another property? On most days, I have about 1-2 hours to work on my real estate business. I will continue to analyze deals and educate myself daily, however, those activities have more of an indirect effect on my portfolio. From my perspective, it seems like all I can do is save money and wait, but I want to make sure I am taking as much action as possible to grow faster and more effectively.

Thanks in advance!

Kerlous Tadres · Answer

I’d spend your 1–2 hours a day tightening your duplex’s financials and boosting NOI (rent optimization, RUBS, laundry/storage) so you qualify for more, while doing daily owner/wholesaler/lender follow-ups so the next deal finds you before you “have to wait.

Caleb Brown · Answer

Learning the area, networking would be your best bet. Both can yield fruit that you'll see down the road. If you want to dabble with off market direct to seller you can do that. There's a variety of ways but a lot to learn there.

Jason Milko · Answer

@Joe Villeneuve we have about $50k in equity on this property (purchased this May).As far as strategies, I'm interested in sticking with buy and hold for now. I'm looking into some BRRRR deals currently because I'm seeing better financing options and better potential returns as opposed to turnkey.

Arman Ahmed · Answer

@Jason Milko

You’re right that saving and educating are important, but with 1–2 hours a day, focus on high-leverage, action-oriented tasks that directly move you toward your next property: building relationships with lenders for pre-approval, networking with local agents or wholesalers, and lining up potential deals. Tracking off-market opportunities in your target areas, connecting with property managers, and creating a shortlist of “ready-to-purchase” properties lets you act fast when the right deal appears. Even small, consistent actions here compound much faster than just analyzing or reading—they directly increase your ability to acquire your next rental.

Ethan Haigler · Answer

@Jason Milko I can help. I went from buying a couple properties every once in a while with 20% down each time to now working with a private lender that will finance purchases and rehabs with only about 5% down. I focus on Cleveland and by using this approach, I can buy a property, rehab it, and get all my money back to buy another in about 4 months. Let me know if you’d like to chat further

Scott Brockelbank Jr. · Answer

Hi Jason!

I would look for RE investor meetups locally. You can build your network, identify agents that specialize in investing and bring deals directly to you and when you are around others that are scaling you will do the same. Best of luck!

Kenneth Garrett · Answer

@Jason Milko

Hi Jason,  I would pick a few areas that you want to invest in.  When I first started I was all over the place.  I then narrowed my search to a handful of neighborhoods.  When I saw a property, I already knew whether this was worth spending time on.

I could tell you what the ARV would be for a BRRRR and or a flip.  I got to be an expert in evaluating properties and calculating rehab cost.

Start looking at fully rehabbed properties and what it was bought for before the rehab was done.  I would look at before pictures and then post rehab pictures.  You can then figure out the rehab numbers.  Analyze rents and what the going rate is.  Check the voucher (section 8) numbers even if you’re not going that route it’s good information.

Remember rents and sales are always being adjusted as the market fluctuates.  Stay on top of things and it will benefit you in the long run.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Start driving around areas in your city that you feel are going to 'Gentrify'. Learn these areas forward and backwards.

Learn everything you can about construction.

Get mindset-ready to jump on a distressed house.....

Joe Villeneuve · Answer

How much equity do you have in this current property, as in cash you would get out if you sold right now at its current value?

While you wait, you should be analyzing markets.  New ones, past ones and current ones.  Most of the REI day should be doing this, no matter how many properties you own.

How many strategies do you know?  There's no limit to the number of strategies that exist, and no limit to the number you should learn.  the more strategies you learn, and the more markets you have analyzed, the more deals you will be able to make.  Remember, deals are not found, they are made.  You make them by understanding markets, and applying the correct strategy to properties in the correct market where the combination of strategy and market make deals.

James Wise · Answer

Reach out to sellers directly and/or comb through the MLS daily so you're ready to go when the deal you want pops up.

How should I be spending my time?

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