Latest Episode • July 9, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 390: 7 Figures from ONE Deal with Leka Devatha

From fashion design work in India, to a corporate career with Nordstrom... to leaving that career to flip 40+ houses in 6 years – all in one of the hottest markets on the planet! Seattle investor Leka Devatha has quite a story to tell, and a lot of hard-won wisdom too! From her 6 tips for findingand keeping great contractors, to the exact criteria she uses when looking for a flip opportunity, Leka spills the beans and outlines a framework you can apply whether you choose to flip, BRRRR, wholesale, or buy and hold. We cover a crucial tax tip for anyone hiring a contractor, ever. Leka shares an unexpected silver lining brought on by the pandemic. And your mind will be blown when she tells how a "cosmetic" flip opportunity morphed into 3-year odyssey and wound up rewarding her with a 7-figure (yes, 7-figure) payday. Give Leka (pronounced "LAY-kuh") a follow on Instagram and let her know if you appreciate this episode... and make sure you subscribe to the show in your favorite podcast app, so you won't miss the next one. ... show more

BiggerPockets Podcast

Released weekly on Thursdays, the BiggerPockets Podcast is hosted by Brandon Turner and David Greene. It features off-the-cuff interviews with investors of various backgrounds, niches, and experience levels. Check out new shows below and subscribe to our Video Podcast on iTunes here.

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Previous Episodes

July 2, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 389: He Changed His Strategy & Is Now Making $1M/Year! With Mike Simmons

Are you tired of toiling in the trenches... and ready to run a business that cranks out profits without your constant involvement? That's what today's guest has managed to do! In this episode, Mich igan-based investor Mike Simmons shares exactly how he went from moderate success to $1 million in annual profit. You'll learn why Mike switched gears from flipping to wholesaling real estate, what he's learned from spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on various marketing channels, and the four-point checklist you must use when considering any kind of partnership. Ultimately, expert marketing tactics are fine and well. But to scale, you've got to master leadership and hiring—topics Mike covers in great detail here and in his new book, Level Jumping. So pick up a copy (see link below), and share this episode with a friend, family member, or fellow investor who you think would enjoy it! ... show more

June 25, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 388: The 7-Step “Playbook” for Scaling Your Real Estate Business With AJ Osborne

Do you dream of stepping back from the day to day and working on your business rather than in it? Of course you do! AJ Osborne has achieved that goal—and having experienced a harrowing health emerg ency that incapacitated him for months (see show 286), this Boise, Idaho, investor is ultra-qualified to discuss the value of documenting, delegating, and streamlining your real estate business so it can run without you. AJ owns and operates over 1 million square feet of self-storage. Today he breaks down the seven-step process he uses to improve operations, unlock hidden value, and scale fast. If you're thinking, "I don't do deals that big," rest assured: AJ reveals that he actually lost money on his very first deal but gained a ton of wisdom, which he's generous enough to share with us today—and which applies across the board. Plus, AJ shares a tip on financing deals that may totally change the way you think about growing your portfolio! Check him out, and pick up a copy of his book, The Investor's Guide to Growing Wealth in Self-Storage: How to Turn a Real Estate Asset into a Thriving Business. ... show more

June 18, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 387: Time Freedom Through 7 Deals in Her First 3 Years With Megan Greathouse

On today's show: the massive impact of just a few flips and a few small multifamily rental properties. Starting in 2017, that combination allowed our guest Megan Greathouse to step aside from her W -2 job (her husband still works) and spend much more time with her two young kids... all while dedicating just 5 hours per month to self-managing her portfolio in St. Louis. Want to know how she did it? Megan spells it all out in this episode and provides the exact tools and templates she uses to maximize her efficiency—enabling her business to serve her and allowing more time for what really matters. Give Megan a follow, and share this episode with a friend, partner, spouse, or family member who you think might enjoy it! ... show more

June 12, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 386.5: Still Doing Deals... Thanks to These 2 Pivots With Marcus Maloney (Part 2, Post-Coronavirus)

Yesterday, Marcus Maloney showed us how he built his deal-finding machine. Today, he tells us how he's hanging onto it by making two big shifts in his business. When the pandemic hit, lenders got n ervous... and that put a couple of Marcus' deals in danger. So did he give up? No! He tapped his own network of private lenders to provide financing to his end buyers—a win-win-win. Plus, Marcus tells us why he's shifted focus to the Midwest since we first spoke and how he worked out a deal with a "great tenant" who wound up unemployed and unable to pay rent. Wondering how to adjust your business to the new normal? Check out this episode, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast so you won't miss the next one. ... show more

June 11, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 386: Starting Out With $200 and Investing for Profit AND Cash Flow With Marcus Maloney (Part 1, Pre-Coronavirus)

From "bad drug dealer" in his youth... to earning a master's degree, then jumping into real estate at age 36 and crushing his first deal! Today, Marcus Maloney shares his wild ride in Part 1 of two episodes this week. This one was recorded before the coronavirus pandemic, so we don't discuss that topic. Tomorrow, we'll dive into how Marcus pivoted to keep doing deals in these trying times. In this episode, you'll learn how Marcus used just $200 to launch his career, how he acquired nine rental properties, and how he's completed dozens of local (Phoenix) and long-distance (Chicago) real estate transactions. He also discusses the strategies he's using to generate leads, how he builds trust with both sellers and buyers, and how he works with acquisition managers, who take a cut of the deals they bring him. Plus—the guys have a great conversation about performance coaching and why the thing that's holding you back probably isn't something you're going to fix at a real estate boot camp. Marcus was nice enough to take some time out from riding his Harley to share some of his hard-won wisdom, so say hello to him on the BiggerPockets Forums, where he's a frequent contributor. And don't forget to subscribe to the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast so you won't miss the next show! ... show more

June 4, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 385: Once Homeless, Now Investing in an Expensive Market (With No Money of His Own) With Greg Gaudet

Flipping with no money down... in Hawaii? You heard that right. Greg Gaudet actually considers himself "risk-averse" and still holds a full-time job, but he's able to make nice chunks of change by hustling to find deals and managing rehabs for Brandon's team on Maui. Today, Greg walks us through his journey from "rock bottom," including bouts with addiction and homelessness, to living the life of his dreams, buying a Porsche cash, and owning a handful of properties free and clear. You'll learn the right way to approach investing in condos, how to bring value to a potential partner or mentor, how Greg manages risk by keeping his living expenses low, and the mindset shifts that allowed him to 1) get clean and 2) "get out of his own way" in the real estate business. This is truly one of the most powerful stories we've told on the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast, and it's guaranteed to get your wheels spinning! ... show more

May 29, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 384.5: 10 Deadly Mistakes Real Estate Investors Make with Brandon and David

After yesterday's deep dive interview discussing 2 disastrous flip projects, we have a solo show for you today. And the title says it all, really. Brandon and David boiled down nearly 400 podcas t episodes, countless forum threads, books, and real-life conversations, and their own missteps and now present: the Top 10 Ways Real Estate Investors Lose Money. These aren't the only ways to go wrong in this business, but at some point you're in danger of falling into at least one of these traps. So, what did we miss? Let us know in the forums, the comments section on our show notes, or in the Official BiggerPockets Facebook Group. And be sure to subscribe to the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast so you won't miss an episode. ... show more

May 28, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 384: Losing $60k on His First 2 Flips so You Won't Have To with Spencer Cornelia

You can put a dollar number on the losses Spencer Cornelia took on his first two long-distance flips... but it's hard to quantify the value of the lessons he learned and is now passing on to you. W e noticed Spencer's thread detailing his struggles in the BiggerPockets forums and invited him on the show; he bravely accepted. In this episode, you'll learn the pitfalls to watch out for when taking on heavy renovations (anywhere, but especially long-distance), how to ensure quality work is getting done, and the dangers of letting projects drag on when you're locked into expensive short-term financing. Plus, it's not a total downer... because Spencer's seeing a bunch of success with his new Youtube venture, and plans to continue investing in (less aggressively leveraged) real estate projects. Brandon and David add their own perspectives having made some similar errors in their careers, and tomorrow in Part 2 they'll break down the 10 Deadliest Mistakes Investors Make. New investors: heed the advice in these two shows! And as always: run your numbers conservatively, know your own risk tolerance, and run deals by trusted advisors before jumping in. ... show more

May 21, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 383: Finding Your Perfect Partner and the Top 6 Factors When Choosing a Market with Ben Leybovich & Sam Grooms

Interested in someday making the leap to bigger investments? Don't miss this one! Ben Leybovich and Sam Grooms join us for a high-level conversation about how they transitioned from flips and small er assets to 100-plus-unit, value-add multifamily deals. Since the first part of this show was recorded pre-coronavirus, we brought the guys back on to hear their thoughts on today's market and get an update on how their business is doing amid the volatility (spoiler: pretty well!). ... show more

May 15, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 382.5: Surviving When the BRRRR Hits the Fan with Josiah Smelser (Part 2, Post-Coronavirus)

What happens to a no-money-down BRRRR investor when a pandemic breaks out, lending standards suddenly tighten, private money lenders get skittish, and property values quickly drop? Today, Josiah Sm elser returns to the show and tells all. In Part 1 yesterday, we learned how Josiah built a $4M portfolio by buying, renovating, renting, refinancing, and repeating using both hard money and private money. Coronavirus hit him hard. And if he didn't have cash reserves, credit options, and the right mindset, it might have totally wiped him out. When the virus hit, Josiah had 10 properties he needed to refinance. It was a perfect storm: His private money lender immediately pulled funds, his refinance bank changed their terms, and property values dropped—all at once—meaning he would need to bring way more cash to the table. What happened next? Listen to this episode to learn about how Josiah made it through the nightmare and came out on the other side... with more equity and reduced interest payments. Real estate investing isn't all sunshine and rainbows. But if you keep your mind right, plan your exit strategies, and maintain cash and credit lines, you too can survive the curveballs thrown your way. ... show more

May 14, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 382: No Money Down BRRRR Investing with Josiah Smelser (Part 1, Recorded Pre-Coronavirus)

Today we bring you Part 1 of back-to-back episodes with real estate investor/appraiser/author/all-around good guy Josiah Smelser. This first conversation was recorded pre-coronavirus lockdown, but it's packed with tips you can put into action today. You'll learn how Josiah solved the #1 bottleneck in his business (capital!), allowing him to BRRRR at scale and rack up rental properties with very little money out of pocket. Even more impressive: he's doing it long-distance (The properties are in Dallas, TX and Josiah lives in Huntsville, AL.) And if that weren't enough, the guys go in-depth on appraisals – and the techniques you can use to help appraisers see your side of the story. Josiah's a longtime licensed appraiser, so he speaks from experience... and he shares his playbook for giving yourself the best chance to pull all your money out of your deal. If you like what Josiah has to say, then be sure to check it Part 2 tomorrow. We bring him back on, post-COVID-19, to discuss the serious challenges he's faced: lenders pulling out, property values dropping, and even a domestic violence issue at one of his rentals. The good news: he made it through. Tune in tomorrow to hear how! ... show more

May 7, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 381: 5 Rules for Investing in a Down Market with Tucker Merrihew

Can you flip, wholesale, and buy rentals throughout a downturn? Yes... IF you heed the advice given out in today's episode. Our guest Tucker Merrihew is more than qualified to tackle this subjec t, having launched his real estate business in Portland, Oregon, in 2008—during one of the worst housing markets of all time. In a rare "Double Deep Dive" segment, Tucker walks us through a couple TTM Development projects from 2009 and reveals exactly what he did right and wrong at the time. As for the coming months... you'll learn which types of properties to avoid, which price ranges to target, and why renovating old homes can be risky business at this stage of the market cycle. Plus, Tucker explains why he underwrites every deal at 3 different prices to make sure it passes his "Oh $#!# Test" if the market goes south. Tucker is a seasoned pro with hundreds of deals under his belt, and he shares tons of valuable information for free in this episode. Be sure to subscribe to the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast for more tips on investing safely while taking advantage of the opportunities ahead. ... show more

April 30, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 380: Profitable Landlording in a Crisis with Mike Butler, Chris Clothier, and Dave Poeppelmeier

Feeling like you're in uncharted territory as a landlord? You're in good company! Today's show walks you through how to ethically and profitably manage rentals through the COVID-19 outbreak and bey ond. Brandon and David sit down with Mike Butler, acclaimed author of Landlording on Autopilot; Chris Clothier, partner at REI Nation (formerly Memphis Invest); and Dave Poeppelmeier, owner of eight houses in Toledo, Ohio. You'll get a ton out of this panel discussion, including exact scripts for communicating with non-paying residents, strategies for connecting tenants to government resources, a discussion about "deferment" vs. "forbearance," and much more. Mike (500+ units), Chris (6,000+ turnkey units), and Dave (8 properties, mostly student rentals) are all in different markets and at different stages of their investing careers... so you're guaranteed to learn something you can apply in your business today. Enjoy this episode, jump on the BiggerPockets Forums to connect with fellow investors, and subscribe to this show in your favorite podcast app so you won't miss us next week! ... show more

April 23, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 379: What the Numbers Reveal About Today's Rents, Prices, and Top Cashflow Markets with Data Scientist Dave Meyer

There are plenty of opinions out there about where the real estate market is headed next. But what are the numbers telling us? Today we dig into the data with Dave Meyer, BiggerPockets' VP of Growt h and Analytics and a real estate investor himself. Dave leads BiggerPockets Insights—a Pro/Premium benefit providing current local market data—and he's been looking at data points in the weeks since shelter-in-place orders began to grind the economy to a halt. So...` Why are rents down? Why haven't prices dropped? And what data should investors be keeping an eye on? The guys tackle those questions and much more in today's episode. Plus, Dave discusses his list of the country's best 11 cashflow markets adjusted for vacancy and explains what makes them so attractive right now. Add in a topical "Fire Round" and a breakdown of Dave's "ski for free" Airbnb scheme, and you've got an action-packed episode sure to bolster your confidence in these uncertain times. Check out this episode of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast, and be sure to subscribe to the show in your favorite podcast app so you won't miss the next one! ... show more

April 16, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 378: A $500M Syndicator's View on Today's Market and How to Succeed as a "Hands-Off Investor" with Brian Burke

With a recession already underway, we're turning to an investor with 30 years of experience, 3,000-plus multifamily units acquired, and one of the sharpest minds in real estate. Brian Burke is back today, and he sits down with Brandon and David to offer his interpretation of current events and to guide our audience through how to invest passively without violating Warren Buffett's No. 1 rule: "Never Lose Money!" Brian explains how his firm Praxis Capital is navigating COVID-19 and shares a few tips everyday investors can use to fortify their portfolios. We also discuss leverage, how lending practices are changing, and techniques you can use today to safeguard your investments against vacancy and drops in valuation. In the second half of the show, Brian speaks to those interested in becoming "hands-off" investors—whether you want to focus on making money in your day job or just don't want to deal with being a landlord. After all, BiggerPockets has 10-plus books on how to actively get deals done... but none (until now) on how to evaluate passive investment opportunities. a We go over how to meet syndicators, what red flags to look for, how to diversify your investments... and the absolute No. 1 quality to look for in a passive investment (hint: it's NOT the deal itself). This episode is packed with deep insights into the current market shift, but it's also a timeless lesson in evaluating syndication opportunities. For more info, check out Brian's new book, The Hands-Off Investor: An Insider's Guide to Investing in Passive Real Estate Syndications, and all the great bonus content, too. ... show more

April 9, 2020

BiggerPockets Podcast 377: The Riches Are... on the Radio? How to Dial in Your Marketing & Do 100+ Deals a Year with Chris Arnold

Today's guest does 125 deals a year in Dallas—from his home base in the Caribbean. How? Well, he bailed on direct mail marketing and doubled down on radio ads. And when others froze up as the co ronavirus spread, his team put in new systems and closed a $23,500 wholesale deal... without even stepping foot inside the house. Chris Arnold zigs when others zag, and today you'll learn how he sets up his business so he can consistently work ON it, not in it... while enjoying a great lifestyle in Tulum, Mexico. Chris shares timely tips for how to orchestrate deals while maintaining safe social distancing (he even holds "Zoom open houses" with multiple cash buyers at once); breaks down which team member handles each aspect of a transaction; and delivers a fantastic tip for new real estate investors struggling to stay focused. Plus—Chris shares how advertising on local radio stations has elevated his home-buying business to new levels. Look, he says, you might prefer podcasts... "but you are not your seller!" We play one of his ads on the show, and he guides us through how to research various audiences and negotiate the best rates with stations. This show covers it all—from the finer points of buying properties at deep discounts to the mindset shifts Chris has made along the way. Check it out, and if you enjoyed this please share it with just one family member or friend. We appreciate you, and we'll see you next Thursday. ... show more

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BiggerPockets Podcast 390: 7 Figures from ONE Deal with Leka Devatha

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Previous Episodes

BiggerPockets Podcast 389: He Changed His Strategy & Is Now Making $1M/Year! With Mike Simmons

BiggerPockets Podcast 388: The 7-Step “Playbook” for Scaling Your Real Estate Business With AJ Osborne

BiggerPockets Podcast 387: Time Freedom Through 7 Deals in Her First 3 Years With Megan Greathouse

BiggerPockets Podcast 386.5: Still Doing Deals... Thanks to These 2 Pivots With Marcus Maloney (Part 2, Post-Coronavirus)

BiggerPockets Podcast 386: Starting Out With $200 and Investing for Profit AND Cash Flow With Marcus Maloney (Part 1, Pre-Coronavirus)

BiggerPockets Podcast 385: Once Homeless, Now Investing in an Expensive Market (With No Money of His Own) With Greg Gaudet

BiggerPockets Podcast 384.5: 10 Deadly Mistakes Real Estate Investors Make with Brandon and David

BiggerPockets Podcast 384: Losing $60k on His First 2 Flips so You Won't Have To with Spencer Cornelia

BiggerPockets Podcast 383: Finding Your Perfect Partner and the Top 6 Factors When Choosing a Market with Ben Leybovich & Sam Grooms

BiggerPockets Podcast 382.5: Surviving When the BRRRR Hits the Fan with Josiah Smelser (Part 2, Post-Coronavirus)

BiggerPockets Podcast 382: No Money Down BRRRR Investing with Josiah Smelser (Part 1, Recorded Pre-Coronavirus)

BiggerPockets Podcast 381: 5 Rules for Investing in a Down Market with Tucker Merrihew

BiggerPockets Podcast 380: Profitable Landlording in a Crisis with Mike Butler, Chris Clothier, and Dave Poeppelmeier

BiggerPockets Podcast 379: What the Numbers Reveal About Today's Rents, Prices, and Top Cashflow Markets with Data Scientist Dave Meyer

BiggerPockets Podcast 378: A $500M Syndicator's View on Today's Market and How to Succeed as a "Hands-Off Investor" with Brian Burke

BiggerPockets Podcast 377: The Riches Are... on the Radio? How to Dial in Your Marketing & Do 100+ Deals a Year with Chris Arnold

BiggerPockets Podcast

Previous Episodes

BiggerPockets Podcast

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