Real Estate Rookie

Ready to build your investment empire, but unsure about the first (or next) step? Think of us as your personal trainer. 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. Be sure to subscribe to Real Estate Rookie in your favorite podcast app (links below) so you won't miss an episode!

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Previous Episodes

December 9, 2020

Rookie Podcast 41: Using Hard Money & BRRRR to Go From 2 to 80 Units with Kyle Mack

Kyle Mack was only a senior in college when he bought his first duplex, house hacked it, and caught the real estate bug. Since graduating he’s held a handful of jobs, from retail, to becoming a leasin g agent, and even a commercial real estate broker. But that wasn’t what Kyle’s degree was in, he was actually planning on becoming a doctor. Kyle talks through how he gained the confidence to take on an 18 unit apartment building, not too long after closing on his first property. He also talks about the importance of financing, and how it can help you scale. Using financing like hard money, credit cards, and cash to close on properties, Kyle has had to think on his feet to get deals done. He walks us through the best way to approach hard money loans, how to have lenders lined up for deals, and what to do when you can’t refinance at the end of a BRRRR deal. Kyle brings up “imposter syndrome" and how it’s easy to psych yourself out of deals that you can handle. This is a great episode for any new investor who has never used hard money, creative financing, or wants to go from 1 unit, to many. ... show more

December 2, 2020

Rookie Podcast 40: Using the “AREA” System to Buy 21 Houses in Just a Few Years with Anam and Aamir

Investor couple Anam and Aamir have been hard at work during COVID, locking down deals and BRRRR-ing more and more houses. Through years of system-building and deal mistakes/lessons, they were able to create a system that allows them to save time searching for deals and know immediately whether a property is worth the investment or not. After pinpointing exactly what they wanted in a deal, Anam and Aamir took the time to develop systems and processes that would help them get properties rehabbed and rented faster. So how did they finance these deals? HELOCs, credit cards, cash, hard money, and other creative financing. This is what allowed them to build a portfolio of 21 units within a few years, all while working full time jobs that take up much of their waking hours. With their deal criteria system (A.R.E.A), they’ve been able to turn their dreams into reality. Now at only 28 and 30, Anam and Aamir are on track to close more and more deals, securing their financial independence all while building appreciating wealth. ... show more

November 25, 2020

Rookie Podcast 39: $500 Per Door on Multifamily Properties (During COVID!) with Thomas Tsitouridis

Thomas Tsitouridis is truly a jack of all trades. As a kid, he was used to helping on the project-management side of his parent’s 64-unit apartment building (taking out the trash, helping with tenants , and so on). He later realized that real estate investing would hold a special place in his future. Thomas later worked for a construction manager, then chose to start his own construction business, property management business, and long term buy-and-hold business. Using the experience and cash flow from his construction business, Thomas found that he could amplify his money by buying deals and using his own team to do the construction and rehab. Now Thomas (and his partner) are buying multifamily deals, fixing them up, and getting sustainable cash flow, so they can retire early. Within his first year as a real estate investor, he has already learnt a lot. Thomas shares some great tips on tenant management, system automations, construction, and even financing so you can get better ROI earlier on! ... show more

November 18, 2020

Rookie Podcast 38: Balancing a Career, Family, and Lots of Deals with Active Duty Service Member Adam Whitney

Feeling stretched for time in your investing career? Today we talk with Adam Whitney, an active duty military member, working full-time, with children, a wife, and an active investment portfolio! W ith so much going on at once, Adam makes it look easy, juggling his hectic military life while accomplishing his long term goals. Adam started learning about real estate over a decade ago, but didn’t dive in until 2017. Thanks to his “ruthless work ethic”, he’s been able to stack up his rental portfolio, make meaningful mentor connections, and join masterminds in only a few years! Adam talks about getting 0% down loans, locking down long-distance real estate deals, doing thorough inspections when buying sight-unseen, and how to start relationships with mentors and real estate professionals you look up to. With a healthy portfolio of rental properties spanning across the country, Adam is the perfect example of someone who found the time to accomplish his (and his family’s) dreams of financial independence! ... show more

November 11, 2020

Rookie Podcast 37: New Co-host Tony J Robinson: Scaling with Short-Term Rentals

Big news: previous guest Tony J Robinson is back... he's now your new co-host alongside Ashley. Today, you'll get reacquainted with Tony and learn how he rapidly expanded his portfolio this year. I n fact, he went from owner of 2 houses when he appeared on the show in March... to closing on his 7th property (!) next month. ...How tho? Tony spells it out today: from finding new financing options in Louisiana (he lives in Southern California), to breaking into the short-term rental game in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and Joshua Tree, CA. Plus: a next-level tip we haven't heard before: using a line of credit against your stock portfolio (rather than a property) to free up short-term cash. We're excited to have Tony on board; get to know him in this episode, and we'll see you next week! ... show more

November 4, 2020

Rookie Podcast 36: Gym Employee on the Path to $2k/Month and "Living for Free" with Gary Janica

Today's guest is Gary Janica, a Jacksonville, FL investor who loves his "stress-free job"... but realized he needed side hustle income to better support his family. Enter real estate investing! Gar y's portfolio is on the smaller side – he owns 2 duplexes – but he's been able to drastically change his financial picture by house hacking and extracting hidden value with "garage apartments." If you share similar goals, check out this episode to get inspired and learn something new – and connect with Gary by leaving a comment on the show notes page. ... show more

October 28, 2020

Rookie Podcast 35: Doubling Cashflow by Renting out Rooms with Pharmacist Ryan Chaw

From $25,000 purchase prices last week to $300,000+ group houses this week! We head to the Bay Area today to meet pharmacist Ryan Chaw, who ventured about an hour away from his hometown and began b uying 1 house per year and renting them by the room to college students. Ryan collects nearly $11,000/month from 18 tenants, and is creating the kind of generational wealth his grandfather used to put both him and a sibling through college. Does renting to college kids sound like a disaster waiting to happen? Well... Ryan has found several ways around this, and in this episode he outlines the checklists, systems, and "personal touches" he uses to self-manage without the headaches. Ryan opens up about an early failure, too. He wasn't getting all his rooms filled, and he realized he wasn't doing a good enough job advertising. So he developed step-by-step, "P.R.I.M.E." marketing method to attract a steady stream of qualified applicants... and you'll learn each step today. If you're struggling how to figure out just how to create cashflow in a spendy market, follow Ryan's lead! Get creative, consider rent-by-the-room and other outside-the-box strategies, and reap the rewards of greater appreciation and stability that come with high-priced areas. ... show more

October 21, 2020

Rookie Podcast 34: School Teacher Making $72,000 a Year in Cashflow with Amy Barber

What do you get when you combine Dave Ramsey-style frugality with aggressive deal-finding tactics? You get teacher Amy Barber and her fiancé, Jay – and their $6,000 monthly cashflow in rural Iowa. In this episode, Amy shares her strategies for buying foreclosed ranch houses in cash, cleaning them up, then refinancing so she can repeat the process again and again. Think no one's doing deals during the pandemic? Well, she's bought 4 houses in the past 4 months, and plans to keep going until she's making enough to comfortably leave her W-2 job. If you're looking for guidance on how to build the financial foundation so you can invest in real estate from a position of strength, Amy's story will fire you up and get you ready to take that most important next step toward "getting rich slowly" just like her. By the way, Amy came to our attention through the Real Estate Rookie Facebook group. If you find other awesome investors who would make a great fit for the show, tag us or send them to biggerpockets.com/guest so they can apply. ... show more

October 14, 2020

Rookie Podcast 33: A Marine (and his Mentor) Buy a BRRRR: Step-by-Step with Joe Roberts and Steve Rozenberg

Today we bring you another mentor/mentee conversation, where Joe Roberts shares his experience working alongside Steve Rozenberg to buy his first long-distance investment property. Joe is a U.S. Ma rine helicopter pilot who regularly deploys to combat zones, so efficient systems are a must for him. Steve, a commercial airline pilot and experienced investor, loves designing standard operating procedures. Perfect fit! The two got paired up when Joe won Mynd Property Management's $20,000 mentorship contest, and today they reveal how Joe found the perfect market, neighborhood, and property for his first BRRRR. You'll love hearing how Joe and Steve developed their strategy based on Joe's goals for appreciation, equity, and cashflow; how he analyzed the numbers in several markets before settling on Atlanta; how he documented his process to he can repeat the process over and over again (even while deployed)... and why he'd rather hire property management than deal with tenants himself. This show gives you a peek into a real-world mentorship and breaks down the mistakes and lessons learned along the way. Let us know what you think of this episode in the comments at biggerpockets.com/rookie33, and we'll see you next week! ... show more

October 7, 2020

Rookie Podcast 32: Debt Free with 2 Rentals and Counting with 24-Year-Old ICU Nurse Prescott Williams

Frontline healthcare worker... Air Force Reservist... real estate investor! 24-year-old Prescott Williams is a renaissance man committed to building real wealth through real estate while serving hi s community and his country. Today he walks us through his first 2 deals, and the 3 deals he's currently working on in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. Prescott shares some great shortcuts for investors who work full-time – from creating a "rental requirement list" with your personalized criteria to publicly posting your real estate goals (you never know who will send you a lead!). A lot of our guests choose their real estate agent as their MVP, but for Prescott it's his mortgage lender. You'll learn how he finances his rehabs and new construction deals by partnering with a small local bank – a strategy you can model (if you're willing to put in a little legwork!) Give Prescott a follow on Instagram @prescott_williams -- and follow us by joining our Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group: just search "Real Estate Rookie" and answer the screening questions to join 15,000 other like-minded investors. ... show more

September 30, 2020

Rookie Podcast 31: Partnering Up, Part 2: Two Real-World Case Studies with Amy Swayze and Chris Lawrence

So... how do partnerships work in real life? Today, you'll learn how – from two new(ish) real estate investors: Amy Swayze and Chris Lawrence. Amy breaks down her partnership with her adult son, wh o used his retirement fund to jumpstart their investing career earlier this year (right before COVID hit!). Here's the arrangement: Amy's son brings the money and crunches the numbers; she manages rehabs and gets tenants in their BRRRR rental properties. Chris is a more experienced investor, having left his sales job to start investing full-time in the Rochester, NY area. Still – when he first jumped into real estate investing, he realized he was missing a few pieces of the puzzle (including liquid $$$). So what did he do? He found a partner! Like Amy, Chris and his partner split everything 50/50. They use a HELOC to borrow money at a low interest rate... so they can make cash offers when they're looking for flips and wholesale deals. This is a real-life look behind the curtain to see how two rookie investors are running their business, and using partnerships to supercharge their wealth-building. Don't miss it... and if you enjoy it, share it with a friend or family member. Who knows, he or she might want to partner up with you someday! ... show more

September 23, 2020

Rookie Podcast 30: How to Structure a Partnership, Part 1 with Felipe & Ashley

"I know partnerships can help me build wealth, but how do they actually work in practice?" This is one of the most common questions we get... and today Felipe and Ashley outline 6 rules for partnering on your real estate investments. From identifying the missing piece that's holding you back, to defining clear lanes and avoiding common pitfalls... this show is a must-listen for any new investor who realizes she can't do it all herself. Be sure to come back next week for Part 2 – where you'll hear the details of real-world partnership case studies, as told by a handful of investors who have made it work! ... show more

September 16, 2020

Rookie Podcast 29: Growing Your Portfolio with Turnkey Investing with Whitney Hutten and Lance Robinson

Expensive market? Busy with a career and other priorities? There are a lot of compelling reasons to consider turnkey investing in a more affordable area – where a local "operator" sells you a tenanted property designed to pump out cashflow from day one. All you have to do is "turn the key," hand things off to a property manager and... voilà! You're rich. You can now kick back and sip margaritas on the beach. Right? Well, it's a little more complicated... as you'll learn today from seasoned turnkey investors Whitney Hutten and Lance Robinson. Both have bought rental properties from turnkey operators in several different markets, and they tell us all about the highs and lows, reveal what they wish they would have known, and offer candid advice for anyone considering this niche. When you're done with this show, you'll know the exact questions savvy investors ask prospective turnkey providers about neighborhoods, construction warranties, property management contracts, and how operators handle evictions and major repairs. You'll also know how to handle a home inspection to ensure you know exactly what you're getting into! Look – there are a lot of turnkey operators active on the BiggerPockets forums. A lot of them are great teachers, too. But this episode is told from the investor/customer's perspective... and it's well worth a listen – or two! ... show more

September 9, 2020

Rookie Podcast 28: Balancing 8 Properties with a Full-Time Career and Family with "Property Pastor" Marsay Winder

We all have the same 24 hours per day... so be like Marsay Winder and make the most of them! He calls himself the "Property Pastor," and he owns 8 properties (24 units) in the Virginia Beach, VA ar ea. Marsay juggles his business with his family life and a full-time career in manufacturing, so landlording systems are a must – and he breaks them down for us in this episode. You'll also hear about his MVP mentor, how he avoids time-wasting distractions, and the books and resources that helped him build a formidable portfolio in just 3 years. Enjoy this one... and if you're getting value out of the content here, please do us a favor and give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than 30 seconds, and it really helps us climb the rankings and spread the gospel of financial independence through real estate investing! ... show more

September 2, 2020

Rookie Podcast 27: 5 Doors by Using Seller Financing for the First Time with Aaron Chapman

Aaron Chapman ran into major obstacles on his first 2 real estate deals... obstacles you might face as you launch your own investing career. Wouldn't you like to know how to react when you're turned d own for a loan? Today, you'll learn how! From a duplex purchase that seemed doomed when he lost his job while in escrow... to a triplex purchase that a bank wouldn't touch, this Louisville, KY investor breaks down how he reached 5 doors by age 24 – and his exact roadmap to reach financial independence by age 30! Oh, and don't miss the story of how Aaron wound up on the show (hint: his fiance is the real MVP!). Before you go, here's a challenge for you: who in your market would make a great guest for this show? Send them over to biggerpockets.com/guest and we'll take a look at their application. ... show more

August 26, 2020

Rookie Podcast 26: Mindset Shift at 40 to Start Real Estate Investing with Derek Tellier

Derek Tellier didn’t start investing in real estate until he was over 40. Unhappy with what was going on in his life, a friend plugged him into healthy eating, exercising, and long-distance running. O nce his health was back on track, he realized he didn’t like the trajectory his life was on, and made major changes. That same running friend introduced him to real estate investing. Derek got licensed, joined his friend’s real estate team, and bought his first real estate deal - a cabin that he rents out short-term in the Smoky Mountains. Derek has parlayed that into a career, helping people invest in short term rentals in the Smoky Mountains Derek’s Rookie Deal is a BRRRR property that needed a LOT of work. He financed it using private money and after his rehab he was able to pull out ALL of the money he had into the deal. It even cashflows $350 per month! Derek has had some growing pains along the way, like a true real estate investor. He shares tips for finding contractors, finding lenders, and finding deals in this episode, along with discussing numbers and the importance of having reserves. If you think you waited too late to start investing in real estate, this episode can help change your mindset and show you that it’s never too late to get started. ... show more

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Real Estate Rookie

Previous Episodes

Rookie Podcast 41: Using Hard Money & BRRRR to Go From 2 to 80 Units with Kyle Mack

Rookie Podcast 40: Using the “AREA” System to Buy 21 Houses in Just a Few Years with Anam and Aamir

Rookie Podcast 39: $500 Per Door on Multifamily Properties (During COVID!) with Thomas Tsitouridis

Rookie Podcast 38: Balancing a Career, Family, and Lots of Deals with Active Duty Service Member Adam Whitney

Rookie Podcast 37: New Co-host Tony J Robinson: Scaling with Short-Term Rentals

Rookie Podcast 36: Gym Employee on the Path to $2k/Month and "Living for Free" with Gary Janica

Rookie Podcast 35: Doubling Cashflow by Renting out Rooms with Pharmacist Ryan Chaw

Rookie Podcast 34: School Teacher Making $72,000 a Year in Cashflow with Amy Barber

Rookie Podcast 33: A Marine (and his Mentor) Buy a BRRRR: Step-by-Step with Joe Roberts and Steve Rozenberg

Rookie Podcast 32: Debt Free with 2 Rentals and Counting with 24-Year-Old ICU Nurse Prescott Williams

Rookie Podcast 31: Partnering Up, Part 2: Two Real-World Case Studies with Amy Swayze and Chris Lawrence

Rookie Podcast 30: How to Structure a Partnership, Part 1 with Felipe & Ashley

Rookie Podcast 29: Growing Your Portfolio with Turnkey Investing with Whitney Hutten and Lance Robinson

Rookie Podcast 28: Balancing 8 Properties with a Full-Time Career and Family with "Property Pastor" Marsay Winder

Rookie Podcast 27: 5 Doors by Using Seller Financing for the First Time with Aaron Chapman

Rookie Podcast 26: Mindset Shift at 40 to Start Real Estate Investing with Derek Tellier

Real Estate Rookie

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