Category: <![CDATA[Podcast]]>

Today we’re swerving a bit from tradition to bring you a guest who is not a real estate investor. Jeff Thorman spent years as a general contractor, built his own company, then started his own YouTube channel, HomeRenovisionDIY, to teach people how to renovate their own homes.

Learn from his years of experience renovating in this episode. Jeff brings us incredible tips on building strong relationships with contractors – from inquiry to project close. We discuss the importance of using quality materials in any project. We even dive into some projects you should absolutely be able to do-it-yourself as an investor. As a real estate investor, you will have to complete renovation projects at some point – use this episode to make sure those projects are seamless and successful!

When Tarl Yarber last appeared on the show (#189), we got a behind-the-scenes look at his monster house flipping business.

He was doing a lot of volume, but here’s the catch: he was stressed out and unhappy. Plus… with zero rentals to his name, he had to keep spinning the hamster wheel – “feeding the machine” – to make any money.

Today’s show is about a big mindset shift, and the systems and teams Tarl put in place to create a business that truly serves him, rather than the way around… and allows he and his wife to travel 200 days a year while working on his business rather than in it.

We cover a lot of topics here, from high-level success principles to the specific real estate investing actions you can take – today – to adopt a more intentional and focused approach to building longterm wealth.

Lastly – Tarl’s an exceptional networker, and the guys discuss the importance of meeting up with other rockstar investors even if the pandemic is preventing you from doing it in person.

So… how do you do that?

Well, Tarl’s hosting a virtual conference September 18-19, and he’s offering a 50% discount to BiggerPockets Pro members (check your email). This isn’t a series of webinars, either… You’ll be able to actually meet up with other attendees through online breakout groups, so it solves for the biggest challenge most investors are facing right now.

Follow this link to http://virtualwealthexpobp.com/ to snag your ticket today!

In today’s episode we open up the phone lines again to field your real estate investing questions… and for an added twist, we bring in the familiar voice of author, BiggerPockets Business Podcast host, and house flipper/investor extraordinaire J Scott.

You’ll hear callers chime in with questions like: 1) “Help me get started” 2) “should I partner with family members?” 3) “How do I transition from single family to multifamily” – and much more! From refinancing and the finer points of BRRRR… to mentorship and long-distance investing… It’s all here!

Tell Brandon and David what you think of this new format in the show notes at biggerpockets.com/show397. We want to hear from you, too!

No one knows where the real estate market is headed next… but with an estimated 30 million Americans out of work, wouldn’t you like to know how to buy foreclosed properties, step-by-step?

That’s what you’ll learn today, from two investors who have completed over 1,000 deals each: David Osborn and Aaron Amuchastegui. They begin the show by sharing their thoughts on today’s economy (hint: they’ve kept plenty of cash cash on hand), then walk us through their 5-step process for successfully bidding on foreclosed properties at auction.

From building a list of properties, to lining up funding, to checking title and actually making your bid, you’ll learn how David and Aaron (+ thousands of other investors) built serious wealth buying up distressed properties after the last big crash. This skill set is another tool to add to your tool belt, and whether there’s another wave of foreclosures coming or not, you can use it to build serious wealth.

For more, pick up a copy of David and Aaron’s new book, Bidding to Buy: A Step-by-Step Guide to Investing in Real Estate Foreclosures. And check out the show notes at biggerpockets.com/show396 for a transcript and other resources.

Today: a no-excuses, American Dream story that will get you fired up to go hunt down a deal!

Thach Nguyen is an investor and agent in the Seattle, Washington area. When he was a kid, his family fled Vietnam for the U.S… he later parked cars at a Chinese restaurant… and despite becoming a top-producing agent building a monster portfolio of paid-off rental properties, he’s still hungry and shows no sign of slowing down.

In today’s episode, Thach (pronounced “Thatch”) shares the lessons he learned during the Great Recession, his criteria for buying a “perfect BRRRR”… and why he says there’s no shame in living with mom and dad to save money!

Plus, the guys discuss the pros and cons of paying down mortgages, the psychological advantage of owning your primary residence free-and-clear, and Thach’s favorite (free) lead generation strategy.

We think you’ll love Thach’s energy; he thinks big and will motivate you to do the same. Give him a follow (IG: @thachnguyen) and let us know what you think of this episode!

Ever considered partnering up with your spouse or another family member?

Today’s guests Elliot and Chrissy Smith did just that when they left stable careers to flip, wholesale, and buy rental properties together in Washington state.

Running the business together wasn’t easy on their marriage. In fact, they almost got divorced. Fast forward to today… they’re happy, doing 25 deals/year, and building long-term wealth by steadily buying rental properties.

So, what adjustments did they make?

In this episode Elliot and Chrissy share what they’ve learned about defining roles, managing cashflow, and finding work-life balance as young parents who happen to be business partners. It’s a rare inside look at the ups and downs – and risks and rewards – of running a true family business.

As die-hard fans right remember from his appearance on Show #255, Elliot is a skilled negotiator… and today he shares a surprisingly simple negotiating tip for those nerve-wracking kitchen table conversations with homeowners.

Look: you gotta love a couple who hires a babysitter just so they can drive around looking for distressed properties (a move which led to today’s Deal Deep Dive). So check out this episode, and share it with your spouse, friend, or family member who you think might enjoy it!

Real estate investing… old school!

Rick Jarman (@realestateoldschool on Instagram) joins us today to share some of his hard-won wisdom from 44+ years as a flipper and landlord in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. And it’s quite the journey, from cabinet maker and campus maintenance man to cigar-puffing 64-year-old social media influencer!

In this episode you’ll hear tales of up markets, down markets, losing it all, getting it all back… and a tornado that wiped out 20 of Rick’s 100+ rental houses. He also takes us through his rules for tenant screening, explains why he favors 15-year mortgages, and paints a picture of what it’s like to self-manage such a large portfolio of single family homes (with a team, of course).

Give Rick a follow, and if you know someone who’d make a great guest on the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast send them over to biggerpockets.com/guest where they can apply to appear on the show.

A $1 million net worth before the age of 30… through frugality and creative real estate investing!

That’s what Todd Baldwin’s achieved in a few short years, riding the red-hot Seattle housing market by repeat house hacking, renting by the bedroom, and living way below his means.

Sure, Todd’s benefited from appreciation, but he’s also generating monster cash-on-cash returns across his 6 rental properties. And today, you’ll learn just how he’s doing it: how he finds pocket listings, why he favors new construction, why he pays for a $2,000/month service most landlords would never dream of providing, how he limits roommate drama, and much more.

Wondering if this is legal? We discuss that in detail. Oh, and get this—Todd’s all-time vacancy rate? Zero percent. So if you’re in a high-priced coastal market, you need to listen to this show. And if you don’t, we can pretty much guarantee you’ll still enjoy it and pick up a few landlording nuggets along the way.

Know someone who might put Todd’s strategy to use? Share this episode with him or her today! And make sure you’re subscribed to the show so you won’t miss us next week.

Live calls, Dave Ramsey style!

In this episode we open up the phone (er, Zoom) lines to take audience questions on everything from “should I flip or hold this deal” to “Coronavirus cost me my job… how can I invest now?”

Brandon and David offer also advice on house hacking, Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs), appraisals, and the pros and cons of tapping a retirement account to jumpstart a real estate investing career.

We’ll be back to our regular programming next week… but let us know what you think of this format. And if you’ve got 30 seconds to leave us a rating and review in Apple Podcasts, we wouldn’t be mad at that either.

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 finding and 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.