- 38 minutes 58 secondsWas Dave Ramsey Right About Rentals? (Don’t Use Debt)
You want to buy a rental property, so you put 20% down and get a mortgage to cover the rest. This is how most investors buy real estate, but some (Dave Ramsey) think you can do it without debt—or at least less of it. Can you actually build a real estate portfolio with cash? Will a shorter note kill your cash flow? Today, we’re putting these two investing philosophies to the test!
We’re answering more questions from the BiggerPockets Forums—this time, with help from Deandra McDonald, the investor who went from $4,000 to financial freedom with rental properties. After a debate on using leverage in real estate, we’ll field questions from a couple of self-managing landlords who are struggling with tenant screening and turnovers. Should you approve a “questionable” tenant if they’re pre-paying the year’s rent? How do you keep contractors on schedule when doing repairs?
If you’re trying to get into real estate investing with very little money, what should you do? We’ll discuss whether it’s better to raise capital from family and friends to invest today or hold off until you’ve saved up your own down payment. Finally, an investor wants to try their hand at hotel conversions. With this being right in Deandra’s wheelhouse, she shares the investing strategies that have (and haven’t) worked for her!
Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums!
In This Episode We Cover
Whether Dave Ramsey is right (or wrong) about using leverage in real estate
The easiest (and most difficult) aspects of rental turnovers
Common red (and green) flags to watch out for when screening tenants
How to come up with your first (or next) down payment from scratch
What to know before tackling a hotel conversion project
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1346.
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21 October 2026, 11:00 am - 35 minutes 10 seconds3 Paid-Off Rentals: The “Boring” (But Proven) Path to Financial Freedom
Financial freedom with three rental properties? It almost sounds too easy, but it’s reality for today’s guest, who went from making roughly $11 an hour to having more than enough cash flow to live on.
With a little hard work and discipline, Lucas Teague saved $10,000 to buy his very first rental property. He made several offers and heard plenty of “nos.” But he only needed one “yes.” And that first yes changed everything.
Lucas repeated the process: buy a “cheap” property, live in it, fix it up, and make tens of thousands of dollars. But instead of racing to build a massive real estate portfolio, Lucas settled on three rentals and started paying them off.
Now he’s almost completely debt-free and earns enough rental income to cover his family’s expenses and then some. Lucas has all that he needs. Now, he’s focused on a new objective: giving back. In this episode, he’s sharing an unconventional but proven path to financial freedom so YOU can do the same.
In This Episode We Cover
How Lucas achieved financial freedom with just three rentals
The advantages of holding onto your W-2 job while you invest
Good reasons to sell an investment property (even if it cash flows!)
Why you shouldn’t be afraid to make “lowball” offers
The AI tool Lucas uses to identify up-and-coming neighborhoods
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1345.
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19 October 2026, 11:00 am - 32 minutes20% of Homes See Price Cuts (Sellers Face Reality) | Oct. 2026 Housing Market Update
Seller desperation just hit a recent peak, creating a major buying opportunity in the housing market. Over 20% of properties saw a price cut in the past four weeks, and with mortgage rates only moving up, sellers are running out of options. Winter is coming, and with it, less demand—so what are sellers going to do? More price cuts could be in store.
We’re back with October’s housing market update! We’ve been saying for months that buying opportunities would get bigger, and we’re seeing it unfold in real time. Sellers are getting desperate and starting to cut prices at levels we haven’t seen in years. Fewer homes are changing hands, so buyers are getting their pick as deals sit on the market for months.
Dave is eyeing a specific set of homes as the biggest opportunity right now (and they’re on the market).
So what do you do if you’re ready to buy your next rental but don’t know if you’re catching a falling knife? Dave shares the properties he’s looking for, what he’s offering to get day-one equity, and whether the chances of a housing crash have gone up since our last report.
In This Episode We Cover
How to easily “filter” the homes with the most seller desperation (and get a steal of a deal)
Why home price cuts are rising and whether winter will bring even deeper discounts
The chance of this housing market correction becoming a full-on crash
Why Dave is looking for easily spottable, on-market properties to buy
How much to offer a seller if their home has been sitting on the market for months
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1344.
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16 October 2026, 11:00 am - 52 minutes 38 secondsFrom a $55K Rental to BiggerPockets CEO and Financial Freedom
16 years ago, Eric Augustyn had the same fear that keeps many of us up at night: What if I get fired? He had just survived the 2008 financial crash, and while lucky to have a job, Eric was nowhere near financial freedom. This reliance on his W-2 created a fire that pushed him to buy the one asset everyone was warning him about—rental properties. He found one of the cheapest rentals he could buy, and spent nights and weekends fixing it up to eke out a small profit.
And guess what? It worked.
After repeating the system for more than a decade, Eric now has a rental property portfolio that has given him true financial freedom, built on the pillars of cash flow, community, and continuous improvement. That made him the perfect choice as BiggerPockets’ new CEO, with the sole mission of helping you reach financial freedom through real estate (and have an easier time than he did).
Today, we get the story on Eric’s first rental and his current portfolio, why he does not self-manage his rentals, investing over 2,000 miles away, and what’s coming down the BiggerPockets pipeline that will make buying your first, or next, rental property easier.
In This Episode We Cover
How Eric went from a $55,000 townhome to becoming BiggerPockets CEO
New BiggerPockets features we’re building to make investing easier than ever before
Why hiring (the right) property managers is well worth the money
A low-money-down loan that changed everything for Eric’s real estate portfolio
How to invest out of state in the markets you actually enjoy visiting
New off-market properties being brought to BiggerPockets members
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1343.
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14 October 2026, 11:00 am - 32 minutes 16 secondsFrom $12/Hour to 3 Rental Properties and Traveling the World
Anyone can invest in real estate. You don’t need a fancy degree, a big bank account, or a high-paying job to get started. Arden Williams and his then-girlfriend were both making just $12 an hour when they bought their first house.
How did they do it? They got uncomfortable, slashed their expenses, and threw every extra dollar toward a down payment. Then, they brought that same approach to real estate investing—jumping from one house hack to the next and sharing space with multiple tenants.
These “small” sacrifices paid off in a big way. Today, Arden owns three rental properties, and he just broke ground on his first accessory dwelling unit (ADU). But that’s not even the best part. With this simple strategy, Arden and his wife quit their jobs and used their rental income to fund a year-long trip around the world.
Whatever financial freedom means to you—retiring early, spending more time with family, or traveling the world—real estate makes it possible. And in this episode, Arden will give you a repeatable blueprint for building the life you’ve always wanted.
In This Episode We Cover
The strategy that allowed Arden and his wife to quit their jobs and travel the world
Two pain points that the house hacking strategy immediately resolves
The step-by-step process for adding an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to your property
Money-saving habits that helped Arden fund multiple down payments
Small sacrifices that (most) real estate investors don’t want to make (but definitely pay off)
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1342.
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12 October 2026, 11:00 am - 37 minutes 3 secondsThe Lazy Investor’s Guide to Finding Rental Properties
This is how to find investment properties the lazy way. Many of us work full-time jobs, have kids, or juggle a lot of responsibilities, so we can’t dedicate days each week to finding rental properties to buy. Thankfully, you don’t have to. If you have even an hour or so to spare each week, you can use any of these five “lazy” methods to find your next investment property.
Henry is our go-to deal-finding expert and has bought over 100 houses using strategies just like these. These deal-finding tactics are so beginner-friendly that you can use many of them on your first real estate deal, with no prior experience. We’ll share how to find tenanted rental properties that can cash flow on day one, the secret behind getting agents to send you deals before the market sees them, how to make low offers en masse to get cheaper properties in any market, and how to get someone else to find the deals for you…for a fee.
Finally, if you want to organically, cheaply, and sustainably grow your rental property funnel so you’re always being shared on deals, we give you the step-by-step path to incentivize other investors in your area to shoot you properties for sale first.
Your next deal is closer than you think; here’s how to find it as a “lazy” investor.
In This Episode We Cover
How Henry scores rental properties for 40% off (routinely!) in his market
Exactly what to tell an agent so they send you “pocket listings” first
Getting on wholesalers’ lists so you’re constantly getting deals sent to your inbox
What to tell local investors in your area so they’ll send you deals or even referrals on contractors
A type of property that has tenants and management in place and is abundant for investors
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1341.
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9 October 2026, 11:00 am - 42 minutes 45 secondsScott Galloway: Stop Being an Earner, Start Being an Owner
Get a good corporate job, save some money, and start investing ASAP. If you’re going to buy a house, do it here. That’s Scott Galloway’s advice, or, as you may know him, Prof. G. Entrepreneur, NYU Stern School of Business professor, and author of The Algebra of Wealth.
Scott has gotten wealthy three times because, per his own words, he’s gone broke twice. After launching numerous companies, working as an investment banker, and becoming a bestselling author, he’s earned the right to share his contrarian takes on what’s about to happen next, and how you can get wealthy even if it feels like the world is looking less optimistic by the day.
We cover everything: the chances of an economic crash, whether buying a house is worth it (and where), whether AI will actually pay off, and the wealth-building opportunity of a generation almost no one is paying attention to. Also, a rare take on why side hustling could be killing your ability to earn more income, instead of increasing it.
Even if you’ve got no assets to your name right now, Scott makes a strong case for how (and why) you should become an owner, not an earner, ASAP.
In This Episode We Cover
How to go from “earner” to “owner” and get on the wealth-building side of the economy
The five real estate markets Scott would be (and is) betting money on
A wealth-building opportunity that could make younger generations set for life
STOP doing side hustles? Where your extra effort should really be going
The wealth formula that’s so simple most will ignore it (and makes you happier)
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1340.
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7 October 2026, 11:00 am - 35 minutes 53 secondsYou Don’t Need Dozens of Rentals to Reach Financial Freedom (He Tried It)
You don’t need to buy dozens of rental properties to have financial freedom. And if you ask today’s guest, less is usually more.
For over a decade, John Crutchfield was in full-on acquisition mode. Despite starting with very little money, he scaled to over 600 units across multiple states and tens of millions of dollars’ worth of real estate. He even quit his job to focus on his portfolio full-time!
But then the market changed. Interest rates spiked, debt became more expensive, and John’s expenses ballooned. He had overleveraged his real estate portfolio, and suddenly, owning more properties wasn’t really making him wealthier. So he did something he had spent years trying to avoid: he started selling. And in the process, John learned a painful lesson about building wealth: sometimes, having less can actually give you more.
In today’s episode, John shares some of the highs and lows from his own real estate investing journey, how he went about pruning his portfolio, and why the number of doors you own doesn’t matter nearly as much as the cash flow, value, and freedom each property provides.
In This Episode We Cover
Why John pruned his portfolio after scaling to over 600 rental units
When to buy more properties or pay off your mortgages
John’s step-by-step strategy for finding seller-financed deals
When to (and when not to) quit your job for full-time real estate investing
How to prevent lifestyle creep as your income increases
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1339.
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5 October 2026, 11:00 am - 39 minutes 8 seconds7 Real Estate Tax Benefits to Supercharge Your Rental Returns in 2027
We’re always talking about cash flow, appreciation, and loan paydown, but tax benefits are some of the most understated and overlooked advantages of real estate investing. Do you want to pay less in taxes and keep more of your hard-earned money from the IRS? Dave’s bringing you seven of the best tax strategies that could help you save thousands each year!
Today, Dave’s breaking down an example property and putting each of these tax strategies to the test. We’ll look at how much money they could save you and how they fit into your overall investing strategy. From depreciation deductions that reduce your taxable rental income (on paper) to 1031 exchanges that help defer capital gains tax, there are options for every investor.
When used properly, these real estate tax deductions are completely legal and relatively easy to implement. But it’s up to you to actually use them! Whether you own a single rental property or a large real estate portfolio, put these tax strategies to work and allow your investments to compound even faster!
In This Episode We Cover
Seven real estate tax strategies that could put thousands back in your pocket
Two ways to defer capital gains taxes when you sell a rental property
How to offset your active income with real estate professional status (REPS)
How to accelerate depreciation deductions with a cost segregation study
Everyday operating expenses that often qualify as tax write-offs
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1338.
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2 October 2026, 11:00 am - 37 minutes 18 secondsApolo Ohno’s “Patient” Real Estate Investing Approach for Financial Freedom
You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room to build wealth through real estate. But you do need patience, discipline, and a willingness to play the long game. Real estate won’t make you rich overnight, but it’s incredibly forgiving—meaning you can make mistakes, lose money in the short term, and still come out on top.
Apolo Ohno understands this concept better than most, having dedicated his entire youth to becoming a short-track speed skater. He reached the pinnacle of the sport, competing in three Winter Olympic Games and taking home several medals.
But when his skating career ended 16 years ago, he faced a challenge he hadn’t trained for. He calls it the “great divorce”—separating from an identity that had shaped nearly every part of his life. Thankfully, many of the skills he had spent decades honing translated to real estate investing.
Now, Apolo operates at the intersection of high-performance business and wellness, helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals in a more sustainable way. And today, he’s sharing the lessons that helped him weather tough times, why your investing network is your single greatest advantage, and how to avoid burnout on the road to financial freedom.
In This Episode We Cover
Essential skills and habits of successful real estate investors
How to “hard pivot” from one career to real estate investing
How to find the best real estate deals through your investing network
Investing mistakes that cost Apolo money during the Great Financial Crisis
Why real estate is one of the “most forgiving” asset classes
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1337.
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30 September 2026, 11:00 am - 37 minutes 58 secondsHe Sold His Car to Buy His First Property: Now He Owns 40 Rentals!
Lawrence “Landlord Larry” Guerguis thought he would spend the next 40 years of his life in finance. But one conversation with a regretful investment banker changed his life’s trajectory and set him on a path toward financial freedom through real estate investing. Just three years later, he owns 40 rental properties producing thousands in monthly cash flow!
Once Larry realized the impact that rental properties could have on his wealth, time, lifestyle, and flexibility, he wasted no time in buying his first rental property. While still in college, he sold his car, scrounged together a down payment, and bought a duplex out in the Midwest. With proof of concept and a few hundred bucks lining his pockets each month, he went all-in on real estate. He’s since moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he’s built a real estate portfolio of 40 single-family homes (and counting!).
In today’s episode, he’s giving you all the secrets he’s used to buy deal after deal without having the W-2 income to qualify for traditional bank financing. From locking in better rents with Section 8 investing to building a brand that creates greater opportunities, Larry has found a formula that really works in 2026!
In This Episode We Cover
How Larry scaled to 40 rental properties in just three years
The wild strategy Larry used to find his first private money lender
How Larry funds his rental properties without the bank (or W-2 income!)
Using Section 8 investing to lock in higher rents
Using social media to find off-market properties and lenders
How to pick a more affordable real estate market to invest in
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1336.
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