The Biggerpockets Real Estate Investing Podcast

Which home renovations will boost your property’s value and put you in a better position to sell? Or, if you’re not selling, how do you rake in even more equity during a hot housing market? If you have some time, a bit of money, and the knowledge from this episode, you can instantly increase your home value through some standard home renovations. But we’re not just talking about replacing the roof (although we DO talk about that); we’re getting into the nitty gritty of exterior home renovations that’ll truly make you richer. So, how did we come up with the best bang-for-buck home renovation list? Easy—we didn’t! We just asked pro flippers James Dainard and Jessie Rodriguez to do it for us. Both of these investing veterans have flipped hundreds of houses. They know what’s worth the cost and, more importantly, what isn’t. Together, they drop some time-tested gems on the home renovation hit list that’ll turn your outdated home into an up-to-date masterpiece and bring about bidding wars. Stick around because we’r

The climate crisis is already here, and the cost of real estate is being directly affected. Insurance premiums are skyrocketing, costs to build are rising, and your reserves need to be bigger than ever. Tornados, hurricanes, fires, and floods threaten your properties, so how do you protect yourself from what’s coming? Where are the least-affected areas, and how do you ensure your rental property portfolio doesn’t go up in flames or get drowned out by the rising tide? Moody’s Analytics’s Natalie Ambrosio Preudhomme is on this BiggerNews to talk about one thing—climate catastrophes. Natalie spends her days looking through data on the financial implications of climate risk and how she can better help real estate investors navigate around or outright avoid the most devastating effects to come. Plus, researching what you can do to prevent property damage if you're in an at-risk area.  Natalie outlines how climate risk will force more local governments to increase regulations (and fines), the safest investing areas

Here’s exactly how to buy your first rental property in ninety days or less. And guess what? You don’t need ANY real estate investing experience to do it. After watching this episode, you’ll be able to find rental properties, analyze them to ensure they’re profitable, and fund them so YOU can start building financial freedom. And whether you want two investment properties or twenty, these are the EXACT steps you’ll need to accomplish your goal. If you’re dreaming of passive income, financial independence, or throwing your alarm clock out the window, this is the place to start. Dave Meyer, BiggerPockets VP of Market Intelligence, went from waiting tables to making mailbox money EVERY month by investing in real estate over the last decade. Now, Dave lives abroad, doing what he loves and having more than enough passive income to support his lifestyle. He’s giving YOU the beginner steps to start building your own wealth through real estate and showing YOU how to buy your first rental property in just ninety days.

Though only in her thirties, Natalie Cloutier has built a nine-million dollar real estate portfolio with just eight properties. Her secret to success? The “build-to-rent” strategy that so many real estate investors won’t even consider. Most investors feel that the building process is too complicated, expensive, and requires too much effort to be worth the time. But what if this “build-to-rent” strategy allowed you to create your own profitable deals, make massive amounts of equity, and build wealth even in a highly competitive market? After her parents shared their secret strategy to build wealth, Natalie realized that building rentals, not buying them, was her ticket to financial freedom. But how could she get started? She was a fresh college graduate with no money to her name. Thanks to a no-money-down construction loan, Natalie built her first rental property, a house hack, which ignited her multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio. In today’s show, she shares her “super secret method” to “building” wealt

It’s not too late to retire with real estate, EVEN if you’re just getting started in your late fifties or have NO experience investing. On this Seeing Greene, David gives his take on what someone with no rentals (or real estate at all) can do with their retirement accounts to successfully retire on real estate. But maybe you have a bit more experience or aren’t such a late starter. Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty for you too. We’re back as David takes investing questions directly from listeners just like you. In this Seeing Greene episode, a house hacker asks whether he should take out a HELOC or hard money loan to get his next deal done. A late starter wonders what she can do to retire with real estate, even with zero experience investing. David shows YOU how to negotiate with your lender to get a better rate or term on your home loan and use “portfolio architecture” to put your “lazy” equity to work so you build wealth faster! Want to ask David a question? If so, submit your question here so David can answe

We’re about to share the secrets NO seller wants you to know about. These secrets could save you tens of thousands of dollars on your next home purchase, and most buyers have no clue about them. In fact, these secrets are so rarely used that most agents don’t know how to take advantage of them until it’s too late. Today, we’ll unlock the best-kept negotiation secret in real estate investing: negotiating AFTER your offer has been accepted.  New investors and first-time homebuyers think the time to negotiate is BEFORE their offer gets accepted, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Once an offer is accepted, buyers unknowingly gain a TON of leverage—leverage that can be used to get seller credits, a reduced purchase price, concessions, and more. And this isn’t just some negotiation theory that works only in psychology textbooks. David has used these tactics NUMEROUS times to save his clients thousands of dollars and get them EXACTLY what they want out of the seller. And if you’re a seller, the reverse wo

The biggest real estate tax deduction is coming back. That’s right—100% bonus depreciation is almost cleared for a triumphant return as the House pushed a new tax bill to the Senate, one that includes some massive tax deduction potential for real estate investors and everyday Americans alike. So, why is this SUCH a big deal? We’ve got Brandon Hall, CPA, on to break down why bonus depreciation could save you tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars. Everyone knows that real estate boasts some of the best tax benefits of any investment in the nation. But, the one tax benefit to rule them all is almost always depreciation. This tax write-off lets you expense a portion of your property every year and can turn your real-life gain into a paper loss, so you keep your cash flow while avoiding taxes. But bonus depreciation is like regular depreciation on steroids. And the tax benefits can be massive. So, how do you take advantage of this huge tax write-off? What do you need to know BEFORE you take it? And should

Want to learn how to create generational wealth? You know, the type of wealth that your children’s children’s children’s children can rely on. The type of wealth that allows your family to live a life of financial freedom, pursue their passions, and make a real impact on the world without having to sit behind a cubicle or screen all day long? That’s the wealth Whitney Elkins-Hutten is teaching you how to build in today’s episode. After achieving financial independence for herself and her family through real estate, Whitney knew that she didn’t want her knowledge to go to waste. So, she developed a wealth-building blueprint for her daughter, which became her new book, Money for Tomorrow. In it, Whitney teaches you how to build a wealth legacy that will endure for generations to come and ensure that your descendants won’t gamble or spend away your life’s work. To protect your generational wealth, Whitney walks us through the four financial “horsemen” that will drain your savings, crush you with taxes and fees,

Do NOT buy rental properties. There’s a MUCH better way to build wealth. And we mean that literally, “building” wealth is the best path. At just twenty-seven years old, today's guest has built twenty-five homes, often making around a one-hundred percent return on his money, all without the hassle of the creaky floors, poor piping, and outdated electricals of old, “cash-flowing” rental properties. So, how is he doing it? Donovan Adesoro bought his first duplex in 2020. He took advantage of a zero percent down loan program, allowing him house hack a new build for just $3,000 out of pocket. But once he saw how much equity he could make, he realized he had to do more. So, Donovan linked up with other investors, overseeing the new build process in exchange for capital to buy land. He then used the plots of land as collateral for his new construction loans, and within six months, Donovan was the proud owner of a brand new duplex with TONS of equity included. But if you’re like most investors, you know NOTHING about

Got just enough savings to buy a rental property? Before you pull the trigger, you’ll want to hear today’s episode because you could be making a big mistake. Speaking of buying, are future rate cuts going to push mortgage rates down so low that buyers and bidding wars flood the market? Is this your last chance to get in before home prices shoot back up? Don’t worry; we’re getting to all these questions in this week’s Seeing Greene. David is back and better/balder than ever as he answers your real estate investing questions. First, a young house hacker wants to know what he should do when there are no good deals in his area. Then, another young investor debates whether they should buy a rental or invest in stocks instead. Unfortunately, there’s one big problem he’s overlooking. A new investor wonders if she should dump her ENTIRE savings into a second home, and a realtor asks for lead generation tips. Finally, David gives his take on what will happen when mortgage rates finally fall this year.  Want to ask Dav

Before you buy your first rental property, you’ll need to choose a real estate market. If you’re like many Americans, your own backyard may not offer what you want out of an investing area. So, where do you go to find cash flow or appreciation? Today, we’re walking you through choosing a real estate investing market, the metrics to look for, signs of growth and decline, and which markets offer investors the biggest benefits. How hard is it to do market research? If you have access to the internet, you can research a market in a matter of minutes. But knowing WHAT to research is the most crucial part. Dave Meyer, VP of Market Intelligence at BiggerPockets and host of the On the Market podcast, shares his steps to market analysis and how he analyzes each market to ensure it’ll make him the most money in the long run. We’ll touch on population and migration, supply and demand, vacancy rates, rent-to-price ratios, landlord vs. tenant-friendly states, and the telltale signs that a market will have high or low cash

The US economy has survived the past few years surprisingly well. But there's one huge threat on the horizon no one is watching. With layoffs and bankruptcies already starting to tick up, a new wave of misfortune could hit consumers EVEN as inflation cools, interest rates begin to drop, and asset prices hit an all-time high. What's coming for us that only the most economically inclined know about? We're about to break it down on this BiggerNews.  J Scott, investing legend and author of too many real estate books to name, is back on the show to talk about housing crashes, economic predictions, mortgage rates, consumer sentiment, and the silent threat to the US economy that nobody is thinking about. J knows the game better than most and is the furthest thing from a bubble boy or permabull. He’s got his finger on the economic pulse and uses the most up-to-date economic data to form his opinions. On today's episode, J shares whether or not he believes another housing crash is coming, how America could become a "r

You’ve heard top investors talk about “hard money loans” before, but what are they? You never walk into a bank and see a “hard money” sign, and if you aren’t outwardly searching for it, you’d probably never know hard money was a thing. That’s because hard money isn’t coming from a bank or big institution, and because of that, it has some HUGE benefits over getting a standard loan. Better loan-to-value ratios, higher lending amounts, faster funding, and the ability to get a loan on a ROUGH property are just a few. So, how do YOU find your first or next hard money loan? We’ve got Will Heaton from Heaton Dainard Real Estate on the show to share his experience as a hard money lender and investor for the past two decades. Will has been on both sides of hard money—he’s been the lender and the borrower, but now primarily focuses on lending to OTHER investors trying to build their fix and flip businesses or real estate portfolios. Will walks us through what hard money is, why it often beats bank loans, how much it co

The affordable housing crisis is an ongoing challenge here in the United States, but this developer has cracked the code in her own backyard—providing more opportunities for low and median-income households without gentrifying their communities. The cherry on top? She’s making a huge profit while doing it. In 2005, during Hurricane Katrina, Terrica Lynn Smith couldn’t scrounge up a few hundred dollars to evacuate her and her two children from New Orleans. After this traumatic event, Terrica was determined to break the curse of generational poverty and create a better financial future for her family. Little did she know that she would be creating a better life for countless people in her community as well. After seven failed attempts, Terrica passed her real estate exam and started selling homes. She jumped at any opportunity to learn something new, which allowed her to advance from a real estate agent to an investor, and finally, to a developer. If you want to have a powerful impact with real estate but lack

A few years ago, everyone was wondering how to start investing in real estate, but now the question has switched to “Is it too late?” If you’re stuck on the sidelines but want to get into the real estate investing game, this Seeing Greene is for you. The man of the people is back for another Seeing Greene-style show! This time, David is answering questions from new investors, experienced investors, and everyone in between. First, we’ll hear from an investor who’s wondering about the value of a low mortgage rate, especially when buying a new build. Is a lower rate worth a higher price? Then, David tells you how to convert your home equity into a new investment property and what you MUST know before getting into commercial real estate. A college student wants to know how to use his $20K savings, and a “late starter” searches for cash flow in a market that’s dry as a desert! Want to ask David a question? If so, submit your question here so David can answer it on the next episode of Seeing Greene. Hop on the Bigg

Got home equity? Great, because today we’re showing you how to use home equity to invest in real estate, even if you’re low on cash. But maybe you’re still saving up to buy your first property. Well, we’ve got you covered; we’re also sharing the TOP ways to use your retirement accounts—your Roth IRA or 401(k)—to invest faster than ever before and even lock down your first property in 2024! Joining the show is Kyle Mast, fellow real estate investor and CFP, to talk about all the ways you can invest in real estate that you didn’t even know about. And if you’re like many Americans, you’ve got home equity just sitting there, waiting to be used, so today, we’re walking through how to unlock it so you can build wealth faster, retire earlier, or renovate that rental you just bought! Kyle goes over the multiple ways to finance these investments using a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or retirement accounts like Roth IRAs and 401(k)s, the special program new homebuyers can use to get their first house faster, and

If you want to start investing in real estate, you’ll need to know how to get a mortgage. But with so many home loans available, which is the right one to pick? Do you go FHA or conventional? Do you work with your local bank or call a broker? How much can you even afford? These questions alone might put you into analysis paralysis, so today, we’re breaking down what it takes to get a home loan, how much YOU can qualify for, and the best real estate investment for beginners. To demystify the home loan process is David Mackin—the third David in today’s episode—mortgage broker, house hacker, and home loan expert. He knows what you need to qualify for a mortgage in 2024 because he qualifies buyers all day long. David shares how YOU can determine how much home you can afford, why you’re getting different mortgage rates from different lenders, and how to find cash flow in your market by reverse engineering your real estate calculations. And, if you’re looking for the easiest, lowest cost, and arguably best way to g

You asked, and we answered. Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to buy a house in 2024. Whether you’re looking for a first primary residence, rental property, house hack, or short-term rental, these are the EXACT steps you’ll have to follow to buy a house. But before you can even think about buying, you’ll need to ensure you CAN buy in today’s housing market. Ready to start? Let’s hop in! Here to show you how to buy a house are David Greene and Rob Abasolo, two expert real estate investors who have bought dozens of homes each. Now a real estate agent and mortgage broker, David knows the ins and outs of the industry and can give you insider knowledge on what most buyers, sellers, and agents don’t know (but wish they did). Rob has bought throughout the nation and has turned multiple primary residences into rentals, so he knows both processes like the back of his hand. Let’s make 2024 the year YOU buy your first property. Stick around because we’re going to walk through the six beginner steps to buying a hous

Antoine Martel has a secret to finding the best real estate markets around, and here’s the thing—ANYONE can repeat his process. After flipping over SIX HUNDRED houses and building a BIG real estate portfolio, he knows a thing or two about where to buy, which markets make the most sense, and what type of house is worth the risk. That’s why, instead of doing multimillion-dollar luxury flips, Antoine decided to do “micro-flips” in affordable markets, with a staggering rate of success.   What is "micro-flipping?" If you’re a beginner investor like Antoine, starting out with only $40,000, buying in the big cities won’t work. So, instead, Antoine found the real estate markets with low prices, high demand, and LOTS of deals so he could get his money back faster and keep repeating the system. These low-risk “micro-flips” all-in often cost less than a down payment, but they can give beginner investors the snowball effect they need to start building wealth.  Shortly after seeing massive success with his “micro-flips,

Got a HELOC? Don’t pay it off…yet! Thinking of house hacking but are discouraged by the low cash flow numbers you’re getting back? Looking to invest in a high property tax state like Texas but are scared to swallow that big expense? All of these topics, and many more, are coming up on this episode of Seeing Greene! David is back to answer YOUR real estate investing questions with his partner in crime, Rob Abasolo. Today, these two investing experts are going to tackle topics like whether or not to buy a house hack that DOESN’T pay for itself, how to account for the HIGH property taxes in hot real estate markets, whether to keep a property you love or sell it for its huge home equity, how to NEVER work again and the fifteen vs. thirty-year mortgage debate, plus when you should NOT pay off your HELOC (home equity line of credit) early.  Want to ask David a question? If so, submit your question here so David can answer it on the next episode of Seeing Greene. Hop on the BiggerPockets forums and ask other investo