The Biggerpockets Real Estate Investing Podcast

Starting out in the world of house flipping and landlording can be taxing and a lot to take on at first, but it’s all a learning experience, which is why we want you to get to know a master at both, Michael Siekerka.  Michael’s first real estate investing experience was just six months after he graduated college, when he occupied his first purchase by doing a fix and flip. After years of rehabbing properties by partnering with friends for quick income, he eventually found his niche in buy and hold properties. In this informative episode, Michael shares with us how he manages his properties, the criteria he uses to find new places to rent out and the methods he follows to work successfully with hard money lenders and agents to boost his revenue. This is a show to hear if you’re in the market for success! In This Show We Cover: How to partner with friends correctly How to go from a fix and flip business plan to buy and hold properties Learning to finance correctly The dangers of using hard money lenders Th

Many people take their time in building their real estate investing… but not today’s guest, who has used his incredible marketing skills to do more than 400 deals in the past five years! Erik Stark got his start after he had been flipping cars out of high school and wanted to move on to bigger, better things. Since then, Erik has tried his hand at wholesaling, as well as purchasing single family homes, commercial property, bulk estates, multi-family homes, and more — by his estimation, closing over 400 deals. Learn how he implements creative, eye-catching marketing techniques we can (almost) guarantee you’ve never heard of, as well as how he chooses which types of investments to make within his market. Erik’s business philosophy of adding value to others’ lives through his deals will leave you inspired, and his many unique tips will have you reaching outside the box for innovative ways to grow your business. Don’t miss out on this information-packed episode! In This Episode We Cover: How Erik got his start b

Getting your first few real estate deals can be exceptionally tough -- which is why today we wanted to introduce you to an investor who is just wrapping up his first INCREDIBLE year as a wholesaler: Ben Grise.   During his first year, Ben earned more from wholesaling than most Americans earn from their jobs -- all while working a separate full time job, getting married, and having a baby! If you find yourself stressed, overworked and unsure of how to fit everything into your life -- this is a "can't miss" episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t miss this special feature, as we come to you live from FinCon 2014 for Podcast 90! In a BiggerPockets Podcast first, we sit down and chat live with financial conference attendees Matt Giovanisci from New Jersey, Romeo Jeremiah from Detroit and KC Beavers from Rochester, NY, three real estate investor newbies with fascinating stories and great tips for beginning investors and veterans alike! Hear from “accidental landlords” — a growing breed of property owners — firsthand, and let yourself be regaled by tales proving that first time investors CAN achieve success from the get go. A unique and high energy recording, this is one episode you’ll definitely want to tune in for! In This Show We Cover: Getting stuck with a property during the economic downtown The decision to rent by default, ie. the “Accidental Landlord” situation The art of staging a space to rent it out fast What exactly a “Streamline Refinance” entails The pros and cons of renting from afar Why finding a (trusted) property manager can

Looking to be inspired? Today on The BiggerPockets Podcast we sit down and chat with Engelo Rumora, a real estate investor with a fascinating story that involved dropping out of high school, playing professional soccer, and building up a massive real estate investment business across two continents! Don’t miss this incredible interview where we cover numerous topics ranging from getting started, flipping houses, networking with potential lenders, finding (and working with) mentors, running a growing business at a young age, and a lot more! In This Show We Cover: How Engelo got his start in Real Estate Investment The challenges of jumping in without formal education Valuable tips on effective networking The varied & diverse deals Engelo has made in his career so far Why he decided to move from Australia to the US Details on his first deal (and why he almost got killed because of it!) The 3 essential traits every investment partner should have How to avoid shady operators Tips on how to find the most p

Today we’re thrilled to chat with New Jersey real estate investors Matt and Liz Faircloth on The BiggerPockets Podcast, covering everything from the challenges of working with a spouse to purchasing a 10,000 square foot office space! Matt and Liz have been hooked on real estate since buying their first single family home in 2002. After years of self education, their fair share of learning pains and a healthy dose of hard work, the couple now owns over 100 units and has accomplished around 15 fix and flips. Employing a team of 11, their mission statement is to “revitalize Urban America” and to “transform lives through real estate.” Pick up some great tips on building an empire from the bottom up, choosing the best kinds of financing and earning that all-important track record of success. It’s all here, so don’t miss out! In This Show We Cover: How Liz and Matt got their start in real estate as an engaged couple The pros and cons of working with your spouse How to successfully get organized The importance o

Failure is no stranger in the real estate industry which is why we are excited to bring Nathan Brooks to The BiggerPockets Podcast today, an investor who knows firsthand that real estate can be tough! Nathan is an investor (both flips and rentals) from Kansas who went through a very difficult period during the real estate crash, losing all his properties and filing bankruptcy due to a shady partner and jumping in too quickly. Nathan has since emerged as a much stronger real estate investor and carries an incredible story with numerous lessons to share. Get ready to learn how failure can transform your life! In This Show We Cover: How Nathan found his first business partner at lunch Why Nathan bought two houses as a newbie – and lived to regret it How to find partners through BiggerPockets The opposite of paralysis by analysis How Nathan ended up filing bankruptcy  Nathan’s current (more conservative) investing strategy Dealing with tenants in a $20k property How to make a unit stand out among the comp

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we sit down with Cory Binsfield, a multifamily rental property investor who comes from Duluth, MN. If you ever feel like you don’t have enough time to invest in real estate, wait until you hear Cory’s story. He currently owns and manages 97 units himself while still working a full time job. Today he teaches us how he does it and also touches on a variety of topics related to getting started, house hacking, investing in a college town, and being a master of creative finance. This show is packed full of valuable tips so make sure to grab a pen and paper for notes, and let’s get to it! In This Show We Cover… Starting out with an investment that makes your wife cry How to use a VA Loan CreativeFinance vs. Conventional Finance The ins and outs of investing in a college town The SWAT team that descended on Cory’s property Mistakes, mistakes and more mistakes! Why partnering may NOT be a good option after all How to personally manage over 97 units while working a full time

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we chat with Mike McKinzie, a full time real estate investor from Garden Grove, CA. Mike is an investor and former property manager who has personally dealt with over 5,000 real estate transactions, but focuses most of his attention today on using property management to invest both locally and out of state. This show explores a variety of topics related to buy and hold real estate investing and offers a significant amount of actionable information on how to set up property management, covering everything from what questions to ask, what should be expected, and a whole lot more! In This Show We Cover… Growing up in a real estate family Hybrid real estate investing The key is to success in rental properties   Getting your real estate license as an investor How to prepare yourself for future-changing markets If you’re going to invest based on appreciation, THIS is how you do it!  The importance of updating trusts… How property managers can turn into lead sources How do

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we sit with Chad Carson, a full time real estate investor from Clemson, South Carolina. Chad brings expertise in a TON of areas including everything from fix-and-flips to creative finance, property management to buy-and-hold. This show explores how to use real estate as a means to design the lifestyle you really want. There are a ton of tips and tricks in this one, so dive in! In This Show We Cover… How to get started straight out of college The benefit of having a few key buyers vs. a buyers list The key is sincerity, hunger and enthusiasm   Getting your real estate license as an investor How to prepare yourself for future-changing markets The key to networking with financial partners Direct mail tips and strategies Lifestyle design through real estate The importance of the “why” behind your business 50/50 partnerships Property managing your own portfolio Creative finance strategies Self-Directed IRA’s Using court records to look up potential tenants An aweso

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we are excited to sit down with Marcia Maynard, a hands-on landlord who hails from Vancouver, Washington. Marcia got her start in real estate by marrying into “the family business” that already had an existing portfolio, but continued on the tradition to help fund her own future retirement. On today’s show, she goes into detail on how you can invest part-time for retirement while making a HUGE impact on the community in the process! This show covers the importance of integrity in a landlord’s life and is filled with actionable tips for dealing with tenants in an ethical – yet profitable – way. This is a great show, let’s get into it! In This Show We Cover… How to invest with family The importance of setting up your business structure and what happens when you don’t! Insurance – Do you need an umbrella policy? The awesome path of buying rental properties slowly Personal Finance 101 How to love your job and invest in real estate on the side The benefits of a mission sta

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we are excited to sit down with David Krulac, a real estate renaissance man who has experience in nearly every aspect of the industry, being involved in over 800 deals in his career. In today’s show we cover everything from prospecting tenants, how to buy at auctions, sub-dividing land, tax deeds and much, much more! In This Show We Cover… Purchasing houses from auctions How David’s first deal lead to him living rent and mortgage free for 6 months  The importance of working with Credit Unions Dealing with probates  Month-to-month leases vs annual leases 1031 Exchanges The ins and outs of subdividing land Tax deeds vs. tax liens The importance of an epic business card How to go from o to 800 deals An example of a super risky deal! What to watch out for when you go to buy at auctions What to look for in a potential tenant And a TON more! Links Mentioned in the Show: The BiggerPockets Fileplace The BiggerPockets Rewind Books Mentioned in the Show: How to Tur

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we are excited to welcome back Michael Quarles to the show. Several weeks ago we talked with Michael about his story and spent most of the show discussing the topic of negotiation, never getting to one of the most important topics we wanted to discuss with Michael: marketing. Specifically, Michael is a wealth of knowledge on all things involving direct mail, so today we’re going to tap into that knowledge. Today, Michael is going to teach you everything you need to know to get started in successful direct mail marketing and attract leads that no one else can get. We cover everything from market research to creating a call-capture system and everything in between. This show will go down in the history of BiggerPockets as one of the most actionable shows to date! In This Show, We Cover: The ins and outs of whole-tailing Everything you ever wanted to know about direct mail The beauty of controlling who calls you through direct mail How to start marketing even if you only ha

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we are excited to sit down with a Jonna Weber, a buy-and-hold investor and real estate agent out of the Boise, ID area. Jonna is a great example of how anybody can and should invest in real estate! In our conversation, we cover a lot of ground on how to use real estate for retirement and why real estate is a better avenue than the stock market. We also cover why an investor might want to become a real estate agent, how to find investor-friendly agents, what to look for when purchasing an investment property and much much more! In This Show We Cover… How anyone can invest in real estate Why would an investor become an agent in the first place? The importance of running the numbers with someone else Why investors are the best clients for an agent to have The hardest part of being a landlord How to get longer leases out of your tenants How to use BiggerPockets as a resource to manage your own properties Creating an “in-house” property management company for only your ow

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we are excited to sit down with a couple who together, intentionally invest where most landlords fear to tread . . . low income housing. Michele and Bruce Fischer who hail from Longview, Washington, decided to make a difference by landlording in areas that are so low-income, that even Section-8 doesn’t work in their neighborhood. In our conversation we dive into some really important topics regarding how to screen low-income tenants, how to handle (pets like pitt-bulls), what to do when your tenant is late on the rent, working with your spouse, what to do when the reality is your tenant will become homeless if you evict them, how to “tenant-proof” in low-income areas and a lot more! You don’t want to miss this one! In This Show We Cover… Why would you invest in low-income areas in the first place? What to look for when purchasing a low-income property How playing “Monopoly” with no money makes you a better real estate investor Handling late payments The “prostitute tena

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we are excited to sit down with a real estate investor who just said “you’re fired!” to her day job and became a full-time real estate investor! We are talking with Brie Schmidt, who invests in a wide range of rental properties in the Midwest and shares some incredible insight into how she finds them, finances them, and manages them. In our conversation we dive into some really important topics regarding personal finances, getting your first deal, working with your spouse, tenant-friendly laws, when to quit your job, and a lot more! You are going to LOVE this episode! In This Show We Cover… Why Brie chose a triplex for her first primary residence Choosing appreciation vs. cash flow in a buy and hold investment Why Brie decided to diversify her investments into long-distance investing. What makes an area “landlord–friendly” vs. “tenant friendly“ Dealing with maintenance request issues.. even while on vacation. Why Brie calls herself a “YouTube Landlord“ Real Estate as

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we are excited to welcome Michael Quarles to the show. Michael is an active investor coming out of California’s Central Valley who has done so many deals that he has lost count! His experience is diverse and includes developing, flipping and more, but today his primary strategy is what is known as “wholetailing” and today’s show covers this strategy in detail! Also, as a master negotiator, Michael breaks down the science of haggling a deal that both honors the seller and benefits the investor. This episode is so jammed-packed that you’ll finish feeling like you just graduated with a degree in negotiation! You even get to walk away word-for-word scripts! You really don’t want to miss this one! In This Show, We Cover: How Michael convinced a stranger to give him $200,000 in order to invest in real estate. The complete breakdown of what wholetailing is and how to do it… The 5 important question you HAVE to ask leads over the phone Practical lesson in Neuro Linguistics – Com

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we are excited to welcome back Brian Burke, who we last talked to back in episode number 3. Brian is the owner of a large, successful real estate company headquartered in Santa Rosa, CA. Last time we sat down with Brian, he showed us how he got started investing in real estate, walking us through his first steps. On today’s show Brian goes deeper, sharing the details of how he scaled his real estate business from a one-man operation to fully staffed multi-million dollar company! This show goes into incredible detail (and offering highly actionable steps) on how to bootstrap your business, how to vet employees, how to gauge your market and much much more! If you are looking to turn your investing company into more than just a hobby… this show is for you! In This Show, We Cover: How to grow your business from a 1-man business to a full scale operation How to prepare for legal issues as an investor When is the right time to grow your team? How do you find good players for y

Today on the BiggerPockets Podcast we are excited to welcome a guest who specializes in an aspect of real estate that no other guest has covered before! John Fedro is a mobile homes investor out of the Austin Texas area who introduces us to all the incredible opportunities that one can experience in the mobile home arena. If you’re someone asking yourself, “What type of real estate investing should I do?” Than this show is for you! Throughout the show John gives incredible advice and insight that can be applied to any aspect of real estate. This is a perfect show for people looking to get started, regardless if you like mobile homes or not! This is one of the most actionable shows we’ve had so without further adieu, let’s jump into it! In This Show, We Cover: How to find deals no one else is looking for The in’s and out’s of mobile home investing What do you do when you look 15 yrs old and want to invest in real estate? Why mistakes are ESSENTIAL to your success in real estate John’s Creative finance on

On today’s episode of the BiggerPockets Podcast – we’re going to change things up- again! This is our official 2nd newbie podcast and it’s probably our most fun show yet. Just like the last newbie podcast back on episode 25, all of our guest today are investors who are just starting out and who have recently finished their first deal. These stories are not only helpful for new investors, but even the pros can learn valuable lessons from their experiences! Each of these investors also are working full time jobs, which is something a lot of our listener’s struggle with. Additionally, we cover everything from investing when you live in an expensive city to the importance of confidence when everyone thinks your crazy and we even get to talk to a real-life rocket scientist who’s smart enough to hack his mortgage!  You really don’t want to miss this one! Links from the Show: The New Dumb and Dumber Trailer Nextdoor.com Asana.com How to “Hack” Your Housing and Get Paid to Live for Free Books Mentioned in the Sh