In this episode of Real Estate Junkies: Coast to Coast, Rusty Ham and Rick Abbiati get raw and real about the ups and downs of creative real estate investing. From mindset struggles before the first deal to navigating sub-to hybrid deals gone sideways, they unpack what it really takes to build a sustainable real estate business.

👉 Rusty shares how one tenant-buyer dropped $100k down—then stopped paying
👉 Rick reveals how a $2,000 electric bill spooked his buyers and left him cleaning up the mess
👉 They both explain how their “Payday 1” reserve strategy saved their deals—and sanity

You'll also hear:

Honest insight on the frustration of waiting 12–15 months for a first deal
How mindset separates those who quit from those who scale
Two real-world sub-to hybrid deal structures, side by side
How to recover from tenant defaults, protect the seller, and still exit profitably
The power of vetting buyers + why the 3 Paydays model is built for long-term success

And don’t miss info on the In the Trenches Bootcamp and QLS Live Boston—links in the show notes!

This episode is a must-watch if you’re investing in real estate on terms or coaching others to do it. Subscribe now and join us every week as we help you scale your creative finance portfolio.

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Resources:
The Quantum Leap System has everything you’ll need to start buying and selling on terms.

Home Study Course The Quantum Leap System

FREE Strategy Session with a COACH 1:1 Advisory Session: use COUPON FREE3

JOIN for a minimum Investment 3-PayDay Apprentice Program

Work with us 1:1 (3 Day Event) In the Trenches Bootcamp

Live Event QLS Live 2025 Ticket

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58 | Creative Finance Real Talk: First Deals, Sub2 Hybrids & Tenant Drama