Podcast
Real Estate Rookie
Hosted by BiggerPockets · EN
Ready to build your real estate empire… but not sure where to begin?
Think of us as your personal trainer.
From detailed breakdowns of real-world deals… to one-on-one coaching sessions and a warm, welcoming community… hosts Ashley Kehr and Tony J Robinson bring on a wide range of guests to tackle the “newbie” questions you've wondered about but might be afraid to ask.
Looking to 10X your real estate investing business this year? This show isn’t for you.
Looking for your first, second, or third deal -- or envisioning a more modest portfolio? Step right up.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we’ll arm you with the tips, tools, and roadmaps you'll need as you embark on your journey toward financial freedom.
249episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Big Changes I’m Making to My Portfolio This Year (That Will Make Me Richer)
Yesterday00:40:22Summary readyMany rookies think things become easy once you’ve built a large real estate portfolio, but that’s far from true. Even with 26 short-term rentals, a 13-unit hotel, and a few house flips under his belt, Tony deals with many of the typical rookie challenges. In today’s episode, he’s sharing the lessons he’s learned and the rental pivots he’s making so YOU can grow and scale like him! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Last time we checked in with Tony about his real estate business, he was in the process of stabilizing his new hotel. Now, with an entire calendar year in the books, we’ll revisit the property and how it’s performing today. We’ll also hear about Tony’s next hotel investment and how he’s approaching it differently now that he has proof of concept. Tony also outlines the best course of action for new investors who want to break into the short-term rental space in 2026. Finally, what does a day in the life of a full-time real estate investor look like? Tony gives you an inside look at the flexibility he enjoys by owning rental properties that you don’t get with a nine-to-five job! In This Episode We Cover Rental pivots Tony’s making in 2026 for even bigger returns Updates on Tony’s rental portfolio and his 13-unit hotel investment The biggest pain points when investing in a smaller real estate market What Tony’s average week looks like as a full-time real estate rental investor First steps for rookies looking to invest in short-term rentals in 2026 How to build a real estate business that gives you more freedom and flexibility And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-729. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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She Started Investing in College and Already Has 5 Rental Units (And Counting)
3d ago00:43:28Summary readyThe real estate investing moves you make today could change your life. Those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s often look back and regret not starting sooner. Today’s guest isn’t letting that happen, and in this episode, she’ll show YOU how to take advantage when that next rental property comes your way! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When Megan Chou’s father challenged her to read the personal finance classic, Rich Dad Poor Dad, little did she know it would completely alter her life’s trajectory. The book’s lessons on building wealth inspired her to stash her money away in a brokerage account and, at just 20 years old, buy her very own rental property—a townhome she house hacked with her best friend. Then, only two years later, right as she was graduating from college, she took down a fourplex—renovating each unit while living in it, one by one. Stay tuned as Megan shares how she leveraged her home equity to buy it, what went wrong after buying the property, and how she stayed resilient when her property started fighting back! In This Episode We Cover How Megan bought her first two rental properties (while still in college!) How to fund your next investment property using your existing home equity What Zillow, Redfin, and the MLS can’t tell you about properties or neighborhoods Bouncing back from ice, raccoons, and plumbing failure on the same property Two crucial things to do when experiencing a setback with your property And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-728. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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My Rental Property Has Zero Appreciation: Should I Hold or Sell? (Rookie Reply)
6d ago00:26:49Summary readyDo you have home equity sitting in your primary residence? You could use it to buy your first or next rental property! There are several ways to do this, and in today’s episode, we’re sharing them so you can make your money work harder! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Whether it’s a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a cash-out refinance, there are multiple ways to access the equity in your home. But which option is best? Stay tuned and we’ll help you determine the right move for your situation. Next, if you’re preparing to open an Airbnb, the days leading up to launch can be nerve-wracking. Thankfully, our resident short-term rental expert, Tony, has some game-changing tips that will help you create the best possible guest experience and bring in plenty of five-star reviews! Finally, what do you do if your investment property hasn’t appreciated at all over the last one, two, or even five years? Should you hold or cut it loose? The answer is more nuanced than you might think, but we’ll help you reach the right decision for your real estate investing goals! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover How to use your primary residence to buy your first rental property Three ways to access your home equity (and fund your next property) How to create a five-star Airbnb experience (and get more reviews!) What every rookie should know before launching a short-term rental When to sell a rental property that has low or negative cash flow Whether a rental property with low (or no) appreciation is a bad investment And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-727. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Ultimate Guide to Buying Off-Market Properties (As a Complete Beginner)
1w ago00:46:28Summary readyStruggling to find great real estate deals on the MLS? What if we told you some of the best rental properties are often found elsewhere? If you want better cash flow and bigger margins, you may need to start looking for off-market properties. Thankfully, today’s guest is an expert on these types of deals and will show YOU exactly how to find them! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! When Janelle Carlson first started investing in real estate several years ago, she would find properties like most new investors do—on the MLS. But around 2021, something changed. With record-low mortgage rates and properties often selling for above asking price, the deals started drying up. So, Janelle started looking off-market instead and had enormous success. Today, she does over 30 off-market deals per year! With a little time, effort, and Janelle’s blueprint, you could buy your first or next off-market property this year, too. In this episode, she shows you where to look for leads, the different types of strategies to use, and the secrets to negotiating a home-run deal! In This Episode We Cover How to find and buy off-market properties as a complete beginner The biggest differences between off-market and on-market deals Finding deals within your buy box using the pay per lead (PPL) strategy Everything you need to launch your own real estate direct mail campaign How Janelle was ghosted by her partner on her very first deal (and lost $35,000) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-726. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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He Was Making Just $12/Hour: Now He Owns 7 Rental Properties (10 Units)
1w ago00:40:12Summary readyYou don’t need a big market, huge salary, or even a college degree to invest in real estate. Today’s guest had a very simple goal when he started: replace his $12/hour construction job. He’s already achieved that, and today, he owns seven rental properties…and counting! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Nathan Shelby has dabbled in several investing strategies, from mobile home lots to fixer uppers. But he’s recently landed on a strategy that allows him to use the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) on new construction homes—just without the renovations. Despite investing in a relatively small town, one of these properties appraises for roughly twice the cost to build it, allowing Nathan to pull 100% of his cash out for the next one! Nathan has found his groove in the last couple of years, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing. In this episode, he shares some of the biggest mistakes he made early on—pitfalls you can easily avoid. Stay tuned to learn about the systems and tools you should implement on day one, how to dial in your tenant screening process, and why new construction is often easier than renovating! In This Episode We Cover How Nathan scaled to 10 rental units without a big salary or college degree How to find highly profitable real estate deals outside of the MLS Why new construction is often easier than rental renovations Must-have systems and tools to build and scale your real estate portfolio Three of the biggest mistakes new investors make (and how to avoid them) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-725. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How to Pay (Much) Less in Taxes as a Real Estate Investor (Rookie Reply)
2w ago00:24:11Summary readyRental properties can give you cash flow, appreciation, and loan paydown from tenants. But tax benefits are often the unsung hero of real estate investing. Today, we’re sharing some of the best real estate tax strategies so you can keep more of your hard-earned money from Uncle Sam! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Should you do a cost segregation study? Many investors use this tax strategy to accelerate depreciation and create massive paper losses, but what’s the catch? Stay tuned as we break down the potential pitfalls and everything you need to know before getting started. What about a 1031 exchange? This strategy allows you to defer capital gains taxes when selling a rental property, but what if you’re flipping houses? Every landlord wants a great tenant in their rental property, but how do you find them? From credit scores and income requirements to employment verification and background checks, we show you how to dial in your tenant screening criteria so that you make the best possible decision! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover Real estate tax strategies that will help you keep more money from the IRS How to accelerate rental property depreciation with a cost segregation study Offsetting your active income with the short-term rental tax “loophole” The two ways to qualify for Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) How to select the best tenant for your rental property (fairly and legally) Whether you can do a 1031 exchange when flipping a house And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-724. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How to Get a 3% Mortgage Rate on Your Rental Property (Still Works in 2026)
2w ago00:25:26Summary readyDid you know that you could get a 3% mortgage rate on your next rental property? With rates hovering around 6%-7%, this would shave hundreds of dollars off your monthly mortgage payment and save you a few hundred thousand dollars in total interest. That alone could flip a deal with negative cash flow into a profitable one. But rates don’t appear to be coming down any time soon. So, how is this possible? Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re talking about assumable mortgages—existing loans that have rates as low as 3%. These aren’t “goldilocks” properties that only the luckiest investors find. There are millions of them all across the U.S., and we’ll show you exactly how to find them. Stay tuned to learn everything you need to know about these loans, like how to cover the “equity gap” that many of these properties have, a six-step process for taking over an existing mortgage, and the biggest pitfalls to avoid along the way. If you’re struggling to find properties that cash flow, this investing strategy could be the answer you’ve been looking for! In This Episode We Cover Everything you need to know about assumable mortgages before you buy The main difference between assumable and subject-to deals The three main types of government-backed, assumable loans Six steps to find, buy, and close on an assumable mortgage The “equity gap” explained, and how to find “sweet spot” properties The best places to find assumable properties for sale online And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-723. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Making Over $10,000/Month with Just One Rental Property
2w ago00:43:19Summary readyFear your market is too competitive for you to stand out? Today’s guest bought her first rental property right before developers started buying up the land around her. Thankfully, she didn’t back down. Since then, her property has already climbed to the top 1% of Airbnb listings and now brings in over $10,000 a month! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Erin Robinson had always wanted to invest in real estate, but she didn’t just want another boring rental property. She wanted to build her own “luxury” stay—a private retreat that could double as her own vacation rental. And that’s exactly what she did, strategically investing in high-value amenities and highlighting her property’s best features. Despite only launching recently, Erin’s property already makes five figures per month and is booked nearly three months out! From unique design features that will help your property pop to booking tips that will maximize your revenue, Erin has all the secrets to designing a successful short-term rental. If you want to launch a high-performing Airbnb property from scratch, this episode is for you! In This Episode We Cover How Erin turned her first rental into a profitable Airbnb (making $10,000/month) The best “luxury” items to prioritize when designing your short-term rental Tips and tricks to get your rental property to the top 1% of Airbnb listings How to create the ideal guest experience (and get more five-star ratings) The two biggest mistakes Erin made when renovating her property And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-722. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Paying Off a Rental Property vs. Buying More: Which One Wins? (Rookie Reply)
3w ago00:23:21Summary readyShould you pay off your mortgage early or buy more rental properties? The first option gives you peace of mind, while the other allows you to build wealth much faster. In this episode, we’re fleshing out both strategies so you can make the right choice! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! What’s better—a debt-free property or a larger real estate portfolio? The answer depends entirely on the investor, but we’ll help you determine the best path for you. As a new landlord, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll need to make repairs to your property. But what if that “repair” is something major, like replacing an HVAC unit? We’ll show you how to prepare for the worst before you buy! Finally, how do you know if you’re analyzing a rental property correctly? It might look like a good deal on the surface, but what if you’re overlooking some major red flags? Follow our tips, and you might just dodge a mistake you could regret later! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover Paying off your mortgage early versus buying more rental properties Using your home equity to scale your rental portfolio faster How to budget for major rental property repairs and maintenance How much every rookie investor should have in reserves (per property) Common red flags you can’t afford to miss when analyzing real estate deals And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-721. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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He Had No Money for His First Deal: 5 Years Later, He Owns 17 Properties
3w ago00:44:30Summary readyRookies think they need millions to invest in commercial real estate, but that’s only a myth, and today’s guest is about to show you why. In this episode, we’re talking all about an asset that might sound big and scary but is actually much easier to buy than you probably think: self storage! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Cameron Barsanti has owned single-family homes, multifamily properties, and other assets. But his favorite? Self storage. These large metal boxes have no toilets, no tenants living on the property, and less maintenance than residential real estate. Since zeroing in on self storage just five years ago, Cameron has scaled to a $70+ million portfolio spanning nine states! Today, he’s giving you a complete crash course on the asset—how it works, how it makes money, and everything you need to know to get started. We get into analyzing markets, the ideal tech “stack” for new investors, and much more. So, if you’ve ever wanted to know how to get into self storage, without a ton of money, this episode is for you! In This Episode We Cover How to start investing in self storage facilities in 2026 The number one skill every self storage investor must learn Creative ways to find mom-and-pop self storage facilities for sale The easiest way to find and fund your first self storage deal in 2026 The most important factor when analyzing a self storage market And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-720. Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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