Real Estate Rookie Podcast — Episode Summary
Episode: Teacher to Six-Figure Real Estate Investor with This Quick Flip Formula
Date: November 26, 2025
Hosts: Ashley Kehr & Tony J. Robinson
Guest: Laura Sides (Rookie investor, former teacher turned six-figure house flipper)
Episode Overview
In this episode, Ashley and Tony revisit an inspiring interview with Laura Sides. Laura, a former teacher with no prior investing experience, shares how she pivoted during the pandemic to become a six-figure real estate flipper. The conversation traverses her first off-market flip, building her “delusional confidence,” scaling into short-term rentals, and developing a fast, efficient flip-and-invest formula—all from a true rookie perspective. Listeners get real-world, actionable breakdowns of Laura’s deals, mindset shifts, and the systems that let her scale from zero to six-figure success, reinforcing that ordinary people can build wealth through property.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Laura’s Investment Origin Story
- Rich Dad Epiphany (01:13)
- Laura, a stay-at-home mom during the pandemic, discovers Rich Dad, Poor Dad while on vacation, sparking her investment journey.
- “Oh my God, babe, there’s a whole nother world out here… everything changed.” — Laura (01:34)
- No Entrepreneurial Background
- No prior exposure to entrepreneurship or investing; emphasizes learning as you go.
2. Taking the First Steps: Building Knowledge and Connections
- Practical Start (02:09)
- Initial plan: leverage equity via a HELOC for an out-of-state condo.
- Highlighting Mentorship (03:08)
- “When you have, like, an actual conversation with someone who's done the thing that you're trying to do, it makes it feel more real… and it doesn't feel as this… big of a scary leap that you initially think that it is.” — Tony (03:25)
- Laura connects with a mortgage broker friend, uses local contacts to start.
3. The First Flip: Off-Market Opportunity on Her Street
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Serendipitous Deal (04:57)
- Spots neighbor in need; offers to buy her house directly.
- Focus on the seller’s motivation: convenience over price, compassion over competition.
- “Coming at it with that level of compassion and meeting her where she was at was just really what she needed in that time.” — Laura (07:01)
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Getting Under Contract with No Experience (07:50)
- Googles contract basics, prints off a Pennsylvania state contract, “Was it legit? We thought it was.”
- Used HELOC for down payment; mortgage broker facilitated the rest.
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Deal Numbers:
- Bought for $300k, renovated for $35k, sold in six weeks for $465k.
- “We bought it for 300 and we sold it for 465 in six weeks. It was a $35,000 reno. It was incredible.” — Laura (11:12)
4. Jumping In: Lessons from Rehab & Contractor Management
- Learning by Doing (09:12–09:59)
- Managed demo and subs herself, learned project ordering by trial-and-error.
- Building Confidence and Networks
- Leveraged neighborhood-oriented resources: Facebook groups, agent referrals.
- “It was just kind of like this delusional confidence that hey, if we can do this… let's just figure it out.” — Laura (09:59)
- Renovation Tips:
- Six-week turnaround, family involved, hands-on approach.
5. Second Deal: Accidental Beach House via Human Connection
- Unexpected Lead (15:01)
- While helping during the neighbor’s move, an acquaintance offers Laura a house near Bethany Beach for $200k.
- “Is this how this works? Like, people just come to you?” — Laura (15:15)
- Strategy & Execution
- Funded by profits from first flip; held as a short-term rental managed by a property manager.
- Immediate cash flow, also usable for family vacations (about 10 times/year).
6. Building a Portfolio: Growth, Networking, and Refinement
- Scaling Up (22:07)
- Pipeline: Multiple flips, reinvesting active income into more short-term rentals.
- “After that… I flipped two more properties and used the profit from those flips to buy my second short term rental… a really cool A-frame right on the water.” — Laura (22:22)
- Improving Processes
- Flips are now within a 30-minute radius; can renovate in as little as 3 weeks (24:54).
- “From the moment we go under contract… we ask to have access… bring in our cabinet people, contractors… the day we close, all our subs are lined up.” — Laura (24:54)
7. Laura’s Flip Formula: Systems, Buy Box, and Analysis
- Buy Box Definition (26:05, 29:49)
- Focus: Condos/townhomes, 1970s or newer, within 30 minutes.
- “I’ve really niched down… which doesn’t leave a lot to question…” — Laura (26:05)
- Estimating and Evaluating Deals
- Simplified: $30/sq ft for cosmetic rehabs.
- Bases offers on clear margins; “worst case scenario, can I at least make $20k?”
- “Knowing what a good deal looks like and being able to jump on it quickly… your speed to make a decision…” — Laura (27:21)
- Finding Deals (29:28)
- All recent deals found on market (contrary to the usual off-market focus for flips).
- Proactively calls agents, seeks properties that “need help,” offers flexible terms rather than higher price.
- “We can jump on the phone with them in this coming soon period and say, What does your seller need? What can we do for your seller?” — Laura (30:18)
8. Portfolio Today & The Road Ahead
- Snapshot (22:07, 34:16)
- Several profitable flips/year; two short-term rentals (family and income use).
- Emphasis on lifestyle benefits and gratitude—“never thought we would have a beach house.”
- Looking to expand through vertical integration: “A company has come to us that would be a great vertical integration… they're offering to sell us their company.” — Laura (34:16)
- Mindset: Learn by surrounding herself with those more experienced.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Getting Started:
- “I didn’t know investors. I have absolutely no entrepreneurial background. So this is still kind of new and exciting to me.” — Laura (01:15)
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On Taking Action:
- “Delusional confidence is really what got me through.” — Laura (11:36)
- “If you can do it, why can’t I do it?” — Laura (03:57)
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On Off-Market Motivation:
- “The motivation is just not the purchase price… part of it is the convenience of selling.” — Tony (05:58)
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On Systems:
- “From the moment that we go under contract on the property… all the materials have already been ordered. So we are just going in, pulling it all out and putting it back in.” — Laura (24:54)
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On Buy Box & Risk Management:
- “I typically think in my worst case scenario, can I at least make $20,000? And it usually… gets me over the like, yep, we can do that. I’ve never only made $20,000.” — Laura (28:18)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Laura’s investing “light bulb” moment: 01:13
- Importance of connecting with knowledgeable people: 03:08
- Landing the first off-market deal: 04:57
- Structuring and funding her first flip: 07:50
- Managing the renovation: 09:12
- First flip numbers, success, and lessons: 11:12
- Second deal—serendipitous beach house offer: 15:01
- Active-to-passive income strategy: 17:38
- Scaling short-term rentals and flipping systems: 22:07
- Flip process and due diligence systems: 24:54
- Deal discovery and buy box: 29:28
- Portfolio snapshot & future vertical integration: 34:16
Flow & Tone
The episode is warm, conversational, and grounded in real-life rookie experiences. Laura is candid about her lack of initial expertise, persistent self-doubt, and the importance of “bias for action.” Ashley and Tony reinforce practical takeaways, highlight teachable moments, and celebrate Laura’s approachable, repeatable formulas.
Connect with Laura
- Instagram: @sides_investing (39:51)
For listeners seeking relatable, step-by-step inspiration from someone who started with zero real estate know-how and used hustle, compassion, and community-savvy systems to create a six-figure flipping business, this episode is a must-listen.