Real Estate Rookie | Episode Summary

Episode Title: From $10/Hour to $1M+ in Real Estate by Doing This w/InvestorGirlBritt

Podcast: Real Estate Rookie by BiggerPockets
Hosts: Ashley Kehr & Tony J. Robinson
Guest: Britt Arneson (@InvestorGirlBritt)
Date: October 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Ashley and Tony sit down with Britt Arneson—a.k.a. InvestorGirlBritt—to explore her journey from hustling $10/hour as a DIY landlord to building a $1M+ portfolio in real estate. Britt shares how she transitioned from hands-on investing to scaling her business through systems, teams, and creative asset classes like self-storage and hotels. She offers actionable advice for rookies on pivoting away from the “solopreneur grind” and tapping into new opportunities in 2025’s ever-changing real estate market.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Britt’s Early Days and Why She Chose Real Estate

• Freedom as Motivation: Britt wanted freedom—no boss, flexibility, ability to travel.
• First Deals: Bought properties in small towns for under $50,000, including one for $25,000 that rented for $850/month ([01:11]).
• DIY Learning: Did all the renovations herself, often living in her van or the rehabs. Used the BRRRR strategy extensively.

“I was living in my van, working on these places, and just burying those properties. Buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat, doing that over and over again.”
— Britt ([01:11])

2. Realizing the Limits of DIY and the Need to Scale

• Freedom or a Job? DIYing became a job, not freedom. Progress stopped if Britt stopped ([02:17]).
• Pivotal Moment: While on a trip in Europe, her team continued to make significant progress—unlike her solo days.

“In the early days, if I stopped working, my entire business stopped moving forward... Now, I just do a few check-ins with a team, and deals are still happening.”
— Britt ([02:17])

3. Mindset Shifts and Taking Action

• Think Bigger, Sooner: Shift from survival to growth mindset ([03:35]).
• Community & Networking: Attending masterminds and events was key to changing her self-belief and trajectory.
• Dealing with Imposter Syndrome: Push past limiting beliefs; you don’t always have to contribute—listening and learning is enough at first ([04:22]).

"I was so extremely nervous to go to these masterminds... But it’s just all in our heads. There’s always limiting beliefs and insecurities.”
— Britt ([04:22])

4. When and How to Build Systems & Teams

• Value of Time: Learned to assign a dollar value to her time ([10:31]).
• From $10/hour to $10,000/hour Tasks: Delegating freed her to focus on higher-value activities, like closing big deals.
• Struggling to Let Go: Had to overcome the belief that “doing it yourself for free” was better than hiring.
• Buy Back Your Time: Referenced by Tony—sometimes burnout is the push to build a team ([07:39]).

"I had to get out of those small tasks. I had to free up my time so I could focus on the $10,000 an hour tasks..."
— Britt ([10:31])

• Documenting the Journey: Recording and sharing early struggles on social media generated later opportunities, especially in raising capital ([13:22]).

5. Partnerships and Leverage

• Types of Leverage: Other people’s money, time, and experience; technology; partnerships ([16:07]).
• Healthy Partnerships: Find partners with aligned values and long-term vision. Example: Successful partnership with AJ Osborne in self-storage.
• Addressing Fears: Many, like Britt’s mother, are wary due to bad experiences, but aligned partnerships can be game-changing.

“Now my first thought is, who can do this for me? Not how can I do it myself.”
— Britt ([12:48])

6. Systems and Technology

• Britt’s Stack:
  • EOS (Entrepreneur Operating System) from Traction for team meetings, goals, and accountability ([18:22]).
  • ClickUp for task/project management (her team handles this).
  • CEO & Specialists: Hires for strengths she lacks.

"I have a CEO that runs my meetings... weekly meetings where we use the EOS Entrepreneur Operating System from the book Traction.”
— Britt ([18:22])

Opportunities & Strategy in 2025

• “Silver Tsunami”/Wealth Transfer: Many mom-and-pop owners of storage facilities & hotels are retiring—creating acquisition opportunities for small investors ([20:12]).
• Focus on Self-Storage & Hotels: Britt is shifting focus due to high cash flow potential and value-add strategies.
• Urgency: Institutional buyers are consolidating the market, so the window of opportunity is shrinking.

“It's going to be a small window of time... Our window is getting smaller and smaller. So we have to get out there and start looking and learning.”
— Britt ([20:12])

The Move from Single Family to Commercial

• Leaving Single Family: Britt completely exited single family homes to focus on higher-value deals in commercial/self-storage investments ([26:58]).
• Why Self-Storage? Cash flow, fewer tenant headaches, more control in value creation, and creative operations.
• Learning Influences: Connection with AJ Osborne after hearing his $13 million self-storage deal on the BiggerPockets podcast was a game-changer ([28:04]).

"I love that you didn’t have tenants at the property... You can take a mom-and-pop facility that maybe doesn’t even have a website...and really turn it around."
— Britt ([28:04])

Notable & Memorable Quotes

• On Networking:
  “Surround yourself with people who are doing bigger things... You start to create this belief in yourself that you can do it too.”
  — Britt ([03:35])

• On Mindset:
  “It's just all in our heads. There’s always limiting beliefs and insecurities. We just have to push past that.”
  — Britt ([04:22])

• On Systems:
  “Using a system is important because you have to be able to track your goals, track your progress. If you’re not tracking, it usually just falls away."
  — Britt ([18:22])

• On Opportunity:
  “The time is now. Like we’re talking about this silver tsunami. You don’t want to be on the sidelines...This is the time to get out there, learn as much as possible, take advantage of the opportunities and go all in.”
  — Britt ([31:53])

Key Segment Timestamps

• [01:11] — Britt’s early deals and van-life beginnings
• [02:17] — Realization: DIY mode isn’t scalable
• [03:35]-[06:06] — Mindset shifts, networking, and overcoming imposter syndrome
• [10:31] — Assigning value to your time and focus on bigger-dollar tasks
• [13:22] — Documenting your journey for future credibility and capital raising
• [18:22] — Britt’s systems (EOS, ClickUp) and team-building approach
• [20:12] — Overview of 2025 opportunities: self-storage, hotels, and demographic trends
• [26:58] — Exiting single-families for commercial; focus on self-storage
• [28:04] — Why self-storage? Value, creativity, and influence of AJ Osborne

Further Learning and Resources

• Britt’s Instagram: @InvestorGirlBritt
• Book Mentioned: Traction (Gino Wickman) – for EOS system
• Workshop at BPCon: Free storage workshop with AJ Osborne; code “storageworkshop” with conference ticket ([31:53])
• Follow Britt: Active on most social platforms, especially Instagram and LinkedIn ([33:33])

Final Thoughts

Britt’s story embodies the rookie-to-empire journey with real, actionable advice for investors who feel stuck doing everything themselves. Her focus on mindset, networking, leveraging team and tech, and moving into creative asset classes offers a roadmap for rookies ready to take their next big step. If you’re ready to scale up, start thinking bigger now—opportunity is waiting.