Real Estate Rookie: “How to Build Your 2026 Real Estate Investing Plan”

Podcast: Real Estate Rookie with BiggerPockets
Hosts: Ashley Kehr, Tony J Robinson
Guest (Main Speaker): Dave Meyer
Release Date: December 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode serves as a comprehensive, step-by-step guide for real estate beginners and intermediate investors looking to map out an actionable real estate investment plan for 2026 and beyond. Dave Meyer walks listeners through setting meaningful, specific financial goals, reverse-engineering the path to reach them, and choosing the right strategies depending on resources and timelines. Rather than promoting “10X” growth or get-rich-quick dreams, the focus is on realistic, tailored planning—whether you’re eyeing your first deal or want to steadily grow a modest portfolio.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Clear, Specific Goals

• Most aspiring investors lack concrete financial goals, staying vague with intentions like “I want to build wealth” or “be financially free.”
  “How many of you actually have a specific financial goal? ...Like, I want $10,000 a month in cash flow by 2035. ...If we're all being honest ...like basically none of us, maybe 2%.” —Dave Meyer, [00:53]
• Having a detailed, measurable goal brings clarity and focus to your investing journey.

2. Three-Part Goal Setting Framework

Dave Meyer structures the investment plan in three actionable phases:

• Long-Term Goal: Where do you want to be in 10, 12, or 15 years?
• One-Year Goal: What immediate actions and achievable milestones will keep you on track?
• Three-Year Vision: A near-term checkpoint to monitor progress and make adjustments.

“By the end of this podcast episode, you're going to have these three numbers and I promise you it will help you a ton as you formulate your strategy as an investor.” —Dave Meyer, [04:53]

Detailed Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Defining Long-Term Financial Goals

a. Quantify “How Much” & “By When”

• Figure out the after-tax monthly income you want—in today’s dollars—and then adjust for inflation.

• Example: Today’s $7,500/month = $10,000/month in the future (inflation-adjusted).

• Don’t wildly overshoot. Base your goal on desired lifestyle, not arbitrary big numbers.

  “The key to doing this the right way is finding something that is tough...you want to feel like if I execute my plan well...I’m going to be able to hit that number.” —Dave Meyer, [02:45]

b. Calculate Real Estate Equity Goal

• Translate your annual income target to equity needed using a realistic future cash-on-cash return (usually 5–8%).

  • Annual cash flow / expected return = needed equity.
  • Example: $120,000/year ÷ 6% = $2 million in equity.
  • Remember: Calculate equity you own, not total property value.

  “Once you have equity, cash flow is super easy. ...This becomes my goal as a real estate investor: how do I get $2 million in equity by the time I want to retire?” —Dave Meyer, [10:55]

c. Set a Reasonable Time Horizon

• For most, 8–15 years is realistic (unless you start with lots of capital, take more risk, or put in massive effort).

  • Example: Starting with $75,000, aiming for $2 million equity in 12 years.
  • Use gut check: Can you compound money at required rates (10–25%/year)? Higher rates require more active/flipping strategies and risk.

  “Taking 15 years to achieve financial freedom is amazing. ...The average person, it takes 10 to 15 years.” —Dave Meyer, [14:51]

2. Setting the One-Year Goal

a. Conduct a Resource Audit

• Assess how much cash you can safely invest (after setting aside emergency funds), and how much time you can commit weekly.
  • Example: $75k investable cash, 10 hours a week.

b. Use the “Time vs. Money” Quadrant

• Choose strategies based on your current quadrant:

  • Low Time/High Money: Buy rental properties with larger down payments, focus on low-maintenance, possibly light rehabs.
  • High Time/High Money: Aggressively pursue value-add like BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat); maximize returns with hands-on work.
  • High Time/Low Money: Hustle for deals (wholesaling, partnering on flips), or focus on generating more savings/side hustle income.
  • Low Time/Low Money: Focus first on improving finances and freeing up time; active investing might not be realistic yet.

  “If you don't have time and you don't have money, real estate investing is going to be very difficult for you...your goal is to get your foot in the door.” —Dave Meyer, [27:58]

c. Quantify The Yearly Target

• Set clear deal targets, returns, or savings goals for the upcoming year.

  • Example: With $75k and 10 hrs/wk, Dave targets two BRRRRs aiming for a 40% annualized return (~$30,000 gain).

  “[Doing one BRRRR will] come out to, for $75,000, that's a $30,000 return...Already in year one we've gone from $75,000 in equity … to 105,000.” —Dave Meyer, [30:54]

3. The Three-Year Vision

• Apply the Rule of 72: 72 divided by your annual return ≈ years for your investment to double.

  • Example: Compounding at 24–30% (with BRRRRs/cosmetic rehabs), your $75k could grow to $300k equity in 3 years.
  • Set a three-year target to track if you’re accelerating, stalling, or need to adjust.

  “My three-year goal is going to be $300,000.” —Dave Meyer, [36:43]

4. Reverse Engineer Your Buy Box and Strategy

• By knowing your equity goal, available cash, and preferred strategy, you can back into your market/deal criteria.

  • Example: Target Midwest/Southeast BRRRRs, $200–250k properties, $50k rehab.

  “I've basically backed into my buy box for next year.” —Dave Meyer, [37:40]

• Having numbers in place makes strategic decisions easier (what to buy, where, and how to operate).

  “Knowing these financial goals is the number one key thing that investors need to do that most of them miss…your plan for the rest of 2025 and 2026 and the rest of your investing career is going to become so much easier.” —Dave Meyer, [39:10]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Financial independence isn't a dream. It's a math equation.” —Ashley, [00:50]
• “If your goal is way bigger and you're going to need to compound at 50 or 60 or 70%, honestly, you can do that, but you're going to have to flip houses...and that comes with risk.” —Dave Meyer, [18:42]
• “This is why I say that knowing these financial goals is the number one key thing that investors need to do that most of them miss.” —Dave Meyer, [38:55]

Key Timestamps

• 00:53 — Dave defines specific vs vague financial goals.
• 04:53 — Overview of the three-part goal-setting approach.
• 10:55 — Calculating your equity goal.
• 14:51 — Discussing realistic timelines for financial independence via real estate.
• 21:09 — Introduction to the resource audit (time and money).
• 27:58 — Time vs money quadrants and choosing your investing approach.
• 30:54 — Year one example goal with BRRRR and expected returns.
• 36:43 — Extrapolating returns using the rule of 72 for three-year goals.
• 37:40 — Reverse engineering your “buy box” based on goals.
• 38:55 — The importance of goal-based strategy in real estate investing.

Action Steps for Listeners

1. Spend 30 minutes calculating three numbers:

   • Long-term equity goal (and when you want it)
   • One-year action/money/time target
   • Three-year checkpoint (check if your plan compounds as expected)

2. Review your resources and realistically pick an investing strategy based on your quadrant (time vs money).

3. Reverse-engineer your next deals (“buy box”) from your goals instead of copying others or chasing random listings.

4. Gut check your plan: Make sure your timeline and required return are realistic given your resources and risk appetite.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a masterclass for rookies and newer investors who want a specific, actionable roadmap—not hype or shortcuts. Dave Meyer’s advice is honest, practical, and rooted in the math of compounding and real estate fundamentals. If you invest the time now to map out these numbers and strategies, 2026 (and the years beyond) can be the foundation for a realistic path toward financial freedom through real estate.