Podcast
BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast
Hosted by BiggerPockets · EN
Want financial freedom through real estate investing? Then the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast is for you. Sit down every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with Dave Meyer, the Head of Real Estate at BiggerPockets, as he uncovers tried and true tactics and shares candid conversations with real estate investors who are building wealth in today’s market. Join Dave to walk through deals that went right (and wrong) and learn the strategies you can deploy—start growing your side income today to take control of your financial future.
387episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Build vs. Buy: Which Is Best for Your First Rental?
Today00:37:30Summary readyYou don’t have to buy your first rental property—you can build one instead. Newer systems, fewer repairs, and that “brand new” feeling that tenants may pay more rent for. But…is it worth it? Building a small multifamily in a single-family area could let you house hack and own a rare property in your market, but is the headache worth the effort? With more and more investors choosing to build rather than buy, we thought we’d weigh in. Dave and Henry are back answering your questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. Today, we’re talking about building vs. buying rentals, when an investment property is too old to be worth buying, the lender-friendly rehab budget Henry uses to get loans for his BRRRRs (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) and house flips, and whether wholesalers (middlemen) are worth buying properties from. Plus, if you’re house hacking, should you tell the tenant you’re the owner? Dave tried to hide it before, and shares whether it was worth it. In This Episode We Cover Building vs. buying rental properties: is the time (and effort) worth the upside? Renovating an older rental property? This build decade could be best Henry’s exact renovation budget he shares with lenders to get fast financing Are wholesalers worth their assignment fee? When we will and won’t buy from them Should you tell your tenants that you’re the owner (what happens if they find out?) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1307. 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 Started with $5,000. Now He Owns 14 Rental Properties (And Quit His Job!)
2d ago00:37:16Summary readyWhen Niyi Adewole got his first “real” job out of college, he had one goal: financial freedom. But when he asked his coworkers about the company 401(k), he left more confused than convinced. In searching for answers, he discovered a much better path: real estate investing. Then, with just $5,000 in savings, he bought his first rental property—a triplex he house hacked to cover his mortgage. That first property snowballed into the next one, and in just six years, Niyi quit his W-2 job. Today, he owns 14 properties, including small multifamily rentals, Airbnbs, and even a self-storage facility. His portfolio generates more than enough cash flow to live on, but instead, he continues to funnel everything toward the next property. Niyi’s story is remarkable, but he didn’t go from earning a $55,000 salary to financial freedom overnight. In this episode, he shares how he sacrificed, hustled, and stacked promotions at his W-2 job to get to where he is today. The question isn’t if you can do the same. It’s will you? In This Episode We Cover How Niyi scaled from $5,000 in savings to 14 rental properties (and counting) The playbook that allowed Niyi to quit his job and go all-in on real estate The immeasurable value of working with an investor-friendly agent A profitable investing strategy that doesn’t involve tenants or toilets Buying a house with low money down and having tenants pay your mortgage And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1306. 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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I Reached Financial Independence Before 40 (Everything You Know is Wrong)
5d ago00:28:31Summary readyI reached financial independence before 40. I set out to do the impossible, and achieved it. I bought rental properties, worked hard at my job, saved and invested most of my money, and got to my goal. Then I realized something I wish someone had told me—everything I thought I knew about financial independence was wrong. If you are on this journey to free yourself from your job, retire early, or reach the magic “FI number” that will give you lasting security, I urge you—listen to this episode. While most financially independent influencers constantly stress saving all your money, effort-maxing to extremes, delaying vacations, trips, luxury purchases, or even your wedding, I did the opposite. I spent a lot on my wedding. I spent a lot on nice vacations. I eat out regularly. And sometimes…I just didn’t want to buy another rental. But at 39, financially free, I enjoyed my journey to the “goal.” Because the truth is, there isn’t a financial freedom number; there’s a financial freedom process, and if you don’t get it right, it won’t be worth any of the effort. In This Episode We Cover Why (almost) everything you’ve been told about “financial independence” isn’t true The “FI number” trap that so many real estate investors are falling into Are you wasting your life saving all of your money (why Dave says you shouldn’t) How to get more financially independent every day, even during bumpy times The “arrival” fallacy that makes so many retirees actually go back to work And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1305. 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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If House Flipping is “Dead,” How Is She Flipping 10+ Houses THIS Year?
1w ago00:38:59Summary readyMany people assume house flipping doesn’t work anymore. They’re wrong. House flipping isn’t dead. The “easy” money is. While it’s true that flipping houses isn’t as forgiving as it was just a few years ago—and yes, the “bad” flippers are being exposed—the fear surrounding this investing strategy is actually creating massive opportunities for those who do their homework. Just ask Henry and today’s guest, Dominique Gunderson. They’ve been flipping houses for many years and are still finding plenty of real estate deals, even in this tough housing market. They’re just doing it a little differently than in years past. In today’s episode, we’re getting into what’s changed and what investors need to do to find, buy, renovate, and flip houses for a profit. We break down our own processes for analyzing properties, estimating rehab costs, pricing them on the back end, and so much more. Whether you’re a complete newcomer or a frustrated investor eager for the numbers to work again, follow our blueprint to make your next flip a successful one! In This Episode We Cover How Henry and Dominique are adjusting their approach to house flipping The “risk-reward ratio” Henry uses for every real estate deal he buys Market-specific advantages and challenges to be aware of How to prevent closing costs from eating away at your profit margins The number one way house flippers get burned when analyzing properties The “types” of projects we’re avoiding at all costs in 2026 Creative strategies you can use to mitigate risk when flipping a house And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1304. 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 Bought 58 Rental Units in Just 4 Years by Solving Other Landlords’ Problems
1w ago00:35:10Summary readyWhen the Great Recession hit, Andy Gil lost his business. Suddenly, he was forced to start over. But the fear of losing everything again was the driving force behind what would come next. Andy got serious, raising his young kids in an 800-square-foot house, driving 10-year-old cars, and funneling every spare dollar into savings so he could start buying rental properties. These were the types of sacrifices the average investor probably wouldn’t make, but they became the catalyst for scaling to 58 rental units in just four years! What’s more, Andy has never had the benefit of 3% mortgage rates. He got into real estate investing at the tail end of 2022, meaning he’s been able to grow his large, cash-flowing real estate portfolio in a tough housing market with high interest rates—all while using very little of his own money. Today, he manages his own rentals and other people’s properties, deploying a unique investing strategy that has even helped him acquire a 30-unit property. In this episode, he’s sharing exactly what that strategy is (and how YOU can implement it), what he’s learned in over 20 years of contracting experience, and how to use AI to gain an edge in today’s market. In This Episode We Cover Andy’s journey from losing his business to buying 58 rental units in four years The massive sacrifices Andy and his family have had to make to invest in real estate How to accelerate your investing journey by living within your means The secrets to managing a large rental portfolio (on your own!) How Andy uses artificial intelligence (AI) throughout his real estate business Why persistence is the key to finding great real estate deals in 2026 And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1303. 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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Start at 45, Retire at 55: The Late Starter's Rental Playbook
2w ago00:44:18Summary readyIf you’re in your 40s, or even 50s, and think it’s too late to build a comfortable retirement, think again. We’ve done the math, we’ve crunched the numbers, and we've run the playbook ourselves—using rental properties, you can replace a significant portion of your income in just around a decade. Today, we’re sharing the exact strategy to get you there. Most retirees have a small sum in savings and a Social Security check to count on in retirement. But what if you want more income to travel, experience, or donate as you see fit? Even if you feel like the retirement timeline is closing in on you, you have options, but you’ll need to follow a plan. In this episode, I’m walking through exactly how to go from no rentals to comfortable retirement in around a decade, and how someone in their 40s or 50s can do it easier than someone in their 20s or 30s! I’ll share the multiple strategies you can take, the exact math that proves the system works, overlooked ways to fund your investments, and how to use your small, powerful real estate portfolio to retire, or even retire early! In This Episode We Cover The six steps to take you from no retirement to plentiful passive income The massive advantages 40+ year-olds have over younger investors Which real estate strategy works best for you and your stage of life How to fund your down payment with savings, home equity, 401(k)s, and more A step-by-step walkthrough of analyzing your first rental property (the right way) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1302. 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 Simple Systems Behind a 150-Unit Rental Portfolio (8-Hour Workweeks!)
2w ago00:29:42Summary readyWhen the dot-com bubble burst, Matt (the “Lumberjack Landlord”) watched his 100% stock portfolio go to dust. Having lost everything he had saved throughout his early twenties, his only option was to rebuild. But with what? He needed something that could help him offset his living expenses today and propel him toward retirement. That “something” was rentals. But Matt didn’t just buy a couple of rental properties and sit back. He did what many investors won’t: he house hacked. And again. And again. Nine times in 13 years. This, combined with the income from his nine-to-five job, allowed him to stack small multifamily properties quickly, and today, he owns a rental portfolio of over 150 units! Real estate investing has completely changed Matt’s life—not just the cash flow or the appreciation, but the freedom he’s already enjoying in early retirement. Despite self-managing all of their rentals, he and his wife spend just eight hours per week on their portfolio. In this episode, he’s giving you the simple framework you need to scale sustainably, whether you dream of owning a handful of rental units or a few hundred. In This Episode We Cover How Matt self-manages his 150-unit rental portfolio in just eight hours per week Matt’s journey from losing everything in the dot-com crash to retiring with millions The simple, scalable systems and processes every investor needs The biggest red (and green) flags to watch out for when screening tenants Why scaling with small multifamily properties is better than commercial real estate What most investors get wrong about house hacking (that can make you very wealthy) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1301. 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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I Started Investing with Just $7,500. Now I Own Millions in Rentals
2w ago00:33:26Summary readyOne day, Remington Lyman was brought into his boss's office, told that he did above-and-beyond at his job, and was handed a 2% raise with a smile. All the extra hours, all that hard work, equaled the equivalent of an inflation-matching salary bump. That was it—it was time to put his financial freedom in his own hands. Remington began building an income-replacing rental property portfolio, so when the day came that he was laid off, he’d be more than prepared. Remington was ready to go, and that’s when the real scaling started. Just ten years after buying his first rental, Remington has over 100 rental units, including sizable commercial buildings with strong cash flow, properties that are capital gains tax-free when he sells them, and units that generate 100% more cash flow than traditional rental properties. He scaled faster through smart partnerships, created significant equity with value-add BRRRRs (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat), and even turned four units into 24 on a single deal. It’s not special, it’s not luck. Remington is sharing the repeatable strategies he used to build massive wealth and escape corporate before it trapped him until retirement. In This Episode We Cover The hands-down, best beginner rental that every new investor should buy How (not) to form a partnership when splitting a deal with someone else The perfect BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) strategy that builds huge equity The exact market Remington is investing in that has seen massive growth How to pay 0% capital gains tax (seriously) when selling a profitable investment property Triple net leases and commercial deals bringing in huge cash flow for Remington And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1300. 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 Much Real Estate Do You Actually Need to Be Free?
3w ago00:26:14Summary readyHow many rental properties do you need to retire? A lot fewer than you think. When people start investing in real estate, they think they need 20, 50, or even 100 rental units to build wealth, retire early, and secure financial freedom for themselves and their families. This is not the case…and it’s not even close. The average American only needs eight—yes, eight—paid-off rental properties to retire with six figures in annual cash flow. But that would take decades to pay off, right? Not quite. Within just around a decade, you could go from zero rentals to a paid-off portfolio, giving you financial independence via passive income from a small, powerful rental property portfolio. Henry is walking through the math, how to get to financial freedom faster, and the strategy he uses to recycle the same down payment so he doesn’t need to wait years to buy the next rental. Your financial freedom is just eight rental properties away. What are you waiting for? In This Episode We Cover How many rentals you actually need to replace your income and retire (early) Recycling your down payment to scale your rental portfolio even faster How to (comfortably) get to $10,000 per month in rental property cash flow The timeline to go from zero rental properties to complete freedom with rentals How much money you need to start your real estate portfolio And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1299. 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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Is Real Estate Still THE Best Path to Passive Income? (Invited to Debate)
3w ago00:40:11Summary readyWe’re all here for passive income, and when you say “passive income,” many people immediately think of rental properties. But, is real estate investing really the best path to get the income streams you’re dreaming of, and is there a certain threshold where it’s not worth the effort? You’re listening to this show because you’re either interested in or investing in real estate, but we’ve been invited to debate someone with a different perspective. Ryan Sterling, CEO of NerdWallet Wealth Partners, has owned real estate investments but has since sold them and opted for something simpler, easier, and, in his opinion, more worth the money. Ryan likes real estate investing and sees it as the quickest way for the everyday American to build wealth. But…he thinks many investors are operating under a dangerous premise, one that could delay their financial freedom. In this episode, we’re going well beyond the average “stocks vs. real estate” debate you’ve heard a dozen times. We’re debating whether “passive income” is a lie, when real estate is worth it, who should invest in rental properties, why a 20-year-old and 40-year-old must invest differently, and the boring, simple way to invest that has made many Americans millionaires. NerdWallet Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training and nothing contained herein should be construed as investment advice. NerdWallet Wealth Partners does not guarantee investment results and does not provide tax or legal advice. In This Episode We Cover Have Americans been lied to about the “passive income” real estate provides? Your real estate is not as safe as you think it is (but are stocks better?) Why Ryan sold his real estate investment in exchange for something much more passive Who should go all-in on real estate and scale to a sizable rental portfolio How to find a real estate-friendly financial advisor (who isn’t a salesperson) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1298. 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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