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Real Estate Rookie: Daily Summaries Delivered
by BiggerPockets
New to real estate investing and not sure where to start? Ashley Kehr and Tony J. Robinson break down the basics with real-world deal analysis, investor interviews and listener Q&A.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday21 min
How Much Should a House Hack Make in 2027? (Rookie Reply)
Can the numbers on your house hack still work when your tenant's rent doesn't come close to covering the mortgage? And if it won't cash flow, how much should a house hack actually make in 2027? Today, we're uncovering the hidden benefits and forgotten expenses that change the math! Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, we're answering three questions most house hackers have asked at some point. After running the numbers, one investor would still be paying over $2,000 a month out of pocket. Is house hacking a thing of the past in expensive markets? Not quite! We'll redefine a “winning” house hack and share ways to squeeze more income out of the same property with investing strategies like renting by the room, mid-term rentals, or what we’re calling the "mega house hack." Another investor looking to house hack is getting wildly different advice about what cash-on-cash return to expect. We'll show you why there's not one "right" number, what to weigh besides cash flow, and how a tighter buy box reveals what a deal can really earn. Plus, we settle what "break-even" really means and share the tools that ensure you never miss an expense. Don't let imperfect numbers talk you out of a good first house hack, or into a bad one! By the end of this episode, you'll know how to run your numbers the right way and spot a great deal you might have passed on otherwise. Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover Whether house hacking still works in expensive markets Redefining a "successful" house hack when the tenant can't cover the mortgage The "mega house hack" that stacks strategies to boost income on both sides What "break-even" really means (and the expenses most rookies forget) What cash-on-cash return you should expect in today's market How a tighter buy box helps you predict your real returns And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-778. 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
- 3 days ago28 min
How to Go From 1 to 10 Rentals with "The Stack" Method
The idea of building and scaling a rental portfolio can seem daunting to most rookies starting off. What if we told you there's a realistic, proven formula most rookies don't discover until they've already taken their first step? Today, we're walking you through a method for turning one deal into 10 (or more) without needing a ton of cash! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! If you're a new investor, financial freedom can feel far away, but what if we told you that you could go from a single rental property to 10 units in just a few years? The stack method is a proven formula that helps investors build their portfolios on realistic timelines, with realistic budgets! Today we’re breaking down exactly how it works, and how to double your portfolio size with every deal. We’ll walk through the full stack playbook step by step, how house hacking combined with HELOCs (home equity lines of credit) can fund your next down payment, how to get that down payment to just 3-5%, and the best markets for stacking in 2026. You don't need hundreds of thousands of dollars to get started, you just need to follow the easy steps in today’s episode! In This Episode We Cover How the stack method turns one rental into a 10-unit portfolio in just a few years Why house hacking makes your first few stacks dramatically easier to afford Using a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to fund your next down payment without touching your savings The real numbers: stacking vs. buying single-family rentals one at a time The best markets for stacking in 2026, and how to spot a strong price-to-rent ratio And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-777. 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
- 5 days ago50 min
Seller Financing His First Rental When No Bank Would Lend
What happens when your first deal turns into the money pit you were afraid of? For a lot of rookies, that fear alone delays buying a rental property for years. But today's guest proves that a rough first deal can still launch a successful portfolio! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Joshua Settimio went from cleaning beach rentals in high school to working as a real estate agent, and then soon realizing that he wanted to buy the deals he was selling. His catch was that no bank would lend to him so early in his career. Joshua decided not to stop there. He found a house with a termite issue and a tenant who hadn't paid rent in over a year, and asked the owner for seller financing. The rest was history! Today, Joshua estimates his portfolio at 70 properties across four partnerships! Joshua explains how he got the non-paying tenant out without an attorney, and why the rehab dragged on for about a year. He also shares how a detailed scope of work and an “as-completed” appraisal finally got a bank to say yes, and how he used the property's equity through a line of credit to buy his next deal! Your first deal doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to teach you enough to get to the next one! Joshua’s approach towards real estate shows that not every investor’s journey is linear, but with the right mindset, anyone can build a portfolio! In This Episode We Cover How to buy your first rental when banks won't lend to you Where empathy ends and boundaries begin with a non-paying tenant Getting a non-paying tenant moved out without hiring an attorney How an “as-completed” appraisal unlocks financing for your rehab Turning one property's equity into your next real estate deal And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-776. 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
- 1 weeks ago26 min
You've Got a 100% Financing Deal. Do You Take It? (Rookie Reply)
Great deals are hard to find as a rookie, so when one lands in your lap, it can feel like you just struck gold. But how do you actually know if it's the real thing, or if there's a catch? Today, we're breaking down how to evaluate a low-money-down deal when one comes your way, and exactly what to look for before you say yes. Welcome back to Rookie Reply! First, we’re helping a rookie weigh a 100% financing offer his agent is warning him away from—what actually makes a deal like this worth the risk attached to a “no money down” loan? We map out our best advice moving forward, and how to think about reserves for the unexpected. We’re also helping a rookie reverse-engineer his very first house hack, working through when to bring an agent into the picture, and how to walk into an FHA inspection. Finally, a 20-year-old dad who's done all the studying but is still too scared to pull the trigger on his first deal. We offer the next best steps on how he can comfortably make that decision without risking hard financial hits! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover How to tell if a 100% financing offer (0% down) is worth the risk Managing reserves for the deals that don't go as planned Reverse-engineering your very first house hack (exact steps to take) Knowing exactly when to bring an agent into the picture on your first deal Walking into an FHA inspection fully prepared (and what they’ll look for!) The mindset shift that makes your first deal feel possible And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-775. 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
- 1 weeks ago36 min
Multifamily vs. Single-Family Investing: Which Is Better for Beginners?
Every rookie investor arrives at the same fork in the road early on: single-family home or multifamily. Which one's actually the better option? The property type you choose first can shape how fast you cash flow and how quickly you're able to scale your real estate portfolio. Today, we're breaking down both approaches so you can make that choice with confidence! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie Podcast! We're covering the real pros, cons, and differences between single-family and multifamily investing, including how your first rental property affects your options down the road. We're also running deal analysis on a similar single-family home and duplex to show you exactly where the major differences lie and dig into the numbers to see which path actually builds more wealth. While the decision largely depends on your market, budget, and time, this episode shows you exactly how to weigh those factors against your own goals. By the end, you'll know which property type will get you where you want to go! In This Episode We Cover Whether you should invest in single-family or multifamily for your first rental The catch with some high-cash-flow multifamily properties Real numbers on two deals (including cash flow!) The challenges of house hacking a single-family home Why financing becomes more difficult past a fourplex Which type of rental property we’d buy if we were starting over today And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-774. 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
- 1 weeks ago1h 3m
How to Turn One Condo Into a 17-Unit Rental Portfolio!
Getting into an expensive market can feel completely out of reach for a rookie. But today’s guest looked at the numbers and realized that if he worked this in his favor, he could build reliable, long-term wealth. That math led him to 17 doors across three states, and today, he’s breaking down all his tips so you can start, and scale, too! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! In December 2009, Rick Albert was a broke college senior when he was introduced to a successful real estate investor. That meeting sent Rick down a path that started with an LA condo that many overlooked. He managed to see past the issues, and house hacked the unit with just 10% down. That single deal became the foundation for everything: a HELOC that funded an ambitious ADU conversion, a renovation that took three times longer than planned, and eventually a portfolio spanning 17 units across 3 states, with his business partner. Today Rick breaks down his advice on investing in high-cost markets, the numbers behind his deals, and what he'd do differently if he had to start over with no money. He also covers the unusual trick he used to cover his own closing costs, and what he did with the $228K he walked away with when he finally sold that first condo! If you've ever assumed a market like LA is off-limits for a rookie, this episode says otherwise! In This Episode We Cover How to turn a "problem" property into your first house hack Why cash flow isn't the only way to build wealth How to use a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to fund your next deal Why moving into your own rental can unlock a better refinance without an appraisal How to keep a renovation alive when the money runs short What to do with a six-figure gain once you sell The lender trick that puts money back in your pocket at closing And So Much More! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago22 min
Don't Buy a House Hack Until You've Checked These Numbers (Rookie Reply)
Investing in your first house hack but not sure whether the deal makes sense in the long run? House hacking is the way most rookies get started in real estate, and we’re breaking down how to analyze those deals to make sure you’re starting off strong! Welcome back to Rookie Reply! We’re back, answering three of your burning questions straight from the BiggerPockets Forums. In this episode, a rookie wants to try his first house hack but needs to know exactly what to analyze in a duplex vs. a single-family home. We’re breaking down the three factors that decide if it makes sense in their market, including a "supermax" strategy most rookies haven't even considered! We’re also weighing in on whether an investor should buy local or out of state for their first long-term rental, and the one trend rookies need to check before choosing a market! Finally, a rookie who is torn between a duplex or a vacation home gets an answer with a twist: the tax loophole that could make one option the smarter buy. Three very different scenarios, but all packed with strategies that will help you on your buying journey, and a clear path to building your long-term wealth! Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here! In This Episode We Cover The three numbers that make or break a house hack deal (always run these) The "supermax" strategy for maxing out your house hack returns Why negative cash flow isn't always a bad sign Backyard vs. out-of-state investing: which wins for your first rental The tax loophole most rookies have no idea about (very useful if you have a BIG tax bill) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-772. 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
- 2 weeks ago52 min
8+ Ways to Find Your First or Next Rental Property in 2027
Finding real estate deals is a challenge for many rookies. Trying to tell the difference between a great deal and a property that is merely disguised as one is something usually only experienced investors see through. But in this episode, we’re sharing some of the best strategies we use to find real estate deals—including a few options you’ve probably never heard of! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re breaking down eight different ways to find your first (or next) rental property! First, you’ll need to build your buy box so that you know exactly which types of properties to look for and where to find them. But then, we’ll show you how to work through the MLS the smart way, find real estate deals via word-of-mouth, and use seller concessions, wholesalers, and pocket listings to buy undervalued properties. We’ll even share an often-overlooked opportunity that could help you buy an entire real estate portfolio in one transaction! For each strategy, we’ll get into the real advantages and drawbacks, so you know exactly which of these channels fits where you are right now. Finally, we’ll show you exactly what to track so your hard work actually translates into your next deal! In This Episode We Cover The best ways to find great real estate deals in 2027 Why you must build your buy box before searching for deals How to use the MLS (multiple listing service) like an experienced investor The secret to finding “hidden” rental portfolios (and how to negotiate them!) The pros and cons of using word-of-mouth to land deals What a pocket listing really is, and how to get on an agent's shortlist How to effectively manage your direct-to-seller outreach campaigns And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-771. 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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