There’s a lot of advice and opinions out there on how to succeed in real estate investing… some good, and some bad. If you want to be successful, there’s really one principle that stands out to me as universal. It’s called The Three Stages of Real Estate Investing. This comes from Gary Keller’s book, The Millionaire Real Estate Investor. The Millionaire Real Estate Investor is one of my favorite books on how to gain wealth through real estate. On today's show, I'm going to walk you through The Three Stages of Real Estate Investing, and explain why this concept is instrumental to your success ..read more

How are distributions taxed on a self-directed IRA? This is an excellent question, and the answer is: it depends! On this Q&A episode of Investing in Real Estate, we're going to explore this topic and more. On today's show, I'm answering three great real estate investing questions on IRA distributions, paying down a variable rate HELOC, and what's behind our national debt in this country ..read more

Data shows that most Americans are ill-prepared for retirement. Bankrate reported that 56% of Americans feel behind on saving for their retirement years. So instead of dreaming of their retirement plans, many are left wondering if they’ll be able to retire at all. The idea of a cushy retirement has become more of a pipe dream than a real possibility for most Americans. On today's show, we're going to dive into some of the latest data on the retirement crisis in the United States. We'll discuss the state of 401k balances, Social Security, and more. Most importantly, you're going to learn why s ..read more

If you have a historically low interest rate on your mortgage, does it make sense to take out a HELOC and pay current interest rates to tap into your equity? This is a great question -- and it's one we're going to explore on this Q&A episode of Investing in Real Estate! On today's show, I'm answering three of your great questions on various investing and financial topics like pulling out your home equity, dealing with the wrongdoings of a past tenant, and how to decide if you should sell or hold your investments during times of economic turmoil. Click play to hear my answers to your quest ..read more

There’s a big difference between your run-of-the-mill real estate investor and a pro real estate investor. Pros educate themselves on varying strategies, and they plan for taxes year-round, ensuring they’re taking advantage of every opportunity, credit, and deduction that’s available. And there’s one specific strategy I see a lot of investors overlook: the 1031 exchange. On this episode of Investing in Real Estate, you're going to learn about how to invest like a pro by using a 1031 exchange. Click play to learn more ..read more

If you had $200,000 to invest, would it be a better choice to buy rental properties or mutual funds? On this Q&A episode, we're going to compare these two scenarios to determine which would be a better long-term investment. I'll also be answering questions on financing with a self-directed IRA, how to prepare to invest in real estate, and how to determine rental rates. I hope this Q&A empowers and educates you on your real estate journey. Join me for episode 719 of Investing in Real Estate ..read more

Every week in my inbox, I get questions from people who want to buy real estate, but they’re not sure how to get started because of a low credit score. If you feel like your credit score holds you back from reaching your financial goals, this episode is for you. On today's show, we're going to dive into what goes into a credit score, how it impacts your financial snapshot, and your ability to invest in real estate. Click play to learn the secret truth about your credit score ..read more

The HELOC, or home equity line of credit. is a great financial tool you can use to reach a variety of financial goals, whether you want to pay off high interest debt, invest in real estate, or pay down the principal balance of your primary residence. I get a ton of questions about using a HELOC, so this video is going to act as a resource to answer some of those most commonly asked questions. If you’ve got equity in your home and you’ve ever considered using that equity to reach your financial goals, this episode of Investing in Real Estate is for you! Click play to learn my top tips for usin ..read more

A recent Forbes article recently ranked Lubbock, Texas as the most overpriced housing market in 2023. The data showed that every home sold in July 2023 sold above its asking price. Today's first caller asked what this means, and wondered if investors should consider selling instead of renting their properties in this market. We're going to dive into this topic on today's show! This Q&A episode features three great questions on renting vs. selling in an overvalued market, how to use a VA loan to buy rental properties, and how to turn a paid off home into a performing asset. Click play to h ..read more

When you think about buying a rental property, you probably think about going through the traditional underwriting process at a big-name bank. Traditional mortgages can be a helpful tool for growing your real estate portfolio… but there are also a lot of scenarios in which a mortgage isn’t the right fit. So if you find yourself in a situation where you’re trying to grow your portfolio without a traditional mortgage, this episode is for you! On this episode of Investing in Real Estate, I’m going to share five alternative ways to buy a rental property ..read more