Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast

Tyler Lyons has acquired and rehabbed three houses in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, and in the process he's added substantial value to each one. Tyler's goal has been to "BRRRR" - Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, and Repeat. But when it came time to put financing on those properties, he wanted to make sure he avoided the pitfalls that led many investors to lose everything during the Great Recession. How much debt on your rental properties is safe? Should you keep a good amount of equity in your property, or pull out the maximum in order to buy more? What's better, a 15-year mortgage or a 30-year? And are investors making the same mistakes in financing that were being made leading up to the last recession? These are questions that need to be taken seriously, so who better to help answer them than "Friends of the Show" Justin Workman and Rob Minch. Justin and Rob join Tyler and me in the studio to perform a bit of Real Estate Therapy and Counseling. Rob calls on his lending background to compare today's loan env

Jack Gibson knew early on that having a job and working for someone else just wasn't in his destiny, so he sought out alternative paths to creating wealth. By the age of 21 Jack was running a successful multi-million dollar business coaching clients on effective nutrition and fitness strategies.  Then he realized how profitable real estate investing could be.  Now he's the Co-Owner of High Return Real Estate, LLC out of St. Joseph, Michigan, and he's passionate about helping other investor find high-yield cash-flowing properties and investing in them passively. Today Jack and I discuss his early beginnings as an entrepreneur, Multi-Level Marketing businesses and the important lessons they thought him in sales and marketing, and the effects reading Robert Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" had on him. Jack also shares the types of returns he strives for in his turn-key properties, the importance of finding the right team, and the $60,000 mistake he made on one of his early investments. I know you'll enjoy this ep

When it comes to Finding the Money for your purchase of a home or investment property, Seller Financing can help you avoid traditional lenders while setting terms that work for both the buyer and seller. From a seller's standpoint, seller financing can help you maintain a steady income, while spreading out the tax consequences of a sale. But with the passage of the Dodd-Frank Consumer Protection Act, a lot of investors are unsure whether Seller Financing is still a viable strategy. Luckily, the RPOA held, and recorded, an expert panel at it's annual conference where we discussed how Seller Financing works, the legalities to be aware of, and how to do it right.  Here are the experts you will hear from: David Hill, a Real Estate Attorney with Barnes & Thornburg LLP.  His specialties are Real Estate and Finance Law.  David was also a guest on the podcast – episode #12 Justin Workman, a Residential Redevelopment Specialist, landlord, investor and home buyer.  His company is Work’n It Properties LLC, and Justi

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to star in one of those Fix & Flip Reality TV shows, then you're going to love this episode. Last year Jeremy Cole and Ramon Huerta shot a pilot episode for a new series called "Gritty To Pretty".  Last month it debuted on the DIY Network, and today they'll share their 'behind-the-scenes' stories and secrets. You're going to learn how Jeremy and Ramon got comfortable being in front of the camera, how they chose the property to rehab, and why the producers asked them to clean the bathroom before filming began.  You'll also find out what its like working with a real Hollywood tv crew, how it affected their rehab schedule, and what a 'clapper' actually does. Jeremy and Ramon have been on the show before (Episode #65) and they always provide a fun and interesting conversation.  Soon they'll be learning whether or not their show will get picked up by HGTV, and you can stay informed by checking out their "Property Krawl" facebook page, or Jeremy's website:  www.kzoo

When it comes to politics, everyone has their reasons for voting for a certain candidate or backing certain issues.  And as real estate investors, we need to be aware of which candidates are best suited to support our ability to provide housing for our residents while still making a profit. Today we're going to talk about the places where politics and Real Estate Investing connect, and how we as real estate investors and landlords can support the candidates and legislation that in turn supports us as investors. Here to have that conversation is Tom Koetsier, award-winning realtor with Compass Realty Services.  Tom also sits on the Grand Rapids Planning Commission, he's the current president of the RPOA, and is also a successful real estate investor as well. Tom also volunteers on the RPOA Government Affairs Commission, as well as the RPOA Political Action Committee (PAC). You can support the PAC by following the link below: https://rpoaonline.org/rpoa-political-action-committee/  

Vacation Rentals & airbnb's can be a great way to exponentially increase the returns on your real estate investments.  But there are also many pitfalls that investors must avoid and be aware of in order to be successful. On February 23, 2018, the RPOA hosted an expert panel to discuss short-term vacation rentals - how they work, why they're such a great strategy for real estate investors, tips on being successful, and how to avoid the pitfalls that can cost you extra money. Here are the four investors & experts you'll be hearing from: Gary Hall is in the process of converting a low-income 11 unit into an airbnb.  Gary is an entrepreneur, passive income strategist, and the operations manager of Westshore Property Management in Muskegon. Gary was also a guest on the podcast – episode #89 and the Halloween episode Frederick Kidd  is a licensed realtor in Illinois, and has been managing and operating short-term rentals for the past eight years. He personally owns and operates  five short-term rentals in t

Raising Other People's Money to invest in real estate is a time honored tradition.  But did you know that once you have more than two investors in an investment that you technically have a syndication?  Are you also aware that the Security and Exchange Commission (The "SEC") has rules regulating how you go about raising that money and the types of investors you can allow in your deals, and that if you don't follow those rules you can get into serious trouble? Now that I've made syndications sound scary, its a good time to make them more understandable and accessible with Amy Wan, the Founder & CEO of Bootstrap Legal.  Amy is an attorney who specializes in real estate syndication and crowdfunding for entrepreneurs and real estate investors across the globe.  Her mission is to democratize access to legal counsel and capital. Amy will help us understand what we can, and can't, say to investors, the types of investors we can allow in our deal (accredited or sophisticated), SEC rules regarding Regulation D and

Joe Howard and Kevin Schultz were standing in the middle of a dumpster when they came up with a business idea that would change their lives.  As real estate investors, they knew there was a huge need for getting rid of all the junk that accumulates in the houses they were looking at for flipping or rehabbing.  So they became the owners of "Junk King of West Michigan". Through this business they've been able to find opportunities that most investors never get to see.  Today they tell us about those opportunities and share stories of the less-than-glamorous side of the junk removal business. Joe and Kevin discuss the traits that make for a good partner both in real estate and business, the first rehab they did together and the challenges they faced, an abandoned house full of cat litter, and how they donate a lot of their time and items to Family Promise, a local non-profit serving homeless families in West Michigan. You'll also learn tips on how to deal with bed bugs and fleas, and how to properly dispose of p

With the recent passage of the Trump Administration's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, there have been a lot of questions from real estate investors and rental property owners about how the new tax changes will affect their tax preparation for 2017 and beyond. Here to explain the changes and their potential benefits to investors is Duane Culver, CPA and President of Culver CPA Group.  Duane will give us the low-down on the following topics: The Return of the Education Deduction, changes in 2017 regarding Depreciation & Bonus Depreciation, Section 179 and how it affects your ability to write off capital expenses, the drop in tax rates throughout the different tax brackets, changes to the Standard Deduction, ways in which congress is trying to simplify Tax Laws, how those tax laws affect LLCs, and ways in which Real Estate Investors save tax dollars from these changes. If you're about to sit down & do your own taxes, or you have a professional prepare them, it pays to learn as much as possible about tax rules &am

This is a Special Re-Broadcast of last year's episode with Jeremy Cole and Ramon Huerta.  You can WATCH THEM This Saturday, March 3rd at 7 p.m. on the show "Gritty To Pretty" on the DIY Network.  HGTV has shown a strong interest in taking their show to series, so the more people who watch, the more likely we'll get to see more! Whether you love or hate those HGTV shows on Rehabbing and Flipping, you're going to really enjoy today's conversation. Ramon Huerta and Jeremy Cole host a 'Property Krawl' every month in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where they invite all levels of investors to accompany them on a tour of properties that are ripe for rehabbing, flipping, and buy & hold investing.  Ramon is a realtor/investor, and he chooses the homes to view, while Jeremy uses his contractor skills to help others understand the costs involved in rehabbing the properties.  Together, they strive to help beginning investors understand the complexities of acquiring, rehabbing, and owning rental property, while sharing creative

When it comes to raising Other People's Money, syndication is both a science and an art.  There are specific and time-proven ways to do it right, and many ways to do it wrong. Today David Toupin, a Detroit-area investor and syndicator, will share his top-ten tips on Successful Syndication.  David's company, Borland and Toupin Holdings, owns and manages a $6 Million Dollar Portfolio of 120 units, as well as single-family fix & flips. David will discuss the tools he uses as an investor, he'll explain 'Preferred Returns' and 'Annual Returns', and why its important to make your investment opportunity as easy as possible for your investors to understand. This is a great episode to listen to if you're interested in Syndicating Multi-Family and Apartment investments, or if you're curious about raising Other People's Money. You can contact David through his website or facebook page: www.theborlandgroupllc.com facebook: @thedavidtoupin

From the outside looking in, Shaun McCloskey was a successful real estate investor and making a ton of money doing short sales and pre-foreclosure investing.  But deep down he know that he was working way too much and becoming consumed by his business.  He needed a better balance, and a better vision for his business. Today Shaun discusses the Lifeonaire strategy that he discovered, and how it helped him redefine his relationship with his family, with success, and with the debts he had taken on to build his business.  He also explains how anyone can design their own vision for what you want your life to look like, and then reverse engineer your business to make sure it serves your vision Shaun also tells us why the worst day of his life was the day he made $102,000 on a deal, and how he felt when he lost $87,000 on the first deal he ever did after losing his job.  He's since gone on to do over 300 deals and only lost money three times. Shaun is also a featured speaker at the RPOA's annual Real Estate Investor

Is it possible to buy a house that no one else wants for $5,000 and then turn that house into a successful money maker? My guest today, Larry Goins, says that not only is that possible, but you can earn more than the average investor makes on a house worth 10 to 20 times that amount. And he has real-life examples to back that up. Larry has been investing in Real Estate for over twenty years, and has developed strategies that allow him to buy 10 to 15 properties per month without ever leaving his office. Today Larry shares his "Filthy Rich" techniques using Seller Financing and Lease Options. Larry also gives examples of how he uses facebook, craigslist, and ebay to find leads and buyers. You can also hear Larry speak live at the RPOA's Annual Real Estate Investor and Landlord Conference & Expo, which is happening in Grand Rapids, Michigan February 22-24, 2018. This is an event you Don't Want to Miss! You can register for FREE at www.rpoaonline.org

Chris McClatchey initially built his Real Estate Portfolio the Traditional Way - by using Bank Financing.  But then it struck him;  the majority of his cash flow was going back to the bank to pay off his mortgage.  Not only that, but the first seven to fifteen years of mortgage payments were primarily paying off the interest on his loan rather than paying down the principal. Chris knew that there had to be a better way, and that's when he came up with "The Power of Zero".  By using seller financing with zero percent interest, Chris was able to outbid other investors by overpaying for the property, but he was still paying much less in interest over the duration of the loan. Today, Chris shares "The Power of Zero" with us, and explains why its so important to listen to the seller to figure out what they really want, why the terms of the loan are much more important than the price you're willing to pay, the three elements to a great deal, and how to present an offer and understand the psychology of the seller. A

Twenty years ago, Donna Bauer was making $1 an hour babysitting as a stay-at-home Mom.  Then she learned about Buying Notes and made over $5,000 on her first deal.  Since then, she's taught over 100,000 people how to profit from buying notes using her tried & true methods. Today Donna shares with us why she prefers Seller-Financed Performing Notes, and how she profits from them without using any of her own money.  We also compare the risks of buying Performing v.s. Non-Performing Notes and learn the best sources for finding Sellers. Donna also discusses the Return On Investment she expects, and how you can accelerate and increase your profit by helping the buyer refinance the note. Donna's experience and tactics can help you take your real estate investing to the next level.  You can also be there when she speaks at the Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor FREE Conference, February 22-24 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Goto www.rpoaonline.org to register for FREE

Anytime we talk about Investing in Apartments and Multi-Family on this show, there is always a huge response from our listeners.  So I know you're going to enjoy today's conversation with National Expert Anthony Chara, the President of Apartment Mentors out of the Greater Denver area. Anthony has invested in over 1,700 units worth over $45 Million in value, and he's ready to share his experiences with our listeners.  You're going to find out how his apartment investments weathered the great recession, how he finds and funds his opportunities, the types of due diligence he does on the property and the market, and why its so important to know whether the city & state is tenant or landlord friendly. Anthony also shares the challenges he's faced when taking over a struggling property, the details of a completely vacant 96-unit he acquired for $311k, the seller who committed fraud by cooking his books, and his current market perspective and how its shaped by local cycles. I know you're going to learn a lot fro

** My apologies to Jacques and Paul.  When I uploaded their episode there was a technical issue that only allowed the first 20 minutes to be heard.  Now that the issue has been fixed, you can enjoy the full episode! **   Not too long ago, Paul Leason and Jacques Cyr left the corporate world to become full-time real estate investors and real estate agents.  Today they share their experiences with us, as well as the up's & down's they've encountered along the way. We'll be talking about thieving contractors, renting to prostitutes, getting raided for corndogs (yes, we'll explain), red flags to look for when screening tenants, and watching your property go up in flames!  Through all their challenges, Paul and Jacques have managed to find success by watching the numbers and following the data. Jacques also explains the meaning of BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refi, Repeat) and how he's applied those methods in order to force appreciation on his investment properties. Paul shares his experiences with the Grand Rapi

Many Successful Real Estate Investors tend to have one thing in common; They've developed systems and processes that have exponentially increased their deal flow and ability to get deals done. Today we explore that topic with Brittany Calloway, a real estate investor, consultant, and CEO of Top Notch Property Solutions.  Brittany describes how she accidentally became a real estate investor while helping a family sell their distressed property.  Brittany quickly realized that in order to increase her acquisitions and deals, she could use technology that's already available to investors.  Brittany shares her experiences with Virtual Assistants and outsourcing her tasks. Brittany has also systematized how she raises Private Money, and has utilized Linkedin to net over $500,000 in investor funds.  We'll also learn her favorite software application, as well as how she's managed to duplicate her business and move into New Markets. This episode is a "must listen" for all serious investors.  Brittany will also be a f

Many Real Estate Investors have heard that they can save big money on taxes and increase the value of their retirement funds by investing in real estate using a Self-Directed IRA, but they still haven't taken the steps necessary to make it happen. On today's episode we talk with Edwin Kelly, one of the nation's top experts on Self-Directed Retirement accounts to learn why they're such a great tool & vehicle for building legacy wealth.  Edwin also share's his Triple-D, three-step process: DECIDE that you want one and set it up properly, DEPOSIT the money you'll need to work with, and DIRECT that money into the investment vehicle of your choice. Edwin does a great job of simplifying the process in a way that might finally get you to take action.  He also shares stories of his clients who have used SDIRA's to eliminate their credit card debt, shield their wholesaling income from earned income tax, and created thousands of dollars in monthly retirement income off of an initial $4,000 investment. We also bring

Today we are taking a deep dive into buying properties at Huge Discounts through Sheriff Sales and Tax Auctions. My guest today is Stephen Benedict, an investor in the West Michigan/Muskegon area with over 120 units in his portfolio.  Stephen knows all the in's & out's of buying properties at Sheriff Sales and Tax Auctions, and he has agreed to walk us through the process. Stephen talks about his first Sheriff Sale property, how the process works, why you should buy the first mortgage and not the second, the best & worst deals he's done, mistakes he sees other investors make, and understanding the TRUE costs of acquiring and rehabbing a property. Stephen will also explain the differences between Sheriff Sales and Tax Auctions, and how Tax Auctions changed with the advent of the Land Bank and money laundering rules. Stephen makes it clear that Sheriff's Sales and Tax Auctions are a high risk type of investment, but if you do your proper due diligence the rewards can be extraordinary. Enjoy the show, an