Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast

For the 100th Episode we decided to shake things up a little.  Charlie Kao is back in the studio and turning the table on host Brian Hamrick, making him answer the questions this time. Charlie gets Brian to discuss the new asset classes he been investing in this past year, including office, self-storage, and notes.  They also discuss the different members of Brian's team, and what he looks for in successful partnerships. Brian shares his outlook on the market and whether or not he believes there will be another real estate bubble, and how he's positioning his real estate assets to protect his portfolio in a downturn. This is a fun and informative conversation marking our 100th episode.  If you've been enjoying our show over the past two years, please let us know by giving us a rating and review on itunes. Enjoy!

At the age of 44, Hunter Carlile lost his corporate job and had to figure out how he would support his wife and three kids.  That was over four years ago, and in that time Hunter has bought/sold or rented over 200 houses!  And he's done it primarily through tax lien investing. Today Hunter shares his tax lien and investing strategies.  We'll talk about how he finds distressed properties, fixes them up, and either sells or holds as rentals.  We'll also discuss the in's & out's of tax lien investing and the pitfalls investors need to be aware of. Hunter also talks about his experiences using direct mail to find motivated sellers of distressed properties, why you should always avoid lender escrows for taxes and insurance, and how he relates to & works with home owners who find themselves in foreclosure. Hunter has also developed software that tax lien investors can use to simplify the process, and he's a coach and trainer as well.  You can find out more by going to his website or contacting him through e

When many of us think of Smart Home Technology we picture Amazon Alexa or Google Home turning our lights on and off or telling us the temperature and time.  These devices can be fun and addictive, but how useful are they to real estate investors and rental property owners, and can they improve our profits? Sean Miller is the President of Point Central, a provider of Enterprise-Scale Home Automation Solutions, and today he's going to tell us how Smart Home Technology is revolutionizing the way Rental Property Owners and Managers do business. We'll discuss the true meaning of "Smart Home Technology", and how the Analytics and Real Time Property Intelligence can help monitor your systems and utility usage, as well as identify potential problems before they happen. We'll also discuss the day-to-day practical uses of this technology, such as remotely controlling vendor and tenant access to your units, eliminating the need for keys and re-keying when a tenant moves out, lowering your utility bills, and adding secur

Tyler Sheff has figured out a way to build wealth by solving other people's problems, mainly by helping them invest in Buy & Hold Real Estate in order to realize tax benefits that will help them keep more of their income. Today we discuss the difference between ordinary income and capital gains, how Flips and Rehabs are taxed differently from Buy & Holds, and things you need to consider before leaving your job and eliminating earned income. Tyler also shares his experiences investing in Airbnbs and non-performing notes, working with the police department to improve his acquisitions, and how he doubled the value of his first Multi-Family Investment in two years. Tyler is also the host of "Cashflow Guys Podcast" and you can learn more about him at www.cashflowguys.com  

Charlie Kao negotiated a Commercial Land Lease for one of his father's properties when he was only 25 years old.  But it wasn't until he had a medical scare that he began taking real estate investing seriously and created a mission statement that would guide him as a "Lifestyle Investor". Today Charlie shares the many types of investments he's succeeded with, as well as the big loss he took on one of his flips.  Charlie discusses the lessons he learned from his father, why he likes to live in his flips, his airbnb experiences, tools he uses to enhance his efficiency, returns he strives for, and why he under-prices his rentals. You'll also learn Charlie's personal reasons for working with certain non-profit organizations as a way to give back to refugee youths, as well as his future plans to invest in self-storage, and the unique criteria he's using that will lead to bigger profits. I know you'll find this episode to be highly informative.  Please take a moment to leave a review & rating on itunes. Charlie

Pat Sandro is one of the original House Hack Babies.  The duplex that he grew up in was owned by his father, and the rent from the other unit helped pay for his diapers.  From an early age, Pat was paying attention to the way his father invested in real estate and self-managed the 36 units he'd acquired.  But it wasn't until after Pat became a physical therapist that he realized the true benefits of Real Estate Investing. On today's episode, Pat shares the good times & the bad times.  From the huge profits he made flipping condos in Florida before the crash, to the money he lost after 2009.  Pat talks about the multi-family properties he's acquired, the land contracts that provide 'mailbox money', and the 'do-it-yourself' management style he learned from his father. Pat also tells us about the vacant home he purchased and the horrific discovery in the basement.  You'll also learn about Fair Housing Laws regarding Emotional Support Animals, and how Pat found himself in trouble when he unknowingly violated

Get Ready to Get Scared by this Special Halloween Episode with Real Ghost Stories from the perspective of Rental Property Owners, Homeowners, and Tenants. Whether you believe in Ghosts or not, sometimes strange and inexplicable things happen that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Our guests today talk about the creaking doors, the footsteps, the feeling of being watched, and the sensation of seeing an apparition of someone long dead. With stories from old and new guests: Ann Finkler, Gary Hall, Steve DeKoster, Brandon Krieg, John Potter, and Sue Dejonge. I know you'll enjoy this episode and I'd appreciate it if you'd share that enjoyment by giving us a review and rating in itunes. Happy Halloween!

Sooner or later every investor must ask the question "Where can I get the money to do my next deal?"  Today James Eerdmans from American Realty Property Management and Finance of America Mortgage will help answer that question. James is a prolific investor who has bought and sold hundreds of properties in the past 20 years.  He's also well versed in the different loan products available to home buyers and investors. In this episode we'll discuss the standard types of loans available to home buyers such as FHA and VA, credit score requirements, Private Mortgage Insurance, and the amount of money you'll need to put down (anywhere from 0% to 25%).  We also discuss FHA 203k loans, which allow homeowners the opportunity to roll their rehab costs into the amount borrowed. James also discusses the differences between Conventional, Commercial, and Private Lending, and how they apply to investors.  You'll also learn how to protect yourself from having your loan 'called in' during the next downturn, the meaning of 'por

Todd Warstler learned he was losing his job while attending a Lou Brown Real Estate Seminar.  The news couldn't have been better received, as Todd had already decided that he could make a better living using Lou's techniques. Today Todd and I discuss the "Rent-to-Own" system that has helped him replace his job income, and how he's used this training to provide affordable housing to residents who were not able to acquire traditional financing.  Todd took Lou Brown's lessons a step further by providing Credit Restoration Services that help his residents fix their credit report and improve their credit scores. Todd also shares the returns he shoots for when working with investors, the contractor nightmare he encountered, ways to save money on rehabs, and his opinion on the 'Fix & Flip' Shows made popular on HGTV. There's a lot of great information in this episode for every type of investor.  If you'd like to get a hold of Todd, you can contact him by email, website or phone: Todd@nicehomestoday.com 866-386-0

Ann Finkler describes herself as an Explorer, Entrepreneur, Investor, and High Risk Taker.  Whether she's Buying an empty Industrial or Office Building, turning a Historic House into a Successful Bed & Breakfast, or Restoring Damaged Homes, she has learned to look at everything with a Creative Eye in order to find Profit and Cash Flow in areas other people would avoid. Today on the show, Ann tells us how she looks for properties that she can fit businesses into, and how that led her to purchase an industrial building that was only 30% occupied.  She also shares why she is cautious about taking on commercial debt and how she funds her deals using private money. Ann also shares tips and advice on how to protect your home after a disaster, and why getting to know your insurance agent is so important.  Ann also looks for strategic partnerships, and shares the qualities she likes to see in potential partners.  You'll also learn how Ann was able to retire early, but changed her mind after the events of 9/11. Th

True Passive Income is the Holy Grail for most Real Estate Investors.  However, its not always easy to separate ourselves from the Day-to-Day Realities of Investing and figure out ways to create a team, systems and processes that will free up more time and energy for other pursuits.  In this episode we're going to discuss why a good plan violently executed today is better than a perfect plan executed next week. Gary Hall is an Entrepreneur, Passive Income Strategist, and the Operations Manager of Westshore Property Management in Muskegon, Michigan.  Gary's going to share concrete examples of the systems he's put in place throughout his career to create passive income while building his real estate portfolio. We also go into detail on a low income 11 unit that he's turning into an Airbnb cash cow, as well as his first 'blind pool' syndication and the lessons he learned while raising over $400,000. Gary also discusses the Financial Business he started while in College, Whether Dave Ramsay's advice applies to C

Today we take a Deeper Dive into the Un-Sexy, yet Extremely Important, details that can make or break your rental property investments: - why you should always have an Attorney review your Contracts - the importance of Title Companies when you buy a Property - how to avoid Adverse Possession - the Hostile Takeover of your Property - How you can Profit from having a Cell Tower on your Property - How to avoid Land Contract Disasters Brian Durham is a Real Estate Agent and Office Manager for Precision Real Estate. He's also finished law school and is in the process of taking the bar exam. Brian has a background in Telecommunications, business management, and tenant law. In this episode, Brian shares how his first home presented a unique and lucrative profit potential when a large grocery store chain made him an offer he couldn't refuse, what happened when a house he sold on land contract burned down, and why he sees the strong housing market continuing for another two to three years. I know you'll gain a lot of

This episode is dedicated to anyone who's ever owned rental property and has had to decide whether they should self-manage or hire a professional 3rd party property management company. James Loftus and Patrick Spitzley are back in the studio to discuss their experiences managing their rental properties and then handing over their babies to someone else to take care of them. We discuss the pro's & con's of professional management v.s. self-managing, getting rid of intrusive and demanding tenants, and whether or not your bottom-line numbers will improve with professional management. James and Patrick also discuss why they chose not to start their own management companies, the lifestyle they've created with their free time, and whether or not $50 for changing a toilet paper holder is too expensive. I know you're going to enjoy our conversation.  Stick around until the end to hear some bonus 'off-mic' content!

Whitney Nicely believes everyone should control their destiny by investing in real estate as soon and as much as possible.  Today she joins me in the studio to talk about the many types of deals she's done, the techniques she's used, and the lessons she's learned along the way. Whitney LOVES investing in Lease Options, and she tells some great stories of the money she's made, and the headaches she's encountered. You'll also learn the three profit points Whitney focuses on when doing a lease option: The non-refundable lease fee, monthly cash flow, and profit at sale. Whitney also buys vacant land at auctions and tells the story of two purchases that had surprisingly lucrative outcomes.  You'll also find out how she and her boyfriend (now husband) were able to purchase their apartment units with no money down. This is a fun, informational episode that I know you're going to enjoy. You can contact Whitney through her facebook page by going to: www.whitneynicely.com/group

In this red-hot real estate market you need every possible edge to separate yourself from all of the other buyers and investors you're competing with.  There are also tricks and tips sellers need to be aware of to get the best price for their property. Today Joshua Schaub from Icon Realty Group is back in the studio to share up-to-date actionable techniques for buyers, sellers and investors that will give you the edge in today's real estate market. Joshua has 7 tips for buyers that will help them get more offers accepted, 5 tips for sellers that will help them price and market their home effectively, and real-life stories from the trenches that every investor can learn from. We discuss the vacant land he purchased where his development plans were literally 'sunk', why buyers should do a final walk-through before closing, and how he helped sell a house that hadn't received any offers for more money than the seller had been asking through a previous broker. There's a lot of fantastic information packed into thi

Bill and Jackie Howson have achieved what many Real Estate Investors dream of - They've built a 57 Unit portfolio, weathered the loss of his job, and achieved financial security through Real Estate Investing.  But best of all, they've done it together. Today we discuss how their unique talents and skills compliment each other, and share some funny stories of the arguments they've had along the way.  Bill is the researcher and constant learner, who enjoys the due diligence and acquisition phase.  Jackie is the designer and rehabber, who has earned her respect in a male-dominated industry. Bill and Jackie also share their management philosophies, and tell why they no longer accept residents who have evictions in their past.  They also talk language differences, and how they've had to learn the American meaning of 'yard', 'electrical socket', 'tub', and 'faucet'. I know you'll enjoy this fun and informative conversation.  Please take a moment to go to itunes to give us a 5 star rating and review!

When it comes to buying Commercial Retail, Office or Industrial Investment Property, there's a lot of differences from the Commercial Multifamily and Apartment World.  Here to discuss and compare those differences with us today is Michael Cagen, a Senior Associate with Marcus & Millichap. Michael and I talk about Single Tenant Net Leases in the Retail space, such as those you might find with a Dollar General store or a Walgreens.  We also discuss the different types of leases you might find in an office building such as Gross, Modified Gross, Single Net, Double Net, Triple Net and Absolute Net, and who pays what expenses under each.  Michael shares the factors used in valuing these types of commercial properties, such as price and cost per square foot, cap rate, tenant strength, lease duration, and tenant improvements ("TI").  He also shares real-world examples from investments he's brokered. You'll also get an inside look at how Marcus & Millichap position their client's commercial properties i

Joe Fairless is the host of "The Best Real Estate Investing Advice Ever" Podcast and today he's in the studio to tell us how he grew his portfolio from Four Single-Family Rentals to an apartment portfolio worth over $160 Million within the span of three years. Joe shares the details on his 'Best Ever' investment, a 250 Unit complex in Houston Texas, and how he increased it's value from $16.1 Million to $21.6 Million in two years. Joe also discusses the types of apartment investments he buys, his Return on Investment goals, and the steps he takes to increase the Net Operating Income.  He'll also take us through his 3-step approach to scaling his business through strategic partnerships, as well as what he looks for in potential partners and what skills he brings to the table. Joe also has a marketing background, and we discuss how important marketing is to raising money and being a successful investor.  Joe also tells the story of his brief career in stand-up comedy and how that's helped him get past the fear o

In 2011 Tim VandenToorn took a leap of faith and invested $30,000 from his savings and ROTH IRA into a four-unit foreclosure.  That was his first step into real estate investing and he's been going strong ever since, building a portfolio worth over $1 Million dollars.  In this episode, you'll find out how he did it. Tim and I also discuss his previous career in law enforcement, and why he traded that in to work with his family in property management at United Properties of West Michigan.  Tim started as a maintenance tech and has since worked his way up to Managing Partner, where he oversees over 500 properties in the West Michigan area.  Tim also started United Realty, which assists investors with the acquisition of investment properties. Tim shares a lot of the experience he's gained during this time, such as buying multiple properties from tax sales, understanding the true expenses of investment property, the power of using 'other people's money', budgeting for capital improvements, and the functional issu

Many investors are struggling to find deals in this tight real estate market, and ending up increasingly frustrated by the lack of inventory and high asking prices they're encountering in the Primary market in which these properties are traded. But there is a Secondary market in which these properties can be acquired for a fraction of their value by purchasing the note, or underlying mortgage. Gene Chandler, the Asset Manager for Chandler & Chandler Financial, LLC, is in the studio with me today to share his experiences over the past decade in buying one-off and small pools of distressed assets directly from banks, hedge funds, and private equity groups. Gene will explain the differences between the primary and secondary markets, performing v.s. non-performing loans, and traditional rehabs and flips v.s. 'fixing' a note. You'll also learn the lingo Gene uses when talking to the bank's special asset manager, the types of properties he prefers, and many examples of the notes he's purchased and the profits h