Real Estate

Don’t Buy a Cute Condo: Do This Instead to Create Wealth.

Instead of buying a starter home, consider house hacking with a small multifamily property. Or, keep renting until you’re ready to buy a more permanent home.
Refinance Now or Wait for Mortgage Rates to Drop?

With the Fed cutting rates for the first time this year, is now the right time to refinance? Here’s how I’m thinking about it, and why I’m going to wait.
Don’t Give Up When Being a Landlord Feels Heavy

Don’t give up on your rental property dreams when the job of being a landlord starts to feel too heavy. We’ve all been there. The upside is still worth it.
How to Use Two Simple Metrics to Compare Investments

With these two simple metrics, you can compare investments across asset classes to help you determine the best way to put your hard-earned money to work.
How to Think About Investing in Both RE and the Stock Market

Real estate is my favorite asset class, but I still regularly invest in stocks. Each asset class is a way to create Parachute Money to protect my family.
Shrink Your Magic Retirement Number With One Rental Property

Adding just one rental property to your investment portfolio can massively shrink your magic retirement number and accelerate your journey to financial freedom.
How to Analyze a Property When the Initial Math Looks Bad

Most rental properties are not going to immediately look like great investments. Don’t give up. It’s our job as investors to negotiate and look for potential.
How to Easily Evaluate a Rental Property with Real Numbers

Running the numbers on potential real estate deals should be easy. Here is an example of how I recently evaluated a rental property for sale in Chicago.
Running the Numbers on RE Deals Should be Easy

Running the numbers on a rental property does not have to be hard. Account for the fixed costs and make informed predictions for the speculative costs.
Stop Fearing Toilets with a Good Handyman on Your RE Team

You don’t need to be scared of leaky toilets when you have a good handyman on your RE team. You’ll also learn that you don’t need to be handy to be a landlord.
Be Sure to Have an Experienced Accountant on your RE Team

Don’t underestimate the importance of having an experienced accountant on your real estate team. Without one, you’ll lose out on massive tax benefits.
How to Evaluate a Great Mortgage Broker for your RE Team

A great mortgage broker is an essential part of your RE team. I like to think of a great mortgage broker as an experienced and trusted vacation tour guide.
Build Out Your RE Team Starting with a Five-Star Broker

Start building your RE team by finding a great broker. Your broker is like a five-star hotel concierge who can make your entire experience so much better.
Your Spouse is the Most Important Person on Your RE Team

The most important person on your real estate team is your spouse. Make sure you each understand the financial, time, and emotional commitments involved.
Fix Your Personal Finances Before Investing in Real Estate

Before investing in rental properties, focus on your personal finances. If you can’t manage your own money, how are you going to run a business?
Use Common Sense to Help Identify Good Rental Properties

Before running the numbers, use common sense and your own life experiences to develop a list of attractive features for rental properties in your market.
Why do You Really Want to Own Rental Properties?

Before buying a rental property, think and talk about why you want to do it. Your “Why” is a crucial first step in developing a successful strategy.
Do Not Invest in Real Estate if You Want Passive Income

Owning rental properties is not a way to earn passive income. Think of it as a job that pays you in cash flow, appreciation, debt pay-down, and tax benefits.
Invest in Real Estate for Massive Tax Benefits

I invest in real estate for the massive tax benefits. Find out how I earn rental income and legally pay close to nothing in income tax on my rentals each year.
Invest in Real Estate and Other People Pay Your Debt

Besides cash flow and appreciation, the next main reason I invest in real estate is because other people pay off my debt through monthly rent payments.
Invest in Real Estate for Wealth Through Appreciation

The second main reason I invest in real estate, the first reason being cash flow, is to generate long-term wealth through appreciation.
Invest in Real Estate Because Cash Flow is King

On my journey to financial freedom, rental property cash flow is king. With cash flow, I can cover my monthly expenses while my asset grows over time.
Real Estate has Accelerated my Journey to Financial Freedom

I invest in real estate to accelerate my journey to financial freedom. I can then spend more time with my family, which I learned from my mesothelioma clients.
Happy that I Delayed Financial Independence

I’m happy that I delayed financial independence to build the life that I truly want. By house hacking for seven years, I can now clearly see the finish line.
How to Use HELOC to Buy Investment Property

Using a HELOC to buy investment property is one way real estate investors scale quickly. I’ve used a HELOC to buy investment property three separate times.