The Biggerpockets Real Estate Investing Podcast

There’s a new FIRE movement—and this time, it includes real estate. You’ve probably heard of the FIRE movement before (financial independence, retire early). It’s a strategy that combines frugal living, saving as much money as possible, and investing everything you can to retire early. The problem? Not many people we know want to “retire early” just to be stuck in a coupon-cutting life for decades. What if you could achieve financial freedom while still traveling, going out to eat, buying the things you want, and not optimizing every single cent in your life? That’s where Afford Anything’s Paula Pant comes in, with her new “FIIRE” movement.  Paula tried the FIRE movement and accomplished the goal—ultimate time freedom. But, contrary to much FIRE advice, she built a small, powerful rental property portfolio, paid it off, reduced her risk, and now lives a wealthy life traveling the world, running her own business, and doing what she wants. Today, Paula shares her new FIIRE strategy for financia

Have you ever thought, maybe real estate investing isn’t worth it anymore? Lindsay Barrientos didn’t start buying rentals after the 2008 crash or ride the low-interest-rate wave in 2021. She started in late 2022, after home prices and interest rates had already spiked. But she knew about the long-term potential of real estate and trusted the process—buying one house at a time and banking the rental income for the next down payment. Now, just four years later, Lindsay’s 12-property portfolio has given her the flexibility to go back to school, quit her grueling W-2 job, and start her own business. And she didn’t do anything the average investor can’t do today. She lives in a high-cost-of-living area, so she invests in a real estate market where her money goes further. Her properties are 2,000 miles away, so she leans into her investing team. No “perfect” timing. No big bank account. Just a plan and simple, consistent action. Whatever’s keeping you on the sidelines—prices, rates, the economy—Lindsay’

How much do landlords make? Whether you want to own rentals or want to benchmark your property portfolio, this episode is for you. We’ve got four real rental properties with real rent, expenses, and cash flow numbers to share. And this isn’t that fluffed-up “cash flow” number many investors claim—this is the real (as in taxable) cash flow for actual deals owned by friends of the podcast, Amelia McGee and Grace Gudenkauf. Amelia and Grace brought a variety of deals to share—from single-family homes to triplexes, some seller-financed, some with bank loans, some cash-flowing, and others…not so much. They’re sharing real purchase prices, rents, expenses, and cash flow numbers to show you the reality of investing in 2026. We’ll talk about how Grace was able to land a 10% down (cash-flowing) duplex deal thanks to a local bank, the 0% interest seller financing loan Amelia picked up just by having a conversation, a “boring” stress-free rental that pays $250+/month in profit like clockwork, and why one of them s

You want to buy a rental property, so you put 20% down and get a mortgage to cover the rest. This is how most investors buy real estate, but some (Dave Ramsey) think you can do it without debt—or at least less of it. Can you actually build a real estate portfolio with cash? Will a shorter note kill your cash flow? Today, we’re putting these two investing philosophies to the test! We’re answering more questions from the BiggerPockets Forums—this time, with help from Deandra McDonald, the investor who went from $4,000 to financial freedom with rental properties. After a debate on using leverage in real estate, we’ll field questions from a couple of self-managing landlords who are struggling with tenant screening and turnovers. Should you approve a “questionable” tenant if they’re pre-paying the year’s rent? How do you keep contractors on schedule when doing repairs? If you’re trying to get into real estate investing with very little money, what should you do? We’ll discuss whether it’s better to raise cap

Financial freedom with three rental properties? It almost sounds too easy, but it’s reality for today’s guest, who went from making roughly $11 an hour to having more than enough cash flow to live on. With a little hard work and discipline, Lucas Teague saved $10,000 to buy his very first rental property. He made several offers and heard plenty of “nos.” But he only needed one “yes.” And that first yes changed everything. Lucas repeated the process: buy a “cheap” property, live in it, fix it up, and make tens of thousands of dollars. But instead of racing to build a massive real estate portfolio, Lucas settled on three rentals and started paying them off. Now he’s almost completely debt-free and earns enough rental income to cover his family’s expenses and then some. Lucas has all that he needs. Now, he’s focused on a new objective: giving back. In this episode, he’s sharing an unconventional but proven path to financial freedom so YOU can do the same. In This Episode We Cover How Lucas achieved

Seller desperation just hit a recent peak, creating a major buying opportunity in the housing market. Over 20% of properties saw a price cut in the past four weeks, and with mortgage rates only moving up, sellers are running out of options. Winter is coming, and with it, less demand—so what are sellers going to do? More price cuts could be in store. We’re back with October’s housing market update! We’ve been saying for months that buying opportunities would get bigger, and we’re seeing it unfold in real time. Sellers are getting desperate and starting to cut prices at levels we haven’t seen in years. Fewer homes are changing hands, so buyers are getting their pick as deals sit on the market for months. Dave is eyeing a specific set of homes as the biggest opportunity right now (and they’re on the market). So what do you do if you’re ready to buy your next rental but don’t know if you’re catching a falling knife? Dave shares the properties he’s looking for, what he’s offering to get day-one equity, an

16 years ago, Eric Augustyn had the same fear that keeps many of us up at night: What if I get fired? He had just survived the 2008 financial crash, and while lucky to have a job, Eric was nowhere near financial freedom. This reliance on his W-2 created a fire that pushed him to buy the one asset everyone was warning him about—rental properties. He found one of the cheapest rentals he could buy, and spent nights and weekends fixing it up to eke out a small profit.  And guess what? It worked. After repeating the system for more than a decade, Eric now has a rental property portfolio that has given him true financial freedom, built on the pillars of cash flow, community, and continuous improvement. That made him the perfect choice as BiggerPockets’ new CEO, with the sole mission of helping you reach financial freedom through real estate (and have an easier time than he did). Today, we get the story on Eric’s first rental and his current portfolio, why he does not self-manage his rentals, investing

Anyone can invest in real estate. You don’t need a fancy degree, a big bank account, or a high-paying job to get started. Arden Williams and his then-girlfriend were both making just $12 an hour when they bought their first house. How did they do it? They got uncomfortable, slashed their expenses, and threw every extra dollar toward a down payment. Then, they brought that same approach to real estate investing—jumping from one house hack to the next and sharing space with multiple tenants. These “small” sacrifices paid off in a big way. Today, Arden owns three rental properties, and he just broke ground on his first accessory dwelling unit (ADU). But that’s not even the best part. With this simple strategy, Arden and his wife quit their jobs and used their rental income to fund a year-long trip around the world. Whatever financial freedom means to you—retiring early, spending more time with family, or traveling the world—real estate makes it possible. And in this episode, Arden will give you a repeat

This is how to find investment properties the lazy way. Many of us work full-time jobs, have kids, or juggle a lot of responsibilities, so we can’t dedicate days each week to finding rental properties to buy. Thankfully, you don’t have to. If you have even an hour or so to spare each week, you can use any of these five “lazy” methods to find your next investment property. Henry is our go-to deal-finding expert and has bought over 100 houses using strategies just like these. These deal-finding tactics are so beginner-friendly that you can use many of them on your first real estate deal, with no prior experience. We’ll share how to find tenanted rental properties that can cash flow on day one, the secret behind getting agents to send you deals before the market sees them, how to make low offers en masse to get cheaper properties in any market, and how to get someone else to find the deals for you…for a fee. Finally, if you want to organically, cheaply, and sustainably grow your rental property funnel so y

Get a good corporate job, save some money, and start investing ASAP. If you’re going to buy a house, do it here. That’s Scott Galloway’s advice, or, as you may know him, Prof. G. Entrepreneur, NYU Stern School of Business professor, and author of The Algebra of Wealth.  Scott has gotten wealthy three times because, per his own words, he’s gone broke twice. After launching numerous companies, working as an investment banker, and becoming a bestselling author, he’s earned the right to share his contrarian takes on what’s about to happen next, and how you can get wealthy even if it feels like the world is looking less optimistic by the day. We cover everything: the chances of an economic crash, whether buying a house is worth it (and where), whether AI will actually pay off, and the wealth-building opportunity of a generation almost no one is paying attention to. Also, a rare take on why side hustling could be killing your ability to earn more income, instead of increasing it.  Even if you’ve

You don’t need to buy dozens of rental properties to have financial freedom. And if you ask today’s guest, less is usually more. For over a decade, John Crutchfield was in full-on acquisition mode. Despite starting with very little money, he scaled to over 600 units across multiple states and tens of millions of dollars’ worth of real estate. He even quit his job to focus on his portfolio full-time! But then the market changed. Interest rates spiked, debt became more expensive, and John’s expenses ballooned. He had overleveraged his real estate portfolio, and suddenly, owning more properties wasn’t really making him wealthier. So he did something he had spent years trying to avoid: he started selling. And in the process, John learned a painful lesson about building wealth: sometimes, having less can actually give you more. In today’s episode, John shares some of the highs and lows from his own real estate investing journey, how he went about pruning his portfolio, and why the number of doors you own

We’re always talking about cash flow, appreciation, and loan paydown, but tax benefits are some of the most understated and overlooked advantages of real estate investing. Do you want to pay less in taxes and keep more of your hard-earned money from the IRS? Dave’s bringing you seven of the best tax strategies that could help you save thousands each year! Today, Dave’s breaking down an example property and putting each of these tax strategies to the test. We’ll look at how much money they could save you and how they fit into your overall investing strategy. From depreciation deductions that reduce your taxable rental income (on paper) to 1031 exchanges that help defer capital gains tax, there are options for every investor. When used properly, these real estate tax deductions are completely legal and relatively easy to implement. But it’s up to you to actually use them! Whether you own a single rental property or a large real estate portfolio, put these tax strategies to work and allow your investments

You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room to build wealth through real estate. But you do need patience, discipline, and a willingness to play the long game. Real estate won’t make you rich overnight, but it’s incredibly forgiving—meaning you can make mistakes, lose money in the short term, and still come out on top. Apolo Ohno understands this concept better than most, having dedicated his entire youth to becoming a short-track speed skater. He reached the pinnacle of the sport, competing in three Winter Olympic Games and taking home several medals. But when his skating career ended 16 years ago, he faced a challenge he hadn’t trained for. He calls it the “great divorce”—separating from an identity that had shaped nearly every part of his life. Thankfully, many of the skills he had spent decades honing translated to real estate investing. Now, Apolo operates at the intersection of high-performance business and wellness, helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals in a more sustainable way.

Lawrence “Landlord Larry” Guerguis thought he would spend the next 40 years of his life in finance. But one conversation with a regretful investment banker changed his life’s trajectory and set him on a path toward financial freedom through real estate investing. Just three years later, he owns 40 rental properties producing thousands in monthly cash flow! Once Larry realized the impact that rental properties could have on his wealth, time, lifestyle, and flexibility, he wasted no time in buying his first rental property. While still in college, he sold his car, scrounged together a down payment, and bought a duplex out in the Midwest. With proof of concept and a few hundred bucks lining his pockets each month, he went all-in on real estate. He’s since moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he’s built a real estate portfolio of 40 single-family homes (and counting!). In today’s episode, he’s giving you all the secrets he’s used to buy deal after deal without having the W-2 income to qualify for traditional ban

More homes are for sale now than any time in the past six years. Mortgage rates just shot up to above 7% with no relief in sight. Markets are seeing (substantial) price cuts, and there could be much more to come this winter. So, is a crash on the way, or is this lukewarm correction simply becoming something stronger than we had imagined? In this September 2026 housing market update, we’ll cover it all! First, we’ll talk about the massive change in mortgage rates this month, what’s caused it, and whether any relief is on the horizon. If rates stay high and more buyers are booted from the market, sellers will need to act—that means price cuts, concessions, and negotiating power for the buyers that remain.  But will this turn into a full-blown crash, or are there too many macroeconomic legs propping up the housing market? Dave gives his full risk report and shares where he thinks interest rates could end up hovering. Plus, the tactic he’s using to get 10%, 15%, or even 20% off real estate deals while

Imagine getting 10% off your next rental property (on the low end). What about getting a rate in the 3% or 4% range, or putting only 5%-15% down on a property that’s not only affordable but also in the path of progress? As interest rates climb higher and buyers step back, investors have opportunities that haven’t been available in years, and in 2027, these opportunities could get even better. Today, we’re talking with another rental property investing veteran (literally), Zach Lemaster. Zach spent years as an Air Force optometrist, using a 5%-down loan to kickstart his own investing journey. After buying properties every year, even while stationed across the country, Zach realized the massive effect rentals had on his net worth. He tried (and initially failed) at out-of-state investing before developing his own system to buy in the best markets with the best management so he could retire from his 9-5. He did it, and in doing so created Rent to Retirement, one of the nation’s leading turnkey companies. T

Real estate investing won’t make you rich overnight. But keep at it for long enough, and it will make you very wealthy. Philip Henry had been doing all the right things: buying a rental property every year, renovating it, raising rent, and then rolling his home equity into the next deal. Yet after nearly 15 years, he had very little to show for it, and the stress and workload were beginning to take a toll on his health and relationships. Right when others would have given up, the real estate deal of a lifetime landed right in Philip’s lap—a seven-figure, 31-unit rental property that would change his family’s future. Now, Philip is financially free, has quit his W-2 job, and is building generational wealth with rental properties. How did he do it? Today, he’s pulling back the curtain on the deal that changed everything and the strategies behind it: seller financing, other people’s money, and perhaps most importantly, the patience and persistence needed to win in real estate. In This Episode We C

This is how to buy a small multifamily rental property the right way. It’s not hard, it’s not complicated, and it’s (arguably) one of the best residential real estate investments to make right now. Why? Safer financing, faster scale, and bigger cash flow. Unlike single-family rentals, small multifamily real estate was designed to make you money, and the returns clearly show that. So how do you get your first duplex, triplex, or quadplex this year? Today, Dave is walking through each step you need to take. From finding small multifamily real estate deals to financing them with as little as 3.5% down, running the numbers using a rental property calculator, offering, negotiating, and getting your first rent check, this is how to buy a small multifamily the right way. Dave also shares some clear red flags to avoid and when to walk away from a property even if it fits your buy box. Ready to build wealth with small multifamily? This is how you do it. In This Episode We Cover Why small multifamily renta

Most investors follow the same path—buy a single-family rental, learn the ropes, and upgrade to small multifamily, slowly snowballing the portfolio. But what if you could take the leap from your first deal, skipping single-family entirely and buying a sizable rental property portfolio on investment #1? If you had no experience, it could change your life overnight—so is it worth it? We’re back answering real questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, and we’ve got a special guest—Chauncey Pham, the making-six-figures-per-deal investor! First, an investor has enough cash to buy a decent-sized multifamily property. Should they skip single-family rentals and go straight into the big leagues on their first real estate investment? A young investor has $20K saved up but wants to know the best bet so he doesn’t get wiped out on his first rental property play.  Ever told your contractor your renovation budget is $70,000, and they conveniently tell you the work will cost $69,800? After hundreds of renovations,

Kent Long wanted passive income. The problem? All those gurus and guides online were only selling a fantasy. The one thing that seemed to actually generate income: real estate. When a property that could easily be split into two units came on the market, Kent jumped at the chance. Little did he know this $14,000 down payment would become an entire real estate portfolio that would help him retire early from his job. At 46, Kent bought his first rental property (just two years ago, in 2024). The purchase price? A mere $70,000. With a small renovation, this property began bringing in $3,000/month in rent and some serious cash flow. Now that there was home equity to pull from, it was time to repeat this system. Kent has now done this same type of deal four times, going from zero units to 10 units in just two years. He’s even gotten his young son involved, helping his 20-year-old profit nearly $50,000 from a similar deal! Kent’s close to replacing his income and fully stepping away from his 9-5, reaching ear