BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

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8 Rentals on a Teacher’s Salary by “Reverse BRRRR-ing”

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Dec 15, 2025

Guest

Ben Vidovich

Ben Vidovich, a high school teacher turned savvy real estate investor, shares his journey of amassing an eight-unit rental portfolio on a modest salary. With impending fatherhood as motivation, he reveals how he skillfully navigated out-of-state markets, leveraging the reverse BRRRR strategy to buy properties with zero cash down. He discusses the importance of building lender relationships and how inherited tenants can impact cash flow. Ben's inspiring story showcases achievable financial freedom through strategic investing, even from thousands of miles away.

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ANECDOTE

First Deal Sparked By Family Plans

Ben Vidovich bought his first rental while living in the Bay Area and expecting a child to change his financial trajectory.
He used savings and frugality to enter out-of-state real estate rather than try to buy locally.

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ADVICE

Use Local Referrals When Investing Long Distance

Vet local partners and lean on referrals when investing long distance.
Ask lots of questions and favor providers who have worked with out-of-state investors.

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ADVICE

Don’t Fear Inheriting Tenants

Buying properties with tenants in place reduces vacancy risk and ensures immediate cash flow.
Request proof of rent roll before closing to verify income.

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Ben's motivation to invest while teaching

00:38 • 1min

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Why Ben chose real estate over other options

01:53 • 3min

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Choosing an affordable out-of-state market

05:02 • 4min

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First deal: duplex purchase and roof fix

09:30 • 2min

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Inherited tenants and the slow BRRRR approach

11:20 • 6min

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Scaling via lender relationships

17:11 • 21sec

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The 'reverse BRRRR' subject-to-appraisal loan

17:32 • 4min

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Renovation process and property manager contractors

21:03 • 2min

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Managing long remote renovations

23:18 • 6min

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Blending low- and no-leverage strategies

29:00 • 25sec

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Using equity and commercial loans to multiply buys

29:25 • 4min

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Portfolio status and monthly cash flow

33:14 • 44sec

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Long-term impact and financial trajectory

The Long Distance Investor

David Greene

#1594

• Mentioned in 22 episodes

The Small & Mighty Real Estate Investor

Discover exactly how to buy, finance, and manage a small portfolio of rental properties that gives you all the flexibility you need.

Chad Carson

Chad Carson's "The Small and Mighty Investor" offers a practical guide to building wealth through real estate investing. The book shares Carson's personal journey, highlighting key strategies and lessons learned along the way. It emphasizes the importance of starting small, focusing on cash flow, and building a sustainable investment portfolio. Carson provides actionable advice on finding deals, managing properties, and navigating the challenges of the real estate market. The book is a valuable resource for both aspiring and experienced real estate investors.

• Mentioned in 416 episodes

Rich Dad Poor Dad

What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money - That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not

C.P.A. Sharon L. Lechter

Robert Kiyosaki

The book tells the story of Robert Kiyosaki's two fathers: his 'poor dad,' a highly educated but fiscally poor man, and his 'rich dad,' the father of his best friend who was a successful entrepreneur. It emphasizes the importance of financial education, distinguishing between assets and liabilities, and building wealth through investing in assets such as real estate and businesses. Kiyosaki argues that a good education and a secure job are not guarantees for financial success and provides practical lessons on how to make money work for you rather than working for money.

Within three years, this high school teacher bought eight rental units, giving him an extra $1,600/month in pure cash flow and helping him pay for his child’s future. Through a combination of affordable markets, “reverse BRRRRs,” and beginner-friendly renovations, Ben Vidovich has built financial freedom that middle-class America rarely achieves.

With his first child on the way, Ben knew he needed something more than the retirement account he was throwing his money into. As a high school teacher living in one of America’s most expensive markets, buying a rental property nearby was far from possible, and Ben wasn’t sitting on piles of cash.

So, Ben hunted down “affordable” markets across America, took the leap, and bought his first rental property, a duplex, for under $200,000. Three years later, he’s perfected the reverse BRRRR strategy to scale quickly, using local banks to fund renovations and rehabs on multiple homes, all from thousands of miles away. Now, he’s starting to buy these houses in cash for better passive income and the ability to leverage them to buy even more rentals.

This is a repeatable, middle-class investing strategy anyone can follow, and Ben is actively using it in 2025!

In This Episode We Cover

How to invest in real estate on a middle-class salary (while living in a pricey market)

The “reverse BRRRR” strategy that you can use to put $0 down on renovated rentals

Inherited tenants: worth it for the instant cash flow or problem for your portfolio?

Beginner-friendly renovations that rookie investors can perform from out of state

Is it worth it to buy rental properties in cash? How Ben uses paid-off properties as leverage to scale faster

And So Much More!

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