
 BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast
 BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast I Started with Just $3,500: How I Bought My First Rental Property
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 Oct 27, 2025  Deandra McDonald, a real estate investor from Virginia, turned a $5,000 credit card debt into a thriving rental portfolio. She shares her journey from a $28,000 salary to financial freedom through house hacking and practical investing strategies for those with little savings. Discover how she fixed her credit, utilized down payment assistance programs, and explored creative partnerships like sweat equity. Deandra emphasizes the importance of patience and commitment, offering invaluable tips for aspiring investors to start small and build wealth safely. 
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Started With Sweat Equity
- Dave Meyer started investing with almost no money by partnering and managing a property while waiting tables.
- He earned equity through sweat equity rather than cash up front.
Hustled To Her First Loan
- DeAndra McDonald earned her first rental after 18 months of multiple jobs and cutting expenses to pay off $5,000 credit card debt.
- She saved $3,500 and qualified for an $85,000 loan to buy her first property.
Use Down Payment Assistance Now
- Research local down payment assistance programs because many states and cities offer grants, credits, or closing cost help.
- Apply quickly when funds exist because these programs can disappear and eligibility often just requires owner-occupancy for a set period.


