11 Rentals in 4 Years with SMALL, Affordable Multifamily Properties

21 snips

Apr 28, 2025

Join Jesse Walters, a real estate investor from Columbia, Missouri, who transitioned from coffee roasting to owning 11 rental units in just four years. He reveals how he leveraged his first small properties to acquire a fourplex with zero down. Jesse shares insights on navigating multifamily investments, why partnering with a licensed agent is beneficial, and innovative tools like PropStream to uncover off-market deals. With practical strategies for aspiring investors, he emphasizes that financial freedom starts with just one property.

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ANECDOTE

Simple First Rental Purchase

Jesse bought his first rental in 2021 with 20% down from the MLS and it generated cash flow.
This straightforward start opened his eyes to real estate investing as a viable income path.

INSIGHT

Power of Relationship Banking

Building a relationship with a local bank can enable using equity from existing properties as down payment.
This fosters growth by leveraging cross-collateralization and personalized lender support.

ADVICE

Leverage Investor-Friendly Agent

Work with an investor-friendly real estate agent to get accurate comps and better deals.
Agents with licenses provide MLS data access and can help waive commissions to benefit purchases.

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We always say it, but buying just ONE rental property can change everything! For Jesse Walters, a coffee roaster by trade but a cash-flowing investor now, buying his first rental property opened up an entirely new world of not only passive income—but freedom. After his wife became a real estate agent, Jesse noticed the sizable commission checks and thought hundreds of dollars a month in passive cash flow beat wholesaling three-dollar bags of coffee. Was he right?

Jesse didn’t do any expert-level real estate investing moves to get his first deal done. It was 2021—he found a listing for an affordable house, put 20% down on it, and rented it out. That strategy seemed to work, so Jesse did it again, finding another on-market, affordable rental property to purchase. Then, he took it up a notch, purchasing a fourplex (four units) by putting—get this—$0 down! He used a strategy ANYONE with access to a local bank can try, and this property lit the rocket fuel for his portfolio.

Now, he has 11 rental units, runs multiple house flips a year that pay him five-figure checks, and is building a new triplex that will hit the 1% rule from the start. Jesse shares the exact playbook for building a small but profitable rental property portfolio, even with high interest rates, even in a small town, and even if you have no experience.

In This Episode We Cover

How Jesse used his two small rental properties to put $0 down on a fourplex!

“Building” the 1% rule and why brand new rentals may make more sense than existing ones

Why you CAN cash flow with affordable real estate in small towns

The investor cheat code that Jesse has (thanks to his wife) and why you NEED an investor-friendly agent to get the best deals

How Jesse made $21,000 on a quick, cosmetic, low-cost flip (as a complete newbie)

And So Much More!

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