PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing Show

Dave Meyer: The 20-Hour Rule & Systems for Busy Real Estate Investors

11 snips

Nov 11, 2025

Dave Meyer, the host of the BiggerPockets and On the Market Podcasts, shares his journey from active house hacking in Denver to passive syndication investments after relocating to Europe. He discusses the importance of controlling time, capping real estate commitments at 20 hours a month, and using dollar-cost averaging for liquidity management. Dave emphasizes investing in what you understand, the significance of operator selection, and ways to hedge risk with fixed-rate debt and diversification. Plus, insights on adapting to evolving market trends in multifamily real estate!

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ANECDOTE

From House Hack To Passive Investor

Dave started active real estate in 2010 with a four-unit while building a tech career and later joined BiggerPockets in 2016 to deepen his real estate skills.
He shifted toward passive investing after relocating to Europe in 2019 and made his first multifamily passive investment in 2021.

ADVICE

Cap Monthly Real Estate Time

Define a strict time budget for your real estate involvement and stick to it to avoid burnout and poor deal selection.
Dave uses a 20-hour-per-month cap to force delegation and favor passive investments while working full time.

ADVICE

Dollar-Cost-Average Into Syndications

Manage syndication liquidity with dollar-cost averaging by investing at regular intervals rather than lump sums.
Dave commits roughly one syndication per year (~$100k) to smooth vintage risk and avoid illiquidity shocks.

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Dave Meyer joins Chris Lopez and Jim Pfeifer to unpack the shift from hands-on house hacking in Denver to diversified passive investing. Dave walks through selling select rentals, using a Delaware Statutory Trust for a 1031, and why he caps real estate time at 20 hours a month. He explains dollar cost averaging into syndications for liquidity management, why he still concentrates on multifamily he understands, and how he hedges with fixed-rate debt, cash, and some gold. The crew digs into operator selection, supply awareness, return-to-office tailwinds in core tech markets like Seattle, and the trap of chasing door count instead of clear goals.

Key Takeaways

Control, liquidity, taxes: define your time budget, ladder commitments, and decide when to pay tax versus use a DST

Dollar cost averaging works in private deals too: one allocation per year can smooth illiquidity and vintage risk

Invest in what you understand: pick operators first, then asset class, and underwrite local supply and rent comps

Hedge the cycle with structure: favor fixed-rate debt, bigger reserves, and realistic hold times over rosy exit timing

Strategy before scale: set goals for cash flow versus equity growth, then judge opportunities against those goals

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.