BiggerPockets Money Podcast From Making $28,000/Year to FI in 5 YEARS
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Oct 31, 2025 DeAndra McDonald, a talented real estate investor, went from earning $28,000 a year as a teacher to achieving financial independence through strategic investing. She shares her journey of overcoming student debt, the transformative power of house hacking, and how she scaled to owning multiple income-generating properties. DeAndra reveals the overlooked rental strategies that can elevate returns, her successful entry into short-term rentals, and her current goals of promoting community and mentorship as she reduces debt for generational wealth.
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From Chemistry Degree To Struggling Lab Tech
- DeAndra graduated in chemistry with $20,000 in student loans and struggled to find a job, working multiple part-time gigs.
- She eventually landed a $28,000 lab tech job in 2014 and felt financially squeezed by rising rent.
Mortgages Aren't Rent-Proof
- A mortgage can feel more stable than renting but still has variable costs like taxes and insurance.
- DeAndra realized mortgage stability myth when confronting rising rent and sought ownership instead.
First House Hack Bought For $85K
- After improving credit and paying cards, DeAndra got prequalified for $85,000 and bought a three-bedroom townhouse in 2015.
- She house hacked it by getting a roommate and cut her housing cost from rent to near zero.
