Becoming a real estate investor isn’t complex. Find a property, buy the property, and rent it out. While this formula may be easy to write down, putting it into practice is much more complicated. This is why many wannabe investors never make the jump to buy their first investment property. But, with the right advice, mentorship, and mindset, anyone can become a passive-income generating real estate investor, with a path laid for financial freedom and early retirement.Today, Ashley and Tony combine their real estate knowledge to help three investors buy their first or next rental property. First, we talk to Brandon, a future house hacker who struggled to buy a home last year and is now looking for his first primary residence that can help subsidize his mortgage. Next, we speak with Lawrence, an investor who bought two rental properties within six months but wants to expand quicker with the help of creative financing. Finally, Melanie joins us to discuss her plans for a short-term rental property, but she still doesn’t know the best place to buy.If you’re finding the 2023 housing market a tough nut to crack but know that you want to invest in real estate, this is the episode for you. We’ll follow along with our three mentees over the next ninety days as Ashley and Tony give strategic advice on what they should do next to get a profitable rental property under contract. So follow along, and you too could get your next property in ninety days (or less!).In This Episode We CoverHigh interest rates and how more expensive mortgages have caused many investors to pauseBuilding your “buy box” and how to come up with your exact rental property criteriaCreative financing and how to buy a bigger rental property even if you don’t have the money for itGenerational wealth and using real estate investing to put your family in a better positionShort-term rental markets and how to analyze a vacation rental from afarWhat to do when inflated rental property data isn’t adding up to today’s ratesFinding financial freedom and leaving your W2 desk job behindAnd So Much More!Links from the ShowFind an Investor-Friendly Real Estate AgentAshley's InstagramTony's InstagramAirbnbAirDNABiggerPockets CalculatorBiggerPockets ForumsBiggerPockets ProInveloMLSReal Estate Rookie Facebook GroupRookie Reply: Creative Financing 101 with No Cash, Credit, or CredentialsCreative Financing: 2022’s Antidote to High Interest Rates300 Doors, 100% Creative Financing with Pace MorbyConnect with Brandon, Lawrence and Melanie:Brandon's BiggerPockets ProfileBrandon's InstagramLawrence's BiggerPockets ProfileLawrence's InstagramMelanie's BiggerPockets ProfileMelanie's LinkedInCheck the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-251Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Check out our sponsor page! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawrence, a federal auditor in his early 40s, shares his inspiring turnaround from over $150,000 in debt to a net worth of $1.3 million. He reveals practical tips on using tax-advantaged accounts and cutting expenses, particularly on food. Communication with a supportive spouse plays a key role in his financial journey. Lawrence dreams of retiring with $6 million, traveling the world, and helping others achieve financial security. He emphasizes that building wealth is easier than many believe, breaking down barriers to financial success.