

Real Estate Rookie
BiggerPockets
New to real estate investing and not sure where to start? Ashley Kehr and Tony J. Robinson break down the basics with real-world deal analysis, investor interviews and listener Q&A.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 11, 2026 • 23min
Should You Keep or Sell a Rental Property That Needs Work? (Rookie Reply)
Should you house hack, flip, or do both? This discussion explores creative financing, choosing between Orlando and Atlanta, and comparing neighborhoods, teams, and purchasing power. A landlord also weighs foundation, water, deck, flooring, and other repairs against selling a cash-flowing rental, with equity and personal bandwidth at stake.

Sep 9, 2026 • 32min
8 Ways to Get More Passive Income from Your Rental Properties
Every hour you spend chasing rent or coordinating a repair is an hour you could’ve spent growing your real estate portfolio or doing the things you actually enjoy. The fix? It’s not working harder, but building the systems that free up your time. When done right, you can get more passive income from your rentals, and we’ll show you exactly how to do it!
Welcome back to another episode of the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Today, we’re breaking down eight ways to get your rentals working for you, so that your portfolio generates more passive income and doesn’t just give you a second job.
No rental is ever fully hands-off, but the right tools, systems, and processes can get you much closer. We’re walking through what that looks like, the difference between property management and asset management, and the software that automates the busywork!
If you want real estate investing to feel more like an actual investment and less like a job, this episode is your roadmap!
In This Episode We Cover
The best ways to get more passive income from your rental properties
The difference between property management and asset management
How buying turnkey real estate or new construction limits maintenance
Software that automates rent collection, maintenance requests, and other tasks
How preventative maintenance saves you time (and money!)
When hiring a virtual assistant is actually worth it
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-768.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 7, 2026 • 31min
He Started 8 Months Ago. He Already Has 4 Rentals ($6,000 Cash Flow!)
People say it’s just too hard to find real estate deals in 2026, but today’s guest is proving them all wrong. He’s already bought four rental properties that make over $6,000 in monthly cash flow, and he’s been investing in real estate for just eight months.
Joe Crocker is eager to trade his 70-hour workweek for financial freedom, and he’s on track to replace his W-2 income with rental cash flow in the next two years. He’s not finding these properties by building lists, cold calling, or sending mailers. These are regular deals right off the MLS. He buys one, adds some value, pulls his money out, and buys the next one.
It’s a simple investing strategy that anyone can use, yet most people don’t. Meanwhile, Joe has already completed multiple deals this year and is well on his way to building a cash-flowing rental portfolio that gives him the money, time, and freedom he’s always wanted. Follow his model, and there’s no reason why you can’t, too!
In This Episode We Cover
The exact strategy Joe’s using to replace his income with rental cash flow
Scaling to four rental properties in just eight months while working his W-2 job
The simple property tax strategy that can instantly boost your cash flow
How to find overlooked, undervalued real estate deals in 2026 (on the MLS!)
Why you should go into every real estate deal with at least two exit strategies
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-767.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 4, 2026 • 23min
How to Buy Your First Multifamily Rental With Low Money (Rookie Reply)
You’ve picked an investing strategy, you’ve studied your market, but now you need the money to get started. You’re not alone, as this is perhaps the most common hurdle for rookie investors. But today, we’ll show you how to work around this and get the funding you need, so you can finally buy your first (or next) rental property!
Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! This week, we're tackling three questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. One investor has $250,000 saved but is stuck between strategies in a market where the numbers don't easily work, while a SoCal investor is trying to find a more landlord-friendly real estate market to invest in. We’ll share the one habit that quietly derails a lot of new investors once opportunities start rolling in, and when "close to home" is a real requirement versus just a security blanket.
And our last question comes from someone who needs the actual money to buy his first multifamily property. We’ll share our favorite creative financing options, as well as the two skills any rookie can use to attract potential investing partners!
Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here!
In This Episode We Cover
What to consider before buying in an expensive real estate market
Creative ways to make real estate deals cash flow (even in pricey areas)
How to make consistent, passive returns with private money lending
How to narrow down your ideal market and property type by building a buy box
The skills that make investors want to partner with you (even with low money)
When you should say no to a deal or real estate investing partnership
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-766.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 2, 2026 • 39min
Build Your First Rental (DON'T Buy One) in 2026
Builders are currently offering huge incentives on new construction homes, to the point where buying "new" might be actually cheaper than buying an existing rental property in your market right now. Today we’re breaking down how this overlooked investing strategy is saving rookies much more than you realize!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! This week, we’re making the case for new builds as a very strong rental strategy: why builders are currently offering incentives that are hard to pass on, how to negotiate on a spec home, how to buy them with low money down, and the difference between buying new inventory and building from the ground up.
We’re also digging into walk-in equity and how getting into an early phase of a new community can put you ahead on day one. We’ll also walk you through what to actually budget for land, financing, permitting, and your team before you even commit to a ground-up build.
If you're weighing building versus buying for your next rental, this episode will help you make up your mind. New doesn't have to mean expensive. Sometimes it means a better deal that’s just hiding in plain sight!
In This Episode We Cover
Why many new construction homes are cheaper than resale homes in 2026
Why builders are offering massive incentives (and how to negotiate them!)
The differences between buying a spec home and building from scratch
How walk-in equity works, and how to actually get it on your next property
What to budget for land, permits, and your team before you build
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-765.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 31, 2026 • 47min
He Made $60,000 in 2 Months with This “Failed” Real Estate Deal
Every rookie thinks their first deal will go according to plan (it almost never does). Today, we’re bringing on a guest who had a long list of all the worst-case scenarios that happened to him, and still walked away winning (to the tune of $60,000!). He’s walking us through it all, so you can master your first deal, too!
Welcome back to another episode of the Real Estate Rookie Podcast! This week, we’re sitting down with Caleb Smith, a real estate agent who bought his first rental at 21 with next to nothing in the bank, and then watched two very different deals go sideways in two very different ways! One taught him an expensive lesson about lenders. The other got hit by a zoning surprise nobody could have predicted, and forced him to pivot on the spot.
Getting your numbers right isn't always enough. Sometimes the thing that changes everything isn't the market, the property, or the strategy—it's something buried in a permit office you never saw coming!
If you're trying to figure out how to get your first deal done with limited capital, wondering what can quietly derail your plan, or just want to hear how a rookie handles it when things don't go the way he expected—today’s episode has real numbers, real setbacks, and a few hard-won lessons worth taking with you into your next deal!
In This Episode We Cover
How Caleb bought his first rental at 21 with only $2,000 to his name
Pivoting to a live-in flip strategy (and the huge benefits of doing so!)
How to knock on doors to find off-market investment properties
Turning a seller credit into an interest rate buydown
The $10,000 origination fee mistake that taught him to shop lenders
Surviving a falling chimney, botched kitchen, and a zoning reversal mid-deal!
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-764.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 snips
Aug 28, 2026 • 24min
How to Prepare for Your First Rental Property (Beginner Steps) (Rookie Reply)
Listeners hear practical steps for getting ready to buy a first rental, including financing choices and reserve planning. Long-distance investing and the tech stack for remote property management come up as actionable options. Creative strategies for breaking into high-cost markets, like house hacking and partnering, are discussed in short, concrete segments.

Aug 26, 2026 • 39min
Starter Homes Are Back. Here’s Exactly Where to Buy One
For years, rookies have heard the same bad news: starter homes are disappearing, and first-time buyers are getting older. But the newest data shows something very different, and we’re breaking down how these recent changes can help you buy your first or next rental property in 2026!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Nationally, fewer than four in 10 non-homeowner households can afford a typical starter home. But in some states, things are getting a little easier. We’re breaking down where this market opening exists, where the headlines can be misleading, and how to turn a smaller new construction home or an overlooked resale home into a profitable investment property.
We’re also sharing our own starter home stories, the difference between an affordable home and a “cheap” one, and a five-part screening checklist that will help you separate the two before making an offer. Whether you’re looking to buy a house or find a more affordable real estate market to invest in, stay tuned to learn exactly how to spot a smart next deal!
In This Episode We Cover
What a starter home really looks like in today's market
Which real estate markets have the most affordable starter homes for sale
The critical difference between an affordable and “cheap” rental property
How to take advantage of builder incentives on new construction homes
Why "mom and pop" resale homes are some of the best real estate deals in 2026
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-762.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 24, 2026 • 56min
20 Rental Units with a Full-Time Job & 7 Kids: She Did It in 5 Years!
Angela Wassom, a real estate investor who built 20 rental units across multiple states while working full-time and raising seven kids. She explains building a remote investing team, spotting an MLS listing mistake that led to big repairs paid by the seller, using HELOCs to fund deals, and shifting into high-performing short-term rentals with tricky financing wins.

Aug 21, 2026 • 23min
Can You Buy a Rental Property With Only $5,000? (Rookie Reply)
Feel like your situation doesn't fit the typical real estate investing playbook? Maybe you’re low on cash, your circumstances are unusual, or your timeline feels tighter than everyone else's. You're not alone, and today's episode proves it. But thankfully, we’ve got answers!
Welcome to another Rookie Reply! We’re back with three questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, the first of which comes from a rookie who has very little money saved: Can you buy a rental property with just $5,000? We’ll share some creative ways to get started with low money down!
Next, we’ll hear from someone who wants to invest in U.S. real estate from another country, pointing them to the tools and resources they’ll need to invest remotely. Finally, is it ever too late to start investing? Maybe you’re already eyeing retirement and wondering if rental properties can even fit into your overall strategy. Stick around until the end to find out!
Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here!
In This Episode We Cover
A decade-long plan for late starters looking to retire with real estate
How to turn your primary residence into an entire real estate portfolio
Using creative financing (like seller financing) without taking on extra risk
Why you need cash reserves with every real estate deal
How to build your own real estate team when investing remotely
And So Much More!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-760.
Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


