Real Estate Rookie

In today’s episode, you’ll get to see the third major reason why Alpha Geek Capital, Tony’s fast-scaling real estate company, is so successful. Omid Tehranirad is the third partner in the group, acting as the first layer of protection, or as he puts it, the “chastity belt”, of the partnership. Omid is the head of investor relations and splits operational duties with Sara, Tony’s wife.  He discovered real estate after being unfulfilled by the typical “American Dream'' job. His parents encouraged him to pursue the tried and true traditional path that leads to retirement at sixty-five, but after sixteen years at a corporate job, he needed something to change. Omid was looking for something new when he stumbled upon BiggerPockets and discovered the power of real estate investing. He already knew Tony since he was Sara's cousin, but it wasn’t until they found out they both followed David Greene that they realized they could be making money together. From there, they did their first deal and as the saying goes, the rest is history.Omid and Tony work well together because they complement each other’s skillsets. Where Tony is idealistic, Omid is realistic and together they reach each goal they set. Omid has been able to leave his corporate nine to five of eighteen years and increase his wealth overall—his financial wealth, social wealth, time wealth, and physical wealth. For the first time in years, he’s able to drop his kids off at school, prioritize his physical health, and travel while still making money. Omid serves as proof that we all need to stop classifying wealth as just financial and realize true wealth is about finding your freedom.In This Episode We CoverBreaking away from the traditional “American Dream” (and finding something even better)The BRRRR method and how to a find low-risk rehabHow to prepare to transition from a fixed income to a variable income How to structure a partnership and prioritize partner alignment Understanding cash flow and making the numbers work for youIdentifying a client’s need and how to create a mutually beneficial relationship and partnershipAnd So Much More!Links from the ShowAshley's InstagramTony's InstagramBiggerPocketsReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelReal Estate Rookie PodcastReal Estate Rookie Facebook GroupReal Estate Rookie BootcampAirbnbBiggerPockets ForumsAlpha Geek CapitalDavid Greene's BiggerPockets ProfileMonday.comWrikeRookie Reply: How Much Cash Flow Do You Need to Quit Your W2? w/Daryl ClinchDaryl Clinch's InstagramFind Money, Partners, & Deals Using The “D.A.D System” w/ Mike MichalowiczMike Michalowicz's WebsiteHospitableRod Khleif's WebsiteConnect with Omid:Omid's InstagramCheck out the full show notes here: https://biggerpocket.com/blog/rookie-183 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s question comes from Brandi through Ashley’s Instagram direct messages. Brandi is asking: Our current home could give us about $260,000 in net proceeds if sold. We plan to purchase rentals with those proceeds. But, our home is in a good location with good appreciation. Should we sell our primary to buy properties or refi and make it a rental?The sell vs. refi argument is back once again! In this hot housing market, it’s no surprise that homeowners want to take advantage of their growing equity by selling their properties. But, doing so could cause you to lose one property only to have to go out and find another. Although the sell vs. refi answer is specific to each investors’ situation, there are a few quick ways you can establish which is a good move for you.Here are some suggestions:Ask “what’s going to give me a higher ROI?” and look at metrics like cash-on-cash return and return on equity (ROE)Take out a home equity line of credit (HELOC) instead of refinancing and BRRRR your next rental to pay back the loanDon’t forget to factor in future appreciation that you could miss out on by sellingDouble-check your interest rate on your primary residence (it may be too good to give up!)And more in the episode…If you want Ashley and Tony to answer a real estate question, you can post in the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group! Or, call us at the Rookie Request Line (1-888-5-ROOKIE).Links from the ShowReal Estate Rookie PodcastReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelReal Estate Rookie Facebook GroupAlpha Geek CapitalTyler Madden's BiggerPockets ProfileCheck the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-182 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think about long-distance investing, what comes to mind? People usually have reservations about investing out-of-state, but today’s guests took it a step further and invested from halfway across the world. Today’s guest, Caleb Drake, has closed on nine doors with one flip underway.Caleb was active duty military for fourteen years, and once he joined special ops he was deployed for six months at a time. During those six months, his house would sit, unused, and that’s when he saw an opportunity. Caleb decided to rent out his house through Airbnb. As a new landlord and Airbnb host, Caleb had to learn by doing, a task that was increasingly more difficult since he was self-managing from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. Caleb was able to combat this challenge by building a team that could handle what he couldn’t.After a few years of investing solo, Caleb joined a partnership to expand his portfolio and increase his profit. His partner was also out of the country, so they switched off who was “on-call” and figured out how to automate their check-in and check-out processes. As the business grew, the partnership adjusted to ensure its longevity. Caleb now hopes to continue to scale his business, add to his personal portfolio, and build wealth in the background.In This Episode We CoverThe importance of building a self-sufficient team and how to do soVetting your guests/tenants and how to target your ideal tenants How to invest out-of-state or overseas and automating your check-in processesResidential loans vs. commercial loans and how to figure out which one to useHow to balance and adjust your partnership(s) as your business growsThe importance of having a real estate agent with an investor mindset, plus how to find oneAnd So Much More!Links from the ShowAshley's InstagramTony's InstagramBiggerPocketsReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelReal Estate Rookie PodcastReal Estate Rookie Facebook GroupReal Estate Rookie BootcampAirbnbBiggerPockets ForumsThe BiggerPockets Conference 2022IGMSAlpha Geek CapitalRentometer BiggerPockets Calculators BiggerPockets Insights Connect with Caleb:Caleb's EmailCaleb's InstagramCheck out the full show notes here: https://biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-181 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s question comes from Rodney through Tony’s Instagram direct messages. Rodney, like many investors, has been told that you need twenty percent down to buy a rental property. Rodney wants to know the best way to fund a property without breaking the bank. He's asking: Should I save for a down payment or is there a way to get a rental without the twenty percent down?It’s not uncommon for real estate investors to get into deals with far less than 20% down. But, for a beginner, this type of task can seem a bit intimidating, especially if you’re looking at your first investment property. Thankfully, the world of real estate presents investors like us with many ways to creatively fund deals!Here are some suggestions:Purchase a vacation rental using a second home loan that only requires ten percent downPitch seller financing to the seller and walk them through the tax benefits of financing the property to youPartner up with an investor who can provide the down payment on the dealSign a joint venture agreement with another investor who can split the down payment with youRemember: if you find a deal you can (probably) find the money for it!And more in the episode…If you want Ashley and Tony to answer a real estate question, you can post in the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group! Or, call us at the Rookie Request Line (1-888-5-ROOKIE).Links from the ShowReal Estate Rookie PodcastReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelBiggerPockets ForumsReal Estate Rookie Facebook Group Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-180 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Financial literacy is the first step to becoming a millionaire. Unfortunately, the US is a (relatively) financially illiterate country, so to become financially independent and add more zeros to your net worth, you have to self-educate. Fortunately, today’s guest has published a book and workbook that lays out exactly how to become a millionaire, even at a young age. Dan Sheeks lives and breathes all things personal finance. He has been a high school teacher for twenty years and teaches young people everything he wishes he would have known about financial literacy. He teaches a variety of different business classes, ranging from entrepreneurship to personal finance to marketing. His passion for working with young people is what inspired him to write his book, First to a Million. In this book, Dan details nineteen “freakish” phrases to get you to your first million. Throughout the book, Dan emphasizes the need to be “freakish” and be willing to do the work everyone else won’t.Besides his role as a teacher and an author, Dan is also an investor. He house hacked his first property in 2004 but he didn’t truly get into investing until he met his wife seven years ago. Together they have expanded their real estate operation and have closed on seventeen units. Dan has dedicated his life to personal finance and financial literacy so if there’s a man to learn from— it’s him.In This Episode We CoverAchieving early financial independence and the steps you need to take to get thereGood debt vs bad debt and how to use good debt to reach financial freedom How to use First to a Million and the First to a Million Workbook to reach your financial goalsThe four mechanisms of financial independence and how to implement them in your lifeNavigating all nineteen phases of First to a Million and their timelines (it’s easier than you think!)How to introduce and entice your child about the world of personal finance & financial independenceAnd So Much More!Links from the ShowAshley's InstagramTony's InstagramBiggerPocketsReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelReal Estate Rookie PodcastReal Estate Rookie Facebook GroupThe Real Estate Robinsons Youtube ChannelThe BiggerPockets PodcastBiggerPockets BookstoreAJ Osbourne's InstagramAllyReal Estate Rookie BootcampAirbnbTurnoverBnBBiggerPockets Forums Connect with Dan:Dan's EmailDan's BiggerPockets ProfileDan's Linkedin Dan's InstagramDan's WebsiteCheck out the full show notes here: https://biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-179 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s question comes from Jessica through Tony’s Instagram direct messages. Jessica has seen what Tony and his wife Sara have been doing while building their short-term rental empire. But, Jessica is having some doubts. She’s asking: How do you invest in real estate when the idea of debt scares you? Many new investors have this fear. If you’re buying your first property, the thought of five or six-figure debt may seem like a massive weight on your shoulders. After all, isn’t the goal to be debt-free? Fortunately for real estate investors, the answer is no. Using leverage to buy properties makes your investing far more profitable and can help you get comfortable when taking on good debt.Here are some suggestions:Scared of debt? Pay off your personal debt before you invest in rental properties Think of debt as a tool that can help you build wealth with real estate Know the difference between good debt and bad debt and how to use bothDefine your “worst-case scenario” if you’re unable to pay your rental mortgage Use the BiggerPockets Calculators to calculate your rental property profits (especially when taking on debt!) And more in the episode…If you want Ashley and Tony to answer a real estate question, you can post in the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group! Or, call us at the Rookie Request Line (1-888-5-ROOKIE).Links from the ShowReal Estate Rookie PodcastReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelBiggerPockets ForumsReal Estate Rookie Facebook Group Real Estate Rookie Podcast in Apple PodcastIrvine CompanySam Zell's WebsiteCheck the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-178 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Someone has to step up to the plate when a challenge presents itself, and today’s guest always does. Tammy Skeath began her real estate journey in 2018, and despite being faced with several unique obstacles, she has found immense success. She currently has seventeen units and plans on expanding exponentially within the next few years.Tammy was inspired to get started after watching her cousin continue to build wealth through real estate. Her first deal was a carbon copy of one of his deals. By doing this, she learned the ins and outs while having a step-by-step real estate guide she could reference. Despite replicating his deal, she encountered various problems that made the process more difficult. The city she invested in has strict rules to protect endangered animals, and instead of investing elsewhere she decided to do more research on the issue. From her research she was able to find a unique solution and complete the project.She did this again when she bought a gang house with twenty-seven code violations. Most people would say this type of property isn’t worth the hassle, but it was for her. She was able to double her initial investment, and pull out $600,000 from this one deal. Now real estate allows her to bring in a large amount of income, reach her goals faster and still have the time to spend with her kids.In This Episode We CoverGoal setting—how to define your goal, pursue it, and pivot once you achieve itHow to become good at and capitalize on something everyone’s scared of (it’s not as hard as you think)Spec builds—how to find a contractor & ask the right questions1031 exchanges, how to perform one, and why they’re an underrated investment toolHow to use cash for keys as a tool to help you and your tenant part ways peacefullyAnd So Much More!Links from the ShowAshley's InstagramTony's InstagramBiggerPocketsReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelReal Estate Rookie PodcastReal Estate Rookie Facebook GroupAlpha Geek CapitalMLSYelpApartments.comStride: Mileage & Tax TrackerWave FinancialConnect with Tammy:Tammy's InstagramTammy's EmailTammy's BiggerPockets ProfileCheck out the full show notes here: https://biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-177 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every week, Ashley and Tony reply to a frequently asked question from the BiggerPockets community. But, this week, they’ve decided to finally answer the most asked question yet: what happened with Tony’s Shreveport deal? If you’re an avid Rookie Reply listener, you’ve probably heard Tony talk about one property that he has been trying to sell for over a year. Well, it’s finally sold, and Tony’s here to share all the details, mistakes, and numbers so you can do better on your next deal.While this wasn’t Tony’s first deal, it did provide him with a strong foundation of knowledge to pursue bigger and better real estate investments. So, if you find yourself looking for deals, or stuck with a bad deal, take some of Tony’s suggestions to heart:Avoid buying properties in flood zones unless you’ve fully calculated the cost of flood insurance Be highly selective of your property’s location and get to know the neighborhood you’re buying inHave multiple exit strategies for every property (rental, flip, BRRRR, etc.)See money spent on a deal as “real estate education” that will make you richer!Know that as an investor, you’re not going to get everything right all the timeAnd more in the episode…If you want Ashley and Tony to answer a real estate question, you can post in the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group! Or, call us at the Rookie Request Line (1-888-5-ROOKIE).Links from the ShowReal Estate Rookie PodcastReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelOmid's Instagram Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-176 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are those who accept their circumstances and then there are those like today’s guests —the Donis Brothers (Jeffrey, Kenneth, and Kerwin). These three brothers have created immense success for themselves at only twenty & twenty-three years old through self-education, network building, and hard work. They’ve done seventeen wholesale deals and co-sponsored three multifamily syndications with a total of 636 units between them in a mere two years.They got their start in college when the oldest brother, Kenneth, heard about wholesaling while watching The Breakfast Club. After taking a humbling trip to Guatemala and realizing how many opportunities they had access to, they knew they had to pursue real estate. Once they decided to pursue real estate, each brother separately came to the same conclusion—college wasn’t for them. They collectively decided to focus on building their business so they could reach their ultimate goal of financial freedom and retiring their mom. They started their real estate journey with single-family homes but quickly realized multifamily properties aligned more with their goals. During their transition, it took six months of straight cold calling before they got their first deal. While working to get their first deal they also joined a mastermind and spent time expanding their network. They actively sought out people in spaces they were trying to penetrate which led them to their current mentorship program. Their ability to scale their business and network simply proves they are a force to be reckoned with. Make sure to listen closely because the Donis Brothers could be the next big thing.In This Episode We CoverHow to invest at a young age and turn being young into an advantage Networking events and how to extract true value from each one you attendCold calling, its importance, and how to effectively nurture leadsHow to make the transition from single-family to multifamily propertiesBuilding a powerful real estate network of mentors, investors, deal finders, and friendsSyndications and how to use them to broaden your investing opportunitiesBuilding a social media platform to expand your network and reachAnd So Much More!Links from the ShowAshley's InstagramTony's InstagramBiggerPocketsReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelReal Estate Rookie PodcastBiggerPockets BootcampThe BiggerPockets Conference 2022Max Maxwell's WebsiteMeetupEventbritePodioSubto Real EstatePropStreamListSourceBatchLeadsMojo DialerGrant Cardone's WebsiteBiggerPockets ForumsYour First Real Estate Investment PodcastIs This Deal Worth My Time? The 6 Crucial Steps to Vet a Multifamily DealThe 8 Steps That Will Stop You From Getting Burnt on Multifamily Deals w/Andrew CushmanPitchstackBar Down InvestmentsTyler CombsRare Bird Real EstateBiggerPockets Real Estate PodcastReal Estate Rookie Facebook GroupBooks Mentioned in this Show:Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. KiyosakiBest Ever Apartment Syndication Book by Joe Fairless and Theo HicksConnect with The Donis Brothers:The Donis Brothers's WebsiteThe Donis Brothers's InstagramThe Donis Brothers's Facebook PageThe Donis Brothers's TwitterThe Donis Brothers's Tiktok The Donis Brothers's Youtube ChannelThe Donis Brothers's PodcastCheck out the full show notes here: https://biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-175 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s question comes from Kurt through Ashley’s Instagram direct messages. Kurt is asking: We’d like to buy a vacation property with my brother and sister-in-law. My wife and I would handle the management while my brother would bring the down payment to the table. How do we quantify each party’s contribution when dividing profit and equity in the property? Real estate partnerships can be a huge help to rookie investors, especially for those who have the experience but lack the cash to invest by themselves. It’s important to note that real estate partnerships can be set up in any way you prefer⁠—as long as both parties agree that the split is fair⁠—you have full reign of your partnership structure.Ready to partner up on a deal? Here are some suggestions:Clearly define responsibilities so that both parties are happy with the agreementHave a predetermined exit strategy for the partnership and propertyProvide interest to whoever is putting down the money and pay fees to whoever manages the propertySet limits to when partners can use the property for their personal use (if it’s a short-term rental)And more in the episode…If you want Ashley and Tony to answer a real estate question, you can post in the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group! Or, call us at the Rookie Request Line (1-888-5-ROOKIE).Links from the ShowReal Estate Rookie PodcastReal Estate Rookie Youtube ChannelRookie Podcast 170: Rookie Reply: ARM vs. Fixed-Rate Mortgages (Which Is Better For Cash Flow?) Check the full show notes here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-174 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices