Author: josh

In This Article This article is presented by Invest 5S. It’s 11:47 p.m. on a Tuesday, and you’re hunched over your laptop, frantically searching for a plumber who’ll take an emergency call. Your tenant in the duplex has been texting nonstop about a burst pipe, and you’ve already spent two hours tonight coordinating repairs, reviewing invoices from last week’s HVAC issue, and updating your rent roll spreadsheet. Sound familiar? If you’re self-managing your real estate portfolio, this scenario probably hits close to home. You got into real estate investing for financial freedom, but somehow you’ve created a second job that…

In This Article Government shutdowns, the dollar falling 11% in the first half of 2025, its fastest decline in 50 years, record numbers of lawsuits against the executive branch, and fears and fights over tariffs, stagflation, and the Federal Reserve’s independence.  It all speaks to political instability, which creates economic instability.  It doesn’t matter whether you identify politically as red, blue, purple, green, or polka-dotted, the U.S.—and much of the rest of the world—feels politically and economically unstable.  So how do you protect your money from political risk and instability?  1. Inflation-Resilient Investments In January 2025, the CPI inflation rate…

In This Article If you’re tired of evictions, repairs, and city inspectors, but love the idea of passive income, tax breaks, and appreciation, self-storage might be the investment play that’s been hiding in plain sight, while you’ve been chasing the next cash-flowing residential rental. That could be about to change, because self-storage has been growing faster than a batch of toadstools after a rainstorm. Over the past decade, the U.S. self-storage sector has expanded from about 1.4 billion to almost 2 billion rentable square feet, increasing by over 500 million square feet. According to Yardi Matrix data, the expansion has…

How much passive income would you need to retire early? $60K/year? $80K/year? $100K/year? What if you could build a financially freeing passive income stream in just five years? Five years from now, you could retire early, quit your job, or keep building wealth. What would that freedom feel like?Joe Hammel has already achieved it, using a simplistic, beginner-friendly “bread and butter” rental strategy. Today, he’s generating $115,000/year in pure cash flow from his rentals, just five years after buying his first rental. In this episode, Joe shares exactly how he grew his six-figure passive income stream and the exact blueprint…

If real estate investing feels out of reach—like something people with money do—this episode might just change that. Today’s guest was sleeping in his car, had maxed out his credit cards, and barely spoke English, yet was able to build a real estate portfolio that brings in over $4,000 in monthly cash flow!Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Sebastian Rodriguez moved to the US without a job, money, or connections in hopes of building a better life. After hearing about the financial freedom normal people could achieve with rentals, he put his head down, surrounded himself with other…

In This Article This article is presented by Rent To Retirement. If you’ve been waiting for mortgage rates to magically fall, 2025 might test your patience. The smarter move isn’t hoping for cheaper money. It’s manufacturing a lower rate on the deal you’re buying today.  The overlooked trick? A rate buydown.  Used correctly, it can cut your payment, improve cash flow, and even help you qualify for more financing down the road. Here’s the gist: A buydown lets you exchange an upfront cost for a lower interest rate. That reduction can be temporary in the early years, or permanent for…

In This Article This article is presented by Steadily. If you own rental property, you already know that landlord insurance doesn’t come cheap. In fact, premiums are typically higher than what you’d pay for a homeowner’s policy on the very same property.  The reason why is simple: Insurers view rentals as riskier. Tenants may not maintain a home as carefully as an owner would, and claims from storms, accidents, or liability issues can be more frequent. For landlords, that extra cost can eat directly into your bottom line. A few hundred dollars more per year might not sound like much,…

In This Article Landlords are likely to choke on their morning cup of joe—Starbucks is leaving neighborhoods en masse, and the repercussions could echo around the rental real estate market. Rental property owners usually breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of Starbucks’ familiar green-and-white awning in a neighborhood they have invested in or are considering. A popular train of thought is, “If Starbucks customers can afford to pay $5 for a cup of coffee, they can afford to pay me rent.” Landlords can also be confident that, in addition to regular rental income, their property values will increase. …

Ashley:Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast where we tackle the real world questions. New and growing investors are asking every day. Tony:And today’s episode is proof that no matter where you are in your journey, whether you’re closing on your first deal or managing 20 plus units, real estate brings new challenges at every level. Ashley:We’re breaking down three powerful questions from rookies at different stages, including if you should buy a property with a friend. What happens when one tenant wants to vacate and the other wants to stay? And lastly, some feedback from an investor who…

The buying window could be closing in these housing markets. For the first time in years, inventory is dropping in once-strong buyer’s markets. Sellers are tired of waiting for offers and refusing to get lowballed, so more are staying put. With less inventory comes more competition, rising prices, and vulnerable buyers. So, which markets are most at risk?Senior Economist at Zillow, Kara Ng, joins us to share the latest data on the housing market. Buyers have realized mortgage rates probably aren’t going back to 5% any time soon, but with sellers opting to stay in their homes, are would-be homebuyers…