https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-449

From bankruptcy to financial freedom in just ten years?! Today’s guest is living proof that past money mistakes don’t disqualify you from building wealth with real estate. Whether you’re neck-deep in debt or struggling to save, you’re only ever a few steps away from taking control of your financial future!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! By 2014, Diem Martin had filed for bankruptcy. Ten years later, she has achieved financial freedom with eight doors across four properties and has a $1.2 million net worth. How did she do it? She used the same investing strategy that so many newbies use to break into real estate—house hacking. Each new property allowed her to save for her next down payment, and in just eight years, she had built her entire real estate portfolio. If she can do it, you can too!

Stay tuned if you want to learn how to get pre-approved for a loan after a major financial incident, as well as how to invest in an expensive market without a ton of money. You’ll also learn why you should always make sure a property will cash flow as a long-term rental before buying it. We even dive into financial independence retire early (FIRE), determining your FI number, and how to reach your goal as soon as possible through real estate!

Bankruptcy to Financial Freedom in Under 10 Years with a $1M+ Net Worth

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-283

Welcome to the 2025 housing market! It’s a new year, and if you’re ready to invest more, get closer to financial independence, or finally find and buy your first home, we’re here to help.

We’ve got BIG plans for 2025 and are watching some key economic indicators to help us decide what to do next. But we have already zeroed in on a few investments we’re eager to invest in. Curious about where we’re putting our money in 2025? We’ll share exactly where—and why!

We’re recapping our 2024 progress and giving you tips on what to buy based on your goals. Some of us are scaling down this year while others are scaling up, but we all have the same advice for someone who wants to get into the real estate investing game. If you follow this simple, repeatable path we’re laying down, you’ll be investing in no time.

Don’t let 2025 pass you by! You could regret sitting on the sidelines! Tune in, take notes, and let’s get wealthier together this year!

The 2025 Housing Market is Here! (What to Watch Starting NOW)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-284

Welcome to the 2025 housing market! It’s a new year, and if you’re ready to invest more, get closer to financial independence, or finally find and buy your first home, we’re here to help.

We’ve got BIG plans for 2025 and are watching some key economic indicators to help us decide what to do next. But we have already zeroed in on a few investments we’re eager to invest in. Curious about where we’re putting our money in 2025? We’ll share exactly where—and why!

We’re recapping our 2024 progress and giving you tips on what to buy based on your goals. Some of us are scaling down this year while others are scaling up, but we all have the same advice for someone who wants to get into the real estate investing game. If you follow this simple, repeatable path we’re laying down, you’ll be investing in no time.

Don’t let 2025 pass you by! You could regret sitting on the sidelines! Tune in, take notes, and let’s get wealthier together this year!

Prepare for Mortgage Rates to Sink, Home Prices to Rise Again (2025 Predictions)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-590

Do you want to know how to save $1,000 a month (or more!) with simple spending and saving tweaks? Today, we’re giving you the BEST money hacks for 2025 from the expert, Chris Hutchins of All the Hacks! Some of these smart money moves will save Chris over $20,000 just next year, and that’s not even including all the other hacks he shared in this episode. The best part? These money hacks can help you retire early by substantially reducing your cost of living.

Chris starts by sharing one of the most genius ways he’s making extra money. You could call it a side hustle, and Chris has a LOT of them to share. Then, we start taking HUGE chunks of money out of your monthly expenses as Chris shows you how to slash all your insurance costs, reduce your property taxes effortlessly, save tens of thousands a year on healthcare, and easily go out to eat for thirty percent less.

If your 2025 goal is to save more, spend less, and get to FIRE faster, this is the perfect way to start, and missing out on these tips could cost you tens of thousands!

2025’s Best Money Hacks to Save $1,000+/Month (and Retire Earlier!)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-591

Are you worried you won’t be able to retire at sixty-five? Feeling financially limited in your fifties and need a retirement plan so you can finally stop working? Well, we made this episode just for you. Today, we’re teaching you how to retire on time at age sixty-five (or even retire early!) if you’re starting from zero with no money to your name. We spell out exactly what we would do to go from a zero-dollar net worth to a million dollars in retirement!

This is a step-by-step plan that anyone who wants to retire on time can follow. We’ll walk through two personas: Barb, a recently divorced stay-at-home mom reentering the workforce with a zero-dollar net worth. Then, we’ll touch on Sally, a six-figure income earner who also is starting from zero. Both scenarios take slightly different steps, so listen closely because your income level could completely change your money moves!

Don’t give up on retirement! No matter your age, these simple steps can help get you to a financially stable (if not flourishing) position. We’ll talk about how to make more money, cut expenses, save every month, which investments you should prioritize for retirement, and what to do if you’re still in debt!

Broke at 50? How to Retire On-Time (Or Early!)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-592

If you want to retire early, the Mad Fientist is your guide. For over a decade, Brandon, more commonly known as the “Mad Fientist,” has been running simulations, experiments, and exercises to discover which road to early retirement is the fastest. Now, in his forties, Brandon has time to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and his regrets on the sprint to early retirement and financial freedom. And he’s also got a new update that’ll make your early retirement journey smoother.

After tinkering with the beloved and rarely challenged 4% rule, Brandon decided it was time to sit down and calculate how much you really need to retire early. For decades, financial freedom chasers have been breaking their backs, trying to have as much stashed away as possible to enjoy their well-earned time off from work. But, it turns out that this number might be overinflated, and you can retire with much less than you think. That means your early retirement timeline just got a LOT shorter.

In this episode, Brandon will describe why the 4% rule may be a bit too rigid, how to ensure you’ll have enough during early retirement, what to do during a market crash or correction, and why spending thousands of dollars on a coffee machine isn’t such a bad idea. If you want to maximize enjoyment in early retirement, instead of building a big bank account you probably won’t use, stick around!

The Mad Fientist’s New Rule To Retire Early Even Sooner

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-593

Got debt to pay off? You might relate to Leo, a personal finance journalist who’s focused on financial stability over FIRE—at least for now. With six figures in student loans and credit card debt, Leo found themselves in a tough spot after being laid off with no safety net. Determined never to end up in that position again, they began chipping away at their debt, working toward financial peace of mind instead of a relentless grind to early retirement.

Leo shares why their approach to financial freedom is different. While they don’t want to wait until sixty-five to retire, they’ve crafted a “wealth plan” that balances paying off debt, building a safety net, and creating a better life today.

In this episode, Leo dives deep into budgeting tips, debt repayment strategies, and the unique financial challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. Tired of the all-out grind to FIRE and want “financial stability” instead? Leo has just what you need!

Chasing Financial “Stability” After $100K+ in Debt and Layoffs

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-594

Calling all couples! You and your partner may be on the same page financially or off in two different directions; regardless of where you’re at, it’s a great time to start having money dates!

In this episode, Mindy and Scott are going solo, talking through why money dates are such a crucial part of any healthy relationship. This isn’t just talk, both Mindy and Scott are adamant about money dates, they do them often with their partners as well!

If you’re an individual listening to this episode, you may feel a bit intimidated by the concept of a money date. Do you just sit down and talk about index funds and taxes for an hour? No! A money date can be a perfect time to be alone as a couple, talk about the future, make some positive changes, and hold each other accountable for being the best version of yourselves.

If you have a partner who may be a bit averse to the concept of a money date, have no fear. Mindy and Scott have perfected their plan for setting up a successful money date and how to make it enjoyable when you’re in it.

With the new year coming up very soon, this is the perfect time to plan a money date with your special someone. You won’t regret it!

The Money Date: What Couples Should (& Shouldn’t) Do to Align Finances

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-505

What’s the “right” way to build your real estate portfolio? Once you’ve taken down your first rental property, should you focus on paying it off? Or should you buy more properties, even if it means taking on even more debt? You’ll want to hear where we stand in today’s episode!

Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, Tony and Ashley are digging through more of your recent real estate-related questions. First, we’ll discuss paying off your mortgage versus using that money to buy more rental properties. After that, we’ll compare the pros and cons of FHA loans and show you an easy way to estimate closing costs. We’ll also cover some other low-money-down loans that you may have never heard of! Finally, are you struggling to fill vacant units? Tired of apartment tour no-shows? Stay tuned because we’ve got a strategy that makes “serious” applicants stick!

Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question here!

Paying Off Rentals vs. Buying More and Low-Money-Down Loans (Rookie Reply)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-285

Interest rates are up yet again, even after multiple Fed rate cuts in 2024. What’s happening, and how long can this last? Bond investors worry inflation is here to stay. This concern forces bond yields—and mortgage rates—to grow. Can Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve do anything to ease investors’ minds or do we have a long road of high rates ahead of us? We’re getting into it in this headlines show!

Don’t let rising rates stop you from building wealth; we have more stories that showcase an optimistic future outlook for real estate investors. From an incoming commercial real estate recovery that has been multiple years in the making to sellers finally submitting to the market and putting their homes up for sale, it’s not all bad news going into 2025.

One natural disaster-ravaged state finally puts its foot down and forces insurance companies to write policies in risky areas. Is this a much-needed government intervention, or will this shift the burden of high insurance costs onto investors and homeowners? We’re sharing our opinion in this episode!

Bond “Vigilantes” Hold Interest Rates Hostage as Rate Cut Hopes Shrink

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-286

There will be some huge changes to the real estate market not only in 2025 but through 2028. With signs pointing to a supply slowdown, this may be one of the last chances to invest in real estate before prices, rents, and demand significantly rise. So today, right at the start of 2025, bringing on co-host and expert flipper James Dainard and multifamily expert (who correctly predicted the commercial real estate crash) Brian Burke to share the best strategies for 2025 and beyond.

Every year, more and more people say it’s not the right time to buy real estate, only for them to return the next year and wish they had purchased real estate. Let’s make sure that isn’t you in 2026. We’re seeing some massive opportunities, with substantial price cuts in multifamily. But that’s not all; there are single-family deals to be done in markets that the masses overlook entirely.

James and Brian even share what they’re trying to buy in 2025, the markets they think will have the best growth over the next ten years, and why you should be trying your absolute hardest to purchase investment properties before 2027 (we’ll get into why in the episode!).

Grab the “2025 State of Real Estate Investing” Report! 

2025’s Massively Overlooked Real Estate Investing Opportunities

BiggerPockets’ goal is to make 1 Million Millionaires by sharing the power of investing in Real Estate to create financial freedom in your life. 

Join our hosts and guest to become part of the growing community taking control of their financial journey on our largest and longest-running podcast that breaks down real estate investing strategies that work today—from deep-dive interviews to coaching calls, news analysis, and more. 

Make your next real estate investing move with confidence…tune in to the #1 real estate investing podcast.

Bankruptcy to Financial Freedom in Under 10 Years with a $1M+ Net Worth

BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

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