https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-465

How hard is it to buy a rental property in 2024? With all the buzz around high interest rates and soaring home prices, you’d think that investing in today’s market is a lost cause. But if a nineteen-year-old can take down his first real estate deal with very little education or experience, there’s no reason why you can’t invest, too!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! After learning about FIRE (financial independence, retire early), Elijah Berg realized that wealthy people had something in common. They weren’t just investing in stocks; they also owned real estate! Determined to follow in their footsteps, Elijah started saving for a down payment and built his buy box. Next, he found an investor-friendly agent and lender to help him find and fund his property. Eventually, he found a diamond in the rough—a duplex in an A-class neighborhood.

Tune in as Elijah walks you through his first deal and shares some personal finance tips that helped him prepare for his first investment. In this episode, you’re going to learn why time in the market is still more important than timing the market, and why new investors shouldn’t allow fear of the unknown to stop them from investing in 2024!

Buying His First Rental at 19 by Doing What Most Newbies Are Afraid to Do

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-275

Are we in store for another agent commission lawsuit battle? Why are home sales spiking right after the election? And guess what…it’s not investors buying up all the houses this time. We’re getting into the biggest housing market news in today’s headlines episode! Plus, we’re sharing exactly what you need to do TODAY to still get real estate deals done, even with high interest rates and higher home prices.

Home tours are surging after the election as potential homebuyers breathe a sigh of relief knowing that 24/7 election coverage has finally ceased. But it’s not the investors who are coming back to buy the houses. Investor purchase numbers are falling, so why are landlords sitting on the sidelines this time?

And say it ain’t so…another real estate agent commission lawsuit could be on the way as the Department of Justice finds faults in the NAR settlement. What does this mean for agents, brokers, and realtors? Will an easily browsable listing site like Zillow take over in place of real-life realtors? Some worry a Zillow “monopoly” could be forming. We’re sharing what we think in this episode.

Home Sales Rise, Investor Purchases Shrink, and ANOTHER Commission Lawsuit!?

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1053

The 2024 housing market was nothing short of "wild," to put it lightly. We came from years of unprecedented growth, rock-bottom mortgage rates, and fiery homebuyer demand. While some predicted a housing market crash, we were quite sure that real estate prices would stay stable—and that’s precisely what happened! So, before we enter the 2025 housing market, we’re recapping 2024 with all its trends and surprises so you don’t get caught off guard next year!

We’re touching on the big topics: prices, inventory, affordability, best and worst markets, and the commercial real estate crash. Why did prices RISE even when buyer demand fell significantly? Why did the existing housing inventory stay so low? And is now the best time to buy multifamily after its massive value drop in 2024?

Get prepared to make 2025 your best year yet, but don’t make the same mistakes of the past. Stick around; we’re giving you your 2024 housing market in review!

BiggerNews: The 2024 Housing Market in Review (What’s Coming Next?)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-493

Many people invest for appreciation. Others invest for tax benefits. But some investors want enough monthly cash flow to replace their W2 income and help them quit their nine-to-five jobs. When can you go full-time with real estate investing? How many rentals do you need? Stay tuned!

Today, Tony and co-host Garrett Brown are diving into the BiggerPockets Forums, and our first question comes from someone who has launched six vacation rentals in just five years. Should they diversify their portfolio? Are they ready to become full-time investors? We’ll share our thoughts! We’ll also hear from someone who’s thinking about selling an equity-rich property to pivot to short-term rentals in the Midwest. Listen in as we show them how to choose a market and set up their Airbnb business. But that’s not all. One investor has bought a rental property that is already booked months in advance. Can they cancel those bookings? Raise their nightly rates? Stick around to find out!

Looking to invest? Need answers? Ask your question on the BiggerPockets Forums!

How Many Rental Properties Do You Need to Quit Your Job? (Rookie Reply)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-587

Dion McNeeley retired in just ten years after starting from not just zero but NEGATIVE. He was forty years old with $89,000 in debt, had no assets, a low-paying job, and zero investing experience. Thanks to his “lazy” method of building wealth, he was able to amass millions of dollars in assets, create over $200,000 per year in passive income streams, and retire just ten years after starting his journey to FIRE. Can you do it, too, even in today’s markets? Yes!

Dion did what most people aren’t willing to: lower your cost of living, spend less, save more, and yes…house hack. He built a small real estate portfolio just by house hacking alone. Still, thanks to the compounding effect of real estate, Dion’s passive income from the rentals began to overtake his monthly expenses. Now, he rakes in four to five times more than he could ever spend. Who wouldn’t want a $200,000 per year income stream in retirement?!

But it’s NOT too late to copy Dion’s exact strategy. In fact, Dion is sharing why NOW is one of the best times ever to get into real estate investing and how you, too, in ten years or less, could be making major passive income and enjoying early retirement!

$200K/Year & Early Retirement in 10 Years by Being a "Lazy" Investor

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-276

“Return to office” mandates from the tech and finance industries are coming rapidly. But they’re not just going back to the downtown areas. Return to office (RTO) calls could cause a surprisingly beneficial boost to suburban areas, even as employees are forced back into the office. This has enormous effects on landlords and real estate investors, as the hottest place to own a home might actually be somewhere outside of the city center.

Matt Reidy, Director of CRE Economics at Moody’s Analytics, joined us to give a full update. Matt talks about the potential office comeback that could be taking place and the one type of office investment that is outperforming the rest. However, office vacancies are still at an all-time high, and companies are starting to get creative. Could a move into the suburbs help entice employees by keeping commute times minimal?

This could be great news for residential investors outside the cities, as “live, work, play” environments could become a hot commodity.

“Return to Office” Could Change the Housing Market, But Not How You’d Think

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-277

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this episode and written below are solely opinions of the hosts, guests, and writers and do not reflect the views of BiggerPockets.

Is it about to get even worse for NAR (National Association of Realtors)? After a ground-breaking agent commission lawsuit settlement forced the organization to pay out hundreds of millions, NAR has been on thin ice. They had just come off of a massive change in leadership, with some executives facing sexual harassment accusations, only to have the spotlight put on them once again. But it’s not over.

A new investigative piece from The New York Times reporter Debra Kamin uncovers a web of hidden donations to political groups that many NAR members aren’t aware of. NAR, the largest lobbyist group in the country, is well-known for donating to political causes that benefit their industry. However, it seems those donations heavily lean to one side of the political spectrum.

So, is this a problem? Could it even be illegal? Debra reveals that many of these donations go to groups unrelated to real estate, leaving some members frustrated with how their dues are being spent. Could this be the final blow to NAR, paving the way for more competition among real estate agent organizations? Debra is on to break the story.

NAR Hit with Another Blow After Shocking “Donation” Discovery w/NYT’s Debra Kamin

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-494

$50,000 cash flow from ONE rental!? Not many properties will give you this kind of return in today’s housing market, but this investor beat his competition to an innovative investing strategy, and it’s paying huge dividends. Want to find out what it is and how he did it? You don’t want to miss this one!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Garrett Brown envisioned himself running restaurants or operating hotels before real estate investing took him down a different path. He got his real estate agent license, flipped a few houses, and then, in a full circle moment, put his background in hospitality to good use—buying three condos at a discount and converting them into short-term rentals. But when Houston, Texas, like many Airbnb markets, became oversaturated in 2021, Garrett landed on a new strategy that would allow him to stand out. It gives vacationers a taste of the great outdoors without sacrificing the luxuries and comfort of a cozy home!

If you want to know how to earn five-figure cash flow from a single rental and keep your vacation rentals booked year-round, stay tuned. We’ll also get into why you should document your investing journey online (even if you’re just starting) and the trick to finding discounted properties!

$50K/Year Cash Flow from ONE Rental by Beating the Market to This Strategy

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-495

Burned out at your W2 job? Tired of climbing the corporate ladder? Starting a real estate business could give you financial freedom, but is it worth giving up the security of a biweekly paycheck? This entrepreneur thinks so, and today, she’ll give you the blueprint for forging your own path in real estate!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Melissa Shelton is not only an investor, but also the founder of Dear Valentine, a business that blends luxury, hospitality, development, and management. Quitting her nine-to-five job to become a full-time entrepreneur wasn’t an easy decision since she had worked tirelessly for many years to reach the top of her field. But, in the end, her “why” won out, and she mustered up the courage to go all-in on her dream!

In this episode, Melissa will show you how to launch a “small and nimble” real estate business. You’ll learn how to set goals, grow your clientele from scratch, and build a business plan that keeps you afloat. But that’s not all. Melissa also has tips for limiting overhead costs, finding deals that give the highest returns, and hiring people who propel your business forward!

Leaving Her W2 Job to Chase Financial Freedom with THIS Real Estate Business

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-496

Are you looking to grow your real estate portfolio and build wealth faster? There’s a tax “loophole” that allows you to sell your property and roll your equity (and profits) into a bigger and better rental property—all while deferring thousands of dollars in taxes. Stay tuned to learn how to use a 1031 exchange to your advantage!

Welcome back to another Rookie Reply! Today, Ashley and Tony are answering some of your recent questions from the BiggerPockets Forums. After discussing 1031 exchanges and “like-kind” properties, we’ll help an investor determine if they should sell or rent a property that, despite the potential to bring in decent monthly cash flow, has some costly capital expenditures looming. Next, is it better to stabilize a rental property by making home improvements that help you raise rent or use the same funds to buy another property? We’ll dive into the numbers and show you which option gives you the highest return!

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

Build Wealth Faster with This Tax “Loophole” (1031 Exchange) (Rookie Reply)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1054

Why does this veteran real estate investor say that early retirement and financial freedom are a bad idea? Why does he think renting, NOT buying a house, makes more sense for most Americans in 2025? And what’s the one mistake that lost him hundreds of thousands of dollars even after being an experienced investor for decades? Jonathan Greene, one of our favorite repeat guests, is back on the show to share.

Jonathan’s father, a serial real estate investor, taught him everything about rental properties early on. Together, they walked potential properties, snuck into foreclosed homes, reviewed the profits and figures line by line, and even dealt with evictions together. This equipped Jonathan with the skills to not only build generational wealth for his family but also financial freedom for himself. However, once he achieved it, Jonathan realized that early financial freedom wasn’t worth it. But why?

This episode looks into the mind of one of the most experienced investors in the entire industry. Jonathan shares why he still decided to work even after building a real estate portfolio, the investment he made that cost him severely, why he’s moving his money into a more “passive” investment, the reason renting makes MORE sense than buying in 2025, and what a beginner should do RIGHT NOW to start investing in real estate.

The Expert Investor: Early Retirement is a Mistake, Rent INSTEAD of Buying!

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.

Buying His First Rental at 19 by Doing What Most Newbies Are Afraid to Do

BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

Related tracks