https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-554

Pay off your mortgage or invest? If you’re on the path to FIRE, you’ve probably asked yourself this question. Without a mortgage payment, you could put thousands more in your pocket every month, and your FIRE number would decrease significantly. On the other hand, investing all the money you could have spent on paying off your mortgage may allow you to build considerably more wealth and reach Fat FIRE with more assets to your name. So, which move do you make?

Mindy and Scott are coming on to debate this common investing question. On team “Don’t pay it off!” is Mindy, who just recently made a six-figure profit by NOT paying off her mortgage. How did she do it? Stick around to find out. Scott, who just bought his recent home in cash, is pro-paying off the mortgage (for some), as it may lead you to FIRE much faster than you thought.

In this episode, Scott and Mindy discuss WHO should pay off their mortgage early, the pros and cons of investing vs. going debt-free, and why one move may be MUCH better for those closer to FIRE. Want more money for your future retirement? Sick of your job and want to quit quickly and retire on your terms? We’ve got options for BOTH!

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage or Invest? (We Did the Math)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-558

The IRA vs. 401(k). You’ve heard of these retirement accounts before, but do you know the difference between the two? Maybe you have a 401(k) at work and have been diligently getting your employer match but struggle to describe what you’re investing in. You’ve heard top financial experts talk about how a Roth IRA is crucial for saving on taxes long-term, but are you eligible to invest in one? Today, we’re discussing top retirement accounts and how to start investing with just $100.

CFP (Certified Financial Planner) Kyle Mast joins Mindy on today’s show to answer common questions about 401(k)s, IRAs, Roth IRAs, and HSAs! We’ll first describe when you should invest in a 401(k) vs. an IRA, why their Roth equivalents are so valuable, especially if you’re itching to save on taxes in retirement, and the best account for beginners that (most) Americans will get free money from.

What happens after you leave a job and your 401(k) remains? Kyle discusses the options to ensure your money stays invested, even after leaving an employer. We’ll also get into the triple-tax benefit HSA (health savings account) that you should take advantage of IF you qualify, which accounts to invest in first, and what to do once you’ve maxed out your retirement accounts!

How to Start Investing for Retirement: 401(k), IRA, Roth?

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-247

Are we in a recession? A lot of people certainly think so. After a surprisingly accurate recession indicator went off weeks ago, more and more Americans have begun to believe that we’re already facing an economic downturn. The problem? We rarely know we’re in a recession until we’re out of one. So, how can we be sure we’re in a recession and not just seeing a boomerang effect from the hot post-pandemic economy?

For many Americans, it sure FEELS like a recession. Unemployment has gradually increased, the cost of living has risen significantly over the past few years, and men may be buying fewer pairs of underwear (that’s actually a recession indicator). So, if we are in a recession, what should real estate investors do now to prepare so they don’t get the rug pulled on them before it’s too late? Do you sit tight or start contemplating selling properties?

Dave, Henry, and Kathy all share what they’d do in a recession, the not-so-obvious signs of a recession (or a recession in your specific industry), and whether or not they believe we’ll be in a recession over the next year. If the worst has yet to come, you’ll be able to spot the signs of a coming recession after this episode.

Are We in a Recession?

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/real-estate-1009

Don’t have enough money to buy rentals? Neither did Brandon Tilson. As a social worker, he was never on the higher end of the income scale, but thanks to some serious side hustles, he now has eight rental units in just two years! How did he do it while working full-time and having a family to feed? Today, we’re talking to Brandon about why ANYONE can invest in real estate, no matter your experience, salary, or cash in the bank.

Brandon doesn’t have just one side hustle, or two, or three—he has five separate side hustles, leaving him with six jobs to take care of. It’s no surprise that Brandon works anywhere from sixty to eight hours a week, but it’s all been worth it for him, especially after seeing his real estate holdings go from zero to eight rental units in an extremely short period of time. Now, he’s less than ten years away from financial freedom, allowing him to retire early if he wishes to at just forty-five years old!

Brandon gives crucial advice for anyone trying to invest in today’s market, even with higher interest rates. We talk about different side hustles that bring in extra income, how he funded his first deal, what to do when your renovation becomes a “trainwreck,” and whether or not getting your real estate license is worth it. Plus, why investing alone is much harder than doing it with a partner (or spouse!).

8 Rental Units in 2.5 Years (While Working 6 Jobs!)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1010

Wondering how to invest in real estate so you can finally quit your job? Then, this episode might surprise you. While most real estate educators online are constantly stressing how you must leave your W2 so you can become a full-time real estate investor, today, we’re going to do the opposite, proving why most real estate investors SHOULD keep their job and let real estate supplement their dreams, instead of becoming their dream.

Take it from Lawrence Briggs. He’s an avid BiggerPockets listener who moved to a different city just to invest in real estate. With such passion and drive, you’d think he wants to become a full-time landlord. But the truth is…he doesn’t. His passions go far beyond managing tenants and fixing toilets, so he uses real estate to amplify his lifestyle and protect his finances so that he never HAS to get a job but can choose the exact job he wants to work.

Today, we’re talking to Lawrence about balancing your W2 job with real estate investing, why you DON’T need to quit to reach (even a small amount of) financial independence, the side hustle he used to save up for his first rentals, and how he works just a few hours a week managing his real estate portfolio. This is the realistic way to build wealth through real estate, and if Lawrence can go from poverty to multi-unit landlord, you can invest, too!

The Realistic Path to Wealth: Investing in Real Estate WHILE Working a W2

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-559

What if you could “retire” early, working only FOUR hours a week? Coast FIRE achiever Diania Merriam did just that! After a decade of hustle in corporate America, Diania found herself financially behind with $30,000 in debt. Dreaming of a life-changing adventure but lacking the funds, she decided to overhaul her finances. Fast forward, and now in her mid-thirties, she’s debt-free, successfully self-employed (or, as she puts it, happily “unemployed”), living life on her terms.

So, how did Diania save enough to walk away from her nine-to-five? The answer might surprise you. She didn’t need millions in the bank, and neither do YOU, to embrace early retirement. Diania asks, “Do you have enough to take a risk?” If you do, you could live the Coast FIRE lifestyle, just like her, working minimal hours and maximizing time freedom.

Ready to slash your workweek and dive into what you love? Stick around—by following Diania’s example, early retirement could be within your reach, EVEN if you’re just getting started on your FIRE journey!

How I Retired in My Mid-30s While Working Just 4 Hours a Week

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-248

Recession fears are increasing. The stock market has taken substantial hits, housing inventory is climbing, and bank account balances are starting to fall. So, with more economic turmoil, we have to ask: will the housing market crash? And if we get a housing market crash, how bad (or good) will it be for investors? Could we see a 2008-style selloff, or should we be more prepared for small dips worth taking advantage of? Today, we’re asking two top investors these questions, one of whom literally wrote the book on Recession-Proof Real Estate Investing.

J Scott and James Dainard join us on today’s episode to discuss market crash predictions, scenarios, and opportunities for real estate investors. Both J and James experienced the 2008 housing market crash—an economic event almost impossible to forget. But is 2024 shaping up for a sharp decline like 2008, or will we simply see a slower real estate market like most people had expected when interest rates began to rise?

If the market DOES crash, what should you look for to take advantage, and how do you ensure you don’t get caught biting off more than you can chew? J and James break down their game plans if prices fall and why buying now could set you up for wealth ten years from now, IF you can handle the “fear” of buying when others are running from real estate.

Recession Indicators Go Off, Is the Housing Market Safe?

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-560

Did you know you can use your 401(k) to retire early? Yep, it’s possible. And today’s guest, Eric Cooper, is doing it at age 47! Most FIRE chasers search for how to withdraw from a 401(k) early but know that doing so will hit them with substantial penalties. The best way around this? The 72(t) rule—which is precisely what Eric has been taking advantage of. Eric uses the 72(t) rule’s “substantially equal periodic payments” to take early withdrawals from his 401(k) of $30K per year, starting at age 47. But how does it work?

Eric comes on the show to describe exactly how this early withdrawal rule works, how much you can take out, the regulations to follow so you avoid penalties, and why early retirement may be much closer than you think. But this isn’t the only early retirement income Eric has got. We’ll review his substantial real estate portfolio and detail Eric's almost unbelievable tax savings from combining tax-advantaged rental properties with rule 72(t).

Plus, Eric shares how he built a multimillion-dollar nest egg by his mid-forties and why those starting young on the path to early retirement can repeat his strategy to be much richer in retirement. Do you have money sitting in retirement accounts that you’re ready to use? The 72(t) rule might be just what you need.

Dude ACTUALLY Withdraws From His 401(k) and Retires at 47

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-249

One startup is aiming to end traditional real estate commissions for good. Jobs numbers get their most significant downgrade in over a decade, forcing the Fed to rethink its rate-cutting schedule. And if that wasn’t enough, home sales fell in a historically hot month of the housing market. But are the expert investors worried? In this headlines episode, we’re sharing the latest news affecting the housing market and what YOU can do now to still make money in real estate, no matter the headline hype. 



First, we’re talking about the latest home sales numbers. With a slow summer homebuying season, we may return to a “balanced” market where investors can thrive if they know what they’re doing. What could bring more demand to the market? Lower mortgage rates. And with the latest revision on job numbers, downgrading job growth significantly, the Fed may be forced to pivot and make bigger moves when cutting rates. Will it happen?



Lastly, we’ll discuss the new state of real estate agent commissions. After the groundbreaking NAR lawsuit that put agent commissions in limbo, a new startup has set out to offer flat-fee real estate agent services in an à la carte fashion. Will paying just a few hundred dollars get you the level of agent experience you need to close better real estate deals? We’re discussing it all in this episode!

Job Numbers Turn Out to Be Overinflated, Will the Fed Make a Hard Pivot?

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-561

You did it; you achieved FIRE! After over a decade of hard work, you’ve reached financial independence and can retire early. You’re making more money than you spend from passive income, work-optional, and life is good. But your dreams are starting to change. Maybe you want to spend more on experiences, build your dream house, or move to a higher-cost-of-living area. Now, your expenses are starting to creep up, and your FIRE is about to burn out. What do you do, and is it wrong to return to work?

Caitlin Muldoon has had to ask herself these questions. After grinding for fifteen years, she finally reached her FIRE goal—$10,000 per month in passive income. In her current lifestyle, she’s saving money every month, but as she moves into her dream house and expenses start to rise, her passive income may not be enough. Does this mean that Caitlin is no longer financially independent? 

Today, Caitlin is sharing her full FIRE story with us. How she went from one house hack and a HELOC to a six-figure generating real estate portfolio, the struggles she had with leaving her job, realizing that her expenses would jump after her husband quit, and why retiring early isn’t always the end goal.

What Happens if High Expenses Extinguish Your FIRE?

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Should I Pay Off My Mortgage or Invest? (We Did the Math)

BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

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