Alex Cortez was about to get fined $1,000 a day. His rental arbitrage business was thriving—until New York changed the rules. Instead of shutting down, he pivoted to a strategy most investors overlook: lease options.

Now his tenants pay non-refundable deposits, handle their own repairs, and treat his properties like their own. Here's exactly how he structures the deals.

00:00 Intro

01:17 House Hacking Origins

05:49 Pandemic Pivot Lessons

09:07 Pilot Career Path

11:22 Wealth Lessons Flying

14:49 Lease Options Explained

19:25 Tenant Screening Terms

23:05 Property Care Repairs

25:33 Finding Lease Option Tenants

27:25 Rental Arbitrage Basics

28:48 Furnishing Costs Setup

29:47 Furnishing Costs Breakdown

30:12 Convincing Landlords to Sublease

33:52 Regulations Force a Pivot

36:08 Midterm Rentals and Exit Plans

38:14 Designing a Furnished Rental

40:23 Systems and Tools for STRs

43:35 Lease Option Contracts and Legal

45:33 Structuring Deposits and Rent

48:43 Becoming a Licensed Agent

50:05 Investor Friendly Agent Traits

52:05 Life Outside Real Estate

52:45 Book Picks and Where to Connect

The Strategy That Makes Tenants Take Care of Your Property