Real Estate Rookie
BiggerPockets
Ready to build your real estate empire… but not sure where to begin?Think of us as your personal trainer.From detailed breakdowns of real-world deals… to one-on-one coaching sessions and a warm, welcoming community… hosts Ashley Kehr and Tony J Robinson bring on a wide range of guests to tackle the “newbie” questions you've wondered about but might be afraid to ask.Looking to 10X your real estate investing business this year? This show isn’t for you.Looking for your first, second, or third deal -- or envisioning a more modest portfolio? Step right up. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we’ll arm you with the tips, tools, and roadmaps you'll need as you embark on your journey toward financial freedom.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 11, 2026 • 55min
He Made $65,000/Month on His First Rental Arbitrage “Contract” (Real Numbers!)
Noble Crawford, a real estate investor who shifted from short-term arbitrage to securing multi-million dollar federal lodging contracts. He shares how his first contract made $65,000/month and how he landed a $44M Navy deal. Topics include finding federal opportunities, bidding and proposal tactics, contract types and lengths, financing furnishings, and negotiating landlord rates for predictable rental income.
Mar 9, 2026 • 38min
From Homeless to Homeowner with a 7-Bedroom Rental Property
Isaac Mann, a real estate investor who went from living in a box truck to co-owning a seven-bedroom rental, tells his story. He explains how a rent-by-the-room house-hack worked, why they pivoted to an FHA loan, and what to do when a lender backs out. Short, practical tales of partnerships, quick repairs, and making a big buy with little cash.
9 snips
Mar 6, 2026 • 30min
Is the 2026 Housing Market Finally Becoming “Unstuck”? (Rookie Reply)
They discuss whether 2026 could be a prime time to buy rental property and how investors should tweak strategies. Practical tips for closing day, inspections, and avoiding costly surprises are covered. They explain finding accurate comps and estimating after-repair value when evaluating deals remotely. Advice on mortgage shopping and adapting underwriting in a shifting market rounds out the conversation.
11 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 45min
5 Systems Every Rookie Investor Needs for Faster Rehabs and Bigger Profits
Serena Norris, an experienced house flipper and systems expert with 130+ projects and ~$55M in volume, shares how she turned chaotic rehabs into organized, repeatable wins. She outlines five core systems for information, planning, execution, communication, and quality control. Short tips cover scopes, budgets, GC vs subcontracting, real-time cost tracking, and the tools that make it all work.
10 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 49min
$3,500/Month Cash Flow from One Self Storage Facility (Same Price as a Rental)
Steven May, a self-storage investor who scaled from house hacking to a multi-facility portfolio before 30. He tells how he found an off-market $330K facility via cold-calling and turned it into $3,500/month cash flow. He explains operational fixes, financing hacks like seller carrybacks and lines of credit, and a repeatable playbook for quickly buying and scaling storage properties.
Feb 27, 2026 • 26min
This “Hybrid” Rental Strategy Is a No-Brainer for Rookies in 2026 (Rookie Reply)
A practical hybrid strategy that combines living in, rehabbing, then renting or selling to recycle capital. A cash versus mortgage debate for first-time buyers with sizable savings. How to find affordable out-of-market deals and manage rehab or new-build options remotely. Real talk on investing in rougher neighborhoods, tenant screening, eviction pitfalls, and budgeting for reserves.
Feb 25, 2026 • 35min
5 Things We’d Do If We Were Starting Over in Real Estate Today
They lay out five changes they would make if they were starting in real estate today. Topics include picking practical, “boring” deals over waiting for home runs and why turnkey or tenant-in-place properties often win. They stress lining up financing early, exploring non-bank funding, and getting soft pre-approval. Learn how to ruthlessly simplify your buy box and match strategy to specific neighborhoods.
Feb 23, 2026 • 45min
Changing His Family’s Future with 3 “Boring” Rentals and $2,500/Month Cash Flow
Kadeem Kamal, a self-made real estate investor who began with house-hacking, built a small rental portfolio generating $2,500+/month and about $800k equity. He discusses using creative down payment tactics, buying a three-unit with FHA, making tenants cover mortgage costs, managing Section 8 and long-term renters, and a 10-year plan of steady, “boring” rentals to change his family’s future.
Feb 20, 2026 • 28min
Should I Use My Home Equity to Buy My Next Rental Property? (Rookie Reply)
They explore using home equity to buy more rental properties and compare refi, HELOC and other funding routes. They discuss recycling capital with BRRRR and when to avoid refinancing low-rate loans. Practical strategies for estimating rents are covered, including manual tracking and tools. They also explain how to find, vet, pay, and onboard cleaners for short-term rentals.
Feb 18, 2026 • 30min
How to Buy Your First (or Next) Rental Property in 2026 (Step by Step)
Step-by-step roadmap for buying your first or next rental property in 2026. Practical tips on setting financial foundations, choosing markets, and picking an investing strategy. Learn how to analyze listings fast, build a reliable real estate team, and handle offers, due diligence, and closing logistics. Actionable steps to move from planning to buying within a tight timeframe.
