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Let’s talk about the “rules” in real estate! You have probably heard about the 1% rule, the 2% rule, the 50% rule, and the 70% rule. But, do you really understand them? And, more importantly, when and how to use them? These rules are only effective if you apply them appropriately.  Let’s start with the …

Military members are in a very unique position in terms of their ability to purchase real estate. The VA loan is one of the most powerful tools that any investor can take advantage of. Any way that someone can get into a property with zero money down is incredibly powerful and can be especially lucrative. …

This isn’t our first discussion about home inspections—I know. I wrote Why I Begin Negotiations After the Inspection in order to relay a strategy that I personally have had much success with over the past three years. I find it much easier to negotiate once you have an inspection, which I do not advise a buyer …

For some reason, new (and wanna-be) investors think that negotiating is really hard. And while I don’t disagree with them, real estate negotiations, in my opinion, are simple and straightforward. But that’s because I don’t even begin to negotiate until I have an inspection and/or contractor’s bid in hand. At this point, the property is …

Whether you’re buying an investment or a personal residence, the first time you purchase a house can be really daunting. It seems like there are so many things to consider, and so many things that can go wrong! And then you’ve heard the horror stories and how fast the market is moving and you’re wondering …

Hi! I’m Erin, and I want to tell you all about my new and improved Real Estate Investor Course! This course is completely online and totally self-paced, through the Teachable platform. You can do it from anywhere, on your own time. You can take as little or as much time as you want, and it’s …

Being a landlord can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. Landlords can earn a lot of money, or they can spend a ton of money on legal fees and lose more than they make. You can self-manage your rentals or outsource it and be hands-off. Either way, doing it right and doing it well can save …

Right now, it seems that everyone is focused on the future of our economy, the stock market, and real estate. We know we are on the cusp of something big, but we just aren't quite sure how (and how much) we will be affected. We are in unprecedented times, and our leaders don’t have a lot …

When banks tighten up lending, the best real estate investors begin to leverage more favorable lending strategies. One of these strategies is seller financing, also called owner financing. This strategy can allow homeowners to sell their home faster because buyers can benefit from lower qualifying standards and down payment requirements. What Is Seller Financing? Seller financing is when the seller …

The decision to invest out of state should not be taken lightly—you need to do your research, practice due diligence, and weigh the pros and cons to ultimately decide whether it’s right for you. The right out-of-state investing strategy can prove to be highly lucrative and allow you to scale your investing, but there are also …

Things were going great. You were in a groove, crushing goals, buying properties, or making progress on your first deal. Borrowing money was easy and people were turning great profits. Then the unthinkable happened. A black swan event. Coronavirus came and wrecked your plans! The investing world changed overnight. Hard money lending dried up almost …

You’ve likely heard the term “KPI,” which stands for key performance indicator, thrown around the business world. It seems like every successful investor is using KPIs and has nothing but great things to say about them. If successful investors are using them, we know they must be good for us, too, but actually putting KPIs …

We’ve all heard that it all starts with Why. We need to know what we are working for and working toward in order to be most productive. I agree wholeheartedly with this. Even as I sit here at my desk, locked in a tiny closet in military housing, listening my girls giggling their little heads …

Right now, it seems that everyone is focused on the future of our economy, the stock market, and real estate. We know we are on the cusp of something big, but we just aren’t quite sure how (and how much) we will be affected. We are in unprecedented times, and our leaders don’t have a …

A potential recession can be really scary. There are so many unknowns, any person can easily become overwhelmed. Add to that the threat to your physical health and the implications to your mental health, this is a lot to deal with. But deal with it we must. Otherwise, we could be overseeing a great opportunity. …

Working from home can be a huge blessing and opportunity, but it requires much more focus and discipline. There tend to be more distractions in your house, and adding kids and a spouse who is also working from home can make a challenging situation even more so. Eliminating the daily commute can be a great …

I went to an all-girls high school and was the first in the history of my school to be accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. This acceptance would lead to four years of military school and five years of service in the Army following graduation. Many of my classmates, teachers, and …

When I talk to a new real estate investor or someone who wants to be a real estate investor, they tend to be completely overwhelmed by all the resources that are out there. There are dozens and dozens of podcasts, thousands of books, and a lot of people who want to give you advice. It’s not easy …

We’ve all heard the term “strategic plan,” but many of us don’t think it applies. Let me be the first to tell you that it does! Whether you have a goal to create a $35 million real estate portfolio or want to buy one single family home every year until you retire, you need to have a …

This was my first flip! It was a lot of fun, but A LOT of work. My dad and I did most of the work, and we put a lot of sweat equity into it. We hired a few things out like the plumbing and electrical, and some of the painting, but that was really …

This was a relatively straight forward flip. It was quick and easy. Inexpensive, and there were almost no surprises.  We purchased the property from a wholesaler for $175,000. I used hard money at an interest rate of 12% per year. The loan had a term for six months, and I paid 2.5 points on the …

You might not come across “the one” the first time (or second, or ninth…), but when you do, everything you went through becomes worth it. The general purpose of dating is to find the person you want to marry or spend your life with. You want this person to make you better, understand you, and …

This was a tough project. Not only were there numerous unexpected issues with the house itself, but even more issues with the contractors we hired. They lied, they overinflated their abilities, and they really just weren’t very skilled.  It took a lot of time, effort and money to undo what they did and get back …

I believe that everyone can benefit from a coach. Whether you are a health care provider, business owner, professional athlete, or real estate investor, a coach can help you in a variety of ways. They can help you achieve things faster than you ever thought possible. A coach can get you through the rough times. …

Should you invest in corporate rentals? Short answer: only if you like cash flow! Corporate rentals are apartments, units, or houses that are most commonly used by business travelers. These units typically come fully furnished and have all the basic necessities a traveler would need for a short-term stay. Corporate rentals’ lease lengths fall somewhere between …

As a new investor, real estate can be very daunting. There is so much to learn: various strategies to pursue, financing options, deal structures. Then, there’s the challenge of finding the deal, running the numbers, and doing your due diligence. No wonder so many people never buy their first property! If you’re a new investor and you …

Being a mom is all-consuming. Being a business owner is also all-consuming. I get asked almost every day how I can do it all. This question really just makes me want to laugh out loud! When people asked me for advice on how to balance and do it all, I feel like a total impostor. …

We all know people who are crushing it in real estate. But for some reason, we doubt our ability to do the same! When I talk to hopeful investors, I hear the same reasons repeatedly. These “reasons” are really just excuses—justifications that people use to avoid getting into the business. These include fear of the …

Remodeling a house can be a huge undertaking! Especially for an newbie investor or homeowner who has no clue how to choose materials and selections. There are so many things to consider in terms of remodeling materials. From the budget, to the tastes of the buyer, finishes, color schemes, textures—it’s enough to make anyone’s head …

I am a firm believer in mindset and goal setting and this is the foundation of all my courses and coaching. This is something that we need to work on consistently.  It is not something we can do once and be done.  Here are 6 steps to help you develop your WHY and be on …

Your property manager has an important job to do: take good care of your investment.  They do this by putting quality tenants in your property and keeping them there by taking care of them and the property.  They have the challenge of taking care of both the tenant and the property owner, but they ultimately …

Before undergoing a renovation, whether it is for your primary residence or an investment property, finding the right contractor is so important!  We have all heard stories about contractors running off with money for materials, with no materials to show and the contractor gone without a trace. Or the story your friend told where their …

3 days after returning to my Army unit after maternity leave with my first daughter, I received an email with orders to deploy to Afghanistan in three months. The same month my husband would deploy (yes, the Army can and does do this!). We would have to move our baby to our parents and not …

There are so many reasons to invest in real estate.  Talk to ten investors, and you will get ten different answers.  Some will say that they appreciate the extra cash the investment brings in each month, and others will say that they appreciate the appreciation (see what I did there?) and like to see their …