Hey everyone – it’s Jay here, and in this masterclass episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on everything Annie and I have learned from 20+ years of flipping homes, building rentals, and surviving market shifts. Whether you’re new to real estate investing or ready to level up your game, this session is packed with real-world strategies, creative financing options, and hard-earned lessons (including the time I lost it all and had to start over with joint ventures!).

We cover how to craft a personal and business vision, fund your deals with little to no money, find and manage contractors, and scale your business with systems and a strong team. I also break down our deal-finding process, go-to renovation budget hacks, and how we generate multiple streams of income from each flip. If you’re serious about investing and want to build wealth the smart way—this episode is for you.

Episode Highlights

[0:00] – Building a business on purpose: setting clear 1, 3, and 10-year goals

[6:49] – How to get funding even if you’ve got no experience or bad credit

[9:27] – Joint ventures saved my career—and how they can start yours

[13:42] – Assembling a top-tier investing team (and red flags to watch for)

[16:26] – The truth about how many sellers you need to talk to each month

[19:50] – Aligning your role to your strengths and outsourcing the rest

[22:34] – Why I became obsessed with helping sellers after losing my own home

[24:07] – How title companies can help you market—often for free

[26:26] – The deal-finding pipeline: MLS, auctions, sheriff sales, land banks & more

[28:03] – Why cheap septic inspections can cost you $30K

[31:09] – Lead sources that work: SEO, PPC, cold calls, and VA teams

[34:15] – Seller script questions that uncover true motivation fast

[35:20] – Why getting your real estate license is a cheat code for flippers

[37:03] – Avoiding over-renovating: matching finishes to your neighborhood

[41:35] – Creative funding breakdowns: using private money, credit cards, and partnerships

[46:03] – FHA 203(k) rehab loans: a powerful tool for beginners

[48:10] – How to vet and manage contractors for maximum reliability

[52:56] – Why you should pay yourself on every deal—and how to do it right

[55:13] – Our staging hack that costs $300/month and sells homes fast

[57:09] – Collecting powerful testimonials that build massive credibility

5 Key Takeaways

1. Creative financing is everywhere – Joint ventures, private lenders, and even credit cards can fund your first deal if you know how to structure it right.

2. Your contractor can make or break your profit – Always vet thoroughly, set clear expectations, and use bonuses and penalties to drive performance.

3. Vision matters – If you don’t know why you’re investing, you’ll get off track. Set personal and business goals and build a plan around them.

4. Pay yourself – Don’t wait until closing to earn. Build in income from agent commissions, GC fees, or project management.

5. Don’t over-improve – High-end finishes in a basic neighborhood don’t bring ROI. Know your comps and stay market-appropriate.

Thanks again for listening! If this episode helped you, go ahead and rate, follow, and review the show. It’s the best way to support what we’re doing—and don’t forget to share it with someone who’s ready to flip their first (or next) house!

In this special episode, we were honored to be guests on Andrew Lucas’s Deal Finders podcast—and it quickly became one of our favorite interviews ever. We opened up about how we got started in real estate over 20 years ago, what gave us the initial push (hint: it started with just one rental), and the real reason we stuck with it even after losing everything. If you’re wondering how to get into real estate investing without a ton of cash—or you’re just feeling stuck—this episode is full of real talk and actionable inspiration.

We also share how we creatively financed our first properties, how we’ve scaled to over 50 rentals, and the one strategy we STILL use today to find off-market deals (and it doesn’t cost a dime). Whether you’re a new investor or looking to reignite your momentum, you’re going to get massive value from this conversation.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] How we turned our personal home into our first rental

[3:00] Facing our fears and realizing real estate was simpler than we thought

[5:10] Renting to family and lessons learned from managing our first tenants

[7:45] The screening mistakes we made early on and how we fixed them

[10:05] Why waiting for perfection will kill your momentum

[12:34] The books and resources that helped us find creative financing strategies

[14:52] The one question we still use to unlock seller finance deals

[18:00] How networking brought us three investment properties

[20:07] Building a portfolio with zero marketing dollars

[22:00] What our business looks like today with 50+ rentals and a full team

[24:30] From bartending and video stores to short-term rentals and coaching

[26:30] Our biggest tips for getting started right now

[27:34] How we screen tenants today to protect our investments

[28:00] What to do when your family doesn’t support your investing dreams

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Creative financing isn’t just theory—it’s a tool we used to build a real business without relying on banks.

2. Your network is your first and most powerful deal-finding strategy—use it early and often.

3. You don’t need to know everything to get started. Just take the first step and keep learning as you go.

If this episode brought you value, we’d love it if you could rate, review, follow, and share it with someone who could use a little real estate motivation today.

In this episode of The Real Estate Ride, we’re diving into one of the most critical pillars of your real estate success—building your team of A players. Whether you’re wholesaling, flipping, or buying and holding, your business is only as strong as the people you bring into your circle. I’m sharing my step-by-step approach to identifying, recruiting, and working with top-tier attorneys, title companies, contractors, lenders, and virtual assistants—those who will help you close deals smoothly and scale confidently.

You’ll also learn the secrets to setting up your deals the right way—like handling escrow, navigating private money loans, and avoiding costly misunderstandings with agents and title companies. If you’ve ever struggled with finding the right people, knowing what to say to a private lender, or just keeping your deals moving forward, this episode is packed with gold.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Build a Team That Works for You – Your business depends on professionals who understand your investment strategy. If they aren’t aligned, it’s okay to move on and find someone who is.

2. Private Money ≠ Cash – Always clarify that private money is a form of financing, not cash. Labeling it incorrectly can cause unnecessary confusion and delay closings.

3. Protect Relationships and Reputation – Every transaction impacts your future in the market. Build a solid reputation by being clear, professional, and easy to work with.

Timeline Summary:

[0:00] - Introduction

[1:22] - Why your team defines your success in real estate

[2:31] - The must-have attorneys on your roster—and why one isn’t enough

[5:16] - Finding title companies that are wholesale and escrow friendly

[9:20] - Why private money ≠ cash and how to communicate that to agents

[13:02] - How your reputation with agents can impact future deals

[15:00] - Getting free lead lists from attorneys and title companies

[16:30] - Why it’s okay to “fire” team members who don’t align

[20:21] - The best ways to find investor-friendly realtors

[22:32] - What inspections you should never skip (hint: septic systems!)

[24:03] - How to use mortgage lenders to qualify lease option buyers

[27:45] - Building credibility with private money lenders (even if you’re new)

[32:05] - What you can and can’t say when marketing to private lenders

[40:37] - Why you need a credibility packet and how to use it

[45:22] - Using virtual assistants to free up your time and grow your business

Closing Remarks:

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of The Real Estate Ride! If you’re serious about growing your investing business, remember: you don’t need to do it all alone—you just need the right people on your team. If you found this episode helpful, please follow, rate, and leave us a review. And don’t forget to share this with a fellow investor who’s ready to level up.

Let me know if you’d like me to adapt this into a short-form version for Apple/Spotify descriptions or a caption for social media.