On this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Aaron and James break down the return of 100% bonus depreciation for short-term rental investors, now made permanent under the new tax bill. They explain how this powerful tax strategy—often called the "STR loophole"—allows qualifying investors to accelerate depreciation deductions and offset their W2 income, potentially saving tens of thousands of dollars annually. Using real-world examples, they walk through the three key steps to implement this strategy and discuss why it's exclusive to STRs versus traditional long-term rentals.

The hosts also explore a significant shift in mortgage lending: how the Federal Housing Finance Agency is directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to include cryptocurrency assets in loan qualification processes. Drawing from recent industry reports showing 5.4% of homebuyers now sell crypto for down payments, they discuss the implications of treating volatile digital assets similarly to tech stocks in mortgage underwriting, while weighing the benefits for younger buyers against potential risks to financial stability.
Reach Out:

Interested in consulting with Erin? Email erin@erinspradlin.com

Work with James: James@JamesCarlsonRe.com

Also in this episode:

• Why bonus depreciation works for STRs but not traditional rentals (hint: it's about active vs. passive income)
• The difference between cost segregation studies and 100% bonus depreciation
• Real example of a Miami buyer who lost 12% of his crypto value during forced liquidation
• How crypto reserves compare to stock holdings in mortgage qualification
• The tension between supporting small business investors and addressing housing affordability

Whether you're a high-income earner looking for tax relief, an STR investor wanting to maximize deductions, or curious about how cryptocurrency is changing real estate financing, this episode provides the insights you need. The hosts remind listeners that while they may have political reservations about some tax policies, understanding and legally utilizing available strategies remains important for individual financial success.

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On this special episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Erin and James celebrate their ten-year wedding anniversary by exploring the surprising parallels between successful relationships and smart real estate investing. Drawing from their decade of marriage and years of property investment experience, they break down six key principles that govern both domains: from the critical importance of communication and goal alignment to understanding when battles are worth fighting and why daily consistency trumps grand gestures.

The hosts share candid insights about their own relationship dynamics, including lessons learned from their one partnership experience (a Colorado Springs duplex that taught them valuable lessons about working styles), and how their complementary approaches to decision-making have served them well in both marriage and real estate ventures. They also tackle common misconceptions, like the "never go to bed angry" advice and why the 1% rule isn't gospel, emphasizing that there's no universal "right way" to approach either marriage or property investing.

Reach Out:

Interested in consulting with Erin? Email erin@erinspradlin.com

Work with James: James@JamesCarlsonRe.com

Also in this episode:

• Why communication style matters more than you think when choosing business partners
• The danger of assigning negative motivations in both tenant relationships and marriage
• How their consulting work reveals common patterns in both real estate and relationship challenges
• Why playing to strengths works—but overall workload equality still matters
• The pickleball analogy for confidence in real estate investing

Whether you're a real estate investor looking to improve tenant relationships, considering a partnership, or simply curious about how life principles apply across different domains, this anniversary episode offers practical wisdom wrapped in personal stories. The hosts remind us that success in both marriage and real estate comes down to choosing your battles wisely, communicating clearly, and showing up consistently for the long haul.

Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on YouTube and Spotify for weekly real estate education content.Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on YouTube and Spotify for weekly real estate education content.

Is It a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market? How to Evaluate Your Midterm Rental City
On this episode of the Real Estate Education Podcast, Aaron and James dig into one of the most common questions in real estate: is it a buyer’s market or a seller’s market? The answer—like most things in real estate—is more nuanced than you think. Using up-to-date data from Denver and insights from local lender Lonnie Gleisner, we break down the current housing market into three sub-markets: condos, townhomes, and detached single-family homes—and explain why your answer will depend on your asset class.

Plus, Erin shares her insights from consulting with midterm rental investors across the U.S., including how to pick the right city for your MTR strategy, the dangers of analysis paralysis, and why BiggerPockets-style advice like the 1% rule can actually cost you money.

Reach Out

Interested in consulting with Erin? Email erin@erinspradlin.com

Work with James: James@JamesCarlsonRe.com

Also in this episode:

• Why walk scores matter for midterm rentals

• What YouTube "grad school" can teach real estate professionals

• Which inventory types are sitting vs. selling

• The overlap between writing, video, and real estate education

Whether you're a new investor, an aspiring landlord, or a midterm rental host looking to scale, this episode will sharpen how you evaluate markets and make investment decisions.

Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on YouTube and Spotify for weekly real estate education content.