In this episode, Joey Romero sits down with Sarah Ayala of Tower Agency to explore the insights and strategies first-time home buyers, sellers, and real estate investors need to know. From navigating the buying process with confidence to understanding market trends and investment opportunities, Sarah breaks down complex real estate concepts into practical, actionable advice. She also shares how she transitioned into leadership in real estate talent and growth, and why building relationships and trust is key to long-term success in the industry.


Sarah Ayala is a Broker Associate and Director of Talent and Growth at Tower Agency. Since entering the real estate industry in 2015, she has specialized in helping first-time home buyers and sellers achieve their goals with confidence and care. Sarah holds a California Broker’s License—the highest credential in the state—and a Bachelor of Business Administration from California State University. She is dedicated to guiding clients through one of the most significant decisions of their lives, providing clarity, professionalism, and personalized support every step of the way.

In this episode:
-Joey welcomes Sarah Ayala, Broker Associate with Tower Agency.
-Sarah shares how her childhood home and family influenced her passion for real estate.
-The challenges and lessons from her first year in the industry.
-The role of kindness, confidence, and service in every transaction.
-How social media, Instagram Stories, and DMs became her main business driver.
-Tips for building authentic connections with clients online.
-Insights on working with investors and handling distressed properties.
-Why providing education, options, and transparency is key to investor relationships.

The Norris Group originates and services loans in California and Florida under California DRE License 01219911, Florida Mortgage Lender License 1577, and NMLS License 1623669. For more information on hard money lending, go www.thenorrisgroup.com and click the Hard Money tab.


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In Part 2 of The Norris Group Real Estate Podcast, host Joey Romero continues the conversation with Keystone CPA managing partners Amanda Han and Matt MacFarland.

They break down powerful tax strategies for real estate investors, explaining why tax planning should be a forward-looking strategy rather than just filing returns. The discussion explores how investors can use deductions, entity structuring, cost segregation, and evolving tax strategies as they scale their portfolios.

The guests also discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence in tax research, emphasizing that while AI can assist with research and preparation, investors still need professional expertise to verify information and build personalized strategies. Through real-world success stories, they illustrate how strategic tax planning can dramatically reduce tax liabilities—even for clients with large windfalls or extensive real estate portfolios.

Amanda Han and Matthew MacFarland are CPAs and Managing Directors with more than two decades of experience in tax planning and advisory for real estate investors and high-net-worth individuals. Amanda, a UNLV graduate and seasoned real estate investor, is the author of several bestselling tax strategy books and has shared her expertise on platforms including Money Magazine, Google Talks, and CNBC. Matt, who earned his accounting degree from UCLA and a Master’s in Taxation from USC, is the author of The Book on Advanced Tax Strategies for Real Estate Investors and a frequent speaker on real estate tax planning. Together, they help investors build wealth through proactive and strategic tax planning.

• Why tax planning should start before the tax year begins, not when filing returns
• How real estate investors can maximize deductions and overlooked expenses
• The right time to consider cost segregation and entity restructuring
• How AI tools are changing tax research—and why investors still need expert CPAs
• Strategies investors can use to scale portfolios while minimizing taxes
• Real stories of clients paying little to no taxes through strategic planning
• Advice on teaching financial literacy and investing to children
• The mission behind Animals for Armed Forces Foundation

The Norris Group originates and services loans in California and Florida under California DRE License 01219911, Florida Mortgage Lender License 1577, and NMLS License 1623669. For more information on hard money lending, go www.thenorrisgroup.com and click the Hard Money tab.


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Radio Show

In this episode, Joey Romero sits down with Matt MacFarland and Amanda Han of Keystone CPA to explore the tax strategies real estate investors need to know. From cost segregation and bonus depreciation to real estate professional status and the short-term rental loophole, the conversation breaks down complex tax concepts into practical insights. Matt and Amanda also share how they transitioned into working with real estate investors and why staying ahead of changing tax laws is critical for both CPAs and investors.

Amanda Han and Matthew MacFarland are CPAs and Managing Directors with more than two decades of experience in tax planning and advisory for real estate investors and high-net-worth individuals. Amanda, a UNLV graduate and seasoned real estate investor, is the author of several bestselling tax strategy books and has shared her expertise on platforms including Money Magazine, Google Talks, and CNBC. Matt, who earned his accounting degree from UCLA and a Master’s in Taxation from USC, is the author of The Book on Advanced Tax Strategies for Real Estate Investors and a frequent speaker on real estate tax planning. Together, they help investors build wealth through proactive and strategic tax planning.

In this episode:

• Joey welcomes Matt MacFarland and Amanda Han of Keystone CPA.
• How Keystone CPA helps investors navigate tax strategy and long-term financial planning.
• The journey from traditional accounting to specializing in real estate investor tax planning.
• Common tax planning mistakes real estate investors make and how proactive strategies can improve outcomes.
• Why CPAs must constantly adapt to evolving tax laws and industry changes.
• How bonus depreciation affects cost segregation strategies for real estate investors.
• A breakdown of the requirements for qualifying as a real estate professional, including material participation hours.
• An explanation of the short-term rental loophole and how some investors use it for tax advantages.

The Norris Group originates and services loans in California and Florida under California DRE License 01219911, Florida Mortgage Lender License 1577, and NMLS License 1623669. For more information on hard money lending, go www.thenorrisgroup.com and click the Hard Money tab.


Video Link

Radio Show