In this episode, I walk you through how Jay and I find and structure creative financing deals—without relying on banks, credit checks, or big down payments. If you’ve ever felt stuck because of limited access to capital or credit, this episode shows you how to make real estate happen anyway.

From $10 purchases to lease options and land trusts, I unpack the exact ways we acquire properties using seller financing and subject-to strategies. I also break down how we talk to sellers, how we protect both parties, and how we exit these deals with profit and peace of mind.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] – Why I kicked Jay off the mic today 😉

[0:42] – Our full real estate background in a nutshell

[2:15] – How we lost it all in 2005—and why we now help others avoid that

[3:20] – What creative financing actually means (subject-to, seller finance, etc.)

[3:39] – Where we find these deals: Zillow, Facebook, Craigslist & more

[5:07] – How we use bandit signs, call tracking, and smart marketing

[6:39] – What we say to sellers and how we structure the conversation

[9:05] – The $10 house we bought—and how we made it work

[10:12] – Explaining “payments for equity” in plain language

[11:26] – How we protect sellers and ourselves with land trusts

[13:27] – Due diligence: utilities, inspections, and title checks

[15:16] – Why maintaining seller relationships post-close is critical

[16:01] – What we do after acquisition: tenant vs. tenant-buyer

[17:29] – How we structure lease-option agreements for tenant buyers

[18:09] – How we price deals and work with future homeowners

[19:08] – Why vision drives our whole business model

[20:11] – Building a plan backwards from your goals

[21:14] – Creating your power team to support creative deals

[22:36] – What your market allows (and why that matters)

[24:22] – How to balance time vs. money in your strategy

[25:44] – Hiring your first helper (even just 10 hrs/week)

[26:07] – Why vision-focused planning has kept us consistent for 20 years

[26:52] – Free checklist offer & where to get it

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Creative financing gives you a way to buy without banks—if you understand the seller’s needs.

2. You can find great leads for free if you know where to look (and how to follow up).

3. Land trusts and lease options protect all parties while creating real profit potential.

4. A strong seller relationship and clear communication are your best closing tools.

5. Your business should be built around your vision—not just chasing the next deal.

If this episode sparked new ideas for how to grow your portfolio creatively, share it with a friend who needs to hear it. And as always—rate, review, and follow The Real Estate Ride so we can keep bringing you real stories, real tools, and real estate done your way.

In this episode, we walk you through the exact framework we use to run successful rehabs—from small cosmetic flips to full gut jobs. Whether you’re brand new to flipping or scaling your renovation projects, this is the system that keeps our projects on budget, on time, and profitable.

We break down how we determine scope, organize trades, avoid common contractor delays, and create detailed estimates—before swinging a single hammer. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by rehab planning, or struggled with unknowns mid-project, this episode gives you the step-by-step clarity you need.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] – Intro to the Rehab Masterplan and why you need one

[1:04] – The first thing we do before building a budget

[1:58] – Walkthrough videos: how they help you quote fast and accurately

[2:40] – Why order of operations is critical to avoid job site chaos

[3:20] – Our template: flooring, paint, kitchens, baths, HVAC, etc.

[4:35] – Creating line items with quantities and prices

[5:08] – How we group scopes for labor bidding efficiency

[6:27] – What we include in our full estimate (line by line)

[7:01] – Avoiding scope creep with early decision-making

[7:49] – The “wants vs. needs” list and why it protects your budget

[8:35] – Adding 15–20% contingency to every project

[9:12] – Why you need multiple crews or backup labor plans

[9:44] – Coordinating permits, inspections, and timelines

[10:31] – Why material pre-orders save time and money

[11:22] – What to document weekly to avoid miscommunication

[12:04] – How to evaluate when to DIY vs. outsource

[12:51] – Sample budget breakdown from one of our flips

[14:18] – The key numbers we track on every project

[15:07] – How this plan fits into the larger BRRRR or flip model

[16:03] – Final thoughts on being proactive vs. reactive in rehabbing

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Start with a detailed scope video—before bringing in a crew.

2. Pre-plan your order of operations to avoid costly delays.

3. Budget line-by-line with both labor and material separated.

4. Scope creep kills profit—know your “needs vs. wants” up front.

5. Always build in a contingency—15–20% protects your margin.

If this episode helped you simplify your next rehab, be sure to rate and review The Real Estate Ride. And don’t forget to share it with a friend who needs a better game plan on their next flip.

In this episode, I share a very personal and practical walkthrough of how Jay and I built our real estate business around our life—not the other way around. If you’re working 60+ hours a week, struggling with boundaries, or feeling like your business is your entire identity, this conversation is for you. I unpack how vision, boundaries, and intentional scheduling gave us our time back—and how you can do the same.

This isn’t theory. It’s what actually helped us go from 80-hour weeks to 12 weeks off per year, from chaos to clarity. I also break down one simple but powerful calendar exercise that changed everything for our family, our marriage, and our business.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] – Why vision matters before business even begins

[1:13] – Our life before: Jay working 80 hours, 4 young kids, no balance

[2:07] – Realizing we needed to design our life and business together

[3:11] – The myth of hustle: why boundaries are more powerful

[4:34] – When you’re always available, you’re never fully present

[5:18] – How overwhelm sneaks in when you lack clarity

[6:10] – Why we plan our lives like people plan weddings or funerals

[7:03] – The calendar exercise: your week, your way

[8:12] – My top 3 non-negotiables for our family and business

[9:59] – You don’t need a full-time hire—start small

[10:39] – The shift that brought back Friday night date nights

[12:30] – Reframing client expectations and reclaiming time

[13:20] – Time is more valuable than money—and it’s non-refundable

[14:08] – Knowing your “genius zone” and outsourcing the rest

[16:03] – Starting with $9/hr help and getting more life back

[17:05] – If you have a day job, here’s how to start your RE biz

[18:20] – Find others who’ve built the life you want—and study them

[19:13] – Tell someone your goal. Accountability changes everything

[20:07] – Challenging the 9–5 mindset: why wait 40 years to live?

[21:03] – Coaching, meetups, masterminds—we use them all

[24:00] – How we went from burnout to 25-hour workweeks

[25:27] – Our yearly reset using the “Wheel of Life”

[27:00] – My audacious fitness goal—and what it taught me about vision

[29:08] – Reverse engineering your goals into daily steps

[30:02] – How we stay connected to our vision daily

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Don’t build a business that breaks your life. Design both together.

2. Clarity and boundaries are the secret to reclaiming your time.

3. You don’t need full-time hires—start with just a few hours a week.

4. Your calendar reveals your values. Block the time that matters.

5. A strong vision gives every task meaning—and prevents burnout.

If this episode gave you clarity, please share it with someone who’s in the thick of hustle. And don’t forget to rate, review, and follow The Real Estate Ride—it helps us keep bringing you raw, real, and helpful conversations like this one.