Rental Income Podcast With Dan Lane

Lee Yoder built a portfolio of over 30 rental units, and then sold them just a year later for the equivalent of 10 years of rental cash flow.

Was Lee incredibly skilled at finding great deals, or did he just get really lucky?

On this episode, Lee shares how he went from having no real estate experience to building a rental portfolio that gave him the financial freedom to leave his job.

We talk about how Lee overcame his fear of buying his first rental, used a HELOC to finance his first duplex, and made the...

Investing in rental properties isn't as easy as it was a few years ago. Mortgage rates are higher, property taxes are rising, and insurance costs continue to increase.

But Matthew Martinez isn't letting these challenges stop him from buying rental properties.

On this episode, Matthew shares how he's finding deals that make sense in today's market, including a recent purchase for just $52,000. The property was rent-ready, had a tenant already in place, and generates $1,000 a month in rental income.

We dig into Matthew's strategy for investing for cash flow and appreciation, and what he...

Ed Peugh has been buying rental properties for years, but lately he's found it harder to find traditional rentals that generate good cash flow.

Instead of sitting on the sidelines, Ed started using a co-living strategy, renting individual bedrooms to tenants rather than renting out an entire house to one family. The strategy has allowed him to keep buying properties and generate about 50% more rental income than he would with traditional rentals.

On this episode, Ed shares how his co-living strategy works, how he finds and screens tenants, and why you don't need a huge house...

Is it better to use debt to buy more rental properties or pay off your mortgages and enjoy the cash flow?

Curtis McClelland recently heard a guest on the Rental Income Podcast talk about the benefits of using debt to build a rental portfolio. Curtis sees things differently. After a few tough months when cash flow was tight, he now believes there's a big advantage to owning rental properties free and clear.

On this episode, Curtis shares some of the financial challenges he's faced as a landlord, how he got through them, and the strategies he's...

What if the rental properties with the highest cash flow aren't actually the ones that make you the most money?

On this episode, Kyle McCaw, a rental property investor and property manager, explains why investors shouldn't focus exclusively on monthly cash flow. While cash flow is important, Kyle believes the real money in rental investing often comes from owning well-maintained properties in good neighborhoods that attract long-term tenants.

Kyle learned this lesson the hard way. His first rentals were high cash flow properties in rough neighborhoods. They generated monthly income, but they also came with a...

Most rental property investors look for existing homes to buy. Howard Jacobson takes a different approach. He builds them.

On this episode, Howard explains why building new rental properties can be more profitable than buying existing homes. He shares how new properties can rent faster, attract better tenants, require very little maintenance, and create significant equity from day one.

We talk about what Howard looks for when buying land, what makes a good building lot, and the type of rental properties he likes to build, including the ideal number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Howard walks us...

Huy and Maribel Nguyen have built their rental portfolio around a pretty simple idea: buy houses they would be comfortable living in themselves.

They focus on properties in good neighborhoods that need little to no rehab. By starting with homes already in good condition, they have found they attract tenants who pay on time, take care of the property, and tend to stay out of trouble.

That strategy has also helped keep maintenance expenses low and made owning rentals much less stressful.

On this episode, Huy and Maribel share how they choose properties, what...

Finding great rental property deals isn’t easy right now. But brothers Ben and Alex Jensen are consistently finding distressed properties they are buying below market value.

On this episode, Ben and Alex share exactly what they’re doing to find deals in today’s market. We talk about what they’re buying, how they’re building their portfolio, and the website they use to identify pre-foreclosure opportunities.They break down how they reach out to property owners, the strategy that's worked best for them, and how they approach sellers who may not even be thinking about selling.

Michael Perna has been investing in rental properties since he was 20 years old. But one comment from Gary Keller, President of Keller Williams Realty, completely changed the way Michael thinks about building wealth with real estate.

On this episode, Michael shares why he believes time is the most powerful force in real estate investing and why he has decided he will never sell his properties. Instead, he plans to hold them for life and eventually pass them down to future generations.

Michael explains why he is willing to buy properties that may not work as traditional...

At just 19 years old, Brady Newman already owns two paid-off rental properties. Now he wants to build to 10, but he is figuring out the best path forward. He feels kind of stuck where he is. Veteran investor Larry Myer, who has been investing for 42 years, joins Dan to help Brady create a plan.

They discuss finding deals, choosing an area to specialize in, the importance of networking with other local investors, and why paying cash for every property may slow Brady down. Larry explains how financing and a line of credit can help Brady grow while keeping his...

Gloria Gear likes buying what she calls “little old lady houses”: older, outdated properties that many buyers overlook.

She makes inexpensive upgrades that look great without breaking the bank, while also replacing major systems to avoid being nickel and dimed by repairs after a tenant moves in. By buying and improving these properties, Gloria creates approximately $100,000 in equity with each purchase.

On this episode, Gloria shares the different financing strategies she has used to buy rentals, the upgrades that deliver the biggest impact for the money, and how she decides where to save and where to spen...

When David Switzer first decided he wanted to buy rental properties, he did what a lot of new investors do. He started attending local real estate meetups. But he quickly noticed a problem. Everyone seemed to be looking for the same types of properties, running the same numbers, and struggling to find deals that actually worked.

That led David in a completely different direction.

Near his home, he came across a small commercial condo for sale. It wasn’t a huge office building or shopping center. In fact, the property cost a fraction of what he wo...

John Salcedo started investing in rental properties close to home, but as property values, insurance, and taxes climbed, the numbers stopped making sense. Many of the properties he looked at would have generated little or even negative cash flow. Instead of giving up on buying rentals, John changed where he invested.

On this episode, John shares how he successfully buys and self-manages rental properties from out of state. We talk about how he finds deals, evaluates properties remotely, handles renovations and turnovers remotely, and fills vacancies without being there in person.

John also explains how he...

Justin Robbins got into real estate investing almost by accident. Before he even knew what house hacking was, he was doing it with his primary residence. That experience eventually led him to buy his first rental property because he liked the idea of mailbox money and earning a few hundred dollars a month in extra income.

On this episode, Justin shares how he went from that first property to building his rental portfolio. We break down how he financed his purchases, where he found the money for his down payments, the types of neighborhoods he targets, and the...

Phillip Henry started investing in real estate with no experience, very little money, and $50,000 in debt. Today, he owns more than 100 rental units that generate over $2 million in annual revenue.

On this episode, Phillip shares how house hacking a duplex helped him buy his first property and begin building his portfolio. We walk through his early deals, how he financed properties without traditional 20% down payments, and the deal that finally allowed his rental income to match his salary and leave his job.

Phillip also talks about learning through trial and error without a mentor, how many...

The difference between making money and losing money with rental properties often comes down to sweating the small stuff.

On this episode, Terry Kerr and Matthew Vanhorn explain why there is no single secret to making a rental property perform well. Instead, success comes from doing dozens of small things consistently, such as pricing rent slightly below market, responding quickly to repair requests, answering tenant calls, and making the property a place tenants want to stay.

Terry and Matthew share how they reduce the time it takes to get a property marketed and rented, the steps...

Spencer Dean wanted to build a rental portfolio, but he did not have enough money to make traditional 20 percent down payments. On this episode, Spencer shares the creative financing strategies he has used to buy rentals with less money out of pocket, including seller financing deals with surprisingly low interest rates.

Spencer explains how he finds motivated sellers, structures the legal side of each transaction, and creates solutions for owners facing difficult situations. We walk through several of his deals, including value add properties and homes that were already rent ready.

He also shares how postcards...

When Jamie Dietz started investing in real estate, he focused on building and selling properties and believed he could make money by timing the market. He was chasing big profits, but he was not paying enough attention to monthly cash flow.

That approach eventually caused him to lose several properties.

That experience taught Jamie that appreciation can be unpredictable, but cash flow is what helps an investor survive over the long term. He changed his strategy and began buying rental properties that produce dependable income every month.

On this episode, Jamie explains why cash...

Augie Cortez has reached the point that many real estate investors dream about. His rental income covers all of his family's living expenses, giving him a comfortable, low-stress lifestyle. As long as he keeps his properties rented and in good condition, the rentals cover the bills.

In this episode, Augie shares how he built his portfolio by buying single-family homes, primarily renting to Section 8 tenants in a great school district. He explains why keeping all of his properties close together has made self-management much easier, why he does most of his own repairs, and how tenant-proofing his rentals...

Chris Sherman runs a successful business, but he knows that no business is guaranteed forever. That's why his goal is to build enough rental income to eventually replace the income his business generates, giving him financial security no matter what happens.

On this episode, Chris shares the strategy he's using to grow his portfolio while aggressively paying down debt to create long-term cash flow.

We break down the numbers behind his rentals, including total rental income, mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance costs, and how he budgets for repairs, vacancies, and unexpected expenses.

Chris also...

On this bonus episode, we're joined by Caeli Ridge, President of Ridge Lending Group, to talk about one of the most powerful financing tools available to rental property investors: the HELOC.

Caeli explains how investors can use a traditional HELOC to buy more rentals, why seasoning requirements matter, and how married couples should structure ownership to avoid underwriting headaches. She also shares the terms and conditions investors need to pay close attention to when getting a HELOC.

We also take a deep dive into the All-In-One First Position HELOC, a unique loan product that combines a...

Ten years ago, Chase Bauer was commuting to work and listening to the Rental Income Podcast every day, dreaming about buying his first rental property. He had no idea how to get started, but after hearing enough success stories, he finally took the leap and bought a rental that generated just $400 per month in cash flow.

Fast forward ten years, and Chase has built a portfolio that generates more than $1 million per year in rent and nets over $40,000 per month after expenses.

On this episode, Chase shares exactly how he scaled from one rental to 80 doors...

A lot of real estate investors think the biggest hurdle to buying more rentals is saving enough money for down payments. Nick Disney has taken a different approach.

Instead of waiting years to build up cash, Nick uses HELOCs and private lenders as short-term financing tools to acquire and renovate properties. Once the property is stabilized, he refinances into long-term financing, pays back the HELOC or private lender, and frees up that capital to do it all over again.

On this episode, Nick breaks down his strategy for scaling a rental portfolio without constantly saving for...

Buying rental properties wasn't Jenny Brown's dream at first. It was her husband's. In fact, Jenny got pulled into real estate investing because her husband kept handing her paperwork to complete. But once she got involved, she discovered a passion for building wealth through rental properties. Today, she and her husband own a portfolio of rental homes in solid rental neighborhoods.

On this episode, Jenny shares the story of buying her first rentals, renovating them, and renting to students attending a nearby college. She discusses how they financed their early purchases, the lessons learned from managing their first...

Many real estate investors avoid C- and D-class neighborhoods due to crime, older housing stock, and management challenges. Mike Bonadies sees opportunity where others see problems.

On this episode, Mike explains why he focuses on lower-income neighborhoods and how those properties have allowed him to build and scale a large portfolio. We look at the types of properties he's buying, what he's paying, how much rehab they're typically needing, and the numbers that make these deals work.

With a lower barrier to entry and strong cash-flow potential, Mike believes these markets can offer opportunities difficult to...

Steve Whetzel has tried real estate investing three different times over the last 30 years, and the first two attempts didn’t end the way he hoped.

On this episode, we look back at each chapter of his investing journey to see what went wrong, what went right, and whether it would have been possible to hold onto the properties instead of selling. Steve shares how each experience shaped the investor he is today.

Steve bought his first rental properties back in 1996, long before podcasts, YouTube channels, and online communities made real estate investing easier to learn. As...

Ryan Thomson has gone all in on house hacking and believes it’s one of the fastest ways to build a rental portfolio. Ryan loves house hacking because of the favorable financing. Instead of putting 20–25% down like a traditional investment property, he was able to buy properties with as little as 5% down while also getting some of the best interest rates available.

Today, Ryan generates over $30,000 a year in profit from just 5 rentals that all started as house hacks.

On this episode, Ryan explains how he was able to live for free while doubling the mortgage paym...

When a rental sits vacant, landlords lose money every single day. In the past, many investors waited for the “perfect” tenant, but today, many renters who may look risky on paper could end up being great long-term tenants.

The challenge for landlords is figuring out how to reduce the risk of a tenant stopping payment or damaging the property.

On this bonus episode, we talk to Jamison Theander from TheGuarantors about how landlords can rent properties faster while reducing risk. Jamison explains how TheGuarantors offers a lease guarantee that will pay the rent if a tenant defa...

Ari Rubin has been investing in rental properties long enough to know that eventually, something is going to go wrong. Really wrong. But despite dealing with nightmare situations that would make a lot of investors quit, Ari says it’s all been worth it.

On this episode, Ari shares some of the craziest situations he’s dealt with as a landlord and investor. He talks about a contractor he didn’t hire who broke into one of his properties, demolished the kitchen, and planned to move into the house himself. He also shares the story of a “professional tenant”...

Davethought he was making the smart move. By paying off several of his rental properties, he figured he’d lower his expenses, boost his cash flow, and simplify his portfolio. But after doing it, he started to feel like he made a mistake.

Today, Dave believes he would have been better off keeping the debt and using that money to buy more properties. He shares why he thinks a larger portfolio with leverage could have outperformed a smaller, paid-off portfolio over the long run, and how losing the mortgage interest deduction changed the numbers.

On this ep...

Bianca Barcelos has built her portfolio using both long-term and mid-term rentals, and on this episode, we break down what that actually looks like in the real world.

Bianca walks through her experience with both strategies, comparing the pros and cons side by side. We dig into the income differences, the downtime between tenants, and the added effort required to furnish and manage mid-term properties. She shares what she typically spends to furnish a unit, the rent premium she can get, and how she weighs whether that premium justifies the hassle.

We also talk about how...

Greg Hall did what a lot of investors dream about, he scaled fast.

In just three years, Greg built a portfolio of more than 100 rental properties, buying mostly single-family homes in a market about three hours from where he lived. His strategy was simple and effective: buy low, renovate smart, and create quality rentals in solid neighborhoods.

He wasn’t slapping lipstick on properties, he was turning distressed homes into places good tenants actually wanted to live. On paper, everything worked.

But then something happened that most investors never even consider…The city stepped in a...

Ryan is using a simple but powerful strategy to build his rental portfolio, and it all starts with a HELOC.

Instead of going through traditional financing, Ryan uses a line of credit to buy properties, using what appears to be cash. That gives him a huge advantage when making offers. After closing, he funds the renovations with the same credit line, focusing on cosmetic upgrades like flooring, fixtures, and paint to dramatically increase value.

Once the property is stabilized, Ryan completes a cash-out refinance, pays off the HELOC, and repeats the process.

On this...

Mike Thompson isn’t trying to build a massive rental empire. His goal is simple: a handful of solid properties that generate income for retirement and create something he can pass down to his kids.

Mike started by buying a 4-unit property in Ohio, where he was living at the time. He self-managed and handled his own maintenance. He enjoyed the hands-on approach and quickly learned the business. But after relocating to South Carolina, everything changed. Turning the property over to a property manager didn’t go as planned, and within a year, Mike decided to sell… walking away w...

On this episode, Tom McGreevy might not sound like your typical landlord. He doesn’t raise rents, doesn’t charge late fees, and even admits he might be “too nice” to his tenants. In fact, Tom says he’d give himself a failing grade as a landlord.

But despite that, he’s built a portfolio that generates over $200,000 a year in rental income.

Tom breaks down how his strategy actually works. His long-term rentals provide steady, reliable cash flow that covers all of his fixed expenses, giving him a solid financial foundation. Then his Airbnb properties, which are mo...

On this episode, Kaycee Miller shares the real story behind building new construction rentals, including the wins and the unexpected challenges.

Kaycee started out buying foreclosures and rehabbing them, but began to wonder if building from the ground up could be more profitable.

She walks us through her transition into new construction, why it can sometimes be more cost-effective than buying existing properties, and how building new can lead to higher rents and better long-term returns. Kaycee breaks down her experience developing an 8-unit property in the downtown area of her small town, including how she...

Anna Mendoza started investing out of state because she believed it would produce better returns. 

Living in an expensive market, the $60,000 she had saved wasn’t enough to buy anything locally. But in other parts of the country, that same money could buy multiple rental properties. It seemed like a great way to build cash flow and start growing a portfolio.

Instead, things quickly went off the rails. What looked like a promising investment turned into a nightmare.

Anna dealt with unreliable contractors, break-ins, unexpected repairs, and tenants that required far more time and mon...

On this episode, Carlo Finotti explains why owning just one rental property can actually be riskier than owning several.

When you only have one property, a major repair or a few months of vacancy can wipe out your cash flow for years.

Carlo shares how building a portfolio of multiple rentals creates a safety net, where income from other properties can help cover unexpected expenses. Carlo also talks about the two challenges investors face when buying their second rental. The money side and the mental side.

He explains how he overcame both and how...

On this episode, Seamus Nally shares a powerful lesson every investor eventually faces: if it’s not working, pivot.

Seamus originally set out to build a portfolio of student rentals. The plan made sense. The numbers worked. The demand was there. Then the university expanded its own housing and the student demand he was counting on dried up. Instead of digging in and hoping things would turn around, Seamus made a bold move.

He pivoted and began renting rooms to residents in an addiction recovery program. When new challenges surfaced with that strategy, he adjusted again, ev...

Jacob Martinez is five years into a 10-year plan to build long-term wealth with rental properties, and he’s thinking much bigger than just next month’s cash flow. Jacob believes a decade gives neighborhoods time to improve, properties time to appreciate, and rents time to rise.

While every property he buys must be cash flow-positive, he doesn’t treat rental investing as a short-term game. For him, steady growth and smart positioning matter just as much as the monthly numbers.

On this episode, Jacob shares how surrounding himself with experienced mentors has shaped his decisions and he...