Rental Income Podcast With Dan Lane

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...

Thomas lives in a high-cost area where buying rentals locally simply didn’t make sense for cash flow, especially as a newer investor with limited capital.

Instead of forcing a bad deal in his backyard, Thomas made the decision to invest out of state.

On this episode, he walks us through how he chose the markets he invested in and whether he physically visited the areas before buying.

Thomas didn’t just pick one market and hope for the best. Diversification was important to him, so he invested in three different areas. We talk about...

Mary spent years on the road as a travel nurse, living in mid term rentals across the country. After seeing firsthand how well these properties served traveling professionals, she decided to become an investor herself.

We break down exactly what Mary looks for when buying a mid term rental, including location, and the best bedroom count to look for.

She shares how much she typically spends to furnish a property, how long her tenants usually stay for,  and how much of a rent premium she gets vs if the property was a traditional long term rental.

On this episode, I’m joined by Jeremy Smith, an investor who proves you don’t need hundreds or thousands of rental properties to be successful. Jeremy owns just a few rentals, but they generate enough monthly cash flow to cover all of his living expenses.

Jeremy still works a full-time job, but his rentals give him a powerful safety net. If his income dips in a slow month or an unexpected expense pops up, the extra cash flow from his properties helps absorb the hit and keeps stress low.

We talk about why Jeremy focuses on l...

This bonus episode features Caeli Ridge from Ridge Lending Group, breaking down what’s happening right now with DSCR loans and why they’re getting so much attention from rental property investors.

Caeli explains how DSCR loan rates have been coming down and are now very close to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rates. We talk about why DSCR loans are often simpler than conventional mortgages, how they qualify based on the deal instead of the investor’s personal income, and why that makes them especially attractive for investors.

We also discuss how increased competition from DSCR l...

Joel has been investing in rental properties for 48 years and has figured out how to increase rental income without buying more properties.

On this episode, Joel shares practical strategies he uses to get more cash flow from the rentals he already owns. We talk about how he keeps up with rent increases to make sure his properties stay profitable, along with inexpensive upgrades that help units look better and command higher rent. Joel explains his approach to flooring, including LVP vs. carpet, and whether it makes sense to make tenants responsible for washer and dryer repairs.

...

Tim Delaney has built a diversified real estate portfolio that includes long-term rentals, a short-term rental, and a strip mall.

What makes his story especially interesting is that his very first deal was the strip mall, and he bought it with zero money out of pocket.

On this episode, Tim breaks down how that deal came together and how a simple conversation with his banker introduced him to the BRRRR strategy. Tim knew he wanted to rehab properties, but he also knew his limits. He wasn’t a contractor and didn’t have deep construction knowledge. Inst...

Ron took an unconventional path to financial freedom. He was living a comfortable life in California when he realized his money would go a whole lot farther if he bought rentals somewhere else. So he packed up, moved across the country to Connecticut, and got to work building a rental portfolio from the ground up.

Over the next several years, he bought properties, self-managed tenants, handled maintenance, and slowly created the income stream he needed .But after plenty of tenant phone calls, turnovers, and years of being on duty 24/7, Ron felt the tug for something different. He was...

Terry Kerr didn’t get it right when he first started buying rental properties. In fact, he made just about every mistake you can make. He bought in the wrong areas, took on rehabs himself to “save money,” hired the wrong people, and bought properties that were either too big or too small to work as profitable rentals.

Over time, Terry figured out what actually matters. He found the sweet spot for the ideal rental property and built a system around it.

On this episode, Terry breaks down what he learned from those early missteps, what he loo...

Greg Thompson’s story is proof that your past financial mistakes do not get the final say.

In his 20s, Greg admits he had no idea how to manage money. A string of bad financial decisions eventually left him homeless. Fast forward to today, and Greg owns a portfolio of 37 rental units and has built more than $1 million in equity.

On this episode, Greg walks us through how he completely turned his life around and, more importantly, how he came up with the money to start buying rentals when he had nothing. We break down how ho...

Alana Kern is proof that you can build a rental portfolio while working a busy full-time job

She has steadily grown her rentals by being intentional with her time and systems.

On this episode, we break down how many hours Alana actually spends managing her rentals, the platform she uses to advertise vacancies, and the processes that help her stay organized.

Alana also shares a tough lesson from a tenant she didn’t thoroughly screen, what went wrong, and what she does differently now.

We also talk about Alana’s long-term plan to e...

Matt McCurdy had a solid 9–5 job on paper, but the corporate life wasn’t for him.

Long days indoors and a lack of control over his time pushed him to ask a simple question: there had to be a better way. Matt set out with a clear plan to replace his W-2 income with rental income, and he made it happen.

On this episode, Matt breaks down exactly how he did it. He shares how many doors it took to replace his paycheck, how he financed his properties, and how he continued buying rentals after walking away...

Zach started buying rentals at 21 with no family money, no partners, and no roadmap. He didn’t come from a real estate background, but he taught himself creative financing and pushed forward deal by deal. In just two years, he built a large rental portfolio that now includes more than 100 properties.

On this episode, Zach walks us through exactly how he did it. He shares how he built a trustworthy team to handle construction and property management, and why setting clear goals played a huge role in keeping him on track.

We also talk about how ma...

On this episode, we walk step by step through how Derek Harris built his rental portfolio from the ground up. Derek has been buying rental properties for five years, and today he owns 10 doors.

He takes us through each acquisition, explaining how he found the properties, their condition, and the work he did to fix them up. Derek also breaks down how he financed every deal. 

He talks about where he found the money for his down payments, how he structured his loans, and why he started using DSCR loans as he grew.

We a...

Adam Negri believes real estate is the easiest business in the world. In his view, anyone can do it. There is no get-rich-quick angle, just a simple formula: buy a few solid properties each year, stay patient, and before long you’ll own a few million dollars’ worth of real estate.

On this episode, Adam walks through exactly how he built his portfolio following that approach. He explains why he focuses on straightforward residential rentals in working-class neighborhoods, why he avoids office and retail, and why he only invests within a short drive of home.

Adam also...

Preston Garcia spent two full years studying, researching, and preparing before he ever bought his first rental property.

On this episode, Preston opens up about how that first deal has actually worked out. We dig into how he found the property, the creative seller financing he worked out, how much cash he had to bring to the table, and how he raised additional capital by bringing in a partner.

Preston also shares the realities of managing a Section 8 rental. It hasn’t been easy, he’s struggled to collect the tenant’s portion of the rent, dealt...