The Messy Money Podcast

Louisiana real estate has had a BIG year in 2026 — from billions of dollars in new economic development and major AI/data center projects to new real estate laws, insurance investments, commercial sales, and property tax proposals.

In this first Louisiana Real Estate News episode, I’m breaking down some of the biggest Louisiana real estate stories of 2026 so far — and, more importantly, what they could actually mean for property owners, real estate investors, agents, and communities across the state.

We’re talking about Amazon’s planned $18 billion investment in Northwest Louisiana, Meta’s massive Richland Parish data ce...

What does curative title investing actually look like beyond buying partial interests from heirs?

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, I sit down with longtime curative real estate investor Karl Spielvogel to break down how he finds, researches, and solves messy real estate deals that other investors often overlook.

If you're a real estate investor, wholesaler, or agent interested in curative title, complicated ownership, distressed property, or the messy side of real estate, this conversation will give you a much broader look at what's possible.

ATTENTION:The information shared in this...

A CMA can tell you what a property might sell for. But can your seller actually sell it for that amount?

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, I'm talking directly to real estate agents about why a preliminary seller net and title check can be so important before getting too far into a listing—especially in a changing real estate market.

ATTENTION:The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects personal experiences and opinions. It is not intended as legal, tax, financial, or invest...

Real estate wholesalers are trained to find motivated sellers, negotiate the right price, and get deals closed. But what happens when a title or ownership problem gets in the way?

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, Courtney Fricke sits down with Stephen Keighery of Home Buyer Louisiana to discuss how an established wholesaling operation approaches curative title issues without trying to turn its acquisitions team into title experts.

Stephen explains why wholesalers don't necessarily need a dedicated curative title division—they need enough competency to recognize potentially solvable problems, determine whether the economics justif...

If the Louisiana International Terminal gets built, how does St. Bernard Parish make sure St. Bernard actually benefits?

That was one of the most interesting parts of my larger conversation with St. Bernard Real Estate broker Mike Fernandez of Arpent Realty about the potential impact of the LIT Port on Real Estate and property values.

In this clip from the full episode, Mike makes the case that St. Bernard may need to think beyond simply whether the port should or shouldn't be built — and start considering what happens if it is built.

Thousands of...

A property owner dies. No probate has been opened. You don't even know who the heirs are. Where do you start?In this Messy Money micro episode, Florida probate attorney Al Nicoletti and I break down how Real Estate investors can start identifying the potential heirs and family members of a deceased property owner.We discuss death certificates, obituaries, deeds, marriage and divorce records, and other public records that can help you start piecing together the ownership puzzle.Watch the FULL Florida Probate Masterclass with Al Nicoletti: https://youtu.be/Dutmzc9gb30 ATTENTION:The information shared in this episode...

What happens when three heirs own a property, but one of them can't be found?

For many real estate investors and wholesalers, that's where the deal dies.

But that was only one of the problems with this New Orleans property.

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, Courtney Fricke sits down with Stephen Keighery of Home Buyer Louisiana to break down a real curative title deal his team recently closed.

Home Buyer Louisiana originally spoke with the family in 2021. Five years later, the situation looked very different.

Instead of i...

Louisiana is investing $200 million to prepare sites for economic development before companies even show up.

It’s called Louisiana FastSites, and the idea is simple: instead of having land available but waiting years to build roads, extend utilities, improve drainage, add rail access or complete other infrastructure, Louisiana wants more sites ready when companies are deciding where to invest.

In this episode of Louisiana Real Estate Talks, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery break down Louisiana’s FastSites program, where the money is going and why this could matter for future economic development and real estate acro...

A property with a $210,000 ARV. A seller who originally thought she owned 50%. And now she's willing to sell her potential 25% interest for just $7,000.

Would you buy it?

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, Courtney Fricke walks through a real-world curative title lead and breaks down how she analyzes whether a messy ownership problem is actually worth solving.

Courtney breaks down how to build the fact pattern, separate facts from assumptions, determine what an ownership interest is actually worth, and work backward through the potential costs and risks standing between buying the inte...

New Orleans is putting more than 140 vacant properties up for auction, with bidding starting at just $4,000.

But cheap land doesn't necessarily mean a good Real Estate deal.

In this episode of Louisiana Real Estate Talks, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery break down the 2026 New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) property auction and what buyers need to know before placing a bid.

The auction includes more than 100 residential lots throughout New Orleans, along with approximately 40 properties designated for non-housing development options.

We discuss how to evaluate these properties before bidding, why a $4,000 starting...

Can you get into curative title investing with little or no money?

Technically, yes.

But if you're struggling financially and looking at curative title as a low-money, get-rich-quick strategy, I'm not going to hold your hand and lie to you.

Curative title can be a high-risk, high-reward business. Deals may take months or even years to resolve, and while finding the opportunity or acquiring an initial interest can be inexpensive, the cure itself is often where the deal becomes capital intensive.

ATTENTION:

The information shared in this episode is...

Do you need years of real estate experience before getting into curative title investing?

Not necessarily.

But that doesn't mean there isn't a barrier to entry.In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, I break down what I believe actually makes someone qualified to work curative title deals and why years in real estate don't automatically equal competency.

ATTENTION:

The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects personal experiences and opinions. It is not intended as legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Real...

It’s officially been one year since I moved from Louisiana to Florida, but I never stopped investing in Louisiana.

In this episode of Louisiana Real Estate Talks, we flip the microphone and Stephen Keighery interviews me about what the first year has actually looked like.

We talk about starting over in the competitive Tampa Bay real estate market, questioning whether my skills would transfer to a new state, and why I've had to be more cautious investing in Florida than I expected.

We also get into what it takes to continue operating a...

Thinking about making the jump from wholesaling into curative title investing?

You probably have more of a head start than you realize—but some of the habits that work in wholesaling can actually hurt you in curative title.

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, I break down what transfers from wholesaling, what you may need to unlearn, and why curative title requires a deeper level of problem solving, research, patience, and risk analysis.

We cover:

Will the nearly $2 billion Louisiana International Terminal cause property values in St. Bernard Parish to crash or could the massive port project actually increase demand for Real Estate?

That question has become increasingly important for homeowners in Violet, Chalmette, Meraux, and throughout St. Bernard Parish as the LIT project moves closer to becoming a reality.

In this episode of Louisiana Real Estate Talks, Courtney Fricke sits down with St. Bernard Parish Real Estate broker Mike Fernandez of Arpent Realty, who decided to stop guessing and actually look at the data.

Mike studied communities...

Curative title might be one of the hottest niches in real estate investing right now but the problems themselves aren't new.

If you've been investing for any length of time and have actually put in the reps, there's a good chance you've already encountered curative title problems.

You may have even solved a few without realizing that's what you were doing.

In this micro episode of the Messy Money Podcast, Courtney Fricke challenges experienced real estate investors to look backward instead of chasing another new list.

Those old deals that died...

SpaceX coming to Louisiana is no longer just a rumor.

Now the bigger question is: What could one of the largest economic development projects in Louisiana history actually do to Louisiana Real Estate?

In this episode of the Louisiana Real Estate Talks Podcast, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery break down the potential Real Estate impact of SpaceX’s massive new development in Vermilion Parish—and why the effects could eventually stretch well beyond the immediate area.

The announced project represents approximately $100 billion in investment on a 125,000-acre site, with projections for 3,000 direct jobs aver...

A lot of curative title investors are looking for the same thing: The secret list.

The problem is, if someone can hand you a copy-and-paste list of distressed properties, they can probably hand that exact same list to everyone else.

As more investors move into curative title, traditional lead sources like tax delinquency, code enforcement, probate, vacant properties, and foreclosure are only going to become more competitive.

So how do you find curative title opportunities other investors aren't chasing?

You learn how to build your own niche lists.

In...

Louisiana spent years watching insurance companies leave the state. Now, insurers are coming back.

After years of historic premium increases, insurance carrier insolvencies, fewer coverage options, and tens of thousands of Louisiana property owners relying on Citizens, there are finally signs that Louisiana's property insurance market may be stabilizing.

But is the insurance crisis actually getting better?

In this episode of the Louisiana Real Estate Talks podcast, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery break down what they're seeing in the Louisiana property insurance market in 2026 — both across the state and firsthand within their own Re...

If you want to get your first curative title deal, you don't need the perfect list, expensive software, or to understand every complicated legal issue before you start.

You need to start developing the ability to recognize the problems other Real Estate investors overlook.

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, Courtney Fricke breaks down a practical, step-by-step process for finding and pursuing your first curative title opportunity.

Instead of starting with massive lists and trying to scale a strategy you don't understand yet, Courtney walks through how to pick a market...

One of the largest economic development projects in Louisiana just cleared one of its biggest hurdles.The nearly $2 BILLION Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) proposed for Violet, Louisiana, has received the federal permit authorizing construction — bringing the massive St. Bernard Parish port project significantly closer to reality.But what could a project of this size actually mean for St. Bernard Parish, Greater New Orleans, and Louisiana Real Estate?In this episode of the Louisiana Real Estate Talks podcast, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery break down the Louisiana International Terminal, why the project matters to Louisiana's future as a port and lo...

Most people think probate is simply about inheriting Grandma's house.

In reality, probate sits at the center of some of the biggest ownership questions in Florida Real Estate.

Missing heirs.

Orphaned estates.

Vacant properties.

Family disputes.

Unknown owners.

Title problems.

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, I sit down with Florida probate attorney Al Nicoletti to break down what actually happens when someone dies owning Real Estate in Florida.

We discuss how ownership transfers after death, when probate is...

Did Louisiana miss the biggest economic boom in the Gulf South?

Over the last two decades, nearly every Gulf Coast state has experienced significant growth.

Texas became a technology and business powerhouse. Florida attracted millions of new residents and saw explosive Real Estate appreciation. Alabama quietly built one of the strongest aerospace and manufacturing economies in the country. Even Mississippi has seen meaningful growth along its Gulf Coast and throughout key economic sectors.

Meanwhile, Louisiana has struggled with population loss, rising insurance costs, slower appreciation, and questions about long-term economic competitiveness.

...

Most investors hear terms like quitclaim deed, cloud on title, and quiet title action but don't really understand what they mean. In this episode, I break down five of the most common curative title terms every investor should know and explain them in plain English.

What You'll Learn

CHAPTERS FOR THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Why Title Problems Kill Deals
01:12 What Is Fee Simple...

Wholesaling in Louisiana is officially changing.

In this episode of the Louisiana Real Estate Talks podcast, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery break down Louisiana House Bill 468 and what it means for wholesalers, investors, agents, and Real Estate operators across the state beginning August 1, 2026.

This is one of the most important legal and operational changes Louisiana wholesalers have faced in years.

Courtney and Steve walk through what the law actually says, how wholesaling is now legally defined in Louisiana, and what ethical operators need to change moving forward.

READ THE LAW HERE: ht...

In this episode, Courtney Fricke shares some of the most impactful financing lessons she learned from gray-haired mentors who have survived multiple Real Estate market cycles over the last 30, 40, 50, and even 60 years.

While much of modern Real Estate culture focuses on acquisitions, scaling, leverage, and growth, this conversation focuses on something far less talked about: survival.

What actually keeps investors in the game through difficult markets?

What financing structures create peace versus pressure?

Why do some investors survive inflation...

In this episode, Courtney Fricke breaks down the lessons average investors can learn from the reported $15M investor loss tied to a multifamily syndication involving Brandon Turner, Open Door Capital, and Disrupt Equity.

This is not a hit piece. Instead, it’s a deeper conversation about leverage, financing, risk management, and what modern Real Estate culture often gets wrong about scaling.

Courtney walks through:

- What reportedly happened with the deal

- Why financing can kill even operationally successful properties

- The dangers of chasing aggressive returns and “yield sick...

In this episode of the Messy Money podcast, Courtney sits down with Tampa Bay Real Estate investor Joey Long to break down one of the wildest curative probate deals you’ll ever hear.

What started as a vacant house in Joey’s neighborhood quickly turned into a full-blown ownership investigation involving:

- A probate opened on the wrong deceased person

- An enhanced life estate deed

- Multiple marriages and aliases

- Missing heirs across multiple states

- Family disputes

- Dismissed probate actions

...

Is Louisiana heading toward a foreclosure crisis or are we simply watching the market normalize after years of historically low foreclosure activity?

In this episode of Louisiana Real Estate Talks, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery break down the latest foreclosure and mortgage delinquency data impacting Louisiana Real Estate in 2026.

From rising mortgage distress to underwater homeowners, insurance pressure, and the longest foreclosure timelines in America, this episode dives into both the macro data and the real-world conversations happening across kitchen tables throughout Louisiana right now.

Courtney and Steve discuss what they’re personally seei...

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, Courtney Fricke breaks down how she actually finds curative title leads and ownership problem opportunities in today’s Real Estate market.

Instead of chasing the same overcrowded lead lists as everyone else, Courtney explains why some of the best deals come from marketplace inefficiencies, abandoned processes, overlooked public records, and problems other investors simply do not know how to solve.

ATTENTION:The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects personal experiences and opinions. It is not intended as legal, tax, fi...

A recent housing study claiming that St. Tammany Parish may need between 11,500 and 17,300 new housing units by 2030 sparked major debate across South Louisiana.

Some residents see it as proof that affordability has become a serious issue for workers and families trying to live in the parish. Others see it as a warning sign of overdevelopment, worsening traffic, infrastructure strain, and flooding concerns.

So in this episode of Louisiana Real Estate Talks, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery sit down with St. Tammany Parish Council Member Kathy Seiden, one of the leaders involved in initiating the study, to g...

In this episode of the Messy Money Podcast, Courtney sits down with Tampa-based curative title operator Matt Pamfilis for a deep dive into the real mechanics of solving complicated ownership and title problems for profit.

This is not a surface-level conversation.

Matt breaks down real curative deals involving multi-generational heirs, life estates, tax delinquent properties, affidavit of heirship strategies, holdout owners, litigation pressure, and the operational realities of building a curative-focused business.

One of the featured deals involved 10 heirs across multiple generations, hidden title...

Most people think wholesaling is just flipping contracts for quick cash.

But after 250 deals in Louisiana, Steve Keighery says the investors who survive long term think completely differently.

In this episode of the Louisiana Real Estate Talks Podcast, Courtney Fricke sits down with Steve Keighery of Home Buyer Louisiana  and the co-host of this show to break down the real lessons learned from building a wholesale operation in one of the toughest Real Estate markets in America.

Steve shares how he accidentally got into wholesaling after moving from Australia, why his very first in...

What if one of the biggest economic development projects in Louisiana history is quietly unfolding right now?

Rumors have been spreading across South Louisiana about a possible aerospace expansion tied to 100,000+ acres in Vermilion Parish. Some believe it could involve SpaceX or a related space-exploration company. Others think it may be tied to a larger Gulf Coast aerospace strategy already taking shape between Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

In this Louisiana Real Estate Talks episode, Courtney and Steve break down:

Where is the real money made in Real Estate?

In this episode, Courtney breaks down the core concept behind “Messy Money” — the idea that the biggest opportunities in Real Estate don’t come from clean, easy deals, they come from solving complex problems.

After years of investing, Courtney has narrowed down the five types of problems that consistently lead to the most profitable and repeatable deals. And here’s the key: most investors avoid them.

This episode isn’t about chasing the next strategy or copying someone else’s model. It’s about building mastery...

Is St. Tammany Parish really in a housing shortage… or is the situation more complicated than the headlines suggest?

A new 400+ page study claims the parish needs between 11,500 and 17,000 new housing units by 2030—with the majority expected to be rentals. But when you look closer, the data, the market realities, and the local reactions don’t all line up.

In this episode of Louisiana Real Estate Talks, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery break down what the study says, what it might be missing, and what this actually means for investors, homeowners, and the future of the Nort...

Most investors are out here looking for deals but the real money is made by solving problems.

In this episode of Messy Money, Courtney sits down with seasoned investor Adam Johnson to break down a 46-door deal that sat untouched for years. Multiple investors looked at it. No one could make it work.

Until someone approached it differently.

This wasn’t a clean, easy transaction. It involved a long-term master lease, estate planning considerations, and a structure that only made sense if you understood the real problem behind the deal.

This is...

Louisiana is one of the most misunderstood Real Estate markets in the country.

Many out-of-state investors are drawn in by low purchase prices and the promise of cash flow… but quickly realize this market operates very differently than what they’re used to.

In this episode, Courtney Fricke and Stephen Keighery break down the 10 most important things out-of-state investors need to know before investing in Louisiana Real Estate. From flood zones and insurance challenges to legal differences and market dynamics, this is a practical, no-hype conversation designed to help you...

A $5.8 billion Hyundai steel plant and the RiverPlex MegaPark are coming to Ascension Parish and most investors are looking at it the wrong way.

Big economic development projects create headlines. They create excitement. And they attract attention from investors across the country.But they also create confusion.In this episode, Courtney and Steve break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes, how these projects unfold in phases, and what it really means for Real Estate investors on the ground.

From the early construction surge to long-term job creation, th...

In today’s market, a lot of investors are stuck.

Interest rates are higher. Insurance and expenses are rising. Deals don’t “pencil” the way they used to. And because of that, many are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the “perfect” opportunity.

But what if the deals that build the most wealth don’t look perfect at all?

In this episode, Courtney sits down with long-time investor and mentor John Schaub to break down one of his most profitable deals, a property he bought at full...