Texas real estate investing is defined by its lack of state income tax, which shifts the financial burden to an aggressive property tax system. Understanding these mechanics is the first step in ensuring your portfolio remains profitable.

• Property Tax Reality: Expect to pay between 2% and 3.5% of a property's value annually in property taxes. Because there is no state income tax, local governments rely on these funds for schools and services.

• Protesting is Mandatory: Every May, owners can protest their appraised values at the County Appraisal District (CAD). Most successful investors hire professional firms to handle this automatically to ensure they aren't overpaying.

• Asset Protection: Utilizing a Series LLC is highly recommended in Texas. This allows you to separate multiple properties into different "cells" under one umbrella, protecting your personal assets without the cost of 30 separate LLCs.

• The Homestead Limit: You cannot claim a homestead exemption on an investment property; this benefit is strictly for your primary residence.
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• The Texas Triangle: The region between Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio contains 70% of the state’s population and is considered the safest bet for long-term demand.

• Secondary Markets: With prices rising in major metros, many 2026 investors are looking toward secondary markets like Killeen, Temple, or New Braunfels for better entry points.

• Foundation Concerns: Due to expansive clay soil, foundation issues are common. Always ask if a foundation has been leveled and if there is a transferable warranty.

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• The 1% Rule Shift: In 2026, the traditional 1% rule (where rent equals 1% of purchase price) is difficult to find in Texas. Many investors are now targeting 0.7% to 0.8%, though sticking closer to 1% is still preferred to avoid overpaying.

• DSCR Loans: Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans are popular because they qualify based on the property’s rent rather than the investor's personal income. These typically require a 20% down payment.

• Fast Evictions: Texas is a landlord-friendly state where the eviction process typically takes only 30 to 45 days from the initial notice to the writ of possession.

Success in Texas often comes down to what you don't do. One of the biggest pitfalls for new investors is "over-rehabbing" a property. While it’s tempting to install custom finishes, sticking to simple updates like paint, carpet, and standard GE or LG appliances ensures you don't eat into your cash flow. Additionally, be wary of HOA "trapdoors" by verifying if there are rental caps in the neighborhood before you buy.

Texas remains the "best place to buy, own, and invest," but it requires a disciplined approach to the math and a deep respect for the local laws. Whether you are navigating the high-heat summers that drive up HVAC costs or calculating your tax redemption periods, being informed is your greatest asset. Stay smart, don't over-rehab, and keep your eye on the cash flow.

Watch the original VIDEO HERE!

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Good morning! Look, it is absolutely freezing here in Austin, Texas. We are talking 18 degrees, which basically means the entire state shuts down because—let’s be honest—nobody here knows how to drive on ice. So, while the roads are slick, we are chilling inside where the coffee is hot, and the deals are even hotter.

If you missed our massive livestream this past Saturday, don’t worry. We spent over two hours breaking down a tape of 3,067 non-performing first liens. But for today’s coaching call, I wanted to peel back the onion a little further. We are doing a deep dive specifically into the remaining 200+ Texas assets. Why Texas? Because it’s the fastest foreclosure state in the country, and when you combine speed with equity, you find the magic.

In this episode, I’m walking you through my exact process of filtering a massive spreadsheet—hiding the columns that don’t matter (looking at you, "QM Flags") and highlighting the ones that equal profit. We take a serious look at a specific asset in Tyler, Texas. This isn't just looking at numbers; we become digital detectives. We look at the borrower's emotional equity (solar panels and garden gnomes count!), the "Zillow Zombie" values, and even do a Google search that reveals the heartbreaking backstory of why the borrower likely defaulted.

We also tackle the difference between chasing "Subject To" deals versus buying the Non-Performing Note. Spoiler alert: You aren't getting a massive discount on a note that is only 90 days late. We run the math on calculating yields, determining legal balances, and deciding when to aim for a re-performing note versus when to accept that a property is headed for foreclosure (like a massive upside-down property we found in Dripping Springs).

In this episode, we cover:

• The Texas Deep Freeze: Why staying off the icy Austin roads is the best investment decision you can make today.
• The 3,000 Note Breakdown: A recap of the massive tape we analyzed on Saturday and where to find the remaining opportunities.
• Geographic Breakdown: Mapping out opportunities from the Panhandle to the Valley, including Dallas, Houston, and the Piney Woods.
• Spreadsheet Mastery: How to filter data efficiently—calculating estimated legal balances, equity percentages, and hiding useless columns.
• The Tyler, Texas Case Study: A full breakdown of a property with 82% equity, analyzing photos, tax records, and potential 17-19% cash-on-cash returns.
• The "Human" Element: How a simple Google search revealed a borrower's personal tragedy and how that informs our strategy.
• Bankruptcy & Foreclosure Plays: Analyzing a deal in Montgomery, TX involving a bankruptcy plan, and a luxury builder home in Dripping Springs that is $200k upside down.
• Sub2 vs. NPN: Why buying the note makes more sense than a Subject To deal when the borrower is 6+ months behind.
• Texas Foreclosure Trends: A look at Roddy’s List and current numbers in Travis, Bexar, Dallas, and Harris counties.

Look, it might be 20 degrees outside, but these yields are keeping us warm. Whether you are looking to get a borrower back on track with a modification or taking a property back in a fast foreclosure state, the opportunity is right there in the data. You just have to know how to filter for it.

Watch the Original Video of this Episode HERE!

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Kicking off 2026, I’m spotlighting an investor who’s quietly becoming a force in one of the most overlooked corners of real estate: mobile home parks and affordable housing. In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda Cruise of Voyage Investing, a consistent educator on LinkedIn who backs up her content with real deals and real numbers.

Amanda’s path into mobile home parks wasn’t linear. She started in a traditional career track with a background in chemistry and statistics, moved into the corporate world at Capital One, and then pivoted hard into real estate. After realizing she “sucked at managing contractors” on heavy renovation projects, she went looking for a more scalable, less chaotic strategy—and found it in mobile home parks.

We dig into why Amanda believes MHPs are one of the best risk-adjusted plays in today’s market. She explains how they provide stable, high-demand affordable housing with less volatility than many multifamily assets, and how targeting mom-and-pop owners of smaller (sub-100-lot) parks creates consistent acquisition opportunities. These are often owners who are simply tired of managing tenants and collecting rent door-to-door.

Amanda also breaks down the real levers for adding value beyond just raising rents. She walks through the impact of basic but powerful upgrades—paving roads, adding or upgrading mailboxes, cleaning up common areas, and infilling vacant lots with new homes—to significantly increase income and overall park valuation. On the capital side, she shares how she structures deals with a mix of bank loans, seller financing, and private lenders (often at 10% annual interest, paid monthly) to sometimes achieve near 100% loan-to-cost and accelerate equity growth.

Finally, Amanda doesn’t sugarcoat the pitfalls. We talk about the importance of physically walking every park-owned home, why certain utilities and wastewater treatment setups can be deal-killers, and how consistent, professional follow-up with owners is one of the biggest competitive advantages investors overlook. If you’re looking for scalable, recession-resistant, impact-driven investments that generate strong cash flow, this conversation is a must-listen. Connect with Amanda at voyageinvesting.com and follow her on LinkedIn to watch how she’s executing this strategy in real time.

Watch the Original Video of this Episode HERE!

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Connect with Scott on LinkedIn here!

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Good morning, afternoon, and good evening, real estate investors! Scott Carson here, ready to tackle the burning questions keeping you up at night. I asked Google's Gemini AI for the 20 most frequently asked questions by new real estate investors. If you're wondering how much money you really need to start, if your real estate license is just collecting dust, or why you should never chase appreciation alone, you've come to the right place. There are no dumb questions, folks – only the ones you don't ask that end up costing you three times what they should!

I’ve been doing this for over two decades (and still look damn good for it!), so trust me when I say we’re cutting through the BS to give you the practical answers you need to stop making rookie mistakes and start building serious wealth.

Here’s what we uncovered in this jam-packed investor Q&A:

• Foundation & Strategy for Serious Wealth: Get real answers on starting capital (yes, "no money down" exists, but so does 20%+ for traditional buys!), the critical choice between cash flow vs. appreciation (always prioritize cash flow, you heathens!), and why you probably don't need a real estate license to invest.
• Cracking the Code: Analysis & Math That Matters: Demystify investor jargon like "cap rate" (buy high, sell low!), "cash on cash return" (it's about net profit!), and "ARV" (After Repair Value, not "as-is" BS). Learn how to accurately estimate repair costs by talking to three different pros (not just your buddy's cousin!).
• Navigating Financing & Legal Landmines: Understand the golden rule: NEVER buy investment property in your own name (LLC or bust!). We break down the best loan types for beginners (FHA/VA for primary, DSCR for investment), how rising interest rates affect your strategy, and what those sneaky closing costs actually include.
• Operations & Management: Keeping Your Sanity: Decide whether to DIY or hire a property manager (especially if you're out of state!). Learn how to screen for "perfect tenants" (spoiler: it's not a magical unicorn) and what to do if a tenant stops paying rent (hello, eviction process!).
• Scaling Up: Out-of-State & BRRRR Strategy: Explore if investing out of state is right for you, and get the lowdown on the popular BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) strategy – and why rising costs mean it might not work as well as it used to (so check your numbers, buttercup!).

We all started somewhere, putting our underwear on one leg at a time! The biggest secret to success? Joining your local real estate investment club (REIA) and asking questions. Don't be that person who learns the hard way. If you've got questions I didn't hit, reach out at talkwithscottcarson.com – I might just do an episode (or a coaching session) on it! Go out, take some action, everybody, and we'll see you at the top!

#RealEstateInvesting #NewInvestors #InvestorFAQs #CashFlow #Appreciation #LLCforRealEstate #PropertyManagement #BRRRRStrategy #RealEstateAdvice #RealEstateEducation #TexasRealEstate #InvestmentProperty #Podcast

Watch the Original Video of this Episode HERE!

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening, everybody! Scott Carson here, and I'm ready to kick off 2026 by tackling a question I get constantly: "How do I raise private capital when I've only got $19?" This isn't about wishing for a magic cheat code or waiting for Moby Dick to show up with a half-billion-dollar fund. This episode is about the real, raw, mental game of raising money, and how to pump up those "money muscles" (yes, I like that hashtag!).

I dove into the AI well (Chatbot, Gemini, all the cool kids) to get the straight goods on the top 10 marketing strategies for attracting private money. But let's be real, folks: these tools mean squat if you're not playing the mental game right. Stop being a "wallflower" at events or thinking you're "begging for money." You're offering opportunity, and it's time to act like it!

Here’s your no-nonsense guide to pumping up your private capital:

• Conquer the "Mental Money Block": Ditch the fear of "begging" and embrace the fact you're offering opportunity. Remember the "80% of sales after the fifth contact" rule – consistency, not desperation, wins!
• The AI-Approved Marketing Arsenal: Get the top 10 strategies (straight from the internet's brain!) for attracting investors: from compelling pitch decks and one-page summaries to killer case studies and targeted email newsletters.
• Your Email List is Your Gold Mine: Why owning your audience through your email database and an investor newsletter (like LinkedIn's, which hits their inbox!) is your most valuable asset, far more reliable than fickle social media platforms.
• ABM (Always Be Marketing) & Momentum: Learn why consistent daily/weekly marketing activities – whether it's short videos, email blasts, or networking – are crucial. You can't build "money muscles" by only hitting the gym once a month!
• Networking Ain't a Spectator Sport: Stop hiding! Show up at local investor clubs, ask questions, and be ready with your pitch deck. Investors fund people they know, like, and trust, not anonymous logos or people glued to their phones in the corner.

This isn't about an overnight transformation (unless you "cut a leg off" to lose 50lbs!). It's about consistent action. If you want different results in 2026, you gotta do different things. And guess what? Most of you are smarter and more educated than 99% of people out there – so start sharing your "gold" (deal flow, expertise)! Don't let your "perfect" stand in the way of "delivered."

If you're ready to get off the sidelines and into the game, join me at our upcoming workshop (notebuyingfordummies.com) or book a call (talkwithscottcarson.com). Let's make 2026 your most profitable year!

Watch the original VIDEO HERE!

#PrivateCapital #RealEstateInvesting #NoteInvesting #CapitalRaising #InvestorMarketing #AIMarketing #FinancialFreedom #Networking #Podcast #MoneyMuscles #PitchDeck #EmailMarketing #Consistency

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening, everybody! Happy New Year! It's 2026, and despite "feeling like ass" with a nasty flu, I'm fired up to share our 3-pronged attack strategy for the year ahead. History's repeating itself, folks: distressed real estate is on the rise, from residential notes to commercial defaults. Texas (and Florida's "errors") are hotspots, and opportunity knocks for those willing to roll up their sleeves!

Forget 3% mortgages; people are tapping equity at 7% to survive, meaning more distressed assets hitting the market. Austin's getting a little too "hectic" with its "Democratic socialists" for my taste, so we're looking to South Texas for some probate action! This isn't just theory; it's our tactical approach to turn chaos into cash flow.

Here’s our battle plan for conquering distressed real estate in 2026:

• Non-Performing Notes & Strategic Sub-To Deals: We're targeting non-performing notes we can buy cheap enough for big checks or 12%+ cash flow. If not, we pivot to subject-to acquisitions with borrowers who have 20%+ equity, saving them from foreclosure while we pick up solid assets (using legal Texas wrap-arounds or lease options).
• South Texas Probate Power Plays: As Austin gets "not nice," we're diving deep into direct mail campaigns for probate deals in South Texas, aiming to scoop up properties from families who just want to move on.
• Capitalizing on Distressed Property & Borrower Engagement: Learn how we're reactivating direct marketing campaigns and old websites to find distressed properties, engaging directly with homeowners to help them avoid a credit-crushing foreclosure.
• The Unsung Hero: Consistent Marketing & Capital Raising: Discover why "consistency" is my word for 2026. Without it, you're a "ghost." We'll talk about effective social media (LinkedIn's good, Facebook's a "dumpster fire"), email lists, and why January-March are prime months for networking to raise capital.
• Why You Need to Take Action (Seriously!): This isn't a hobby; it's a business. Whether it's funding delinquencies or light rehab, you'll need capital. And if you've got a killer case study or a burning topic, reach out – we love to feature badasses closing deals!

This isn't about sitting back and waiting; it's about leaning into the storm and finding the gold. If you're ready to stop getting "hobby results" and want to turn distressed properties into real wealth, it's time to act. Don't be a stranger – book a call at talkwithscottcarson.com, text me at (512) 585-3810, or join our Note Buying for Dummies workshop in Austin (notebuyingfordummies.com – includes a spouse/partner, so no excuses!). Go out, take some action, everybody, and we'll see you at the top!

#RealEstateInvesting #DistressedRealEstate #NonPerformingNotes #SubjectTo #ProbateInvesting #TexasRealEstate #RealEstateStrategy #CashFlow #InvestorMindset #2026Goals #RealEstateMarketing #Podcast

Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!

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Good morning, afternoon, and good evening, everybody! Scott Carson here, jacked up to introduce you to a creative financing wizard who’s making serious lemonade out of lemons: the head honcho over at Wrap Academy, Philip Louden! If you’ve been feeling like a hamster on a wheel in the "wholesaling hustle" or dreaming of financial freedom beyond the 40-hour work week, Philip's story is your beacon of hope.

From digital nomad to debt dominator, Philip cracked the code on building sustainable, passive wealth through wraps, lease options, and seller financing. He's ditched the "always starting from zero" grind of wholesaling for a system that consistently delivers cash flow, leveraging an "opportunistic" mindset and an understanding that the market's always shifting, not stopping. This episode is your ticket to escaping the rat race and truly designing your lifestyle!

Here’s how Philip Louden helps investors build cash flow and freedom:

• Wholesaling vs. Wraps: The Scalability Showdown: Discover why Philip traded the "at war" feeling of transactional wholesaling for the scalable, passive cash flow of wraps and seller financing, turning $5-7k flips into $150k+ long-term profits.
• "Blue Ocean" Deal Sourcing & Automation: Learn how Philip finds his golden geese, from direct-to-seller (distressed, probate, pre-foreclosure) to agents, and now primarily leveraging wholesalers who bring him deals, automating the acquisitions process to free up his time.
• Targeting for Cash Flow & Equity: Uncover Philip's strategy for aiming for a minimum of $400-500 in monthly cash flow, often securing $700-800+, through "affordable housing" in C-class neighborhoods, creating massive equity cushions and minimizing risk.
• Creative Structuring: From Sub-To to the "Jacket Strategy": Get insights into his deal structuring, including taking over mortgages, negotiating seller financing, and the "jacket strategy" (BRRR + Wrap) to create significant equity and cash flow, even in today's market.
• The Wrap Academy Advantage: Learn how his community helps investors cut through "shiny object syndrome," master this passive exit strategy, and build a portfolio delivering $10k+ in monthly cash flow, offering hands-on coaching and resources for repeatable success.

Philip is living proof that you don't need a million bucks to get started, just a smart strategy and the guts to build your own damn prison (just kidding, it's a freedom machine!). If you're ready to make a whole lot of lemonade out of other people's lemons, this is the episode for you.

Check out Wrapacademy.net for his next master class and start your journey to true financial independence! Go out, take some action, and we'll see you at the top!

Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!

Got Questions? Book a Call With Scott HERE!

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn here!

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Happy, happy Friday, real estate investors! This first week of January has been wild, and I’m buzzing with news that's going to make your distressed-asset-loving heart sing. Forget New Year's hangovers; we just landed a list of over 4,200 distressed mortgages across the entire freakin' United States! This isn't just a list; it's a goldmine of opportunity, whether you're a note ninja, a sub-to specialist, or just looking to dive into the "sexy side" of real estate.

From 90-day defaults to 2+ years of delinquency, these first-lien, owner-occupied notes are ripe for the picking. We're talking hundreds of assets in Texas, Florida, California, and every other major market you can imagine. This isn't just about notes; it's about unlocking multiple exit strategies for any investor willing to get their hands dirty!

Here’s your VIP pass to the distressed mortgage party:

• The Motherlode of Distress: We've uncovered over 4,200 first-lien, owner-occupied distressed mortgages nationwide, from slight defaults to severely delinquent situations.
• Multiple Exit Strategies, One List: Whether you're eyeing non-performing notes, lucrative REOs, subject-to deals, or non-qualified assumptions, this list is your all-in-one resource.
• Cherry-Pick Your Profits: This isn't an all-or-nothing game! Cherry-pick individual assets that fit your buy box, or go big with multi-million dollar pools. (Warning: We're making offers on a huge chunk, so act fast!)
• Nationwide Goldmine: While Texas, Florida, and California are popping off, this list covers every state, ensuring there's distressed property opportunity no matter where you invest.
• Exclusive Live Access: Join me live on Monday, January 12th, at 7 PM Central for a special Zoom webinar. We'll go through the list, answer your questions, and you'll get your hands on this game-changing list just for attending!

Folks, 2026 is kicking off with a bang, and distressed real estate is where the action is. If you're tired of hearing about opportunities after they're gone, this is your chance to get in early. RSVP now at NoteNightInAmerica.com – bring your questions, your coffee, and your ambition. Let's make 2026 the year you truly level up your portfolio. Go out, take some action, and I'll see you Monday night!

#DistressedMortgages #RealEstateInvesting #NoteInvesting #SubjectTo #REO #NonPerformingNotes #RealEstateDeals #Foreclosure #InvestorOpportunity #TexasRealEstate #FloridaRealEstate #CaliforniaRealEstate #WealthBuilding

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