In this episode, Jay and I break down exactly who’s on our real estate investment dream team—and why having the right people in the right seats has been key to scaling our business. From contractors and lenders to attorneys and agents, we walk through every role we rely on to flip, buy, rehab, and manage rentals efficiently.

We also talk through how we vet team members, how we use personality assessments to match people to the right jobs, and why you don’t need to do everything (or hire full-time) to build momentum. Whether you’re just starting or ready to scale, this episode gives you the blueprint for building a support system that frees up your time and grows your bottom line.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] – Why we’re sharing our team structure and how it helped us surpass our 2024 goals

[1:12] – Your time’s highest and best use: start there

[2:03] – The difference between hiring and strategically outsourcing

[3:09] – Using DISC and Predictive Index to assign the right roles

[4:25] – Core roles in your REI team: who we rely on every day

[5:44] – Attorneys: eviction, litigation, contracts, trusts, and why you need all 4

[6:59] – Mortgage lenders and creative financing partners

[8:02] – Title companies: what they do and why they’re critical

[9:31] – Hard money and private lenders: how we structure these deals

[11:12] – Contractors and trades: how to vet, test, and protect yourself

[12:49] – Why we use U-Haul over dumpsters for cleanouts

[13:55] – Property managers and their role in systematizing rentals

[14:38] – Local realtors and off-market lead sources

[15:49] – Our Facebook group and networking: finding your people

[16:32] – You don’t need full-time hires—just reliable, aligned partners

[17:20] – How this team structure keeps our business scalable

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Your time is your most valuable asset—build a team so you can protect it.

2. Use personality tools to place people in the roles they’ll thrive in.

3. You don’t need a huge payroll—just reliable pros in the right seats.

4. Creative financing partners and attorneys are non-negotiables.

5. Your network is your shortcut—connect, post, ask, and stay visible.

If this episode helped you rethink how to structure your business, rate, review, and follow The Real Estate Ride. Don’t go it alone—build your A-team and scale with confidence.

In this episode, Jay and I reflect on how our vision for life and business has evolved—and how we intentionally build a real estate business that fuels our freedom, not just our finances. We unpack how thinking creatively about resources, like boat or airplane clubs, shifted our mindset away from ownership and toward lifestyle design.

This conversation dives into why your calendar should reflect your values, how to move closer to your ideal life using “waypoints,” and why waiting for retirement isn’t the answer. We also talk candidly about creating multiple streams of income and real-life examples from our community of how people are aligning their goals with their daily choices.

Episode Timeline:

[0:01] – Why time—not money—is the most valuable asset

[0:42] – How our vision work turned dreams into actual calendar items

[1:59] – The boat ownership mindset shift and what we learned from boat clubs

[3:07] – Why we started exploring airplane clubs instead of private plane ownership

[5:27] – What this all has to do with designing a life that fits you—not the other way around

[8:02] – Our “Florida test run” and using waypoints to validate vision

[11:04] – Case study: laundromats, seller financing, and building cash flow creatively

[13:35] – Setting health goals with measurable steps and long-term focus

[15:28] – Short-term rental strategy targeting travel nurses

[18:44] – Why we prefer paying interest to individuals over banks

[25:01] – A discussion on hedge funds, portfolio debt, and what we’re seeing in the market

[33:59] – Comparing your income to others—and the real definition of success

[36:39] – Building multiple businesses and staying focused on your version of wealth

[43:48] – How a camping trip in Hawaii became a lesson in resourcefulness

[45:21] – Final encouragement: calendar your vision, write it like it’s already happened

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Design your business to serve your life—not the other way around.

2. Waypoints help you test your big dreams before going all in.

3. You don’t have to own everything—use clubs, rentals, and partnerships to live your vision now.

4. Creative cash-flowing assets (like laundromats or STRs) can support long-term freedom.

5. Writing your vision as if it already happened helps it become real.

If this episode helped you reframe how you think about time, income, and lifestyle design—please rate and review The Real Estate Ride, and don’t forget to share it with someone who’s ready to start building freedom today.

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

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

Episode Timeline:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Key Takeaways:

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

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

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

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

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

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