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.

In this episode, we walk you through the exact framework we use to run successful rehabs—from small cosmetic flips to full gut jobs. Whether you’re brand new to flipping or scaling your renovation projects, this is the system that keeps our projects on budget, on time, and profitable.

We break down how we determine scope, organize trades, avoid common contractor delays, and create detailed estimates—before swinging a single hammer. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by rehab planning, or struggled with unknowns mid-project, this episode gives you the step-by-step clarity you need.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] – Intro to the Rehab Masterplan and why you need one

[1:04] – The first thing we do before building a budget

[1:58] – Walkthrough videos: how they help you quote fast and accurately

[2:40] – Why order of operations is critical to avoid job site chaos

[3:20] – Our template: flooring, paint, kitchens, baths, HVAC, etc.

[4:35] – Creating line items with quantities and prices

[5:08] – How we group scopes for labor bidding efficiency

[6:27] – What we include in our full estimate (line by line)

[7:01] – Avoiding scope creep with early decision-making

[7:49] – The “wants vs. needs” list and why it protects your budget

[8:35] – Adding 15–20% contingency to every project

[9:12] – Why you need multiple crews or backup labor plans

[9:44] – Coordinating permits, inspections, and timelines

[10:31] – Why material pre-orders save time and money

[11:22] – What to document weekly to avoid miscommunication

[12:04] – How to evaluate when to DIY vs. outsource

[12:51] – Sample budget breakdown from one of our flips

[14:18] – The key numbers we track on every project

[15:07] – How this plan fits into the larger BRRRR or flip model

[16:03] – Final thoughts on being proactive vs. reactive in rehabbing

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Start with a detailed scope video—before bringing in a crew.

2. Pre-plan your order of operations to avoid costly delays.

3. Budget line-by-line with both labor and material separated.

4. Scope creep kills profit—know your “needs vs. wants” up front.

5. Always build in a contingency—15–20% protects your margin.

If this episode helped you simplify your next rehab, be sure to rate and review The Real Estate Ride. And don’t forget to share it with a friend who needs a better game plan on their next flip.

In this episode, I share a very personal and practical walkthrough of how Jay and I built our real estate business around our life—not the other way around. If you’re working 60+ hours a week, struggling with boundaries, or feeling like your business is your entire identity, this conversation is for you. I unpack how vision, boundaries, and intentional scheduling gave us our time back—and how you can do the same.

This isn’t theory. It’s what actually helped us go from 80-hour weeks to 12 weeks off per year, from chaos to clarity. I also break down one simple but powerful calendar exercise that changed everything for our family, our marriage, and our business.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] – Why vision matters before business even begins

[1:13] – Our life before: Jay working 80 hours, 4 young kids, no balance

[2:07] – Realizing we needed to design our life and business together

[3:11] – The myth of hustle: why boundaries are more powerful

[4:34] – When you’re always available, you’re never fully present

[5:18] – How overwhelm sneaks in when you lack clarity

[6:10] – Why we plan our lives like people plan weddings or funerals

[7:03] – The calendar exercise: your week, your way

[8:12] – My top 3 non-negotiables for our family and business

[9:59] – You don’t need a full-time hire—start small

[10:39] – The shift that brought back Friday night date nights

[12:30] – Reframing client expectations and reclaiming time

[13:20] – Time is more valuable than money—and it’s non-refundable

[14:08] – Knowing your “genius zone” and outsourcing the rest

[16:03] – Starting with $9/hr help and getting more life back

[17:05] – If you have a day job, here’s how to start your RE biz

[18:20] – Find others who’ve built the life you want—and study them

[19:13] – Tell someone your goal. Accountability changes everything

[20:07] – Challenging the 9–5 mindset: why wait 40 years to live?

[21:03] – Coaching, meetups, masterminds—we use them all

[24:00] – How we went from burnout to 25-hour workweeks

[25:27] – Our yearly reset using the “Wheel of Life”

[27:00] – My audacious fitness goal—and what it taught me about vision

[29:08] – Reverse engineering your goals into daily steps

[30:02] – How we stay connected to our vision daily

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Don’t build a business that breaks your life. Design both together.

2. Clarity and boundaries are the secret to reclaiming your time.

3. You don’t need full-time hires—start with just a few hours a week.

4. Your calendar reveals your values. Block the time that matters.

5. A strong vision gives every task meaning—and prevents burnout.

If this episode gave you clarity, please share it with someone who’s in the thick of hustle. And don’t forget to rate, review, and follow The Real Estate Ride—it helps us keep bringing you raw, real, and helpful conversations like this one.

In this episode, we break down the 7 critical factors we evaluate before buying a flip—regardless of the market, neighborhood, or exit strategy. This is the exact checklist we use before making any flip offer, and it’s packed with lessons we’ve learned from doing this for over two decades.

If you’re trying to avoid costly mistakes, surprise delays, or deals that turn into dead weight, this one’s a must-listen. We share stories from past flips that didn’t go as planned, and exactly how to budget, inspect, and plan better on your next project.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] – What this episode is about: the 7 things we check before every flip

[0:25] – Why you don’t want to flip next to a hoarder house

[1:13] – How one neighbor’s mess cost us two years of rent delays

[2:16] – Neighborhood red flags: crime, sex offenders, and neglected yards

[3:50] – How to budget for fences, landscaping, and visual barriers

[4:20] – Rental-heavy neighborhoods: flip them or skip them?

[5:08] – Rehab timelines: why speed and neighborhood trends matter

[6:00] – What delays gas, power, or inspections—and how to avoid it

[6:52] – Holding costs, contractor availability, and supply chain issues

[7:48] – Why you need a 15% cushion for unknowns

[8:04] – Coordinating trades and managing a reliable project schedule

[9:25] – Are you acting as the GC—or paying someone who is?

[10:17] – How to add value through layout changes and creative renovations

[11:39] – Turning formal dining rooms into master suites

[12:00] – Creative additions: patios, garages, and mini-splits

[12:36] – Checking the comps: how many, how recent, how similar?

[13:37] – What finishes and photos tell you about the local market

[14:30] – Days on market, pricing trends, and market timing

[15:00] – Your action step: pull a property and evaluate it today

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Always walk the neighborhood—don’t just look at the house.

2. Rehabs take longer (and cost more) than your contractor promises.

3. Plan for surprises—behind every wall could be termites or worse.

4. Don’t assume you can flip anywhere—comps and neighbors matter.

5. A 15% contingency and strong scheduling will save your profit.

Links & Resources:

• Tools mentioned: Zillow, Rentometer, MLS, Realtor.com

• More on our process: JayAndAnnieAdkins.com

If you found this episode helpful, share it with a friend, rate it, and leave a quick review. Every flip starts with a smart buy—use this checklist before you commit.

In this episode, we sit down for a strategy session about the bigger picture: where we’re going, why we’re focusing on Ohio, and how we plan to grow intentionally in 2025. We lay out our full business model—including flipping, long-term rentals, short-term rentals, and how we’re layering in our construction team, admin support, and boots-on-the-ground leadership.

If you’ve ever wanted to hear the inner workings of a real estate business as it scales—this is your inside look. From how we structure deals to how we delegate tasks, this is the blueprint we’re building right now. Transparent, strategic, and full of hard-earned lessons.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] – What the “Masterplan of Ohio” really means to us

[0:57] – Reinvesting into infrastructure: construction, admin, systems

[1:38] – Our current business model: flips, STRs, LTRs, and project management

[2:11] – Using our own crews and how that changes our margins

[2:55] – Why 2025 is about intentional, controlled growth

[3:48] – Assigning leads and ownership across departments

[4:36] – Systems we’re using to manage more deals without more chaos

[5:23] – Building a pipeline of consistent leads through organic methods

[6:13] – Strategic use of project managers on-site

[7:02] – Why we’re focused on stabilizing internal operations before expanding

[8:08] – How new team members are stepping into leadership roles

[9:01] – Delegating with purpose: why we’re no longer doing it all ourselves

[9:56] – Final thoughts on scale, clarity, and planning forward

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Scaling starts with systems. If you can’t delegate it, you can’t grow it.

2. Organic marketing still works—especially when it’s consistent.

3. You don’t need more deals, you need better infrastructure.

4. Focus on one market, one vision, and build outward with clarity.

5. Put the right people in the right roles—and then get out of their way.

If you got value from this episode, take 30 seconds to rate, review, and follow The Real Estate Ride. It helps more people learn how to grow smarter—not just faster.

In this episode, we walk you through one of our most talked-about creative financing deals—where we acquired a house for just $10. That’s right. Ten dollars. No bank, no credit check, no traditional financing—and still a solid, cash-flowing property.

We break down the story behind the deal, the problems the seller faced, how we negotiated terms, and how we used our BRRRR Master Plan to turn this into a cash-producing rental. This is a real-world example of how creative real estate works, even if you don’t have a ton of cash or perfect credit. You’ll hear exactly what we paid, how we structured the deal, and what the end result looked like.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] – Intro to the $10 house case study

[0:32] – No credit checks, no bank—how we got the property

[0:57] – The BRRRR Master Plan we use with our students

[1:49] – Overview of the deal structure and terms

[2:12] – What made this a “creative financing” opportunity

[3:16] – Property details: 3-bed, 1-bath, detached garage, B-class area

[4:05] – How a family connection led to this off-market deal

[4:55] – Why the seller didn’t want to deal with the property anymore

[5:47] – Seller concerns and how we addressed them (taxes, repairs, insurance)

[7:13] – Getting bank approval to take over the loan

[8:49] – Deferring $2,000 to closing instead of upfront payment

[9:06] – Our multi-exit strategy approach: flip, rent, wholesale

[10:16] – Light repairs and added equity: what we did and spent

[11:11] – Option to sell with a lease option tenant-buyer

[12:42] – Total costs, income, and profit breakdown

[13:14] – The lease option strategy and how we qualify tenants

[14:09] – Timeline: from acquisition to rent-ready in under 90 days

[14:54] – The A-Team that made this deal possible

[15:19] – Importance of title searches and legal review

[16:38] – How we use the MLS, Rentometer, and market tools

[17:52] – Why we built our own construction company (and why you don’t have to)

[18:57] – Our admin team and the systems behind our scale

[20:25] – How we market properties across multiple channels

[21:16] – Tools we use to manage leads and applicants

[22:07] – Invitation to join our real estate community

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Creative financing lets you buy without banks, credit, or cash—if you solve the seller’s problem.

2. Always have multiple exit strategies in mind before committing to a deal.

3. A strong team (title company, attorney, contractors) is essential to move fast and stay compliant.

4. Lease options can provide upfront income and a path to long-term profit.

5. Systems and tools are the secret to scaling without burnout.

   
   

If this episode opened your eyes to what’s possible with creative deals, please subscribe, rate, and share The Real Estate Ride. We’re here to help you take that next step—one smart deal at a time.