Building A Rental Portfolio While Working a Full-Time Job With Alana Kern (Ep 553)

Alana Kern is proof that you can build a rental portfolio while working a busy full-time jobShe 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 eventually leave her job and live off rental income. She walks through how much income she believes she’ll need, and what steps she’s taking to get there.Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

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 from his W-2 income.We also dive into his current strategy, why he’s focused on paying down debt, and the real pros and cons of paying off mortgages versus keeping leverage.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode552Matt's Book:Cornfed MillionaireThanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

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 making networking a priority opened doors he didn’t know existed. Zach breaks down the creative financing strategies that fueled his growth, including seller financing, raising money from private investors, and the BRRRR strategy. If you want to see what’s possible when you combine hustle, creativity, and consistent action, Zach’s story is one you don’t want to miss.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode551Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

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 also get into the details of his portfolio, including total rent, mortgage payments, operating expenses, and the cash flow he keeps every month.Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

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 shares why patience is one of the most important skills for investors, why buying too many properties at once can backfire, and why he is very cautious with leverage.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode549Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

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 with unexpected maintenance issues including a roach problem.We also talk about what Preston plans to do differently on his next rental and his best advice for new investors getting ready to buy their first property.Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

Joe Hammel was tired of clocking in at the factory every day, so he decided to bet on himself. He went all in on real estate, and today he earns $10,000 a month in profit from his rentals.On this episode, Joe breaks down exactly how he built his portfolio. We dig into his numbers, the types of properties that are performing best (and which ones to avoid), and the price ranges and locations that are giving him the best returns. Joe also explains why he focuses on total return, not just cash flow, the systems he uses to manage everything efficiently, and how he finances his purchases. Plus, we analyze one of his recent deals.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode547Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

When Michael Atkins got his real estate license, he thought it would be the key to making more money. But after a few months, he realized the income wasn’t consistent. Some months were great, and others he made nothing at all.On this episode, Michael shares how investing in rental properties changed everything. His rental income now covers all his bills, giving him financial stability and the freedom to grow his business without pressure.We talk about how he saved up to buy his first properties, how he structures his income so commissions go straight into savings, and how not needing to make a sale has actually made him a better Realtor.Michael also walks us through one of his deals, how he found it, what he paid, the mortgage and expenses, and how much it cash flows.Plus, we talk about the importance of curb appeal and how small touches can make a big difference in your rental’s performance.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode546Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

Many investors focus on cash flow, but they’re often looking at it the wrong way. In this episode, William Lokar shares a common mistake he sees investors make when analyzing cash flow and explains how to look at your numbers more accurately. He also talks about how understanding the difference between return on investment and return on equity can completely change how you manage and grow your portfolio.William explains how he started as a real estate investor and how he’s built his portfolio over time.He shares what it’s really like to buy a property with tenants already in place, and what he’s learned from managing both long-term rentals and short-term Airbnbs. He also tells the story of a creative way he found one of his best deals, and how thinking outside the box helped him grow faster.Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

Will Radosvich was feeling burned out at work and desperate to retire early. The problem? Most of his money was tied up in a 401(k) that he couldn’t touch for years.Instead of waiting, he decided to create his own path to financial freedom. Will started buying rental properties that produced cash flow, even if it was just a little at first.His second property only made $50 a month, but it taught him the power of steady progress and the importance of learning as he went.In this episode, Will shares how he got started with house hacking, how each property brought him closer to his goal, and how his patience and persistence eventually allowed him to walk away from his job for good. His story proves that sometimes, the slow and steady approach really can lead to early retirement.Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making investment Mortgage process simple and stress-free.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.