How A Barber Built Financial Freedom With Rentals With Dennis Balonze (Ep 519)

David and Rachel Sugg are living proof that you don’t need to start with a ton of money to build a life of freedom through real estate.In this episode, they share their incredible journey of walking away from their W2 jobs and building a rental portfolio that gives them both financial independence and the freedom to travel and live life on their own terms.They break down the creative strategies they used to maximize income on each property—like converting single-family homes into sober living group houses, running short-term rentals, and house hacking.You’ll hear how they got started with very little capital, how they identified good deals in the right neighborhoods, and how they built a relationship with a lender who helped them scale.David and Rachel are not just investors—they’re problem-solvers. They’ve figured out how to stretch every dollar, find opportunities others overlook, and build a business that supports the life they want.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode528Thanks 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)

In this episode, Scott Curry shares the tough lessons from his first rental property—where things went wrong and how he turned it around. We break down what he learned, what he's doing differently now, and why he’s focused on 5-bedroom homes with land.Scott talks about the pros and cons of buying larger properties, how he manages tenant responsibilities like lawn care, and why land has become a key part of his strategy.We also dive into his journey of buying raw land and transforming it into a profitable RV park—from acquisition costs to setup, income, expenses, and how to know if a piece of land has potential. potential.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode527Thanks 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)

Kevin Karagias shares why he isn’t worried about today’s cash flow. Instead, he’s playing the long game—buying properties he knows will pay off as rents rise, values appreciate, and tenants pay down his mortgages.Kevin walks us through his portfolio and the key factors he looks for in a neighborhood. He also explains how he reinvests his cash flow to accelerate his growth, and why he believes time is the real secret to building wealth with rentals.We also dig into a hot debate: 15-year vs. 30-year mortgages. Kevin breaks down the pros and cons of each and how he decided which Is the best option for him.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode526Thanks 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)

Larry Myer has been investing in rental properties for more than 40 years — and he’s seen it all.In this conversation, Larry shares the lessons that have stood the test of time, the mistakes he’s learned from, and the strategies that still work today.We talk about how a mentor helped him get started in the right direction and why having someone to guide you can be a game-changer in real estate.Larry also dives into a unique strategy he’s been using lately — buying fire-damaged homes. He explains how he finds these deals, what to watch out for, and how he turns them into profitable rentals.Throughout the episode, Larry shares practical advice for investors at all stages. He talks about the importance of becoming an expert in one specific area, the type of property he recommends for first-time investors, and why you don’t need a massive portfolio to be successful.He also breaks down some of the most common myths in real estate — and what actually matters if you want long-term results.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode525

In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Hutnik, a Realtor who took his career to the next level—and used it as a launchpad for financial freedom.Kevin shares how he focused on mastering his real estate sales business, increased his income through commissions, and then took a disciplined approach: saving those checks to buy rental properties with cash.We delve into the mindset behind owning properties free and clear, and why that provides Kevin with a deep sense of financial security. He breaks down the numbers: how much rent he collects, what typical expenses look like, and what kind of cash flow he’s bringing in each month.Recently, Kevin has shifted gears and begun using DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loans to expand his portfolio more quickly.We discuss why he made that pivot and what he's learned from the process. Plus, Kevin shares what he looks for in a solid rental property and how his strategy has evolved. https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode524Thanks To Our Sponsors:The Guarantors - Protect your property against losses rent defaults, vacancies, lease breaks, damages, and more. All without increasing your operating expenses.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)

In this episode, we sit down with an investor who's building a rental portfolio the smart—and simple—way.With a full-time job and real estate as his side business, he's focused on buying high-quality, move-in-ready homes in up-and-coming neighborhoods.These are properties in desirable school districts that need just a little TLC, not a full-blown rehab. He only buy rentals he’d be comfortable living in himself.We dive into his criteria for easy rentals and why quality and location matter more to him than deep discounts or fixer-uppers. IWe look at his portfolio more closely, check whether the numbers are working, and explore what he’s doing with his cash flow.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode523Thanks To Our Sponsors:MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)Ridge Lending Group - Making the investment Mortgage process stress-free and straightforward.

Hawk Mikado shares his experience renting properties by the room and how he doubled his cash flow using this strategy.We discuss why he prefers renting to people staying just a few months instead of locking in year-long leases, how he chooses the perfect properties, and the ideal number of bedrooms and bathrooms.Hawk also shares how he manages everything remotely, even while living in a different state. And of course, we dig into the numbers. Hawk opens his books and shows us exactly how much he’s making per property.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode522Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making the investment Mortgage process stress-free and straightforward.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (Priced between $100,000 to low $200's)

On this episode, Jason shares his journey into college rentals and reveals the strategy behind his success. Jason breaks down what makes a great college rental, from targeting safe, student-friendly neighborhoods to dialing in the ideal bed/bath ratio.We dive into how he screens tenants, whether he uses individual or joint leases, and the unique methods he uses to fill vacancies fast, without turning his properties into the party house on campus.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode521Thanks 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)

Jeremy's income can vary from month to month. He never knows how much money he will earn. He occasionally has a bad month where he earns no income.In the good months, his paycheck covers his bills, but in the bad months, his rental income is there to cover his bills.On this episode, Jeremy shares how he generates over $7,000 monthly gross income with just a few rental properties.We talk about how Jeremy started by house hacking while still in college, and he shares how he has financed the rest of his portfolio.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode520Thanks To Our Sponsors:The Guarantors - Protect your property against losses rent defaults, vacancies, lease breaks, damages, and more. All without increasing your operating expenses.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)

Dennis shares that when he started buying rentals, he was a barber charging $13 for haircuts.On this episode, Dennis walks us through how he built his rental portfolio.Dennis shares how he saved the down payment money to buy his first rental, and the mistakes he made purchasing that property.Dennis also shares how the mistakes he made buying his first property helped him buy a better property for his next rental property.We discuss the criteria he uses to purchase a rental property and the importance of using leverage to build wealth. https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode519Thanks 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)