From Addiction and Burning $50K to “Hands Off” Rental Property Empire with Megan and Jeff Ahern

Eric Upchurch is an Army Special Operations veteran, real estate investor, and co-founder of the military investing community Active Duty Passive Income.Eric wakes up every day with a single mission: to end veteran homelessness. He’s also one of the best-connected people in the real estate investing world. Today he shares stories from before, during, and after his military service; delivers an eye-opening explanation of why so many veterans struggle with mental health after leaving the military; and outlines a simple, repeatable path to financial freedom – whether you’re in the military or not.Eric also talks about: - Why veterans feel “chemical” withdrawal symptoms after retiring from the military- What drew him to Army Special Operations  - His most difficult moment while serving- “Live-in flipping” houses in California- Using a VA loan to buy a 4-unit apartment building- Why he dabbled in several real estate strategies before picking one- What Active Duty Passive Income offers veterans- Marriage and fatherhood- Simplifying his business and spending less time on his phoneBooks Mentioned:- One Second After by William R. Forstchen- Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer- Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke- Dopamine Detox by Thibaut Meurisse- Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins- MONEY Master the Game by Tony RobbinsSupport Eric in the fight against veteran homelessness:- ericupchurch.com/givingConnect with Eric: Active Duty Passive Income: https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/Book: Military House Hacking by Markian Sich, Michael Foster, Eric Upchurch, Adam La Barr, Timothy Kelly, Mitch Durfee, Rod Khleif Website: https://www.ericupchurch.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realericupchurch/Connect with us!Website: https://abetterlife.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/beardybrandonEric’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):- Veterans Community Project, which builds tiny homes and provides ongoing support for men and women who took the oath for our country, regardless of discharge status or type of serviceConnect with Brandon:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon💻 BetterLife Tribe, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: https://abetterlife.com/📸 BetterLife Tribe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/💻 OpenDoor Capital, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://odcfund.com/📸 OpenDoor Capital’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opendoorcapital/Connect with Cam:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cam.cathcart/💻 Deal Flow Real Estate, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: http://dealflowrealestate.com/💻 Revel City HomeBuyers, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://revelcityhomebuyers.com/📸 Revel City HomeBuyers’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revelcityhomebuyers/ Interested in building wealth without losing your soul? Join the BetterLife Tribe here: https://join.abetterlife.com/tribe

Ever heard the expression “what got you here won’t get you there”?It’s especially true for real estate investors today. Instead of finding great deals – or getting bailed out thanks to rising values – you’ve got to make great deals and unlock hidden value.So we brought in BiggerPockets Podcast host David Greene for a game of “How Do I…”, where he and Brandon break down 6 different real estate investing strategies, and how to execute each one – today – without putting yourself at risk of financial ruin.Recorded in front of a live audience at the BetterLife REI Summit last month, this episode covers:- Does traditional 20% down rental property investing still work in 2024?- How to “make” the deal rather than finding it - Two things you must do to successfully BRRR in today’s market- Why this is actually a great market for flipping houses- Is it a good time to wholesale?- How House hacking is up to 7X more efficient than buying rentals- The risks of commercial real estate investing in this environment- A super-detailed breakdown of cap rates and commercial vs. residential financingBooks Mentioned:- Traction by Gino Wickman - Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert R. KiyosakiThis value-packed episode was part of the 2024 BetterLife REI Summit – hosted by the BetterLife Tribe, where we help you build wealth through real estate without losing your soul 🏄. Learn how to get involved here: https://join.abetterlife.com/tribeConnect with David: Books: https://store.biggerpockets.com/collections/more-by-david-greeneWebsite: https://the1brokerage.com/BiggerPockets Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biggerpockets-real-estate-podcast/id594419649Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidgreene24/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialdavidgreeneConnect with Brandon:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon💻 BetterLife Tribe, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: https://abetterlife.com/📸 BetterLife Tribe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/💻 OpenDoor Capital, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://odcfund.com/📸 OpenDoor Capital’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opendoorcapital/Connect with Cam:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cam.cathcart/💻 Deal Flow Real Estate, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: http://dealflowrealestate.com/💻 Revel City HomeBuyers, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://revelcityhomebuyers.com/📸 Revel City HomeBuyers’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revelcityhomebuyers/ 

Chenoa and David Rivera are a real estate investing couple who starred in “Rustic Rehab” before narrowly escaping the deadliest wildfire in California’s history.Today, you’ll hear how they survived; the role they played rebuilding their hometown; how they find deals today; and why they recently went on a multifamily “buying spree.”Chenoa and David also talk about:- How they were cast in their own reality TV show- The Camp Fire that took out 7 of their flips- Rebuilding using fire-proof resistant materials- Finding and keeping great contractors who are “like family”- Making it work as a married couple in business together- How they generate a flood of inbound leads - How they found a “big fish” private money lender to fund all their deals- And much more!Books Mentioned:- The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer - The Power of One More by Ed Mylett - Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. KiyosakiConnect with David and Chenoa: David’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chenoaanddavid/Chenoa’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrschenoarivera/Connect with Brandon:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon💻 BetterLife Tribe, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: https://abetterlife.com/📸 BetterLife Tribe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/💻 OpenDoor Capital, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://odcfund.com/📸 OpenDoor Capital’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opendoorcapital/Connect with Cam:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cam.cathcart/💻 Deal Flow Real Estate, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: http://dealflowrealestate.com/💻 Revel City HomeBuyers, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://revelcityhomebuyers.com/📸 Revel City HomeBuyers’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revelcityhomebuyers/ David and Chenoa’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):- Lahaina Restoration Foundation - It is a 501(c)3 Hawai‘i nonprofit organization chartered in 1962. Its mission is to be stewards and storytellers of Lahaina’s Historic & Cultural Heritage.Show Sponsor: - Open Door Capital - Providing affordable housing for residents while maximizing returns for investorsBetterLife Tribe: Interested in building wealth without losing your soul? Join the BetterLife Tribe here: https://join.abetterlife.com/tribe

Megan and Jeff Ahern are real estate investors who buy cash-flowing assets in the American heartland while living in an island paradise. But their journey to get here wasn’t an easy one, and today you’ll hear their incredible story from start to finish. Megan and Jeff openly share their evolution from party lifestyle and alcohol-fueled relationship problems in their marriage to getting sober and replacing drinking with an all-out focus on fitness, faith, and building wealth through real estate. Despite going $50,000 into the hole as newbies, they didn’t give up on their dream and as a result they now own 20+ cash-flowing rentals, a profitable staging business, and are raising their 3 kids in Maui in a community of like-minded business owners.Megan and Jeff also talk about: - Spending $30,000 on an event as newbies and losing money on their first deal- Moving from California to Lincoln, Nebraska to go all-in on rental properties- Where they find deals – a lead source Brandon’s never talked about - How they get 100% bank financing on their rehabs - Investing in sober living houses and “medium-term rentals”- The home staging business that rakes in $100K/year with “zero” effort- Their advice to people thinking about getting sober- What happened when former Marine Jeff’s parachute failed to deploy- What they learned from “the 7-plex from hell”- The books, quotes, and people that shaped who they are todayBooks Mentioned:- Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters - Legacy by James Kerr- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer and John Ortberg- Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif BabinConnect with Jeff and Megan: Megan’s Website: https://www.tattyinvestor.com/Jeff’s Website: https://www.acornhuskers.com/Jeff’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4f_jeff/Megan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_tatty_investor/Connect with Brandon:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon💻 BetterLife Tribe, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: https://abetterlife.com/📸 BetterLife Tribe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/💻 OpenDoor Capital, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://odcfund.com/📸 OpenDoor Capital’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opendoorcapital/Connect with Cam:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cam.cathcart/💻 Deal Flow Real Estate, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: http://dealflowrealestate.com/💻 Revel City HomeBuyers, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://revelcityhomebuyers.com/📸 Revel City HomeBuyers’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revelcityhomebuyers/ Jeff and Megan’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):- The Mighty Oaks Foundation - A faith-based Veteran service organization that teaches combat Veterans struggling with Post Traumatic Stress, how to get beyond combat trauma, and live their lives in the manner God intended.Show Sponsor: - Deal Flow Real Estate - Flip, Wholesale, and Hold More Houses In Every MarketInterested in building wealth without losing your soul? Join the BetterLife Tribe here: https://join.abetterlife.com/tribe

Should you build wealth one rental house at a time, or jump right into BIG deals like Grant Cardone recommends? Brandon reveals his answer to that question and delivers a masterclass on building a team that can buy and manage large, valuable properties – allowing you to build wealth much faster without some of the headaches that come with single family houses and small multifamily properties.Brandon also talks about: - What he thinks Cardone gets right (and wrong) about buying big deals- “The Stack” method for buying 100 units in 5 years- The 4 Mindset Levels of Leadership- The 4 Bottlenecks you must solve as you scale- The team members you need - The LUCK Funnel - Choosing your hardBooks Mentioned:- Work the System by Sam Carpenter- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber- Atomic Habits by James Clear- The Book on Flipping Houses by J Scott- Traction by Gino Wickman- Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell- Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. KiyosakiThis value-packed episode was delivered as part of a Financial Freedom Hour – just one of the many benefits of joining the BetterLife Tribe, where we help you build wealth through real estate without losing your soul 🏄. You can sign up here: https://join.abetterlife.com/tribeConnect with Brandon:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon💻 BetterLife Tribe, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: https://abetterlife.com/📸 BetterLife Tribe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/💻 OpenDoor Capital, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://odcfund.com/📸 OpenDoor Capital’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opendoorcapital/Connect with Cam:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cam.cathcart/💻 Deal Flow Real Estate, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: http://dealflowrealestate.com/💻 Revel City HomeBuyers, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Company: https://revelcityhomebuyers.com/📸 Revel City HomeBuyers’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revelcityhomebuyers/ 

Thach Nguyen is one of, if not the, most visible and popular real estate influencers online. And as he explains in this episode, the reason why is simple: his story.Today, you’ll hear it all: from catching the “last plane” out of Vietnam in 1975 and standing in lines at the food bank in Seattle, to becoming  7-figure real estate agent in his twenties, to buying 15 rental properties while still living with his mom and dad!Thach is a super genuine, positive guy, and it’s no wonder why 250 million people tune into his content every month. This conversation chance to learn from a real estate master, and get to know him on a deeper level by diving into topics like debt, risk, passion, marriage, parenting, and more. Thach also talks about: - Discovering real estate while parking cars at a Chinese restaurant- The 3 things that made him a Top 1% realtor- Living (way) beneath his means to reach financial freedom faster- Knocking doors every day to generate sales- Why “aligning” is more important than “grinding”- Whether it’s a good idea to pay off mortgages early- How to find a deal today, step by step- Philanthropy and teaching - His parenting advice, summed up in one sentence- The secrets to his success on social media (no team!)Books Mentioned: - Ask and It is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks- Manifest Your Destiny by Wayne W. Dyer- Red Rising by Pierce Brown- Golden Son by Pierce BrownConnect with Thach: - Website: https://www.thachrealestategroup.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thachnguyen/- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thachn- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thachn/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thachnguyen/Connect with Brandon:- Instagram: link to his IG- BetterLife Tribe, Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: link to abetterlife.com- OpenDoor Capital. Brandon’s Real Estate Investing Company: link to ODCFund.comConnect with Cam:- Instagram: link to his IG- Deal Flow Real Estate, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Mastermind: link to DealFlowRealEstate.com- Revel City HomeBuyers, Cam’s Real Estate Investing Company: link to revelcityhomebuyers.comThach’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):- RAVE Foundation - RAVE Foundation’s 26 by 2026 initiative will build 26 new fields in time for the world's biggest sporting tournament - FIFA World Cup - comes to North America in 2026.Show Sponsor: - Open Door Capital - Think you might be sitting on some equity that could be put to better use? Try our free Return on Equity Calculator here! https://odcfund.com/roe

Marc Kuhn built a $25 million/year construction company from scratch and is now funneling his profits into a real estate asset you probably haven’t heard of.In this episode, Marc shares why he thinks “luxury storage” is the future; how he got into development and syndication after building his wealth in a blue-collar industry; and why he thinks buying businesses from baby boomers is such a hot opportunity right now.Marc also talks about: - How he scaled his construction company and avoided the traps his dad fell into- How he’d go from $0 to $20,000/month if his life depended on it - The seller financing deal that made his net worth soar- Using creative financing to win in a high-interest-rate environment- What luxury storage is and why demand is rising- Building an audience on LinkedInBooks Mentioned:- The Road Less Stupid by Keith J. Cunningham - How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie - Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell- The 10x Rule by Grant Cardone- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber- Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki- Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant by Robert T. KiyosakiConnect with Marc: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marc-kuhnSubstack: https://marckuhn.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marc.kuhn.makTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marc.kuhn.makConnect with us!Website: https://abetterlife.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/beardybrandonMarc’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):- Backing the Blue LineShow Sponsor: - Interested in building wealth without losing your soul? Join the BetterLife Tribe here: https://join.abetterlife.com/tribe

Pete Kelly is the CEO of Apartment Life, which helps multifamily landlords slash their largest expense: vacancy. Pete’s organization works with multifamily building owners to place coordinators whose sole mission is to befriend, connect with, and assist residents in their day-to-day lives. The result? Tenants stay longer. And apartment building owners add an average of $200k to their NOI and millions to their net worth.Pete also talks about: - Why loneliness is the biggest reason tenants don't renew their leases - How Apartment Life finds mission-driven team members - Why property managers love his service- The average return on investment investors can expect- How you can apply his tactics even if you don’t own multifamily- Finding real estate deals in 2024- His parenting advice and why he wishes he had a time machineBooks Mentioned:- The Holy Bible by ESV Bibles - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey- Preaching Christ in All of Scripture by Edmund P. Clowney- Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki- Practicing The Presence Of God The Best Rule of a Holy Life by Brother LawrenceConnect with Pete and Apartment Life: Website: https://apartmentlife.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aptlifeListen to the end, where Pete gives out his phone numberConnect with us!Website: https://abetterlife.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/beardybrandonPete’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):- Apartment LifeShow Sponsor: The BetterLife Tribe, where we help you build wealth through real estate without losing your soul

Tyler Cauble is a commercial real estate investor in Nashville, Tennessee. On today’s show: how he went from selling Cutco Knives door-to-door, to doing his first land deal with none of his own money, to using syndication to buy, renovate, rent, and refinance (BRRR) millions of dollars of commercial real estate in one of the hottest markets in the country.Tyler also talks about: - Exactly how he’d get started in commercial real estate investing today- The differences between residential and commercial real estate deals- How to get brokers to take you seriously- What he learned about sales at Cutco (he broke a sales record!)- Transforming an abandoned car wash into a food hall with “ghost kitchens” - Why he’s all-in on office space despite remote work- The opportunity in turning stale office buildings into coworking spaces- The impact of higher interest rates- What type of cash-on-cash returns to expect in commercial investing- How much you need for a down payment- Does go off market to find deals? (spoiler: yes)- Why he’s cash-heavy in 2024- Why he quit drinking alcohol- The books, people and quotes that have shaped who he isBooks Mentioned:- Walkable City by Jeff Speck - Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat by David Greene- The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner- Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert KiyosakiConnect with Tyler: Website: https://www.tylercauble.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tylercaubleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/commercial_in_nashville/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tylercaubleConnect with us!Website: https://abetterlife.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/beardybrandonTyler’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):- Vanderbilt Children's HospitalShow Sponsor: - The BetterLife REI Summit May 3-5 in Denver, CO. The most actionable “how to” real estate event for new and experienced investors. Grab your tickets here: https://reisummit2024.com/Interested in building wealth without losing your soul? Join the BetterLife Tribe here: https://join.abetterlife.com/tribe

Justin Waller is a blue-collar millionaire, real estate investor, and influencer who teaches young men how to build wealth on Andrew Tate’s Real World community.A polarizing figure whose own channels were taken down by Youtube, Justin talked with us about his humble roots; how he built his massive construction company; his real estate investments; why he “feels sorry” for young men (and women) today, and how he developed his unshakeable self-confidence.Justin also talks about: - How he got rich in a blue-collar business- What the E-Myth gets wrong about running a business - Why he puts female managers in charge of his company’s operations- How society is setting up young men to fail- How social media is distorting the self-image of young people today- Exactly what to do if you lack self-confidence - Dressing well and getting in peak physical shape- Why he started buying real estate as an “insurance policy”- How he saved $600,000 on taxes using accelerated depreciation- Getting de-platformed along with his associate Andrew TateBooks Mentioned:- Wild at Heart by John Eldredge - Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders by L. David Marquet- The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate by Patrick Lencioni- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael GerberConnect with Justin:Website: https://www.justinwinnwaller.com/Twitter: https://x.com/Waller7JConnect with us:Website: https://abetterlife.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterlife/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/beardybrandonJustin’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):- SEAL Future Foundation - a charity dedicated to supporting Gold Star families, providing them with the necessary resources and assistance to navigate their future with strength and resilienceShow Sponsor: - The BetterLife REI Summit May 3-5 in Denver, CO. The most actionable “how to” real estate event for new and experienced investors. Grab your tickets here: https://reisummit2024.com/Interested in building wealth without losing your soul? Join the BetterLife Tribe here: https://join.abetterlife.com/tribe