A Realistic Look At Building New Rentals With Kaycee Miller (Ep 566)

On this episode, Kaycee Miller shares the real story behind building new construction rentals, including the wins and the unexpected challenges.Kaycee started out buying foreclosures and rehabbing them, but began to wonder if building from the ground up could be more profitable.She walks us through her transition into new construction, why it can sometimes be more cost-effective than buying existing properties, and how building new can lead to higher rents and better long-term returns. Kaycee breaks down her experience developing an 8-unit property in the downtown area of her small town, including how she found the lot.We also dive into a unique deal where she purchased an old church that had been converted into a single-family home, but was zoned for multifamily use. That opportunity came with its own hurdles, including navigating historic district regulations and working through the approval process with the historic commission.But not everything went according to plan. Kaycee shares the reality of lease-up, including the mistake of expecting full occupancy right away and the challenges she faced in targeting the high end of the rental market. She talks about what she learned when demand didn’t match her expectations, how she adjusted her strategy, and what she would do differently next time.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode566Thanks 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 the investment mortgage process simple and stress-free. Sign up for a free 30-minute investor strategy session.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (5% Interest Rate & 5% Management Fee For 5 Years).Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

Anna Mendoza started investing out of state because she believed it would produce better returns. Living in an expensive market, the $60,000 she had saved wasn’t enough to buy anything locally. But in other parts of the country, that same money could buy multiple rental properties. It seemed like a great way to build cash flow and start growing a portfolio.Instead, things quickly went off the rails. What looked like a promising investment turned into a nightmare.Anna dealt with unreliable contractors, break-ins, unexpected repairs, and tenants that required far more time and money than she anticipated. The expenses piled up and the cash flow she expected never materialized.On this episode, Anna walks through exactly what she bought, why the properties didn’t perform the way she expected, and the hard lessons she learned from trying to manage rentals from a distance.But the story has a happy ending. Anna eventually sold those properties and used the money to pivot into a completely different strategy.Instead of chasing cash flow in distant markets, she began buying properties closer to home and focusing on appreciation. That shift changed everything.Today Anna has built a portfolio that has made her millions in real estate. We also talk about how she’s able to come up with the down payments for more expensive properties and the strategy she’s using to continue growing her portfolio today.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode565Thanks To Our Sponsors:Fundrise Income Fund - The Fund offers access to a diversified portfolio of cash flowing assets, all professionally managed by their expert team.Ridge Lending Group - Making the investment mortgage process simple and stress-free. Sign up for a free 30-minute investor strategy session.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (5% Interest Rate & 5% Management Fee For 5 Years)Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

On this episode, Carlo Finotti explains why owning just one rental property can actually be riskier than owning several.When you only have one property, a major repair or a few months of vacancy can wipe out your cash flow for years.Carlo shares how building a portfolio of multiple rentals creates a safety net, where income from other properties can help cover unexpected expenses. Carlo also talks about the two challenges investors face when buying their second rental. The money side and the mental side.He explains how he overcame both and how adding more properties allowed him to benefit from economies of scale and reduce risk across his portfolio.We also talk about how many doors Carlo had before he finally felt comfortable with repair risk, how his perspective has changed as his portfolio has grown, and the worst thing that has happened to him as a rental property investor.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode564Thanks To Our Sponsors:Ridge Lending Group - Making the investment mortgage process simple and stress-free. Sign up for a free 30-minute investor strategy session.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (5% Interest Rate & 5% Management Fee For 5 Years).Fundrise Income Fund - The Fund offers access to a diversified portfolio of cash flowing assets, all professionally managed by their expert team.Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

On this episode, Seamus Nally shares a powerful lesson every investor eventually faces: if it’s not working, pivot.Seamus originally set out to build a portfolio of student rentals. The plan made sense. The numbers worked. The demand was there. Then the university expanded its own housing and the student demand he was counting on dried up. Instead of digging in and hoping things would turn around, Seamus made a bold move.He pivoted and began renting rooms to residents in an addiction recovery program. When new challenges surfaced with that strategy, he adjusted again, eventually transitioning the property into a traditional long term rental. By then, market rents had risen and the deal that once struggled was suddenly producing strong, stable cash flow.We also talk about what it’s like investing alongside family, as Seamus partners with his brothers on their properties.Plus, we get into one of the most overlooked investing advantages: building strong relationships with neighbors. Seamus explains how being proactive and communicative has not only protected their properties, but has also led to off-market deals and neighbors acting as extra eyes and ears. https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode563Thanks To Our Sponsors:MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (5% Interest Rate & 5% Management Fee For 5 Years)Fundrise Income Fund - The Fund offers access to a diversified portfolio of cash flowing assets, all professionally managed by their expert team.Ridge Lending Group - Making the investment mortgage process simple and stress-free. Sign up for a free 30-minute investor strategy sessionRental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

Jacob Martinez is five years into a 10-year plan to build long-term wealth with rental properties, and he’s thinking much bigger than just next month’s cash flow. Jacob believes a decade gives neighborhoods time to improve, properties time to appreciate, and rents time to rise.While every property he buys must be cash flow-positive, he doesn’t treat rental investing as a short-term game. For him, steady growth and smart positioning matter just as much as the monthly numbers.On this episode, Jacob shares how surrounding himself with experienced mentors has shaped his decisions and helped him avoid costly mistakes. We talk about how he’s found strong deals by buying directly from sellers, how he came up with the money to purchase his rentals, and how he’s navigated the challenge of rising property taxes without derailing his plan.Jacob also opens up about his nightmare first deal and what he learned from it, along with some of the wins that have kept him motivated.'If you’re building a portfolio with a long-term vision and want to hear what the first five years can really look like, this episode is packed with practical insight and honest lessons from someone right in the middle of the journey.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode562Thanks To Our Sponsors:Fundrise Income Fund - The Fund offers access to a diversified portfolio of cash flowing assets, all professionally managed by their expert team.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (5% Interest Rate & 5% Management Fee For 5 Years)Ridge Lending Group - Making the investment mortgage process simple and stress-free. Sign up for a free 30-minute investor strategy sessionRental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

Thomas lives in a high-cost area where buying rentals locally simply didn’t make sense for cash flow, especially as a newer investor with limited capital.Instead of forcing a bad deal in his backyard, Thomas made the decision to invest out of state.On this episode, he walks us through how he chose the markets he invested in and whether he physically visited the areas before buying.Thomas didn’t just pick one market and hope for the best. Diversification was important to him, so he invested in three different areas. We talk about why he spread out his risk, how he found the properties, and why he focused on homes that needed rehab.He also explains how he built a team from a distance, including how he found contractors and property managers in multiple markets, and whether managing relationships in three different cities was as challenging as it sounds.If you’re thinking about investing out of state but feel nervous about being far from your properties, this episode is packed with practical insight. Thomas shares what worked, what didn’t, and how new investors can protect themselves from getting ripped off by contractors. This is a candid look at building a remote rental portfolio.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode561Thanks To Our Sponsors:Fundrise Income Fund - The Fund offers access to a diversified portfolio of cash flowing assets, all professionally managed by their expert team.MidSouth HomeBuyers – Turnkey Rentals In Memphis & Little Rock. Instant Cash Flow On Day One. (5% Interest Rate & 5% Management Fee For 5 Years)Ridge Lending Group - Making the investment mortgage process simple and stress-free. Sign up for a free 30-minute investor strategy sessionRental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

Mary spent years on the road as a travel nurse, living in mid term rentals across the country. After seeing firsthand how well these properties served traveling professionals, she decided to become an investor herself.We break down exactly what Mary looks for when buying a mid term rental, including location, and the best bedroom count to look for.She shares how much she typically spends to furnish a property, how long her tenants usually stay for,  and how much of a rent premium she gets vs if the property was a traditional long term rental.We also dig into the real numbers behind a recent purchases. Mary walks through total rent collected, monthly expenses, and the profit the property produces.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode560Thanks 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 simple and stress-free. Sign up for a free 30-minute investor strategy sessionFundrise Income Fund - The Fund offers access to a diversified portfolio of cash flowing assets, all professionally managed by their expert team.Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

On this episode, I’m joined by Jeremy Smith, an investor who proves you don’t need hundreds or thousands of rental properties to be successful. Jeremy owns just a few rentals, but they generate enough monthly cash flow to cover all of his living expenses.Jeremy still works a full-time job, but his rentals give him a powerful safety net. If his income dips in a slow month or an unexpected expense pops up, the extra cash flow from his properties helps absorb the hit and keeps stress low.We talk about why Jeremy focuses on low-maintenance, high-quality properties instead of chasing scale, and how that approach has allowed him to keep things simple. He shares how he paid off his rentals, how long it took, and why minimizing personal overhead has been just as important as optimizing his investments.We also discuss the constant temptation of lifestyle inflation and how he works to keep it in check.Jeremy opens the books and walks through his real numbers, including total rent collected, expenses, and cash flow. We also cover how much time he spends managing his rentals each month, how he collects rent, how he screens tenants, and the worst thing that’s happened to him as a rental property investor.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode559Thanks 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 simple and stress-free. Sign up for a free 30-minute investor strategy sessionFundrise Income Fund - The Fund offers access to a diversified portfolio of cash flowing assets, all professionally managed by their expert team.Rental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.

This bonus episode features Caeli Ridge from Ridge Lending Group, breaking down what’s happening right now with DSCR loans and why they’re getting so much attention from rental property investors.Caeli explains how DSCR loan rates have been coming down and are now very close to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rates. We talk about why DSCR loans are often simpler than conventional mortgages, how they qualify based on the deal instead of the investor’s personal income, and why that makes them especially attractive for investors.We also discuss how increased competition from DSCR lenders has pushed Fannie and Freddie to lower their down payment requirements. Single-family rental properties now require as little as 15 percent down. Caeli also walks through the documentation needed for conventional loans and what credit scores lenders are looking for.Listen in on a coaching call with Caeli and a client:  https://rentalincomepodcast.com/bonus-tinaContact Caeli:[email protected]

Joel has been investing in rental properties for 48 years and has figured out how to increase rental income without buying more properties.On this episode, Joel shares practical strategies he uses to get more cash flow from the rentals he already owns. We talk about how he keeps up with rent increases to make sure his properties stay profitable, along with inexpensive upgrades that help units look better and command higher rent. Joel explains his approach to flooring, including LVP vs. carpet, and whether it makes sense to make tenants responsible for washer and dryer repairs.The conversation also covers how pets can be profitable, whether landlords should charge a pet fee or pet rent, and how to reduce vacancies during the slower winter months. Joel shares his thoughts on when an upgrade stops making financial sense, which improvements often fail to deliver a good return, and how to avoid over-improving rental properties.https://rentalincomepodcast.com/episode558Thanks To Our Sponsors:Fundrise Income Fund - The Fund offers access to a diversified portfolio of cash flowing assets, all professionally managed by their expert team.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 simple and stress-free. Sign up for a free 30-minute investor strategy sessionRental Accounting Software Made Easy. Free 30 Day Trial.