"You get the best information from the people that are living there doing it, as opposed to the people that are livin' outside of it and makin' stuff up."

 

Al Gordon takes you through Tennessee with detailed market research from his recent trip exploring potential investment and living opportunities. After years of avoiding Tennessee based on misconceptions from his Las Vegas upbringing, Al shares his findings from visiting major cities including Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, Clarksville, and Memphis.

 

Before visiting Tennessee, Al had formed negative impressions about the state from people he met growing up in Las Vegas and during college at USC. At a recent Lifestyles Unlimited expo, he spoke with Tennessee members who corrected his misconceptions, leading him and Tina to research the state as their next potential home base and investment market.

 

What You'll Discover

How Al's background growing up in Las Vegas led to misconceptions about Tennessee that prevented him from considering it as an investment market

Why Tennessee's 7.1 million population and economic growth patterns attracted Al's attention for potential relocation and investment expansion

The specific economic data Al gathered on five major Tennessee markets, including job growth rates, median home prices, and rental income calculations

 

Key Timestamps

01:29 Al explains how growing up in Las Vegas exposed him to negative opinions about Tennessee from people around the country

08:26 Why Al sought out Tennessee members at the Lifestyles Unlimited expo to get firsthand information about living there

17:49 Chattanooga market analysis: 181,000 population, tech hub growth, median home prices $200,000-$250,000

23:09 Nashville economic data: 689,000 population, 6.6% job growth 2022-2023, median home prices exceeding $400,000

31:03 Al's rental income calculation: $1,500 monthly rent requires $54,000 annual household income using 3x multiplier

 

 

FAQs

 

What misconceptions did Al have about Tennessee before visiting?

Al grew up hearing from people in Las Vegas that Tennessee was "kind of a backward state" and "behind the times." These opinions came from various people he met, whether they had lived in Tennessee or not, and were reinforced during his college years at USC. He admits these were based on misinformation rather than facts.

 

How does Tennessee's economic growth compare to Texas according to Al's research?

Al found that Tennessee is "very closely aligned to Texas with regards to economics" and is "a growing

"The defects that Connor found on this property don't throw this property out of contention for me. Oh, but wait a minute. There's other systems I haven't taken into consideration. Other systems that could be affected, and lo and behold, according to this inspection report, they are."

 

Think you can spot every expensive problem in a rental property just by walking through? Al Gordon thought he had a solid $45,000 equity capture deal locked up—until his home inspector discovered fire damage, foundation issues, and $40,000 worth of hidden problems the seller never disclosed.

 

What started as a promising $150,000 wholesale property with a $70,000 rehab budget turned into a masterclass on why home inspectors aren't just recommended—they're essential. From structural damage to plumbing nightmares, Al breaks down exactly how a $500 inspection report saved him from a potential disaster and gave him the ammunition to renegotiate or walk away confidently.

 

What You'll Discover

How Al's home inspector Connor Poulson uncovered hidden fire damage that would have cost thousands in surprise repairs, proving why professional inspections catch problems you'd never see

Why the $109,000 real repair cost versus Al's $70,000 initial estimate shows the dangerous gap between assumptions and reality in real estate investing

How home inspection reports become powerful negotiation tools that can turn a bad deal into a great one or give you clear justification to walk away

 

Key Timestamps

02:57 Why even experienced investors need home inspectors and the costly mistakes you can avoid

10:25 Real property breakdown: $275K ARV deal that seemed perfect until the inspection revealed the truth

20:01 The shocking discovery of hidden fire damage that changed everything about this investment

27:00 From $45K equity capture to $6K disappointment: How inspection findings forced a complete deal restructure

31:30 The $40K renegotiation strategy that turns inspection problems into investment opportunities

 

 

FAQs

 

What makes home inspectors worth the $300-500 cost for real estate investors?

Home inspectors can identify structural defects, electrical issues, plumbing leaks, and other costly problems that could cost thousands in unexpected repairs. They provide objective, unbiased evaluations unlike sellers or agents who may have vested interests, and their reports give you powerful ammunition for renegotiating deals or walking away confidently.

 

How do you use inspection reports to renegotiate property prices?

Take

"Wealth by itself is nothing. Financial freedom by itself is nothing - we require balance. Wealth is just the primary key that allows you to buy your time back and then you can focus on that balance."

    

 

    

What if the only thing standing between you and real estate wealth isn't money - but your mindset? Mike Harrison exposes the mental barriers that keep busy professionals trapped in middle-class thinking while millionaires build passive income streams. This episode reveals why changing your mindset is the crucial first step before buying your first rental property.

 

    

From HOA investment strategies to the psychology of wealth building, Mike shares hard-won insights from his own transformation from corporate grind to financial freedom. He breaks down why protection of your health is as critical as protecting your assets, and how small daily decisions compound into life-changing wealth.

 

    

What You'll Discover

    

        How Mike's demanding corporate job with three young children taught him the exact mindset shifts needed to escape the time-for-money trap and build lasting wealth

        Why HOA properties can actually boost your rental income by $50-100 monthly (and the specific cost threshold that makes or breaks the deal)

        The "Pareto Principle" strategy that lets you achieve 80% of your wealth-building results with just 20% of the effort - exactly how successful investors delegate and scale

    

 

    

Key Timestamps

    

        01:54 How higher interest rates actually change your real estate program - the answer is probably not what you think

        02:30 The HOA rental property question: when neighborhood restrictions become profit killers vs. profit boosters

        07:40 Why changing your life can be a grind and Mike's personal story of making time for real estate with three young children

        13:50 The millionaire mindset aspirations from June 16th show: think big, focus on investing instead of saving, set deadlines

        21:00 The Pareto Principle revealed: how 20% of your decisions create 80% of your wealth-building results

    

 

    

 

    

FAQs

    

    

What makes HOA properties worth the extra expense for rental investors?

    

HOA properties can command $50-100 higher monthly rent due to maintained common areas, pools, and neighborhood standards that attract quality tenants. However, if HOA fees are too expensive, they crush cash flow. The sweet spot is $200-300 annual fees that enhance property value without destroying profitability, but avoid anything that creates an overt expense.

 

    

<

"There's just a ton of equity in the market. You can invest... I'm also adding value because this house needs renovations... I create an additional amount of equity by adding value to the tune of $52,000. That's a 162% return on my investment."

 

Why This Changes Everything

 

What if the "wasted" first half of your investing year could become your biggest advantage? Andy Webb breaks down why mid-year isn't panic time – it's prime time for serious real estate investors who know how to recalibrate and strike when others retreat.

 

Halfway through the year means you've got the perfect storm brewing: fewer investors in the market as holidays approach, plus six solid months to build momentum that carries into next year. Andy exposes the mindset shift that separates investors who coast from those who accelerate, revealing the specific strategies that work for every experience level.

 

What You'll Discover

 

How Andy's 162% return example reveals why current investing criteria might be choking your success (and the simple recalibration that unlocks hidden deals)

Why the "equity versus cashflow" debate misses the point entirely – and the Houston house example that proves both are available right now for smart investors

The foreclosure uptick nobody's talking about and why it creates a buying advantage most investors will completely miss

 

Key Timestamps

 

02:18 The critical midyear checkpoint that separates successful investors from those who make excuses

05:30 Why recalibrating doesn't mean cutting back – and the goal-setting trap that kills investor momentum

07:00 The Houston house revelation: how $20K creates $52K in equity (162% return breakdown)

18:00 The return on equity wake-up call that prevents your portfolio from becoming dead money

27:00 Complete beginner roadmap: asset class selection, team building, and SMART goal framework

 

 

FAQs

 

What makes equity capture more important than cashflow in today's market?

While cashflow remains essential for any viable investment, the current market offers substantial equity capture opportunities. Andy's Houston example shows $20K creating $52K in additional equity through distressed property renovation – a 162% return that provides massive wealth building potential alongside monthly cashflow.

 

Why is return on equity analysis critical for experienced investors?

Cash-on-cash return becomes less relevant as properties appreciate and equity builds through principal paydown a

"These plexes often provide better cash flow than your traditional single family homes due to their ability to generate multiple rental income streams while sharing certain expenses."

 

Tired of choosing between cash flow and appreciation in your real estate investments? This episode breaks down why small rental properties with multiple units (duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes) deliver maximum cash flow potential for your portfolio. Learn from a detailed analysis of an actual $1.32 million fourplex deal that generates $4,187 monthly cash flow with a 16.3% return on investment.

 

What You'll Discover:

How properties with multiple units generate superior cash flow through multiple income streams and shared expenses

Why you can buy a fourplex with just 3.5% down using FHA financing while living in one unit and renting the others

Real numbers from a $1.32 million fourplex deal showing $4,187 monthly cash flow and $192,000 in captured equity

 

Key Timestamps:

01:15 Tennessee relocation research and market scouting trip plans

06:20 Why small properties with multiple units are called "small" rather than "fake"

08:30 Multiple income streams example: fourplex generating $4,800 vs single family at $1,800

10:30 FHA and VA loan strategies for owner-occupant investors with 3.5% down

13:30 One-year residency requirement and scaling strategy for consecutive purchases

18:00 Why single family homes typically appreciate faster than small rental properties

19:30 Complete financial breakdown of the $1.32 million fourplex investment

22:30 Return calculations: 62% return on capital gain and 16.3% cash-on-cash return

25:00 Five-year projection showing natural appreciation and principal paydown benefits

 

 

Ready to build real wealth through real estate?

Attend our Free Real Estate Class - Perfect for beginners exploring duplex, triplex, and fourplex investing

 

See Real Success Stories

Attend a Free Live Case Study Event - Learn from investors who've built wealth with properties that have multiple units

 

Ready to escape the traditional investment trap?

"Imagine your net worth going up by 62% just by buying the asset."

 

Are duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes really "fake" multifamily properties? Al Gordon tackles this controversial topic head-on, exploring why smaller multifamily properties get dismissed by some investors and why that perception might be completely wrong.

 

This episode dives deep into the classification debate surrounding 1-4 unit properties. While some investors dismiss these as "fake multifamily" because they're financed like residential properties rather than commercial ones, Al reveals why this distinction actually creates powerful advantages for everyday investors.

 

What You'll Discover

Why duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are classified as residential properties and how this benefits investors

The specific loan programs available for small multifamily that aren't available for larger properties

How a real fourplex deal could generate $4,200 monthly cash flow with 62% equity capture

 

Key Timestamps

03:01 The "fake multifamily" assets Al will discuss today

04:50 How lending guidelines create the residential vs commercial distinction

07:01 Why location matters in how plexes are marketed

11:57 Counter-arguments: Why plexes ARE real multifamily

17:30 Financing advantages of residential classification

23:32 FHA, VA, and conventional loan options for plexes

26:00 Portfolio loan strategies for scaling beyond 10 properties

30:10 Real deal breakdown: Tennessee fourplex with $192,000 equity capture

 

Whether you're a beginning investor looking for your first multifamily property or an experienced investor considering small multifamily assets, this episode breaks down the financing advantages and investment potential that make "fake" multifamily properties surprisingly real opportunities.

 

Al shares a compelling example of a Tennessee fourplex that demonstrates the power of these smaller properties: requiring $308,000 out of pocket while capturing $192,000 in equity and generating $4,200 monthly cash flow for a 16.3% cash-on-cash return.

 

 

Ready to build real wealth through real estate?

Attend our Free Real Estate Class - Perfect for beginners exploring multifamily investing

 

See Real Success Stories

"Trust the process, engage, trust the process, it really works." - Brian B.

 

Brian Brown's real estate story begins with a classic mistake. After listening to Del Walmsley's radio show following a stock market program, he bought two rental properties in late 2017, putting 20% down on each. Then he attended Lifestyles Unlimited's free workshop and had his epiphany: "I realized he was doing it all wrong."

 

That realization changed everything. Brian discovered the difference between hoping for appreciation and strategically capturing equity. Instead of conventional 20% down payments that tie up massive amounts of cash, he learned to find fixer-uppers and systematically build wealth through calculated renovations and refinancing.

 

Today, Brian owns 10 single-family properties and participates in 7 multifamily apartment communities across Texas, Michigan, and Idaho. His portfolio generates $4,000-$5,000 monthly in combined cash flow, representing an 18% return on his invested capital. Most remarkably, during the interview Al helps Brian realize he's essentially achieved real estate retirement—he could quit his job tomorrow if he moved out of expensive California.

 

What You'll Discover:

How Brian transitioned from 20% down payments to capturing $25,000-$30,000 equity per deal

The exact process he uses to complete renovations in 3-5 weeks for maximum efficiency

Why Brian executed a 1031 exchange to transform one underperforming property into three cash-flowing assets

 

Key Timestamps:

01:16 Al reads Brian's bio: discovering Del Walmsley's show after stock radio

03:07 Brian's epiphany at the free workshop about hard money lending systems

04:20 How Brian now looks for fixer-uppers instead of turnkey properties

08:21 Portfolio reveal: 10 single-family homes generating 18% cash-on-cash returns

14:30 Brian's brilliant 1031 exchange strategy that increased cash flow from $100 to $1,200 monthly

27:57 The travel lifestyle real estate investing enables

28:14 Brian realizes he's essentially real estate retired but chooses to keep working

 

Brian's transformation demonstrates why education matters in real estate investing. He went from barely breaking even on appreciation-dependent properties to systematically building wealth through strategic equity capture. His 1031 exchange alone transformed a property generating only $100 monthly cash flow into three properties generating $1,200 monthly—a 12x improvement.

 

When asked what advice he'd give to fellow members, Brian's response was simple: "Just get started. Real estate's really forgiving and even if you buy it wrong, you can manage to make something out of it."

 

<

"It's one thing to identify the property. It's the second thing to bring that property to contract where you can purchase it."

 

Can't find distressed properties with serious equity potential? Mike Harrison answers a listener's question about why they're only finding "decent" properties online without the massive equity capture opportunities that build real wealth.

 

The truth? If a property is truly distressed—roof falling in, no flooring, walls down to the studs—it won't be on the MLS. These properties are often uninsurable, ineligible for conventional financing, or considered uninhabitable by mortgage companies. That's exactly what makes them incredible opportunities for cash investors.

 

Mike breaks down multiple strategies for finding these hidden gems, from working with wholesalers to courthouse auctions. He shares real examples from his own investing experience, including deals he's acquired and lessons learned from both successes and expensive mistakes.

 

What You'll Discover:

Why truly distressed properties never make it to MLS and where they actually hide

Multiple proven strategies for finding equity capture deals off-market

How to evaluate wholesaler deals and avoid costly mistakes

 

Key Timestamps:

02:40 Why not every home makes a great rental property

06:44 The quality standards that separate successful investors

11:08 The challenge of bringing distressed properties to contract

16:20 Working with wholesalers and due diligence requirements

25:00 Alternative sources including courthouse auctions

29:10 How investor networks help members find and sell properties

 

The opportunities exist for investors who know where to look and how to evaluate deals properly. While others search online and find nothing, educated investors are systematically building wealth through properties that offer both immediate equity and long-term cash flow.

 

 

Ready to learn where the real deals are hiding?

Attend our Free Financial Freedom Seminar - Learn the strategies Mike uses to find distressed properties

 

See Real Success Stories

Attend a Free Live Case Study Event - Meet investors who found their deals using these exact methods

 

Ready to build real wealth through real estate?

"If one house is great investment, why not 10? 10 rental houses making cashflow, 10 rental house where you've captured a ton of equity."

 

Should you get your real estate license to become an investor? Andy Webb, who didn't get his license until he already owned double-digit rental properties, tackles this common question head-on. The answer might surprise you: it's actually a massive hurdle that could delay your first investment by months or even years.

 

Andy breaks down exactly why getting your license first is a mistake, especially if you're working full-time. In Texas, becoming a realtor requires 180 hours of education just to get started, plus ongoing requirements including another 90 hours of sales apprentice education and 18 hours of continuing education every two years. Add the overhead costs and time commitment, and you're creating an expensive distraction from what really matters—buying that first cash-flowing rental property.

 

But if you shouldn't get licensed, how do you actually find and buy investment properties? Andy reveals multiple proven sources, from leveraging realtors (including the Lifestyles Realty team) to working with wholesalers, using your contractor network, and even direct marketing strategies. The key is understanding which sources work best for busy professionals who need efficient, reliable deal flow.

 

Andy also tackles a controversial question from Texas Realtor magazine: Is homeownership a good investment? With 78% of Texans saying yes and 45% claiming it beats stocks, Andy delivers some uncomfortable truths. Using Robert Kiyosaki's asset vs. liability framework, he explains why your personal home actually costs you money every month—while rental properties put money in your pocket five different ways.

 

What You'll Discover:

Why getting your real estate license first creates unnecessary hurdles including 180 hours of education and ongoing overhead costs

Multiple proven sources for finding investment properties without being licensed, including wholesaler networks and contractor connections

Why your personal home is actually a liability, not an investment—and how rental properties create true monthly cash flow

 

Key Timestamps:

02:33 Why Andy didn't get his realtor license until after owning double-digit rentals

03:47 The 180 hours of education and ongoing costs that burden new investors

08:28 How to leverage other realtors and the Lifestyles Realty team instead of getting licensed

09:50 Finding and working with wholesalers—what they do and how to evaluate them

16:30 Direct marketing strategies: postcards, bandit signs, and door knocking realities

18:30 The shocking Texas data: 78% think homeownership is a great investment

22:30 Five ways rental properties make money vs. your personal home's monthly costs