The Diversify Show with Eric Lindsey

How Julie Knight Partnered With the City to Build Homes While Working Full-Time

High-income professional or business owner?If you want to learn how to properly underwrite Commercial Real Estate before buying your first deal, join our free Monday underwriting mastermind (8–10 PM CST)We’re Moonlighters — building real estate on the side of our careers and businesses.Join here:⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CSNvA5aDp/⁠Julie Knight is building real estate alongside her career — not in place of it.By day, she works in public sector economic development. By night and on weekends, she builds rental properties and long-term partnerships. In 2021, she made a pivotal shift: instead of selling a home when relocating, she chose to rent it.That decision shifted her mindset from housing to wealth building.Julie bought her first home in 2013 and later sold it — a move she regretted. In 2019, when relocating again, she kept the property as a rental.What she did:• Hired a property manager immediately• Rented the home within weeks• Stayed focused on her nine-to-five• Committed to buying at least one property per year starting in 2021She later purchased a rental in Montgomery, Alabama for $138,000 (20% down). It rents for about $1,400 per month.Why Montgomery?• Deep market familiarity• Strong demand (colleges and military)• Lower prices• Landlord-friendly lawsShe used her W-2 income to fund the investment.Julie works full-time, mostly remote.Her reality:• Evenings and weekends• ~5 hours of sleep• Early information overload• Strong disciplineShe sees this as a short-term sacrifice for long-term freedom.Key principles:• Protect job performance• Focus on the next best move• Avoid past mistakes• Think long-termInvesting from DC/Maryland into Alabama, she relied on:• A property manager who was also a broker• 20+ years of local experience• A strong contractor networkTrusted partnerships made long-distance investing possible.Julie stresses discipline over speed.Her advice:• Live below your means• Track spending• Separate fixed vs. discretionary costs• Measure net worthShe also recommends partnering to lower entry barriers.“What gets measured gets improved.”Beyond rentals, she invests through partnerships and development.For passive investors:• Vet operators thoroughly• Understand underwriting• Prioritize character and alignment“You’re not just choosing a deal — you’re trusting someone with your reputation.”Dare to Lead – Brené BrownLeadership and emotional discipline matter in real estate and partnerships.• Use your W-2 as your acquisition engine• Turn relocations into wealth decisions• Invest where you have insight• Build aligned partnerships• Choose consistency over intensityJulie Knight is still working full-time — building steadily, one property at a time. Financial security is built with discipline.Free Resource:Click the link below to download our free e-book:“An Introduction to Apartment Syndication”⁠https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/⁠Connect with Eric Lindsey:Website:⁠https://moonlightcre.com/⁠Schedule a call with Eric:⁠https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation⁠Learn more about Eric Lindsey:⁠https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey⁠

How Julie Knight Is Buying Real Estate While Working Full-Time and Building a Long-Term Portfolio

High-income professional or business owner?If you want to learn how to properly underwrite Commercial Real Estate before buying your first deal, join our free Monday underwriting mastermind (8–10 PM CST)We’re Moonlighters — building real estate on the side of our careers and businesses.Join here:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CSNvA5aDp/Julie Knight is building real estate alongside her career — not in place of it.By day, she works in public sector economic development. By night and on weekends, she builds rental properties and long-term partnerships. In 2021, she made a pivotal shift: instead of selling a home when relocating, she chose to rent it.That decision shifted her mindset from housing to wealth building.Julie bought her first home in 2013 and later sold it — a move she regretted. In 2019, when relocating again, she kept the property as a rental.What she did:• Hired a property manager immediately• Rented the home within weeks• Stayed focused on her nine-to-five• Committed to buying at least one property per year starting in 2021She later purchased a rental in Montgomery, Alabama for $138,000 (20% down). It rents for about $1,400 per month.Why Montgomery?• Deep market familiarity• Strong demand (colleges and military)• Lower prices• Landlord-friendly lawsShe used her W-2 income to fund the investment.Julie works full-time, mostly remote.Her reality:• Evenings and weekends• ~5 hours of sleep• Early information overload• Strong disciplineShe sees this as a short-term sacrifice for long-term freedom.Key principles:• Protect job performance• Focus on the next best move• Avoid past mistakes• Think long-termInvesting from DC/Maryland into Alabama, she relied on:• A property manager who was also a broker• 20+ years of local experience• A strong contractor networkTrusted partnerships made long-distance investing possible.Julie stresses discipline over speed.Her advice:• Live below your means• Track spending• Separate fixed vs. discretionary costs• Measure net worthShe also recommends partnering to lower entry barriers.“What gets measured gets improved.”Beyond rentals, she invests through partnerships and development.For passive investors:• Vet operators thoroughly• Understand underwriting• Prioritize character and alignment“You’re not just choosing a deal — you’re trusting someone with your reputation.”Dare to Lead – Brené BrownLeadership and emotional discipline matter in real estate and partnerships.• Use your W-2 as your acquisition engine• Turn relocations into wealth decisions• Invest where you have insight• Build aligned partnerships• Choose consistency over intensityJulie Knight is still working full-time — building steadily, one property at a time. Financial security is built with discipline.Free Resource:Click the link below to download our free e-book:“An Introduction to Apartment Syndication”https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/Connect with Eric Lindsey:Website:https://moonlightcre.com/Schedule a call with Eric:https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversationLearn more about Eric Lindsey:https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey

High-Income Professional? Scott Carson Explains How Note Investing Creates Passive Returns

If you’re a high-income W-2 professional or business owner wanting real estate exposure without leaving your career, this episode is for you.Scott Carson explains how note investing lets you act as the bank — earning passive returns without tenants, rehabs, or daily management.💼 How to Invest in Real Estate While Working a Demanding CareerMost professionals don’t lack income — they lack time.Buying distressed mortgage debt at 50–60 cents on the dollar allows you to:• Be the lender, not the landlord • Control debt without managing property • Turn non-performing notes into performing assets • Generate strong returns with minimal operationsAfter 12 months of payments, notes can sell at 80–90 cents on the dollar — often without owning the property.🎯 Rules for Balancing Business and LifeThere is no perfect balance. There are seasons.• Schedule family first • Fit business around life • Focus on one niche • Communicate with your partner • Protect rest intentionally🧭 Advice for Part-Time InvestorsActive Investors: • Learn financing • Build capital relationships • Master one niche • Find a mentorPassive Investors: • Understand the deal structure • Check the operator’s track record • Know return splits and exit timelines (12–36 months)Balancing Career, Life & Real Estate:• Accept slow early progress • Use evenings/weekends wisely • Protect your primary income • Use W-2 or business income as leverageIf Time or Money Is Limited:Start small: • Self-directed IRA • Partial note purchases • Passive fund positions • Local investor groupsServicers and attorneys handle most of the work.Why Passive Investing Works:• Earn from discounted debt • Benefit from restructured payments • Exit once stable • Share in backend upsideThis episode is for professionals, business owners, beginners, and passive partners.Pursue financial security, not job security.Click On This Link For Our Free E-Book "An Introduction Into Apartment Syndication: https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/Website: ericlindseydiversify.comClick On The Link Below To Schedule A Call With Eric:https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversationClick On The Link Below For More Information About Eric Lindsey:https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey

How Scott Carson Made Note Investing Work With a Full-Time Job

Building real estate wealth doesn’t always start with momentum, capital, or clarity. Sometimes it starts with getting knocked flat on your face. In this episode, Scott Carson shares what it actually looked like to build a real estate business while working long hours, learning on the fly, and doing whatever it took to stay afloat. Before becoming a nationally recognized note investing expert, Scott went through layoffs, rental property stress, and years of grinding behind the scenes — all while educating himself nights and weekends.This conversation is a blueprint for high-income earners and business owners who want to invest in real estate without quitting their job too early.How Scott Carson Built His Real Estate Skill Set While Working Full-Time 🛠️📚Scott bought his first rental property in 2001 and quickly learned how fragile early investing can be. After getting laid off — and having tenants lose their jobs — he went from investor to distressed borrower almost overnight. Instead of quitting, he rebuilt by starting a mortgage company and traveling nationwide doing loans for real estate investors.While working full-time, Scott treated education like a second job. He attended conferences, learned from experienced investors, brought manuals home, and studied constantly. He turned his car into a classroom with books, tapes, and CDs, using every spare moment to understand how real estate truly works.Key Takeaways for High-Income Earners and Business Owners Investing on the Side 🎯💡One of Scott’s biggest breakthroughs was realizing that lack of capital wasn’t the real obstacle. Like many professionals, he believed he needed his own money to do deals. That changed once he learned how private money works.Scott shared that roughly 95% of the deals he’s done over the last 15 years were funded using other people’s money, including retirement accounts and idle capital. That realization removed the ceiling many working professionals unknowingly place on themselves and allowed him to make more offers without being limited by personal savings.Why Note Investing Became Scott Carson’s Focus 🧾🏘️Scott was introduced to the note business through mentors in the mortgage industry who taught him creative financing and how notes are structured. While many investors focus on owner financing, Scott went deeper and learned how to buy non-performing notes — loans where borrowers haven’t paid for six months or longer.By calling banks and lenders directly, Scott began receiving lists of distressed residential and multifamily debt. Instead of chasing properties, he focused on buying the debt tied to them, which let him see opportunities earlier than traditional investors — especially during downturns.Rules of Thumb for Balancing Business and Life ⚖️🗓️Scott doesn’t sugarcoat the early years. While learning the business, he worked full-time, waited tables, traveled to conferences, and built investor relationships. His wife supported the journey, and real estate became a shared long-term goal.There wasn’t balance early on — there was commitment. Scott treated this phase as temporary, knowing short-term sacrifice was required to create long-term opportunity. For professionals starting today, the lesson is clear: progress often comes before comfort.The Breakthrough That Created Real Momentum 📞🔥Scott’s first major traction point came from direct action. After leaving the mortgage business, he began calling asset managers daily — often making 50 to 100 calls. He tracked conversations, learned his conversion ratios, and treated outreach like a skill to improve.Click On This Link For Our Free E-Book "An Introduction Into Apartment Syndication: https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/Website: ericlindseydiversify.comClick On The Link Below To Schedule A Call With Eric:https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversationClick On The Link Below For More Information About Eric Lindsey:https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey

How a CRNA Built a Multifamily Real Estate Business While Working Full-Time

Many high-income professionals want to invest in real estate but feel stuck due to demanding jobs and long hours. In this episode of the Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles & Syndication Show, Leslie Awasom shares how he began investing while working long hospital shifts as a CRNA—and how he used his W-2 income as leverage, not a limitation. His story shows how to build real estate on the side without rushing or quitting too early.💼 How He Bought Real Estate While Working as a CRNALeslie worked 12-hour hospital shifts, often 60 hours a week. Instead of waiting for free time, he used breaks, night shifts, and weekends to learn. While others watched Netflix, he studied underwriting and deal structures. Those small efforts compounded over time.Key actions he took: • Studied during hospital breaks • Learned underwriting on slow night shifts • Attended events on weekends • Focused on consistency over perfection🏢 Starting with Single-Family, Then Scaling to MultifamilyLeslie started in 2017 with single-family homes using the BRRR strategy to learn the basics. As he gained experience, he shifted to multifamily for better scale and efficiency—ideal for busy professionals.This move allowed him and his partners to focus on apartment buildings and create passive income.🤝 Why Multifamily Makes Sense for Busy ProfessionalsIn Part 1, Leslie explains how multifamily allows investors to pool capital, hire professional management, and stay focused on their careers.Why this works for W-2 earners: • Less day-to-day involvement • Professional management • Faster scaling • Side-hustle friendly📊 Using a W-2 as a Strategic AdvantageLeslie kept his CRNA income while growing his real estate business. When the market slowed in 2022, he stayed employed and later moved to per-diem work. He fully exited his W-2 in 2024, once timing and income aligned.This approach helped him grow without financial pressure.🎯 Rules of Thumb for Balancing Business and LifeLeslie didn’t follow a strict schedule—he worked whenever time allowed. Over time, this created two to three hours daily for real estate without sacrificing job performance.Practical takeaways: • Use small gaps wisely • Don’t rush quitting • Let your income support growth • Reduce hours gradually🔑 Key Takeaways for High-Income Earners Investing on the SideThis episode highlights patience, discipline, and using your job as leverage. Leslie’s journey proves real estate success comes from consistency and smart transitions—not hype.If you’re a W-2 professional or business owner, this episode offers a realistic path to investing in real estate on the side.Website: https://ericlindseyml.com/Click On This Link For Our Free E-Book "An Introduction Into Apartment Syndication: https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/Website: ericlindseydiversify.comClick On The Link Below To Schedule A Call With Eric:https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversationClick On The Link Below For More Information About Eric Lindsey:https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey