Having your rental property stolen?! How is that possible? This would be a worst-case scenario for any investor, and it was nearly reality for today’s guest. Buckle up as we share one of the wildest real estate horror stories you’re likely to hear!
Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! In this episode, which could be mistaken for the latest entry in your favorite crime drama, investor Matt Drouin tells the bizarre story of how he nearly LOST his $150,000 rental property to a professional scam artist. He shares some of his biggest lessons learned from this incident—including how to screen tenants properly, when to get an attorney involved in the eviction process, and how to avoid scams when looking for your own off-market properties.
But that’s not all. You’ll also learn about the many benefits of investing in your hometown, as well as when to branch out and choose a market beyond your backyard. What’s more, you’ll hear about the often-overlooked mixed-use buildings that can be a gateway into commercial real estate investing, and how to take down these deals with creative financing!
In This Episode We Cover:
How Matt nearly lost his property to a scammer (and how he got it back!)
How to avoid scams when searching for off-market real estate deals
The competitive advantage you gain by investing in your backyard
Buying the “mixed-use building” deals that most investors ignore
Using ZERO of your own money on a commercial deal with creative financing
How to finetune and automate your tenant screening process
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
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Tony's BiggerPockets Profile
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Ponzi Schemes, Property Fraud, and How to NOT Fall for a Real Estate Scam
Trespassers Took Over My Rental Property! (How to Get Rid of Squatters ASAP)
Tools to Help You Find Your Market:
Become a BiggerPockets Pro Member
“On the Market” Podcast
Crexi
Federal Reserve of St. Louis
Marcus & Millichap
Improve Tenant Screening and Property Management with AppFolio
Connect with Matt:
Matt's BiggerPockets Profile
Check out more resources from this show on https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-376
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382: The REAL Cost of Bad Tenants and “Cheap” Contractors (Mistakes to Avoid!) w/Dan Stowell
381: Making $7K/Month in PURE Cash Flow with Only 3 Rental Properties w/Bailey Kramer
380: Rookie Reply: How to Start Investing, Walking Away from Deals, & Co-hosting
379: How to Buy Your First or Next Rental Property in 90 Days (or Less!) w/Dave Meyer
378: Paying Off $100K in Debt with 3 Rentals Thanks to THIS Low-Money Strategy w/Dave Williams
377: Rookie Reply: Cash Flow vs. Appreciation, Using HELOCs, and Trashed Rentals
375: Making $160K/Year From ONE “Rare” Property Thanks to Seller Financing w/Adam Howard
374: Rookie Reply: Screening Tenants, Using Hard Money, and Raising Rents
373: Wiping Out $130K of Debt in ONE Year With THIS “Steady” Real Estate Business w/Nicole Rutherford
372: $4K/Month and Financial Stability From Rentals After Losing His “Safe” Job w/Kevin and Julia Windheuser
371: Rookie Reply: Estimating Rehab Costs, Finding "Hard Money," & Tax Planning w/Natalie Kolodij
370: Making $140K/Year & Retiring His Wife in 18 Months with “Rental Arbitrage” w/Keron Bryce
369: Financial Freedom in 10 Years and $200K Cash Flow with a Small Portfolio w/Dion McNeeley
368: Pay Less Tax to the IRS This Year With THESE Real Estate Tax Strategies w/Natalie Kolodij
367: How to Buy a Hotel: Breaking Down Tony’s FIRST Commercial Real Estate Deal
366: The EASIEST Way to Get into Real Estate Investing With NO Money w/Amina Stevens
365: Rookie Reply: How to Analyze Deals Like a PRO (Use THESE Numbers & Tools)
364: Making $115K From a Nightmare First Deal (Cops, Evictions, and Break-Ins!) w/Mitch Krotz
363: How to Start an Airbnb Business in a Brand New Market w/Melanie Wilmesher
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