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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Ashley's Instagram
Tony's BiggerPockets Profile
Tony's Instagram
Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group
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Submit Your Real Estate Rookie Question!
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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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282: Rookie Reply: Should I Switch Markets? (Why You're NOT Finding Deals)
281: Making $1,200/Month from ONE Rental After Bouncing Back from a BAD Deal w/Michael Yi
280: How to Buy a Rental Property with NO Money OR Credit w/Pace Morby
279: Making $71K on ONE DEAL After 5 Failed House Flips and Six-Figure Debt w/JP Desmet and Aaron Bihl
278: Rookie Reply: Finding Comps, Estimating Rehab Costs, and Filling Vacancies
277: Leaks, Surprise Rehabs, and the Reality of Buying Your First Rental Property w/Sara Plaisted
276: How to Get Into Commercial Real Estate Investing (For Beginners)
275: From $40K Debt to 4 Doors and Six-Figure Net Worth (In 1 Year!) w/Mike Larson
274: Rookie Reply: Inheriting Tenants, Getting Pre-Approved, and Raising Rent
273: Making $100K in 18 Months with “Misfit” Medium-Term Rentals w/David Rosenbeck
272: Rookie Reply: How to Get a DEEP DISCOUNT on Properties with Back Taxes
271: $900K in Real Estate at Age 17 by Doing What 99% of Teenagers Won't w/Ava Yuergens
270: Rookie Reply: Airbnb Arbitrage, Turnkey Rentals, and When to Use a HELOC
269: Rookie to Real Estate Investor: College Rentals, Airbnbs, & Plumbing Problems
268: Rookie Reply: Seller Financing, Squatters, and Is Becoming an Agent Worth It?
267: 24 Units in 2 Years by Making Your Rentals Match the Market w/Andrew Freed
266: Rookie Reply: Unpermitted Renovations, House Hack Profits, and Frozen Pipes
265: Making $90K/Year with Just ONE Rental by Combining Compassion and Cash Flow w/Devana Came & Reid Stadelman
264: Rookie Reply: Building vs. Buying and Avoiding Capital Gains on a Sale
263: Rookie to Real Estate Investor: House Offer Accepted! Now What?
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