WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

It has been almost a quarter of a year and in this episode you will learn about DFY 2.0 moving into 2025.

In this podcast episode, Kevin and Steve discuss how understanding and leveraging the "rules of money" can significantly benefit real estate investors. They emphasize the importance of knowing the nuances of real estate markets, particularly in regions like Florida. Using analogies from sports, Kevin explains that just like in a game, knowing the rules allows for strategic advantages. They highlight how selecting the right markets and properties can protect against risks, like hurricanes, and generate wealth. Steve shares insights on choosing inland, elevated areas in Florida to avoid flooding and reduce storm damage risks, showcasing their conservative, informed approach to property investment.

They conclude that real estate offers one of the best ways to maximize wealth creation by leveraging these rules, especially in carefully chosen markets.

Chapters

0:00 Arizona

3:19 Profitable Real Estate

7:19 The Rich Invent Money

12:51 Mastering Rules

18:28 Storm-Proof Investing

Today on Replace Your Income, Kevin and Steve reveal the five property vetting layers Done For You Real Estate performs on every property we show clients. Buckle up and let us know in the reviews if you want to hear more.

1. **Market Selection (Pre-Vetting):**

- Before anything else, the market itself is selected based on extensive quantitative and qualitative research. This pre-header step involves data-driven analysis to determine which markets are primed for investment success.

2. **Agent Due Diligence:**

- The local agents are responsible for the initial screening of properties based on strict criteria. They evaluate properties on the MLS, gathering information from photos, seller conversations, and initial assessments before submitting properties to the internal team for review.

3. **Internal Team Property Analysis:**

- Once submitted, the property undergoes a comprehensive property analysis by the team. This step includes a thorough breakdown of numbers, rental potential, and estimated rehab costs. The team greenlights or rejects the property based on this deeper analysis.

4. **Third-Party Inspections and Appraisals:**

- A third-party inspector conducts a detailed inspection to identify any major issues. Simultaneously, an appraisal is done to ensure the property's market value aligns with the agreed-upon purchase price. Both are crucial tools for negotiation and validation of the investment.

5. **Property Management Company Review:**

- During the due diligence period, the property management company performs a walk-through, combining their own visual inspection with the formal inspection report. They provide a detailed assessment of what it will take to get the property rent-ready, further validating the analysis and ensuring no major issues were overlooked.

By having these five vetting layers, you mitigate risk and improve predictability in your investment process, creating a reliable system for long-term success. The additional step of having the property management company's inspection is invaluable, as it merges practical insights from both the property condition and its readiness for rental income generation.

Chapters:

0:00 - Purple

6:53 - Layer #1

9:35 - Layer #2

16:23 - Layer #3

17:06 - Layer #4

22:18 - Layer #5

In the podcast, Kevin and Steve will distinguish Done For You Real Estate (DFY) from other turnkey companies through three key points:

1. **Transparency in Fees and Track Record**: DFY is upfront about how they make money and their fees. Kevin mentions that many turnkey companies are not transparent, often hiding the true costs of their services or how they generate revenue. In contrast, DFY is clear about their fees, disclosing all details, such as their team's fees, mortgage, insurance, and property management. Additionally, DFY shares its transaction reports publicly, outlining every home bought, sold, and rented, ensuring full transparency.

2. **Sustained Success Across Market Cycles**: DFY has been successful across various market cycles, from before the 2008 crash to post-COVID times. Kevin emphasizes that some companies are opportunistic and pop up only during favorable market conditions. However, DFY has continued to adapt and thrive through high inflation, low interest rates, and other fluctuating market conditions. This proven track record shows DFY’s resilience and expertise in long-term, sustainable real estate practices.

3. **Multiple Market Operations with Data-Driven Decisions**: DFY operates in multiple markets across the U.S. based on thorough, data-driven criteria. Many turnkey companies either focus on a single geographic area or expand opportunistically without solid data backing their decisions. DFY, on the other hand, carefully selects markets where their "Moneyball" real estate strategy will work, allowing clients to diversify portfolios across several states, regardless of where they live.

0:00 Speech Therapy

6:14 #1 Fee Transparency

14:26 #2 Proven Success

19:11 #3 Moneyball Real Estate

In this podcast episode, Steve and Kevin share personal stories about their real estate investment failures, highlighting the importance of sticking to a well-thought-out plan.

Steve reflects on a decision from 2005, where he sold two fourplexes for a quick cash infusion, deviating from his long-term retirement plan. While he made a modest profit, he later realized that had he kept all three properties, they would now be worth around $1 million each, generating significant cash flow.

Kevin shares a similar story of failure. In 2009, after the mortgage crisis, he impulsively bought 20 homes for $150,000 without proper due diligence or a clear strategy, hoping to make massive profits. The investment backfired, leading to significant financial loss and eventual offloading of the properties at a loss.

Both stories emphasize the pitfalls of deviating from a solid investment plan, succumbing to "shiny object syndrome," and attempting to "swing for the fences" without proper research or preparation. Steve and Kevin both learned the importance of methodical planning and smaller, consistent wins over aiming for high-risk, high-reward deals.

0:00 Lower Interest Rates

3:31 Our Worst Investments

5:34 Steve's Tale

11:43 Kevin's Tale

22:49 Stick to Your Plan

In this podcast episode, Steve and Kevin discuss the often misunderstood concept of cash flow in real estate investing. While cash flow is widely seen as the ultimate goal for many investors, the hosts argue that its importance is overstated—especially in the early stages of investing. They emphasize that focusing solely on cash flow can distract from long-term wealth-building strategies. Steve shares examples of how appreciation, tenant contributions, and tax advantages can create significant financial gains over time, even without immediate cash flow or favorable interest rates.

The episode also touches on the importance of understanding when and how cash flow becomes relevant, framing it as a long-term outcome rather than an immediate necessity. They explain how interest rates, while often viewed as a barrier, can actually unlock opportunities for growth, such as tax-free income through cash-out refinancing. Kevin uses examples of real estate appreciation over time to show how properties can double in value, even in the absence of significant cash flow or optimal interest rates.

The episode aims to shift the mindset of real estate investors, encouraging them to look beyond short-term cash flow and focus on the larger financial picture, including property appreciation, tenant-paid equity, and tax-free income.

0:00 Life Lately

5:08 Cash Flow

11:46 Why it is irrelevant

20:50 Focusing In

In this podcast episode, Steve and Kevin discuss the significance of time in real estate investing. Steve shares a personal experience where they purchased a building despite rising interest rates, focusing on the long-term benefits over short-term market fluctuations. They emphasize that time is a powerful wealth creator when paired with real estate, highlighting how patient investors who stick to their plans often achieve substantial financial success. Kevin supports this idea with personal anecdotes, including how his own home’s value significantly increased over time and his son’s property investment that yielded strong returns after eight years. The discussion reinforces the idea that real estate investments, combined with time and a clear plan, can lead to significant financial growth despite economic challenges.

0:00 Intro

3:29 Purchasing Despite Rising Interest Rates

8:40 Time

15:46 After 8 Years

23:05 Plan

The discussion revolves around the concept that a mortgage is not just a debt but an essential investment tool, particularly in real estate. Kevin and Steve explore how mortgages are often seen negatively due to societal norms and historical perspectives, like the notion that debt is inherently bad. They argue, however, that a mortgage, when viewed as a financial instrument, can be a powerful lever for wealth creation.

Steve emphasizes that many people see mortgages as liabilities because they are technically debt instruments on a balance sheet. However, he suggests reframing this perception by recognizing that mortgages, especially 30-year fixed ones attached to single-family homes, offer unique opportunities for individual investors. These loans allow for leverage, enabling investors to use less of their own resources while maximizing potential gains through real estate appreciation.

Kevin introduces the idea of comparing a mortgage to a musical instrument, where the real estate is the musician. Just as an instrument needs a skilled musician to create beautiful music, a mortgage needs the right property and market conditions to unlock its full potential. The wrong property can make the mortgage a liability, but the right one can turn it into a significant asset.

They also discuss the idea that the limitations placed on the number of mortgages an individual can have (typically ten) might be a way to keep the most valuable financial instruments scarce. This scarcity is likened to a limited deal at Costco, where the value is so high that it's restricted. They note that while banks and the government use leverage to increase their wealth, the average person often overlooks the opportunity to do the same with a mortgage.

The conversation touches on how inflation impacts the value of mortgages, where fixed-rate mortgages allow investors to benefit from rising rents and property values while their mortgage payments remain constant. This creates an inverse relationship where the debt decreases as the property's value and income potential increase.

Ultimately, the discussion highlights the importance of understanding the rules of the financial game and how to use tools like mortgages to participate actively in wealth creation, rather than being passive observers.

Chapters

0:00 Intro

3:20 Is the mortgage or property the investment?

13:50 Utilizing a financial instrument

19:14 Micro-Winning the game

28:35 Hey, Siri...

31:51 Ice cream