Honest experience · Practical lessons · Better decisions
Lessons We Learned the Hard Way... So Hopefully You Don't Have To.
If you're thinking about buying your first rental property, I hope our experience helps you avoid some of the expensive mistakes we made.
Cynthia and I lost everything during the 2008 real estate crash. Years later, when I was 57, we decided to start over and slowly rebuild our retirement through rental properties.
Along the way, we made plenty of expensive mistakes. Today I share those lessons—and the practical tools we've built—to help you make better decisions before buying your next rental property.
Start Here
Buying your first rental property?
I created the Before You Buy Toolkit after making expensive mistakes buying my own rental properties. My goal is to help you avoid making those same mistakes before you risk your hard-earned money.
Inside you'll get three practical tools:
- Deal Analyzer
- Rehab Estimator
- Property Inspection Checklist
36 Years
Licensed General Contractor
Started Over at 57
Rebuilding our future one property at a time.
62 Years Young
Still learning every week.
What I help with
Most of what's out there is hype or theory. I'll tell you what actually worked, what cost me money, and what I'd do differently if I were starting over today.
Before You Buy Your First Rental
The questions I wish I'd asked before buying my first rental property.
Working With Contractors
What 36 years in construction taught me about hiring contractors, reviewing bids, and avoiding expensive surprises.
Starting Later in Life
Honest lessons from someone who had to start over at 57.
Learn From My Mistakes
What happened. What it cost. What I learned.
Tools I Actually Use
No sponsorships. No fluff. Just what works after 36 years in the field.
Are You Ready to Remodel?
Take our free 5-minute assessment and find out where you stand before you spend a single dollar.
Remodel Readiness Score
Answer 10 quick questions about your budget, planning, and timeline. Get your personalized readiness score instantly — free. Unlock your full report for $17.
Take the Free AssessmentCommunities I Recommend
One Rental at a Time — Skool Community
The community that helped shape my investing approach. Michael Zuber built something real here — honest investors helping each other, no hype.
Join the CommunityNeed a Second Opinion?
Whether you're looking at your first rental property, planning a remodel, or just want another perspective from someone who's been there, I'm happy to share what's worked for us, what hasn't, and what I'd be thinking about if I were in your shoes.
The goal isn't to tell you what to do.
It's to help you avoid a few of the mistakes we made.