logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
41m 21s

8 Rental Units in 2.5 Years (While Worki...

BIGGERPOCKETS
About this episode

Don’t have enough money to buy rentals? Neither did Brandon Tilson. As a social worker, he was never on the higher end of the income scale, but thanks to some serious side hustles, he now has eight rental units in just two years! How did he do it while working full-time and having a family to feed? Today, we’re talking to Brandon about why ANYONE can invest in real estate, no matter your experience, salary, or cash in the bank.


Brandon doesn’t have just one side hustle, or two, or three—he has five separate side hustles, leaving him with six jobs to take care of. It’s no surprise that Brandon works anywhere from sixty to eight hours a week, but it’s all been worth it for him, especially after seeing his real estate holdings go from zero to eight rental units in an extremely short period of time. Now, he’s less than ten years away from financial freedom, allowing him to retire early if he wishes to at just forty-five years old!


Brandon gives crucial advice for anyone trying to invest in today’s market, even with higher interest rates. We talk about different side hustles that bring in extra income, how he funded his first deal, what to do when your renovation becomes a “trainwreck,” and whether or not getting your real estate license is worth it. Plus, why investing alone is much harder than doing it with a partner (or spouse!).


In This Episode We Cover:

How Brandon scaled to eight rental units in just two and a half years (even on a lower income!)

Making extra income every month with real estate (and non-real estate related) side hustles

Using a HELOC (home equity line of credit) vs. a cash-out refinance for your first rental 

Whether becoming a real estate agent is worth it as a part-time side hustle 

Finding your financial independence number and why it’s crucial to know how much you need to be set for life

Why you should not DIY your home renovation (even if you have the time) 

And So Much More!


Links from the Show

Join BiggerPockets for FREE

Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show!

Episode #1,009 Invest in Turnkey Properties with REI Nation

Get Started with “The Book on Rental Property Investing”

Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area

See Dave at BPCON2024 in Cancun!

6 Rental Properties in 15 Months (While Working 3 Jobs!) w/Brandon and Dani Tilson

Connect with Brandon

Connect with Dave


(00:00) Intro

(01:31) Investing While Working 6 Jobs!

(07:24) First “Trainwreck” Deal

(16:17) Second “Turnkey” Property

(19:33) Becoming an Agent?

(23:13) His Financial Freedom Number

(26:08) Investing On a Low Income

(29:13) Early Retirement at 45!

(32:06) Advice for New Investors


Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1009

Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
2025 Long-Distance Investing Blueprint (Listen Before Buying)
Can’t make the numbers work in your local market? No worries—long-distance real estate investing is the natural next step. We’ve done it before, many times, and made the beginner mistakes, so you don’t have to. Now, we’re gearing up to do it again. Dave and Henry are heading out ... Show More
41m 2s
Jul 7
Replacing His Income with Rentals (in 3 Years!) by “Recycling” Money
In just three years, this investor scaled up to making over $100,000 per year thanks to real estate. He did it all starting in 2022 when interest rates were beginning to rise, the market was turning, and many investors decided to sit on their hands. Thanks to a strategy that allo ... Show More
40m 2s
Jul 4
How to Buy Real Estate Without Banks (Private Money Lending)
Can’t (or don’t want to) get a bank loan? We have another option for funding your real estate investments: private money lending! If your DTI (debt-to-income) is too high, you’ve maxed out how many mortgages you can get, or you need quick cash to finance a renovation, house flip, ... Show More
40m 14s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 9
6 Rental Properties (in 2 Years!) While Working 9-5
Want to invest in real estate but fear you don’t have the time or energy? You DON’T need to quit your day job to build a cash-flowing real estate portfolio, and today’s guest is proof. In just two years, he scaled to six rentals (12 units) while holding down his nine-to-five—all ... Show More
40m 56s
Nov 2024
Investing in Real Estate WITHOUT a W2? How I Bought 3 Properties in 2 Years!
Can you start investing in real estate WITHOUT a stable W2 job? How will you get a loan? What happens if you have a fluctuating income? Are you completely out of luck? Not at all! Today’s guest, David Sladewski, proves that you can STILL invest in real estate no matter your age, ... Show More
44m 1s
Jul 2024
426: 6 Properties & Financially Free in Just 3 Years ($20K/Year from ONE Rental) w/Jayson Ewert
Do you dream of becoming a full-time real estate investor? Having the financial stability to leave your W2 job might seem like an eternity away, but if you start investing now, it doesn’t have to take as long as you think. Just ask today’s guest, who was able to achieve financial ... Show More
48m 10s
May 26
From Job Loss Risk to $6,000/Month Cash Flow & 10 Rentals in 2 Years
Are you tethered to your W2 job as your main (or only) source of income? What if it disappeared tomorrow? After a huge wake-up call, today’s guest realized he needed to take control of his financial future as soon as possible. In just two years, he scaled to 10 rentals that bring ... Show More
46m 50s
Sep 2024
Reaching Financial Independence with 5 Properties & Multiple Income Streams w/Kadeem Leslie
Can real estate investing still propel you to financial independence in 2024? Despite starting with very little money or know-how, this investor found creative ways to build a real estate portfolio of five rental properties and reach his financial goals!Kadeem Leslie was just fif ... Show More
42m 24s
Jul 2024
544: 80-Hour Workweeks to Lean FIRE in 8 Years through Real Estate
Reaching financial independence and becoming a millionaire before the age of thirty?! While this path requires several years of ruthless saving, smart investing, and unwavering discipline, there’s no reason why YOU can’t enjoy financial freedom and attain the lifestyle you want! ... Show More
48m 49s
Jul 2024
436: “Snowballing” to 12 Doors in 4 Years & Replacing TWO Six-Figure Salaries w/Emily Love
Owning rentals could help you become financially free, afford you more time with family, and allow you to travel the world. Whether you’re stuck in a career you dislike or you need a more flexible job, you’re about to learn that real estate investing could be your golden ticket!  ... Show More
45m 10s
Aug 2024
Bankruptcy to Financial Freedom in Under 10 Years with a $1M+ Net Worth w/Diem Martin
From bankruptcy to financial freedom in just ten years?! Today’s guest is living proof that past money mistakes don’t disqualify you from building wealth with real estate. Whether you’re neck-deep in debt or struggling to save, you’re only ever a few steps away from taking contro ... Show More
42m 3s
Feb 2025
7 Best (Beginner) Markets to Buy Rental Properties in 2025 (Rookie Reply)
Where should YOU invest in 2025? Stay tuned because we’re going to share our top seven real estate markets for buying rental properties this year. We’ll tell you why we like them, why they’re growing, and whether it’s worth moving there to invest!Welcome back to another Rookie Re ... Show More
41m 15s
Jul 2024
433: The Million-Dollar Real Estate Business YOU Can Start Today with Just $150 w/Brittany Hailey
Starting a real estate business is one of the best ways to achieve financial freedom, replace your W2 income, and leave your nine-to-five. Why? Because you don’t need a ton of money OR a rental property to get started. Today’s guest built a million-dollar business with just $150, ... Show More
52m 51s