logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
34m 37s

A Better Retirement After Buying Just ON...

BIGGERPOCKETS
About this episode

Mike Baum owns just one rental property, but this one property alone has changed his life. It’s allowed him to become such an investing expert that he’s constantly being asked for his opinion on the BiggerPockets forums, and he provides some of the most well-thought-out investing advice on the internet. So why does he have just one rental property, and why doesn’t he grow using his expertise? The answer isn’t that obvious. 

You wouldn’t know it, but Mike is permanently disabled. After overworking so hard that he ended up losing his vision, he was placed on disability for the rest of his working career. This high achiever was forced to slow down and find something else that could replace his day job. Shortly after his diagnosis, he found BiggerPockets and turned a family vacation home into a short-term rental.

Now, he’s got systems and processes that help him self-manage with very few headaches, and he will probably keep this property as his one and only rental for life. Why didn’t he “FOMO” in when everyone was gobbling up real estate in 2020? Why didn’t he grow his portfolio to become the next tycoon? Mike has some clear answers for why he did what he did, and after listening to him, you might change what you want, too. 

 

In This Episode We Cover:

Why you DON’T need a large real estate portfolio to find financial success when investing

Why Mike tells beginner investors that they should NOT buy a short-term rental property

The systems and processes Mike made to automate his vacation rental self-management (so he works less!)

One thing you should do NOW before you start investing in real estate (it’s free!)

The real result of “FOMO” investing and how to stop shiny object syndrome from blowing you off course 

And So Much More!

 

Links from the Show

Join BiggerPockets for FREE

Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show!

Short-Term Rental & Airbnb Investing Forum

Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums

Grab the Book, “Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth”

Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area

See Dave at BPCON2024 in Cancun!

Investing in Short-Term Rental Properties: A Beginner’s Guide & How to Get Started

Connect with Mike

Connect with Dave


(00:00) Intro

(02:34) Losing Sight After Overworking

(05:24) Empty Lake House?

(08:52) Managing a Vacation Rental

(12:20) Know This BEFORE You Buy

(17:17) Just ONE Property

(20:56) No-FOMO Investing

(26:21) A “Very Interesting” 2025


Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1024

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
How to Make the Most Money Possible from Your Rental Property
This is how to make the most money possible from your rental properties without buying another unit. We got into real estate investing to build wealth, not have the biggest portfolio possible. Financial freedom isn’t so freeing when you have a hundred rental units and hundreds of ... Show More
33m 50s
Oct 6
Turning a $25,000 Rental Property into a $5,000/Month Rental Portfolio
This investor turned a $25,000 rental property (yes, you read that right) into a real estate portfolio producing $5,000/month in actual cash flow. He had no experience, lived in a small town many would write off, and was working 60 hours a week. But small towns mean less competit ... Show More
30m 27s
Oct 3
The New (Better) House Hack: No Roommates, More Rent
House hacking is still the easiest way to start investing in real estate—and it’s getting even easier. You no longer need to live with roommates, share spaces with tenants, and give up your home to offset your mortgage. Instead, thanks to some new methods, you may not even need t ... Show More
33m 51s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2025
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
May 2025
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
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
Jul 2016
Ep #32 - Peter MacKercher started in real estate as an investor in July of 2003 during the summer of his junior year of college. He found a four-unit property that required a full gut to fix up and ju
Peter started in real estate as an investor in July of 2003 during the summer of his junior year of college. He found a four-unit property that required a full gut to fix up and jumped in, living and managing at the property. The next year he graduated with a degree in business a ... Show More
30m 28s
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 2016
Ep #36 - Michael Del Prete A full-time real estate investor and an all-around problem solver, Michael is known for providing top of the line advice and strategies to real estate investors at all lev
A full-time real estate investor and an all-around problem solver, Michael is known for providing top of the line advice and strategies to real estate investors at all levels to achieve tangible results that create cash flow. Michael actively participates in real estate and curre ... Show More
30m 56s
Sep 22
Deciding to Exit After 2 Years of Ownership
Register for the webinar: Liquidity Options for Search Investors - Wed Sep 24th - https://bit.ly/48lptOcJack Saville was asked if owning a small business was underutilizing his talents. The question prompted a big decision.Topics in Jack and Sam’s interview:Jack’s motivation to o ... Show More
1h 27m
Jan 2018
Ep #195 - Tamar Mar Recently Closed on 15 Multifamily Units and Has a Background as a Real Estate Broker and in Business Startups
 In this episode you will learn Tips on how to properly make the switch from a day job into the business. What details to evaluate on a property before putting an offer in. The benefits of syndication and how you can use it to close deals. The possibility of closing on a deal wit ... Show More
30m 46s
Oct 2021
Ep #620 - Multifamily - The best risk adjusted return you can go after
Ivan Barratt is a multifamily owner, manager, and syndicator who specializes in large apartment communities in the Midwest. Since 2015, Ivan Barratt has raised over $100 million in equity, acquired over 5,000 units, and grown The BAM Companies (BAM Capital, BAM Management, and BA ... Show More
34m 55s