I remember when I was starting out, I kept thinking, “I don’t have enough money to buy property yet.” That belief paralyzed me. I thought I had to stack millions before I could even think about real estate. Then I learned something that changed everything: you don’t need millions—you need the right deal. Here’s why: if you lock down a solid property with strong numbers, the money always comes. You can buy it yourself with 5–20% down. You can partner with someone. You can even flip the contract to another investor if you’re not ready to close. But if all you do is sit there complaining about not having a down payment, you’ll never even get to the point of finding a deal worth fighting for. Focus on the hunt. The money is secondary. A great deal solves that problem for you every time.

When a tenant refuses to pay, you’ve got two main strategies: negotiation or litigation. ❇️ Negotiation: Sit down like adults. Offer them money to leave. You’d be shocked how fast people accept cash for keys if it saves them the stress of eviction. ❇️ Litigation: If they won’t budge, then it’s time to bring in the lawyer. Depending on the state, it might take two months, but eventually they’re out. The key is not letting emotion cloud the decision. Real estate is business. Whether it’s money or lawyers, there’s always a cost—but the smart investor chooses the one that costs less in the long run.

Let’s be real—sometimes tenants stop paying, and you’ve got two options: drag it out legally or solve it fast. I’d rather pay a tenant a couple thousand to move out than waste six months and twice as much on legal fees. Here’s the mindset shift: ❇️ Lawyers cost time and money. Every month they drag it out, you’re bleeding cash flow. ❇️ Tenants will often take a deal if you approach them respectfully and frame it as a win-win. ❇️ Cash-for-keys isn’t losing—it’s buying back your peace of mind and control over your property. Don’t let pride keep you stuck in court battles. A smart investor isn’t worried about “winning the fight,” they’re focused on protecting the bottom line.

Scaling in real estate is sexy. Everyone wants to go from 1 door to 50 fast. But here’s the truth no one tells you: if your first property is broken, your second will be worse, and your third will be a nightmare. Don’t scale garbage. Scale wisely. ❇️ Dial in your first deal until it’s a cash-flow machine. ❇️ Focus on systems — tenant screening, maintenance, expense tracking. ❇️ Only when you’ve optimized should you start multiplying. The investors who burn out are the ones who scale chaos. The ones who win are the ones who scale order. Stop obsessing over how many doors you own. Instead, ask yourself: “If I duplicated this property 10 times, would my life be easier… or hell on earth?” 📌 Action: Look at your first deal. Is it ready to be multiplied? If not, get it right before moving on.

Too many investors get caught in the trap of bragging about how many doors they own. “I’ve got 40 units.” Okay… but do those units actually make you money, or are you just babysitting problems? I’ve met investors with 40 doors and $0 in profit. They look successful on Instagram, but in real life they’re stressed, broke, and one bad tenant away from disaster. Here’s the truth: you don’t need 100 properties. You need the RIGHT ones. ❇️ One property that nets you $2,000 a month is better than ten that lose you money. ❇️ A well-selected deal with tenant demand and low headaches will compound faster than chasing volume. ❇️ If your current properties aren’t efficient, fix them before scaling. Real investors don’t chase unit counts. They chase freedom. And freedom comes from profit, not bragging rights. 📌 Action: Go through your portfolio today. Which deals are actually carrying their weight — and which ones are just there for your ego?