
How to Buy Your First Rental Property in 2026 (Step-by-Step)
14/1/2026 | 49 min
This is how to buy a rental property in 2026. You don’t need experience, a big bank account, or a complicated spreadsheet. Anyone can follow these seven steps to acquire (at least) one rental property by the end of 2026. Real estate investments are one of the best ways to grow wealth, reach financial freedom, and retire early. But you need to start with your first rental property to get to your end goal. We know how to do it because both Dave and Henry went from zero rentals (and almost no money) to financially independent investors. It took Dave 15 years, but Henry only 7. And you might be able to do it faster. We’ll start by helping you define your goal: how much passive income do you want and by when? Then, how to pick the right strategy, market, and property to fit that goal. We’ll share key rules of thumb to help you analyze (calculate the profit of) your first rental and understand what a “good deal” really looks like. Then, how to make offers, manage your first rental, and repeat it, so you can reach financial freedom. This isn’t theory; we’ve followed these seven steps to achieve life-changing passive income. Now, it’s your turn. In This Episode We Cover How to buy your first rental property by the end of 2026 (it’s possible!) The first thing you should do before you look at a single rental property Why we choose our investing strategy before choosing a market to invest in The easiest way to analyze rental properties (and what a “good deal” looks like) The biggest mistake new investors make when submitting offers Do this during the first 90 days of owning a rental (very, very important) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1226 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chad Carson: How to Retire with the Fewest Rentals Possible in 2026
12/1/2026 | 42 min
You do not need a huge rental property portfolio to retire early. Today, Chad Carson (Coach Carson) will prove it, explaining how to retire with the fewest rentals possible. Trust him, because he’s already done it with fewer rentals than you’d think. Chad ditched the “buy 100 doors” mentality in exchange for fewer rentals, fewer headaches, and way more cash flow. Now, in his 40s and years into his lifestyle of two-hour workweeks, Chad has more than enough passive income to provide for his family, go on long (often up to a year at a time) international trips with his wife and children, and grow the wealth that will sustain him through traditional retirement age. Thousands have copied his “small and mighty” approach, as Chad’s name has become synonymous with “make more doing less.” Today, Chad is showing you how to do it in 2026, even if you only have five hours a week to dedicate to investing, even with today’s home prices and mortgage rates, and even if you’re starting with zero experience. Plus, the best properties for beginners and experienced investors, the exact deals he’s purchasing in 2026, and why now may be the best buying opportunity in years. In This Episode We Cover: How to retire early with the fewest rentals possible in 2026 The best real estate investing strategy for a beginner with limited free time Why Chad believes there is more “opportunity” for investing in 2026 than in previous years Put more money down? Plus, why Chad strongly believes paid off properties beat big portfolios Why “ugly” rental properties will get you to financial independence even faster How to “harvest” your cash flow once you’ve built a big enough portfolio And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1225 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Zillow Forecast: 10 Predictions for the 2026 Housing Market
09/1/2026 | 40 min
Zillow released its new 2026 housing market predictions and…I’m not sure I agree with them. From home price to mortgage rate predictions, “kidfluence” steering decisions, and the rise of the lifestyle renter, I’m going through all 10 of Zillow’s predictions and sharing which I agree with, which I’m confused by, and which made me laugh. Even with a few very interesting predictions, I do think some core forecasts will actually play out in 2026. When’s the last time you asked your kid, “Hey buddy, where do YOU want to live?” and rented based on their answer? Well, Zillow believes that your toddler does have a serious influence on your next home. But that’s not all. In 2026, renting could become cool again as more “lifestyle renters” plan NOT to buy, even if mortgage rates drop. This could be a good sign for investors looking to keep long-term tenants, but you’ll need the right type of property. We’ll also touch on Zillow’s home price prediction (and why they’re more positive than Dave), the floor for mortgage rates in 2026 (will we break into the 5s?), and why buying a new-build could get even better. In This Episode We Cover Zillow’s 2026 housing market predictions (prices, rates, rents, and more!) Why housing demand could bounce back (but by how much?) The “kidfluence” and why your seven-year-old really calls the shots when house hunting One prediction that Dave audibly started laughing at (does anyone believe this?) The rise of “lifestyle” renters and a good trend for real estate investors Will AI find your next home? Why Zillow is betting on a breakthrough And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1224 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I Went from $1,000 to 100 Rentals in 8 Years (+ BIG Announcement)
07/1/2026 | 36 min
After 1.5 years of hosting the BiggerPockets Real Estate podcast, Dave is making a change…a big one. Today, we’re announcing the new co-host of the podcast—someone we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by… This investor went from having only $1,000 in the bank to 100 rental properties just eight years later. He started with barely any money, bad credit, and a spending problem, and has quickly become one of the most financially savvy real estate investors in the industry, inspiring thousands of others to take control of their futures and find financial freedom for themselves and their families. And after many of you begged us to combine forces, this investor is joining the BiggerPockets team to share the lessons they’ve learned so you can build wealth faster and better than before. In today’s episode, we’re announcing the new BiggerPockets Real Estate co-host, how one conversation changed their entire financial future forever, and proof that you can go from zero experience to a real estate millionaire, even if you know nothing about rentals right now. A new era for BiggerPockets Real Estate starts now. In This Episode We Cover BIG announcement: the new co-host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate podcast How to go from broke and no plan to financial freedom with rental properties Closing your first real estate deal, even if you have zero experience Why you need to start telling everyone that you want to invest in real estate Beginners: this is what you must know before you buy your first deal Got an idea for an episode? Let us know what YOU want to see in 2026! And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1223 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2026 State of Real Estate Investing: An “Easier” Road Ahead
05/1/2026 | 43 min
Real estate investing is about to get easier…much easier. And this could be the average American’s first opportunity in years to get in the game. Small investors are more optimistic, planning to buy—not pause—in 2026 as home prices stall, rents get ready to rise again, and affordability slowly trickles back. This is the State of Real Estate Investing in 2026, and the opportunities are growing. We’ve turned a corner in the housing market. Buyers have control, prices can be negotiated, and mortgage rates are coming down—this is what we’ve been asking for. Cash flow is even making a comeback after many investors thought it was gone for good. So, what strategies will work especially well in 2026, what are the pitfalls investors should look out for, and what is Dave buying in the next 12 months? Today, we’re sharing it all. Strategies. Tactics. Risks. Rewards. We’re cracking open the expert investor playbook, and even sharing brand-new insights from investors that contradict what major media networks have been telling you about the housing market. In This Episode We Cover Cash flow returns—the 2026 perfect storm for cash flow potential to increase The biggest buying opportunity in years—and why average Americans must take advantage Real estate investing strategies Dave is betting on (with his own money!) in 2026 Riskier strategies new investors should stay away from (and experts can win with) Four crucial considerations before you buy an investment property Housing crash in 2026? Here’s the real likelihood of it happening And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1222 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices



BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast