In this special episode of The Real Estate Ride, the mic gets turned as Julie Houston interviews us on her podcast! We open up about hitting absolute rock bottom—losing our jobs, home, and financial footing—and the journey that followed to rebuild our lives through real estate investing. This episode is a raw, real, and revealing look at how vision, mindset, and creativity helped us reclaim control over our lives and build a business with purpose.

From the very first rent check that got us hooked, to how we now help coaching students close deals in 90 days or less, this conversation is packed with practical advice, hard-earned lessons, and a whole lot of heart. We even break down how we teach our kids to invest, why we avoid bank loans, and how $10 was all it took to land a profitable deal. Whether you’re starting out or starting over, you’ll walk away with a renewed sense of what’s possible.

Timeline Summary

[0:00] - How we stumbled into our first rental and caught the real estate bug

[5:30] - Learning creative financing from library books and Robert Allen

[8:04] - The lowest point: foreclosure, job loss, and four kids in tow

[12:00] - Partnering with a local investor to climb out of crisis

[17:00] - Vision and mindset: building a business that serves your life

[20:18] - How our daughter bought a rental with no credit or money down

[27:00] - Why we teach our kids to invest (and how they now lend money!)

[34:05] - Facebook, referrals, and no-yes questions: our top deal-finding tips

[35:02] - Our $10 house deal and how we turned it into a cash-flowing rental

[38:06] - Paying it forward: how referrals fuel our business and help others

5 Key Takeaways

1. Start with your “why” – Know exactly what you want real estate to do for you before diving in.

2. Mindset is everything – Decide you’re an investor, then take action as if you already are.

3. Creative financing opens doors – You don’t need your own credit, cash, or even a bank to close deals.

4. Mistakes are lessons – Our worst moments became the foundation for a mission-driven business.

5. Teach the next generation – Our kids are now private lenders and investors because we involved them early.

Links & Resources

• Vision Focused Life – Our Amazon bestselling book

• Unicorn Hunting by Neil Timmons

• Julie’s coaching & resources: FullerWalletMedia.com/GetYourFirstDeal

• LandGlide: App for driving for dollars – landglide.com

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