The DealMachine Real Estate Investing Podcast

329: How He Got To 360 Rentals (And What He’d Do Differently)

Episode Summary

Brian Higgins reveals what 360 rental properties taught him about cash flow, debt, and the deals he’d never buy again.

Episode Notes

Welcome to the show for real estate investors looking to go beyond the limitations of the Multiple Listing Service. Are you tired of competing for slim margins on MLS properties and wondering how to tap into more lucrative opportunities? In this episode, we sit down with Brian Higgins, who initially started his real estate journey by buying rentals on the MLS without even knowing about wholesaling. Brian's story takes us through his evolution into a seasoned investor who built a portfolio of 360 rental properties and also successfully wholesaled approximately 500 properties over a few years. Tune in to learn how Brian transitioned beyond relying solely on the MLS to uncover alternative deal sources and develop the analysis skills needed to achieve significant scale in your real estate business.

Here are three impressive things about Brian Higgins that were not explicitly mentioned in the podcast intro we created:

• Brian and his partner rapidly scaled their business, purchasing approximately 800 to 900 deals in a four-year range. This demonstrates a significant pace of acquisition and activity.
• Brian's understanding of deal analysis evolved to prioritize long-term cash flow over just initial equity gains, recognizing that even deals with high equity might not be sound investments if they don't cash flow adequately. This shows a deeper understanding of sustainable real estate investing.
• Brian and his partner developed a model called "burn keys" where they would wholesale properties, renovate them, and even offer property management, providing a full-service solution for investors. This highlights their innovative approach and ability to cater to a specific investor need.

KEY TALKING POINTS:

0:00 - An Overview Of Brian Higgins’ Business

2:59 - How Brian Got His Start In Real Estate

7:57 - The Investors That Buy Deals From Him

8:41 - Offsetting The Income From Real Estate & Cost Segregation

12:18 - What He Was Trying To Accomplish When He Started His Business

14:48 - Owning 360 Rentals & A Property Management Company

18:33 - How His Thought Process Changed After Having A Few Properties Paid Off

22:07 - The Mindset That Led To His Success

24:01 - Working With Contractors & Appraisers

26:45 - How Brian Approaches Renovation Costs

31:53 - What He’d Be Doing If He Wasn’t Doing Real Estate

32:45 - His Lowest Point In Business

34:39 - His Highest Highs In Business

36:05 - What He Would Say To Someone Who Says It’s Too Late To Invest

39:41 - What He’s Looking Forward To Most In 2025

43:42 - Closing Thoughts

44:09 - Outro

LINKS:

Facebook: Brian Higgins

https://www.facebook.com/brian.higgins.904/

Instagram: David Lecko

https://www.instagram.com/dlecko

Website: DealMachine

https://www.dealmachine.com/pod

Instagram: Ryan Haywood

https://www.instagram.com/heritage_home_investments

Website: Heritage Home Investments

https://www.heritagehomeinvestments.com/