The DealMachine Real Estate Investing Podcast

479: Buying 200 Homes a Year Without Burning Sellers

Episode Summary

Chris Johns explains how a seller-first mindset, strict ethics, and smart systems make buying 200 homes a year possible without burning sellers or renegotiating deals.

Episode Notes

Chris Johns breaks down how his team buys 200 homes a year while refusing to play the usual wholesaling games. He explains why they never renegotiate sellers, how a seller-first culture actually scales better, and how omnichannel marketing - from direct mail to TV - fuels consistent deal flow. Chris also shares how they’re using AI for rehab scopes, design decisions, and buyer confidence, plus why most investors should either commit to real scale or rethink rentals altogether.

 

KEY TALKING POINTS:

0:00 - Intro

0:53 - Chris Johns’ Business

1:34 - What He Did Before They Did Direct To Seller

4:37 - Using Different Forms Of Marketing

6:04 - Why He Stopped Doing Turnkey

10:12 - The Best Way To Get A Return On Your Portfolio

13:25 - Using AI In His Business

18:21 - What Happened In 2025 & Refusing To Renegotiate

23:04 - Doing Novations

26:39 - His Biggest Lesson From 2025

28:09 - Their Company Values

30:10 - Why He Left Healthcare For Real Estate

32:52 - Sales Tips & Letting People Go

37:54 - What To Look For In An Acquisitions Manager

40:01 - Who He’s Learned The Most From

43:06 - A Product That Changed His Life

44:41 - Extra Questions From Moustafa

47:57 - Outro

 

LINKS:

Email: Chris Johns

Chris@SBDHousing.com 
 

Website: SBD Housing

https://www.sbdhousing.com/

 

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/