I Bought My First Rental in 2021, Now I Have 19 and Replaced My Salary! | Bigger Pockets Podcast

This high school football coach grew a real estate side hustle over the past four years that now replaces his W2 income. He did it making a median salary, all while working his full-time job and raising his family. He didn’t use flashy methods, risky strategies, or constant cold calling. Starting with around $30,000, Lamontis Gardner went from zero to 19 rental units in just four years and is STILL growing!

After pandemic lockdowns left Lamontis with extra time and little work, he knew he needed to stop solely relying on his W2 income to fuel his life. Of course, Rich Dad Poor Dad found its way into his hands, and the real estate bug began. From there, Lamontis turned a lost deal into an opportunity to buy three duplexes from one owner. The problem? He only had a third of the money. It was time to partner up!

After a home run first real estate deal that gave him a six-figure equity upside, Lamontis knew this was the path for him. Since then, he’s been buying rentals, flipping houses, and doing whatever he can to reinvest in real estate, all while working his W2 job. Now, he’s replaced his W2 income but is STILL growing his portfolio even in 2025’s high-rate, “tough” housing market. Want to do the same? Copy Lamontis’s strategy! 

In This Episode We Cover
How to invest in real estate when you don’t have enough money for a down payment 
Why you DON’T need to cold call in order to find great off-market real estate deals 
The easiest (and most profitable) homes to flip that ANYONE can find on-market
Why section 8 rentals are not what you think (and might be as good or better than regular rentals)
When to flip vs. renovate and rent a house (telltale signs of a great flip/bad rental) 
How Lamontis scaled to 19 rentals and multiple flips per year WITHOUT a big team 
And So Much More!

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