Rent To Retirement: Building Financial Independence Through Turnkey Real Estate Investing

In this special episode, Rent To Retirement founder Zach LeMaster joins the Lifestyle Dentist Podcast to share how he went from practicing optometry to building a real estate portfolio that ultimately gave his family financial independence.

Zach shares how he and his wife used rental real estate to gradually replace their active income, giving them the freedom to continue practicing healthcare because they enjoy it—not because they financially have to. The conversation explores passive income, long-term wealth creation, real estate tax advantages, cost segregation, leverage, and how busy professionals can invest without turning real estate into another full-time job.

👉 Click here: https://bit.ly/3QSPEoS to learn more about this program and speak with the RTR team to answer all your questions!

Here is how the RTR STR Tenant Placement Program works allowing anyone to qualify to use a cost segregation study to take massive tax deductions against their active income or W2 income in 2026:
You buy a vacant new construction rental property from RTR, where you can receive up to $30K+ in incentives to be used as cash back, a rate buydown, or a price reduction—the choice is yours.
You take about 10 minutes to set up an Airbnb short-term rental listing following RTR’s guide.

RTR rents your home for 2–5 nights. You do NOT need to furnish the home. This establishes the home as a short-term rental for 2026 under the strategy discussed in the episode, potentially allowing you to use a cost segregation study to write off approximately 30% of the home value against your income in 2026.

RTR estimates 30% based on its experience. Example: a $300K home could potentially generate approximately a $90K tax deduction.

You can continue managing the property as a short-term rental, or turn it over to RTR’s management teams beginning January 1, 2027.
The potential result: 5 to 6 figures in 2026 tax savings while acquiring a quality new-construction rental property in a growing market.
And with the combination of RTR cash-back incentives plus potential tax savings, you could potentially recover a substantial portion of your original down payment—dramatically increasing your effective ROI.

That’s how Rent To Retirement helps investors pursue early retirement through real estate investing.

👉 Click here: https://bit.ly/3QSPEoS to learn more about this program and speak with the RTR team to answer all your questions

🏠 In this episode:

0:00 – Why Zach was invited on Lifestyle Dentist
1:10 – From optometrist to real estate investor
3:10 – Replacing active income with rentals
9:01 – Why real estate works for high-income professionals
11:14 – Real estate tax benefits
12:04 – Cost segregation explained
14:52 – Real estate professional status
19:18 – Bonus depreciation explained
22:17 – Short-term rental tax strategy
23:26 – Material participation rules
24:30 – How the STR strategy works
27:19 – $300K property / $90K deduction example
28:03 – Builder incentives & cash back
33:14 – How many rentals can replace your income?
35:25 – Scaling a rental portfolio
41:18 – Buying your first rental
44:15 – Cash vs. leverage
51:00 – Why cash flow matters
52:08 – Avoiding analysis paralysis
53:07 – Turnkey real estate investing
56:33 – Where new investors should start
58:08 – Investing outside your local market
59:42 – Connect with Rent To Retirement

👉 Click here: https://bit.ly/3QSPEoS to learn more about this program and speak with the RTR team to answer all your questions

🔔 Subscribe to the Rent To Retirement channel for more strategies on turnkey real estate investing, rental properties, passive income, tax advantages, and building long-term wealth.

⚠️ This episode is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, financial, or accounting advice. Speak with your CPA, attorney, or qualified tax professional regarding your individual situation.

👉 Click here: https://bit.ly/3QSPEoS to learn more about this program and speak with the RTR team to answer all your questions!

💰 How the 2026 Strategy Works

Learn how EVERYONE can use a cost segregation study to offset 5 or 6 figures of taxable income from your W2 (or any income source) in 2026, even if this is your very first rental! No real estate professional status needed!

Here’s how it works:

You buy a vacant new construction rental property from RTR, where you can receive up to $30K+ in incentives to be used as cash back, a rate buydown, or a price reduction—the choice is yours.
You take about 10 minutes to set up an Airbnb short-term rental listing following RTR’s guide.

RTR rents your home for 2–5 nights. You do NOT need to furnish the home. This establishes the home as a short-term rental for 2026 under the strategy discussed in the episode, potentially allowing you to use a cost segregation study to write off approximately 30% of the home value against your income in 2026.

RTR estimates 30% based on its experience. Example: a $300K home could potentially generate approximately a $90K tax deduction.

You can continue managing the property as a short-term rental, or turn it over to RTR’s management teams beginning January 1, 2027.
The potential result: 5 to 6 figures in 2026 tax savings while acquiring a quality new-construction rental property in a growing market.
And with the combination of RTR cash-back incentives plus potential tax savings, you could potentially recover a substantial portion of your original down payment—dramatically increasing your effective ROI.

That’s how Rent To Retirement helps investors pursue early retirement through real estate investing.

👉 Click here: https://bit.ly/3QSPEoS to learn more about this program and speak with the RTR team to answer all your questions!

⏱️ Timestamps

0:08 – How cost segregation can potentially offset active income
0:44 – Using the strategy with your very first rental property
1:11 – Combining RTR incentives with potential tax savings
2:18 – Why the 2026 program has limited availability
3:40 – How cost segregation works
4:26 – Using the short-term rental strategy without real estate professional status
5:14 – Passive losses vs. active income
5:37 – Important tax and legal disclaimer
5:59 – Estimating depreciation with a cost segregation study
6:53 – The 30% cost segregation example
7:23 – How a $300K property could generate an estimated $90K deduction
7:47 – Example: reducing $100K of taxable income
8:08 – What happens when deductions exceed your income
8:30 – Depreciation recapture and 1031 exchanges
8:54 – The short-term rental strategy explained
9:40 – The “substantially all” work test
10:12 – Three potential material participation paths
11:17 – Why the substantially-all test matters
11:39 – The under-7-day average stay requirement discussed
12:27 – Setting the property up on Airbnb
13:53 – Why the home does NOT need to be furnished for RTR’s placement
14:32 – What happens after the initial short-term rental stay
14:52 – Transitioning to property management in 2027
16:08 – Limited inventory and available new-construction properties
17:11 – Fort Pierce, Florida property example
17:56 – $339K property and 13% incentive breakdown
18:46 – Cash-back and cash-flow example
19:28 – Combining potential tax savings with RTR incentives
20:46 – Potential triple-digit ROI explained
21:29 – The 2–5 night RTR tenant placement process
22:47 – Alabama and Florida property examples
23:58 – Final recap and why timing matters in 2026

⚠️ Tax Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified CPA, tax professional, or attorney regarding your specific situation.

👉 Click here: https://bit.ly/3QSPEoS to learn more about this program and speak with the RTR team to answer all your questions!

This episode is sponsored by…

NCH:
Set up an LLC to protect your investments! – https://nchinc.com/rtr

BLUPRINT HOME LOANS:
Get pre-approved with one of RTR’s preferred lenders at - https://bluprinthomeloans.com/renttoretirement/

Is today’s real estate market creating better opportunities than the headlines suggest? 🏡 In this episode of the Rent To Retirement Podcast, host Matthew Seyoum joins Tommy Brown to examine current rental-property trends, changing inventory levels, interest rates, and some of the largest builder incentives they’ve seen.

Discover why Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres may be stabilizing after years of rapid growth and oversupply, how builders in Florida, Texas, and Alabama are encouraging investors with substantial incentives, and why waiting for the “perfect” market could carry a significant opportunity cost.

⏱️ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

0:08 – Introduction and the current state of the real estate market
1:02 – How rental properties and investment markets are evaluated
1:59 – Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres return to the conversation
4:53 – Southwest Florida inventory and appreciation trends
5:41 – Looking beyond negative Florida real estate headlines
6:36 – Inventory returns to pre-pandemic levels
7:35 – What makes a strong secondary or tertiary rental market?
8:14 – Florida insurance, flood zones, and new construction
9:04 – Interest rates and builder activity across multiple states
10:17 – Why builders are offering larger investor incentives
10:44 – Alabama incentives worth 9% of the purchase price
11:11 – How incentives can reduce vacancy risk
12:41 – Leased Texas rentals with $30K–$40K incentive packages
13:21 – Why today’s market may reward investors who act
14:40 – New-build duplexes with over $105K in incentives
15:46 – How investors can make decisions in an uncertain market
16:13 – Opportunity cost, total ROI, and risk-adjusted returns
17:38 – Final thoughts

If you’re ready to build a passive rental-property portfolio, connect with the Rent To Retirement team. Subscribe for more real estate market updates, turnkey investment strategies, and rental-property opportunities! 🔔

📧 Got a question or story to share?
Email us at: ⁠podcast@renttoretirement.com⁠

👍 Like this episode? Hit the thumbs up, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next one!

💬 Comment below with your biggest takeaway from this episode!

🌐 Explore turnkey investing opportunities: ⁠⁠https://www.renttoretirement.com⁠⁠

🗓️ Schedule a Free Consultation:
https://bit.ly/3QSPEoS

📺 Subscribe to the YouTube Channel:
⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h1lnz1kM75Gj79VV8QtEg⁠⁠

🎧 Listen to the Rent To Retirement Podcast on the Go:
⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/renttoretirement⁠⁠

📬 Join Our Newsletter Email List:
Submit your info at the top right corner of the page:
⁠⁠https://renttoretirement.com⁠⁠

📩 Have Questions for the Podcast?
Send them to: ⁠podcast@renttoretirement.com⁠
Your question might be answered in a future episode!

#RealEstateInvesting #RentalProperties #TurnkeyRealEstate #PassiveIncome #BuilderIncentives

This episode is sponsored by…

NCH:
Set up an LLC to protect your investments! – https://nchinc.com/rtr

BLUPRINT HOME LOANS:
Get pre-approved with one of RTR’s preferred lenders at - https://bluprinthomeloans.com/renttoretirement/

Can turnkey rehab properties help you build a rental portfolio faster—and with less capital?

In this episode of the Rent To Retirement Podcast, host Matthew Seyoum and investment strategist Tommy break down how professionally renovated turnkey properties can offer investors a lower entry point, stronger projected cash flow relative to their down payment, and an opportunity to diversify across multiple rental properties. 🏠📈

They explain how turnkey rehabs differ from ordinary flips, what investors should expect from the renovation and inspection process, and why an older property does not automatically mean higher risk. You’ll also learn how investors may be able to enter select markets with approximately $30,000–$40,000 in available capital instead of waiting years to afford a new-construction rental.

⏱️ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

00:08 – Why turnkey rehab properties deserve consideration
00:59 – Established markets where rehab rentals are available
1:25 – Who should consider investing in rehab properties?
2:14 – Using rehabs to acquire more doors and diversify
4:41 – Why investors choose established rental markets
5:34 – Are older rental properties too risky?
6:05 – Renovation standards and major property systems
7:16 – How established turnkey providers reduce investor risk
8:13 – Why professional rehab teams outperform occasional flippers
8:59 – Typical purchase prices for turnkey rehab properties
9:44 – Down payments, closing costs and starting capital
10:39 – Rehab cash flow compared with new construction
11:45 – The capital required for new-construction rentals
12:27 – How an investor’s timeline affects property strategy
13:51 – Why time in the market matters
15:40 – Balancing financial analysis with personal risk tolerance
16:24 – Using rental cash flow to strengthen retirement income
17:04 – Overcoming fear and investment decision fatigue
18:12 – How to review available properties and pro formas

Professionally renovated rehab properties may be especially valuable for investors who want to begin sooner, acquire multiple doors, generate additional retirement income, or avoid leaving investment capital on the sidelines for several years.

🗓️ Schedule a Free Consultation:
https://bit.ly/3QSPEoS

📧 Got a question or story to share?
Email us at: podcast@renttoretirement.com

👍 Like this episode? Hit the thumbs up, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next one!

💬 Comment below with your biggest takeaway from this episode!

🌐 Explore turnkey investing opportunities: https://www.renttoretirement.com

📺 Subscribe to the YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h1lnz1kM75Gj79VV8QtEg

🎧 Listen to the Rent To Retirement Podcast on the Go:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/renttoretirement

📬 Join Our Newsletter Email List:
Submit your info at the top right corner of the page: https://renttoretirement.com

📩 Have Questions for the Podcast?
Send them to: podcast@renttoretirement.com
Your question might be answered in a future episode!

#TurnkeyRealEstate #RentalPropertyInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #PassiveIncome #CashFlow #TurnkeyRentals #RehabProperties #RentToRetirement

This episode is sponsored by…

NCH:
Set up an LLC to protect your investments! – https://nchinc.com/rtr

BLUPRINT HOME LOANS:
Get pre-approved with one of RTR’s preferred lenders at - https://bluprinthomeloans.com/renttoretirement/

ROI Property Group:
If you are interested in direct lending with ROI Property Group, give Rob Fuller a call at 707-365-6891 to learn more. 12-24 month loan options are available. Let him know that Rent To Retirement sent you! - https://www.roipropertygroup.com/rtr

Discover a new-construction rental opportunity in the Houston, Texas market with properties priced under $315,000, professional on-site management, and tenants already in place in many cases.

In this episode of the Rent To Retirement Podcast, host Matthew Seyoum speaks with Ryan, a real estate professional with nearly 30 years of institutional investment, multifamily, development, and asset-management experience.

Ryan explains how the strategies used by large institutional investors can benefit individual rental-property owners. They examine the advantages of purpose-built rental communities, including economies of scale, dedicated maintenance personnel, stronger resident retention, lower operating expenses, and more consistent property management.

The featured homes are located in the Rosharon area south of Houston within a master-planned community offering pools, a lazy river, sports courts, a clubhouse, and other resident amenities. The community also provides convenient access to Highway 288 and the Texas Medical Center—one of the region’s most significant employment centers.

🏡 In this episode:

0:09 – Houston new-construction rental opportunities
0:43 – Ryan’s nearly 30 years of real estate experience
1:49 – How institutional investors approach single-family rentals
2:18 – Why institutions moved toward build-to-rent communities
6:05 – Institutional investors versus individual retail investors
7:06 – Introducing the Rosharon, Texas rental opportunity
7:37 – Alvin ISD and the Sierra Vista master-planned community
8:22 – Resort-style amenities available to residents
8:58 – Access to the Texas Medical Center and Highway 288
9:58 – Houston’s secondary markets and path of progress
11:02 – Why professional property management matters
11:50 – The operational advantages of managing homes at scale
12:18 – Dedicated on-site maintenance and community management
13:29 – Creating an apartment-level service experience in a single-family home
14:33 – Advice for investors still waiting on the sidelines
15:31 – Houston’s recent construction cycle and supply outlook
16:21 – Why the supply-demand balance may begin favoring owners
16:57 – New-construction rentals priced under $315,000
17:46 – Maintenance requests resolved in less than half a day
18:27 – How on-site maintenance can reduce investor expenses
19:04 – Occupancy, resident retention, and average turnover costs
19:45 – Why turnkey investing can simplify remote ownership
20:26 – The value of provider relationships and professional infrastructure
21:24 – Final thoughts for rental-property investors

📧 Got a question or story to share?
Email us at: ⁠podcast@renttoretirement.com⁠

👍 Like this episode? Hit the thumbs up, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next one!

💬 Comment below with your biggest takeaway from this episode!

🌐 Explore turnkey investing opportunities: ⁠⁠https://www.renttoretirement.com⁠⁠

🗓️ Schedule a Free Consultation:
⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3QSPEoS

📺 Subscribe to the YouTube Channel:
⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h1lnz1kM75Gj79VV8QtEg⁠⁠

🎧 Listen to the Rent To Retirement Podcast on the Go:
⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/renttoretirement⁠⁠

📬 Join Our Newsletter Email List:
Submit your info at the top right corner of the page:
⁠⁠https://renttoretirement.com⁠⁠

📩 Have Questions for the Podcast?
Send them to: ⁠podcast@renttoretirement.com⁠
Your question might be answered in a future episode!