The Broke Millionaires

Learn how we made over $2M in equity in 5 years. FREE download of the ALLLL Method™ blueprint. https://bit.ly/4pUFBMD
Real estate investing and passive income are often marketed as effortless paths to financial freedom, but in Episode 45 we unpack the truth about rental properties, value-add real estate, property management, cash flow, and what it really takes to build wealth.
Joshua and Lauryn dive into the misconception that real estate is passive from day one. Whether you’re buying rentals, flipping homes, managing apartments, or scaling short-term rentals, the early stages are rarely hands-off.
They share real-life examples from their own portfolio — renovation delays, sewer backups, contractor issues, property manager challenges, and the reality of being house rich but cash broke.
Key themes in this episode:
• Why passive income requires upfront effort and risk
 • The difference between buying assets and building systems
 • Why even managed properties require decisions
 • The stress behind value-add investing
 • The loneliness of building wealth differently
 • Raising kids while managing renovations and rental properties
Joshua explains that passive income becomes more passive over time as systems, automation, and teams take over. But in the beginning, it demands time, energy, capital, and resilience.
If you’re building a real estate portfolio and chasing financial freedom, this episode offers an honest, grounded look at what the journey really involves.
⭐ Support the Show

If this episode helped you, please leave a 5-star rating and a review. It takes 2 seconds and helps us reach more families building wealth in a down economy.

Connect + Support:

If you got value from this episode, share it with a friend and leave a review. Questions or guest recommendations? DM Joshua + Lauryn.
Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_
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Want to learn more about our mastermind community? Send us a DM or visit https://bmlegacywealthbuilder.com

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice.

Learn how we made over $2M in equity in 5 years. FREE download of the ALLLL Method™ blueprint. https://bit.ly/4pUFBMD

In Episode 44, Lauryn and Joshua talk about a key lesson reinforced by Dan Martell’s coaching: when sales are going down and a product is consuming your time without paying you back, it’s time to sunset it—not emotionally, but strategically. They share real-life updates on family life, investing momentum, and what “rebuilding” looks like in 2026. Joshua breaks down a major strategic pivot inside Midnight30 Marketing: moving away from commodity orders (low-dollar, high-time) and doubling down on premium, service-based client gifting through a new brand—Impacked™.

The conversation goes deep into raising minimums, learning to say no, automating repeat orders using AI, and building a scalable “client experience gift” system designed to boost retention for coaches, educators, and membership-based businesses.

They also share updates on:
• stabilizing their Texas apartment building with new property management
• a solar + roof program that drops insurance costs dramatically
• launching the Broke Millionaires Legacy Wealth Builder community

🔥 What You’ll Learn
• Why “selling commodities” becomes a race to the bottom—and how to escape it
• How to reframe an offer and charge more by adding a service layer
• The importance of sunsetting work that drains time and kills momentum
• Why $50, $500, and $50,000 orders can cost the same amount of time
• How Joshua plans to use AI automation to process repeat orders end-to-end
• The Impacked™ concept: premium gifts + automation + retention triggers (welcome / mid-year / renewal)
• Why premium items beat cheap swag (and actually stay in people’s lives)

🧠 Key Themes
• Momentum, positivity, and rebuilding as 2026 focus words
• Letting go of “yes to everything” and protecting time with minimums
• Shifting from transactional orders to a retention-based program
• Building a business model that supports family life (not 80-hour weeks)

🧩 Mentioned in the Episode
• Dan Martell coaching framework: pivot + sunset declining offers
• Impacked™ (premium client experience gifting)
• Legacy Wealth Builder community + weekly calls + deeper coaching
• Automation using AI to reduce time spent on repeat orders
• Premium gifting for online coaches and educators 

⭐ Support the Show

If this episode helped you, please leave a 5-star rating and a review. It takes 2 seconds and helps us reach more families building wealth in a down economy.

Connect + Support:

If you got value from this episode, share it with a friend and leave a review. Questions or guest recommendations? DM Joshua + Lauryn.
Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_
Want to learn more about our mastermind community? Send us a DM or visit https://bmlegacywealthbuilder.com

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice.

#BrokeMillionairesPodcast #BusinessPivot #EntrepreneurLife

Learn how we made over $2M in equity in 5 years. FREE download of the ALLLL Method™ blueprint. https://bit.ly/4pUFBMD

Brent Bowers (thelandsharks.com) joins Joshua and Lauryn to break down how he went from broke Army officer, deployments, and debt to building freedom through vacant land investing. Brent shares the exact moment land “clicked” for him, why land beats rentals for simplicity, and how seller financing turned one small deal into predictable monthly cashflow. If you’ve ever thought land investing sounds fake, this episode will challenge that.

In This Episode, We Cover:
• Brent’s origin story: military life, family strain, and needing a way out
• Why rentals didn’t “cashflow” like promised (repairs killed profits)
• The first land deal: paying $285 in back taxes and turning it into $5,000
• Why “boring” land can be a money printer with seller finance
• How Brent uses postcards/letters to reach tax-delinquent landowners
• Seller financing: down payments, 8–12% interest, and long-term cashflow
• The biggest lie: “You can’t make money with land”
• Why beginners fail: inconsistency, perfectionism, and quitting too early
• The fastest way to lose money: skipping due diligence (call the county!)
• Tax mistakes: the painful IRS bill, and why depreciation assets matter
• Passive vs active: it’s active while building, passive once stabilized
• Long-term plan: keep taxes low, buy rentals annually (mobile parks/industrial)
• Golden rule: “Never buy on emotion”

Book recommendation: Who Not How (Benjamin Hardy + Dan Sullivan)

Brent’s Most Memorable Lessons:
• Consistency beats perfection. Send the offers, follow up, repeat.
• Due diligence is non-negotiable. “Call the county and see if it’s buildable.”
• Cash chunks + cashflow matters. Big flips are great, but monthly payments protect you in downturns.
• Land has fewer headaches. No tenants, no toilets, no HVAC repairs.

Resources + Links:
• Brent’s site: thelandsharks.com
• Land owner/data tool: landsharksdata.com
• Brent on YouTube: Brent Bowers (https://www.youtube.com/@brentlbowers)
• Postcard resource mentioned: thelandsharks.com/postcard

Connect + Support:

If you got value from this episode, share it with a friend and leave a review. Questions or guest recommendations? DM Joshua + Lauryn.

Want to learn more about our mastermind community? Send us a DM or visit https://bmlegacywealthbuilder.com

Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice.

#LandInvesting #CreativeFinance #SellerFinancing #WealthBuilding #RealEstateInvesting #BrokeMillionaires

FREE download of the ALLLL Method™ blueprint. https://bit.ly/4pUFBMD

In this episode, Joshua and Lauren pull back the curtain on one of the hottest topics they keep getting asked about: co-hosting midterm rentals. They break down what co-hosting really is (and what it isn’t), why their model focuses on 91016, and the exact process they use to onboard and manage properties—from the discovery call to guest screening, turnovers, and performance clauses.

They also share a wild real-world result: one of their three-bedroom midterm rentals closed out 2025 with 355 booked nights—only 10 vacant days all year—by strategically stacking reservations and building a strong lead network (insurance placement, corporate stays, and overflow leads from Airbnb).

If you’re a real estate investor considering midterm rentals—or an owner curious about co-hosting—this episode lays out the operational truth: leads + systems + the right property are everything.

What You’ll Learn
• Why “stacking reservations” is the secret to minimizing gaps in a midterm calendar
• The difference between short-term, midterm, long-term, and where each model wins
• Why vacancy can kill short-term numbers (even in “perfect” STR locations)
• The #1 reason most owners fail at midterm rentals: no lead network
• Why they tell owners to expect ~10 months occupancy (and aim to overdeliver)
• How they evaluate property fit (size, layout, family features, market demand)
• The difference between market appreciation, inflation, and forced appreciation
• Their co-hosting system: walkthrough → analysis → proposal → onboarding → operations
• The “controversial” turnover move: brand new sheets + duvet cover every guest
• How they screen guests using tools like Autohost, ID verification, and leases

Key Topics Covered

Stacking bookings + insane occupancy
• A three-bedroom property closes 2025 with 355 booked nights (10 vacancy days).
• Why midterm can outperform STR vacancy patterns (midweek gaps, turnover friction).

Why they won’t build on comfort
• Selling a property to “fix cashflow” is a band-aid that sacrifices long-term wealth.
•Capital gains taxes + losing an appreciating asset makes selling a bad “quick fix.”

The three types of appreciation
• Market appreciation: supply/demand forces.
• Inflation hedge: dollar devaluation inflates asset prices on paper.
• Forced appreciation: strategic renovations and value-add improvements.

Co-hosting vs arbitrage
• Arbitrage relies on fixed rent obligations while income can decline.
• Cities tightening STR rules + oversaturation has crushed some large operators.
• Co-hosting offers a lower-liability model (no master lease exposure).

Why midterm operations are different
• Midterm guests are often families, displaced insurance claims, corporate stays.
• Furnishings must feel homey + durable, not “party house” aesthetic.
• Small details matter: bathtubs, family amenities, cohesive kitchen setup.

Their “Controversial” Turnover Standard
They do something almost nobody does:

✅ Every new guest gets brand new sheets + a brand new duvet cover

• They don’t reuse sheets for guests—helps avoid stains, wear, and hygiene concerns.
• Guests can keep the sheets; sheets are donated when possible.

It also saves labor:
• Their cleaning crew does less laundry, which reduces turnover time and cost.

Who This Episode Is For
• Investors considering midterm rentals as a strategy
• Owners struggling with vacancy or transitioning away from STR
• People curious about co-hosting but unsure what it includes

Resources Mentioned
• Airbnb Co-Host platform (for leads + matching owners to co-hosts)
• Autohost (guest screening + verification workflows)
• Ryan Pineda’s book: “The Wealthy Way”

If you got

CLICK HERE for a FREE download of the ALLLL Method™ blueprint. 
Want to learn more about our mastermind community? Send us a DM or visit BMLegacyWealthBuilder.com
In this episode of The Broke Millionaires Podcast, Joshua and Lauryn unpack a powerful wealth-building concept that most investors completely overlook: creative lending itself can be the investment.
The conversation starts by breaking down why the traditional financial system favors owners over employees — from taxes to inflation and debt — and why simply earning more income rarely leads to financial freedom. But around the 12-minute mark, the episode takes a deeper turn into creative lending strategies and how they can be used to generate returns, reduce risk, and unlock deals that conventional financing can’t touch.
Instead of viewing lending as something only banks do, Joshua and Lauryn explain how everyday investors can step into the role of the lender — using private notes, seller financing, subject-to deals, and hybrid structures to create income-producing assets backed by real estate.
They discuss how creative lending allows investors to:
Earn returns without owning or managing the property
Control risk through collateral and structure
Stay liquid while still benefiting from real estate-backed deals
Participate in deals they otherwise couldn’t qualify for
Build predictable income streams outside of appreciation plays
The episode also covers why creative lending becomes especially powerful in uncertain or high-interest-rate environments, when sellers need flexibility and traditional buyers struggle to qualify. Rather than sitting on the sidelines, lenders who understand creative structures can step in as problem solvers — and get paid to do it.
Joshua and Lauryn share real-world examples of how these strategies show up in their own investing journey, including how lending can complement long-term rentals, mid-term rentals, and active ownership strategies — all while fitting into a family-focused, long-term wealth plan.
In this episode, we cover:
Why the financial system rewards ownership over labor
How inflation quietly destroys savings
The difference between investing in real estate vs. investing through lending
What creative lending actually looks like in practice
How seller financing and private notes work
Why being the lender can mean less stress and more control
How creative lending fits into a diversified wealth strategy
This episode is ideal for investors who want exposure to real estate without taking on another renovation, tenant, or management headache — and for families looking to grow wealth without relying solely on appreciation.
Resources & Next Steps:
If you want to learn how we evaluate creative deals, lending structures, and long-term ownership strategies as a family, explore the Legacy Wealth Builder community or book a discovery call to see if it’s a fit.
🎧 Listen through the end, share this episode with a partner or investor friend, and let us know which creative strategy surprised you most.
We are looking for guests that have something helpful to share. If you or someone you know could make a good guest on the show, drop us a line to see if it would be a good fit [email protected]
Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_