Think your first deal’s a win… even if 400 others are selling the same thing?
Your first investment shouldn’t be a battle. If you’re just getting started, avoid jumping into massive projects like condos or timeshares. It’s not just the HOA fees it’s the competition. When everyone’s trying to buy, sell, or rent the same type of property, you’re not investing… you’re entering a bidding war. Start where you can stand out, not where you get drowned out. Comment #Shift to get the guide on 3 Reasons to Invest in Submarkets vs Big Cities and learn how to outsmart the crowd from day one. #RealEstateSmart #FirstTimeInvestor #OutsmartTheMarket source
What if your HOA could raise your expenses… and you had zero say in it?
If the roof, the paint, the parking lot, and the gate aren’t under your control neither is your cash flow. This property looked like a solid investment… until reality hit. New roof. Landscaping issues. Broken gates. Endless assessments. Every problem became my problem passed down through fluctuating HOA dues that slowly killed my cash flow. That’s when I learned: if you don’t control the expenses, you don’t control the outcome. Comment #Single to get the Single Family Deal Due Diligence Checklist and avoid the costly surprises that turn “good deals” into cash flow nightmares. #RealEstateLessons #CashFlowControl #SmartInvestorMoves source
Think your rental’s cash flowing — or are you just hoping your tenant doesn’t leave?
Buying the wrong property will teach you faster than any course ever will. I don’t buy in HOA neighborhoods anymore. I look for areas with low competition and high scarcity because when it’s time to rent, I want options, not a pricing war. And I’ll be honest, this deal taught me the hard way. I didn’t run the numbers right. Six hundred dollars a year on a thirty-thousand-dollar investment? That’s a brutal cash-on-cash return. Real estate isn’t just about buying properties. It’s about buying the right ones. Comment #Single to get the Single Family Deal Due Diligence Checklist. #RealEstateMindset #CashflowTips #InvestorLessons source
Think doubling your money in real estate is always a win? What if it took 30 years and bled cash the
Your property doubled in value great. But did it beat inflation? I bought a condo for 105K. Today it’s worth around 240K. Sounds like a win… until you realize that was 30 years ago. That’s barely 3 to 4K per year. Now factor in fluctuating HOA dues, special assessments, and weak cash flow this wasn’t a wealth-building deal. It was a slow bleed. Appreciation without strategy isn’t a plan. It’s a delay. Comment #Inflation to get the guide on Understanding Inflation and Real Estate and why time alone doesn’t grow your wealth. #RealEstateTruths #WealthOverTime #CashflowMatters source
Did you buy smart—or just buy in a frenzy?
The real estate market doesn’t lie it just waits to expose your mistakes. I’ve been doing this for over 25 years, and I’ve bought right, bought wrong, and missed opportunities completely. Every cycle teaches you something. And when interest rates shot up, I knew what was coming. Deals that looked good on paper started falling apart bad underwriting, poor management, overpaying in hot markets. Now the cracks are showing. This is the part where experience outpaces excitement. Because the smartest investors don’t just ask what to buy they ask why now. Comment #Opportunity to get 6 Real Estate Opportunities You Are Probably Missing especially now, when it matters most. #CycleSmart #RealEstateWisdom #CashflowOverHype source
Would you invest $30K… for $600 a year and zero margin for error?
If one vacancy can wipe out your entire year’s cash flow, you didn’t buy an asset you bought a liability. I was only making $50 a month… if I was fully occupied for 12 months straight. One missed rent check, a spike in HOA fees, or a broken appliance and there went the whole year’s return. That’s the risk when your margins are razor thin and you’re in a condo project where you don’t control the expenses. Cash flow isn’t just about rent. It’s about margin, control, and the ability to breathe when things go wrong. Comment #Single to get the Single Family Deal Due Diligence Checklist so you don’t fall into the same trap. #CashflowMatters #SmartRealEstate #DueDiligenceDoneRight source
Think Rent Growth Will Save You? Think Again.
Rent growth is not a business plan. A lot of investors in the last decade got comfortable thinking 6 to 10% rent growth was normal. It’s not. That was an anomaly, not a strategy. In my 30+ years, I’ve lived through rising interest rates, shifting regulations, and unpredictable market cycles. You can’t count on the Fed to save your deal. Smart investors plan for normal conditions not the perfect storm of cheap debt and double-digit rent bumps. At MC Companies, we buy based on the fundamentals. Strong location. Strong demand. Real cash flow from day one. That’s how we protect investor capital and stay in the game long-term. Want to know exactly what we look for in an apartment deal? Comment #Apt and I’ll show you. #realestaterisks #multifamilystrategy #cashflowinvesting source
What I’d Do Differently If I Were Starting Over in 2025
Most people never buy their first rental because they don’t know where to start. I was one of them. In 1995, I was 34 before I bought my first property. Fast forward 30 years, and I now own over 10,000 doors. If I had to start over in 2025, I wouldn’t focus on finding the perfect deal. I’d focus on learning the business the operations, the numbers, and how to manage people and expenses. I spent nine years in property management before I bought anything. I didn’t have money, but I had knowledge. That’s what gave me the confidence to take the first step. The mindset shift is this you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to get in the game and keep learning. Want to know what MC Companies looks for in an apartment deal today Comment #Apt and I’ll break it down #multifamilyinvesting #startwithknowledge #realestategrowth source
Why You’re Losing Money—Even If Your Property Is ‘Cash Flowing
Everyone’s obsessed with the price of a property. But here’s the truth: price doesn’t matter if there’s no demand. I’ve been in this business 30 years. We’ve bought over $3 billion in assets. And the biggest mistake I see new investors make is this they focus on the number, not the people. Cash flow comes from people. If no one wants to live there, work there, or rent there, your deal isn’t worth anything. At MC Companies, we look for markets with strong job growth, population growth, and a clear demand for housing. That’s what drives consistent cash flow and long-term value. Real estate is about fundamentals, not emotion. If you’re not thinking that way, you’re gambling not investing. Want to know what we look for in an apartment deal? Comment #Apt and I’ll break it down. #multifamilyinvesting #cashflowmindset #realestatestrategy source
The Best Unknown Real Estate Investment That NO ONE Is Talking About
If you are an accredited investor and are interested in investing with MC Companies and Ken follow this link to sign up: https://investwithmc.com/youtube Tired of paying to store your gold? Then check out our sponsor, Monetary Metals!. Working with them you can earn up to 4% a year in physical gold, without selling it, learn more at this link: https://www.monetary-metals.com/ken We cover: ✅ Why billboards are hard to ignore (unlike digital ads) ✅ How we buy billboard leases—not land—and turn them into digital cash machines ✅ How we go from 2 ads to 16 ads per board (that’s a major value-add) ✅ The kind of returns we’re seeing right now—$180K+ a year on a $1M deal ✅ The bonus depreciation strategy that could double your tax savings ✅ Why counties are banning new billboard construction (and how that creates scarcity) This is a real business. It’s lean. It’s cash flowing. And most importantly—it’s under the radar. We’re buying billboard leases, converting them to digital, and locking in long-term ad contracts. Plus, with the potential return of 100% bonus depreciation, these investments are offering both income and massive tax write-offs in year one. Ken has a new YouTube channel for his podcast! Check it out and subscribe at this link: https://YouTube.com/@KenMcElroyPodcast Follow Ken on social media at: https://x.com/kenmcelroy • • • Be sure to click the bell to be notified as soon as the next informational video is posted! Visit Ken’s Bookstore: https://kenmcelroy.com/bookstore • ABOUT KEN: Ken is the author of the bestselling books The ABC’s of Real Estate Investing, The Advanced Guide to Real Estate Investing, The ABC’s of Property Management, and has an upcoming book: “ABCs of Buying Rental Property: How You Can Achieve Financial Freedom in Five Years.” Ken is a Rich Dad Advisor. Ken offers a wealth of personal experiences, practical advice, success stories, and even some informative setbacks, all presented here to educate and inspire. Whether you’re a new or seasoned investor, the information and resources on this channel will set you on a path where you and your investments can thrive. Ken’s company: https://mccompanies.com/ • DISCLAIMERS: Any information or advice available on this channel is intended for educational and general guidance only. Ken McElroy and KenMcElroy.com, LLC shall not be liable for any direct, incidental, consequential, indirect, or punitive damages arising out of access to or use of any of the content available on this channel. Consult a financial advisor or other wealth management professional before you make investments of any kind. Although Ken McElroy and his affiliates take all reasonable care to ensure that the contents of this channel are accurate and up-to-date, all information contained on it is provided ‘as is.’ Ken McElroy makes no warranties or representations of any kind concerning the accuracy or suitability of the information contained on this channel. Any links to other websites are provided only as a convenience and KenMcElroy.com, LLC encourages you to read the privacy statements of any third-party websites. All comments will be reviewed by the KenMcElroy.com staff and may be deleted if deemed inappropriate. Comments which are off-topic, offensive or promotional will not be posted. The comments/posts are from members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ken McElroy and his affiliates. 2025 KenMcElroy.com, LLC. All Rights Reserved. #kenmcelroy #realestate #realestateinvesting source