Passive Real Estate Investing

Click Here for the Show Notes How much cash should you really keep in reserve for your rental properties—and how does that change as your portfolio grows? In today’s episode, Marco answers a great question from listener Clint, who’s actively scaling his Kansas City rental portfolio and wants to avoid tying up too much idle cash while still protecting himself from vacancies, repairs, and surprises. Marco breaks down the real factors that matter—local market strength, tenant quality, property age, neighborhood class, and eviction risk—and shares his practical rule of thumb for reserves, plus how to intelligently scale them as you move from one property to ten or more. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re holding too much cash (or not enough), this episode will help you find the balance between safety and growth.  -------------------------------- Throwback Thursday Episode (The episode originally took place in the year 2021) This episode is part of our Throwback Series and may include references to older content such as web classes, events, promotions, or links that are no longer active or available. While the conversation and insights still hold value, please note that some information may be outdated. -------------------------------- If you missed our last episode, be sure to listen to TBT: Ask Marco - Choosing the Right Neighborhood Download your FREE copy of:  The Ultimate Guide to Passive Real Estate Investing. See our available Turnkey Cash-Flow Rental Properties. Our team of Investment Counselors has much more inventory available than what you see on our website.  Contact us today for more deals.

Click Here for the Show Notes In this episode, Marco tackles a common but often misunderstood real estate investing question: how do you quickly tell if a neighborhood is an A, B, or C area—especially when investing out of state? Responding to a listener aiming for financial independence through rental properties, Marco breaks down the simple patterns that separate high-risk, high-cash-flow neighborhoods from stable, long-term wealth builders. If you’ve ever wondered what really matters when grading a location and why no single website can do it all, this episode will change how you evaluate neighborhoods before your next investment. Be sure to listen to the full episode, subscribe to the podcast, and visit Marco’s website to explore current investment opportunities and learn how his team can help you build a smarter, more confident real estate portfolio. -------------------------------- Throwback Thursday Episode (The episode originally took place in the year 2020) This episode is part of our Throwback Series and may include references to older content such as web classes, events, promotions, or links that are no longer active or available. While the conversation and insights still hold value, please note that some information may be outdated. -------------------------------- If you missed our last episode, be sure to listen to TBT: Ask Marco - Are Low Cost Properties a Good Strategy for Cash Flow? Download your FREE copy of:  The Ultimate Guide to Passive Real Estate Investing. See our available Turnkey Cash-Flow Rental Properties. Our team of Investment Counselors has much more inventory available than what you see on our website.  Contact us today for more deals.

Click Here for the Show Notes In today’s episode, Marco answers a detailed question from Dave, who’s working to replace his day-job income with consistent rental cash flow. Dave wants to know whether focusing on lower-cost properties—typically under $100,000 and producing $250–$350 per month in true net cash flow—is the smartest way to scale both income and number of properties. Marco breaks down the difference between cheap and low-cost properties, explains why cash-flow-centric strategies differ from appreciation-focused investing, and walks through real examples from markets like Memphis, Birmingham, Dayton, and Northwest Indiana. He also discusses neighborhood classes, realistic return expectations, and why comparing deals side by side matters more than price alone. This episode offers clear, practical insight for investors focused on maximizing cash flow and building a portfolio designed for income and long-term freedom. If you’re ready to take the next step, listen in, subscribe to the podcast, and reach out to Marco’s team to learn how you can start building a cash-flow-focused rental portfolio today. -------------------------------- Throwback Thursday Episode (The episode originally took place in the year 2020) This episode is part of our Throwback Series and may include references to older content such as web classes, events, promotions, or links that are no longer active or available. While the conversation and insights still hold value, please note that some information may be outdated. -------------------------------- If you missed our last episode, be sure to listen to TBT: Ask Marco - Do Low Cost Houses Make Good First Investments? Download your FREE copy of:  The Ultimate Guide to Passive Real Estate Investing. See our available Turnkey Cash-Flow Rental Properties. Our team of Investment Counselors has much more inventory available than what you see on our website.  Contact us today for more deals.

Click Here for the Show Notes In this episode, Marco responds to a thoughtful question from Chris, a 23-year-old mechanical engineer eager to begin his real estate investing journey with an eye toward long-term time freedom. With $30,000 saved and an interest in low-cost, cash-flowing rental properties, Chris asks what approach makes the most sense for a first investment and which markets to focus on. Marco breaks down the important distinction between “cheap” and “low-cost” properties, explains how neighborhood classes impact tenant stability and returns, and explores the trade-offs between cash-on-cash returns, net cash flow, and long-term appreciation. Using real-world property examples across multiple markets, he walks through how investors should compare deals beyond price alone and think strategically about risk, returns, and goals. This episode offers practical, high-level guidance for new investors looking to make smart, informed decisions as they get started. -------------------------------- Throwback Thursday Episode (The episode originally took place in the year 2020) This episode is part of our Throwback Series and may include references to older content such as web classes, events, promotions, or links that are no longer active or available. While the conversation and insights still hold value, please note that some information may be outdated. -------------------------------- If you missed our last episode, be sure to listen to TBT: Ask Marco - How Important is it to Invest Locally? Download your FREE copy of:  The Ultimate Guide to Passive Real Estate Investing. See our available Turnkey Cash-Flow Rental Properties. Our team of Investment Counselors has much more inventory available than what you see on our website.  Contact us today for more deals.

Click Here for the Show Notes Today’s question comes from Daniel, a new real estate investor wrestling with a concern we hear all the time: Do you need to live near your investment properties to be successful? In this episode, Marco breaks down why proximity is often overrated and why smart investors should think beyond their backyard. Using a simple stock market analogy and real-world examples, he explains how real estate markets across the U.S. operate independently—and why being “market agnostic” can unlock better cash flow, stronger returns, and more stability, especially if you live in an expensive coastal city. You’ll learn when investing locally does make sense, when it doesn’t, and the key fundamentals to focus on instead, like population growth, job trends, inventory, and building the right team on the ground. If you’re worried about investing long-distance or holding yourself back waiting for the “perfect” local deal, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you clarity. Listen now to learn how to invest where the numbers make sense—not just where you live—and take your next confident step as a real estate investor. -------------------------------- Throwback Thursday Episode (The episode originally took place in the year 2020) This episode is part of our Throwback Series and may include references to older content such as web classes, events, promotions, or links that are no longer active or available. While the conversation and insights still hold value, please note that some information may be outdated. -------------------------------- If you missed our last episode, be sure to listen to TBT: Ask Marco - When Should You Sell a Rental and Buy Somewhere Else? Download your FREE copy of:  The Ultimate Guide to Passive Real Estate Investing. See our available Turnkey Cash-Flow Rental Properties. Our team of Investment Counselors has much more inventory available than what you see on our website.  Contact us today for more deals.