Episode #1248 If you know these *10 things before you start investing in real estate,* you’ll *reach financial freedom faster,* make more money with fewer rentals, and keep your stress levels in check. But if you don’t, you’ll learn them the hard way, as many investors do. These are the *10 things we wish someone had told us before we started buying rental properties.* If you’re like most beginners, you’ve probably got a big goal: 50 rentals in 5 years so that you can be *financially free by 30, 40, or 50!* Or, you think you’ll buy a handful of rental properties, turn on property management, and coast into the sunset, a *millionaire investor* with your rentals running on autopilot. What if we told you the reality is very different, but the results are better than you can imagine? Both *Dave and Henry reached financial freedom with rental properties* in under fifteen years, without falling into the traps most aggressive “investors” do. Today, they’re sharing what actually works, so you can *start building the life you dream* of and do it all in a decade (or less!). What’s the one skill Dave and Henry regret never learning? Why will chasing cash flow too early delay financial freedom? And why is sticking to your investing goals actually a mistake? Episode Show Notes: https://lnk.to/biggerpocketsYT Join BiggerPockets for FREE 👇 https://www.biggerpockets.com/signup?utm_source=owned_media 🎉Join us at the BiggerPockets Conference October 2-4 in Orlando. Buy tickets: https://biggerpockets.com/bpcon2026 Let Us Know What You Thought of the Show! https://www.BiggerPockets.com/Podcastfeedback Grab Dave’s Book, _Start with Strategy_ : https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/start-with-strategy?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Sign Up for the BiggerPockets Real Estate Newsletter: https://www.biggerpockets.com/email-subscribe?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area: http://biggerpockets.com/agentmatch 6 Numbers You Need to Know Before Buying a Rental Property: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1244?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Connect with Henry: https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/henryw22?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Connect with Dave: https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/davem27?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none 00:00 Intro 01:03 1. Goals Decide Your Strategy 04:58 2. This is a BUSINESS 07:41 3. You (Probably) Won't Go Broke 11:24 4. You Will Always Care the Most 11:29 Sponsor: Baselane! 15:12 5. Learn About Construction/Rehabs 18:22 6. Door Count Doesn't Matter 22:04 7. Treat Tenants Like Customers 26:39 8. Financial Freedom Comes Fast 30:21 9. Your Goals WILL Change (That's Okay) 34:10 10. Safe Always Beats Cheap