There’s a saying we live by at RP Capital: “Through service we build people.” It’s not just something we feel in our gut and put into practice because we believe it – it’s actually the very reason we’re able to run a profitable business…Now to some folks, it may seem like a contradiction that you can build a business around the idea of focusing on others. But the fact is, your greatest success actually comes from helping others.Here’s what I mean…We Learn and Get Better… By TeachingIt’s true: if

When it comes to business and finances, most folks are so… ordinary. And maybe that’s fine for them.But not for you. Not if you’re reading this blog.Because you are after a level of success ‒ financial freedom, work-life balance, and the ability to make an impact ‒ that few people will ever attain. You are… extraordinary.Here’s a definition of extraordinary: “Very unusual or remarkable; unusually great.” It comes from two words: extra ‒ “out of”, and ordinary ‒ “normal, having no special or

There’s a lot of information (and mis-information) out there about whether you should invest in-state or out-of-state with real estate. The fact is, it depends…It depends on the kind of investment properties you’re looking for. It depends on the model you’re following (are you buying and holding, or fixing and flipping?). For our purposes here, we’ll focus on the core of the RP Capital way ‒ buying and holding single family residences (and maybe duplexes or fourplexes) to rent out. However, what

There’s a TON of information out there about how to make yourself more successful in real estate. I’m a real estate guy… and even I can’t follow it all. But the stuff I do see?Well, it’s a mix. Some of it’s really good. There’s a lot of “OK, I guess” in there. And way too much “just plain wrong”. And the advice is all over the place: You should absolutely handle property management yourself… except for everyone who says you shouldn’t… You should avoid flipping at all costs… except for all the

You hear a lot these days about how important it is to achieve a “work-life balance.” And it is important.We’ve all heard stories about (or witnessed first-hand) what happens when high achievers lose site of it. Broken marriages… missing the kids grow up and realizing too late that it’s already happened… completely avoidable heart attacks… it’s not pretty.So how do you do it? How do you achieve and maintain this oh-so-important balance between “work-life” and “life-life”?Well, everyone’s unique,

The quality of tenants occupying your rental property is extremely important…Get it right… and they will put cash in your pockets month after month while growing your net worth. Get it wrong… and they’ll seriously harm your cash flow. It’s worth getting it right.Now, before we jump into some tips for this, keep in mind that there are real advantages to having a good property management company handle the nuts and bolts of tenant screening for you. However, you may not be ready for that yet. And

Most folks don’t think of taxes as being something they can put to work for them. Isn’t the whole purpose of the tax code for the IRS to take away huge chunks of your hard-earned money?So how can the tax code be your friend?Well, whether you ever consider it your “friend” or not, real estate investing does allow you to get some real benefits out of the tax code. Quite a few, actually. We’ll touch on just a few today.First, though, we need to get really clear on an important issue…Profit Is in

How do you get rich? What do rich people differently from everybody else that enables them to become so wealthy?Great questions!And I’ve got some answers. I won’t try to cover everything here ‒ but I will give you 5 “Get Rich Habits” you can start putting to work for yourself right now…Hang Out With and Imitate Wealthy PeopleThe company we keep has a profound effect on how we think and act. It’s hard to become wealthy when practically everyone around you is stuck in a poverty/scarcity mentality.

How do you draw the line between taking care of yourself and having “positive self-esteem” (the good kind ‒ not the modern, wimpy snowflake kind)… versus being flat-out selfish, and self-centered to the point of being a real nuisance to society?It’s a good question. In part because it helps clarify your purpose in life ‒ what a lot of folks call your WHY. (Go here, here, and here for more posts that touch on your personal WHY… and “why” that matters a lot to your success.) Today, though, I

As I’ve written before, in many ways retirement is about thinking backwards…Or, as Stephen R. Covey put it, “Begin with the end in mind.” So let’s build on that today.Here are three issues to ponder as you look forward to the day when your real estate investments bring you to the place where you are free to retire.You’ve escaped the rat race ‒ you’ve “arrived”. Now what?When you’re “retired”…You Have OptionsThis is big. And it can actually be a little unsettling, believe it or not. The choices