The Breakthrough with Stephen Husted

Stephen Husted

Welcome to The Breakthrough with Stephen Husted, the show that takes you behind the scenes with successful entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and other movers and shakers in the business world. In each episode, we'll sit down with our guests to explore their personal and professional journeys, including the challenges they've faced, the breakthrough moments that propelled them to success, and the strategies and tactics they've used to get there. Get inspired by new ideas and strategies and get to know our guests on a deeper level.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    EP 70: How to Get Clients Using Content Creation in 2026 with Thomas Smith

    Most entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and business owners don’t fail because of the algorithm. They fail because fear, inconsistency, and waiting to feel ready stop them before momentum ever starts. In this episode, content strategist Thomas Smith breaks down how to grow online, attract clients, and use social media to create real business opportunities. If you’re a real estate investor, entrepreneur, realtor, business owner, or creator trying to grow online, this episode is packed with practical advice. Stephen sits down with content strategist Thomas Smith to discuss how social media is changing the game for real estate investing, entrepreneurship, and personal branding in 2026. They talk about why many real estate agents and investors struggle with content creation, how to overcome the fear of posting, and why your first 100 posts are about building confidence, not perfection. Thomas shares actionable strategies for growing on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, including how to create content that attracts qualified leads, build trust with potential clients, and stand out in crowded industries like real estate, investing, and business. They also dive into how tools like ChatGPT and AI are helping entrepreneurs create faster, improve marketing systems, and save time while scaling their business. Whether you’re trying to generate real estate leads, grow your investing brand, or build an online business, this conversation will give you a new perspective on content creation that actually drives results. - Why real estate investors and entrepreneurs need content in 2026 - How to grow on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube organically - Why most real estate agents fail at social media marketing - How to attract real estate leads using content - Why your first 100 posts matter more than perfection - How to build a personal brand in real estate and business - How ChatGPT helps entrepreneurs create faster - Why authenticity builds trust and closes clients - How to monetize content without sounding salesy - Why consistency beats chasing the algorithm Find Thomas‘ IG here: https://www.instagram.com/nofilterthomas/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomassmith31/ Follow Stephen on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stephenhusted/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow our Podcast on IG:⁠ ⁠@thebreakthrough.podcast⁠⁠ Connect on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhusted/⁠ and YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsdNkau-5DUE9rGUIHrpfXA⁠⁠

    57 min

  2. 16 APR

    EP 69: How She Built 12 Rental Units in Her 20s (Real Estate Story) with Rachel Morrow

    She went from studying for her real estate license in an Amazon warehouse break room… to owning 12 rental units by 24 and reaching financial independence through real estate. Starting in real estate can feel overwhelming, intimidating, and honestly… out of reach. In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Morrow, a real estate investor and agent who proves that you don’t need to have everything figured out to get started. From studying for her license while working at Amazon to building a portfolio of 12 units, Rachel shares what it actually looks like to learn through doing. We talk about the fear that stops most people from making their first move, the mistakes that cost her early on, and why real estate becomes simpler once you take action. Rachel also breaks down house hacking, tenant challenges, and how tools like ChatGPT are changing how investors analyze deals today. This is a real, honest conversation about starting before you feel ready, learning through experience, and building confidence along the way. Stephen and Rachel talked about: How Rachel went from zero experience to owning 12 rental units Why your first real estate deal feels harder than it actually is The biggest mistakes new investors make with tenants and property management How house hacking works and why it’s one of the best ways to start Why taking action teaches more than endless research How ChatGPT can help you analyze real estate deals faster The importance of building the right team in real estate Why comparing yourself to others will slow your growth If you’re thinking about getting into real estate but feel stuck or unsure where to start, this episode will shift your perspective. Make sure to subscribe for more real conversations with investors and entrepreneurs building real wealth. Find Rachel‘s IG here: https://www.instagram.com/rachdoesrealestate/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-morrow-88ab8b17b/ Follow Stephen on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stephenhusted/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow our Podcast on IG:⁠ ⁠@thebreakthrough.podcast⁠⁠ Connect on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhusted/⁠ and YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsdNkau-5DUE9rGUIHrpfXA⁠⁠

    58 min

  3. 2 APR

    EP 68: How They Built 26 Units Through BRRRR and Smart Partnership | Sam Farman

    Everyone wants the freedom that real estate can bring… but almost nobody talks about how long it actually takes to build. In this episode, Stephen sits down with Sam Farman, a New York-based real estate investor who, alongside his business partner Joe, has spent the last several years steadily building a rental portfolio that now includes 26 units. Their story didn’t start with a giant apartment building or a flashy first flip. It started with learning the fundamentals, buying smaller properties, using the BRRRR strategy, and figuring things out one deal at a time. Sam shares how they went from their first duplex to scaling into multifamily rentals, why having the right business partner matters more than most people realize, and how some of their biggest lessons came from things going wrong, not right. Stephen and Sam talked about: - How Sam and Joe got started in real estate investing through mortgages, property management, and self-education How they used the BRRRR strategy to grow from one duplex into multiple rental propertie- Why business partnerships can either accelerate your growth or create major problems The importance of being a strong real estate operator, not just a buyer What beginner investors need to know about cash flow, deal analysis, and conservative underwriting Why real estate investing is a long game, not a get-rich-quick strategy How to avoid analysis paralysis and learn through your first deal Why keeping your W2 job while investing can actually help you scale faster The mindset it takes to survive tenant issues, burst pipes, vacancies, and setbacks Why endurance, grit, and consistency matter more than hype in rental property investing This episode is especially valuable for anyone in that frustrating stage where you’re doing the research, trying to get started, or wondering why progress in real estate feels slower than expected. Because the truth is, real estate investing is less about overnight wins and more about staying in the game long enough to stack knowledge, cash flow, and momentum. If you’re trying to build a rental property portfolio, learn the BRRRR method, understand how to scale in real estate, or avoid beginner investor mistakes, this conversation will give you a much more realistic picture of what the journey actually looks like. Find Sam‘s LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-farman-02b53515b/ Follow Stephen on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stephenhusted/⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow our Podcast on IG:⁠ ⁠@thebreakthrough.podcast⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhusted/⁠and YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsdNkau-5DUE9rGUIHrpfXA⁠⁠

    53 min

  4. 19 MAR

    EP 67: Property Management vs Asset Management with Selali Kalevor

    The people who truly had financial freedom weren’t just saving or investing in stocks. They were building through real estate and business ownership. Most property managers collect rent and fix leaks. Selali does something different. A child of Ghanaian immigrants, finance grad, former wealth management analyst, and now a Seattle-based real estate broker and asset manager, Selali came to this conversation with a perspective you don't hear often. He doesn't manage properties. He manages outcomes.  In this episode, Selali Kalevo and Stephen get into what it really takes to build wealth through real estate, not just the strategy, but the mindset, the grit, and the willingness to impose yourself on the life you want. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why Selali calls himself an asset manager instead of a property manager, and what that difference actually means for landlords and tenants The two wealth patterns he spotted working in wealth management: business ownership and real estate, and why he chose real estate How doing 5,000 loan signings gave him a masterclass in real estate transactions before he ever made a deal of his own His 'highest and best use' approach to properties, including how he helped a landlord turn a 70-year-old duplex into a five-unit development opportunity The above, beside, and below accountability strategy he uses to stay on track with big goals Why grit is the one trait that requires no special background, no perfect score, and no lucky breaks to develop About Selali Selali Kalevor is a licensed Realtor, asset manager, and business owner based in Bellevue, Washington. He holds multiple professional designations including Licensed Realtor, former Mortgage Loan Originator, and Licensed Investment Advisor. He's part of Compass's top 1.5% brokerage team in Washington state by volume, founder of K & M Property Management, and is working toward a 200-door portfolio with a long-term plan that includes ground-up development and syndication. A child of Ghanaian immigrants, Selali's story is a direct product of the mindset he talks about on this episode. Find Selali‘s IG here: https://www.instagram.com/selali.kalevor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/selali-kalevor/ Follow Stephen on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stephenhusted/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow our Podcast on IG:⁠ ⁠@thebreakthrough.podcast⁠⁠ Connect on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhusted/⁠ and YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsdNkau-5DUE9rGUIHrpfXA⁠⁠

    57 min

  5. 5 MAR

    EP 66: How to Scale a Rental Portfolio Using Equity and 1031 Exchange With Jesse Walters

    What happens when you finally reach your rental income goal? Do you keep scaling your real estate portfolio or start paying properties off? In this episode, Stephen sits down with Jesse Walters, a real estate investor and agent based in Columbia, Missouri who started investing in 2021 and quickly scaled his rental property portfolio to nearly $30,000 per month in rental income. Jesse shares how he went from buying a simple turnkey rental property to learning how to use equity, creative financing, and strategic reinvestment to keep growing his real estate investments. The conversation also explores how he used a 1031 exchange to turn profits from one property into a brand new triplex development, while avoiding capital gains taxes and increasing long-term cash flow. If you're interested in real estate investing, rental property strategies, scaling a rental portfolio, or using a 1031 exchange to build wealth, this episode breaks down what the journey actually looks like. Stephen and Jesse talked about: 📌 How Jesse bought his first turnkey rental property and got started in real estate investing 📌 Why taking action before knowing everything helped him scale faster 📌 Using local bank relationships and construction loans to finance rental properties 📌 How he used equity from early properties to acquire additional deals 📌 The deal that accelerated everything: buying a fourplex using cross-collateralization 📌 Why value-add properties can help investors scale faster than turnkey rentals 📌 How Jesse used a 1031 exchange strategy to reinvest profits into new real estate 📌 Turning profits from a fourplex into a new construction triplex development 📌 How to evaluate a local rental market and why job growth matters for real estate investors 📌 The long-term investor question: keep scaling a rental portfolio or start paying properties Find Jesse‘s IG here: https://www.instagram.com/jesse.v.walters/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waltersjesse/ Follow Stephen on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stephenhusted/⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow our Podcast on IG:⁠ ⁠@thebreakthrough.podcast⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhusted/⁠and YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsdNkau-5DUE9rGUIHrpfXA⁠⁠

    51 min

  6. 19 FEB

    EP 65: VA Loan + Midterm Rentals: How Katie Newman Made It Work in DC

    What if your first house could pay most of your mortgage… without becoming a full-time landlord? In this episode, Stephen sits down with Katie Newman, a real estate investor and healthcare professional who has quietly built a powerful portfolio using house hacking, midterm rentals, and VA loans in a high-cost market near Washington, DC. Katie walks through how she bought an $800,000 home with zero money out of pocket, converted the basement into a fully separate midterm rental for around $10,000, and now rents it for $2,100 per month. She breaks down exactly how she structured the layout, screened tenants, priced rent, and avoided common mistakes that cost investors time and money. Stephen and Katie also get honest about contractor issues, tenant horror stories, security deposits, background checks, and why being slightly under market rent can actually protect your cash flow. This episode is packed with real numbers, real systems, and real lessons for anyone serious about house hacking or midterm rentals. Stephen and Katie talked about:  📌 How Katie used the VA loan multiple times to acquire properties with little to no money out of pocket 📌 The exact basement conversion strategy that turned a single-family home into a cash-flowing house hack 📌 Why midterm rentals outperform long-term rentals in high-cost, transient markets 📌 How to identify the perfect tenant pool (healthcare, military, government, police academy) 📌 Tenant screening process using TurboTenant, background checks, and job verification 📌 Why Katie keeps security deposits low to reduce friction and vacancy 📌 The importance of professional photos for Furnished Finder listings 📌 Real contractor mistakes, how she handled them, and what she’d do differently 📌 Why chasing max rent can backfire and how longer stays reduce headaches 📌 Stephen’s real-world lesson on tenant damage and why midterm rentals still require systems Find Katie‘s IG here: https://www.instagram.com/midshift_investor/reels/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynenewman/ Follow Stephen on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stephenhusted/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow our Podcast on IG:⁠ ⁠@thebreakthrough.podcast⁠⁠ Connect on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhusted/⁠ and YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsdNkau-5DUE9rGUIHrpfXA⁠⁠

    1hr 3min

  7. 5 FEB

    EP 64: The Real Estate Path Nobody Explains: Rentals → Development → Freedom? | David Rosenbeck

    What happens when you stop chasing properties and start building assets on purpose? In this episode, Stephen sits down with David, a former nurse practitioner whose investing journey started during the pandemic while working in high-pressure hospital environments like the ER, ICU, and oncology. While caring for patients, David noticed a growing issue that most investors were missing. Traveling nurses had money, but they didn’t have comfortable, reliable places to stay. That insight became the foundation of his real estate strategy. David shares how that simple observation led him into midterm rentals, why he chose to scale intentionally instead of chasing doors, and how that mindset eventually pushed him toward ground-up development and residential assisted living. What makes David’s story compelling isn’t just the asset classes he chose, but how methodical and patient his approach has been at every stage. 📌 Why many investors naturally progress from long-term rentals → midterm rentals → short-term rentals → development, and how chasing “movement” is often mistaken for real progress 📌 Midterm rentals as a foundation strategy, including why hospitals and traveling professionals create stable, predictable demand. 📌 The biggest difference between owning old properties vs new builds, and why predictability matters more than hype 📌 Ground-up development in Sedona, including: - Choosing lots based on views, not square footage - How land appreciation can offset permitting and planning costs - Why patience is the real skill in development 📌 Private money strategies that don’t require giving up equity, including: - Using old 401(k)s rolled into self-directed IRAs - Structuring promissory notes correctly - Avoiding SEC and securities issues 📌 Why development offers multiple exit strategies, such as: - Selling approved plans - Cash-out refinancing - Holding as a high-end short-term rental 📌 The reality of working with cities, engineers, and contractors, and why being “too nice” can cost you months 📌 Why small, unique stays and ultra-luxury properties are winning, while the middle gets squeezed 📌 Residential Assisted Living (RAL) as a long-term play, including: - SBA financing advantages - Cash flow potential compared to traditional rentals - Why this asset class has decades of runway 📌 The mindset shift from chasing deals to designing a life, and how fewer properties can create more freedom This conversation goes beyond tactics. Stephen and David talk openly about progression in real estate, the risks of moving too fast, why development requires a different level of discipline, and how building wealth is often more about waiting and positioning than constant action. Find David‘s IG here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidrosenbeck/⁠ Follow Stephen on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stephenhusted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow our Podcast on IG:⁠⁠ ⁠@thebreakthrough.podcast⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhusted/⁠⁠and YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsdNkau-5DUE9rGUIHrpfXA⁠⁠⁠

    1 hr

  8. 16 JAN

    EP 63: Building an ADU in 2026: What to Expect, What to Avoid, What Works with Sergio Rodriguez

    What if the biggest skill in real estate isn’t finding deals… but learning how to handle problems without falling apart? In this episode, Stephen sits down with Sergio Rodriguez, a high-performing general contractor who has built 40 to 50 ADUs in a year and continues to scale with strong systems, steady execution, and an honest approach to client relationships. They talk about what real construction looks like behind the scenes, why investors get distracted by shiny strategies, and how the best results come from staying locked in, solving bigger problems, and keeping long-term tenants instead of chasing top-dollar rent. Sergio also drops real-world advice for homeowners and investors: what to look for when hiring a contractor, how to avoid getting burned by renovations, why communication is half the job, and the construction trends he’s seeing heading into 2026. Stephen and Sergio talked about: Why investing always comes with problems, and the faster you solve them, the bigger the reward How Sergio focuses on adding density through ADUs and why it’s such a strong long-term real estate play Why keeping good tenants matters more than pushing rent to the max Tip: Vacancy + turnover costs (repairs, repaint, marketing, delays) can wipe out the extra rent you think you’re gaining Red flags with property management companies and why some investors choose to manage in-house Tip: PMs may push rent increases and turnover because they earn fees from leasing and repairs How to protect yourself when hiring a contractor Tip checklist: licensed, insured, workers’ comp (non-negotiable) Best move: meet them first, check job sites, test their communication before you pay anything Why remodels and construction projects are stressful and expose bad communication fast Real construction timeline problems like inspection delays and why you need patience + planning What’s changing in ADU builds (gas allowed again for ADU water heaters) Design trends Sergio is seeing right now neutral finishes, limewash/plaster looks less gray floors/cabinets travertine coming back Find Sergio’s IG here: https://www.instagram.com/integrumgc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/integrum-construction/ Follow Stephen on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stephenhusted/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow our Podcast on IG:⁠ ⁠@thebreakthrough.podcast⁠⁠ Connect on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhusted/⁠ and YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsdNkau-5DUE9rGUIHrpfXA⁠⁠

    47 min
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About

Welcome to The Breakthrough with Stephen Husted, the show that takes you behind the scenes with successful entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and other movers and shakers in the business world. In each episode, we'll sit down with our guests to explore their personal and professional journeys, including the challenges they've faced, the breakthrough moments that propelled them to success, and the strategies and tactics they've used to get there. Get inspired by new ideas and strategies and get to know our guests on a deeper level.

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