The We Buy Ugly Houses® Podcast

thewebuyuglyhousespodcast
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Real estate isn’t just about properties. It’s about people, problems, and possibilities. Welcome to The We Buy Ugly Houses® Podcast, powered by HomeVestors®—the nation’s leading real estate investing franchise. Whether you’re curious about getting started, scaling your investing business, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at how deals really get done, this show pulls back the curtain. Each episode dives into real stories from franchisees, industry experts, and investors in the trenches—covering everything from finding deals and funding them to navigating challenges and closing with confidence. No fluff. No theory. Just real conversations about what it takes to win in real estate investing. If you’re ready to learn how to turn opportunity into action—and houses into profit—you’re in the right place.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago ·  Video

    AI in Real Estate: What Investors Should Use, Avoid & Prepare For

    In this episode of the We Buy Ugly Houses Podcast, host Derek Douglas sits down with Ty East, CTO at HomeVestors, to talk about how technology and artificial intelligence are changing real estate investing, and where investors need to be careful. Ty explains how technology supports the HomeVestors system from the moment a seller reaches out, including lead routing, call recording, AI-generated summaries, call scoring, and tools designed to help franchisees work more efficiently. They also discuss how AI is being used for renovation planning, rehab budgets, property visuals, and even product recommendations, along with the risks that come with adopting new tools too quickly. In this conversation, Derek and Ty cover: How AI can support real estate investors without replacing the human element Why data security and cybersecurity matter more than ever The risks of AI-powered cold calling and automated texting What investors should consider before trusting a third-party AI tool How HomeVestors evaluates new technology before introducing it to franchisees Why technology should make people more efficient, not get in the way of the seller relationship Ty’s message is simple: technology is a tool. It can help investors work faster, make better decisions, and improve their processes, but real estate is still a people business, especially when someone is selling one of the most valuable assets they own. Guest: Ty East, CTO, HomeVestors Host: Derek Douglas Podcast: We Buy Ugly Houses Podcast

  2. Jul 2 ·  Video

    How We Found 100+ Deals a Year Using the MLS

    In this episode of the We Buy Ugly Houses Podcast, Derek Douglas sits down with Steve Peterson, longtime real estate investor, former HomeVestors franchisee, and creator of Blue Squid, to talk about one of the most overlooked opportunities in real estate investing: the MLS. Steve shares how he went from believing there were no deals on the MLS to building a system that helped him source and buy more than 100 deals a year. They discuss why so many investors ignore MLS opportunities, how data can help identify high-probability deals, why speed matters when making offers, and how Blue Squid was built to reduce the manual work behind finding, analyzing, and tracking MLS deals. If you’ve ever thought the MLS was too crowded, too slow, or not worth your time, this conversation may change your mind.

  3. Jun 24 ·  Video

    From Rentals to Mailbox Money: Adam Schneider’s Owner-Finance Strategy

    In this episode of the We Buy Ugly Houses Podcast, Mike sits down with Adam Schneider to break down a real estate strategy most investors never seriously consider: building long-term wealth through owner-financed mortgages instead of traditional rentals. After years of buying houses and building a rental portfolio, Adam realized that being a landlord wasn’t the legacy plan he wanted for his family. Instead of staying stuck with tenant issues, maintenance calls, vacancies, and all the chaos that comes with rentals, he began building a different model: selling homes with owner financing and holding the note. In this conversation, Adam shares: Why he moved away from traditional rentals as a long-term strategy The difference between being the landlord and being the bank How owner financing can create long-term income without the day-to-day rental headaches What kind of buyers fit this strategy How he structures down payments, notes, and financing terms Why Dodd-Frank rules matter if you plan to do multiple owner-finance deals How he uses note hypothecation to free up capital and keep buying more properties The pros and cons of selling with a deed versus using a contract-for-deed / land contract Why this strategy can be a powerful tool for legacy wealth and passive income Adam also talks about the reality behind “passive income” in real estate, why most investors overcomplicate their first deals, and how HomeVestors helped expose him to new strategies and relationships that changed the trajectory of his business. If you’re a real estate investor, landlord, or someone trying to build long-term wealth through real estate, this episode will give you a completely different way to think about cash flow, ownership, and financial legacy.

  4. Jun 17

    HomeVestors Just Made a Major Technology Move

    In this episode of The We Buy Ugly Houses Podcast, Derek Douglas sits down with HomeVestors Chief Growth Officer Brandon Gebers to discuss one of the company's biggest technology moves in recent years: the acquisition of Blue Squid. Why does this matter? Because real estate investing is changing. Fast. For years, many investors believed there wasn't enough opportunity on the MLS. The data told a different story. During HomeVestors' research, the team discovered that nearly 30% of flipped properties were purchased from MLS listings, while only a small percentage of HomeVestors acquisitions came from the same source. That gap revealed a major opportunity. In this conversation, Derek and Brandon break down: ✅ Why HomeVestors acquired Blue Squid ✅ How technology can help investors identify more opportunities ✅ The role of AI and machine learning in property evaluation ✅ Why MLS deals have been overlooked by many investors ✅ How automation can reduce hours of manual work ✅ The future technology strategy at HomeVestors ✅ What this means for franchisees and investors moving forward This isn't just about buying software. It's about creating new opportunities, improving efficiency, and building the future of real estate investing. If you're interested in real estate investing, technology, acquisitions, business growth, or the future of the housing industry, this episode is for you. 👍 Like the video 💬 Leave a comment with your thoughts 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with industry leaders, investors, and operators #RealEstateInvesting #HomeVestors #BlueSquid #WeBuyUglyHouses #PropTech #RealEstateTechnology #BusinessGrowth #MLS #HouseFlipping #RealEstatePodcast #Entrepreneurship #AIInRealEstate #InvestmentProperties

  5. Jun 8

    From Hobby to CEO: The Mindset Shift That Saved My Real Estate Business | Jeff Hotz

    For 8 months, Jeff Hotz was technically a real estate investor — but he was running it like a hobby. He had no deals. He had paper folders in the back seat instead of a CRM. He was watching the people he trained with close houses while he sat in his car wondering if he'd made a mistake. Then something snapped. In this episode, host Derek Douglas sits down with Jeff Hotz — Marine Corps veteran, 13-year We Buy Ugly Houses franchisee out of Columbus, Ohio — for an honest, no-filter conversation about the gap between wanting a real estate business and actually building one.

  6. Jun 2

    Zero Real Estate Experience to Full-Time Investor: The Mentor Blueprint

    Most new real estate investors are chasing the wrong number. In this episode, host Derek Douglas sits down with two of We Buy Ugly Houses' top operators — Rob Sturrock (Milwaukee, 20+ years investing) and Brandon Higgins (Atlanta, started with zero experience) — to break down what actually works when you're starting out, scaling up, or trying to build a rental portfolio that funds the rest of your life. They get into: Why Brandon walked away from a cushy sales job he was "bored out of his mind" in — and how a single LinkedIn notification changed everything The painful pivot Rob made after older duplexes nearly killed his rental business (and the specific property type that became his goldmine) Why doing 30 deals a year now beats 50 — and the exit strategy shift that made it possible

  7. May 20

    The Motivated Seller Myth: Why Data Says It’s Not a Goldmine

    Mike Oberholzer and Eli Fisher debunk the idea that "motivated sellers" are the main source of deals, showing data that true high-motivation categories (probate, pre-foreclosure) make up a tiny fraction of investor transactions. Instead, consistent profit comes from people-centered selling, disciplined follow-up, and strong systems. The episode explains how operator mindset, measurable funnels, and robust CRM follow-up convert leads over time, and why scaling requires processes, metrics, and a motivated team rather than chasing rare niche leads.

  8. May 13

    When a Flip Goes Wrong: What I Learned from a $16K Loss

    Franchisee Asim Ghani walks through a challenging flip—what went wrong (overpaying, unexpected custom repairs, a failed sewer ejector pump, and high winter utility bills), how he minimized the loss, and the lessons he now applies: build bigger contingencies, target a 12–15% net profit, move quickly, and use flexible exit strategies and network support. This episode is brought to you by Sherwin-Williams, the trusted name in paint for over 150 years. Whether you're refreshing a single room or giving an entire property a new life, Sherwin-Williams has the colors and finishes to get it done right. Stop by your local store or visit SherwinWilliams.com to find your perfect shade today.

  9. Apr 29

    How Larry Gibbons Built a Real Estate Business, Not Just a Job

    What does it really take to build a real estate business instead of just creating another job for yourself? In this episode of the We Buy Ugly Houses Podcast, Larry Gibbons, HomeVestors franchisee and Development Agent in Tucson, Arizona, shares how he went from having zero real estate experience to building what he calls a true real estate ecosystem. He talks about starting while still working a W-2 job, making uncomfortable decisions, hiring the right people, learning to delegate, and building a business that can keep moving even when he steps away.

  10. Apr 15

    From Boom to Balance: How Investors Are Adapting in Today’s Market

    In Episode 3 of the We Buy Ugly Houses Podcast, Derek Douglas sits down with veteran real estate investor Lee Garland to talk about how the market has changed over the last several years and what investors need to do to stay ahead. From the COVID-era boom to today’s higher rates and tighter margins, Lee shares how he’s adjusted his buying, flipping, rental, and follow-up strategies to keep moving forward. They also dig into seller motivation, why relationships still matter, and how real estate can still be a people-first business.

  11. Apr 1

    Mistakes to Avoid in 2026 | Valuing Deals, Finding Sellers & Winning in a Tough Market

    Episode 2 dives straight into the trenches of real estate investing with veteran investor Kyle Amerson, who’s been in the game for over a decade. From accidentally becoming a landlord during the 2008 crash to building a full-time investing business, Kyle breaks down what actually separates beginners from those who survive and scale.

  12. Mar 18

    The Deal That Changes Everything: Spotting Opportunity in a Buyer’s Market

    In this episode of the We Buy Ugly Houses Podcast, we sit down with longtime investor and HomeVestors development agent Britt Briscoe, who’s bought hundreds of homes across the country and built a reputation for spotting deals others miss. As the market leans into buyer territory, Britt breaks down what’s really happening on the ground—especially in hot Sunbelt markets like Florida—and why this shift is creating some of the biggest opportunities investors have seen in years.

  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Real estate isn’t just about properties. It’s about people, problems, and possibilities. Welcome to The We Buy Ugly Houses® Podcast, powered by HomeVestors®—the nation’s leading real estate investing franchise. Whether you’re curious about getting started, scaling your investing business, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at how deals really get done, this show pulls back the curtain. Each episode dives into real stories from franchisees, industry experts, and investors in the trenches—covering everything from finding deals and funding them to navigating challenges and closing with confidence. No fluff. No theory. Just real conversations about what it takes to win in real estate investing. If you’re ready to learn how to turn opportunity into action—and houses into profit—you’re in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    thewebuyuglyhousespodcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The We Buy Ugly Houses® Podcast

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