Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast

Rental Property Owners Association with Brian Hamrick

Welcome to the Rental Property Owner and Real Estate Investor Podcast, Brought to you by the Rental Property Owner Association - providing benefits and services to real estate investors and rental property owners for over 45 years. Hosted by Brian Hamrick from Hamrick Investment Group. Every Monday Brian and his special guest will discuss topics, tips, and techniques Designed to make you a more confident and successful Rental Property Owner and Real Estate Investor

  1. 6D AGO

    Why Most Airbnbs Fail: Using Data to Pressure-Test Short-Term Rental Deals with John Bianchi

    Most Airbnb failures don't come from bad luck. They come from bad assumptions made before the deal ever closes. In this episode, John Bianchi, founder of STR Search, breaks down how he evaluates short-term rental deals using data most investors either misunderstand or completely ignore. John has helped guide more than $100M+ into short-term rental properties and has reviewed 350+ deals nationwide, all using a strict data-first process designed to avoid downside risk. This conversation focuses on how to pressure-test Airbnb deals so they still work when demand softens, regulations tighten, or competition increases. What we cover: Why many Airbnbs fail within 1–2 years The biggest mistakes investors make when reading Airbnb data How to identify bad data vs. reliable data in AirDNA Why listings must show 270+ days of activity and consistent reviews How regulations can quietly kill otherwise "great" deals Why cash flow matters more for STRs than long-term rentals John's 20% price-to-revenue rule and how it compares to the 1% rule Why Class-A vacation markets often underperform How oversupply, foreign capital, and design arms races crush returns What data reveals about competition, saturation, and revenue durability Why management matters less than buying the right property How John reverse-engineers top-performing listings to find winners Where investors go wrong trying to "make" bad deals work John also explains why he never publicly shares specific markets, how he thinks about regulatory risk at the state and local level, and why not buying a bad deal is often the real win. Resources: STR Search: www.strsearch.com Free 7-Day Airbnb Data Course available on the site This episode is essential listening for anyone considering short-term rentals, especially investors who want clear downside protection, not hype. Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. https://www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits. https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

    30 min
  2. MAR 23

    When Real Estate Becomes Dead Capital: 1031 Exchanges, DSTs, and Smarter Exit Planning with Dan Ihara

    At some point, every real estate investor has to ask a hard question: Is this property still working for me, or am I just holding it out of habit? In this episode, Dan Ihara, a national real estate planner with more than 400 completed 1031 exchanges and over $110M in deferred capital gains, joins Brian Hamrick to talk about how investors should evaluate aging properties, declining returns, and next-stage portfolio decisions. Dan specializes in helping investors recognize when an asset has quietly stopped performing and how tools like Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) can be used to transition into truly passive, tax-efficient ownership—without emotional or rushed decisions. What we cover: How to tell when a property has become dead capital Why many long-held assets produce 0–2% cap rates without owners realizing it How rising taxes, insurance, and expenses quietly erode returns Why most investors don't actually know their current cap rate The difference between appreciation and real performance How DSTs work in practice as a 1031 replacement property Who DSTs are designed for—and who they are not Passive income vs active ownership late in an investor's career How step-up in basis can eliminate capital gains for heirs The role of 721 UPREIT conversions and long-term planning Why real estate causes family conflict after death How pre-inheritance planning can prevent disputes Why real estate planning is about clarity, not control This episode is especially relevant for investors who are: Over 50 and thinking about simplification Tired of active management but hesitant to sell Concerned about capital gains taxes Focused on wealth preservation and family harmony, not just growth Resources Mentioned: Book: Property Decisions: Avoiding Family Disputes and Painful Taxes to Create a Legacy That Lasts by Dan Ihara Available on Amazon (ebook and paperback) Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. https://www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits. https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

    28 min
  3. MAR 16

    Steve Brown Keynote Preview: The State Of AI And What It Means For Your Business—MREIC 2026

    AI is no longer theoretical. It is already changing how real estate decisions get made in underwriting, leasing, operations, marketing, asset management, and communication. In this special episode, I sit down with Steve Brown, AI futurist, bestselling author, and former senior leader at Google DeepMind and Intel. Steve is the Opening Keynote Speaker at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference (MREIC), and his message is clear: this shift is happening faster than most people realize—and "wait and see" is not a strategy. Steve's lens is built for real-world operating environments with real assets, teams, capital, and risk. He breaks down what AI changes at the workflow level, where it creates real leverage, and what actually matters now versus what can wait, so you do not waste time, money, or focus chasing the wrong thing. Steve explains what's accelerating in AI right now, what's likely to change over the next few years, and how real estate entrepreneurs and business owners should think about AI as a capability shift, not a collection of tools. In This Episode, Steve Breaks Down: Why AI is moving faster than even experts expected Why buying AI licenses is not a strategy (and what is) How smaller teams can operate like they're 5x or 10x their size The shift from "people are the engine" to "AI becomes the engine" What it takes to rethink workflows, not just adopt tools The biggest fears, misconceptions, and early implementation mistakes leaders make We also dig into the real competitive risk ahead: you won't lose to AI, you'll lose to someone who uses AI better than you. That applies directly to real estate investors. If you own rental properties, manage assets, raise capital, or run a real estate business, this conversation will sharpen how you think about leverage, workflows, and long-term competitiveness. MREIC 2026: Opening Keynote Details Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference (MREIC) DeVos Place Conference Center | Grand Rapids, Michigan April 27–28, 2026 Steve Brown Opening Keynote: Monday, April 27 at 9:00 AM Keynote Title: Navigating What's Next: Practical AI Strategy for Real Estate Investors and Operators Steve will also host a VIP Luncheon at 12:30 PM for attendees who want to go deeper on practical AI strategy and real-world implementation. Learn more and get tickets: midwestreiconference.com About Steve Brown Steve Brown is an AI futurist and former executive at Google DeepMind and Intel. He spent decades helping Fortune 100 companies navigate digital transformation and now advises organizations on how to thrive in the AI era. He is the author of The AI Ultimatum, written specifically for business leaders who want to understand and implement AI strategically. Learn more at: stevebrown.ai Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and Medicare benefits. www.rcbassociatesllc.com

    31 min
  4. MAR 9

    Finding Hidden Value Through Hyper-Local Investing and Relentless Curiosity with Dr. Jordan Romano

    Dr. Jordan Romano is an Ivy League–trained physician who has built a strong real estate portfolio not by chasing headlines or spreadsheets—but by going extremely hyper-local, staying curious, and learning to see what others overlook. Jordan shares how he uses on-the-ground observation, municipal GIS tools, zoning knowledge, and simple pattern recognition to uncover opportunities that don't show up in a typical MLS search. One of his most creative wins: realizing a single-family home sat on nearly an acre of land, then successfully subdividing it into three buildable lots. This episode dives into how he thinks, how he evaluates properties, and how he adapts in a shifting market. We cover: Why hyper-local knowledge beats long-distance spreadsheets The power of curiosity: constantly asking, "What am I missing?" How municipal maps, zoning meetings, and Google Earth reveal hidden value A step-by-step look at his subdivision deal How he leveled up from a condo to a three-unit via a clean 1031 exchange Why he sticks to B-class rentals for resilience in all market cycles A tough lesson learned about rejecting pet-owning tenants Why he only invests in one small region—and how that protects him How he uses AI for negotiation, deal clarity, and even diagnosing a broken toilet This is a practical, detailed, and refreshingly honest look at what happens when you invest deeply in one market and understand it at street level. 📍 Find Jordan: LinkedIn Medical Expert Witness: https://medicalexpertwitness.com Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. https://www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits. https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

    32 min
4.6
out of 5
219 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Rental Property Owner and Real Estate Investor Podcast, Brought to you by the Rental Property Owner Association - providing benefits and services to real estate investors and rental property owners for over 45 years. Hosted by Brian Hamrick from Hamrick Investment Group. Every Monday Brian and his special guest will discuss topics, tips, and techniques Designed to make you a more confident and successful Rental Property Owner and Real Estate Investor

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