How to Get Started in Real Estate Investing in 2026 with Jonathan Nichols
What is actually stopping you from buying your first piece of real estate?
In this solo episode, I break down the most common ways to get started in real estate investing and the real pros and cons of each one. After almost a decade in this business, I have watched a lot of people get started, and I have watched even more talk themselves out of ever starting. So today I want to walk you through your options and help you pick one.
I cover the house hack, single family rentals, fix and flips, and alternative strategies like short term rentals, along with the real numbers behind each one so you know what you are actually getting into. I also explain the difference between residential and commercial real estate, why that distinction matters so much for how a property is valued, and how to think about getting started in multifamily as either a passive or active investor.
What We Cover
The biggest reason most people never make their first real estate investment
How to house hack your first property with minimal money down
The pros and cons of single-family rentals and what most people get wrong about cash flow
How the fix and flip and BRRRR strategies actually work
The difference between residential and commercial real estate and why it matters
How to decide between passive investing and being an active general partner in multifamily
Key Takeaways
Most people never invest in real estate simply because they never take action
A house hack lets you get into your first property with as little as 3.5% down
Single-family rentals are valued on comps, not income, which means large repairs can wipe out years of cash flow
The BRRRR method lets you recycle your capital by refinancing after a renovation instead of selling
Commercial real estate is valued on income, which means improving the property directly increases its value
Losing one tenant in a 100-unit property only costs you 1% of income, not 100% like a single-family rental
Pick one strategy, commit to it, and put a plan in place to make your first investment happen this year
Hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode!
