The $150K “Stolen” Rental Property (How to AVOID Real Estate Scams)

The $150K “Stolen” Rental Property (How to AVOID Real Estate Scams)

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Having your rental property stolen?! How is that possible? This would be a worst-case scenario for any investor, and it was nearly reality for today’s guest. Buckle up as we share one of the wildest real estate horror stories you’re likely to hear!

Welcome back to the “Real Estate Rookie” podcast! In this episode, which could be mistaken for the latest entry in your favorite crime drama, investor Matt Drouin tells the bizarre story of how he nearly LOST his $150,000 rental property to a professional scam artist. He shares some of his biggest lessons learned from this incident—including how to screen tenants properly, when to get an attorney involved in the eviction process, and how to avoid scams when looking for your own off-market properties.

But that’s not all. You’ll also learn about the many benefits of investing in your hometown, as well as when to branch out and choose a market beyond your backyard. What’s more, you’ll hear about the often-overlooked mixed-use buildings that can be a gateway into commercial real estate investing, and how to take down these deals with creative financing!

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Join BiggerPockets for FREE 👇
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Join the Real Estate Rookie Facebook Group:
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Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area:
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Find Investor-Friendly Lenders:
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Ponzi Schemes, Property Fraud, and How to NOT Fall for a Real Estate Scam:
https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-93?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none
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Trespassers Took Over My Rental Property! (How to Get Rid of Squatters ASAP):
https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-360?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none
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Tools to Help You Find Your Market:
Become a BiggerPockets Pro Member: https://www.biggerpockets.com/membership-types?utm_source=owned_media
“On the Market” Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/OTM
Crexi: https://crexi.com
Federal Reserve of St. Louis: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/
Marcus & Millichap: https://marcusmillichap.ca/
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Improve Tenant Screening and Property Management with AppFolio:
https://www.appfolio.com
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Connect with Matt on BiggerPockets:
https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/mdrouin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none
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Connect with Ashley on BiggerPockets:
https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/echopm?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none
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Connect with Ashley on Instagram:
@wealthfromrentals or https://www.instagram.com/wealthfromrentals/


Show notes at: https://link.chtbl.com/Rookie


00:00 Intro

01:37 Finding His House for Sale?!

07:50 Matt’s “Sting Operation”

17:32 Backyard Investing & New Markets

25:28 Tenant Screening & Mixed-Use Buildings

31:44 Creative Finance 101

40:03 Connect with Matt!