How to Build a Real Estate Investing Empire on Active Duty

·24 min·2 clips

A lieutenant colonel bought a duplex with a VA loan, paying $300 less than his apartment, and got hooked on real estate.

The episode begins with host Lacey Langford introducing Johnny Lineman, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force who has built a real estate portfolio worth $14 million while on active duty. Johnny explains his humble beginnings and how he used his VA loan to purchase one side of a duplex, which cost $300 less than his apartment rent, sparking his passion for real estate. He details his journey from that first property to over 115 units, primarily in Panama City, Florida, and Montgomery, Alabama. Johnny discusses how his military experience, including managing billion-dollar contracts, helped him develop skills for real estate investing. He emphasizes the importance of finding reliable people, such as realtors and contractors, and using legal agreements like operating agreements to protect investments. Johnny advises listeners to have a solid financial foundation, including an emergency fund, before taking risks. He highlights the advantages of investing in military towns due to stable rental demand from service members. Johnny explains how he delegates day-to-day management to property managers to focus on strategic deals. He describes the challenges of real estate investing as akin to driving at night with limited visibility, requiring adaptability. Johnny recommends that service members use their VA loan to buy multi-unit properties and become landlords immediately. He shares that Slack is his key tool for coordinating his virtual team. The episode concludes with a real estate trivia game where Johnny answers questions about the White House's value, flats in the U.K., cul-de-sacs, condominiums, and short sales. Johnny directs listeners to his website and social media for further resources.

As heard by us

A grounded look at building 115-plus properties while serving full-time in the Air Force.

Building a real estate portfolio while on active duty is not presented here as a side hustle anyone can casually copy. Johnny Lineman, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S.

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Why you'd press play

You want a property plan that can survive active duty, real conversations at home, and a housing market where affordability is harder to find.

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