Built For This Show

Andrea Lane shares her proven framework for building a scalable real estate investment business through systematic processes. Learn her core business loop: finding houses, finding money, and creating systems that allow others to handle the operations.
Key Topics Covered
Finding Houses
Sourcing Strategy: Working with wholesalers and personal contacts
Quick Evaluation Method: Using pictures as the first filter—if it doesn't work in pictures, don't visit
Efficiency Focus: Streamlining property evaluation to save time
Finding Money: Five Funding Sources
Traditional Banks
Examples: Chase and other major banks
Better option: Local community banks (more investor-friendly)
Non-Traditional Lenders
Examples: American Funding, RCN
Higher fees but understand investors
Offer more flexibility than traditional banks
Hard Money Lenders
Backed by equity funds
Thoroughly vet deals
Pro tip: If a qualified hard money lender says no, re-examine your deal
Private Money
Friends, family, and contacts
For people who want real estate exposure without ownership responsibilities
Must be handled personally, not delegated
Creative Financing
Seller-held mortgages
Partnership structures
Requires personal relationship building
Systems & Scaling
Why Systems Matter
Enable repeatable processes
Help identify who can do tasks instead of doing everything yourself
Critical for scaling beyond solo operations
What to Delegate vs. Handle Personally
✅ Can Delegate: Traditional, non-traditional, and hard money lender outreach
❌ Must Handle Personally: Creative financing conversations and private lender relationships
Getting Started with Systems
Start thinking about processes from day one
Map out key steps early: finding locations, evaluating deals, securing money, rehabbing/holding, planning exits
Don't wait until you're overwhelmed to systematize
Key Takeaways
Build systems from the beginning, even before you know exactly what you need
Understand your funding options and match the right lender to each deal
Know what must be handled personally vs. what can be delegated
Use efficient filtering methods to maximize your time
Think in terms of repeatable processes, not one-off deals
About Andrea Lane
Andrea Lane is a real estate investor specializing in systematic property acquisition and management. She focuses on building scalable systems that allow investors to grow their portfolios without being trapped in day-to-day operations.
Resources Mentioned
Traditional banks and community banks
Non-traditional lenders: American Funding, RCN
Hard money lenders
Wholesaler networks
7 Systems Download: ownyourincome.co
Email to get started today teams@ownyourincome.co
Episode Length: 15 minutes
Topics: Real Estate Investing, Property Management, Business Systems, Creative Financing, Scaling, Delegation
Want to learn more about building systematic real estate investment businesses? Connect with Andrea Lane.

Guest: Phyllis McConnell | Contact: Phyllis.McConnell@gmail.com
About Phyllis Phyllis is the founder of Zhe Rockz (ZHEROCKZ), a cleaning company serving all of New Jersey and New York. Her journey into real estate began when she was hired to do a clean-out for a female contractor, who inspired her by building homes and creating opportunities for others.
Real Estate Experience
Previously owned a home in Augusta, Georgia
Completed a flip in 2020
Currently holds land in the south, in the process of well and septic development
Presently at a rehab property expected to take 6–8 months to complete
What Phyllis Loves About Real Estate The potential to build value — to take something from nothing and create. Phyllis is passionate about affordable housing and helping low-income families achieve homeownership.
Future Goals (Next 6–12 Months)
Build a rental portfolio / explore being a landlord
Develop affordable homes, including exploring ADUs, in partnership with a business partner already active in that space
Key Takeaways
Real estate is a team sport — mentorship shortens the learning curve.
Skills from the cleaning business translate directly to real estate projects.
Every deal, good or bad, is a learning opportunity.
Resources Mentioned
🌐 BuiltForThisShow.com
📥 Free Guide — 7 Systems for Real Estate Investing at ownyourincome.co
📞 She Rockz: 908-546-3623

Andrea Lane, the Fearless Real Estate Investor, joins co-host Alissa Bickar to break down Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) — what they are, why they matter, and what to measure when buying and selling investment properties. Note: rental portfolio KPIs are not covered in this episode.
What You'll Learn
Why KPIs Matter
KPIs indicate how your business is performing across different functions and help you stay in the driver's seat rather than being at the mercy of whatever happens.
Without tracking, you risk wasting time and money — Andrea shares a real story of spending $100,000 over 3 months with zero results due to insufficient tracking.
 
Marketing KPIs
Track responses across channels: bandit signs, direct mail, postcards
Review marketing performance every 2 weeks; direct mail monthly
Change course early — don't send 200+ letters before realizing something isn't working.
 
Deal Analysis KPIs
Track your repair estimator and statement of work accuracy
Monitor change orders throughout the deal
 
Financial KPIs
Compare expected vs. actual income per deal
Investigate variances — was it pricing, change orders, or market shifts?
Key Takeaway Start tracking KPIs from your very first deal. As your business grows, the depth of tracking should grow with it.
Resources Mentioned
Free guide & checklist: OwnYourIncome.co
Watch all episodes: BuiltForThisShow.com

In this co-host-only episode, Andrea Lane — the Fearless Real Estate Investor — breaks down why understanding your location is the single most critical step before analyzing any real estate deal.
Key Takeaways
Location must come before deal analysis — your location defines how well your property will perform and whether you'll actually make money.
Three layers of "location":
Your marketplace (city/region)
Your neighborhood (block by block)
Does it fit your strategy and end user?
Common traps to avoid:
Buying because it's cheap — the biggest shiny object
Assuming a good city means a good block
Skipping physical due diligence (day and night walkthroughs)
Andrea's personal story: Purchased a property just one mile from a familiar, trusted neighborhood — and discovered the renter quality and income level were far lower than expected.
Methodology for deep location diligence:
Walk the neighborhood (with a local partner, realtor, or trusted contact)
Research crime rates, school systems, and resident demographics
Match location data to your strategy and your target end user (renter or buyer)
Final Words of Wisdom "Make sure you understand the location before you buy, and cheap doesn't make it good."
Resources Visit ownyourincome.co to download the free guide on the seven systems required for a profitable and systematized real estate investment portfolio.

In this host-only conversation, co-hosts Alissa Bickar ("The Consultress") and Andrea Lane ("The Fearless Real Estate Investor") break down the essential free and low-cost resources every real estate investor should leverage. Whether you are caught in "analysis paralysis" or jumping straight into action without a blueprint, Alissa and Andrea highlight powerful tools hiding in plain sight—from local government programs to library archives—to help you build a structured, sustainable real estate business without spending tens of thousands on hyped-up programs.
Key Takeaways
The Small Business Administration (SBA) as an Investor Asset: Funded by tax dollars, the SBA offers free mentoring, business planning guidance, and entity structuring education (such as LLCs vs. Corporations). They can also help investors identify specialized opportunities like affordable or urban housing grants.
Librarians Are Free Research Partners: While AI and Google can surface generalized information, local librarians are trained researchers who can pull local property data, archives, and localized market insights at zero direct cost.
Avoid the "Shiny Object" Trap: Real estate offers countless strategies (wholesaling, creative financing, buy-and-hold, STRs/Airbnbs). Success comes from picking one North Star strategy for 6 to 12 months and mastering the operational process rather than juggling multiple models simultaneously.
Treat Real Estate as a Business of Systems: Sustainable wealth does not come from treating investing like a casual side hustle; it requires operating agreements, entity planning, and systematic portfolio management.
Protect Your Capital on Education: You do not need to drop $20,000–$40,000 on guru programs before knowing your focus. Leverage free municipal resources, attend affordable local REIA (Real Estate Investors Association) meetings, and seek accessible mentorship first.
Timestamps & Episode Highlights
**** – Welcome to The Built For This Show and setting up the host-only conversation.
**** – Hiding in plain sight: Why the Small Business Administration (SBA) isn’t just for traditional tech or retail businesses.
**** – Entity structures and guidance: How the SBA helps evaluate LLCs vs. Corporations and build an initial business plan.
**** – Navigating grants for urban and affordable housing initiatives.
**** – The untapped power of your local library and partnering with research librarians.
**** – Overcoming ADHD and shiny object syndrome: Choosing one investment vehicle for 6–12 months.
**** – The role of mentorship and the Own Your Income 8-Week Real Estate Investor Intensive.
**** – Andrea’s golden rule: Spend the least money to learn the most, leverage REIA meetings, and guard your nest egg.
Featured Resources & Links
Small Business Administration (SBA): sba.gov (Explore local district offices, SCORE mentorship, and business plan templates).
Local Real Estate Investor Associations (REIA): Connect with local investors and vendors in your specific market.
Own Your Income: Visit OwnYourIncome.co to learn more about the 8-Week Real Estate Investor Intensive and download the free 7 Systems You Need in Your Real Estate Business guide.

Andrea Mullen shares her real estate journey across nearly 20 years, from social worker to pharmaceutical sales rep to real estate investor.
Guest Background
Graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick; started in social work
Transitioned to pharmaceutical sales, then pursued a real estate license
Licensed at a brokerage specializing in bank-owned properties
Real Estate Portfolio
Previously owned two triplexes in Newark and Carteret, NJ
Currently a partial owner of 3 land parcels in New Jersey and Delaware (held ~3–4 years with 2 partners)
Goal: develop multifamily apartment complexes
Key Themes Discussed
What got Andrea into real estate: a magazine article noting that renting over $650/month meant you could buy a house
Survived the 2008 real estate crash; still loved the industry
Core advantages from prior careers: patience (social work) + tenacity (sales) + connecting with people
Importance of maintaining income while pursuing long-term development deals
Future Plans (Next 6–12 Months)
Exploring opportunities in Cleveland, North Carolina, and Georgia
Delaware waterfront land project currently on hold due to potential city acquisition
Open to investing outside New Jersey
Key Takeaway "Don't get stuck on one specific area — open up your horizon to other states."
Resource Mentioned
Visit ownyourincome.co for the free download: 7 Systems You Need in Your Real Estate Business

Andrea and Alissa tackle a topic most real estate investors oversimplify: the difference between maintenance budgets and reserve funds — and why treating them as one bucket can cost you dearly. 
🔑 Key Takeaways
Maintenance Budget = day-to-day repair costs 
Covers small fixes: broken toilet, floor repair, minor plumbing
A starting point of ~10% of monthly rent is common 
Over time, as the property stabilizes, this may drop to 3–5% 
Reserves = long-term capital expenditure fund 
Built to cover big-ticket items: roof replacement (~$12,000), furnace/boiler, HVAC 
Most lenders require reserves when buying apartment buildings 
Recommended: 10% set aside monthly, grown consistently over time 
The Core Distinction: Maintenance covers what breaks today; reserves protect against what will need replacing in 2, 5, or 15 years. 
Real-Life Lesson: A mentee had only a small maintenance bucket with no reserves — 2 years into ownership, the furnace failed and they had to take out a loan to cover the new boiler. 
Fiscal Responsibility Framing: You may not be "making money" the first 5 years — and that's okay, because those funds are building your safety net. 
📊 Tools Mentioned
Spreadsheet tracking mechanical install dates, projected replacement timelines, and separate budget line items 
Free downloadable PDF covering 7 systems for a real estate investment business 
📚 Resources & Next Steps
Real Estate Investor Intensive – 8-week course 
📧 Contact: teams@ownyourincome.co 

In this episode, Andrea and Alissa break down a topic that's near and dear to every real estate investor's heart: the difference between asset management and property management and why understanding both is critical to protecting your investment. 
🔑 Key Takeaways
Property Management = day-to-day operations 
Tenant satisfaction, complaints, lease compliance
Reactive: fix what's broken, keep it livable 
Asset Management = strategic, long-term protection 
Tracking when mechanicals were installed (HVAC, water heater, roof) 
Proactively planning replacements before failures occur 
Annual walkthroughs: start from the top (attic) and work down 
The Real Cost of Reactivity: A broken water heater can flood a basement, damaging everything stored there — a lesson learned firsthand early in the investing journey. 
Best Practice: Walk the property with your property manager annually — your eyes are on asset protection, theirs are on day-to-day liability. 
📊 Tools Mentioned
Spreadsheet tracking: square footage, unit details, rent, utility costs, mechanical install dates 
Free downloadable PDF covering 7 systems needed in a real estate investment business  LINK TO DL
📚 Resources & Next Steps
Real Estate Investor Intensive – 8-week course with systems, spreadsheets, and proactive planning tools 
📧 Contact: teams@ownyourincome.co 

From Debris Removal to Real Estate Investing: Building an Unfair Advantage
In this episode of Built For This, Alissa Bickar, The Consultress, sits down with Anthony Forque of A&A Debris Removal to explore how growing up around real estate, working in demolition, and running a service business have shaped his path as a real estate investor.
Anthony’s real estate journey started early. By eighth grade, he was already helping his parents with their first flip doing floors, demolishing cabinets, and learning firsthand what it takes to transform a property.
Today, his experience in junk removal and demolition has become more than just a business. It has given him an unfair advantage as an investor: the ability to walk into properties and recognize problems, renovation needs, and potential issues that other investors may overlook.
From century-old buildings and hidden structural problems to a major addition project that required lifting a house and digging out its foundation by hand, Anthony shares what he has learned from being on the front lines of real estate renovations.
The conversation also explores his long-term goal of moving beyond single-family flips and building a portfolio of larger multifamily properties while still staying active in the field.
In This Episode
How Anthony got introduced to real estate at a young age
What working alongside his parents taught him about flipping houses
Why entrepreneurship and independence attracted him to real estate
How demolition and debris removal became his real estate “unfair advantage”
The hidden problems investors can discover during renovations
Why understanding renovation costs can make or break a deal
Anthony's experience with a challenging add-a-level project
Lifting a house and digging out a complex foundation by hand
Why having the right team can make difficult deals possible
Anthony's vision for investing in 10–12+ unit apartment buildings
The difference between being active and being “passive” in real estate
Building real estate income alongside an active business
Why Anthony doesn't see himself ever completely stepping away from the field
How investors can connect with A&A Debris Removal
Key Takeaway
Your existing experience can become your biggest advantage in real estate.
Anthony didn't enter investing with only a desire to own properties. He brought years of hands-on experience from demolition and debris removal. That experience allows him to see behind the walls, recognize potential problems, understand what needs to be removed or repaired, and approach renovation projects with a perspective many investors don't have.
The bigger lesson? Don't overlook the skills and experience you already possess. Your current business, career, or life experience may be the exact advantage that helps you build your real estate portfolio.
Meet Anthony Forque
Anthony Forque is the owner of A&A Debris Removal and a real estate investor. His hands-on experience in demolition, junk removal, and property renovations has given him a unique perspective on real estate investing.
A&A Debris Removal serves customers throughout parts of New Jersey, Philadelphia, and eastern Pennsylvania, with the ability to travel farther for larger projects.
Connect with Anthony and A&A Debris Removal through:
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
About Built For This
Built For This brings you real conversations with people who are actually doing the work building businesses, investing in real estate, creating wealth, and designing lives around who they are and what they know.
Hosted by Alissa Bickar, The Consultress, and Andrea Lane of Own Your Income, the show highlights real people, real deals, real challenges, and the lessons that come from building something of your own.
Whether you're a seasoned investor, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply wondering whether you're “built for” entrepreneurship and real estate, this show brings you stories and insights from the front lines.
Subscribe & Follow
Subscribe to Built For This for more conversations with entrepreneurs and real estate investors who are building businesses, portfolios, and lives on their own terms.
#BuiltForThis #AlissaBickar #AndreaLane #AnthonyForku #TheConsultress #RealEstateInvesting #RealEstateInvestor #RealEstateEntrepreneur #HouseFlipping #FixAndFlip #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateEntrepreneurship #PropertyInvesting #RealEstateBusiness #Entrepreneurship #PassiveIncome #CashFlow #WealthBuilding #NewJerseyRealEstate #PhiladelphiaRealEstate #AAndADebrisRemoval

In this episode of Built For This, host Alissa Bickar sits down with long-time real estate investor and mortgage expert Philip Ganz. What began as a necessity-driven purchase at age 21 turned into a decades-long real estate journey spanning multiple markets along the East Coast.
Philip shares how he became an “accidental investor,” the lessons he learned from buying, holding, renovating, and managing properties, and why he believes real estate remains one of the most reliable wealth-building vehicles available. He also discusses the importance of systems, technology, teamwork, and adaptability in today's entrepreneurial landscape.
Whether you're a new investor, an experienced property owner, or an entrepreneur looking to build long-term wealth, this conversation offers practical insights and encouragement to take action.
Key Takeaways
Philip purchased his first property at age 21 as a place to live, unintentionally beginning his real estate investing journey.
Converting former residences into rental properties can be a powerful entry point into real estate investing.
Real estate rewards patience; property values tend to appreciate over time despite short-term market fluctuations.
Successful investors focus on long-term outcomes rather than temporary setbacks.
Building a strong team is critical for sustainable growth and success.
Systems and education can dramatically reduce costly mistakes.
Technology has made entrepreneurship and real estate investing more accessible than ever before.
Today's investors have access to tools and resources that did not exist even a decade ago.
Delegation and leveraging technology can help entrepreneurs reclaim time and increase efficiency.
The best time to start pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities is now.
Notable Quotes
“Everything looks like a good deal over time.”
“The teamwork always outperforms individuals, so you've got to find good teammates.”
“You're going to pay for education either way. It's better to get that education from a system.”
“It's easier to win today than at any point in history.”
“The best day is actually today.”
Topics Covered
Accidental beginnings in real estate investing
House hacking and converting primary residences into rentals
Property appreciation and long-term investing
Renovation and value-add strategies
Entrepreneurship and opportunity mindset
Building effective teams
Leveraging systems and technology
Delegation and productivity
Mortgage industry insights
Creating wealth through real estate
About Philip Ganz
Philip Ganz is a seasoned real estate investor and mortgage professional with decades of experience acquiring, renovating, financing, and managing residential properties. Based in Florida, he has owned properties across multiple East Coast markets and helps clients navigate the mortgage process through his company, Next Wave Mortgage.
Connect with Philip Ganz
Website: www.nextwavemortgage.com
Instagram: @askthemortgageexpert
LinkedIn: Philip Ganz / Ask The Mortgage Expert
Final Thought
Real estate investing doesn't always begin with a grand plan. Sometimes it starts with buying the only property you can afford. As Philip's journey demonstrates, consistency, patience, continuous learning, and the willingness to take action can transform a single purchase into a long-term wealth-building strategy.