Built For This Show

What happens when a burned-out software engineer decides he’s done with the corporate grind? In this episode of The Built for This Podcast, David Ounanian shares how he transitioned from a 12-year tech career to becoming a successful real estate investor and agent in St. Louis.
Hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane dive into David’s journey, including how he scaled to 20 rental properties, the challenges of his first disastrous deal, and how he used his tech background to build a systemized investing business. David also opens up about why he prefers quality over quantity when it comes to doors, and how his real estate license has become a powerful income and education tool—not just for him, but for others.
He talks about his book Investor Friendly Agent and the movement he's starting to help more people become empowered real estate investment advisors.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this episode of The Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Austin Spitzenberger, founder of a thriving luxury vacation rental management company in Central Texas. Austin shares how saying "no" became the secret weapon to his success—and how focusing on one thing helped him scale intentionally, grow profitably, and still prioritize what matters most: family.
Austin’s journey from buying a new build as his first rental to managing 65 high-end properties is packed with practical insights for anyone curious about the short-term rental space. From understanding the value of hiring pros to screening tenants to learning the importance of data-driven decision-making, Austin's story is both relatable and inspiring.
Whether you're just starting in real estate or looking to sharpen your focus in business, Austin’s advice will challenge you to think long-term, specialize smartly, and take action—even if it means losing a little money to gain a lot of wisdom.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this inspiring episode of The Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with James Hwang, an oncology pharmacist turned real estate entrepreneur. James shares how a personal health scare pushed him to rethink his financial future and dive headfirst into real estate investing.
Discover how James balances his full-time career while building a thriving midterm rental portfolio in New Jersey. He talks about the power of systems, the importance of mentorship, and how being of service to tenants and partners is at the core of his success. Whether you're a new investor or looking to scale, this episode is packed with practical insights on building wealth and community through real estate.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

When Adam Rojas first dipped his toes into real estate, it wasn't by choice—it was his wife's idea. But what started with hesitation quickly turned into a growing real estate side business that is helping the couple build long-term wealth and diversify their income. In this episode, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Adam to explore how he went from reluctant landlord to active investor in the Atlanta area.
Adam opens up about the lessons he and his wife learned managing properties themselves, the nightmare tenant situation that taught them the value of a property manager, and how they divide roles and responsibilities in their investing partnership. You’ll also hear what they look for when considering a new investment, why they’re now exploring single-family homes, and how they narrowly avoided a losing deal.
Whether you're just getting started in real estate or looking to scale your portfolio, Adam’s story is packed with relatable insights, honest reflections, and practical takeaways.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

What if your real estate investment could be more than a business—what if it could be a lifeline? In this episode of The Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Abi Horton, a midterm rental entrepreneur whose passion for people fuels her success. Abi shares how her early days as a real estate agent in the UK, her hospitality background, and her heart for service led her to carve out a niche helping families displaced by disaster through insurance relocations.
Discover how Abi’s new platform is connecting landlords with tenants who need temporary housing—creating a win-win-win for everyone involved. You’ll learn why midterm rentals are not only a smart investment strategy but a powerful way to offer real help in people’s darkest moments. Abi also reveals the mindset that’s helped her navigate tech hurdles, build her network, and stay mission-driven.
Whether you’re a seasoned landlord or just getting started in real estate, this episode is full of insights on how to combine business with heart and turn your rental into something truly impactful.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this special “hosts-only” episode of Built for This, Andrea and Alissa flip the mic on themselves to unpack a real-life investing experience that every investor can learn from. Alissa shares the story of her first duplex purchase—from the excitement of closing day to the unexpected reality of evictions, renovations, and property management missteps.
This episode is a masterclass in how to keep your cool, your systems tight, and your profits protected when things don’t go as planned.
🏡 Key Topics Covered
The Deal Setup: How Alissa structured her first duplex purchase with a joint venture equity partner, including renovation reserves and a conservative underwriting strategy.
The Eviction Curveball: What happened when a month-to-month tenant didn’t leave as expected—and why “peaceful transitions” often require formal action.
Scope Creep Reality Check: How minor renovations can balloon into major projects, and how to set firm boundaries on time and budget.
Property Management Pitfalls: Why even good property managers need management, and how missed oversight led to six months of unpaid rent.
Recovering and Rebounding: How proactive follow-up, accountability, and a surprise back payment helped offset over-budget renovations.
The CEO Mindset: Alissa’s hard-earned lesson on why “passive income” isn’t truly passive—it’s about systems, leadership, and consistent check-ins.
🔑 Lessons Learned
Evictions aren’t personal—they’re business. Sometimes being “serious” means starting the process to move things forward.
Budget creep is real. Stick to your renovation plan unless upgrades meaningfully improve long-term value.
Manage your managers. Even the best property managers need oversight. Review statements monthly, and meet consistently.
Systems save sanity. Regular check-ins, clear expectations, and defined metrics keep your portfolio running like a business, not a hobby.
You’re the CEO. Whether it’s your first duplex or your fiftieth, the responsibility—and the profit—ultimately rest with you.
🧭 Quote of the Episode
“There’s no such thing as passive income. You might not do the work yourself, but you still have to manage the people who do.” — Andrea Lane
🎧 Next Steps
Stay tuned for more “Real Lessons from the Road” episodes where Andrea and Alissa break down the wins, lessons, and surprises from their real estate journeys.
👉 Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow investor who needs a reminder to manage like a CEO!
#BuiltForThisPodcast #OwnYourIncome #RealEstateInvesting #FearlessInvestor #Consultress #SmartInvesting

From reselling sneakers to building luxury cabins — 22-year-old investor Rajan Chida proves that the hustle mindset can grow into something much bigger. In this episode, hosts Alissa Bickar (@consultress) and Andrea Lane (The Fearless Real Estate Investor) sit down with Rajan to hear how a side hustle flipping shoes turned into a thriving short-term rental business.
Rajan shares how he saved his profits from shoe reselling to buy his first investment property near UVA while still in college. One year later, he took on a bigger challenge — developing a luxury wellness retreat in Front Royal, Virginia. He opens up about the highs and lows of building from the ground up, including dealing with county permits, creating viral social media buzz, and learning to navigate relationships with contractors and local officials.
You’ll hear how Rajan’s story highlights the power of persistence, adaptability, and the transferable skills that come from any entrepreneurial venture. Whether you’re a first-time investor or a seasoned pro, this conversation reminds you that every step — even flipping shoes — can prepare you for your next big leap in real estate.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

When is enough truly enough in real estate investing? In this episode, Cameron Carrozza joins Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane to share his journey from sales professional to full-time real estate investor with 18 doors across Kentucky.
Cameron opens up about how his entrepreneurial upbringing shaped his mindset and why his “unfair advantage” comes from staying nimble, seeing opportunities others miss, and building strong relationships. He reveals how a shift to midterm rentals has doubled his income potential while keeping his focus where it matters most—his family.
From handling capital challenges to scaling smart instead of fast, Cameron reminds us that growth isn’t about adding more—it’s about creating better balance and purpose in business and life.
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

Mark shares how his background in software development gave him an edge in real estate investing. With years of experience building solutions in tech, he learned that success comes from problem-solving—and that skill translates perfectly into real estate.
He and his partner Cheryl founded QZen, combining his technical mindset with her customer support expertise to create a business rooted in practical wisdom, ethics, and balance. Together, they focus on doing what’s right for their clients, even when it means taking a loss, and building long-term success through relationships.
Mark discusses his path from flipping homes to managing mid-term and student rentals, and how creative strategies—like mid-term leases for traveling professionals—help them stay flexible and profitable. He also opens up about contractor challenges, lessons learned, and his next chapter: transitioning from flipping houses to flipping notes.
Listeners will walk away inspired to apply problem-solving, creativity, and integrity to their own investing journey.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this inspiring episode, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with global property manager and investor Nathalie Brown. Nathalie shares how growing up in an entrepreneurial family in the Netherlands — surrounded by restaurants and import-export ventures — gave her both a business foundation and the courage to forge her own path.
After years in sales and hospitality, Nathalie turned her skills toward short-term rental management across the world. From managing Airbnbs in Europe to building a portfolio in the U.S., Nathalie explains how she combined her passion for travel with her business degree to create a thriving international property management company.
She talks about learning from masterminds, growing through challenges, and her next big goal — owning her first boutique hotel. Along the way, she opens up about her belief that sales, when done right, is about connection — not pressure.
If you’ve ever wondered how to blend what you love with what you do, this episode is a must-listen.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!