If we lost every property tomorrow and had to start over with a W-2 and zero dollars, we would NOT buy our first rental the way we bought our first rental. The strategy that built our portfolio worked in a market with cheap money and rising values. Copy it today and you could get hurt. In this episode, Sam and Lucas break down exactly how they used to buy rentals, why that playbook is riskier in today's market, and what each of them would do differently if they started over right now. Two investors, same goal, two different plans — so you can pick the one that fits you. 🚀 GET THE INFINITE RENTAL SYSTEM — Buy your first (or next) rental with none of your own money → https://rentals.fasterfreedom.com 📖 In this episode you'll hear: ✅ The old playbook: hard money, private money, and small local bank refinances ✅ Why variable-rate bank loans are a ticking clock in today's market ✅ Why Sam would start with a duplex or fourplex instead of a single-family house ✅ How to fund the purchase and rehab with a private lender ✅ Why a 30-year fixed DSCR loan beats the old local bank refi right now ✅ Why leaving money in the deal can be the smartest move you make ✅ The $250/month cash flow rule (with a full duplex example) ✅ What Lucas would do the same — and completely different ✅ Where the market is heading and why high rates can work in your favor ✅ What to expect from this week's Fed meeting ✅ Fantasy football, NBA hot takes, and life talk If you copy a 2019 strategy in 2026, you'll buy a 2026 problem. The principles never change — buy right, use other people's money, and make sure it cash flows. This episode shows you how to apply them today. FREE RESOURCES + LINKS MENTIONED: 🚀 The Infinite Rental System — Sam's step-by-step system to buy your first (or next) rental in 6 months with none of your own money. Lifetime access. → https://rentals.fasterfreedom.com 🏦 FasterFreedom Capital — Short-term, long-term, and gap funding for real investors → https://www.fasterfreedomcapital.com 🏠 RE Launch Free Community — Weekly coaching, deal reviews, and community support → https://www.skool.com/relaunch/about 📊 RealBooks — The bookkeeping software built specifically for real estate investors. Get 30% off + a free trial → https://realbooks.io/fasterfreedom/?utm_source=faster-freedom&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=tof_all_30-off-free-trial_us_202606 📱 FOLLOW SAM: @samfasterfreedom 📱 FOLLOW LUCAS: @lucasfasterfreedom 🎙️ ABOUT THE FASTERFREEDOM SHOW: Hosted by Sam Primm and Lucas. Sam and Lucas own $40 million in real estate and have closed over 2,000 deals, all built using other people's money. Every week, they break down the actual strategies for using real estate to build wealth on a normal income. No fluff. No hype. Just the truth about how to escape the W-2 grind and build lasting financial freedom. Deal numbers discussed are illustrative examples. Actual results vary by market, deal, and financing. #RealEstateInvesting #FirstRentalProperty #DSCRLoan #PrivateMoney #BRRRR #Duplex #Fourplex #RentalProperty #SamPrimm #FasterFreedom #CashFlow #RealEstate2026