Twin Cities Real Estate Market Pulse Update - May 2026

Tim Kelly - The Truth About Financial Freedom That No One Talks About

Everyone talks about achieving financial freedom—but almost nobody talks about what happens after you get there. In this episode of the Real Estate Educators Podcast, Kevin Amolsch sits down with former Navy rescue swimmer, multifamily investor, bestselling author, and high-performance coach Tim Kelly. Tim shares how house hacking with a VA loan sparked his investing journey, how mentorship helped him buy apartment buildings while still serving in the military, and why he walked away from a military pension to pursue financial freedom. But the conversation goes much deeper than real estate. Tim opens up about hitting financial freedom only to discover it didn't automatically create happiness. He shares the personal struggles that followed, how rebuilding his life changed his perspective, and why true freedom requires purpose, discipline, relationships, and personal growth—not just passive income. Whether you're just getting started in real estate or already building wealth, this episode is filled with practical investing advice and meaningful life lessons. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - From Navy rescue swimmer to real estate investor 09:05 - Buying apartment buildings while serving in the military 12:18 - Why mentorship accelerated Tim's success 18:08 - Why most people stay stuck and never invest 28:05 - The surprising truth about financial freedom 38:20 - Clarity, energy, and courage: Tim's coaching philosophy Connect with Tim Kelly: Website: TheTimothyKelly.com [http://TheTimothyKelly.com] Learn more about Tim's coaching programs, commercial real estate investing, leadership development, and transformational adventure retreats. Learn more about Pine Financial Group: pinefinancialgroup.com [http://pinefinancialgroup.com] Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Jens Nielsen - How to Scale Your Real Estate Business Without Burning Out

Buying your first rental property is exciting—but building a real estate business that actually scales is a completely different challenge. In this return appearance on the Real Estate Educators Podcast, Kevin Amolsch welcomes back Jens Nielsen to discuss what happens after you've bought your first few properties. Jens explains why investors need to stop thinking like owner-operators and start thinking like business owners. They dive into building the right team, outsourcing effectively, finding mentors, knowing when to hire employees, and creating systems that allow your business to grow without consuming your life. They also discuss today's real estate market, why many investors are struggling to make deals work, and how successful entrepreneurs stay focused despite economic uncertainty. Whether you're trying to buy your first investment property or scale to hundreds of units, this episode is full of practical advice for building a business that lasts. 00:00 - Meet returning guest Jens Nielsen 06:10 - Thinking like an investor instead of an operator 09:00 - Why your team determines your ability to scale 18:05 - When should you outsource vs. hire employees? 26:00 - The difference between core competencies and outsourced work 29:12 - Lessons from The Science of Scaling by Benjamin Hardy 32:18 - Knowing when it's time to walk away from a deal 35:15 - Jens' coaching philosophy and helping entrepreneurs grow Connect with Jens Nielsen: Website: JensNielsen.us [http://JensNielsen.us] Learn more about business coaching, real estate investing, leadership, and building systems that allow you to scale without sacrificing your time. Learn more about Pine Financial Group: pinefinancialgroup.com [http://pinefinancialgroup.com] Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

The Biggest Lessons Real Estate Investors Need to Know from Season 6

What separates successful real estate investors from those who never get started? After six seasons of the Real Estate Educators Podcast, Kevin Amolsch is breaking down the biggest lessons, mistakes, and trends from conversations with investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. In this Season 6 recap episode, Kevin shares the common themes that kept coming up again and again—from why taking action is the biggest predictor of success to the underwriting mistakes that quietly destroy deals. He also dives into how investors are using AI to save time, improve decision-making, review documents, streamline operations, and create more efficient businesses. Plus, Kevin discusses why real estate will always be a people business and how relationships with tenants, contractors, vendors, and other investors can make the difference between struggling and scaling. If you want to become a better investor, avoid common mistakes, and prepare for where real estate is headed next, this episode is for you. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - The #1 mistake real estate investors keep making 05:02 - The importance of keeping consistent income while building wealth 09:05 - How AI is changing real estate investing 13:10 - Building the right team of vendors and contractors Learn more about Pine Financial Group: pinefinancialgroup.com [http://pinefinancialgroup.com] Subscribe to the Real Estate Educators Podcast for more conversations about real estate investing, market trends, financing strategies, and building long-term wealth. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Benjamin Stef - The Lending Strategies Real Estate Investors Are Using in 2026

Most investors focus on finding the next deal—but the way you structure your financing can make or break your ability to scale. In this episode of the Real Estate Educators Podcast, Kevin Amolsch sits down with Benjamin Stef to discuss creative lending strategies, DSCR loans, HELOCs, building momentum, and what separates successful investors from those who quit. Ben shares how growing up in an entrepreneurial real estate family shaped the way he thinks about investing and lending. After starting his lending career during COVID and surviving one of the toughest interest rate shifts in history, Ben explains why focusing on the right daily activities and avoiding “shiny object syndrome” are critical for long-term success. They also break down creative financing options investors may not know exist—including DSCR loans, investor HELOCs, non-QM lending, and strategies to access capital without selling properties or giving up low interest rates. If you’re looking to grow your portfolio, unlock equity, or understand how successful investors think about financing, this episode is packed with valuable insights. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Growing up around real estate and entrepreneurship 07:05 - Starting a lending career during COVID 09:24 - Surviving the interest rate shift when others quit 18:04 - Finding your “why” and refusing to quit 20:40 What is non-QM lending? 24:45 - Hosting events and building relationships through education 29:15 - Why every investor needs to pick a niche Connect with Benjamin Stef: YouTube: Funding Freedom – Ben Stef Website: FundingFreedom.net [http://FundingFreedom.net] Learn more about creative financing, DSCR loans, investor lending strategies, and ways to leverage equity to grow your real estate portfolio. Learn more about Pine Financial Group: pinefinancialgroup.com [http://pinefinancialgroup.com] Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Jason Roberts - The Real Truth About Fix & Flipping in Today’s Market

Can you really make six figures on a single house flip, even in a challenging market? In this episode of the Real Estate Educators Podcast, Kevin Amolsch sits down with Jason Roberts to talk about wholesaling, fix-and-flipping, market risk, mentorship, and building a recession-resistant real estate business. Jason shares how watching his parents lose everything during the 2007–2008 housing crash shaped the way he approaches investing today. They discuss why investors need multiple streams of income, how to stress test deals, and why wholesaling creates the cash flow needed to survive market downturns. They also dive into double closings, finding off-market deals, probate opportunities, and how Jason’s mentorship students are landing six-figure flips. If you’re interested in wholesaling, flipping houses, or building long-term wealth through real estate, this episode is packed with practical advice. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Growing up in a real estate family in New York 09:05 - From engineering to real estate investing 11:14 - How fix-and-flipping replaced Jason’s W-2 income 13:28 - The biggest lesson from the 2008 housing crash 18:08 - The balance between staying focused and diversifying 22:18 - How Jason finds off-market wholesale deals 26:40 - What a “double close” actually means 31:45 - Scaling from one flip to 20+ projects per year 34:18 - The mentorship program helping students land six-figure flips 43:08 - Why market data matters more than opinions Connect with Jason Roberts: Website: BetterBlueprintAcademy.com [http://BetterBlueprintAcademy.com] Learn more about wholesaling, fix-and-flipping, and real estate mentorship opportunities in Colorado and nationwide. Learn more about Pine Financial Group: pinefinancialgroup.com [http://pinefinancialgroup.com] Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.