The Real Estate Education Podcast

Leaving the US? Here's What to Do With Your House (3 Options From People Who Did It)

One year after relocating to Mexico, Erin Spradlin and James Carlson share three options for handling property when leaving the US—and why their choice saved their marriage. 🏠 Three Options When Leaving Option 1: Sell (Least Favorite) Most time-consuming and permanent. Requires prep, photos, staging. Markets moving slowly, especially Southeast US/Arizona. Best if certain about leaving permanently. Option 2: Rent Unfurnished (Middle Ground) Three-week timeline. Remove all furniture (storage costs extra). If rent doesn't cover mortgage by $100-200/month, that's your "experimentation cost." Think reverse 401k: tenant pays 85%, you pay 15%. Option 3: Furnished Midterm Rental (What They Did) Fastest exit. Leave furniture, lock personal items in basement, list. Turnover every 4-5 months. Carry utilities between tenants. Provides landing spot if you return—crucial for hesitant partners. This option saved their marriage. 📱 Where to List (Priority Order) 1. Airbnb - Largest volume, 6-8 month stays common. Most ban under 30 days, not 30+ furnished. Check HOA declarations. "Risk it with HOA over fascism." 2. Zillow - Best tenant quality. Act like long-term renters. Deposits, background checks, proper leases available. 3. Furnished Finder - Last resort. Lots of lowballing, less professional. 🔍 Search terms: leaving US real estate options, furnished midterm rental, expat property management, Airbnb 30 day minimum 📧 Contact: erin@erinspradlin.com [erin@erinspradlin.com] for landlord consulting james@jamescarlsonre.com [james@jamescarlsonre.com] for Colorado real estate

Trump's 50-Year Mortgage: Insane or Smart? Plus Ethical Landlording

Erin Spradlin and James Carlson tackle Trump's 50-year mortgage proposal with real numbers, then discuss whether "ethical landlording" is an oxymoron. 🏠 The 50-Year Mortgage Reality Trump's team showed him a poster with FDR and Trump labeled "Great Presidents" to pitch this. James admits it's "not automatically batshit crazy"—low bar. The Math ($500K home, 6% rate): * 30-year: $3,000/month, $579K interest, $1.079M total * 50-year: $2,632/month ($366 saved), $1M+ interest, $1.5M total Pros: Lower monthly payments. Harvard/UChicago economists say it's "not that much crazier than 30-year mortgages." Cons: Delays equity building, you're renting from the bank. Doesn't address root cause—need more housing units. Local ADU regulations likely more effective. ⚖️ Ethical Landlording Framework See tenants as customers, not employees. Fix things promptly. Communicate early—both sides hate surprises. Keep rents below market for quality long-term tenants. The $650 Couch Lesson: Ignored stained couch, two renters complained, one walked out. Replacing it ended all issues. Fix problems before they escalate. On Rent Increases: Fixed mortgages mean costs don't rise while market rents do. Is charging market rate ethical? Open question—though lower rents reduce turnover. Colorado Laws: Tenant-friendly but "not ridiculous unless you're an asshole." Requiring receipts for deposit deductions? "Completely acceptable." 📧 Contact: erin@erinspradlin.com [erin@erinspradlin.com] for landlord consulting james@jamescarlsonre.com [james@jamescarlsonre.com] for Colorado real estate

How to make $40K more on your Airbnb Rental

The Simple Steps That Added $40,000 to an Airbnb (In Just One Year) James Carlson reveals how his clients transformed an existing Airbnb from $50K annually to $90K—an 80% revenue increase—by following five straightforward principles. He shares two strategies while teasing his $49 Stand Store report with all five. 🏠 The Proof Property 45 minutes south of Breckenridge averaged $50K/year. New owners bought in early 2025, implemented all five strategies, now tracking $90K annually—$40K more ($3,333/month). Most investors drop off after closing instead of pushing through. 📋 Two Strategies Revealed 1. Know Thy Laws Don't rely on AI—ChatGPT recommended Denver despite felony charges for STR violations. Call planning departments, read ordinances, work with knowledgeable agents. 2. Design Matters More Than You Think Stand out on Airbnb's first page (18 properties). Beige and bland gets lost. This client: painted walls forest green, rebranded as "Starry Pines," added large art, replaced all furniture (no cup-holder couches). Hire a designer for $2K-3K—best money you'll spend. The Edge: Your competition quits after closing. Be the 2 out of 10 who push through the final month of work. Full report: stan.store/jamescarlson [https://stan.store/jamescarlson] ($49) 🔍 Search terms: Airbnb revenue optimization, STR design tips, Breckenridge investment, rental interior design 🔍 Search terms: Airbnb revenue optimization 2025, short-term rental design tips, STR property transformation, Breckenridge Airbnb investment, cohesive interior design rentals 🎧 Simple advice, hard work, massive results 📧 Contact: james@jamescarlsonre.com [james@jamescarlsonre.com] for Colorado STR/MTR investments

Why Donald Trump is Bad for Your Real Estate Investments

Erin Spradlin and James Carlson directly address how Trump administration's 2025 policies are impacting real estate markets—while making clear that economics aren't their biggest concern. 💸 Four Ways Trump Policies Are Hitting Real Estate 1. Immigration Crackdown = Construction Cost Explosion Removal of legal and illegal immigrant labor means construction and renovation costs are skyrocketing. Expect to pay significantly more and wait longer for any building project. 2. Tariff Chaos = Market Paralysis Retaliatory tariffs create inflation while Fed won't lower interest rates. Buyers have less purchasing power, sellers can't move properties, uncertainty prevents investment. 3. Policy Whiplash = Business Gridlock Daily policy flip-flops create regulatory uncertainty. Chaos itself—regardless of content—causes market pullback. 4. International Travel Collapse = Rental Disaster US Travel Association reports first decline since 2020: 6.3% drop in visits, $5 billion less spending. Canadian snowbirds abandoning Arizona and Florida properties—landlord glut eliminates renters. Phoenix devastated even for landlords who "never rented to Canadians." 📧 Contact: erin@erinspradlin.com [erin@erinspradlin.com], j ames@jamescarlsonre.com [james@jamescarlsonre.com] 🔍 Search terms: Trump immigration policy construction costs, tariff impact real estate 2025, international travel decline rental markets, Canadian snowbirds Arizona Florida exodus, real estate market uncertainty 2025

One Year in Mexico: The Surprising Truth About Moving, Living & Buying Here

We just hit our one-year anniversary of moving to Mexico, and we're sharing everything we've learned — the real pros, the unexpected cons, and why we have no plans to leave anytime soon. We'll also dive into: Our best tips for road-tripping through Mexico What to know before buying property here And what everyday life in Mexico actually feels like after 12 months If you've ever dreamed about moving south of the border — this episode will give you the honest, firsthand scoop. 📧 Contact Information: erin@erinspradlin.com [erin@erinspradlin.com] for midterm rental consulting and Hold My Hand mentor packages james@jamescarlsonre.com [james@jamescarlsonre.com] for Colorado real estate Hashtags: #LifeInMexico #MoveToMexico #ExpatLife #DigitalNomad #MexicoTravel #MexicoLiving #Podcast #LivingAbroadll