This week we talk about why the end of HGTV’s Fixer Upper could be a positive change, and Sherry shares the mistake that nearly ruined the beach house’s pine floors. If you’ve been curious about buying a second property or getting started in real estate investing, we sit down with real estate coach Dana Bull. She explains a lower-risk path to acquiring your first rental, demystifies what being a landlord really involves, and offers practical renovation tips to protect your return on investment.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio — or listen on the player on the original episode page. Note: if you’re reading this in a feed reader, you may need to open the full post to access the audio.
What’s New
- If you missed our detailed post about refinishing the beach house’s pine floors, you can read it here for the full story and photos.
- If you haven’t heard, Chip and Joanna announced they’re moving on from Fixer Upper; you can see their statement here.
Color of the Year
- Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year for 2018 has been announced if you want to explore current trends: see the selection.
- We’ve discussed past Colors of the Year on the podcast as well: Sherwin-Williams’ pick in Episode #67, Behr’s choice in Episode #61, and Benjamin Moore’s 2017 pick covered in Episode #23. Links to those episodes are available in our show notes for deeper context.
Dana Bull, Real Estate Coach
Dana Bull joined us to talk about practical strategies for first-time real estate investors. If you’re considering a rental property, Dana’s approach focuses on reducing financial risk while building equity and long-term wealth. She covers how to think about financing, choosing the right property type, and making renovation decisions that preserve value without overspending.
- Learn more about Dana and her coaching services at DanaBull.com.
- Recommended resources Dana mentioned for learning the financial side of investing:
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad — a mindset book many investors reference
- Mr. Money Mustache — personal finance perspective on early financial independence
- BiggerPockets — community, tools, and a podcast; Dana has appeared as a guest on their show
- For background on our own property experience, listen to Episode #64 about our Beach Duplex purchase or view the before pictures in our Beach Duplex post.
We’re Digging
- Below is a peek at our daughter’s recently updated bedroom. We’ll share a full post soon, but for now you can spot the reversible duvet cover we found at HomeGoods and the llama-themed sheets from Target.
- When shopping for kids bedding, our go-to stores include Target, Pottery Barn Kids, and Land of Nod. We also found surprisingly good options at retailers we don’t usually check, like Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, and Etsy. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite finds in the show notes for easy browsing.
- We’ve been listening to the Dirty John podcast lately and highly recommend it — gripping storytelling and a real attention-grabber from start to finish.
If you’re trying to find something we mentioned on an older episode, check our master list of “We’re Digging” items from past shows for a quick reference of books, podcasts, products, and resources we’ve recommended over time.
Big thanks to Modsy for sponsoring this episode. They redesigned our awkward, angled bonus room into a calm master suite that nearly convinced Sherry to move the bed. To see their work and learn more about their service, visit Modsy and use code YHL20 for 20% off your first room design.
Thanks for listening!
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