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Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat: The BRRRR Rental Property Investment Strategy Made Simple
Invest in real estate, flip houses, buy rental properties, and never run out of money—using the hottest strategy in the real estate world! “From A–Z (or B–R), David covers just what you'll need to execute like a master and build wealth like the pros." — David Osborn, New York Times bestselling author For years, investors have built wealth through real estate the hard slowly saving money and sacrificing their current happiness for a future reward. While this method produces results in the long run, what if there's a better, more efficient way that works in years instead of decades? Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat is the five-part BRRRR real estate investing strategy that makes financial freedom more attainable than You buy a property under market value, add value with renovations, rent it out to tenants, complete a cash-out refinance, then use that money to do it all over again. In this book, author and investor David Greene shares the exact systems he used to scale his real estate business from buying two houses per year to buying two houses per month using BRRRR. This easy-to-follow plan will grow your wealth quickly without letting a lack of cash get in the way of pulling it off. With the BRRRR method, you’ll create wealth with real estate investment properties and BRRRR your way to financial independence! Inside, you'll
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2019
1660 people are currently reading
4013 people want to read
About the author
David Greene
6 books104 followersDavid Greene is a former police officer and a real estate investor with more than nine years of experience. He has bought, rehabbed, and managed more than 35 single-family rental properties, owns shares in three large multifamily apartment complexes, and is a top-producing real estate agent on the Keller Williams East County team. A nationally recognized authority on real estate, he is the co-host of the BiggerPockets Podcast and the author of two bestselling business books. David loves basketball, Batman, being an uncle, and helping people achieve total financial independence through real estate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
June 29, 2019
I feel like the author is trying to sell me something with this book. He is a real estate agent so, maybe he is.
I can understand an author being excited about something he’s been successful at. I get suspicious, though, when someone tries sooo hard to convince me to do the same thing he does.
The “BRRR” method does have its risks, and the author only spends a few pages at the very end raising and then dismissing those downsides. The other 300 or so pages are spent selling us on his investment method of choice.
I’ve read other Bigger Pockets books that were more balanced and less pushy: Brandon Turner’s Guide to Rental Property and Mindy Jensen’s Guide to Selling Your Home. I’m not remembering the exact titles.
I can understand an author being excited about something he’s been successful at. I get suspicious, though, when someone tries sooo hard to convince me to do the same thing he does.
The “BRRR” method does have its risks, and the author only spends a few pages at the very end raising and then dismissing those downsides. The other 300 or so pages are spent selling us on his investment method of choice.
I’ve read other Bigger Pockets books that were more balanced and less pushy: Brandon Turner’s Guide to Rental Property and Mindy Jensen’s Guide to Selling Your Home. I’m not remembering the exact titles.
January 22, 2021
One of my favorite books on real estate. People have been doing this for years but David Greene is making it simple and allowing newer investors to take part in financial freedom through real estate.
October 24, 2019
This audiobook of 13 hours was way too long for what I was looking for. I was looking for a more high level overview of BRRRR, but this goes into the nitty gritty, with many unnecessary tangents. He also discusses a lot about simply managing a large portfolio, so there is value for those simply looking for tips on managing their real estate portfolio. That said, it is a good book on BRRRR and how it can be so powerful! I won’t read again unless I really get serious about doing a BRRRR property.
March 3, 2020
Great job explaining the BRRR Process
Highly recommend if you’re considering getting into RE investing. Easy to read while also providing plenty of details about the method.
Highly recommend if you’re considering getting into RE investing. Easy to read while also providing plenty of details about the method.
April 11, 2020
Lots of incredible and truly valuable information! Had the tendency to get too wordy and go on for too long sometimes but an absolute must read if you’re looking to get into real estate investing.
June 25, 2020
Really practical and informative! Really good additions to my tool belt. Excited to expand our business!
October 27, 2021
Super good information, but about 40% of it was extra anecdotes or analogies that didn't add a ton of value.
January 22, 2023
There are a few good ideas, which should take 5% of the book at most. The rest is unnecessary or just misleading. Also, as usual in books like this, it's completely US-centric, many of his strategies are unrealistic in other countries. The following irresponsible quote is a good example of how the author thinks: "Using OPM (other people’s money) is a less risky form of investing."
I'm sharing some other quotes from the book:
Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time. —JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
In real estate, investors can add value to their property in two ways.
They pay less than what it’s worth, “buying” equity.
They increase the value by improving the property’s condition, “forcing appreciation” or “building” equity through the rehab process.
Once the property is bought, rehabbed, and rented out, then the investor refinances it.
To simplify this as much as possible, we are going to consider “buying right” to mean paying as little as possible for a deal but still being able to get the owners to agree to sell to us. To inexperienced investors, this means lowballing 100 sellers a month and hoping something sticks. To the experienced investor, this means targeting sellers in some form of distress who are more likely to work with a buyer who isn’t going to pay top dollar. By narrowing in on those most likely to be attracted to our offer to buy their property, we increase our odds of finding a “win-win” situation.
Personal distress is how professional, full-time investors target deals. It’s how most wholesalers find deals. Personal distress is when the owner of a property is in some form of distress in their personal life that is affecting their finances. Examples would be a divorce, a lost job, a death in the family, trust sales, sudden medical expenses, etc. Personal distress is the best form of distress to target if you want to find deals with the highest margin.
Property distress is when the property itself is in such bad condition that its value is affected. Properties that need large amounts of work to be livable are a form of property distress. Examples include leaking roofs, foundational problems, significant pest problems (termite damage), obsolete floor plans, etc. Property distress is the form of distress that involves the most work, but it is also the easiest form to target and the one you have the most control over finding.
My goal as a buyer who wants to “buy right” is to find these sellers when they are at a point where they are about to give up, and swoop in as a savior able to close the deal.
One benefit to offers without financing I don’t hear spoken about nearly enough is the fact that some houses are in such bad condition they simply do not qualify for financing.
When you are able to make all-cash offers, aim your sights on properties in such bad condition that only a cash offer could buy them.
Sam realized he had somehow found himself trying to flip a high-end luxury product in the wrong neighborhood.
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. —DAVID BRINKLEY
Bathrooms are a big “bang for your buck” category when it comes to the impact they make on the value of a property.
Carpet is the cheapest option, but it’s also the least durable and easiest to be ruined. While laminate is more expensive at first, it will save you lots of money in the long run.
Spend the bulk of your rehab budget on the kitchen and bathrooms when possible.
Whenever I’m looking at new properties, the first thing I look for is where I can add square footage and where I can add a bedroom or a bathroom (assuming it needs this).
Don’t put in a glass shower door. The reason is pretty simple—glass shower doors are extremely expensive, easy to break, and easy to get moldy. They need to be cleaned frequently and your tenants often won’t do this. Furthermore, they don’t do much to improve the aesthetics of your bathroom, at least not for the amount of money you spend on one.
What I’ve found is that laminate tends to be the happy medium that works best. It’s easy to install (meaning lower “fixed” labor costs), very durable (check with the sales associate to find which brands will be toughest!), easy to clean, and hides damage well. As a general rule, I try to put laminate floors in as much of the house as possible, other than areas likely to receive a high level of damage like kitchens and bathrooms.
A bedroom is the only place I’ll leave carpet in place. If you leave it in any high traffic area, it’s going to be worn out, frayed, or stained within a short amount of time.
Tile is my favorite option for an area likely to take a beating or be exposed to significant liquid spills. Most of these spills take place in the bathroom or kitchen, so these are areas I lay down tile.
While the novice, white belt investor sees this information and says, “Nope, I’m out. Too much hassle/headache,” the black belt investor says, “Perfect. This is a great opportunity to solve a big problem.” Remember, we make money on real estate investing by solving someone else’s problem, whether it’s personal, property, or market condition related.
In my opinion, an investor’s best use of time is finding great talent to help them achieve their goals and find great deals.
Buying near a hospital is one of the single most critically important things you can do to ensure you always have a steady stream of reliable, well employed, professional tenants willing to rent your property. Renting to tenants like this isn’t a guarantee you won’t have problems, but it does put the odds significantly in your favor.
The idea to this technique is to look to buy properties in areas where the other tenants/owners are taking good care of their property, because your tenants will be more likely to do the same.
Additionally, consider that the best tenants will not feel comfortable living in a property where the neighborhood is full of broken windows and vandalism. If there is low pride of ownership, the best tenants are going to feel uncomfortable and look to pass. Finding a neighborhood with fewer broken windows gives you a higher chance of success when it comes to keeping your repair costs lower and the quality of your tenant higher!
As mentioned earlier, properties near the best schools tend to appreciate the most. This leads to higher-priced homes attracting wealthier families, which oftentimes leads to more well-behaved children attending those schools, increasing the school scores even more. This “virtual cycle” can ensure property values don’t drop as much during a recession and will increase more during a good economy.
That being, after the first year, we raise the rent back to what maximum rent for the area would be and watch as most of the tenants would rather pay than move.
Another perk of hiring a property manager is you don’t have to be the bad guy; they do.
In my opinion, the biggest pro to using property management isn’t the money you save, it’s the experience you leverage by using someone else who is better at this and has done this longer than you.
Many lenders are trained to quote you one specific closing cost—say, for example, the origination fee. Don’t get fooled by this. Ask for a “net sheet,” or a list of all the closing costs you’ll be paying, and compare these costs between lenders.
Many new investors are surprised when they find out the interest rates on “cash out” refinances are higher than purchase refinances. Trust me, I’ve never understood this one either. Basically, lending institutions have decided that when someone is pulling cash out of a property (when the loan amount is higher than the current mortgage balance), the loan is riskier for the lender and therefore needs a higher interest rate to offset that risk.
Capital gains are not talked about enough. They are a huge downside to real estate flipping as opposed to buy and hold.
Using OPM (other people’s money) is a less risky form of investing.
“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” —BRUCE LEE
I'm sharing some other quotes from the book:
Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time. —JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
In real estate, investors can add value to their property in two ways.
They pay less than what it’s worth, “buying” equity.
They increase the value by improving the property’s condition, “forcing appreciation” or “building” equity through the rehab process.
Once the property is bought, rehabbed, and rented out, then the investor refinances it.
To simplify this as much as possible, we are going to consider “buying right” to mean paying as little as possible for a deal but still being able to get the owners to agree to sell to us. To inexperienced investors, this means lowballing 100 sellers a month and hoping something sticks. To the experienced investor, this means targeting sellers in some form of distress who are more likely to work with a buyer who isn’t going to pay top dollar. By narrowing in on those most likely to be attracted to our offer to buy their property, we increase our odds of finding a “win-win” situation.
Personal distress is how professional, full-time investors target deals. It’s how most wholesalers find deals. Personal distress is when the owner of a property is in some form of distress in their personal life that is affecting their finances. Examples would be a divorce, a lost job, a death in the family, trust sales, sudden medical expenses, etc. Personal distress is the best form of distress to target if you want to find deals with the highest margin.
Property distress is when the property itself is in such bad condition that its value is affected. Properties that need large amounts of work to be livable are a form of property distress. Examples include leaking roofs, foundational problems, significant pest problems (termite damage), obsolete floor plans, etc. Property distress is the form of distress that involves the most work, but it is also the easiest form to target and the one you have the most control over finding.
My goal as a buyer who wants to “buy right” is to find these sellers when they are at a point where they are about to give up, and swoop in as a savior able to close the deal.
One benefit to offers without financing I don’t hear spoken about nearly enough is the fact that some houses are in such bad condition they simply do not qualify for financing.
When you are able to make all-cash offers, aim your sights on properties in such bad condition that only a cash offer could buy them.
Sam realized he had somehow found himself trying to flip a high-end luxury product in the wrong neighborhood.
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. —DAVID BRINKLEY
Bathrooms are a big “bang for your buck” category when it comes to the impact they make on the value of a property.
Carpet is the cheapest option, but it’s also the least durable and easiest to be ruined. While laminate is more expensive at first, it will save you lots of money in the long run.
Spend the bulk of your rehab budget on the kitchen and bathrooms when possible.
Whenever I’m looking at new properties, the first thing I look for is where I can add square footage and where I can add a bedroom or a bathroom (assuming it needs this).
Don’t put in a glass shower door. The reason is pretty simple—glass shower doors are extremely expensive, easy to break, and easy to get moldy. They need to be cleaned frequently and your tenants often won’t do this. Furthermore, they don’t do much to improve the aesthetics of your bathroom, at least not for the amount of money you spend on one.
What I’ve found is that laminate tends to be the happy medium that works best. It’s easy to install (meaning lower “fixed” labor costs), very durable (check with the sales associate to find which brands will be toughest!), easy to clean, and hides damage well. As a general rule, I try to put laminate floors in as much of the house as possible, other than areas likely to receive a high level of damage like kitchens and bathrooms.
A bedroom is the only place I’ll leave carpet in place. If you leave it in any high traffic area, it’s going to be worn out, frayed, or stained within a short amount of time.
Tile is my favorite option for an area likely to take a beating or be exposed to significant liquid spills. Most of these spills take place in the bathroom or kitchen, so these are areas I lay down tile.
While the novice, white belt investor sees this information and says, “Nope, I’m out. Too much hassle/headache,” the black belt investor says, “Perfect. This is a great opportunity to solve a big problem.” Remember, we make money on real estate investing by solving someone else’s problem, whether it’s personal, property, or market condition related.
In my opinion, an investor’s best use of time is finding great talent to help them achieve their goals and find great deals.
Buying near a hospital is one of the single most critically important things you can do to ensure you always have a steady stream of reliable, well employed, professional tenants willing to rent your property. Renting to tenants like this isn’t a guarantee you won’t have problems, but it does put the odds significantly in your favor.
The idea to this technique is to look to buy properties in areas where the other tenants/owners are taking good care of their property, because your tenants will be more likely to do the same.
Additionally, consider that the best tenants will not feel comfortable living in a property where the neighborhood is full of broken windows and vandalism. If there is low pride of ownership, the best tenants are going to feel uncomfortable and look to pass. Finding a neighborhood with fewer broken windows gives you a higher chance of success when it comes to keeping your repair costs lower and the quality of your tenant higher!
As mentioned earlier, properties near the best schools tend to appreciate the most. This leads to higher-priced homes attracting wealthier families, which oftentimes leads to more well-behaved children attending those schools, increasing the school scores even more. This “virtual cycle” can ensure property values don’t drop as much during a recession and will increase more during a good economy.
That being, after the first year, we raise the rent back to what maximum rent for the area would be and watch as most of the tenants would rather pay than move.
Another perk of hiring a property manager is you don’t have to be the bad guy; they do.
In my opinion, the biggest pro to using property management isn’t the money you save, it’s the experience you leverage by using someone else who is better at this and has done this longer than you.
Many lenders are trained to quote you one specific closing cost—say, for example, the origination fee. Don’t get fooled by this. Ask for a “net sheet,” or a list of all the closing costs you’ll be paying, and compare these costs between lenders.
Many new investors are surprised when they find out the interest rates on “cash out” refinances are higher than purchase refinances. Trust me, I’ve never understood this one either. Basically, lending institutions have decided that when someone is pulling cash out of a property (when the loan amount is higher than the current mortgage balance), the loan is riskier for the lender and therefore needs a higher interest rate to offset that risk.
Capital gains are not talked about enough. They are a huge downside to real estate flipping as opposed to buy and hold.
Using OPM (other people’s money) is a less risky form of investing.
“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” —BRUCE LEE
August 25, 2020
As someone who is investing in herself and developing (and working on) tangible goals, I've been reading a lot of books on business, lifestyle design, and investing. Most of those books offer high level insights and principles, or else theoretical or philosophical perspectives. Mostly I use them as a continuous supply of motivation because the bulk of them are working to change your mindset and open your imagination up to the possibilities. I love books like that, and they have their place.
This has been the most refreshing non-fic book I've read so far this year because it includes so much detail on the HOW of things, which my computer brain really appreciates. I'm not that creative a person, but I'm GREAT at following directions.
Greene will walk you through each one of the steps in the BRRRR process, including his reasoning on the WHY of things, informative and useful how-tos (and the why behind each how-to), and stories and examples to illustrate points, processes, and philosophies.
I went through three highlighters and started a fourth while reading this book, and I HIGHLY recommend you don't do this one on audio. When you get started investing you will want to use it as a reference and will want the ability to flip through pages rather than finding the right spot in the audio. I have been learning that these types of books should really be purchased in hard copy for this reason, even if you do buy an audio version first.
I already subscribed to Bigger Pockets and got the next book on my list by Brandon Turner so I can continue to add to my knowledge and begin building connections while I'm hitting some other financial goals.
Five stars all day long.
This has been the most refreshing non-fic book I've read so far this year because it includes so much detail on the HOW of things, which my computer brain really appreciates. I'm not that creative a person, but I'm GREAT at following directions.
Greene will walk you through each one of the steps in the BRRRR process, including his reasoning on the WHY of things, informative and useful how-tos (and the why behind each how-to), and stories and examples to illustrate points, processes, and philosophies.
I went through three highlighters and started a fourth while reading this book, and I HIGHLY recommend you don't do this one on audio. When you get started investing you will want to use it as a reference and will want the ability to flip through pages rather than finding the right spot in the audio. I have been learning that these types of books should really be purchased in hard copy for this reason, even if you do buy an audio version first.
I already subscribed to Bigger Pockets and got the next book on my list by Brandon Turner so I can continue to add to my knowledge and begin building connections while I'm hitting some other financial goals.
Five stars all day long.
February 23, 2020
A great book about the BRRRR investment and how to leverage your business by using it against against traditional investment method. It doesn’t only talk about BRRRR and how to perform it in the most efficient ways, but also addresses real estate in general as well.
Over all it’s an excellent book, I was surprised by this method since I heard about it before, but never got the chance to grasp how it functions in reality, and I’m impressed by it.
Over all it’s an excellent book, I was surprised by this method since I heard about it before, but never got the chance to grasp how it functions in reality, and I’m impressed by it.
December 21, 2019
Great business and real estate book.
July 14, 2024
I love that he took the time to put his entire strategy into a book.
I think the subtitle saying it's "simple" is a bit misleading, though. The financing piece is where the majority of people will get hung up on pulling this off. If they're able to get solid financing in place, and to build up a network of "rockstars" as he calls them, then yeah this is definitely a great way to invest and grow sustainable scalable wealth. My ex does this exact strategy very successfully, so I've seen it work firsthand.
Assuming the reader is capable and competent enough to pull it all off, here is my mini-breakdown of each component to this strategy.
B - Buy - This is the most important piece of the entire puzzle. If you mess this part up, you're SOL. You've got to find an undervalued property and be able to make an appealing offer on it (ideally in cash). This looks like a fixer upper that most buyers aren't interested in, and it's a huge benefit if you find out about it early enough that you don't have to worry about a bidding war with all the other investors in your area. Knowing the right people here is critical. Good luck!
R - Rehab - You need "rockstar" handymen and licensed contractors to pull this bit off profitably, too. You need people who will do quality work in a reasonable amount of time for a fair price. The best way to build up a network of rockstars is by being a rockstar yourself and having something to offer them in exchange for all the value they give you.
R - Rent - Once you've made it to this point, you're about home free. Patience is important here, as it was in the first two steps. Greatness doesn't just fall out of the sky extremely easily. You don't want to rush or feel hurried in any step of the process, because that's where mistakes get made. You want to find quality tenants who will pay their rent on time, maintain/care for the property reasonably, and preferably stay as tenants for a long while. You want to keep your tenants happy because then they're not only more likely to take better care of the property while they live in it, they can also help with word of mouth referrals/references for when they move out, or if you end up with other vacancies you're looking to fill.
R - Refinance - You increased the value of the property by flipping it - this makes the appraiser happy. You increased the value even more by placing a tenant in it and generating cash flow - this makes the bank happy. This should result in your ability to refinance, pulling out the cash you need to clear out any outstanding debts from the rehab, and giving you what you need to
R - Repeat the whole process over again as many times as you'd like.
Patience and master-level networking are vital to your success with this strategy. Real estate investing is one of the most proven methods of wealth creation in history. However, it simply will not be available to everyone in the way investing in things like the stock market will be. So, if this feels like it's outside of your circle of competence, don't rush into it. Take your time, do your research, and perhaps you'd be better served investing in lower risk-lower reward investment vehicles to build up your appetite and competence. Happy investing!
I think the subtitle saying it's "simple" is a bit misleading, though. The financing piece is where the majority of people will get hung up on pulling this off. If they're able to get solid financing in place, and to build up a network of "rockstars" as he calls them, then yeah this is definitely a great way to invest and grow sustainable scalable wealth. My ex does this exact strategy very successfully, so I've seen it work firsthand.
Assuming the reader is capable and competent enough to pull it all off, here is my mini-breakdown of each component to this strategy.
B - Buy - This is the most important piece of the entire puzzle. If you mess this part up, you're SOL. You've got to find an undervalued property and be able to make an appealing offer on it (ideally in cash). This looks like a fixer upper that most buyers aren't interested in, and it's a huge benefit if you find out about it early enough that you don't have to worry about a bidding war with all the other investors in your area. Knowing the right people here is critical. Good luck!
R - Rehab - You need "rockstar" handymen and licensed contractors to pull this bit off profitably, too. You need people who will do quality work in a reasonable amount of time for a fair price. The best way to build up a network of rockstars is by being a rockstar yourself and having something to offer them in exchange for all the value they give you.
R - Rent - Once you've made it to this point, you're about home free. Patience is important here, as it was in the first two steps. Greatness doesn't just fall out of the sky extremely easily. You don't want to rush or feel hurried in any step of the process, because that's where mistakes get made. You want to find quality tenants who will pay their rent on time, maintain/care for the property reasonably, and preferably stay as tenants for a long while. You want to keep your tenants happy because then they're not only more likely to take better care of the property while they live in it, they can also help with word of mouth referrals/references for when they move out, or if you end up with other vacancies you're looking to fill.
R - Refinance - You increased the value of the property by flipping it - this makes the appraiser happy. You increased the value even more by placing a tenant in it and generating cash flow - this makes the bank happy. This should result in your ability to refinance, pulling out the cash you need to clear out any outstanding debts from the rehab, and giving you what you need to
R - Repeat the whole process over again as many times as you'd like.
Patience and master-level networking are vital to your success with this strategy. Real estate investing is one of the most proven methods of wealth creation in history. However, it simply will not be available to everyone in the way investing in things like the stock market will be. So, if this feels like it's outside of your circle of competence, don't rush into it. Take your time, do your research, and perhaps you'd be better served investing in lower risk-lower reward investment vehicles to build up your appetite and competence. Happy investing!
November 1, 2019
After having a growing interest in real estate investing, I was searching on Amazon for a good book to read on the subject. I came across this book and decided it would be worth my time to read. The title of the book already highlights the main strategy in this form of real estate investing. David Greene though, does a fantastic job at detailing the exact process to become a successful real estate investor. From managing a rehab to explaining how to find the best deal, David Green’s book on investing has shown me that through the right process, anyone can become a successful real estate investor.
One pro that I really enjoyed about the book is how relatable the author made the content to anyone. The word choice and explanations throughout the book make the content easy to read and fully comprehensive. For example, when describing the method of using BRRRR to buy real estate, David Greene uses an analogy comparing traditional Tom and mastery Mike. This comparison made it easy to see how the BRRRR method used by mastery Mike was clearly more efficient with money compared to the traditional buy and rent method used by traditional Tom.
One con that I could possibly see about the book is the lack of word definition used. Since I am not yet familiar with all the terms regarding real estate, I often found myself having to go on my phone and search terms to better understand what the author was trying to illustrate. Possibly adding a brief explanation to the terms or footnotes could help readers understand the content without having to take time to search for them. Nevertheless, after you get an understanding of the terms David Greene is still very descriptive and easy to understand, giving you the best introduction to real estate possible.
If I were to have to recommend this book to anyone, it would be to people who are interested in making their money work for them and eventually building a portfolio that will fund their lifestyle for years to come. David Greene shows that through real estate investing someone with determination can become successful. For someone like myself who had a slight interest in real estate investing, this book showed me the path to be successful in the field and how to be efficient while doing it. Overall, the Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat book by David Greene is filled with valuable content that is easy to understand for any upcoming investor to learn.
One pro that I really enjoyed about the book is how relatable the author made the content to anyone. The word choice and explanations throughout the book make the content easy to read and fully comprehensive. For example, when describing the method of using BRRRR to buy real estate, David Greene uses an analogy comparing traditional Tom and mastery Mike. This comparison made it easy to see how the BRRRR method used by mastery Mike was clearly more efficient with money compared to the traditional buy and rent method used by traditional Tom.
One con that I could possibly see about the book is the lack of word definition used. Since I am not yet familiar with all the terms regarding real estate, I often found myself having to go on my phone and search terms to better understand what the author was trying to illustrate. Possibly adding a brief explanation to the terms or footnotes could help readers understand the content without having to take time to search for them. Nevertheless, after you get an understanding of the terms David Greene is still very descriptive and easy to understand, giving you the best introduction to real estate possible.
If I were to have to recommend this book to anyone, it would be to people who are interested in making their money work for them and eventually building a portfolio that will fund their lifestyle for years to come. David Greene shows that through real estate investing someone with determination can become successful. For someone like myself who had a slight interest in real estate investing, this book showed me the path to be successful in the field and how to be efficient while doing it. Overall, the Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat book by David Greene is filled with valuable content that is easy to understand for any upcoming investor to learn.
August 12, 2023
The focus of this book is the presentation of a real estate investment strategy that David Greene (and other investors) applies to grow their real estate portfolios.
The book delves into each stage of this strategy in detail and offers advice for its successful implementation.
I had previously heard (and read about) individual components of such a strategy, but not combined in this manner. Broadly speaking, it describes a systematic approach to real estate investment, which I believe holds great potential.
What's exciting is that by using the leverage effect of refinancing, real estate investors following this strategy have the opportunity to form exponential growth of their investments (similar to how compound interest works).
I would say it turned around my views on real estate investing.
Of course, there's a significant part about risk management. This strategy is definitely not passive. The book also describes other crucial aspects such as choosing a broker, selecting renovation specialists, financing choices, delegating property management, and other components that are preconditions for a complete failure of real estate investors who approach this asset class more superficially.
Two things I didn't like:
At times, some ideas in the book were presented with "rose-colored glasses" and sounded too... easily achievable. As if someone wants to convince you to buy something and mainly reveals its advantages. I assume this is a professional bias of the author, who clearly has a passion for real estate, and being a broker (i.e., tends to focus on convincing people).
The author made several superficial comparisons with stocks and Bitcoin. To me, they sounded absurd. I understood the benefits and potential of his strategy. I also got the advantages. But when presented without the downsides, it creates the impression that long-term real estate investment outperforms all other asset classes. I definitely don't think so.
The book delves into each stage of this strategy in detail and offers advice for its successful implementation.
I had previously heard (and read about) individual components of such a strategy, but not combined in this manner. Broadly speaking, it describes a systematic approach to real estate investment, which I believe holds great potential.
What's exciting is that by using the leverage effect of refinancing, real estate investors following this strategy have the opportunity to form exponential growth of their investments (similar to how compound interest works).
I would say it turned around my views on real estate investing.
Of course, there's a significant part about risk management. This strategy is definitely not passive. The book also describes other crucial aspects such as choosing a broker, selecting renovation specialists, financing choices, delegating property management, and other components that are preconditions for a complete failure of real estate investors who approach this asset class more superficially.
Two things I didn't like:
At times, some ideas in the book were presented with "rose-colored glasses" and sounded too... easily achievable. As if someone wants to convince you to buy something and mainly reveals its advantages. I assume this is a professional bias of the author, who clearly has a passion for real estate, and being a broker (i.e., tends to focus on convincing people).
The author made several superficial comparisons with stocks and Bitcoin. To me, they sounded absurd. I understood the benefits and potential of his strategy. I also got the advantages. But when presented without the downsides, it creates the impression that long-term real estate investment outperforms all other asset classes. I definitely don't think so.
June 4, 2021
This is a good book to read if you're interested in real estate investing. I'd never considered the process of buying a property for cash, then rehabbing, then refinancing in hopes of pulling out 100% or more of your investment, which enables you to then go and repeat that process while renting out the property. It's obviously a game changer if you can pull it off.
Based on the fact that this is an informative book for a fairly niche investment strategy, I decided to give a 4-star rating since the book covers each step of BRRRR in-depth. Basically, it covers the subject matter fully, defining and explaining key concepts, and giving examples.
I almost gave a 3-star rating due to the nature of the writing... I don't doubt the author has been massively successful employing the strategy he outlines in the book. However, the examples and analytical support given for the strategy are purely anecdotal. There's no real research to backup the claims made in the book -- only the author's own experience. Even if that experience is extensive, I don't think it makes for a very persuasive argument. As many other reviewers have mentioned, it seems like he is selling something to the reader. The book could have also been at least 100 pages shorter and still conveyed the same amount of useful information.
Based on the fact that this is an informative book for a fairly niche investment strategy, I decided to give a 4-star rating since the book covers each step of BRRRR in-depth. Basically, it covers the subject matter fully, defining and explaining key concepts, and giving examples.
I almost gave a 3-star rating due to the nature of the writing... I don't doubt the author has been massively successful employing the strategy he outlines in the book. However, the examples and analytical support given for the strategy are purely anecdotal. There's no real research to backup the claims made in the book -- only the author's own experience. Even if that experience is extensive, I don't think it makes for a very persuasive argument. As many other reviewers have mentioned, it seems like he is selling something to the reader. The book could have also been at least 100 pages shorter and still conveyed the same amount of useful information.
December 8, 2020
For a book about "BRRRR", I dislike how it doesn't have an overview explaining what this "BRRRR" strategy is. Looking through the book again, and into the table of contents:
PART ONE | INTRODUCTION TO BRRRR
- My Story <-- Doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
- How BRRRR Supercharged My Success <-- Talked about how good BRRRR is, but still doesn't explain what it is.
CHAPTER ONE | Getting to Know the BRRRR Method
- Why BRRRR Is Better Than Traditional Financing <-- Still doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
- The Traditional Method Explained <-- Still doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
- The BRRRR Method <-- Talked about how financing is the first step in a traditional method, but last in the BRRRR method, but still doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
- How BRRRR Increases Your ROI <-- Doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
...
This book is for people who have already invested in real estate and want to read about each step in details. Though a lot of the contents are very similar to David's earlier book, Long-Distance Real Estate Investing. Still, I would recommend reading both of them, since I find the Repeat section in this book very fascinating.
PART ONE | INTRODUCTION TO BRRRR
- My Story <-- Doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
- How BRRRR Supercharged My Success <-- Talked about how good BRRRR is, but still doesn't explain what it is.
CHAPTER ONE | Getting to Know the BRRRR Method
- Why BRRRR Is Better Than Traditional Financing <-- Still doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
- The Traditional Method Explained <-- Still doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
- The BRRRR Method <-- Talked about how financing is the first step in a traditional method, but last in the BRRRR method, but still doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
- How BRRRR Increases Your ROI <-- Doesn't explain what BRRRR is.
...
This book is for people who have already invested in real estate and want to read about each step in details. Though a lot of the contents are very similar to David's earlier book, Long-Distance Real Estate Investing. Still, I would recommend reading both of them, since I find the Repeat section in this book very fascinating.
August 4, 2022
Just for the purposes of full transparency, I have never pursued the BRRRR real estate investment strategy, but given our crazy real estate market right now in Vermont and the pretty crazy interest rates going on out there, I am trying to learn a little bit more about different ways of pursuing real estate so that I'm always ready for the right deal.
This book is useful for someone like me who doesn't know very much about this process. However, it is quite long-winded, and sometimes that leads to more confusion. I would read something and then Google what the author talks about to find a clear and concise description of what I needed to know. To his credit, he does talk about many important things, and there are some incredibly valuable sections in this book. However, it is a bit too long for what it is.
I'm not sure if I am going to pursue this investment strategy anytime soon, but if you find that great deal where you can buy in cash, rehab, rent, refinance, and repeat, maybe I will just take a shot. If I found myself in that scenario, I probably would refer back to specific sections in this book just to see if it could help me.
This book is useful for someone like me who doesn't know very much about this process. However, it is quite long-winded, and sometimes that leads to more confusion. I would read something and then Google what the author talks about to find a clear and concise description of what I needed to know. To his credit, he does talk about many important things, and there are some incredibly valuable sections in this book. However, it is a bit too long for what it is.
I'm not sure if I am going to pursue this investment strategy anytime soon, but if you find that great deal where you can buy in cash, rehab, rent, refinance, and repeat, maybe I will just take a shot. If I found myself in that scenario, I probably would refer back to specific sections in this book just to see if it could help me.
April 29, 2022
I read a previous book by the same author (Long-Distance Real Estate Investing), so I thought I was prepared for the amount of filler but I just couldn't take it and could not finish this book! That's saying a lot, because I generally slog my way through most anything... His writing is repetitious and labored. What can be explained in a page goes on for too many. I've been a mostly hands-on landlord for almost 30 years now and I am shocked at some of the advice this author gives and how imbalanced his viewpoint was—at least to as far as I read. Some of his calculations were just plain WTF (page 46, Tom and Mike's final numbers) because of his very biased outlook on his outcomes. How leveraged do you want to be? Where are the cautionary words for how we handle an economic downturn, natural disasters, or fraud? Where are the stories of building genuine friendships and alliances instead of networking for your own gain? Maybe, to me, his tone smacks a bit too much of being a greedy landlord... When is enough, enough?
January 2, 2022
Good breakdown
I really enjoyed this book and the detailed descriptions David laid out along with his analogies. I also read Long distance real estate investing by the author, and got a lot out of both. I’m going to be buying my second property and looking to do a rehab and refinance to get capital out so this was a very helpful read.
I only wish that the book had more examples of the numbers of different deals with how to analyze the refinanced mortgage amounts. I think there where only 1 or 2 ex on the financing PITI and how to analyze the numbers for a good deal before buying and rehabbing but would of liked to see more examples throughout the book since it’s such an important part of the BRRR strategy. And maybe a comparison of doing similar BRRR HELOC.
Overall great book, and highly recommend to anyone interested in real estate investing! Thanks David!
I really enjoyed this book and the detailed descriptions David laid out along with his analogies. I also read Long distance real estate investing by the author, and got a lot out of both. I’m going to be buying my second property and looking to do a rehab and refinance to get capital out so this was a very helpful read.
I only wish that the book had more examples of the numbers of different deals with how to analyze the refinanced mortgage amounts. I think there where only 1 or 2 ex on the financing PITI and how to analyze the numbers for a good deal before buying and rehabbing but would of liked to see more examples throughout the book since it’s such an important part of the BRRR strategy. And maybe a comparison of doing similar BRRR HELOC.
Overall great book, and highly recommend to anyone interested in real estate investing! Thanks David!
January 7, 2023
Must read if you want a real estate black belt.
What my 👂 heard 👇
Get the most out of your deals
Become a real estate black belt
Without Capital you can't buy deals
Ministry of the whole requires mastery of the parts
Money is a seed for you to plant
Information makes people think emotions makes people act
Lots of issues can make your cash flow evaporate
Buying a property is no different than buying a business that will produce income
The communication sours as the relationship deteriorates
I can no longer accept you as the snake you are
I need to know I have a well to return to when I have a lending need
Equity grows wealth quickly main reason why the real is where it's at
Know what kind of fouls the financial referees are calling
Leveraged money is hard working money
Value isn't found in the first time you do something it's in the 10th
Real estate is a get rich slow game
What my 👂 heard 👇
Get the most out of your deals
Become a real estate black belt
Without Capital you can't buy deals
Ministry of the whole requires mastery of the parts
Money is a seed for you to plant
Information makes people think emotions makes people act
Lots of issues can make your cash flow evaporate
Buying a property is no different than buying a business that will produce income
The communication sours as the relationship deteriorates
I can no longer accept you as the snake you are
I need to know I have a well to return to when I have a lending need
Equity grows wealth quickly main reason why the real is where it's at
Know what kind of fouls the financial referees are calling
Leveraged money is hard working money
Value isn't found in the first time you do something it's in the 10th
Real estate is a get rich slow game
March 1, 2021
Takes a moderate deep dive into each step of this real estate investment strategy and gives lots of tips. Once I put the concepts into action, I will likely revisit my physical copy to help me through working with contractors, Tennants, lenders, agents, property managers, etc. Glad I listened and will continue to mull this content over for a while.
Critiques: David is a big proponent of this method and can come off as salesy at times. I wish the book did a deeper dive on buying. It recommended buying in cash to get the best deals, but didn't mention cash alternatives until one of the last chapters. That chapter left me with the most questions to explore with my network. The rest were quite thorough.
Critiques: David is a big proponent of this method and can come off as salesy at times. I wish the book did a deeper dive on buying. It recommended buying in cash to get the best deals, but didn't mention cash alternatives until one of the last chapters. That chapter left me with the most questions to explore with my network. The rest were quite thorough.
November 4, 2021
I listen to a lot of the BiggerPockets podcasts, like all of them, so this book was good for mindset and firing you up about doing a BRRRR deal, but I can't say that I learned a tremendous amount. I have a problem putting down a book halfway through, so I toughed it out and finished it, but if I could go back, I probably would have read a different book. If you've read some of the other similar BiggerPockets books, or have done a rehab yourself before, like I have, I'd say you could spend your time reading other books. Nothing against David Greene and the content of the book, but this is a beginner level book.
May 26, 2020
This was an excellent book in my opinion. The Author laid out all of the factors you would need to know to invest in real estate using the BRRRR method of real estate investing. Some reviews talked about how the author doesn’t mention too many of the downsides of the BRRRR method but honestly I expected that. This book is about how to do the BRRRR method of investing, not why you shouldn’t do it. If you’re interested in learning about how to invest in real estate with the BRRRR method, then this is the best place to start.
February 9, 2021
Excellent overview of the BRRRR (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) model of real estate investing. Goes into detail on each step, discusses ways to expand your business and find talented people to help you on your journey, and addresses some common objections to using the BRRRR method.
I am a new real estate investor and saw a lot of value in reading this book, even if I don't go the BRRRR route. The parts on finding good contractors, property managers, real estate agents, and lenders alone are worth the cost of the book.
Highly recommended.
I am a new real estate investor and saw a lot of value in reading this book, even if I don't go the BRRRR route. The parts on finding good contractors, property managers, real estate agents, and lenders alone are worth the cost of the book.
Highly recommended.
May 23, 2021
It's mostly a "what is BRRRR and why it's great" than a step-by-step guide to BRRRRing a property (although there are some tangible nuggets of advice in here). Also, in true David Greene form, there are A LOT of analogies here. Sometimes that's a good thing because it makes the lessons of the book more easy to understand. But other times it makes the book just drag on and on. There's one story in the end that's more of the latter. Overall I was a little disappointed with the book, though there are some great pieces of advice here and there.
November 6, 2022
Insightful
The book is very insightful. However, it lacks explicit examples to help readers and investors better grasp the concepts being explained. Furthermore, Mr. Greene could have included templates to help readers analyze deals and templates or a detail explanation on how to actually manage the rehab of properties. In all, the book was an easy read and I learned a great deal of information that will help me propel my investment journey to the next level. Thank you Mr. Greene.
The book is very insightful. However, it lacks explicit examples to help readers and investors better grasp the concepts being explained. Furthermore, Mr. Greene could have included templates to help readers analyze deals and templates or a detail explanation on how to actually manage the rehab of properties. In all, the book was an easy read and I learned a great deal of information that will help me propel my investment journey to the next level. Thank you Mr. Greene.
February 27, 2023
This was my first real estate investment book and I was overwhelmed by this book when I just started reading this book but now I am confident that I want to brrrr to invest in real estate. My partner and I have been making notes and started creating our own templates for systems. We will see if this is the most effective method to invest in real estate by having the most control over increasing the value of the home by rehabbing. I recommend this book if you are interested in real estate investment or have been doing a traditional way of investing in real estate.
March 9, 2025
Great insight to buying real estate at another level. This book talks about buying property the traditional way versus pulling money out of deal after you close through refinancing. I have heard of this strategy before, but never took the benefits into consideration because I never knew.
Anyone looking to learn the BRRRR strategy, this book goes over everything you need to know and answers a ton of questions if you were ever hesitant about trying. I look forward to tackling my first BRRRR investment this year.
Anyone looking to learn the BRRRR strategy, this book goes over everything you need to know and answers a ton of questions if you were ever hesitant about trying. I look forward to tackling my first BRRRR investment this year.
July 22, 2019
A lot of fluff
Great book. A lot of useful information in it. But it could honestly be cut down by almost a third and still get the same points across. Seems as though David repeats himself and throws a few extra analogies in there that could have been left out.
I understand repeating info to make sure people remember but let me choose to re-read it myself instead of repeating the same points throughout the book.
Great book. A lot of useful information in it. But it could honestly be cut down by almost a third and still get the same points across. Seems as though David repeats himself and throws a few extra analogies in there that could have been left out.
I understand repeating info to make sure people remember but let me choose to re-read it myself instead of repeating the same points throughout the book.
October 21, 2020
David Greene is a staple on Bigger Pockets. This book goes far more into detail on the BRRRR process that is constantly mentioned on the site and the Podcasts. This book is not a step-by-step guide that will hold your hand. It is higher level, but dives into the details of what each step entails. You are still going to have to do work if you want to implement this. It is well written and engaging.
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