In this episode of Living Off Rentals, we're joined by a thought leader in the real estate investing space who has built a diverse and intentional portfolio, all while designing a lifestyle rooted in peace, purpose, and efficiency.

Jonathan Greene is the host of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing and has been investing in real estate since his early twenties. Raised by a real estate-savvy father, Jonathan learned firsthand the power of buying smart and holding long-term. But for Jonathan, it’s never been just about building wealth: it’s about doing it without sacrificing time or values.

In this wide-ranging conversation, listen as Jonathan shares how he developed what he calls “time freedom,” why he doesn’t answer phone calls, and how prioritizing self-care has made him a better investor.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Jonathan Greene and his background
[02:04] How he gets into the real estate investing world
[03:23] The shift from old school to the updated way of investing
[05:25] First deals, lipstick flips, and early career in law
[09:49] How his background in law and art impacts his investing strategy
[14:27] Being an asset hunter
[20:16] His main deal source for his deals, especially in Main Street mixed-use
[21:41] Hybrid development of Main Street
[25:05] The Origin of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
[27:49] Why phone calls are the biggest time-wasters in business
[32:49] Scheduling self-care and maintaining boundaries as an entrepreneur
[35:34] Effective ways to prioritize things that are important as a real estate investor
[41:55] Lifestyle architecture
[43:58] How to build your investing network without being pushy
[46:28] Why most new investors should stop rushing and start showing up
[49:05] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals
Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast
Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals
Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/
Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals
Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who brings clarity to one of the most confusing parts of real estate investing: financing.

Christian Bachelder is the co-founder of The One Brokerage and one of the most trusted lending advisors in the real estate investing space. He is a UC Berkeley graduate, and a former chemical engineer turned seasoned investor. He now helps others invest in real estate by connecting them with the right financing strategies.

Listen as he breaks down the different types of loans available to investors—from traditional mortgages to DSCR and hard money loans—and how to use them strategically to grow your portfolio.

We also talk about how to qualify for your first loan, when to use each lending product, the truth about BRRRR strategy funding, and why some “creative” financing methods may be more dangerous than they seem.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Christian Bachelder and his background

[02:35] From being a chemical engineer to being an investor and real estate lending

[04:55] The spark that ignited Christian’s obsession with real estate

[08:38] Partnering with David Greene and building The 1 Brokerage

[11:32] How to stay competitive with a large variety of multiple loan products

[14:01] The three buckets of loans every investor should know

[15:55] What is a DSCR Loan, and why do investors love it

[19:27] How the BRRRR loan flow works

[24:44] DSCR loan terms explained: Rates, down payments, and pitfalls

[29:21] Three ways of calculating a rent

[31:35] Talk to your lender first before anybody

[32:48] Loan options for first-time investors

[35:35] 5 proven ways to find down payment funds

[43:00] Why good short-term rentals still win despite market noise

[46:08] Two main things that encompass the creative financing world

[52:58] Connect with Christian Bachelder

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.theonebrokerage.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonebrokerage/

Youtube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidGreeneRealEstate

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals