The Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles and Syndications Show
We show working professionals and busy people how to invest in real estate as a side hustle or a full-time business. We interview guests who have successfully started real estate businesses part-time and have turned them into full-time enterprises, or have generated passive income for themselves. This show will also demonstrate how to invest in real estate with low or no money. You will learn how to achieve success in various niches within real estate, including wholesaling, fix and flip, BRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance), and syndicating commercial real estate.
The Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles and Syndications Show
️ How to Build a Portfolio Slowly — One House at a Time — While Working a Demanding Job (With Jacob Carroll) 💼🏘
Many investors feel pressure to scale fast — but Jacob Carroll proves the opposite. Despite a demanding full-time job, raising kids, relocating, and running a household, Jacob built his portfolio slowly and intentionally… one property at a time.
His philosophy: consistency beats speed, and you can build wealth without sacrificing your career, family, or peace of mind.
💼 How Jacob Invests While Working a Full-Time Job
Jacob still works a demanding W-2, so he relies on disciplined routines. He checks his buy box daily, runs numbers consistently, and targets just 1–2 properties per year — a pace that supports family life and financial stability.
He invests in Minneapolis/Twin Cities long-term rentals and is adding a short-term rental buy box for family visits. His strategy fits his life — not the other way around.
🏘️ A Recent Transaction: Minneapolis Long-Term Rental
After moving to San Diego, Jacob bought a Minneapolis rental through local agents, underwrote it remotely, and used a portfolio loan (25% down, 7.5% interest). His wife walked the property and filmed videos, and together they built a reno plan.
Jacob did two weeks of DIY work, then relied on his carpet installer, handyman, and local partners. The property was leased within a weekend.
📊 How Jacob Underwrites Rentals
Jacob’s top metric is payback time — not cash-on-cash. Inspired by Payback Time by Phil Town, he checks whether cash flow will repay his investment in 8–10 years.
His underwriting includes:
• Purchase price
• Down payment
• Interest rate
• Taxes, insurance, HOA
• Utilities
• Renovation budget + timeline
Higher rates may mean thin cash flow early on — and he’s okay with that if the fundamentals are strong.
🧹 Tenant Placement & Property Management Systems
Jacob’s “secret sauce” is property management. He:
• Remodels units to B+/A- quality
• Uses Zillow Rental Manager
• Defines an ideal tenant profile
• Sticks to clear criteria
• Charges slightly higher rents to filter out poor leads
This results in low-maintenance tenants — especially important when managing remotely.
🧭 Moonlight Coaching Portion — Coaching Advice From Jacob Carroll
⭐ What Every New Investor Should Know
Real estate isn't passive. Get your financial house in order first: eliminate debt and build reserves.
⭐ How to Balance Business, Life, and Real Estate
Grow slowly. Start with a single-family home. Join local meetups to stay grounded when emotions run high.
⭐ If You Have Little Money or Time
House hack. Save 5–10% for your first place. Use your W-2 for momentum and partner with trusted people if needed.
⭐ Knowing Your Numbers
Keep clean bookkeeping, separate accounts, and get a mentor to review your numbers. “Measure twice, cut once.”
📚 Books Recommended for Active and Passive Investors
The ABCs of Property Management — Kim McElroy
A foundational guide to operations, customer service, and long-term management success.
Click On This Link For Our Free E-Book "An Introduction Into Apartment Syndication: https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/
Website: Moonlightcre.com
Click On The Link Below To Schedule A Call With Eric:https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation
Click On The Link Below For More Information About Eric Lindsey:
https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey