Want to get into real estate investing but don’t know where to start? House hacking could be one of the simplest ways to buy your first investment property and begin building wealth through real estate.

In this episode, Michelle Maiman and Carter Crowley break down how house hacking works, why it can be such a powerful strategy for first-time investors, and how you can use your primary residence to help offset your mortgage while getting your foot in the door of real estate investing.

We talk about what types of properties work for house hacking, financing your first property, renting out rooms or additional units, what to look for when buying, and some of the mistakes new investors should avoid.

If you’ve been telling yourself you need a ton of money to start investing in real estate, this episode might change the way you look at buying your first property.

Whether you're looking to buy a duplex, rent out extra bedrooms, or simply find a way to make homeownership more affordable, this episode gives you a practical starting point.

🏠 In this episode: • What house hacking is and how it works • How to find your first investment property • Financing options for owner-occupied properties • Renting rooms vs. buying a multifamily property • How rental income can help offset your mortgage • What beginners should look for in their first deal • Common house hacking mistakes to avoid • Using your first property as a stepping stone to build a rental portfolio

If you’re serious about getting started in real estate investing, subscribe for more conversations with investors, entrepreneurs, and people actively building businesses and portfolios in the real world.

#HouseHacking #RealEstateInvesting #RentalProperty #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #RealEstate

For Carter Crowley and Michelle Maiman, it’s not simply about selling more homes, hiring more people, or generating more revenue. True scale is about building a business that allows you to spend more time doing the work you’re great at—and actually enjoy doing. In this episode of Commission & Cashflow, Carter and Michelle break down the nuances of growing a real estate brokerage, sales business, and investment company without accidentally creating a bigger, more demanding job for yourself. They discuss how their roles have evolved as their businesses have grown, why entrepreneurs often hold onto responsibilities for too long, and how to identify the tasks that should—and shouldn’t—remain on your plate. More importantly, they explore the idea of “firing yourself” from the roles you no longer enjoy and empowering other people to take ownership of those responsibilities when they fall within their zone of genius. They cover topics including: Knowing when it's time to delegate Identifying your own zone of genius Hiring people whose strengths complement your weaknesses Giving up control without giving up accountability Scaling a brokerage vs. a sales team vs. an investment business Building systems that don't depend entirely on you Why more revenue doesn't necessarily mean a better business Designing your role around the work that gives you energy Creating opportunities for other people to thrive Using your business as a vehicle for freedom, cash flow, and long-term wealth The goal isn't to remove yourself from everything. It's to become extremely intentional about what deserves your time. If you're a real estate agent, broker, investor, or entrepreneur who's successful on paper but still feels like you're doing everything yourself, this episode will challenge you to rethink what “scaling” actually means. Stop doing everything. Find your zone of genius. Empower great people. Build a business you're excited to show up for. Welcome to Commission & Cashflow with Carter Crowley & Michelle Maiman.

Making six figures doesn't automatically make you wealthy. There are Realtors earning $100K, $200K, even $300K+ per year who still feel like they're living paycheck to paycheck. So where is all the money going? In this episode, we break down one of the biggest financial traps high-income real estate professionals fall into: **confusing a high income with wealth.** As commissions increase, so does the lifestyle—nicer cars, bigger houses, expensive vacations, watches, clothes, and monthly payments. But while thousands of dollars are going toward liabilities, very little is being put into assets that actually produce income or grow in value. We discuss why Realtors need to think beyond their next commission check, the importance of investing outside of their primary source of income, and how turning active income into income-producing assets can completely change your financial future. We cover: • Why making six figures doesn't mean you're wealthy • The lifestyle creep that keeps high earners broke • Assets vs. liabilities • Why your income shouldn't depend entirely on selling houses • Investing outside of your primary business • Turning commissions into long-term wealth • Building income streams that don't require you to constantly work The goal isn't just to **make more money**. It's to **keep it, invest it, and eventually make your money work harder than you do.** If you're a Realtor, entrepreneur, or commission-based professional, this episode may change the way you think about your next big check. Subscribe for more conversations about real estate, investing, business, and building long-term wealth.