How do you build four independent living homes across two states while living in one of them?

On this episode of The Housing Dept. Podcast, I sit down with Marsha, who shares how she built four independent living homes across Georgia and New York while living in New York.

She opens up about how she got started, why she chose Georgia for her first homes, and the challenges of finding properties out of state. We also talk about building a waitlist, dealing with landlord rejections, and how she manages her Georgia homes with the help of her brother.

If you're looking to start or grow your own housing business, this conversation is a reminder to believe in yourself, get the right guidance, and keep moving even when you hear “no.”

A big thank you to today's sponsor, PadSplit! 🙌

🏠 Interested in a more hands-off approach to shared housing? Check out PadSplit: https://www.padsplit.com/thd

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How do developers secure millions of dollars to build affordable housing? 🏡In this episode of The Housing Dept. Podcast, I sit down with Jon Toppen, President and Co-Founder of Tapestry Development Group, who has been in the affordable housing space for over 23 years.Jon breaks down how affordable housing projects get funded through tax credits, investors, grants, and other funding sources.One thing I found especially interesting was how a historic school in Thomasville, Georgia, is being transformed into 52 units of senior housing.We also talk about finding the right properties, working with local governments, why development projects take years, and how smaller housing operators can partner with experienced developers.A big thank you to today's sponsor, PadSplit! 🙌If you own a property and want to explore shared housing without managing everything yourself, PadSplit helps with property marketing, resident screening, move-ins, and rent collection.According to PadSplit, hosts can earn up to 2.5 times more than a traditional long-term rental.👉 Learn more about PadSplit:https://padsplit.com/thdConnect with Jon and Tapestry Development Group:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tapestry-development/Website: https://tapestrydevelopment.org🏡 Join The Housing Dept. Community:https://www.skool.com/thd📱 Follow me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamterencegarciaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamterencegarciaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamterencegarcia/

What happens when a $40,000 house becomes a $160,000 exit—and the same passion for real estate leads to building independent living homes?

In this episode of The Housing Dept. Podcast, Terence sits down with Leslie, a real estate investor and independent living operator who has been investing in real estate for more than 20 years.

Leslie shares how she bought a house for $40,000 at a time when she didn’t even have a job, put the purchase on credit cards, invested about $10,000 into the rehab, and eventually sold the property for around $160,000. But her story goes beyond real estate.

Leslie also shares how independent living has allowed her to make a real difference in people’s lives—from helping a woman transition into her own apartment to supporting a resident with schizophrenia who had previously experienced abuse in other group homes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- How Leslie got started in real estate

- How she found a way to purchase a $40K property without a traditional job

- How she approached flipping and rehabbing properties- What led her to independent living

- Why independent living is about more than filling beds- How housing can create real change in someone’s life

- Why due diligence and learning from experienced people matter

- How Leslie uses AI to continue learning and growing her business

- Her plans to expand her housing business

Sponsored by PadSplit

If you own a home and like the idea of shared housing but don't necessarily want to operate the housing business yourself, PadSplit may be worth checking out.

PadSplit helps property owners rent individual rooms instead of renting an entire home to one tenant. The platform helps with marketing the property, screening residents, facilitating move-ins, and managing rent collection.

According to PadSplit, hosts can earn up to 2.5x more than a traditional long-term rental.

Learn more: padsplit.com/thd

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