Rental Property Debt: When to Pay Off vs When to Buy More Properties

Rental property debt: Should you pay it off or use that cash to buy MORE properties? In this episode, I'm sharing my ACTUAL plan for paying off 10+ rental properties in 7-8 years using the Real Estate Snowball Method.

This is THE question every real estate investor faces—especially if you're a Dave Ramsey follower who can't sleep at night because of mortgage debt. Today I'm breaking down when to aggressively pay down rental debt versus when to leverage it to buy more properties and build serious wealth.
Discover the "lazy equity" trap that's costing investors millions, real math showing how 1 paid-off property can become 4 properties worth $1M in 10 years, the Real Estate Snowball strategy for paying off multiple properties fast, when to be in the "buy, buy, buy" phase versus the "pay off" phase, and why your tenants are literally buying you free houses through principal paydown.

Topics covered:
rental property debt strategy, pay off mortgage vs buy more properties, Real Estate Snowball Method explained, cash out refinancing for wealth building, Dave Ramsey debt philosophy vs real estate investing, leverage and debt as wealth-building tools, retirement planning with rental properties, calculating passive income goals, and the two phases of rental property investing.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro: My 10+ Property Payoff Plan
1:45 - Welcome to Passively Rich with Rentals
2:30 - The Big Question: Pay Off or Buy More?
4:15 - Real Client Story: The "Lazy Equity" Problem
6:45 - How Cash Out Refinancing Creates Wealth (Real Math Example)
10:00 - Why Your Tenant is Buying You Free Houses
12:30 - The 1 Property to 4 Properties Strategy (10-Year Wealth Plan)
15:45 - When to STOP Buying and Start Paying Off
18:00 - The Real Estate Snowball Strategy Explained
21:30 - My Personal Plan: How to Pay Off 10 Properties in 7-8 Years
25:00 - Running Your Own Numbers (ChatGPT + Calculator Method)
27:30 - How Much Passive Income Do You REALLY Need in Retirement? 29:45 - The Two Phases: "Buy, Buy, Buy" vs "Pay Off"
32:00 - Best Markets for Cash Flow vs Appreciation
34:30 - Getting Started: Properties from $100K (Turnkey + Managed)
36:00 - Join My Free Community + Download the Calculator!

🎁 Grab your FREE Real Estate Snowball Calculator + 3-Day Out-of-State Investing Course + join an active community of passive real estate investors here: https://www.skool.com/passiverentals-...

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ABOUT
Passively Rich with Rentals is the real estate investing podcast for busy people who want simple, actionable steps to build passive income without creating another job. Hosted by Melissa Nash, founder of LadyLuck Investments, the show teaches everyday people how to invest in rental properties out of state using vetted teams, proven systems, and long-term strategies. Learn how to build real wealth through cash flow, leverage, and smart investing so you can create financial freedom the lazy way.

Want to learn more? Visit: https://www.hellomelissanash.com/

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