In Episode 290 of REIA Radio, hosts Ted Kaasch and Owen Dashner sit down with Drew Tilgner — a young investor who jumped into real estate at 19 and started stacking experience fast.

Drew walks through how he got started with house hacking, what he learned by actually doing deals (instead of just doom-scrolling BiggerPockets and calling it “research”), and how living in his own properties helped him build momentum early.

A big advantage in Drew’s story: his experience working at a title company. He breaks down why title matters more than most new investors realize, how title insurance can save your butt when things get messy, and how seeing transactions from the inside sharpened his decision-making as an investor.

From there, the conversation expands into what it really takes to grow: moving from easier properties into heavier projects, learning renovation realities the hard way, and understanding risk before you scale. Ted and Owen also dig into the mindset side—consistency, taking action, and why strong relationships beat “perfect timing” every single time.

They also talk money and lending: being financially prepared, using leverage wisely, and why “I’ll figure it out later” is not a strategy when you’re borrowing someone else’s money.

If you like real conversations with real investors (no guru fluff), subscribe to REIA Radio and share this episode with someone who keeps saying they’re “waiting for the right time.”

And if you’re local, come to an Omaha REIA event and meet the kind of people who actually do deals—not just talk about them.

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...

In this Real Estate Rundown episode, Ted and Owen break down the chaos in the markets and what it might mean for real-world investors who prefer assets you can actually touch. They talk through big swings in gold, silver, and Bitcoin, and how shifting expectations around Federal Reserve leadership and interest-rate direction can ripple into everything from investor sentiment to real estate strategy.

From there, the conversation gets practical: the “fun” surprises that come with older buildings (like random code requirements and hidden infrastructure issues that only show up once you’re already committed). They walk through the decision-making math between spending money upfront to fix a problem properly versus paying ongoing operating costs that quietly crush building value over time.

Golden Nugget: If a contractor wants a big chunk of money upfront “for materials,” don’t hand them a blank check and hope for the best. Have them build the materials list/cart at a big-box store and you buy it directly—protects you from getting burned and keeps discounts in your pocket. Bonus: check Pro Desk pricing on larger orders and stack any REIA discounts where available.

Coming Up / Community: The guys preview Wednesday’s episode featuring Drew Tilner, plus upcoming Omaha-area events including the REIA Mastery Series session on self-storage with Fernando Angelucci and a March in-person event with Andrew Devlin.

If you got value from this episode, subscribe to REIA Radio so you don’t miss the next drop—especially Wednesday’s episode. And if you’re local (or you like flying in for good rooms), come plug into the Omaha REIA community and the upcoming events Ted mentioned.

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...

Andrea Foley is the definition of “don’t put me in one box.” In this episode, she breaks down how she’s built a stacked portfolio of businesses—from kids resale and retail, to real estate, to the car wash world—while keeping her eye on the long game: legacy.

This conversation goes way beyond “here’s what I do.” Andrea gets real about the pressure small business owners are under right now, how her consulting background shaped the way she thinks about growth and decision-making, and why financial planning isn’t optional if you want to stay in the game.

You’ll also hear practical investing/operator talk: why house hacking is still one of the cleanest on-ramps for new investors, how underwriting a car wash deal is basically the same discipline as underwriting real estate, and why city regulations can quietly torch your budget if you don’t plan for surprises.

They wrap with real-life lessons that come from taking hits, rebuilding, and trying to leave something behind that matters—plus a straightforward parenting philosophy centered on responsibility and work ethic.

Connect with Andrea Foley:

• Pirates & Pixies: piratesandpixiesomaha.com
• Undercover Kitchen: undercoverkitchenomaha.com
• Koala Wash: koalawashusa.com

If you got value from this episode, share it with a friend who’s building a business (or about to learn some lessons the hard way). Subscribe to REIA Radio so you don’t miss the next one.

You can Join the Omaha REIA - https://omahareia.com/join-today
Omaha REIA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OmahaREIA
Check out the National REIA - https://nationalreia.org/
Find Ted Kaasch at www.tedkaasch.com
Owen Dashner on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/owen.dashner
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/odawg2424/
Red Ladder Property Solutions - www.sellmyhouseinomahafast.com
Liquid Lending Solutions - www.liquidlendingsolutions.com
Owen’s Blogs - www.otowninvestor.com
www.reiquicktips.com
Propstream - https://trial.propstreampro.com/reianebraska/
Timber Creek Virtual - https://timbercreekvirtual.com/services/
MagicDoor - https://magicdoor.com/reia/
...