Episode 522: Scaling from 5 to 34 Units with Creative Deals with Joe Jensen

In this Wicked Smart Master’s Class, I sit down with Joe Jensen—a thrill-seeker turned real estate investor who scaled from 5 to 34 units in less than two years. Joe’s story takes us from growing up on a rural ranch in Utah, to a decade in door-to-door sales, to building a diverse real estate portfolio that gave him the freedom to raise his kids and live life on his terms.   Joe shares how divorce reshaped his mindset, why leveraging debt safely was a game-changer, and how he used multiple creative strategies such as seller financing, subject-to deals, partnerships, and even buying dirt lots to hit his freedom number within one year.    Whether you’re new to investing or looking to pivot, Joe’s journey is packed with practical insights, mindset shifts, and a reminder that clarity of goals is everything.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:03 Who is Joe Jensen? 02:13 Podcasts: Real Estate Investing School & Not So Average Joe 02:51 Growing up on a ranch in rural Utah & lessons in hard work 04:20 First sales jobs: roofing, waiting tables, and a church mission that taught grit 06:01 Getting into real estate through an FHA townhome & rental properties 07:11 The turning point: divorce, two kids, and a year to figure out real estate 08:12 Breaking old beliefs about debt and learning the power of leverage 09:56 Using multiple strategies: seller finance, subject-to, cash buys, partnerships 12:38 Why he experimented with every asset class to “teach what he did” 13:14 Dirt lots: renting land to RV/mobile homeowners for passive income 15:11 The importance of defining your goals, timeframe, and resources 19:26 Perspective is Power: Leveraging life challenges instead of excuses 21:36 Breaking out of the “safe bubble” and taking more risks after the divorce 23:17 Thrill-seeking adventures: cliff swings, triathlons, and making play a priority 26:25 Advice to W-2 employees: the importance of a clear plan and timeframes 28:28 How to get in touch with Joe 29:21 Current plan: simplifying the portfolio, buying quality assets, and future multifamily 31:05 The power of clarity and community   Quotables   “Blame is the enemy of progress. Ownership is the fuel for momentum.”   “Debt felt like the devil growing up but once I understood leverage, it became the game-changer.”   “You don’t get rich off cash flow, you get freedom. You get rich off equity growth.”   Links Joe Jensen https://linktr.ee/josephfjensen   Real Estate Investing School Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6X10Xeascsh6LIWzGdDlht   The Not So Average Joe Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2WR4MqlTXJa1p2AlFbiSdo   QLS Live http://smartrealestatecoach.com/qlspodcast   QLS 4.0 http://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls4.0podcast   Apprentice Program http://smartrealestatecoach.com/apprenticepodcast   In the Trenches Bootcamp http://smartrealestatecoach.com/ittbpodcast   3 Paydays Virtual Event http://smartrealestatecoach.com/3paydayspodcast   Masterclass ($297) http://smartrealestatecoach.com/webinarpodcast   Masterclass (Apprentice) http://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   Wicked Smart Books http://wickedsmartbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session http://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   REI Blackbook http://smartrealestatecoach.com/reibb-dd   7 Figures Funding http://smartrealestatecoach.com/7figures-pod   Landvoice https://smartrealestatecoach.com/landvoice-pod