How Eddie Colson Built a Real Estate Portfolio of 12 Units at Just 28 Years Old
Eddie Colson
Real Estate Investor · Colson Properties
Episode summary
Eddie Colson owns 12 rental units and he is 28 years old. Most people his age are paying off student loans. He built his portfolio through a combination of house hacking, the BRRRR method, and aggressive reinvestment of every dollar of cash flow. This episode is a masterclass in starting young in real estate, making smart financing decisions, and scaling a portfolio without a trust fund or a wealthy family.
Key takeaways
House hacking is the most powerful first step. Eddie lived in his first property and let tenants cover the mortgage, building equity from day one.
The BRRRR method allows infinite scaling with finite capital. Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat — each cycle pulls capital out for the next deal.
Starting young gives you a compounding advantage the math makes undeniable. A portfolio started at 22 outperforms the same portfolio started at 32 by a staggering margin.
Credit and financing knowledge is as important as real estate knowledge. Understanding how to leverage debt intelligently is the entire game.
Your first deal will always feel expensive. Every subsequent deal makes the first one look like a steal.
Best quotes
"I house hacked my first property at 22. My mortgage was $1,400. My tenants paid $1,600. I lived for free and built equity. That is the best deal I have ever made."
— Eddie Colson
"By 25 I had 4 units. By 28 I had 12. The compounding is real — not metaphorical. Each property made the next one easier to buy."
— Eddie Colson
"Everyone tells young people to wait until they are ready. Ready never comes. I started before I was ready and figured it out as I went."
— Eddie Colson
About the guest
Eddie Colson
Real Estate Investor, Colson Properties
Eddie Colson owns a 12-unit real estate portfolio built by his 28th birthday through disciplined house hacking and the BRRRR strategy. He is a passionate advocate for young people entering real estate early and building long-term wealth through rental income.
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Hustles mentioned in this episode
Rental Property Investing
Build a portfolio that pays you every month while you sleep.
$5,000 – $30,000
1–3 months
$1K – $50K+/month
Mobile Home Investing
The overlooked real estate niche that cash flows harder than almost anything else.
$10,000 – $50,000
1–3 months
$1K – $15K+/month
Airbnb Hosting
Your spare room, guest house, or property working while you sleep.
$500 – $5,000
2–4 weeks
$1K – $10K/month
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