Julie Crawford went from being a stay-at-home mom to managing 73 rental doors and generating $60K a month in income. Her journey into real estate investing started with a simple conversation that sparked a passion for financial freedom. In this interview, Julie shares how she scaled her portfolio, navigated property management challenges, and leveraged creative financing strategies to grow her business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, this conversation is packed with insights on mindset, networking, and overcoming roadblocks in real estate investing.
For a complete guide on optimizing and scaling your real estate investments, download my Freedom Blueprint! This essential tool walks you through ten key steps for organizing a profitable property portfolio. Click here to get your copy today!
Hello and welcome! I’m really looking forward to our time today as I chat with Julie Crawford, a housewife turned real estate investor. Thank you so much for taking the time to come chat with me, Julie.
I’m so excited to be here. Thank you.
Julie has an amazing story. She and I are friends, and I’m really excited to bring her on and have her share her wisdom with everyone. To give you a little bit of an idea of her experience, Julie is a real estate investor who turned her husband’s W-2 income into a thriving portfolio of 73 doors, including single-family, multifamily, and midterm rentals. They are all managed through her own property management company. A former social worker and school counselor, Julie now focuses on building wealth and financial freedom while living out of state. She’s passionate about growing into larger multifamily deals and inspiring others to take bold steps toward their goals.
Wow, Julie, I know you’re doing so much. You’re doing a lot of things that our listeners want to learn how to do themselves. So what I’d love is for you to start at the beginning and tell us how you got here.
I was a stay-at-home mom for many years when my kids were younger. One day, my husband came home from work and said, “Hey, Logan just quit.” Logan was an incredible performer at his company who did real estate on the side. He had his own rental properties and was making incredible money. He said, “I make more in my real estate investing part-time than I do in my W-2. So I’m going in full-time.” He now owns over 4,000 units in just five years.
That conversation sparked an interest in me. My husband suggested we get involved in real estate investing, especially with the tax advantages and strategies available. As a stay-at-home mom, I was always looking for ways to contribute financially or have something to focus on beyond raising children and managing the home. I started listening to podcasts, reading books, and became obsessed. This was before COVID. My son was 16 at the time, and he became obsessed too. We both read Rich Dad Poor Dad together, and he said, “I’m not going to college. I’m going to be a real estate investor.” Now he’s 21 and already investing in real estate.
It just started that way, getting interested, doing our first deal, and the rest is history.
That’s amazing! You did your research and jumped into it. For people in the initial few doors phase, are there any great resources that really helped you when you were starting?
Finding a community of people who are doing what you want to do is key. You learn from the people you surround yourself with. I really attribute an online accountability group to helping me stay on track. Just connecting with other investors, attending meetups, or joining Facebook groups can make a huge difference. Having a mentor is also crucial because sometimes you need to borrow someone else’s courage to take the next step.
That’s such a great point. Having accountability and emotional support can be just as valuable as learning the facts. Now, I love how you’ve been dynamic with your strategy. How did that evolution happen? Where did you start, why did you pivot, and what are you looking to do going forward?
When we first got started, I kept hearing about using other people’s money—OPM. I didn’t like asking for money, but eventually, we ended up doing it, and it’s been great. Initially, we made some mistakes, but we learned from them. We heard someone say, “I can do it all—I can sell you the property, renovate it, and manage it.” We gave them $100,000, and it didn’t work out well. But we learned. Over time, we started getting into creative financing deals. We’ve bought several properties with zero money down, getting sellers to finance the 20% down payment or offer maintenance credits. That allowed us to grow at the rate we wanted.
Creative financing is a game changer. Do you have any tips for someone looking to explore that?
The biggest thing is just to ask. A lot of people are scared to ask if a seller is willing to finance. Banks also have a lot of flexibility, so if one says no, another might say yes. Don’t take “no” as a final answer—keep asking until you find a solution.
That’s great advice. Now, real estate investing comes with challenges. Can you share a lesson from a deal that didn’t go well?
We’ve learned a lot—enough to write a book! One major challenge has been property management, especially being out of state. The first company we worked with lacked integrity, so we parted ways. The next company was better but couldn’t scale with us. The third one was the worst, and they’re now in legal trouble. After visiting our properties and seeing the condition they were left in, we decided to start our own property management company. That has been the best decision—we finally have control over the quality of service for our tenants.
That’s such a common struggle for investors. So many end up transitioning to self-management. What would you say to someone considering that move?
Do it! It’s not as hard as you think. I already managed 30 of our doors before making the transition, and those tenants were the best ones. When I visited our properties and saw the neglect, I asked a friend I trusted if she wanted to come on board full-time. She agreed, and it’s been incredible. Now, we have clear expectations, integrity, and open communication. We meet twice a week via Zoom, and I use AppFolio for property management, which makes everything easier.
I love how you leveraged people and technology to make this transition. One thing that stands out about your journey is your commitment to community impact. Can you share more about that?
Absolutely. We invest in my hometown in upstate New York, where properties are affordable but often need major renovations. Recently, we purchased a dilapidated building and converted it into three beautiful apartments for young adults aging out of foster care. Many landlords won’t rent to this group, but we believe everyone deserves a chance. If they prove to be great tenants, we’ll continue to rent to them beyond age 21.
That’s amazing. What’s next for you?
This year, my goal is to reach $60K per month in rental income, and in five years, I want to hit $100K per month. We focus on cash flow since our market isn’t an appreciation market. We typically buy properties for $30K–$55K per door and rent them for about $1,000 per month, often achieving 30% returns.
That’s impressive! If people want to connect with you, where can they reach you?
They can email me at crawfordinvestmentllc@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram at @happy_housewife_investor.
Thank you, Julie! This has been an incredible conversation, and I know our listeners will take away so much value.