Built For This Show

Mark shares how his background in software development gave him an edge in real estate investing. With years of experience building solutions in tech, he learned that success comes from problem-solving—and that skill translates perfectly into real estate.
He and his partner Cheryl founded QZen, combining his technical mindset with her customer support expertise to create a business rooted in practical wisdom, ethics, and balance. Together, they focus on doing what’s right for their clients, even when it means taking a loss, and building long-term success through relationships.
Mark discusses his path from flipping homes to managing mid-term and student rentals, and how creative strategies—like mid-term leases for traveling professionals—help them stay flexible and profitable. He also opens up about contractor challenges, lessons learned, and his next chapter: transitioning from flipping houses to flipping notes.
Listeners will walk away inspired to apply problem-solving, creativity, and integrity to their own investing journey.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this inspiring episode, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with global property manager and investor Nathalie Brown. Nathalie shares how growing up in an entrepreneurial family in the Netherlands — surrounded by restaurants and import-export ventures — gave her both a business foundation and the courage to forge her own path.
After years in sales and hospitality, Nathalie turned her skills toward short-term rental management across the world. From managing Airbnbs in Europe to building a portfolio in the U.S., Nathalie explains how she combined her passion for travel with her business degree to create a thriving international property management company.
She talks about learning from masterminds, growing through challenges, and her next big goal — owning her first boutique hotel. Along the way, she opens up about her belief that sales, when done right, is about connection — not pressure.
If you’ve ever wondered how to blend what you love with what you do, this episode is a must-listen.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this episode of The Built for This Podcast with Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane, meet Kansas City entrepreneur and real estate investor Troy Paul, whose creative approach to property development proves that vision and innovation can turn even the most unconventional ideas into thriving investments.
Troy shares how his construction background led him from house flipping in the 1990s to building Kansas City’s first apartment complex made from shipping containers. He explains how his entrepreneurial mindset helps him see opportunity where others see risk—and why what “smells like money” to him might make other investors run for the hills.
Listeners will learn how Troy built long-term wealth through multifamily investments, what gives him a “competitive edge” in the market, and how mindset shifts can unlock new levels of creativity and confidence in real estate. From overcoming termite-infested foundations to managing remote Airbnb properties, Troy’s story is full of real-world lessons about grit, innovation, and thinking like a business owner.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

What really happens when you buy your first investment property? Diane Jaques joins Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane to share what she’s learned from stepping into real estate after years of success in marketing and sales. From navigating her first property in Pittsburgh to managing tenants from Massachusetts, Diane’s story is full of valuable lessons for anyone ready to take action on their first deal.
In this episode, Diane opens up about:
How her family’s roots in homebuilding inspired her love for real estate
Why she wanted to diversify beyond stocks and build a legacy for her kids
How her sales and listening skills give her an edge when building relationships
What her biggest first-property mistakes taught her about property managers, due diligence, and tenants
How she’s turning challenges into systems for long-term success
Her next goal: exploring co-living as an affordable housing solution
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this inspiring episode, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Ian Grodman, who shares how his 30-year legal career gave him the tools to navigate the complex world of real estate. Ian talks about the moment he decided to invest in property for a better retirement and how his legal background gives him a unique edge — especially when it comes to contracts, negotiations, and avoiding costly mistakes.
Listeners will hear Ian explain key legal terms like indemnification in plain language, and how understanding them can save deals (and your wallet). He also shares his passion for improving communities through affordable housing and programs for first-time homebuyers.
From investing in Alabama tax lien properties to creating homes for families in need, Ian proves that being “built for this” means using your gifts — whatever they are — to make a difference.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this energizing episode, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Davis H. Son, a passionate real estate investor and founder of Luminest Homes. Davis shares how a second reading of Rich Dad Poor Dad ignited his obsession with real estate and how he transitioned from brand marketing into full-time investing. Now managing eight furnished rentals and scaling his property management business, Davis explains what sets his client-first approach apart.
Expect a conversation filled with entrepreneurial fire, honest challenges, and valuable lessons learned from flipping homes and navigating contractor relationships. Davis shares how his background in marketing, a sharp focus on hospitality, and a knack for staying grounded during chaos are the foundation of his growing success.
Whether you’re a new investor or seasoned pro, this episode is full of inspiration and insights to keep you focused and fired up.
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

What if your biggest real estate investing edge had nothing to do with tools, money, or even experience?
In this insightful episode of Built For This, we sit down with seasoned investor Aaron Cox, a Jacksonville-based real estate veteran with over 40 rentals and a construction background. You’ll be surprised to learn that his "unfair advantage" has nothing to do with swinging hammers—and everything to do with something far more human: relationships.
Aaron opens up about why people skills are more powerful than property skills, the unexpected downside of having a construction company, and why repeatable systems—not brute force—build wealth. From navigating rising interest rates to managing C-class properties in tough economic times, Aaron shares the mindset and tactics that have helped him weather multiple market cycles since 2001.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

What happens when a nurse leader leaves healthcare to jump full-time into real estate investing? In this episode of the Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa Bickar and Andrea Lane sit down with Angie Tonini, a Louisville-based real estate agent and midterm rental investor, to explore her inspiring journey.
Angie shares how her background in nursing taught her to serve, listen, and solve problems—skills that now guide her in connecting people to real estate solutions. From her first steps into investing to building a portfolio of midterm rentals for traveling nurses, Angie is focused on creating safe, welcoming homes while also building a legacy for her children.
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this inspiring episode of the Built For This Podcast, Alissa and Andrea welcome international real estate investor, property manager, and licensed realtor Natalie Spielmann. Natalie shares her global journey from Ukraine to Germany, and now to Florida, where she's built a thriving real estate career wearing every hat imaginable—from Airbnb superhost to investor to landscaper when needed!
Listeners will learn:
How Natalie leveraged international experience to build a strong real estate portfolio in the U.S.
The risks and rewards of luxury real estate in Florida
Why investing during high interest rates may still be a smart move
Her “three-year salary rule” for residential purchases
How reading people and asking the right questions gives her an edge
What resilience really looks like in the property investment world
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!

In this inspiring and down-to-earth episode of the Built For This Podcast, hosts Alissa and Andrea sit down with Karrin Miller, a Charlotte-based real estate investor with a heart for community. Karrin shares how her background in nonprofit and higher education sales shaped her into a landlord who leads with compassion and practicality.
From buying her first duplex with little experience to managing multiple properties with the help of nonprofits and a flexible property manager, Karrin opens up about the wins, challenges, and lessons of investing in Section 8 housing. You’ll hear real stories—some tough, some heartwarming—and learn how people skills and patience can be powerful tools in real estate.
This episode is a must-listen if you’re curious about real estate investing with a mission, managing tenants with care, and why knowing your zip code really matters.
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be A Guest Are you a single family home real estate investor or landlord with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://builtforthisshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you!