The Financial Freedom Formula Has Changed (2025 Update)

BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

Can you still achieve financial freedom with real estate investing? Around a decade ago, it was common knowledge that with a few rental properties, you could easily replace your income, retire early, and be fast-tracked to financial independence within just three to five years of investing. Is that possible anymore? How long will financial independence actually take if you start investing in real estate in 2025? And if you feel like you’re almost there, should you quit your job and dive head first into real estate?

We’ve got two financially free investors on the show, each taking different paths to get there. Dave kept his full-time W2 to pay for his more passive real estate investments, while Henry quit his job to buy rentals and flip houses full-time. Would they both be okay if they lost their “active” income today? Yes! But they STILL choose to work to build the dream life that goes far beyond basic financial freedom.

Today, they’re sharing how the financial freedom formula has changed, what you need to do to get on the path to financial independence/early retirement in 2025, and whether you should stay at your W2 while you build your rental portfolio or quit your job to pursue real estate full-time. The good news: financial freedom through real estate is still a significantly quicker route to retirement, but which path will you choose to get there?

In This Episode We Cover:

What “financial independence” really means and how long it will take for you to get there

The cash flow myth that most new real estate investors believe (this could hurt you later!)

Full-time real estate investing vs. keeping a nine-to-five and why you NEED “active” income to scale fast

What to know about full-time real estate investing BEFORE you quit your job

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

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How to Retire Early with Fewer Rental Properties Than You Think w/Chad Carson

Connect with Henry

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Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1069

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