How a California Engineer Built Passive Income with Out-of-State Rentals | Real Investor Story
Thu Feb 05 2026
Click HERE to learn how to earn $10K/month in rental income & access 50% discount on RTR Academy
https://landing.renttoretirement.com/evg-masterclass-replay
BAM Capital:
Get access to premium real estate assets with BAM Capital. Rent to Retirement’s preferred multifamily partner.
https://bamcapital.com/rtr/
Real estate investing doesn’t have to mean flipping houses, endless rehabs, or managing tenants yourself.
In this episode of the Rent To Retirement Podcast, host Matthew Seyoum sits down with investor Jack, a structural engineer from California, to break down how he went from maxing out his 401(k) to building a cash-flowing, out-of-state rental portfolio—without sacrificing his career or family time.
Jack shares why California real estate didn’t pencil out, how he overcame the fear of investing out of state, and why new-construction turnkey rentals in Alabama aligned perfectly with his long-term retirement goals.
Whether you’re a busy professional, high-income earner, or someone tired of waiting on the sidelines for interest rates to drop, this episode walks through a real investor’s decision-making process, mistakes avoided, and lessons learned.
⏱️ Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & Jack’s background
01:00 – Why 401(k)s alone weren’t enough
02:45 – Why California real estate didn’t work
04:00 – Discovering turnkey investing through BiggerPockets
05:00 – Choosing Alabama as a target market
06:20 – Why out-of-state investing felt scary (at first)
08:00 – The power of education & the RTR Academy
10:00 – Cash flow vs appreciation vs depreciation
12:00 – Leveraging real estate for long-term wealth
14:30 – Tax benefits & future short-term rental plans
17:00 – Interest rates, timing the market & opportunity cost
19:30 – Trusting property management from afar
21:30 – Final advice for new investors
🚀 Key Takeaways
Why waiting for “perfect” interest rates can cost you more long-termHow turnkey rentals create passive income for busy professionalsThe real power of leverage, appreciation, and tenant-paid debtWhy education matters more than trying to do everything alone📧 Got a question or story to share?Email us at: podcast@renttoretirement.com👍 Like this episode? Hit the thumbs up, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next one!💬 Comment below with your biggest takeaway from this episode!🌐 Explore turnkey investing opportunities: https://www.renttoretirement.com🗓️ Schedule a Free Consultation:https://bit.ly/3EE6KjZ📺 Subscribe to the YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h1lnz1kM75Gj79VV8QtEg🎧 Listen to the Rent To Retirement Podcast on the Go:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/renttoretirement📬 Join Our Newsletter Email List:Submit your info at the top right corner of the page:https://renttoretirement.com📩 Have Questions for the Podcast?Send them to: podcast@renttoretirement.comYour question might be answered in a future episode!#RentToRetirement #RealEstateInvesting #PassiveIncome #TurnkeyRealEstate #OutOfStateInvesting
#RentalProperty #CashFlowingRentals #RealEstateWealth #BuyAndHold
#RetirementPlanning #BusyProfessionals #WealthBuilding
#CaliforniaInvestors #AlabamaRealEstate #RealEstatePodcast
More
Click HERE to learn how to earn $10K/month in rental income & access 50% discount on RTR Academy https://landing.renttoretirement.com/evg-masterclass-replay BAM Capital: Get access to premium real estate assets with BAM Capital. Rent to Retirement’s preferred multifamily partner. https://bamcapital.com/rtr/ Real estate investing doesn’t have to mean flipping houses, endless rehabs, or managing tenants yourself. In this episode of the Rent To Retirement Podcast, host Matthew Seyoum sits down with investor Jack, a structural engineer from California, to break down how he went from maxing out his 401(k) to building a cash-flowing, out-of-state rental portfolio—without sacrificing his career or family time. Jack shares why California real estate didn’t pencil out, how he overcame the fear of investing out of state, and why new-construction turnkey rentals in Alabama aligned perfectly with his long-term retirement goals. Whether you’re a busy professional, high-income earner, or someone tired of waiting on the sidelines for interest rates to drop, this episode walks through a real investor’s decision-making process, mistakes avoided, and lessons learned. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Jack’s background 01:00 – Why 401(k)s alone weren’t enough 02:45 – Why California real estate didn’t work 04:00 – Discovering turnkey investing through BiggerPockets 05:00 – Choosing Alabama as a target market 06:20 – Why out-of-state investing felt scary (at first) 08:00 – The power of education & the RTR Academy 10:00 – Cash flow vs appreciation vs depreciation 12:00 – Leveraging real estate for long-term wealth 14:30 – Tax benefits & future short-term rental plans 17:00 – Interest rates, timing the market & opportunity cost 19:30 – Trusting property management from afar 21:30 – Final advice for new investors 🚀 Key Takeaways Why waiting for “perfect” interest rates can cost you more long-termHow turnkey rentals create passive income for busy professionalsThe real power of leverage, appreciation, and tenant-paid debtWhy education matters more than trying to do everything alone📧 Got a question or story to share?Email us at: podcast@renttoretirement.com👍 Like this episode? Hit the thumbs up, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next one!💬 Comment below with your biggest takeaway from this episode!🌐 Explore turnkey investing opportunities: https://www.renttoretirement.com🗓️ Schedule a Free Consultation:https://bit.ly/3EE6KjZ📺 Subscribe to the YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h1lnz1kM75Gj79VV8QtEg🎧 Listen to the Rent To Retirement Podcast on the Go:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/renttoretirement📬 Join Our Newsletter Email List:Submit your info at the top right corner of the page:https://renttoretirement.com📩 Have Questions for the Podcast?Send them to: podcast@renttoretirement.comYour question might be answered in a future episode!#RentToRetirement #RealEstateInvesting #PassiveIncome #TurnkeyRealEstate #OutOfStateInvesting #RentalProperty #CashFlowingRentals #RealEstateWealth #BuyAndHold #RetirementPlanning #BusyProfessionals #WealthBuilding #CaliforniaInvestors #AlabamaRealEstate #RealEstatePodcast