Rentals Helped Me Quit My 14-Year Nursing Job (And Start My Own Business)

October 26, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Lindsay Barrientos was a burned-out nurse in Los Angeles who Googled "what do rich people do" and started buying rental properties in Gary, Indiana, a city Business Insider called one of the most miserable in America. She now owns 12 properties, has quit her W-2 job, and started her own psychiatric nurse practitioner business. She did all of this starting in late 2022, after interest rates and home prices had already spiked. Her story is a case study in how to build a portfolio from scratch using out-of-state investing, community leverage, and creative financing.

Finding a Market and a Team

Barrientos's market selection process was methodical and personal. She knew she couldn't afford to invest in Los Angeles, where a conventional loan would require 20% down on a million-dollar property. So she looked for a city within driving distance of a place she might work a traveling nursing contract. She landed on Chicago, then looked 30 minutes south to Northwestern Indiana. The numbers worked: homes were cheap, and cash-on-cash returns were high.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:26) **From Nurse to 12-Property Investor** - Lindsay Barrientos shares how she built a 12-property portfolio in just four years, starting in a high-cost market (LA) and investing 2,000 miles away in Gary, Indiana, which enabled her to leave her 14-year nursing career and launch her own business.
2 (04:58) **Market Selection: Why Northwest Indiana** - Lindsay details how she chose Hammond, Indiana as her first market, prioritizing landlord-friendly laws, high cash-on-cash returns, and proximity to Chicago (30 minutes away) so she could drive there if needed.
3 (15:22) **Getting the First Deal Done** - Lindsay describes her first out-of-state purchase: a turnkey three-bedroom, two-bath single-family home in Hammond for $135,000 with 25% down using a conventional loan.
4 (19:02) **Scaling into a "Rougher" Market: Gary, Indiana** - After proving the concept, Lindsay moved into Gary, Indiana (15 minutes from Hammond), buying a $55,000 fixer-upper that needed a new roof and floors, putting ~$16K into it.
5 (21:34) **The BRRRR That Almost Burned Down** - Lindsay shares a dramatic story of her first BRRRR: a $33,000 house she put $30K into rehabbing, with an ARV of $85K—but the day before her refinance appraisal, a faulty light fixture caused a fire.
6 (24:35) **Scaling to 12 Properties with Creative Financing** - Lindsay reveals she now owns 12 properties (11 single-family, 1 duplex), with the last five acquired via creative seller financing and the most recent being a 0% down deal.
7 (33:43) **The Two-Offer Strategy Explained** - Lindsay credits Michael Subert for teaching her to present dual offers, which works especially well in a low-transaction market with motivated sellers.

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Show Notes

Have you ever thought, maybe real estate investing isn’t worth it anymore?

Lindsay Barrientos didn’t start buying rentals after the 2008 crash or ride the low-interest-rate wave in 2021. She started in late 2022, after home prices and interest rates had already spiked. But she knew about the long-term potential of real estate and trusted the process—buying one house at a time and banking the rental income for the next down payment.

Now, just four years later, Lindsay’s 12-property portfolio has given her the flexibility to go back to school, quit her grueling W-2 job, and start her own business. And she didn’t do anything the average investor can’t do today. She lives in a high-cost-of-living area, so she invests in a real estate market where her money goes further. Her properties are 2,000 miles away, so she leans into her investing team.

No “perfect” timing. No big bank account. Just a plan and simple, consistent action.

Whatever’s keeping you on the sidelines—prices, rates, the economy—Lindsay’s story may be the push you need to get started today.

In This Episode We Cover

How rentals helped Lindsay quit her 14-year hospital job (and start a business)

Scaling from zero to 12 rental properties in just four years

How to narrow down affordable real estate markets to invest in

The two-offer strategy that can help you buy more off-market deals

Key relationships that make investing out of state (much) easier

And So Much More!

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