Skip Single-Family? Why You Don’t Need to Start Small

September 16, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

When "Start Small" Isn't the Only Path

A 16-unit apartment building is sitting in front of you. You have the down payment. Should you buy it as your very first deal? Most real estate advice says start small—a single-family home, a duplex—then build slowly. But what if you could skip years of incremental buying and jump straight to the scale you want? This episode of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast, hosted by Henry Washington with guest co-host Chauncey Fam, debates that question and others drawn from the BiggerPockets Forums. The two investors disagree on several points, but their conversation surfaces practical frameworks for thinking about risk, timing, and the real mechanics of getting started.

The 16-Unit First Deal: Reckless or Efficient?

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Skip Single-Family? The Big Debate** - Henry introduces the central question: should you jump straight into a large multifamily deal or start small with a single-family home?
2 (01:05) **Guest Introduction: Chauncey Fam** - Henry welcomes Chauncey, who shares her background as a realtor, brokerage owner, and now operator of a turnkey flipping service.
3 (02:45) **Question 1: Skip Single-Family for a 16-Unit?** - Nikesh from Charlotte asks if he should bypass single-family homes and buy a 16-unit property directly.
4 (06:39) **Question 2: 19-Year-Old with $20K and Construction Skills** - Jackson from Columbus asks how to scale quickly while managing risk, with a construction background and $20K.
5 (11:50) **Ad Break** - A short break with sponsor messages.
6 (15:37) **Question 3: Should You Tell Contractors Your Rehab Budget?** - Ollie from Houston asks whether to share a $70K rehab budget upfront or keep it private.
7 (20:00) **Question 4: The Most Important Professional in Your Network** - Amber from Tampa asks which single pro (CPA, lender, realtor, PM, contractor, insurance broker) is most critical.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Henry Washington

Show Notes

Most investors follow the same path—buy a single-family rental, learn the ropes, and upgrade to small multifamily, slowly snowballing the portfolio. But what if you could take the leap from your first deal, skipping single-family entirely and buying a sizable rental property portfolio on investment #1? If you had no experience, it could change your life overnight—so is it worth it?

We’re back answering real questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, and we’ve got a special guest—Chauncey Pham, the making-six-figures-per-deal investor! First, an investor has enough cash to buy a decent-sized multifamily property. Should they skip single-family rentals and go straight into the big leagues on their first real estate investment? A young investor has $20K saved up but wants to know the best bet so he doesn’t get wiped out on his first rental property play.

Ever told your contractor your renovation budget is $70,000, and they conveniently tell you the work will cost $69,800? After hundreds of renovations, Henry and Chauncey know exactly what to say. Is getting your real estate license worth it, and if you do become an agent, how do you get your first leads and learn the ropes? As a broker, Chauncey knows why agents get caught up from the start.

Ask Your Question on the BiggerPockets Forums!

In This Episode We Cover

The best first rental property? Single-family vs. multifamily rentals

How to start investing with just $20K (and how to get even more money to invest)

Whether or not you should tell a contractor your renovation budget from the start

The single most crucial person to know (and have on your team) when investing in real estate

Why agents fail and the very false expectations people have when getting their license

And So Much More!