Ben Chester had no money. In fact, it was worse—he had $120,000 in debt. He was sleeping at work and renting out his own rented apartment just to survive in America’s most expensive market—New York City. 

Now, six years later, he has eight rental properties, is <a href="https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/12-give-debt-free-year?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none">debt-free</a>, and even owns Billy Joel’s former residence (yes, you read that right).

If you’re living in an expensive market and think it’s impossible to invest, Ben has the formula for you. He turned very little money into a one-bedroom apartment empire—buying whatever he could in New York City, knowing it would all be worth the sacrifice. He’s split these small apartments into multiple rentals with up to four tenants, allowing him to make the numbers work even when everyone else says it’s impossible.

But that’s not the best part. After unlocking a <a href="https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-96?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none">tax “loophole”</a> when buying a lake house, Ben is now able to offset 100% of his W-2 income taxes, meaning he often gets a check back from the government every year, all thanks to his real estate. Thought it was impossible to invest in markets like New York City? Ben is about to make it a very attractive option.

In This Episode We Cover
Turning a one-bedroom apartment into four living spaces with multiple roommates 
The astonishing price Ben is paying for these <a href="https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1159?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none">tiny rentals</a> (and why they’re worth it)
The tax “loophole” that regular real estate investors can use to offset all of their income 
Buying (and renovating) Billy Joel’s house! Yes, Ben actually did that 
How to finance your <a href="https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/how-to-renovate-house?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none">home renovation</a> when you don’t have the cash (<a href="https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/can-you-build-a-real-estate-portfolio-with-zero-interest-credit-cards?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none">0% interest</a>) 
And So Much More!


Check out more resources from this show on <a href="https://www.biggerpockets.com/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BiggerPockets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> and <a href="%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1201%E2%81%A0">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-1201</a>
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