The Big Picture to Attract High-ROI Family Renters: Safe neighborhoods and good schools top families' wish lists. Kid-friendly properties with fenced yards near parks win family hearts. Flexible, longer leases with renewal perks keep families around. The information...

G. Brian Davis
Brian Davis is a real estate investor and personal finance writer with over two decades in the real estate and finance industries. After graduating from University of Delaware in 2003 with two useless B.A. degrees and an even more useless minor in anthropology, he fell headfirst into real estate finance by accident.
Then he promptly went on a property buying spree from 2005-2008. It was what you might call a “learning experience,” all of the lessons expensive.
Eventually, Brian tired of landlording and unloaded his own portfolio of rental properties. But he still loved real estate as an investment, and today he owns fractional shares in over 2,000 units.
The difference? Nowadays he only invests passively in real estate.
Along with his wife and daughter, Brian spends most of the year abroad living by his own rules. He loves hiking, cooking, pairing wine with said cooking, scuba diving, and occasionally surfing (badly). And writing: he writes as a real estate and personal finance expert for Inman, BiggerPockets, R.E.tipster and dozens of other publishers.
Most of all, Brian loves showing others how they too can create their ideal lives through real estate investing and lifestyle design.
How to Create a Financial Freedom Plan and Achieve It
The Big Picture on Creating a Financial Freedom Plan: Financial independence is achieved through a series of stages, beginning from a negative net worth and progressing through financial solvency, stability, and halfway to financial independence. Crafting and...
Invest in Real Estate with a 401(k): Everything You Need to Know
The Big Picture on How to Invest in Real Estate With a 401(k): Publicly traded REITs, borrowing from a 401(k), and using self-directed IRAs or 401(k)s are some of the ways to incorporate real estate into retirement savings. Self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) and...
Self-Insured vs. Fully Insured: What Is Self Insuring?
The Big Picture on Going Self-Insured vs Fully Insured: Self-insurance allows individuals to set aside funds for any emergency, offering flexibility that specific insurance policies do not. By self-insuring, individuals can potentially save more money compared to...
Landlord Security Deposit Mistakes: Costly Errors to Avoid
The Big Picture On The Common and Costly Mistakes Landlords Make With Security Deposits Protect yourself from tenant disputes by meticulously documenting the property's condition during move-in and move-out inspections. Keeping security deposits in a separate,...
What’s the Rule of 72 in Investing?
The Big Picture On the Rule of 72 in Investing: The Rule of 72 is a simple formula to estimate how long it takes an investment to double: Years to double = 72 / rate of return. Variations like the Rule of 70 or 69.3 can be used for more accuracy at different return...
Bonds vs Real Estate: Choosing the Right Investment for Retirees
The Big Picture On Bonds vs Real Estate Investment for Retirement Low Treasury bond returns make them less suitable for retirement income. Real estate offers stable income and low risk, serving as a bond alternative for retirees. Retirees can invest in real estate...
Money Mindset: Your Subconscious Is Sabotaging Your Success
The Big Picture On Improving Your Money Mindset: Success requires not just setting goals but creating detailed plans and routines to achieve them. Systematizing behaviors leads to consistent progress and tangible results. Actively practicing gratitude and maintaining...
Clever Ways to Earn Extra Money from Your Rentals
The Big Picture on Earning Extra Money from Your Rentals: Leasing furnished or semi-furnished properties allows landlords to charge higher rents and justify larger security deposits. Offering services such as housekeeping, landscaping, or pool maintenance can generate...
7 Common Landlord Repairs All Property Owners Should Know How to Fix
The Big Picture On Common Landlord Repairs: Landlord repairs can save you a lot of money—if you can do them properly. Most common repairs include re-caulking, fixing leaky pipes and faucets, patching drywalls, and painting. It's important to ensure your and your...