Owner Financing & Note Investing Podcast with Dawn Rickabaugh

Beyond Face Value: Understanding What a Note Is Worth

In this episode of Property & Paper Live, Dawn explores how understanding both real estate and the secondary note market can uncover opportunities most agents and investors overlook. Using a real seller-financed note as an example, she explains why a note’s face value doesn’t determine what it’s actually worth—and why factors like property value, loan-to-value, payment history, borrower credit, note terms, and overall risk all matter when evaluating a deal. She also discusses how partial note purchases can offer an alternative to selling an entire note at a steep discount, and how agents can expand their opportunities by learning to work on both the “property” and “paper” sides of a transaction.

The Tax-Smart Way to Exit Your Rental Properties

This episode of Property and Paper Live explores what Dawn calls the Landlord Liberation Method—using seller financing and installment sales to help longtime landlords turn rental property equity into ongoing income while potentially deferring a significant portion of their capital gains taxes. Dawn walks through a real-world example of a landlord who bought a rental for $50,000 that's now worth $250,000 and compares the potential tax impact of selling for cash versus taking 20% down and carrying the remaining balance. She also discusses why understanding the connection between real estate, seller financing, and the secondary note market opens up creative possibilities that many landlords, investors, and real estate professionals simply don't know exist.

Did You Know Can You Turn Your Commissions Into Notes?

The meeting focused on real estate investing, with an emphasis on notes, seller financing, and creative deal structures. David shared his background in real estate and notes, and participants like Ben, MaryAnn, Jay, and Carl discussed their experiences with contract for deed, lease options, midterm rentals, and working with agents. The group talked about the challenges and benefits of different states and markets, including California, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, Chicago, and the Southwest. They covered topics such as lead generation for notes, the use of LOIs, carrying commissions as notes, and the role of real estate agents in creative transactions. David explained a recent reverse 1031 exchange he helped with, and several members shared insights on estate planning, property management, and market trends. The conversation also touched on the current stock market, the role of high-net-worth individuals in certain markets, and the evolving landscape of real estate investing strategies.

How to Profit from a 0% Owner-Financed Note (Real Deal Breakdown)

In this episode of Property & Paper Live, Dawn Rickabaugh walks through a real-life partial note purchase involving a unique church property financed at 0% interest. Using actual numbers, she demonstrates how investors can create strong yields through properly structured partials—even when the underlying note carries no interest. Along the way, Dawn explains how she solved a seller's urgent cash-flow problem, discusses underwriting considerations, and illustrates why understanding amortization and deal structure is far more important than simply looking at the note's interest rate. It's a practical case study that shows how creative note investing can create win-win financial solutions for everyone involved.

Intro to Master Leasing with Lindsey Jensen

The Real Difference Between Traditional Bank Loans and Seller Financing

In this episode of Property & Paper Live, Dawn Rickabaugh explains the critical connection between seller financing and the note business, showing how every seller-financed transaction creates a note that may later be sold on the secondary market. Using simple side-by-side examples, she walks listeners through the differences between traditional bank-financed real estate transactions and seller-financed deals, highlighting how sellers can become the lender and create flexible financing solutions for buyers. Dawn emphasizes the importance of structuring seller-financed notes correctly from the beginning, since the terms directly affect the note’s future value. The discussion also explores the role of note investors helping sellers optimize their financial outcomes, and concludes with a conversation about the challenges of educating landlords and property owners on the benefits of seller financing.

Your CPA Knows About It So Why Aren't They Talking About It?

In this episode of Property & Paper Live, Dawn Rickabaugh discusses why many landlords feel trapped in their rental properties—not because of the real estate itself, but because of the tax consequences of selling. She explains how seller financing and installment sales can help property owners defer taxes, create retirement income, and often achieve better financial outcomes than a traditional cash sale. Dawn also shares new educational and marketing resources designed to help investors and landlords understand these strategies and communicate them more effectively. The discussion continues with audience questions covering opportunities in upstate New York, zombie foreclosures, tax liens, manufactured homes in 55+ communities, and practical considerations for structuring creative financing deals.

Street Talk with Tim Street and Dawn Rickabaugh

Dawn Rickabaugh welcomes Tim Street of Foolproof FSBO for a wide-ranging conversation about real estate, entrepreneurship, financial uncertainty, and personal freedom. Tim shares exciting news about purchasing a luxury property in Panama to expand his Airbnb portfolio internationally. They discuss current housing market trends, economic instability, seller financing, and the growing desire for people to take control of their finances and lifestyles outside traditional systems. The discussion also explores spirituality, self-sufficiency, media influence, and the future of real estate as more people embrace creative financing and for-sale-by-owner strategies.

How Jay Davis Bought 3 Duplexes with Owner Financing

In this episode, Dawn Rickabaugh interviews veteran real estate investor Jay Davis about his decades of experience using seller financing to acquire and reposition investment properties. Jay shares how creative financing helped him buy commercial buildings with little to no money down, and explains a recent deal where he acquired three duplexes through seller financing by building trust with the seller and honoring her family legacy. The conversation highlights how owner financing can create win-win solutions for buyers, sellers, and agents alike—especially in today’s challenging market. Dawn and Jay also discuss relationship-based investing, revitalizing properties, tax advantages, and how seller financing can preserve long-term income for retiring landlords.

The Perfect Storm for Note Buyers? Housing Market Warnings Ahead

In this episode of the Note Queen's Property & Paper Live , Dawn Rickabaugh shares key takeaways from a recent note investing conference and dives into what may be ahead for the real estate and note-buying markets. The discussion explores rising affordability challenges, increasing consumer debt, potential opportunities in distressed and non-performing notes, and why many investors are preparing for a possible market downturn over the next few years. Dawn and her guests also discuss conservative underwriting, seller financing strategies, institutional note trends, and the importance of staying financially and personally prepared during uncertain economic times.