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Avoid these 3 crucial mistakes when buying land in 2026

In this episode, Mark Podolsky, Scott Bossman, Mike Zaino, and Jon Burnett break down the most common mistakes new land investors make—and how to avoid them. From overthinking and analysis paralysis to skipping fundamentals and chasing the wrong markets, the team shares practical insights drawn from real experience.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • Why fear of making mistakes is the biggest mistake of all—and how it stops action
  • The importance of sticking to fundamentals: pricing, mailing, and marketing
  • Why investing in your “backyard” can limit your success
  • How overbuying similar properties can slow down your sales pipeline
  • The danger of waiting for the “perfect time” instead of taking action
  • Why you shouldn’t ask non-investors for advice on land investing
  • How stopping your mailings kills deal flow and momentum
  • Common due diligence pitfalls, including ownership verification and back taxes
  • Why avoiding phone calls can cost you deals and relationships
  • The value of consistency, scheduling, and surrounding yourself with the right community

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark Podolsky: Focus on the fundamentals—get a list, price it, and mail it. Don’t overcomplicate the process early on.
Scott Bossman: Don’t wait for the perfect moment—commit, take action, and cross the line into execution.
Mike Zaino: Stop worrying about mistakes and start solving problems—progress comes from action, not perfection.
Jon Burnett: Create a consistent schedule for your land business to build momentum and eliminate overwhelm.

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

In this episode, Mark Podolsky, Scott Bossman, Mike Zaino, and Jon Burnett break down how land investors should approach goal setting in 2026 based on their current stage of business. The team emphasizes that success isn’t about chasing big numbers early—it’s about aligning your goals with where you are and building the right foundation first.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • Why new investors should prioritize their first deal over income goals
  • Building momentum through repetition and consistent action
  • The dangers of chasing multiple strategies instead of following a proven system
  • How immersion and community accelerate early success
  • Transitioning from hustle to efficiency as deals start closing
  • Using “swim lanes” to identify bottlenecks and optimize workflows
  • Avoiding the trap of turning your business into another job
  • Leveraging outsourcing, automation, and software to scale
  • Why advanced investors need to redefine their “why” after hitting initial goals
  • Creating a business that can run without you through systems and team

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark Podolsky: Get crystal clear on your “why”—without a strong purpose, you won’t have the grit to stay consistent through challenges.
Scott Bossman: Regularly look back at your progress to stay motivated—growth is easier to see when you compare where you were months ago.
Mike Zaino: Focus on repetition and stacking small wins—success comes from consistent base hits, not chasing big swings early.
Jon Burnett: Don’t break the chain—commit to showing up daily, even in small ways, to build long-term success.

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

In this episode, Mark Podolsky, Scott Bossman, and Jon Burnett break down the myth that land investing opportunities are drying up. They explain why the core model—buying land at deep discounts and reselling for strong margins—still works today, and highlight three U.S. states where deals remain abundant. The conversation blends real strategies with personal insights, showing how investors can find repeatable opportunities without competition, tenants, or complexity.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • Debunking the myth that land deals are “picked over” or gone
  • How the proven buy box ($1K–$5K acquisitions, 3–10x flips) still works today
  • Top-performing states like Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Texas, and Oregon
  • Why “cookie-cutter” rural subdivisions create repeatable deal flow
  • The importance of demand drivers like recreation, off-grid living, and proximity to cities
  • Avoiding complex markets like attorney states and high-POA areas
  • Why simplicity (no tenants, no leverage, no inspections) makes land investing scalable
  • The “beachhead strategy” of mastering one market before expanding
  • How lifestyle trends like homesteading and escaping cities fuel demand
  • Lessons from failed or difficult deals and how to avoid unnecessary friction

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark Podolsky: Focus on simple, high-demand markets with plenty of inventory—don’t overcomplicate when easier deals exist.
Scott Bossman: Start in one market and master it before expanding—depth beats distraction early on.
Jon Burnett: Look for repeatable products in areas with strong demand so you can scale efficiently and consistently.

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

In this episode, Mark Podolsky, Scott Bossman, and Mike Zaino break down the real difference between owning rental properties and building a land investing business. While rentals are often marketed as “passive income,” the team shares why tenants, toilets, repairs, and property management can quickly turn into a second job.

They explain how the land investor’s lifestyle offers scalable systems, lower overhead, and true time freedom. Through real examples, cash flow comparisons, and candid stories, they show how buying and selling raw land can create strong returns without the stress of traditional real estate. The key takeaway: freedom isn’t about more doors—it’s about building a simple, automated machine that works without you.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • Why rental properties often become a second job filled with late-night calls, repairs, and tenant drama
  • The true cash flow comparison between rentals and low-cost land deals
  • How land investors create high cash-on-cash returns with minimal overhead
  • The power of scalable systems and virtual assistants in building freedom
  • What “passive income” really means—and why most real estate isn’t truly passive
  • How defaults in land investing can actually increase long-term profitability
  • Why blind offers streamline acquisitions and eliminate wasted time
  • The mindset shift from owning assets to building a cash-flow machine
  • How land investing creates time freedom without sacrificing profitability

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark Podolsky: Don’t chase “doors” for the sake of status—focus on building a scalable machine. Create systems and automation so your income doesn’t depend on you being the bottleneck.
Scott Bossman: Run the math before you buy rentals. Compare the cash-on-cash return of one rental to multiple small land deals—you may be surprised how quickly land wins.
Mike Zaino: Embrace the boring. The repetitive, simple nature of land investing is what makes it scalable, automatable, and ultimately freeing.

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

In this laid-back, dealer’s choice episode, Mark Podolsky, Scott Bossman, Mike Zaino, and Jon Burnett open the floor to live land investing questions from the community. With no script and no guardrails, the team tackles real-world scenarios—from fences blocking easements and lost deeds to dialing in mailers, hiring intake managers, and handling competitive markets.

The big takeaway? In land investing, almost every problem is solvable. Whether it’s access issues, pricing strategy, or scaling with the right team, success comes down to consistency, clear communication, and staying in momentum. If you’ve ever wondered how to push through mailing noise, build a team, or confidently move deals forward, this episode delivers practical insight with plenty of laughs along the way.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • How to handle a fence blocking legal access—and when to involve neighbors or the sheriff
  • Why “there’s a pig for every barn” and how every property sells at the right price
  • What really happens when sellers receive multiple mailers in competitive markets
  • The power of consistent remailing to break through life’s noise and improve response rates
  • How many mailers it realistically takes to land a profitable deal
  • When to use (or skip) a formal purchase agreement before recording a deed
  • What makes a great intake manager—and why they’re really a “land therapist”
  • How to structure incentives and daily huddles to keep your team aligned
  • Whether AI can accurately price land offers (and why human judgment still wins)
  • Lessons learned from the Dirt Rich Summit and the power of community in scaling your land business

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark Podolsky: Almost every land problem is solvable—lean on your community, stay calm, and look for creative solutions before walking away from a deal.
Scott Bossman: Consistency wins. A steady rhythm of daily mail—like 20 offers a day—keeps deal flow predictable and profitable.
Mike Zaino: Hire an intake manager who can build rapport and listen deeply—most sellers need a land therapist as much as they need a buyer.
Jon Burnett: Don’t “set it and forget it” when delegating—review calls, train consistently, and stay engaged to keep momentum strong.

WANT MORE?

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

In this episode, the team breaks down the Black Friday Land Investing Playbook and why this shopping frenzy is one of the best times of the year to sell land. Mark Podolsky, Scott Bossman, Mike Zaino, and Jon Burnett explain how savvy investors use urgency, creativity, and simple marketing to move inventory and generate down payments while everyone else is fighting over TVs and gadgets.

The discussion blends practical strategy with mindset, covering how to prepare Black Friday offers in advance, leverage your buyers list, increase email frequency without fear, and create irresistible incentives. The big takeaway: Black Friday is about positioning land as a lasting, generational asset and using urgency to help buyers take action—while building long-term passive income for yourself.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • Why Black Friday is a prime opportunity for land investors, not consumers
  • Preparing Black Friday promotions weeks in advance instead of waiting until the last minute
  • Creative land deal incentives like dollar-down offers, discounted surveys, and bundled deals
  • Using urgency, scarcity, and FOMO to drive buyer action
  • How and why to increase email frequency over Black Friday weekend
  • The power of owning and nurturing your buyers list
  • Leveraging email opens, clicks, and CRM data for targeted follow-up
  • Why land beats gadgets as a long-term, generational asset
  • How defaults and churn can actually strengthen the land investing model

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark Podolsky: Prepare your Black Friday land promotions early and make them bold—irresistible offers paired with urgency move inventory fast.
Scott Bossman: Don’t be afraid to increase email frequency during Black Friday; buyers expect it, and urgency drives decisions.
Mike Zaino: Focus on your buyers list—it’s the only marketing asset you truly own, and Black Friday is the perfect time to reward it.
Jon Burnett: Create a clear countdown and cadence with your emails so buyers feel the ticking clock and take action.

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

In this episode, Mark Podolsky, Scott Bossman, Jon Burnett, and special guest Landon Harris dig into why land investing is ultimately a freedom multiplier—and why coaching is often the missing link between getting started and real momentum. Drawing lessons from the Dirt Rich Summit and decades of combined experience, the group explains why some investors break through quickly while others stall out.

The conversation goes beyond tactics and into mindset, accountability, and personal growth. Landon shares how his background as a high-level swim coach translates directly into coaching land investors, while Mark reflects on how coaching transformed his own journey. Listeners walk away with a clear understanding of how coaching accelerates results, builds confidence, and turns land investing into a vehicle for true time and financial freedom.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • Why land investing is about freedom, not just flipping dirt for profit
  • How coaching accelerates progress and shortens the learning curve
  • Lessons learned from high performers at the Dirt Rich Summit
  • The role accountability plays in consistent deal flow and growth
  • Common hurdles new land investors face—and how coaches help overcome them
  • Why belief and confidence are often the biggest obstacles early on
  • How community and live events amplify momentum and results
  • What separates great coaching clients from average ones
  • Why personal development and business growth go hand in hand

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark Podolsky: Take extreme ownership—coaching provides the roadmap, but your results depend on consistent execution.
Scott Bossman: Show up even on the hard days; momentum is built through consistency, not motivation.
Jon Burnett: Lean into coaching and community to move past fear and build confidence through action.
Landon Harris: Accountability changes everything—having someone in your corner pushes you further than you’d ever go alone.

WANT MORE?

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

In this episode, the team breaks down why land investing is outperforming rental properties heading into 2025 and 2026. While traditional real estate gurus still push rentals, the team explains how rising interest rates, insurance costs, taxes, and tenant headaches are squeezing margins and increasing stress for rental owners.

The conversation highlights ho w land investing offers simplicity, stronger cash flow relative to capital invested, and true operational freedom. From remote investing and fewer emergencies to faster paths to financial and time freedom, the hosts share real-world comparisons, personal stories, and lessons learned from years in the business—along with reflections from the recent Dirt Rich Summit and the powerful community behind land investing.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • Why rising rates, insurance, and taxes are making rentals harder to justify
  • How land investing eliminates tenants, toilets, and repair headaches
  • The power of remote investing with land versus being tied to a rental market
  • Comparing cash flow: small land deals versus high-capital rental properties
  • Why land offers simpler due diligence and fewer variables
  • How defaulted land notes can actually reduce risk and increase returns
  • The concept of “no land emergencies” and reduced day-to-day stress
  • Key takeaways and inspiration from the Dirt Rich Summit community
  • How land investing creates freedom moments with family and time

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark: Focus on buying land at a deep discount—profits are made on the buy, not the sell.
Scott: Choose a model that supports your lifestyle; land investing offers cash flow without constant emergencies.
Mike: Compare capital-to-cash-flow ratios—land often delivers dramatically higher returns with far less money invested.
Jon: Build a business you can run remotely with simplicity and repeatability at its core.

WANT MORE?

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

In this episode, the team breaks down a hard truth many people ignore: traditional savings accounts are quietly destroying wealth during inflationary times. While banks pay fractions of a percent, inflation eats away purchasing power year after year.

The group explains why raw land is one of the most reliable inflation hedges available, outperforming cash, savings accounts, and many traditional investments. They walk through the math behind inflation loss, why land scarcity drives appreciation, and how economic uncertainty actually creates better buying opportunities. The key takeaway: smart land investors don’t fear inflation—they position themselves to benefit from it.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • Why savings accounts lose real value during high inflation
  • The hidden cost of “playing it safe” with cash
  • Simple math showing how inflation erodes purchasing power
  • Why land benefits from the same forces that cause inflation
  • Scarcity, population growth, and why land can’t be printed
  • How economic uncertainty creates motivated land sellers
  • The advantage of owning assets without tenants or repairs
  • Using owner financing to build inflation-resistant passive income
  • Why land investing scales without stress or complexity

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark: Inflation punishes idle cash—put your money into real assets like land that benefit from scarcity.
Scott: Focus on buying land at deep discounts so inflation works for you, not against you.
Mike: Treat land like a long-term store of value that grows quietly while others panic about markets.

WANT MORE?

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

In this episode, the team tackles a growing fear in real estate: Will AI replace land investors? With headlines predicting job losses and automation takeover, the team breaks down why land investing is fundamentally different—and why human judgment still matters.

They explain how AI can dramatically enhance efficiency in areas like due diligence, marketing, training, and decision support, while emphasizing that trust, relationships, negotiation, and empathy remain irreplaceably human. The big takeaway: AI isn’t a threat to land investors—it’s a tool. Those who learn to work with AI, not against it, will gain a massive advantage while preserving the human edge that creates the biggest opportunities.

Tune in as the team discusses:

  • Why fear-based headlines about AI replacing investors miss the mark
  • The human elements of land investing AI can’t replicate: trust, empathy, and judgment
  • Using AI as a delegation and automation tool—not a replacement for decision-making
  • How land investing conversations often involve storytelling and “land therapy”
  • Practical AI use cases for land investors: training, intake simulations, and analysis
  • Why sellers still want to talk to real people before signing deeds
  • The role of AI in speeding up due diligence while keeping humans in control
  • How relationships—not algorithms—drive off-market land deals
  • Preparing for an AI-powered future without losing authenticity

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mark: Use AI to save time on analysis and repetitive tasks, but keep humans front and center for relationships and decisions.
Mike: Sellers don’t just sell land—they sell stories. Empathy and trust are advantages AI can’t replace.
Jon: Treat AI like an intern—let it handle 80% of the work, then apply human judgment to finish strong.

WANT MORE?

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“Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want when you want, and with whomever you want?”

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