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As home prices are high these days, buying a home can be a significant challenge even for people with stable incomes. But for that Rich dad, poor dad Author Robert Kiyosaki, It’s a breeze.
During an interview with personal finance YouTuber Sharan Hegde, Kiyosaki said, “I own 15,000 houses (1).
The median home price in the United States was $405,300 in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (2).
Hegde asked if Kiyosaki was renting out these houses to collect income, to which Kiyosaki simply replied, “Yes.”
The famous author explained the topic of buying a house in detail:
“There’s nothing wrong with buying a house. The difference is I’m using a loan to buy it, and I’m not paying any taxes. It’s not a house, it’s not a stock, it’s not a bond, it’s not an ETF, it’s your brain.”
Recently on YouTube, Kiyosaki posted on his channel about his first investment property – which he bought using a credit card.
“I bought my first piece of real estate on the island of Mayo,” he said. “One bedroom, one bath. It wasn’t oceanfront but close to the ocean. I paid for it on my credit card—so it was 100% loan financing.”
Even in those early days, he had no qualms about using credit card debt to pay for a house.
“I didn’t have any money of my own in this deal and I’m still making money (3).”
Kiyosaki refers to a strategy often employed by real estate investors. They often use borrowed money (loans) to finance their purchases. This allows them to acquire more wealth than they could with their money alone. The mortgage interest from these loans can be deducted from taxable income, reducing their total tax liability.
In addition, investors can claim expense deductions for property taxes, property insurance and expenses related to managing and maintaining the property, such as repairs, maintenance and property management fees (4).
By borrowing and taking advantage of tax deductions, real estate investors can maximize their returns while minimizing taxes.
If this is a strategy you want, it should be done carefully – and hiring a financial advisor is a smart approach.
Advisor.com can quickly match you with an advisor who can guide you through your options.
Just answer a few quick questions about your investment timeline and goals, and Advisor.com will match you with an advisor who fits your needs.
Book a free, no-obligation call today to see if they’re the right advisor for you.
Read more: I’m almost 50 and have no retirement savings. Is it too late to catch up?
Read more: Non-millionaires can now invest in this $1B private real estate fund starting at just $10
Kiyosaki distinguishes between income-producing properties and primary residences, emphasizing that they serve different financial purposes.
“Your house is not an asset,” Kiyosaki said.
According to Kiyosaki, there is an easy way to determine if something is rich.
“What’s the definition of the word? If it puts money in my pocket, it’s an asset. If my house takes money out of my pocket, it’s a liability,” he explained.
By this definition, a primary residence is not an asset. Many homeowners are faced with mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs, which take money out of their pockets.
Instead, real estate should produce steady, stable returns.
Lightstone DIRECT offers qualified investors access to prime quality multifamily and industrial real estate – with a minimum investment of $100,000.
Founded in 1986 by David Lichtenstein, Lightstone Group is one of the largest private equity investment firms in the United States, with more than $12 billion in assets under management.
Over nearly four decades, their team has delivered strong, risk-adjusted performance across multiple market cycles – including 27.5% historical net IRR and 2.49x historical net equity on realized investment since 2004.
With Lightstone Direct, you get access to this real estate transaction stream.
Here’s the kicker: Lightstone invests at least 20% of its capital in each deal — about four times the industry average. With this skin in the game, the company ensures that its profits are directly aligned with its investors.
If you are not an established investor, crowdfunding platforms such as Arrival allow you to enter the real estate market for as little as $100.
Arrival offers you access to SEC qualified investment shares in rental homes and vacation rentals, selected and evaluated for their appreciation and income potential.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrival makes it easy to fit these properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your income level. Their flexible investment amounts and simple process allow both accredited and non-accredited investors to benefit from this inflation-hedging asset class without any additional work on your part.
Of course, you can invest in income-producing real estate assets. However, in an era where passive income has become a buzzword, one of the most popular ways to create a passive income stream is through real estate—at least in theory.
good news These days, you can invest in real estate without becoming a landlord. For example, need-based commercial real estate is properties that perform an essential function – such as health care facilities or retail stores – making these properties in demand because they are always needed regardless of economic conditions.
Real estate investment platform Mogul offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a large down payment or 3 a.m. tenant calls.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team selects the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, you can invest in basic quality offerings for a fraction of the normal cost.
Each property goes through an appraisal process, requiring a minimum return of 12% even in negative scenarios. Across the board, the platform offers an average annual IRR of 18.8%. At the same time, the yield of their cash, on average from 10 to 12% per year. Offerings often sell within three hours, investments are usually between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
Each investment is secured by real assets, not depending on the platform’s capabilities. Each property is held in a single Propco LLC, so investors own the property – not the platform. Blockchain-based distribution adds a layer of security, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each share.
Getting started is a quick and easy process. You can sign up for an account and then search for available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can start investing like a mogul in just a few clicks.
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@FinancewithSharan (1); Federal Reserve (2); @TheRichDadChannel (3); IRS (4)
This article provides information only and should not be used as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
