Hey, it’s Jordan Samuel Fleming — welcome back to That Real Estate Tech Guy! Today, I’m joined by Andrew Lucas, a full-time investor, educator, and co-founder of the Deal Finders Club in Columbia, South Carolina. Andrew’s story is one that so many investors can relate to: starting with a few rentals, making the classic early mistakes, and finally deciding to treat real estate like a real business.

In this conversation, Andrew breaks down how he scaled from a handful of rentals to over 100 units, built his own property management company, launched a thriving meetup community, and now helps new investors skip the painful mistakes he made early on. We dive into his philosophy around systems, mentorship, the realities of property management, what separates hobbyists from professionals, and how technology should support — not distract — your investing journey.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[0:00] – Introducing Andrew Lucas and his journey from accidental investor to owning 100+ rentals.

[1:45] – How Andrew and his wife became full-time investors and built multiple income streams.

[3:00] – The reality of property management and why Andrew eventually built his own PM company.

[4:06] – Lessons from the hospitality industry and how “being too nice” killed early profitability.

[5:07] – The turning point: painting rentals while 7–8 months pregnant and deciding to do things right.

[10:11] – How one lawsuit opened Andrew’s eyes to the responsibilities of being a landlord.

[11:34] – How good property managers preserve asset value and enforce necessary boundaries.

[17:13] – Helping beginners avoid mistakes and providing guardrails as they build their business.

[18:44] – The transformation from dreamer to operator: when investing becomes a real business.

[20:18] – Why it only takes three flips a year to look like a professional investor to lenders.

[22:04] – Understanding the power of repeatable systems to scale beyond your day job.

[25:22] – The essential beginner tech stack: good data, a reliable phone system, and a simple CRM.

[28:44] – Why missed follow-ups cost more deals than bad marketing ever will.

[30:54] – Data quality: how bad lists waste money, kill ROI, and break your entire sales process.

[34:12] – Data paralysis vs. action: why investors must focus on outliers, not vanity metrics.

[35:00] – How to connect with Andrew and join the Deal Finders Club community.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Treat real estate like a business. Early mistakes come from poor systems, unclear boundaries, and inconsistent processes.
2. Most investors shouldn’t self-manage. Property management is process-heavy and legally risky without the right expertise.
3. Community accelerates success. Meetups, mentors, and peers help investors skip years of trial and error.
4. Start simple with tech. Only buy tools when your current process breaks — not because they look cool.
5. Good data drives the whole machine. Clean lists, solid follow-up, and reliable communication systems generate consistent revenue.

Links & Resources:

• Andrew’s Tech-Enabled Phone Number – Text him at (803) 216-5750
• ThatRealEstateTechGuy.com – Listen to all episodes and secure exclusive tech discounts.

Closing

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy wherever you listen. Share it with someone who’s ready to build a real real estate business — not just dabble in it. Stay tuned for more practical conversations with the people shaping today’s investor tech landscape.