Initiate & Improvise w/ Zach Lemaster
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Episode Description
Welcome to the Freedom Point Real Estate podcast! Our host Jeremy sits down with Zach Lemaster, founder of Rent to Retirement, to discuss his shift from optometry to real estate. Zach shares lessons from 15 years of investing and how turnkey real estate creates passive income and financial freedom.
Zach Lemaster is the founder & CEO of Rent To Retirement, the nation's leading turnkey investment company. Zach is a seasoned real estate investor and licensed broker that has accumulated a large portfolio of rental properties across multiple markets including single family, multifamily, commercial and new construction. Zach is a licensed Optometrist who practices on a volunteer basis.
CONNECT WITH ZACH LEMASTER!
Website: https://www.renttoretirement.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/renttoretirement
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renttoretirementinvest/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-lemaster-7b1530238
CONNECT WITH JEREMY DYER!
Website: https://startingpointcapital.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingpointcapital/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremydyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingpointcapital
Book a Call! https://calendly.com/startingpointcapital/discuss-investing-with-jeremy-dyer?month=2023-12
Summary
Tip #1: Embrace Real Estate as a Lifelong Journey
"When you go through the bio in a condensed version, it sounds like a lot. But that's over like a 15-year period of time."
Zach stresses that real estate isn’t about overnight success—it’s about persistence and continuous learning. Investors should set realistic expectations and view their journey as a series of chapters, each contributing to growth and experience.
Tip #2: Start Small, but Start
"The first house I bought was a duplex. Lived in half, rented out the other half."
House hacking with a VA loan gave Zach his first taste of real estate. The key takeaway is that you don’t need to start big—small, practical steps can lay the foundation for long-term wealth.
Tip #3: Diversify Beyond Your Local Market
"We quickly identified that maybe our local market isn't the best market… so we started to invest out of state."
Zach and his wife realized that sticking only to their local area limited growth. Diversifying into other markets spreads risk and increases opportunity, even though it comes with challenges that require careful planning and trusted teams.
Tip #4: Learn from Failures and Keep Going
"We started to invest out of state. That went terribly wrong and we lost a bunch of money. But we didn’t stop there."
Every investor will face setbacks. Zach’s story shows that resilience—using mistakes as learning opportunities—is what separates successful investors from those who quit too soon.
Tip #5: Buy Back Your Time with Systems and People
"It’s always about replacing yourself and trying to find the right person to bring in."
Early in his career, Zach hustled during lunch breaks and commutes. But long-term success came from delegating tasks and building systems. Investors should ask: what’s the best use of my time, and who can I bring in to handle the rest?
Tip #6: Overcome Analysis Paralysis by Taking Action
"Stop reading, stop learning… the actual learning is done by doing."
Many aspiring investors get stuck in research mode. Zach encourages aligning your goals with your strategy and then pulling the trigger. Real progress happens through execution, even if mistakes occur along the way.
Tip #7: Consider Turnkey Investing for Busy Professionals
"Turnkey basically means everything’s done for you… it’s a long-term investment to provide residual income, tax benefits, and diversification."
For people without time to manage properties, turnkey models allow access to cash-flowing assets while leveraging professional teams. Zach’s company focuses on build-to-rent properties in growth markets to reduce headaches and increase returns.
Tip #8: Look for Value Beyond the Buzzword
"Our business was created to contradict the idea that turnkey means no equity."
Rent to Retirement negotiates bulk deals with large builders, passing discounts and incentives to investors. This shows that turnkey doesn’t have to mean overpriced—it can deliver both equity and convenience when structured well.
Tip #9: Focus on Fundamentals, Not Hype
"We stick to the fundamentals of real estate: supply and demand, affordability, and demographics."
Zach warns against chasing “hot” markets or fads. Instead, he emphasizes long-term fundamentals like affordability, housing shortages, and population growth. Following these principles ensures stability through economic cycles.
Tip #10: Bet on the Operator as Much as the Market
"You can be in the perfect market, but have terrible operators and your investment is non-performing."
Ultimately, execution risk matters more than hype. The strength of local teams, property managers, and operators determines success. Investors should vet partners carefully and be prepared to adapt when conditions change.
