Creating Our Own Narrative: Suzanne and Sarah’s Real Estate Investing Podcast

Home sales have reportedly dropped to their lowest level in nearly two years—but does that mean the housing market is crashing?
In this episode of The Real Deal Podcast, Sarah Willis and Suzanne Moore break down the latest national real estate headlines and compare them to what they're actually seeing on the ground in Bend and Central Oregon.
While some markets, including parts of Texas and Seattle, are experiencing more significant declines, Central Oregon is telling a different story. Buyers are taking longer to make decisions, homes are spending more time on the market, and sellers may be more open to negotiation. That means there are opportunities for buyers who are ready to act strategically.
Sarah and Suzanne share a recent example of helping a buyer negotiate close to $100,000 below asking on a $1.1 million property through a combination of price and credits—with no counteroffer.
But here's the interesting part: while some properties are sitting, the right home can still attract multiple offers, cash buyers, and aggressive competition.Here is the article: https://www.redfin.com/news/pending-sales-decline-july-2026/🔗 Stay Connected & Explore More! 🔗 Want to know more about the PRIMO Private Money Academy? Learn more: https://www.centraloregoninvestornetwork.com/private-money-academy 📩 Sign up for our investor newsletter → https://www.centraloregoninvestornetwork.com/contact-us 🏡 Explore real estate opportunities → https://www.centraloregoninvestornetwork.com/ 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast →https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-our-own-narrative-suzanne-and-sarahs-real/id1792087367 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@suzanneandsarah/videos 📷 Follow us on Instagram: Sarah Willis → https://www.instagram.com/bestlifebend/ Suzanne Moore → https://www.instagram.com/suzannerosemoore/ 📆 Book a Free Consultation → https://calendly.com/suzannerosemoore/real-estate-intro

Buying an investment property is only the beginning.
The real work starts after closing—collecting rent, tracking expenses, managing bank accounts, screening tenants, preparing for taxes, and keeping accurate financial records.
In this episode, Suzanne and Sarah discuss why operational systems are just as important as finding great investment deals. They share the lessons they've learned managing their own rental portfolios and explain how simplifying backend operations can help landlords scale with confidence.
In This Episode
Why DIY landlords struggle with multiple software platforms
Bookkeeping mistakes that make tax season painful
Automating rent collection and expense tracking
Organizing rental property finances
Managing multiple rental properties efficiently
Property-level financial reporting
Preparing for future loans and property sales
Why systems become more important as you scale
Behind the scenes of the upcoming Central Oregon Investor Network meetup
Key Takeaways
Good investing requires good operations.
Clean bookkeeping saves time, money, and stress.
Organization today creates opportunities tomorrow.
Systems allow landlords to scale without becoming overwhelmed.
The best investing tools aren't always the most exciting—but they often have the biggest impact.

Many investors have retirement accounts sitting in traditional investment funds without realizing they may be able to use those dollars to purchase real estate, fund private loans, or diversify outside of Wall Street.
In this episode, Suzanne and Sarah preview their upcoming investor meetup with Amanda Holbrook, an expert in self-directed retirement accounts. They discuss how self-directed IRAs and self-directed 401(k)s can provide investors with additional funding sources for investment properties and private lending opportunities.

In Episode 32 of The Real Deal Podcast, Suzanne Moore and Sarah Willis explore one of the hottest topics in real estate investing today: Can AI replace your property manager? After hosting a live investor meetup featuring property management expert Colby Knickerbocker of Legacy Property Management, they share their biggest takeaways on how artificial intelligence is transforming property management.
While the answer isn't a simple yes or no, the discussion reveals how AI is already helping property managers automate repetitive tasks, improve communication, streamline maintenance requests, analyze investment portfolios, and make smarter data-driven decisions.
Suzanne and Sarah discuss how AI can handle maintenance reminders, tenant communication triage, rental pricing analysis, portfolio optimization, and operational workflows—allowing property managers to focus on what matters most: relationships, service, and strategic decision-making.
If you're a real estate investor, landlord, property manager, or someone curious about the future of AI in real estate, this episode offers practical insights into where technology is heading and how investors can use it to save time, reduce costs, and improve returns.

In Episode 31 of The Real Deal Podcast, Suzanne Moore and Sarah Willis pull back the curtain on real estate transactions and the honest conversations they have with clients behind the scenes.
This episode dives into why the best real estate advice isn’t always about buying or selling—it’s about helping people make the smartest decision for their long-term goals. Suzanne shares stories of clients who initially wanted to sell their homes, only to discover alternative strategies like renting, using a HELOC, or leveraging low-interest-rate mortgages to build wealth instead of giving up valuable assets.
Sarah and Suzanne also discuss the importance of working with trusted lending professionals, sharing a candid story about a buyer who switched lenders mid-transaction and quickly realized the difference between creative, relationship-based lending and traditional banking systems.
The episode also highlights:
Why low-interest-rate mortgages are valuable assets
How a HELOC can provide flexibility without selling
The importance of asking deeper questions in real estate
Why buyers often think they want one thing—but actually need another
How consistent relationship-building and email marketing led to a fourplex deal years later

In Episode 30 of The Real Deal Podcast, Suzanne Moore and Sarah Willis share the exciting next chapter of their real estate journey: expanding their team and transitioning to a brokerage platform that aligns with their long-term vision of freedom, collaboration, and sustainable growth.
The duo opens up about why they intentionally moved brokerages, how they evolved from casually mentoring agents into building a fully integrated real estate team, and what makes their approach different from the traditional “hustle until burnout” model common in the industry.
They discuss the systems, marketing strategies, mentorship structure, and support tools they’ve built to help agents create true businesses—not just jobs. From CRM systems and transaction coordination to branding support and lead generation, Suzanne and Sarah explain how they’re helping agents create predictable income while still maintaining personal boundaries, weekends, vacations, and quality of life.

In this episode of The Real Deal Podcast, Sarah Willis and Suzanne Moore break down a powerful mortgage strategy that challenges everything most people believe about home loans.
After hosting a recent investor meetup, they’re sharing how using a HELOC-based system instead of a traditional mortgage could help homeowners:
✔ Pay off debt faster ✔ Reduce total interest paid ✔ Keep access to their equity ✔ Use cash flow more efficiently
This isn’t about making extra payments. It’s about changing how your money works for you.
You’ll learn:
Why traditional mortgages are designed the way they are
How daily interest recalculation works
Why where your money sits matters more than you think
Who this strategy works for (and who should avoid it)
How investors and high-net-worth individuals structure debt differently

In this episode of The Real Deal Podcast, Sarah Willis and Suzanne Moore—investor-minded real estate agents based in Central Oregon—introduce the creative real estate strategy known as lease options, also called rent-to-own agreements.
They preview their upcoming March 19 investor meetup (12–1 PM PT) featuring lease-option expert Andrew Schlag, founder of Truca RE, who will teach investors how to sell properties using this creative financing strategy.
Sarah and Suzanne explain how lease options work: a tenant-buyer pays a negotiable, typically non-refundable option deposit for the right to purchase a property at a pre-negotiated price in the future. During the lease period, the tenant pays rent and often assumes responsibility for maintenance, repairs, and insurance.
Meetup Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/bend-real-estate-investing-meetup/events/313561120/?eventOrigin=group_events_list
🔗 Stay Connected & Explore More! 🔗
Want to know more about the PRIMO Private Money Academy? Learn more: https://www.centraloregoninvestornetwork.com/private-money-academy
📩 Sign up for our investor newsletter → https://www.centraloregoninvestornetwork.com/contact-us🏡 Explore real estate opportunities → https://www.centraloregoninvestornetwork.com/🎙️ Listen to the Podcast →https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-our-own-narrative-suzanne-and-sarahs-real/id1792087367📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@suzanneandsarah/videos📷 Follow us on Instagram:Sarah Willis → https://www.instagram.com/bestlifebend/Suzanne Moore → https://www.instagram.com/suzannerosemoore/📆 Book a Free Consultation → https://calendly.com/suzannerosemoore/real-estate-intro
 

Infinite Banking for Real Estate Investors: How Whole Life Policies Can Fund Deals and Build Long-Term Wealth
In this episode of The Real Deal Podcast, Suzanne and Sarah explain the investing strategy known as Infinite Banking and how properly structured whole life insurance policies can be used as a funding tool for real estate deals.
If you’ve heard investors talk about “borrowing from yourself,” uninterrupted compounding, or using policies to fund down payments, this episode breaks down how the strategy actually works in practice — and when it makes sense.
Inside this episode:
✔ How Infinite Banking works step-by-step✔ How investors borrow against policies for deals✔ What uninterrupted compounding really means✔ Typical funding levels and timelines✔ Who this strategy is NOT for✔ Real examples from experienced investors✔ Estate planning and liquidity benefits many overlook
This episode is designed for education — to help you understand another potential financial tool for long-term investing.
 

In this episode, Sarah Willis and Suzanne Moore break down what it really takes to win STR (short-term rental) deals — especially during the chaotic rush of Q4.
They share an incredible true story: a client who missed an STR duplex in Bend by ONE day… only to get a second chance when the original deal fell apart. Learn how Zillow alerts, backup offers, and quick action turned a missed opportunity into a major win.
You’ll also hear about: • Navigating STR permits and zoning in Bend • Why smart investors plan early instead of scrambling in December • A case study of a December STR purchase that still made it across the finish line • Sarah & Suzanne’s own STR sale in Rhododendron, Oregon — from purchase to cash-flow in months • How emotional management affects investor success • What to do when inventory doesn’t match your criteria
If you're building passive income through STRs or hoping to secure an investment before year-end, this episode is filled with strategy, timing, and inspiration.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Welcome 00:45 — Short-term rentals & year-end timing 01:13 — The “second chance” STR story 03:16 — Backup offers & STR permit strategy 04:27 — The reality of the December STR rush 06:59 — Success story: Rhododendron STR journey 09:03 — Final takeaways