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If you're looking to grow your real estate business and attract motivated seller leads, there's no better way than learning from someone who’s done it all—flipping homes, building nationwide networks, launching tech platforms, and mentoring thousands. Roger Blankenship, the powerhouse behind Flipping America, went from desperation to domination in the world of real estate. His story isn’t just inspiring—it’s full of tactical lessons for investors ready to get serious.
From Ministry to Millions: Roger's Real Estate Origin
Roger didn’t start his journey with a real estate license or a Wall Street pedigree. He began at rock bottom—divorced, unemployed, and unsure of what came next. Having dabbled in a few rental and flip properties, he decided to go all in. That bold move would eventually lead him to flip over 1,500 homes, wholesale hundreds, and hold a sizable rental portfolio.
Launching Flipping America and the Rise of a National Community
In 2017, Roger launched the Flipping America Show, a nationally syndicated radio program that evolved into a popular podcast. The platform not only helped him reach thousands of real estate enthusiasts but also set the stage for something bigger: Flipping America RIA. Starting as a casual lunch group in Atlanta, it quickly grew into a 43-chapter, 22,300-member nationwide community.
Radio vs. Podcast Evolution
Unlike most real estate influencers who start with a podcast and hope to grow, Roger took the opposite route. He launched Flipping America as a nationally syndicated radio show, giving him immediate credibility and reach across the country. Only later did he transition the content into a podcast, extending his audience even further. This strategic sequencing helped build a stronger platform with both older traditional audiences and younger digital listeners.
Motivated Seller Leads and the Power of the Deal Analyzer
Generating motivated seller leads is all about knowing what makes a deal worthwhile. Roger developed a deal analyzer tool that doesn’t just crunch numbers—it actually suggests creative structures based on user-defined investment strategies. This evolved into a full-fledged product called FlipCalcs and later inspired the creation of Flipping America GO.
Flipping America GO is built for today’s fast-moving investor. Just type in an address, and the tool pulls comps, evaluates the deal based on your personalized exit strategies—flip, hold, short-term rental, or seller financing—and gives a red, yellow, or green light. When it’s green, you GO. This is deal analysis for the busy (or lazy) investor.
Flipping America GO and the MVP Phase
While Flipping America GO is already a powerful tool, Roger emphasizes that it's still in its MVP (Minimum Viable Product) stage. One major feature—the property grading system from his former app—isn’t yet included but may be added later. For now, the focus is speed, automation, and accurate comps.
The Early Days of Flipping America RIA
Before Flipping America RIA became a 22,000+ member community, Roger hosted informal meetups in Atlanta restaurants. These face-to-face lunches grew organically, drawing dozens of attendees without promotion. Early Zoom meetings using restaurant Wi-Fi faced technical challenges, which later led to a shift toward virtual events—ironically accelerated by the pandemic.
Avoiding the $50K Mistake: Lessons for New Investors
Roger has seen it all—including beginners spending tens of thousands on hotel-room real estate seminars only to lose money on their first deals. His core message: skip the gurus, get out there, and do the work. Hands-on experience, not courses, is what makes the lessons stick. His Real Estate Investing Quick Start course gets people making offers in just two weeks—ready or not.
The biggest mistake? Overpaying. During the housing market’s hot streak, people got careless. Now, strategy and caution matter more than ever. Start small, talk to motivated sellers (even family and friends), and learn by doing.
The Power of Family and First Deals
Roger encourages new investors to speak to family and friends first. These connections may not only offer a flexible seller situation for a first deal but can also be a source of funding. It's a low-risk, high-trust entry point into the business.
The Buyers Club: Investing Without the Hassle
In 2018, Roger noticed a wave of distressed properties selling for $10K–$15K in the Midwest. Instead of rehabbing them himself, he devised a model: buy low, seller-finance them at affordable terms, and offer investors a way in via his Buyers Club. Members pay an annual fee (refunded on their first deal) and gain access to properties that generate 30–35% annual returns.
Over time, the club adapted. As prices rose, Roger expanded into $30K properties, introduced servicing companies and licensed mortgage originators, and even launched a Done-For-You Fix and Flip option. The goal remained the same: provide value-packed investment opportunities for serious buyers.
Contract-for-Deed and Tax Lessons
Initially, Roger used traditional seller financing, but after learning that IRS rules required him to claim the full gain in the first year, he shifted to contract-for-deed arrangements. Now, the Buyers Club uses more formal loan servicing with licensed originators to ensure compliance and qualify better buyers.
Inside the Auction.com VIP Program
Roger is one of only 15 investors in the Auction.com VIP program—a position that gives him early access to hundreds of properties weekly. Unlike regular users, he doesn’t have to put up a $2,500 deposit per property. This exclusive access, combined with zone data and strategic filtering, allows him to discover gems in remote areas most investors would miss.
Data Sorting and Geographic Discovery
One key benefit of the VIP program is a sortable spreadsheet containing upcoming auctions. Instead of browsing manually, Roger filters by price, location, or property type—making it easy to spot high-yield investments in towns he'd never otherwise search for.
The Heart Behind the Hustle: Why Roger Does What He Does
For Roger, it’s not just about money. He believes in the ripple effect: help one person build a profitable business, and they can fund causes, support charities, and change communities. His “ROE”—return on effort—is about empowering thousands of people to do good by doing well.
Whether through education, tools, or partnerships, Roger’s mission is to create hundreds of points of light. He doesn’t want the spotlight; he wants the satisfaction of knowing he helped others succeed.
What ROE Really Means
Roger coined the term "ROE"—Return on Effort—to express his belief that success should lead to impact. Helping one investor helps a community. That’s the compound interest of giving back.
The Flipping America App
In addition to podcast platforms, listeners can stream episodes directly from the Flipping America app—available on mobile. It even includes a quirky feature: you can set Roger’s voice as your alarm clock. Because, why not wake up with real estate tips?
Books That Built the Business
Roger recommends a blend of practical and philosophical reads. Start with Rich Dad Poor Dad, 10x Rule by Grant Cardone, Traction by Gino Wickman, and Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. His recent favorite? Indestructible Wealth by Jack Gibson—a must-read for serious investors.
Final Advice for New Investors
Get out of your head and into the field. Talk to sellers, make offers, and learn as you go. Roger’s advice is simple: you won’t feel ready, and that’s okay. Take the leap. You’ll learn faster, fail smarter, and succeed sooner.
Want to Work with Roger?
You can connect directly via flippingamerica.net, where you can schedule a strategy call. For now, Roger himself is handling these calls—30 minutes of personalized guidance, not a sales pitch. Just help.
Key Takeaways from the Blog:
Roger Blankenship transitioned into real estate out of desperation, ultimately flipping 1,500+ homes and building a diverse investment portfolio.
He launched Flipping America as a radio show, later evolving into a popular podcast and nationwide RIA with 22,300+ members.
The Flipping America GO platform offers deal analysis tailored to investor goals, helping users quickly assess properties using comps and exit strategies.
Roger developed tools like FlipCalcs and the now-retired Property Grade app to help investors evaluate intangible property factors.
His core philosophy is hands-on learning, encouraging new investors to take action rather than overeducate or overspend on coaching.
The Buyers Club allows investors to purchase low-cost homes with high returns, supported by seller financing and now more formal lending structures.
Roger emphasizes working with family or friends for your first deal or funding, creating a low-risk entry point for beginners.
Auction.com VIP access gives him exclusive pre-auction data and eliminates bidding deposits, providing a sourcing edge most investors don’t have.
He coined the term ROE (Return on Effort) to highlight his mission of empowering others to build wealth and give back to communities.
Roger recommends books like Rich Dad Poor Dad, Traction, and Indestructible Wealth, showing his blend of practical and visionary thinking.
Ready to grow your real estate business and generate more motivated seller leads?
Take the first step today. Whether it's joining the Flipping America RIA, leveraging cutting-edge tools like Flipping America GO, or diving into the Buyers Club, there's a proven path for you.
Don’t overanalyze. Act. Start building the life—and the legacy—you’re dreaming of.
