.webp)
In today’s volatile housing market, the difference between success and stagnation often lies in adaptability, mindset, and creative strategy. Ryan Weimer, a real estate investor who operates virtually from London while investing in Boise, Idaho, exemplifies this approach. Through strategic pivots, team-building, and a deep understanding of market dynamics, Ryan continues to scale his real estate operations and generate motivated seller leads, even amid shifting economic tides.
From Engineering to Real Estate Freedom
Ryan Weimer didn’t start out in real estate. With a background in mechanical engineering, he managed semiconductor projects across the globe. But the allure of freedom — both financial and personal — ultimately led him to real estate investing.
His journey began with a single-family rental purchased jointly with a friend in the Boise market while he was still living in San Diego. At that time, Boise was affordable and promising. That one deal eventually led to a business that now includes wholesaling, flipping, Airbnb rentals, and even new developments in the form of townhomes and multifamily properties.
Building a Virtual Business from the Start
Even before moving to London, Ryan intentionally built his business to be virtual. This allowed him to align with his values of travel and time freedom. Operating remotely exposed both strengths and weaknesses in his systems — and pushed him to optimize training, team structure, and accountability across time zones.
Ryan's team has grown to 16 employees, and they continue to expand, especially in sales, which he believes is the engine of any successful business, especially during challenging times.
Hiring Amid Recession Concerns
While many industries are conducting layoffs, especially in tech, Ryan’s business is actively hiring new salespeople. He believes that expanding your sales force during downturns positions a company to gain market share when competitors retreat.
Navigating the Boise Market Rollercoaster
Boise has seen extreme market fluctuations. Post-COVID, it experienced a surge of 40-45% in appreciation over a few years, only to see a drop of 25% recently. This dramatic swing has had a significant impact on strategies:
- Heavy fix-and-flip projects are avoided.
- New developments and creative finance deals (like subject-to and seller finance) are prioritized.
- Cash flow from day one is critical.
Ryan's team is focusing their efforts on the bottom third of the market — properties priced between $150K to $350K, which are still moving well.
Pivoting to Wholesaling
Previously, Ryan’s company would keep 7 out of 10 properties they acquired. Now, the ratio has reversed: they wholesale 7 out of 10. This shift provides faster cash conversion cycles and greater liquidity.
They’re also targeting subject-to deals and seller-financed homes with low interest rates, which remain attractive despite broader price declines.
Training and Expectations
Ryan attributes most virtual team breakdowns not to laziness or lack of effort, but to unclear expectations or inadequate training. Emphasizing systems and coaching helps his team function effectively from afar.
Mindset: The Invisible Lever of Success
Ryan emphasizes the importance of mindset, especially when operating remotely or during turbulent times. Key practices include:
- Daily affirmations and gratitude sessions with the team
- Regular reflection to stay grounded
- Focusing only on what can be controlled
He notes that most entrepreneurial failures occur not from lack of opportunity, but from fear, poor mindset, or unproductive self-talk.
Team Mindset vs Personal Mindset
While personal mindset is foundational, Ryan also stresses the importance of team-wide mindset alignment. Creating a culture where each team member puts challenges in perspective, practices gratitude, and shares positive affirmations has helped build a more resilient, mission-focused organization.
Example of Taking a Loss
Ryan shares that in today’s market, his team is willing to sell properties at $75K to $100K below their peak value if it improves liquidity. This disciplined decision-making ensures readiness for better opportunities.
Mirror Affirmations
One of Ryan’s personal habits is saying affirmations out loud in front of a mirror. Though it may feel silly, he says it activates the subconscious mind and boosts daily performance.
Visualization with Written Goals
Inspired by Jason Medley’s exercise at a Collective Genius event, Ryan writes out what he wants his year to look like in detail, and reads it daily to align action with vision.
Leadership in a Recession: Double Down on Sales
Many companies pull back during economic slowdowns, especially by cutting sales staff. Ryan does the opposite. He believes:
“The way out of any rough patch is sales.”
Leaders should jump back into the trenches when necessary, refine scripts, coach team members, and focus on moving inventory. While others retreat, doubling down on sales can lead to significant market share gains.
Track Net Worth More Frequently
Ryan urges investors to track their net worth monthly or bi-monthly, not just annually. This allows for better strategic adjustments and defensive moves in real-time.
Backward Goal Planning
A great starting point, Ryan says, is to pick a simple lifestyle goal, like spending an extra hour per day with family. Then reverse engineer the business steps needed to make that goal a reality.
Breaking Limiting Beliefs
Ryan addresses a common mental block: the belief that only wealthy people can invest in real estate. He urges new investors to drop this mindset and embrace the idea that anyone can start with the right plan.
Fear-Based Thinking vs Reality
Ryan points out that many new investors let imagined risks hold them back. “Most people picture 99 things that could go wrong in a deal,” he says, “but 98 of those things never actually happen.” It’s a powerful reminder that overthinking is often more dangerous than action.
Task Switching and Focus
As a self-described visionary, Ryan admits to bouncing from task to task if he’s not careful. The ONE Thing helps him stay on track by forcing singular daily focus.
Protecting Your Foundation
Ryan advises investors to remain financially defensive even when business is booming. This means:
- Taking chips off the table regularly
- Avoiding ego-driven decisions
- Selling underperforming properties, even at a loss, to build liquidity
He shares that although selling a property today might mean losing $75K-$100K compared to six months ago, the liquidity can provide a strategic advantage when the next opportunity arises.
Empowering the Team Through Mindset
Maintaining team morale is just as important as personal development. Ryan encourages transparency, perspective, and shared affirmations to:
- Eliminate unproductive self-doubt
- Align team members with a growth mindset
- Ensure everyone focuses on solutions rather than problems
Define What You Want: The First Step to Transformation
For those just starting, Ryan recommends an often-overlooked foundational step:
- Clearly define what you want
Whether it’s time freedom, job replacement, or building a real estate empire, this clarity helps reverse-engineer actionable steps. Without vision, distractions take over.
Actionable Tips for Real Estate Investors
- Audit your social media: Remove accounts that don’t align with your future self.
- Track your net worth: Do it monthly or quarterly to gain perspective.
- Start simple: One cash-flowing rental a year can be enough to change your life trajectory.
- Focus on your mindset daily: What you tell yourself becomes your reality.
- Surround yourself with the right people: Both in person and digitally.
Recommended Reading
Ryan’s go-to book is The ONE Thing by Gary Keller. It’s a powerful reminder for entrepreneurs who struggle with shiny object syndrome to focus on the task that will drive the greatest results.
Key Takeaways from the Ryan Weimer Blog
Virtual Investing is Possible — and Scalable
Ryan built a real estate business in Boise while living in London by designing virtual systems, training remote teams, and leaning into tech-enabled operations.
Mindset is a Business Multiplier
Daily affirmations, gratitude, and intentional self-talk — both personally and across the team — are core to staying grounded and focused in volatile markets.
Adapt Strategies Based on Market Cycles
In a declining market like Boise, Ryan shifted from holding/flipping to wholesaling and creative finance (e.g., seller finance, subject-to deals) to improve liquidity and reduce risk.
Sales Solve Most Problems
Instead of layoffs, Ryan doubles down on hiring in sales. He believes increasing sales efforts is the fastest way to survive and thrive during economic uncertainty.
Take Chips Off the Table
Even if it means taking short-term losses, maintaining cash reserves and financial flexibility is key to long-term positioning and seizing future opportunities.
Define Clear Goals and Work Backwards
Whether it’s quitting a job or spending more time with family, clarity around what you truly want allows you to reverse-engineer a strategic path forward.
Track Net Worth Regularly
Reviewing your financial position monthly or bi-monthly helps guide key decisions and provides perspective on growth and risk exposure.
Break Free from Limiting Beliefs
Investing in real estate isn't reserved for the wealthy. With the right mindset and steps, anyone can start building a portfolio.
Lead with Perspective and Empower Your Team
Cultivating mindset and gratitude within the team builds cohesion and eliminates counterproductive self-talk, helping everyone operate from a place of strength.
Focus Beats Busyness
Tools like The ONE Thing help avoid shiny object syndrome and improve productivity by forcing singular daily focus on what actually moves the needle.
Final Push: Take Control of Your Future
The real estate market may be in flux, but that doesn’t mean you have to be. Like Ryan Weimer, you can build a resilient, virtual business that thrives on creativity, adaptability, and strategic thinking.
Success starts with mindset, sharpens with clarity, and scales through consistent action.
Want to build your business and secure more motivated seller leads?
Start by aligning your team, tightening your focus, and pursuing deals that make sense today. In every market, motivated sellers are out there — and with the right systems and mindset, you can be the one to serve them.
.png)
