Today we’re coming to you LIVE(ish) from Natalie’s flip house in Spring, Texas, sipping a gin–tequila margarita and talking about how real people build wealth through real estate—without pretending it’s all rainbows and unicorn cashflow.

In this episode of Sugar, Spice & Spirits:

• Natalie breaks down her current flip in Spring, TX (elderly seller, dated house, private money, big upside).

• Mindy and Kelly share the good, the bad, and the “I lost my butt” stories from multifamily investing.

• We talk about passive income, syndicators, IRA investing, and how to avoid getting caught in variable-rate, balloon-payment disasters.

• And yes, we absolutely toast to the trades, meetups, mentors, and the “millionaire next door” mindset.

If you’ve ever thought:

“I want passive income, but I don’t want tenants, toilets, and 2 a.m. phone calls”… this episode is for you.

• Why real estate is so much more than just being a realtor

• How flips, rentals, multifamily and passive deals actually work in real life

• What can go wrong with bad operators and variable-rate debt

• How to vet syndicators and protect your investment

• Ways to use IRA money for real estate (with the right structure)

• The power of meetups, mentors, and local investing communities

• Why “average” people quietly become millionaires through boring, consistent investing

• 00:36 Meet your hosts & today’s gin–tequila margarita “sip of the day”

• 02:30 Why we’re not just a “real estate podcast” and why that label is limiting

• 03:40 Natalie's flip on Lockridge in Spring, TX – elderly seller, dated house, private money

• 05:13 Joke of the day: why the investor brought a ladder to the open house

• 06:12 Mindy’s story: multifamily, mailbox money, and losing money with the wrong person

• 09:18 Kelly’s journey from “clueless about real estate” to profitable investor

• 13:38 Natalie on the multifamily bloodbath: variable rates, balloons, and market shifts

• 14:22 Cost seg, depreciation, and how the right deals can nearly offset your investment

• 17:39 Meetups, education, and how to spot slimy vs. value-driven events

• 19:46 Investor road trips: walking actual properties and learning in the field

• 21:07 Gas station story: why real estate creates freedom to give generously

• 23:54 Book recommendations: Rich Dad Poor Dad, Think and Grow Rich, Richest Man in Babylon, The Millionaire Next Door

• 25:23 Trades vs. college: why plumbers, electricians & AC techs are quietly winning

• 28:34 How an average guy became financially independent through real estate

• 29:06 Why you need passive income streams before you lose your job

• 30:59 “Spill the tea” show idea & how to send us your stories

• 31:21 Final toast: keep watching, sharing, and stacking that knowledge

Want the exact gin–tequila margarita recipe from this episode? 👉 Go to sugarspiceandspirits.com, subscribe, confirm your email, and we’ll send it in the newsletter.

Questions about real estate, syndicators, or investing? 📩 Email Natalie: nataliepilkinton@gmail.com

If you got value from this episode: ✅ Like the video ✅ Subscribe to the channel ✅ Comment with your biggest real estate question ✅ Share this with someone who needs passive income but hates their job