Wisconsin man $1.8M in debt with a rental portfolio worth $4.4M — Dave Ramsey says his real estate strategy ‘sucks’

Core Insights - A real estate investor, Ryan, is facing significant financial losses with a $4.4 million portfolio, currently $1.8 million in debt due to insufficient rental income to cover mortgage obligations [1][2] - The investor's initial success in commercial real estate has not translated into ongoing profitability, with the pandemic exacerbating vacancy rates in commercial properties [2] - Financial advice suggests selling unprofitable properties over the next three years to alleviate debt, with a focus on calculating cash-on-cash returns to determine which properties to retain [3] Investment Returns - The expected cash-on-cash return for residential real estate investors should be between 8% to 10%, while commercial property investors should aim for a return of 10% to 14% [4] - The advisor, Dave Ramsey, reports achieving cash-on-cash returns "up in the 20s" on his own commercial investments, indicating a benchmark for successful investment performance [5] - Including property appreciation and tax deductions in calculations can yield an internal rate of return (IRR) of 15% to 20% for real estate investments [5]