SDIRA Wealth leaders Justin French and Matt Love explain how researched markets, builder-direct opportunities, and ongoing guidance can give rental investors a head start
For an investor reading today’s housing headlines, waiting can feel like the safest decision. Buying a rental property means committing capital, taking on ownership costs, and trusting that the income will justify the investment. Those decisions deserve more than an optimistic forecast.
Real estate can still be a good investment in 2026 when the purchase price, realistic rent, financing, and ongoing expenses support the investor’s goals. Evaluating that fit requires a closer look at the property and its local rental market.
The national picture explains the caution. In an October 14 report, Redfin estimated that home sellers outnumbered buyers by roughly 63% in September. That imbalance can create negotiating opportunities for qualified buyers, while also underscoring the risks of depending on a quick resale.
Against that backdrop, SDIRA Wealth CEO Justin French says the company is having its best year in its history. He attributes the interest to an approach built over 25 years: research markets, develop new construction rentals for investors, and connect the purchase with financing, professional relationships, and support throughout ownership.
“More people are being introduced to us for the first time. They want to understand where to invest, what the numbers look like, and who will be there to guide them after they buy as they continue building their portfolio. We have spent 25 years building that experience,” French says.
Market research begins before the homes are built
SDIRA Wealth operates as a full-service build-to-rent developer and builder. Its work begins with market selection and development planning, before a home is presented to an investor. Location, construction costs, renter needs, and attainable rents inform what the company builds.
The research considers employment growth and employer diversity, population trends, household incomes, and housing affordability. Local rental demand, competing construction, property taxes, insurance, and access to qualified management help determine whether a market can support the ownership experience investors need.
That is why a state’s growth story is only a starting point. SDIRA Wealth identifies Lubbock, Texas, as one of its focus markets, but each opportunity still requires a neighborhood and property-level assessment. Comparable rents and leasing conditions matter more to an individual owner than a statewide ranking.
“We look at the relationship between what a home costs, what it can realistically rent for, and what the investor will spend to own it. Those numbers need to support the client’s plan,” says Matt Love, SDIRA Wealth’s Director of Client Strategy.
Since 2001, SDIRA Wealth has built homes in 15 states, developing experience across different communities and market cycles. That history helps the company recognize opportunities, ask better questions, and identify potential challenges before moving forward. Current local conditions guide each new development, from where the company builds to the homes it designs for renters.
For clients, that work creates a head start: access to researched opportunities, established local relationships, and a team that can help them evaluate how a property fits their long-term plan.
New construction designed for rental ownership
For a rental home, design decisions have financial consequences. A practical layout and durable finishes can influence tenant appeal and future upkeep. A purchase price also needs to leave room for the financing and operating expenses that continue long after closing.
“We build with today’s market in mind. We look at what renters need, what households can afford, and what ownership costs look like now. A property needs to make sense within that picture,” French explains.
New construction gives buyers an opportunity to begin ownership with new building systems and applicable warranties. It can reduce some of the maintenance uncertainty associated with older homes, while still requiring inspections, reserves, and a budget for vacancy and future repairs.
Join thousands of investors from across the country who explore SDIRA Wealth through our property tours each year. Our weekly tours give you a firsthand look at the new construction rental homes we build, an opportunity to meet our team, and access to exclusive off-market investment opportunities. Watch the video above to experience the Freedom Builders community—and discover how we can help you take the next step toward your investment goals.
Our Scale. Your Advantage.
An investor may be buying one rental home, but with SDIRA Wealth, that purchase benefits from the scale of a much larger building operation. The company’s development volume, purchasing power, and established relationships help create advantages clients can access from their very first property.
Depending on the home and financing, those advantages may include builder-direct pricing, rate buydowns, a complimentary cost segregation study, and negotiated property management savings. Clients also gain access to exclusive off-market homes the company builds specifically for rental ownership—with no SDIRA Wealth membership fees, team-access fees, or buyer commissions.
“Our clients shouldn’t have to build an entire real estate business just to benefit from one,” says Justin French, CEO of SDIRA Wealth. “We’ve spent years developing the properties, relationships, and support that investors need. They can step into that experience with their first home and continue building from there.”
French says substantial incentives and a model without buyer commissions have been part of the company’s approach since its beginning. That structure can make a meaningful difference when investors compare the full cost of purchasing a rental property.
“We earn our revenue by developing, building, and selling homes. Our volume allows us to offer clients advantages without charging extra fees to access our team or opportunities,” French says. “Together, those savings and incentives can leave investors with thousands more available for their investment and reserves. That’s a real head start from day one.”
The company also connects clients with a network of more than 200 preferred lenders to explore financing suited to their goals and qualifications. Available terms and incentives vary by property, loan program, and borrower, giving investors a reason to evaluate the complete opportunity—from acquisition costs to ongoing ownership expenses.
Built Around Your Investment Goals
SDIRA Wealth builds more than 2,000 properties a year for investors, designing homes around its clients’ needs and investment strategies while meeting the needs of the residents who will live in them. As the developer and builder, its scale supports bulk pricing, builder incentives, and rate buydown opportunities. Clients also pay no SDIRA Wealth membership fees, team-access fees, or buyer commissions—creating a meaningful head start from their first property.
“We build with our clients’ strategies in mind and the resident’s experience at the center of the home,” says French, “Combining that approach with our scale and established relationships gives our clients and their investment partners a distinct advantage. They benefit from homes built for rental ownership and a team focused on their long-term goals.”
The team and its lending partners help investors understand available incentives and financing options, including permanent rate buydowns for qualifying buyers. They review those benefits alongside expected rental income, taxes, insurance, management, and other ownership expenses so clients can evaluate the complete investment.
Free Education. Support Beyond Closing.
Some real estate investment companies charge membership fees, team-access fees, or buyer commissions to support their business. SDIRA Wealth earns its revenue by developing, building, and selling properties, allowing the company to provide education and ongoing guidance without those additional charges.
That reflects a principle at the heart of the company: informed owners are better equipped to make decisions, work with their professional teams, and build toward their goals. Through its free Freedom Builders membership, SDIRA Wealth helps investors understand both the opportunities and the responsibilities of rental ownership.
“We’re an education-first company. Whether you’re exploring your first rental or have been a client for 25 years, we want you to keep learning,” says Matt Love, Director of Client Strategy at SDIRA Wealth. “Our role is to help you think like a business owner—understand your numbers, ask better questions, and lead the relationships that support your properties. That education shouldn’t end at closing.”
Workshops, property tours, and personalized guidance help members put that knowledge into practice. As clients gain experience, the conversation grows with them—from preparing for a first purchase to evaluating performance, working with property managers, and planning their next investment. The purpose is to help clients become more capable, confident owners throughout their investment journey.
Tax planning that fits the larger financial picture
A property can serve different purposes for different investors. A business owner evaluating cost segregation may have different priorities from someone purchasing through a self-directed IRA or completing a 1031 exchange. The ownership structure and timing need to fit the wider financial plan.
SDIRA Wealth helps coordinate the real estate side with the professionals advising the investor. Its programs include education and support related to cost segregation, self-directed IRAs, Short Term Rental Tax Stratagies and 1031 exchanges.
According to French, clients have collectively saved more than $250 million in taxes through real estate strategies implemented with their CPAs and wealth advisors. That cumulative company-reported figure describes past client outcomes; individual benefits depend on the investor’s circumstances.
“Our 25 year history and long term relationships with our CPAs and wealth advisors help connect the property to the client’s larger plan. Those professionals work directly with the investor, and we coordinate the real estate side so the decisions work together,” French says.
A head start from day one
Before buying a first rental, an investor may spend months choosing a market, finding properties, comparing lenders, and interviewing property managers. Each decision raises another question, and assembling those relationships takes time.
With SDIRA Wealth, investors begin with research, private property access, and an established network already available. They can spend their time examining a specific opportunity and its fit with their goals, with experienced contacts available to explain the details.
“You can get a head start with the research, property access, and relationships we already have in place. Our team can walk you through the opportunity and help you understand what fits your goals,” French says.
That head start becomes practical when the pieces can be reviewed together: comparable rents, the purchase price, written lender terms, available incentives, and the management plan. Investors still perform their own due diligence, but they have a more organized place to begin.
Support for the first property and the next one
Once a purchase closes, questions shift to leasing, expenses, and whether another property makes sense. SDIRA Wealth continues to provide education and portfolio guidance while helping investors connect with local property management and other professionals.
“Clients want to know they can call us as questions come up and their goals change. Whether someone is buying a first property or adding a fifth years later, we want to keep providing value throughout that relationship,” Love says.
That ongoing relationship also appears in client feedback. In a testimonial published on the company’s website, Paul M. described seven and a half years of ownership with less vacancy and maintenance than he had experienced with older rehabilitated properties. He also expressed interest in another purchase. His account reflects one investor’s experience, rather than typical or guaranteed results.
The value of an established team also appears in client feedback. Heather M., who had previously invested in homes independently, described the time savings in a testimonial published on SDIRA Wealth’s website.
“I like how much time SDIRA Wealth saves me with an experienced team and process in place,” she said.
Heather also highlighted having more time for activities she enjoys and the opportunity to meet the team during property visits.
The company reports more than 11,000 properties delivered and over $2.5 billion in client-owned real estate since 2001. French’s Freedom Five Formula gives investors a framework for acquiring properties over time, with the pace and portfolio size determined by their capital, income goals, and actual results.
“As clients consider another property, we help them revisit their goals, available capital, financing options, and experience with the properties they already own. The next purchase should fit where they are now,” Love says.
Building toward financial freedom with the Freedom Five Formula
The approach connects each purchase to a personal income goal, with a plan to acquire properties at a manageable pace, maintain reserves, and allow time for loan repayment and potential rent growth.
As mortgages are paid off, more rental income may become available to support retirement, family priorities, or greater control over how investors spend their time. Five is a planning framework; the right portfolio size and timeline depend on financing, ownership costs, and actual performance.
SDIRA Wealth helps investors evaluate how their first property and each future purchase fit that larger goal.
“Our free education and ongoing guidance help clients build with confidence as they work toward their Freedom Five goals. More than 75% of our business each year comes from existing clients, and 85% comes through referrals. Those relationships mean a great deal to us. We want to keep earning that trust by providing value long after the first property closes,” says Justin French, CEO of SDIRA Wealth.
Build a plan around your goals
For investors asking whether real estate still makes sense in 2026, a conversation about a specific property can move the decision forward. Reviewing its location, financing, realistic rental budget, and available incentives helps establish whether buying now fits your circumstances.
Join SDIRA Wealth’s Freedom Builders community for free to explore available properties, compare incentives, attend investor workshops, and build a plan around your goals. There are no SDIRA Wealth membership fees, team-access fees, or buyer commissions, and guidance continues after closing as you work toward your next property.
Get a head start with the properties, relationships, and support to move forward.
Become a free member at SDIRAWealth.com/welcome
Ready to get started? Book a call with the team to create your free, customized real estate investment plan, built around your goals, your family, and your future.
