SHS015: How To Buy Real Estate For The Price Of A Car With Pam Hill From My Smart Cousin
Intro
Real estate is often seen as one of the best ways to build wealth—but for most people, it feels out of reach.
High prices, large down payments, and complicated strategies can make it seem like you need a lot of money just to get started.
But what if that wasn’t true?
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel sits down with real estate investor Pam Hill to break down how she’s been able to acquire properties for the price of a car—and build a portfolio from there.
Intro to Pam Hill (My Smart Cousin)
Founder & CEO of My Smart Cousin
Real estate investor with 25+ properties and 30+ units
Specializes in acquiring low-cost properties and scaling over time
Started investing during the Great Recession as a side hustle
Former corporate executive at a major electric utility company
Real estate investment coach helping others buy their first (or 100th) property
👉 Website: https://mysmartcousin.com/
👉 Want to get started with Airbnb?
Click here to join the Side Hustler’s Society newsletter and get access to a FREE 5-part video series on how to become an Airbnb host.
Episode Overview
This episode challenges one of the biggest myths in real estate:
👉 You don’t need six figures to get started
Pam Hill explains that there are multiple entry points into real estate—from passive investing to fully hands-on ownership.
Some examples discussed include:
Real estate mutual funds and REITs (passive investing)
House hacking (renting out part of your home)
Buying multi-family properties
Fix-and-flip strategies
Long-term rental investing
But her core strategy stands out:
👉 Buy properties for the price of a car
That means finding deals anywhere from:
$2,500
$10,000
$30,000+
Then improving them and either:
Renting them out
Or selling for profit
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Side Hustler’s Society Resources
Side Hustle to Full-Time Strategy Session
Quick Takeaways
Elijah explains there are multiple ways to enter real estate at any budget level
Pam Hill built her portfolio by buying properties for the price of a car
You don’t need to invest in your local market to get started
Elijah Bilel emphasizes thinking like an investor—even when buying your first home
Low-cost properties can still generate strong cash flow
Patience and deal selection are critical
Real estate can start as a side hustle and grow into a full business
You can use strategies like 1031 exchanges to defer taxes
Many beginners limit themselves by only looking in their city
The key is buying right—not just buying fast
How Pam Hill Invests in Real Estate
1. Buy for the Price of a Car
Pam’s core philosophy is simple:
👉 Don’t overpay—start low
Instead of buying at the top of your budget, she recommends:
Looking at the lowest-priced properties first
Finding undervalued deals
Adding value through improvements
This creates:
Lower risk
Higher upside
Better cash flow potential
2. Think Like an Investor (Not a Consumer)
One of the biggest mindset shifts in this episode:
👉 Most people buy homes emotionally—investors buy strategically
Pam explains that instead of asking:
“What’s the nicest house I can afford?”
You should ask:
“What’s the best deal I can find?”
This applies even if you’re buying a home to live in.
3. Start Where You Can—Not Where You Live
A major gem from this episode:
👉 You don’t have to invest in your city
Pam highlights that:
Some markets are too expensive
Others still have great deals
Examples mentioned include:
Parts of the Midwest
Upstate New York
Smaller cities in the South
The key is being:
👉 Flexible and strategic
4. Use Real Estate as a Side Hustle First
Pam didn’t start full-time.
She:
Worked a corporate job
Invested on the side
Built her portfolio gradually
This is exactly what Elijah Bilel teaches:
👉 Use side hustles to build assets
5. Understand Tax Strategy (At a High Level)
The episode also touches on an advanced concept:
👉 1031 exchanges
This allows investors to:
Sell a property
Reinvest into another
Defer capital gains taxes
While this requires deeper research (and often professional help), it shows how:
👉 Real estate rewards long-term strategy
How This Connects to Airbnb
If this episode sparked your interest in real estate, the next step could be:
👉 Short-term rentals
Elijah has already broken this down in another episode with Myka Artis, where they cover how to:
Get started with Airbnb
Find properties
Generate cash flow
Click here to check that episode out!
This is a natural progression:
Start with real estate basics
Then move into higher cash-flow strategies like Airbnb
Key Lessons from the Episode
1. You Don’t Need a Lot of Money—You Need Strategy
The biggest takeaway:
👉 Deals matter more than dollars
2. Patience Beats Speed
Many beginners:
Rush into bad deals
Overpay
Learn the hard way
Pam’s approach:
👉 Wait for the right opportunity
3. Real Estate Is One of the Most Scalable Side Hustles
You can start with:
One property
And grow into:
A full portfolio
Passive income
Long-term wealth
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners interested in real estate
Side hustlers looking to build long-term income
People who think they need a lot of money to invest
Anyone curious about low-cost real estate strategies
Key Topics Covered
How Elijah Bilel approaches real estate investing
Pam Hill’s “price of a car” strategy
Passive vs active real estate investing
Tax strategies like 1031 exchanges
Transitioning from side hustle to investor
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
SHS006: How to Make Money As An Airbnb Host With Myka Artis
Intro
Airbnb has become one of the most popular ways to build income through real estate—but there’s a big difference between doing it casually and doing it strategically.
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel sits down with experienced real estate investor Myka Artis to break down how to actually make money with Airbnb.
From rental arbitrage to owning properties, this episode gives a real look at what it takes to succeed in the short-term rental space.
Intro to Myka Artis
Real estate investor and short-term rental expert with years of experience
Founder of Sharebnb, a company managing 400+ Airbnb units
Co-host of the “Live Let Thrive” podcast (one of the longest-running short-term rental podcasts)
Built multiple income streams through both property ownership and rental arbitrage
Started investing in real estate after the 2008 recession using creative strategies like the “Kiddie Condo” program
Website: Sharebnb (www.sharebnb.com )
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into how Airbnb really works behind the scenes—and what separates beginners from experienced operators.
Elijah opens the conversation by sharing his own experience as an Airbnb host, generating between $600–$1,000 per month per unit, while also acknowledging that with less than a year of experience, there’s still more to learn.
That’s where Myka comes in.
Myka breaks down the fundamentals of building a successful Airbnb business, starting with one of the most important concepts:
👉 Location matters—but strategy matters more
Rather than just picking any property, Myka explains how successful hosts:
Identify specific markets
Target the right type of traveler
Build listings around a clear “avatar”
Elijah Bilel also highlights how this aligns with a bigger principle: every side hustle becomes more profitable when it’s intentional.
💡 Ready to Get Started with Airbnb?
If you’re serious about starting your own Airbnb business, this is your next step:
👉 Click here to create your Airbnb account and get started
Whether you’re exploring rental arbitrage or planning to own properties, taking action is what separates people who learn from people who earn.
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Side Hustler’s Society Resources
Side Hustle to Full-Time Strategy Session
Quick Takeaways
Elijah emphasizes that Airbnb can generate strong cash flow—but experience matters
Myka Artis highlights that location is critical, especially when targeting business travelers
Rental arbitrage allows you to control properties without owning them
Elijah Bilel explains that beginners should focus on learning before teaching
Knowing your “target avatar” (ideal guest) can significantly increase profitability
Adding unique amenities (like Tesla chargers) can help your listing stand out
Mid-term and long-term stays can reduce operational costs and increase stability
Owning properties builds long-term wealth, while arbitrage allows faster scaling
Pricing strategy can help filter out unwanted guests (like party bookings)
Airbnb success comes from systems, not just listings
How Airbnb Actually Works (Key Concepts Explained)
Rental Arbitrage
Rental arbitrage is when you:
Rent a property from a landlord
List it on Airbnb
Keep the profit after expenses
Myka explains that this method allows you to scale quickly without needing to purchase property upfront.
Owning Property (Long-Term Strategy)
Owning real estate provides:
Equity
Long-term wealth
More control
Myka emphasizes that while arbitrage is faster, owning is the better long-term play.
Target Avatar Strategy
Your “target avatar” is your ideal guest.
Examples include:
Business travelers
Traveling nurses
Families
Construction workers
Myka explains that successful hosts design their properties around specific groups—not everyone.
Pricing Strategy to Control Guests
Elijah and Myka both discuss how pricing can:
Attract the right guests
Filter out high-risk bookings
Encourage longer stays
This is one of the most overlooked strategies for new hosts.
Want to Go Deeper? (Free Airbnb Training)
If you’re serious about getting started with Airbnb:
👉 Join The Side Hustler’s Society newsletter and get access to a free 5-part video series on becoming an Airbnb host
This series walks you through:
How to get your first property
Setting up your listing
Avoiding beginner mistakes
Building a profitable Airbnb system
Click here to get started!
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners interested in Airbnb
People exploring real estate as a side hustle
Anyone looking to generate passive income
Side hustlers who want to scale into larger opportunities
Key Topics Covered
How Elijah Bilel makes money with Airbnb
Rental arbitrage vs owning property
How Myka Artis built a short-term rental business
Targeting the right guests
Scaling an Airbnb operation
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
SHS001: The Origin Story – How Elijah Bilel Built Multiple Side Hustles & Full Time Income Streams
Intro
Every entrepreneur has a starting point.
For Elijah Bilel, the journey into side hustles, freelancing, and multiple income streams didn’t start with a perfect plan…
👉 It started with curiosity, frustration, and a desire for more.
In this first episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah breaks down his full origin story—from working traditional jobs to building multiple income streams through the gig economy, content creation, freelancing, and investing.
This episode sets the foundation for everything that follows.
Episode Overview
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Elijah got started with entrepreneurship
The early businesses and jobs he worked
Why he left traditional employment
How the gig economy changed his trajectory
How YouTube, freelancing, and affiliate marketing became income streams
How Financial Anatomy and Airbnb entered the picture
The inspiration behind starting The Side Hustler’s Society
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Quick Takeaways
Elijah Bilel built multiple income streams before going full-time
Early business attempts taught control, marketing, and sales
The gig economy became a launchpad—not the end goal
YouTube, freelancing, and affiliate marketing created scalable income
Strategic pivots led to Financial Anatomy and Airbnb
The Beginning: Jobs, Frustration & Early Entrepreneurship
Before becoming known for side hustles and online income, Elijah’s journey started with traditional jobs:
Janitorial work for his aunt’s company
Walmart
Whole Foods
Amazon
At one point, Elijah was working around 68 hours per week…
👉 Yet only making about $35,000 per year
That realization sparked a major shift.
The First Business: Learning Control
After trying network marketing, Elijah realized something important:
👉 He wanted control
So Elijah Bilel launched his first independent business:
👉 Asili Tiba (Indigenous Remedies)
This gave him experience with:
Pricing
Marketing
Selling directly to customers
The Turning Point: Leaving the 9–5
Even after getting promoted at Amazon, Elijah knew:
👉 He wasn’t reaching his full potential
So he left and went all-in on finding alternative income paths.
The Gig Economy Era Begins
Elijah revisited Uber and started with:
Rideshare
Then Uber Eats
Why?
👉 More flexibility
👉 More control
👉 More independence
The Hidden Advantage: Getting Paid to Learn
While doing Uber Eats, Elijah used his time strategically:
Audiobooks
YouTube
Business content
👉 He was getting paid to learn skills that would later generate income
YouTube + Affiliate Marketing Breakthrough
Elijah started a YouTube channel called The Uber Lifestyle (Later changed To The Side Hustler's Society) focused on:
👉 Uber Eats content
He monetized it through:
Ad revenue (~$100/month early on)
Referral income
Referral earnings:
👉 $500 to $2,000/month
This was his first scalable income stream.
Freelancing with The Rideshare Guy (Major Income Boost)
After learning from Roberto Blake, Elijah reached out to Harry Campbell.
That turned into:
👉 Ongoing freelance video editing,content & channel management work
Income from this:
👉 $1,500 to $2,500 per month
This added:
Stability
Consistent cash flow
Professional experience
Financial Anatomy: Building a Brand
Elijah knew Uber wouldn’t last forever, so he started a new youtube channel:
At first, growth was slow…
But over time, it became a strong income stream.
Earnings from Financial Anatomy:
👉 $1,200 to $1,900 per month
This came from:
YouTube ad revenue
Financial content monetization
Audience growth
Stacking Income Streams (Full Picture)
At this point, Elijah had:
Uber Eats income
Referral/Affiliate income ($500–$2,000/month)
Freelancing ($1,500–$2,500/month)
Financial Anatomy ($1,200–$1,900/month)
Combined:
👉 Multiple income streams working together
This is what allowed Elijah Bilel to fully step away from traditional employment.
Entering Real Estate: Airbnb
From there, Elijah expanded into:
👉 Airbnb hosting
This introduced:
Asset-based income
Real estate strategy
Additional scalability
Now instead of just trading time…
👉 He was leveraging assets
Creating a Product: Becoming an Author
Elijah also created the bestselling book:
👉 The Anatomy of Financial Success
This added:
Authority
Brand positioning
Product-based income
The Bigger Pattern
Across every stage of Elijah’s journey:
👉 Learn → Apply → Monetize
He didn’t wait for perfect conditions.
He:
Took action
Tested opportunities
Built income streams
Why This Podcast Exists
The Side Hustler’s Society was created to:
👉 Help others follow a similar path
By sharing:
Real experiences
Real numbers
Real strategies
Key Lessons from the Episode
1. Start With What You Have
You don’t need perfect conditions
2. Learn While You Earn
Use your time to build future income
3. Stack Income Streams
Multiple sources = stability
4. Focus on Scalability
Time-based income has limits
5. Always Be Ready to Pivot
Every opportunity has a lifespan
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners starting their first side hustle
People stuck in a 9–5
Gig workers looking to level up
Entrepreneurs building multiple income streams
Key Topics Covered
Elijah Bilel’s origin story
Gig economy strategies
YouTube and affiliate marketing
Freelancing with The Rideshare Guy
Financial Anatomy and Airbnb