B
enzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commissions from the links below. Personal‑finance authority Dave Ramsey credits his triumphs to patience and discipline, especially during the 2008 housing crash. With a sizable cash reserve, he jumped on bargains, snapping up properties at 15–20 cents on the dollar and later labeling those purchases among his best career moves. In a recent “School of Hard Knocks” interview, Ramsey said, “Real estate was on sale; I had cash and bought a lot of great properties for almost nothing.”
Ramsey’s company reportedly generated $300 million in revenue last year, and he is celebrated for a strict no‑debt philosophy. He owns about $850 million in real‑estate assets, all paid in cash. “We never borrow,” he explains. “Debt is risk; the borrower is beholden to the lender.” He admits that steering clear of leverage slowed early growth but protected him during downturns. “We grow slowly with organic cash, so when COVID hit, we stayed afloat.”
He bought land for his Ramsey Solutions campus for $10 million, holding it until enough capital allowed construction. This strategy sharply diverges from mainstream advice that often encourages borrowing to accelerate expansion. A private credit vehicle, Arrived Home’s Fund, has historically returned an 8.1% annualized yield, providing access to short‑term loans secured by residential property with a $100 minimum investment.
Ramsey urges paying cash and moving cautiously. “Real estate without debt produces robust cash flow,” he notes. The first few properties are the toughest, but once cash flow begins, it fuels momentum: “One or two homes can generate enough cash to buy a third, creating a positive snowball.”
Ultimately, Ramsey believes patience separates lasting wealth from fleeting gains. “Take one small step, one conversation at a time,” he concludes, reminding investors that disciplined, debt‑free growth builds resilience over time.
