From House Hacking to Neighborhood Revitalization: Cameron Philgreen’s Journey to 35 Real Estate Units in Waco, Texas
Cameron Philgreen did not begin his real estate career with a blueprint or a mentor—he started with a broken-down house in Waco, Texas, and a desire to offset his mortgage. By renting out his garage and basement, he turned his primary residence into a cash-flowing asset. That first step eventually led him to build a portfolio of thirty-five real estate units and purchase two city blocks of mixed-use properties for revitalization. In this conversation, Cameron shares his exact renovation numbers, his honest mistakes (including a six-figure financial misstep), and his larger vision to transform neighborhoods—not just for profit, but as a calling. From learning how to wire a house with YouTube and getting red-tagged by the city multiple times, to creating strong relationships with private lenders and contractors, Cameron’s story is filled with detailed strategies and deep purpose. Whether you are just beginning in real estate investing or ready to scale, this episode offers clear insights grounded in real experience.
Guest Bio
Cameron Philgreen is a real estate investor, business owner, husband, father, and follower of Jesus based in Waco, Texas. Over the past five years, he has built a portfolio of thirty-five investment properties using strategies like “Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat” and by leveraging other people’s capital. Cameron also owns For Keeps Coffee and Bakery in Waco, where he applies the same operational excellence and team-building that guide his real estate ventures. Through coaching, his podcast, and YouTube channel, Cameron helps others take action in business and life—without sacrificing family, faith, or purpose.
Episode Highlights and Chapters
00:02 – Starting fresh in Waco, Texas, without a network and buying a home with a unique layout
03:20 – Designing his home as a three-unit rental: garage apartment, main house, and basement suite
05:20 – Earning $1,500/month from rent—more than enough to cover a $1,444 mortgage
07:15 – Dealing with city red tags for unpermitted work and the importance of knowing local regulations
09:30 – Teaching himself how to wire a house via YouTube and the lessons learned through DIY efforts
13:00 – The turning point: deciding to step away from manual labor and build a professional team
16:10 – A pivotal conversation with his wife that changed how he viewed his time and leadership role
17:45 – Real estate as a mission: building community spaces that reflect the “kingdom of heaven on earth”
21:05 – Acquiring and envisioning two full city blocks of mixed-use property for redevelopment
23:10 – Detailed investment math: $90K purchase + $60K rehab = $200K appraised value
25:40 – Costly lessons: How an SBA loan structure ended up being $50,000 more than planned
27:30 – Cameron’s contractor playbook: balancing speed, quality, and clarity of agreements
30:05 – Eugene shares his contractor vetting system using spreadsheets and line-item comparisons
33:00 – Cameron breaks down his financing: long-term loans with banks, short-term with private lenders
35:40 – How content and transparency help build trust with private capital partners
37:20 – Encouragement to new investors: your funding network may be closer than you think
Contact Information
Cameron Philgreen
Instagram: @cameronphilgreen
Podcast: The Legacy Investor with Cameron Philgreen
Phone number: (913) 832-9919
Available offerings: personalized real estate coaching, “Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat” training course, and free educational eBook
Host: Eugene Gershman
Podcast and resources: https://giscompanies.co/podcast/
