How a Married Couple is Building Freedom Through Real Estate (Rentals, Flips & New Construction)

How a Married Couple is Building Freedom Through Real Estate (Rentals, Flips & New Construction)

Lessons from Carolena and Brad Barringer

From long-term rentals and short-term rentals to flips, land, and new construction, the Barringers have explored nearly every corner of residential investing. But their story didn’t begin with confidence or clarity. It began with a mindset shift — guided by faith — and a willingness to take action before everything felt “perfect.”

🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube below or listen to the podcast here



In this episode of Branching Out: Where Real Estate Meets Real Life, Christina sits down with Carolena and Brad Barringer — a husband-and-wife investing team whose journey reflects what real estate often looks like in real life: steady progress, hard lessons, pivots, and growth built over time.

A Financial Reset That Changed Their Direction

Before real estate entered the picture, Carolena and Brad were living a rhythm many families recognize.

“You make your money, you spend your money, maybe overspend a little bit, and you don’t really know where that goes,” Carolena shared.

Their turning point came in an unexpected place — church.

Sitting in a service one Sunday, they saw an advertisement for Financial Peace University, a moment Carolena describes as more than coincidence.

“Something just kind of spoke to me,” she said. “And I said, we should probably do that.”

The course didn’t just change how they budgeted — it changed how they talked about money as a couple. It gave them shared language, shared goals, and a sense of stewardship around what they’d been entrusted with.

“If we had a goal in mind to help us financially in the future,” Carolena explained, “then I really wouldn’t want to spend all that money in Target.”

That shift opened the door to investing. They began listening to real estate podcasts, especially BiggerPockets, sharing episodes with each other and talking through ideas together. What started as curiosity slowly became conviction.

The First Deal — and the Confidence That Came With It

In January of the following year, they met with a local realtor who was also an investor — something Carolena emphasized as important.

“Somebody that’s doing it and not just talks about it.”

That same month, they closed on their first property: a for-sale-by-owner townhome in Kannapolis.

They didn’t renovate it. They didn’t overthink it. They rented it immediately.

“Our first deal — we got lucky,” Brad admitted.

But even in that early win, there was a sense that the timing was intentional — a small affirmation that they were moving in the right direction.

The House That Taught Them Everything

Their second property became what they now call The Humbling House — a 1900-built home they underestimated in almost every way.

The rehab went 100% over budget and took three times longer than planned. Contractors disappeared. Work had to be redone. At one point, they found someone living in the crawlspace.

“We learned a lot of hard lessons,” Brad said simply.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” Carolena added.

That season stretched them — financially, emotionally, and spiritually. It forced them to rely less on confidence and more on discernment. They learned how to spot red flags, when to let people go, how to build systems, and why humility is often the most expensive but valuable teacher.

They kept the property as a long-term rental — a reminder of where their real education began.

Rentals, Flips, and Letting the Numbers (and Wisdom) Lead

As their experience grew, so did their strategies. They added a short-term rental on High Rock Lake and began experimenting with flips.

But one rule stayed constant: the numbers decide — and emotion doesn’t.

“Every deal we come across, we really run the numbers,” Carolena explained. “What makes the most financial sense?”

They also learned the importance of flexibility — and paying attention when doors don’t open.

When interest rates jumped the same weekend they listed a flip, they pivoted immediately and held it as a rental.

“That was confirmation it wasn’t meant to sell,” Carolena said.

Brad added that they never go into a deal with only one exit.

“If it doesn’t sell as a flip, will it work as a long-term rental? We always want multiple paths.”'

Scaling Into New Construction — and Finding the Right Partners

As they looked toward their next phase, a mutual agent introduced them to Christina and the Branch Wealth Partners team — a connection that came after a season of prayer.

“We had actually talked to each other,” Carolena shared. “We just wished we had somebody to say, ‘That’s a great idea’ or ‘Don’t do it.’”

That relationship marked a shift.

They purchased a five-acre parcel, flipped the existing home, partnered with McAllister Creek for new construction, and reconfigured the land to retain four acres — which they are now working to develop into townhomes.

“We’re working on our first townhouse community,” Brad said. “It’s a totally different ballgame, but it’s been a lot of fun.”

New construction surprised them — in a good way.

“What we love about new construction is there are no surprises,” Carolena shared. “Compared to restoring a 100-year-old house, it was so easy.”

From a sales perspective, the difference was clear.

“The flip sold in about 40 days,” Carolena said. “The new construction sold in eight.”

Why Mentorship Made the Difference

Throughout the episode, one theme surfaced again and again: mentorship matters.

Before finding Branch, the Barringers had experience — but they wanted clarity, confirmation, and wisdom from someone who had walked the path before them.

“I said this before,” Carolena shared, “but Greg is like our real estate dad.”

Through monthly meetups, one-on-one consultations, and whiteboard sessions, they gained structure around their strategy — from entity setup to development planning.

“It refocused what we were doing,” Carolena said. “And gave us confidence to move forward.”

Looking back, they both see the timing clearly.

“We really had prayed for something like this,” Carolena said.

Freedom as the True Return

When asked about their biggest win, neither mentioned a deal.

“Freedom,” Brad said. “Time freedom.”

Carolena agreed.

“We can go for a walk at three o’clock on a Tuesday,” she said. “But we’re also working at eight on a Wednesday night. It’s different now — in a beautiful way.”

It’s a freedom shaped by responsibility — and by purpose.

5-Minute Fast Fire with Carolena and Brad

• Flip, build, or hold — pick one forever

 “Definitely not flip… build and hold.”

• Best real estate advice you’ve received?

 “You make your money on the buy.”

 “And you have to be ready to walk away.”

• Cash flow or appreciation?

 “Cash flow — especially being full-time investors.”

• How do you celebrate a closing?

 “Mexican food. Chips, queso, margaritas.”

• If you had $100,000 to invest tomorrow?

 “A house on a large lot you can subdivide.”

• One word to describe your journey

 “Life-changing.”

 “Freedom.”

Final Thoughts: Don’t Do This Alone

As Carolena and Brad shared throughout the episode, growth didn’t come from having all the answers — it came from taking action, learning through experience, and surrounding themselves with the right people.

“We just wished we had somebody to say, ‘That’s a great idea’ or ‘Don’t do it,’” Carolena said. That’s what changed everything for them.

And if their story resonated with you — the uncertainty, the early mistakes, the pivots, the prayers for clarity — then you’re exactly who we built Branch Wealth Partners for.

Because here’s the truth:

Most investors don’t get stuck because they lack information.

They get stuck because they lack guidance, confidence, and accountability.

That’s why we created the Real Estate Wealth Mastery Membership — a structured, mentor-led path designed to help everyday investors move from interested to in motion.

Inside the membership, you’ll get:

✔ A clear, step-by-step roadmap for buying your first (or next) property

 ✔ Weekly mentorship calls where real deals get reviewed

 ✔ Training that breaks down rentals, flips, land, and new construction in plain language

 ✔ A community of like-minded investors who are actually doing the work

 ✔ Accountability to help you follow through — even when it feels uncomfortable

This isn’t about chasing hype or forcing deals.

It’s about stewardship, wisdom, and building something sustainable for your family — the same way Carolena and Brad have done.

And as they reminded us, confidence doesn’t come before action — it comes from it.

👉 Learn more about the Real Estate Wealth Mastery Membership and start your guided path today.

Get in Touch with Carolena and Brad: Website

Your first door — or your next one — may be closer than you think.

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