Before the homes… before the systems… before the results…There was someone who believed in the vision from Day 1.In this episode of The Housing Dept. Podcast, Terence sits down with Alyssa—his now fiancée—to talk about the journey of building a group home business from the ground up, the early struggles, and what it really looked like behind the scenes.From putting up flyers at bus stops in the rain to dealing with doubt from people close to them, this episode shows what it takes to build something real—and why having the right person in your corner matters.What we cover:

• What it looked like starting a group home from scratch in 2021
• The role of support and having the right partner around you
• Dealing with doubt from family and close circles
• Early marketing strategies (flyers, bus stops, hustle phase)
• The reality of handling residents, challenges, and tough moments
• Lessons from building the business together over the years
• How consistency and belief turned into growth—and now a new chapter

If you’re building something from the ground up… this is a reminder that who’s with you matters.👉 Want the system, support, and community to build your own housing business? Join The Housing Dept. Community (formerly Kingdom Housing): https://www.skool.com/kingdomhousing✅ Follow Terence: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamterencegarcia https://www.instagram.com/iamterencegarcia💸 Work With Terence https://stan.store/Terence-Garcia

Most people think you need money, credit, and experience to get a rental…She got her first home with no deposit, no first month’s rent, and no credit check.In this episode, we break down exactly how she did it—and how you can start finding landlord partners in 2026.What we cover:How she got her first rental with $0 upfrontThe exact Zillow message that gets landlords to respondWhy most beginners fail to get approvedHow many landlords you actually need to contactThe biggest mistake that leads to empty homesIf you’re trying to start a group home or shared housing business… this is the part most people miss.✅ Connect with Nicole:https://rentalhomelocator.com/https://www.instagram.com/rentalhomelocator/✅ Follow Terence:https://www.tiktok.com/@iamterencegarciahttps://www.instagram.com/iamterencegarcia💸 Work With Terencehttps://stan.store/Terence-Garcia

Most people stay stuck in “analysis paralysis”…Meanwhile, Vincent built 40+ rental properties, flipped 30 homes, and now buys deals with $0 of his own money.In this episode, we break down exactly how he did it—and how you can get started even as a beginner.What we cover:How to start in real estate with little or no moneyThe BURR strategy explained (simple + beginner-friendly)How to invest out of state successfullyWhy networking is the real shortcut in this businessHow to increase cash flow using shared housingIf you’ve been overthinking… this is your sign to start.✅ Follow Vincent:https://www.instagram.com/vincent__rei/https://www.tiktok.com/@vincent__rei?lang=en✅ Follow Terence:https://www.tiktok.com/@iamterencegarciahttps://www.instagram.com/iamterencegarcia💸 Work With Terencehttps://stan.store/Terence-Garcia

Starting a group home sounds simple… until your first mistake costs you thousands.In this episode, Michel shares how he launched his first home from scratch, what went wrong, and the exact lessons that saved his business.If you're just getting started, this will save you time, money, and stress.What we cover:• The #1 beginner mistake that cost $2,000• Why you should NEVER rely on one organization• How to find your first residents (even with no experience)• The importance of systems in your group home business• How one connection turned into long-term growthThis is real, unfiltered insight from someone who actually did it.✅ Connect with Michel: https://www.skool.com/houston-referrals-2969/about✅ Follow Terence:https://www.tiktok.com/@iamterencegarciahttps://www.instagram.com/iamterencegarcia💸 Want help starting your own group home?Join The Housing Department Community: https://www.skool.com/kingdomhousing/about

She failed the test 3 times… and almost gave up.In this episode of The Housing Department Podcast, we sit down with Lanita, who shares how she went from struggling to pass the assisted living test to opening her very first group home and filling it with residents.This is a real, beginner story of what it actually takes to become a group home investor without having everything figured out.Inside this episode, we break down:How she secured her first propertyHow one connection led to multiple residentsThe biggest mistakes new operators makeWhat to do if you feel stuck getting startedWhy relationships matter more than adsWatch until the end because she also shares the mindset shift that changed everything for her.Want help starting your own group home?Join The Housing Department Community: https://www.skool.com/kingdomhousing/about

In this episode of The Housing Dept. Podcast, we sit down with Darcy, a grant expert with over 5 years of experience, to break down how to find and win business grants — using AI.Darcy shares how she got started with grants, how she won her first grant and quit her six-figure job, and how entrepreneurs today can access free money for their business without taking on debt.We also talk about how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to find grants faster, improve your applications, and increase your chances of getting approved.If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or someone looking to start a group home or housing business, this episode will show you how to tap into business funding opportunities that most people don’t even know exist.📥Resources Mentioned:Join Darcy’s community (The Grant House): https://www.skool.com/granthouse/about?ref=57cc7ba98b90430ab08a6b8a69f4bc8a✅ Follow Darcy: https://youtube.com/@DarcysBusiness✅ Follow Terence: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamterencegarcia https://www.instagram.com/iamterencegarcia 💸 Work With Terence https://stan.store/Terence-Garcia

In this episode of The Housing Dept. Podcast, we sit down with Erica, an insurance expert with over a decade of experience, to break down one of the most confusing parts of starting a group home — insurance.Erica shares what type of insurance you actually need when starting an independent living home, why many people struggle to get approved, and what insurance companies are really looking for when reviewing your application.We also talk about how underwriters check your website and social media, what can impact your premiums, and how to find the right insurance agent or broker in your area.If you're planning to start a group home or already in the process, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and get properly protected from day one.✅ Follow Erica:https://www.tiktok.com/@compass.bay.insurance✅ Follow Terence:https://www.tiktok.com/@iamterencegarciahttps://www.instagram.com/iamterencegarcia💸 Work With Terencehttps://stan.store/Terence-Garcia

In this episode of The Housing Dept. Podcast, we sit down with Brittany, a member of The Housing Dept. community who launched her first independent living home.Brittany shares how she found her purpose during a 9-day fast, took action, and turned that clarity into her first property. From hearing multiple “no’s” from landlords to finally getting a “yes,” she walks through how she got her home up and running and filled with residents.We also talk about how she funded her first home using personal credit, how she found her first resident through bus stop signs, and the lessons she learned early on when it comes to screening residents and setting boundaries.If you're interested in starting an independent living home, this episode breaks down what it really looks like in the beginning — from finding a property to getting your first residents in.✅ Connect With Brittany:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bambi_5ft9✅ Follow Terence:https://www.tiktok.com/@iamterencegarciahttps://www.instagram.com/iamterencegarcia💸 Work With Terencehttps://stan.store/Terence-Garcia