How Women Can Retire in 3 Years Through Real Estate Investing
Ginger Faith
What if I told you that a woman with no real estate background retired in just three years by flipping 56 apartment units and making multiple seven figures? And what if I told you that only 3% of commercial real estate is owned by women, leaving a massive opportunity on the table?
Today, I’m sharing the incredible insights from my conversation with Ginger Faith, a real estate mogul with over 30 years of experience who has flipped 52+ houses, been featured on HGTV, and built a multi-million dollar empire. More importantly, she’s dedicated her life to teaching other women how to compress time and build generational wealth through strategic real estate investing.
The Shocking Reality: Why Women Are Missing Out on Wealth Building
Let’s start with a statistic that will blow your mind:
“97% of all commercial real estate is owned by men, 3% by women. It is by far the best way to get yourself into financial orbit is owning commercial real estate. But only 3% are women. Ladies, we got to get going.”
Ginger Faith
This isn’t just a number—it’s a wake-up call. Commercial real estate is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available, yet women are barely participating in this market. But here’s the good news: this creates an incredible opportunity for women who are ready to step up and claim their financial independence.
Ginger’s Unconventional Start: From Ministry to Millions
Ginger’s journey began in an unexpected place—she wanted passive income to support her volunteer ministry work. Starting with a part-time business that generated six figures working just 15 hours a week in 1991, she reinvested her profits into her first six-family apartment building.
The kicker? Interest rates were 15.5% with two points, and she thought she got a “screaming deal.”
“I like to say I had more guts than brains. I had more guts that was like, ‘Oh, let me just try this. Let us see you. What’s the worst that could happen?’ Right. And then, you know, you put your mind to something, you can do it.”
This “ignorant bliss” approach actually worked in her favor. Without preconceived notions about what was “impossible,” she simply focused on the numbers and took action.
The 3-Year Retirement Blueprint: A Real Case Study
One of the most compelling stories Ginger shared was about a friend who knew virtually nothing about real estate but achieved financial independence in just three years. Here’s how she did it:
The Strategy: Think Big
Instead of flipping one house for $100,000-$200,000 profit, she flipped 56 units in an apartment complex, generating multiple seven figures.
The Execution: Speed + Volume + Team
Speed: They worked in “lockdown mode” for three years, completely focused
Volume: 56 units instead of individual properties
Team: Surrounded herself with experts and complementary skill sets
Market Strategy: Raised rents from $750 to $1,560 by renovating and attracting a specific demographic
The Result:
She moved to a red state, bought 10 acres, built her dream home, started an organic garden, and now runs a YouTube cooking channel called “Auntie Yum’s Kitchen.” She’s been semi-retired for four years and counting.
How to Start Real Estate Investing with Zero Money
One of the biggest myths about real estate investing is that you need a lot of money to get started. Ginger breaks this down with practical, actionable advice:
Option 1: Use Your Time, Not Your Money
“Don’t use your money. Don’t use someone else’s money. Use your time in exchange for knowledge. Apprentice. Think of yourself as an apprentice in some way, shape, or form in the real estate market.”
Practical steps:
Become a property manager
Work as a real estate agent (especially one who also invests)
Become a mortgage broker
Offer co-hosting services for Airbnb owners
Attend real estate investment meetings
Listen to podcasts like BiggerPockets
Option 2: Leverage Your 401k
With changing laws, you can now use portions of your 401k to invest in real estate, potentially earning higher returns than traditional retirement investments.
Option 3: Start Small with ADUs
Ginger’s personal example: She built an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) in her backyard that now pays for all her home expenses—taxes, insurance, and utilities. This created her “baseline” of financial security.
The #1 Mistake Women Make in Real Estate Investing
After 30 years in the business, Ginger has identified the biggest mistake she sees women make:
“I think the biggest mistake women make is trusting too quickly and too easily. Being mentally lazy. Wanting to trust somebody because you don’t want to do your own homework.”
The Solution: Underwrite Like Banks Do
Banks have been incredibly successful over the years because they follow one simple principle: they don’t trust anyone without verification.
When you apply for a mortgage, banks:
Check your credit extensively
Require bank statements and tax returns
Want explanations for any credit blips from years ago
Order appraisals (sometimes multiple ones)
Have trained underwriters verify everything
“Trust but verify. What does a bank do? They don’t trust anybody. Why have they done so well financially? Because they don’t trust anybody.”
Richard Branson’s wisdom applies here: “Take care of your underside and your upside will take care of itself. Protect your downside.”
Airbnb Arbitrage: The 50-Property Strategy
Ginger shared insights about Airbnb arbitrage, where investors have built portfolios of 50+ properties without owning any of them. Here’s her strategic advice:
Research Tools:
Mashvisor: For market analysis
AirDNA: For data points and market insights
Key Considerations:
Check HOA rules before investing in furniture and setup
Understand licensing requirements (varies dramatically by location)
Consider diversification to avoid market-specific shutdowns
Think about scaling to hotels if you can manage 50+ properties
Creative Scaling Strategy:
If you can successfully manage 50 Airbnb properties (50 roofs, 50 mechanical systems, 50 plumbing systems), why not consider buying a distressed hotel instead? You could potentially save money through volume and consolidation.
The Psychology of Successful Real Estate Investing
Ginger’s personal story reveals the psychological barriers many women face and how real estate can provide the foundation for overcoming them.
Coming from a restrictive cult-like religious background with an unstable family situation, Ginger found herself “mentally split in two” in her twenties. The passive income from her real estate investments gave her the freedom to take a two-year sabbatical for healing and personal growth.
“It was the real estate that allowed me a two-year sabbatical. I didn’t have to do a nine-to-five. I literally don’t know how I would have done it, but I didn’t have to because my real estate pumped out money for me.”
This illustrates a crucial point: real estate isn’t just about building wealth—it’s about creating options and freedom.
Finding Your Natural Genius in Real Estate
Real estate is comprehensive enough that there’s room for different personality types and skill sets:
People persons: Excel at networking, finding deals, building relationships
Analytical minds: Love underwriting, analyzing deals, crunching numbers
Builders: Enjoy renovation, construction, hands-on projects
Managers: Thrive on coordinating teams and projects
The key is identifying your natural strengths and building a team with complementary skills.
Why Women Need Their Own Wealth Network
Ginger founded the Women’s Wealth Network because she recognized that women approach wealth building differently than men:
“Women want security. Men want glory a lot of times and women want security.”
This isn’t about excluding anyone—it’s about recognizing that women often need different support systems and approaches to build confidence in investing.
The reality check: Many women find themselves alone or without quality partners to build wealth with. Rather than waiting for the “right partner,” Ginger advocates for women to become their own source of strength and security.
“Be your own strength and create your own security because that’s a big deal.”
Practical Next Steps: Your Real Estate Action Plan
Phase 1: Education (Months 1-3)
Read foundational books:
“Nothing Down” by Robert Allen (Ginger’s original inspiration)
“Commercial Real Estate for Dummies”
Listen to BiggerPockets podcast
Follow Ginger’s upcoming book: “21 Ways to Stop Chasing Hustle”
Attend local real estate investment meetings
Start following real estate markets in your area
Phase 2: Apprenticeship (Months 3-12)
Find a mentor: Connect with successful local investors
Get hands-on experience: Property management, real estate agent, or co-hosting
Learn underwriting: Study how banks evaluate deals
Network actively: Join local real estate investment groups
Phase 3: First Investment (Month 12+)
Start small: ADU, house hack, or small rental property
Use conservative numbers: Better to underestimate returns than overestimate
Build your team: Lawyer, accountant, handyman, property manager
Focus on cash flow: Ensure positive cash flow from day one
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Perhaps the most important lesson from Ginger’s story is the power of mindset:
“When you set your mind to something and you don’t think that you could fail, you just go ahead and manifest it.”
This isn’t about toxic positivity or ignoring risks. It’s about approaching opportunities with curiosity rather than fear, and taking calculated risks based on solid research and preparation.
Your Financial Freedom Starts Now
Ginger’s story proves that women can build incredible wealth through real estate investing, regardless of their starting point. Whether you’re a mom looking for passive income, a professional seeking diversification, or someone ready to completely change your financial trajectory, real estate offers a proven path.
The question isn’t whether you can do this—it’s whether you’re ready to start.
Remember: 97% of commercial real estate is owned by men, but that leaves incredible opportunities for the women bold enough to claim their space in this market.
Ready to dive deeper into real estate investing? Connect with Ginger:
Facebook: Ginger Crystal Faith (private message for direct contact)
Website: womenswealthnetwork.net
YouTube: Search “Ginger Crystal Faith Real Estate Broker” for 170+ videos on real estate investing
Upcoming website: “Real Estate is the Remedy” (launching soon)
Listen to the Full Episode
This blog post only scratches the surface of Ginger’s incredible insights. Listen to the complete interview on the Mommas Who Lead Podcast for even more strategies, stories, and actionable advice. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mommas-who-lead/id1735746990
Subscribe to Mommas Who Lead for more inspiring interviews with women who are building empires while raising families and redefining what it means to lead with purpose.
What’s your biggest takeaway from Ginger’s story? Are you ready to start your real estate investing journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let’s support each other in building generational wealth!
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