Is renting in college just throwing money away? Can buying real estate while in college actually build wealth?

In this episode of The College Real Estate Coach, Vikki Grodner teams up with her husband and finance expert Ken Grodner to break down one of the most important decisions college families face: Should you rent or buy in a college town?

They cover:

✅ How monthly rent compares to mortgage payments

✅ The hidden power of principal paydown

✅ No-money-down and other loan options (USDA, VA, FHA, etc.)

✅ When it makes sense to rent first, buy later

✅ Why buying young is a wealth game-changer

✅ How parents can invest in their kids’ futures (literally!)

✅ And the best strategy to start building equity right now

Whether you're a parent, student, or new investor, this episode is packed with actionable advice that could change your financial future.

👉 Hit subscribe and join us weekly for more insights into smart investing, college town real estate, and how to make real estate work for you!

📩 Got questions about real estate or physician loans? Drop them in the comments or connect with us directly!

Want to learn how you can capitalize on real estate in a college town? Contact us today! Vikki Grodner - 205.422.9713

Can a TikTok hustle turn into a thriving interior design empire? Yes—and CJ Zucker, owner of Ambyanse Interiors, proves it. In this episode of The College Real Estate Coach, Vikki Grodner sits down with the creative force behind some of Tuscaloosa’s most beautifully designed homes and Airbnbs.

🎙️ From California to Idaho to Alabama, CJ shares how a bold DM to a TikTok influencer catapulted her career into luxury real estate design—completely remotely. Now based in Tuscaloosa, she reveals her top design tips for:

Creating tasteful, high-performing Airbnbs in college towns

How to style short-term rentals without “throwing up Alabama”

What to prioritize for functionality and style

The one hack she uses to make student housing feel like home

Why knowing who you're designing for is just as important as what you’re designing

Whether you’re a real estate investor, parent buying near a college campus, or a design lover dreaming of your next project—this episode delivers real talk, practical advice, and a few design secrets you’ll want to steal.

🔗 Be sure to like, subscribe, and check out CJ’s resources below!

Instagram: ‪@LifebyCJ‬

TikTok: lifebycj

www.Ambyanse.com

www.instagram.com/ambyanse/

www.facebook.com/people/Ambyanse-Interiors/100087298757299

📞 Contact The College Real Estate Coach team: Vikki Grodner - 205.422.9713

Are you a medical student, resident physician, or parent trying to decide whether to rent or buy a home during med school or residency? You’re not alone—and this episode of The College Real Estate Coach is your ultimate guide to making the smartest financial move in your medical journey.

Join real estate experts Vikki and Ken Grodner as they uncover why buying real estate during medical school or residency can be a game-changer for your financial future—and how doctor home loans (even with high student debt) make homeownership possible now, not later.

✨ Inside This Episode:

✅ Should medical students rent or buy?

✅ How physician mortgage loans work (even with student loan debt)

✅ Low- and no-down-payment options for doctors and healthcare professionals

✅ Why lenders love working with med students and residents

✅ What makes Birmingham, AL a top housing market for doctors

✅ How to turn your first home into a long-term rental investment

🎉 BONUS: Behind-the-scenes of our Match Day celebration at the Birmingham Zoo, how we help medical students transition into homeownership, and what lenders, sponsors, and housing experts are doing to support new physicians!

👩‍⚕️ Whether you’re starting med school, about to begin your residency, or a parent helping your future doctor settle into a new city, this video is packed with real estate tips, financial strategies, and proven pathways to build generational wealth.

📲 Contact The College Real Estate Coach Team for Personalized Guidance: 📞 Vicki Grodner – 205.422.9713

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this video with other medical students, residents, and physician families navigating the home buying process.

In this episode of the College Real Estate Coach, real estate expert Vikki Grodner sits down with savvy investor Ryan Winzenburg to uncover why college towns—especially those with powerhouse football programs—are some of the most profitable places to buy property in America.

Ryan breaks down how he went from Denver to Tuscaloosa, shares his exact strategy for analyzing college markets, and reveals how he cash-flows thousands per month using short-term, mid-term, and long-term rental strategies.

📈 In this episode, you'll learn:

– Why college towns like Tuscaloosa and South Bend are rental goldmines

– How to find the right college markets using data tools like AirDNA, PriceLabs, and Furnished Finder

– How to leverage football weekends and graduation events

– Mid-term rental strategies (nurses, professors, insurance housing!)

– How to bypass short-term rental regulations legally & more!

Whether you’re an investor, parent, agent, or college alum looking to build wealth through real estate, this episode is packed with tactical advice and real-world examples you won’t find anywhere else.

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow along as we coach you through building wealth in America’s top college towns.

📞 Contact The College Real Estate Coach team: Vikki Grodner - 205.422.9713

🕒 Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Ryan Winzenburg & Intro

04:10 – Why College Towns Beat Big Cities

09:30 – $1,200 Game Day Rentals?!

13:45 – How to Analyze College Towns with Data

17:00 – Northport Workaround: Beat STR Regulations

22:00 – Mid-Term Rentals: Underrated Goldmine

30:10 – PriceLabs, Furnished Finder, & Other Pro Tools

36:50 – Final Thoughts: Don’t Overthink It—Get Started

🎓💰 Can you really buy a house while still in college? In this episode, we sit down with Royce Dickerson, who made one of the boldest moves you’ll hear from any student: he bought his first property as a senior in college — and never looked back.

Royce shares exactly how he did it, how he built credit early (thanks Grandma 👵), and how buying young set him on a path to financial freedom before most people even start paying off student loans.

You'll learn:

✅ How to buy your first property as a student

✅ Building credit and securing financing early

✅ Juggling college, real estate, and getting a license

✅ How he balanced MBA studies while managing real estate

✅ Why starting early pays off BIG in the long run

✅ His transition from college to the White House to buying property in Washington D.C.

Whether you're a student, parent, first-time buyer, or just curious how early real estate investing works — this is a must-watch story packed with real advice, inspiration, and lessons you can apply at any age.

👉 Make sure to LIKE 👍& SUBSCRIBE 🔔

📞 Contact The College Real Estate Coach team:

Vikki Grodner - 205.422.9713

College towns = big opportunities. 🏡 Whether you're a parent, student, or real estate investor, this episode uncovers why college towns are some of the hottest places in the country to invest. From skyrocketing rental demand to game day income potential, we break down how to turn campus life into long-term cash flow.

🎓 In this kickoff episode of The College Real Estate Coach, we cover:

Why student housing shortages create big opportunities

How parents can turn student rent into equity

Why Tuscaloosa was named the #1 college town to invest in real estate

How game day weekends can mean $3,000+/night in rental income

The rise of short-term rentals near major universities

Real stories of investors, parents & students who are building wealth in college towns

This episode sets the stage for the entire series—your playbook for smart investing in vibrant university communities. Don’t miss it.

🔔 Hit Subscribe for weekly episodes with real estate pros, students, financial experts, and more.

Want to learn how you can capitalize on real estate in a college town? Contact us today! Vikki Grodner - 205.422.9713