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The DealMachine Real Estate Investing Podcast

292: Costa’s First Flip Made $120K—Here’s Why He Switched

Costa Karellas made $120K on his first flip but left flipping behind—this episode breaks down why he pivoted to wholesaling and how he's closed 86 deals in 18 months.
Broadcast on:
07 Feb 2025

Costa Karellas made $120K on his first flip in Boston—but instead of doubling down, he pivoted to wholesaling remotely in Kansas City. In this episode, he reveals why he made the switch, the power of partnerships, and the Marine Corps mindset that drives his success. Plus, David shares insights on balancing investing while running DealMachine.

 

KEY TALKING POINTS:

0:00 - Introduction

0:10 - What Costa Karellas Learned From Being A Marine Corps Captain

5:16 - His Goal When He Started His Business

7:47 - The Power Of Leveraging Partnerships

11:20 - Getting The Reps

12:19 - How Long Costa Has Been In His Market

13:32 - Learning Skills Before You Hire Someone Else

17:34 - Moving Slow To Move Fast

20:34 - David Speaks On Investing Alongside Running DealMachine

22:44 - Costa’s Business Partners And Personality Profiles He Looks For

26:31 - His Worst Day As A Real Estate Investor

31:33 - Why He Decided To Switch To Wholesaling

34:03 - Outro

 

LINKS:

Instagram: Costa Karellas

https://www.instagram.com/costa_karellas/

 

Website: Costa Karellas

https://www.kl-propertygroup.com/

 

Instagram: David Lecko

https://www.instagram.com/dlecko

 

Website: DealMachine

https://www.dealmachine.com/pod

 

Instagram: Ryan Haywood

https://www.instagram.com/heritage_home_investments

 

Website: Heritage Home Investments

https://www.heritagehomeinvestments.com/

Costa Karellas made $120K on his first flip but left flipping behind—this episode breaks down why he pivoted to wholesaling and how he's closed 86 deals in 18 months.