Inside Cameron Philgreen’s Unstoppable Rise: The Untold Strategy Behind Eight Years of Deal-Making Mastery

Inside Cameron Philgreen’s Unstoppable Rise: The Untold Strategy Behind Eight Years of Deal-Making Mastery

Ever wondered how a wedding photographer with zero outside capital turned a simple three-bedroom house into a sprawling empire of 25 properties, a coffee shop, and a massive commercial redevelopment? Spoiler alert: It’s not magic — it’s hustle, savvy strategy, and a relentless drive to build something bigger than a paycheck. Cameron Philgreen’s journey from Airbnb landlord to real estate powerhouse in Waco, Texas, is packed with lessons that hit different when you realize how much sweat equity and grit it takes to scale smart. If you think real estate is just about flipping houses, think again — this story dives deep into financing hacks, deal-finding “cheat codes,” and the mindset that keeps an empire growing even when things get downright uncomfortable. Curious how BRRRR turned into Cameron’s secret weapon, or how he combs through Redfin like a treasure hunter looking for diamonds? Stick around — you might find yourself rethinking what’s possible with the right blend of strategy and stubbornness. LEARN MORE

Name Cameron Philgreen
Location Waco, Texas
Occupation Full-time real estate investor & coffee shop owner
Assets 25 properties, 35 units
Investment strategy BRRRR, long-term rentals, flips, commercial
Financing Private Money Lender

In 2018, Cameron and his wife bought their first property in Lawrence, Kansas, a three-bedroom house they would Airbnb room by room to cover the mortgage. Cameron worked as a wedding photographer. 

Fast-forward to today: Cameron now owns 25 properties totaling 35 units, a specialty coffee shop, and has a 50,000-square-foot commercial redevelopment underway in Waco, Texas. Here’s how he built his sprawling portfolio.

How did you finance your early deals with no outside capital?

The BRRRR method was everything. My target is 70 to 75 cents on the dollar. If I hit that, I could refinance, pull all my cash out, and do it again.

Our first true investment property was bought for $95K. We put in $80K, so the after-repair value (ARV) came in around $200K. We left some money in that one, but five years later, it appraised at $270K, and we were able to pull cash out. After that, I began building relationships with hard money lenders, and capital stopped being a constraint.

How do you consistently find deals to scale?

The cheat code is a Redfin filter. Filter for a price per square foot under $100 and days on market over 45. It emails you automatically whenever something fits. Sellers sitting that long are motivated. 

I still have to make about 10 offers to land one, but between that filter, wholesalers, and Facebook groups, the deals are out there if you’re willing to make offers.

What’s the mindset that carried you through a decade of building?

Get clear on your “why.” We shared bathrooms with strangers. We gutted a house ourselves for six days a week, three months straight. None of it was comfortable. But real estate doesn’t have to be your passion. 

The whole point is to use it to fund your passions. Ours funded a coffee shop. Ultimately, you should figure out what you’d do if your time were yours, then go buy the property that gets you there.

You can continue following Cameron’s real estate journey on his YouTube channel.

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