Building Real Estate Systems in Columbus

Scaling Rentals with Strategy

For this episode, we invited real estate investor, author, and coach Jessie Lang to share how she scaled from a single condo in Texas to over 75 doors in Columbus, Ohio. Nick Karakaian has worked alongside Jessie for years helping lead COIN—the Central Ohio Investor Network—which has become one of the most supportive and knowledge-rich communities for real estate professionals in the region. In both her investing practice and educational work, Jessie exemplifies the kind of intentional, system-driven thinking that resonates strongly with our architectural perspective.

From Residency Strategy to Portfolio Development

Jessie’s journey began by leveraging her own living space—renting out rooms to offset costs while she built equity. She repeated this approach to acquire three properties in Austin while maintaining a W2 job. In 2016, she joined Remote Year, traveling through 12 countries and eventually settling in Columbus, Ohio, where opportunity, affordability, and community aligned. Initially wholesaling real estate to generate capital, Jessie later discovered private capital strategies and the BRRRR method—Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat.

By 2021, she had transformed her initial 11-unit base into a 75+ door portfolio. This growth was fueled not only by strong deal flow, but by building robust acquisition and renovation systems, implementing in-house property management, and maintaining direct responsibility for performance—principles that parallel good architectural process.

Architecture of a Real Estate Business

As Jessie’s business expanded, so did her focus on structure and delegation. Over time, she assembled a small in-house team to support leasing, renovation oversight, and resident communication—freeing her to focus on strategy and scale. This balance of hands-on leadership and operational efficiency reflects the type of deliberate growth and accountability many architectural firms also strive to achieve.

The majority of her portfolio consists of single-family homes—chosen for tenant longevity and higher rent stability. From acquisitions to asset management, every stage of her process is designed with intent. Her story is not just about real estate, but about constructing a business model rooted in reliability, values, and the long-term relationships between property and people.

Coaching, Community, and What’s Next

Jessie is the author of the Amazon bestseller Rentals Made Easy and founder of the education platform by the same name. Through her free Facebook group, mini course, and 1-on-1 strategy calls, she supports new investors seeking clarity, confidence, and sustainable practices in the rental market.

Looking ahead, Jessie is exploring boutique hospitality development and small-scale new construction—applying the same rigor in design, community focus, and system efficiency that shaped her rental model. Whether scaling residential portfolios or launching destination-focused housing, she remains committed to empowering others and designing financial freedom.