About Kathy Fettke
RealWealth Co-Founder & Real Estate Investing Expert
Kathy Fettke co-founded RealWealth.com, a turnkey real estate company that helps busy professionals acquire turnkey rental properties with vetted property management in place in the nation’s top markets, with her husband, Rich Fettke. They also founded RealWealth Developments.com, which offers real estate syndications for accredited investors seeking completely passive income opportunities, including a new real estate investment fund.
Since 2003, they’ve helped over 80,000+ members build wealth through turnkey real estate investing, out-of-state real estate investing, 1031 exchange replacement properties, real estate syndications, and direct access to vetted real estate professionals, including expert CPAs, attorneys, 1031 exchange facilitators, and asset protection specialists.
As an expert real estate investor and trusted voice in the industry, Kathy was recognized as a 2025 HousingWire Woman of Influence. She is the best-selling author of Retire Rich with Rentals and Scaling Smart (co-authored with Rich Fettke).
She’s also a longtime podcaster, sharing real estate trends, market shifts, and investment strategies on The Real Wealth Show, the first real estate investing podcast, Real Estate News for Investors podcast, and BiggerPockets’ On the Market, where Kathy is a co-host.
She’s been featured on FOX News, CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, NPR, CBS MarketWatch, and The Wall Street Journal, and regularly speaks at top real estate investing conferences.
She loves the freedom that real estate investing brings. She’s an avid traveler and enjoys hiking, rock climbing, skiing, figure skating, and surfing. She lives in Malibu, California, with her husband and nearby family.
Kathy’s Real Estate Investing Journey
Kathy became a certified personal coach through the Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael, California. In 2001, she brought the coaching process to television, producing a cable show called “DREAM,” which followed six people pursuing their dreams over 90 days. Kathy soon noticed a theme: most people don’t have time for their dreams, as they spend all their time at work making money to pay the bills.
The sponsor was a real estate expert, and the segments they produced changed her life. After interviewing dozens of real estate millionaires, Kathy discovered their best strategies for creating passive income streams. When her family was faced with a severe health crisis, she knew it was time to take action and start investing in rental properties.
Since then, she and Rich have purchased numerous turnkey rental properties, gaining hands-on experience and learning the highs and lows of investing that can only come from such experience. What they’ve learned as real estate investors, along with the freedom they’ve experienced, continues to inspire their passion for helping others build a life of real wealth through real estate investing.
Kathy Fettke (Short Bio)
Kathy Fettke is a best-selling author, longtime podcaster, and expert real estate investor. She’s the co-founder of RealWealth.com, a turnkey real estate company helping investors acquire turnkey rental properties, 1031 exchange replacement properties, real estate syndications, real estate investment funds, and connect with vetted real estate professionals.
She’s the author of Retire Rich with Rentals and Scaling Smart, and podcast host of The Real Wealth Show, Real Estate News for Investors, and co-host of BiggerPockets’ On the Market podcast. A 2025 HousingWire Woman of Influence, Kathy is a leading voice in rental property investing and real estate syndications.
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Social Media Links
- Facebook (Kathy): https://www.facebook.com/kathyfettkee
- Instagram (Kathy): https://www.instagram.com/kathyfettke/
- X (Kathy): https://x.com/kathyfettke
- LinkedIn (Kathy): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyfettke/
- Facebook (RealWealth): https://www.facebook.com/RealWealthNetwork
- Instagram (RealWealth): https://www.instagram.com/realwealth/
- X (RealWealth): https://x.com/realwealthnet
- LinkedIn (RealWealth): https://www.linkedin.com/company/realwealthnet/
Awards & Accolades
- HousingWire’s Women of Influence 2025
- Goody Business Book Awards 2024 Winner: Entrepreneur (Scaling Smart)
- On the Market Webby Award Honoree 2024
- Past president of the Alliance for Women in Media (formerly known as American Women in Radio & Television)
- Best-selling book: Retire Rich with Rentals
- Goldman Sachs’ “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs” 2013
Kathy Fettke’s Best-Selling Books
Retire Rich with Rentals: How to Enjoy Ongoing Cash Flow from Real Estate so You Don’t Have to Work Forever by Kathy Fettke
Kathy Fettke’s best-selling book, Retire Rich with Rentals: How to Enjoy Ongoing Cash Flow From Real Estate So You Don’t Have to Work Forever, shows you how to fund your retirement with passive income from investing in real estate. By following Kathy’s process for choosing markets, buying out-of-state rental properties, and growing retirement funds faster by deferring taxes, readers learn how to grow their net worth and create passive monthly income from real estate without fixing toilets, dealing with tenants, or getting their hands dirty.
Retire Rich with Rentals Reviews
This book is an excellent guide for anyone looking to achieve financial independence through real estate investing. The book offers practical step by step advice on how to build a rental property portfolio that generates income. —John D.
This is an awesome resource especially for the real estate investment beginner. It’s easy to read and Kathy explains the process in a way that gives you the confidence to know anyone can do this! —Tracy G.
We invested in six properties so far, and the income pays for two kids in college. Once they are out of college, it will convert to retirement income. —Stephanie H.
Scaling Smart: How to Design a Self-Managing Business by Rich & Kathy Fettke
In Scaling Smart: How to Design a Self-Managing Business, Rich and Kathy Fettke distill over twenty years of business strategy into the perfect guide for entrepreneurs and real estate investors ready to scale a successful enterprise and create a life that embraces financial independence. Readers will come away with practical guidance on inspiring and empowering their team, how to avoid the pitfalls of business expansion, strategies for preventing financial burnout, and how to streamline operations.
Scaling Smart Reviews
If you’re looking for sustainable growth, personally and professionally, then “Scaling Smart” is the book for you. The advice is accessible, wise, and potentially life changing. —Tal Ben-Shahar, New York Times bestselling author of Happier
If you want your business to make a bigger difference in the world, without burning yourself out, this book is your guide. —Rosa “Rosie” Gumataotao Rios, 43rd U.S. Treasurer
This is an easy read full of very actionable, informative information. The structure of the book makes it very easy for you to follow and build a blueprint for safely scaling your business! —Henry Washington, real estate investing expert & BiggerPockets On the Market podcast co-host
Kathy Fettke’s RealWealth Podcasts
The RealWealth Show
The Real Wealth Show is a trusted resource for real estate investors seeking real-world strategies and proven insights. Hosted by Kathy Fettke, Co-CEO of RealWealth, author of Retire Rich, and a real estate investing expert, this widely acclaimed podcast explores everything from buy-and-hold investing and multi-family rentals to 1031 exchanges and creative financing. With expert guests like Robert Kiyosaki and Doug Duncan, Kathy delivers actionable advice designed to help listeners build passive income and grow true wealth.
Real Estate News for Investors
For a quicker take on the real estate market, tune into Real Estate News for Investors, where Kathy delivers bite-sized updates (under five minutes) on the latest trends, regulations, and market shifts affecting rental investors. It’s the go-to podcast for staying informed without the fluff.
Editorial or Interview Opportunities
- Real estate investing strategies
- Turnkey real estate investing
- Real estate syndications
- Market updates and housing predictions
- Scaling a business
Speaking or Media Inquiries
Please email us and we will respond as soon as possible.
Kathy Fettke
23823 Malibu Road, Suite 50419
Malibu, CA 90265
925-280-2830
media@realwealth.com