Going Over The List: Brandon Turner

Written By looke listen

By 27, Brandon Turner had grown from renting out a single bedroom to owning more than 35 rental units — and he built an intentional life to match. Brandon Turner is an American real estate investor, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and educator, best known as the former co-host of the BiggerPockets Podcast, where he helped millions of people learn about real estate investing, rental properties, house hacking, the BRRRR strategy, passive income, and financial freedom.

Today, Brandon is the founder and managing partner of Open Door Capital, a real estate investment firm focused on multifamily investing and real estate syndication. He has also written several bestselling books on investing, business, and entrepreneurship.

In this post, we're going over Brandon Turner's List using two interviews to see how his life fits into the Home, Work, and Self framework.

Sources

Home

House

Brandon lives in Maui, Hawaii, on a property with an additional guest unit (ADU). Early in his investing career, he handled maintenance himself, but now focuses on managing projects by hiring the right people. His real estate journey began by renting bedrooms in a single-family home before expanding to more than 35 rental units by age 27.

Partner

Brandon is married to Heather Turner. Each year they schedule a dedicated goal-setting date where they review their family vision using their "Great 8" framework. They divide responsibilities intentionally — one focuses on budgeting while the other prioritizes growing income.

Family

Brandon grew up in a blue-collar family in the Midwest; his father worked as a meat cutter and his mother ran a home daycare. Today he prioritizes spending time with his children, homeschooling, travel, and building a family-centered lifestyle in Hawaii.

Work

Make

Brandon's primary role is as a Visionary. Rather than managing day-to-day operations, he focuses on strategy, leadership, and long-term direction, using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to help his companies run without depending on him.

Show

Brandon shares his work through books, podcasts, interviews, social media, and speaking. He previously co-hosted the BiggerPockets Podcast, maintains an active online presence, and created products like The Intention Journal to share his ideas.

Sell

His businesses generate revenue through real estate syndication at Open Door Capital — which now oversees more than $300 million in assets — along with books, journals, educational resources, and investing-related products.

Self

Wellbeing

Brandon journals almost every day using his own Intention Journal. He has also spoken about taking a sabbatical to reconnect with family, surfing, and life outside of work, recognizing the importance of separating his identity from his career.

Admin

He relies on systems to stay organized, including Evernote for notes and information management. He breaks large goals into small next actions and schedules them on his calendar.

Social

Brandon places a strong emphasis on relationships. He maintains close partnerships with people such as Josh Dorkin, Brian Murray, and Ryan Murdoch, while investing in company culture through retreats, regular communication, and hosting team members at his home.

Key Takeaways

  • Brandon intentionally designs every area of his life, not just his business.

  • Systems allow him to spend less time operating and more time leading.

  • Reflection and planning are recurring themes through journaling and annual goal setting.

  • Family and lifestyle are treated as priorities alongside business growth.

  • Relationships are built deliberately, both at home and at work.

Links & Resources

Business & Organizations

Personal Development & Systems

Real Estate Resources

Social Media

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