Episode 26 - From Real Estate Agent to Investor: How Women Can Create Wealth with Molly Branson

When Molly Branson graduated from college, she was on a nursing track. She’d completed the prerequisites, was looking at accelerated programs, and was staring down the barrel of another round of student loans.

But something didn’t feel right.

The cost, the timeline, the debt, it all started to pile up. So she hit pause, waited tables at a local Irish pub, and gave herself space to figure out her next move. What she did next would completely change the course of her career, her finances, and her life.

She got her real estate license. And then, before she even owned a primary residence, she bought a rental property with her sister.

“I was running numbers for investors…and realized I should be doing this for myself.”

Four years into her career as a real estate agent, Molly was already helping investor clients analyze deals, scout neighborhoods, and find profitable opportunities. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a crash course in how real estate investing worked behind the scenes.

Then came the moment: Why am I not doing this too?

So she jumped in. Not with a shiny flip or short-term rental, but with a buy-and-hold duplex in Southeast DC. She didn’t go it alone, her sister partnered with her, but she did go in scared.

And the results? Not perfect. The first tenants weren’t ideal. Cash flow was tight. But today that same property has appreciated by over $100,000 and generates strong monthly income. Even better: it gave Molly the confidence to keep going.

Risk, Reality, and the Myth of the “Perfect Investor”

When asked about how she manages risk, Molly had a refreshing answer: she doesn’t ignore it, she builds partnerships and backup plans.

She runs every deal with a “Plan B” in mind. If a flip doesn’t sell? She looks at how it could perform as a rental. If margins are tight? She gets multiple contractor estimates before pulling the trigger. She makes smart, informed decisions, and doesn’t pretend to have it all figured out.

One of her biggest wins? Converting the basement of her first property to add two bedrooms, boosting rental income by $1,000 per month. A simple move inspired by a podcast episode that turned a break-even investment into a long-term win.

What Holds Women Back from Investing?

Here’s where the conversation got real.

According to Molly, the biggest thing holding women back isn’t money. It’s the mindset. It’s overthinking. It’s the instinct to find all the ways something could go wrong, instead of imagining what could go right.

Women in real estate have the knowledge. The exposure. The deal flow. But they often wait for conditions to be perfect, when, in reality, there’s no such thing.

“The truth is, you learn so much more from doing,” Molly said. “Even the failures have made me a better agent. Because now I can talk about investing from experience, not just theory.”

Why Real Estate Agents Should Start Investing

There’s a powerful crossover between being an agent and being an investor. For Molly, investing didn’t just add income streams, it made her more valuable to her clients.

She can speak to rental comps, development potential, renovation budgets, and long-term hold strategies because she’s done them herself. She’s not just advising from a textbook. She’s lived it.

And as her family grows (with baby #2 on the way), investing also gives her more flexibility, more income diversification, and more options for the future.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait to Feel Ready

If you’re in real estate and thinking about investing, consider this your green light.

You don’t have to do it alone. You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to take the first step. Whether it’s partnering on a deal, turning your current home into a rental, or analyzing one property a week to build your confidence, the time to start is now.

Because your future self will thank you. And if Molly’s story proves anything, it’s this:

The best way to learn is by doing. Especially before you feel ready.

Want more? Listen to the full episode for the behind-the-scenes details, deal breakdowns, and Molly’s honest advice for getting started as a real estate investor.