“I’m No Crypto Expert, But…”: How I Turned Rent Money Into Bitcoin—and Why It Might Matter in Real Estate Now

“I’m No Crypto Expert, But…”: How I Turned Rent Money Into Bitcoin—and Why It Might Matter in Real Estate Now

So here’s the truth:

I’m not a crypto expert. Never claimed to be.

I’m a real estate guy. I’ve built my business on bricks, beams, and a whole lot of patience. But even someone like me—someone who’s done over 3,500 real estate deals—has to admit that crypto is here. And now, it’s starting to connect with real estate in ways I didn’t think we’d see this soon.

Let me tell you what happened today.

A Quick Lunch. A Crypto Chart. A Mortgage Update. Boom.

I was having lunch, checking in with the team, flipping through a few charts, and looking at some of the small crypto plays I’ve made over the last couple years—just side moves I made using some of the income from our rental properties.

Stuff like:

• Bitcoin

• Ethereum

• A little PancakeSwap (CAKE)

• A touch of Cardano (ADA)

• Even messed around with Chainlink and Uniswap for fun

Just bits here and there. Nothing crazy. I never went all in.

But I did believe in diversifying. If one of my flips did well or a rental paid off more than expected, I’d slide a little into crypto—kind of like digital real estate, except the tenants are charts and Twitter.

Today, as I was checking my wallet, I got the news:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now looking at crypto as a valid asset in mortgage applications.

And I thought, “Wait… what?”

Yes, This Is Real: Crypto Might Help You Buy a Home

In July 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) made headlines again—not just for the rent payment mortgage rule (which is already huge), but now because they’ve officially told lenders to prepare for digital assets.

That includes:

• Bitcoin

• Ethereum

• Stablecoins (maybe)

• Possibly even DeFi assets with documentation

They’re not saying it’s all in place yet, but they are saying:

“Start working on it.”

Which means if you’ve been sitting on a crypto wallet and feeling like it’s not part of your financial picture—that’s about to change.

Why This Blew My Mind (As a Real Estate Guy)

For years, real estate and crypto have been like two people at a party who just nod at each other but never really talk.

Now they’re having a conversation.

This is a huge shift because most lenders never gave crypto the time of day. Even if you had $200K in Bitcoin, it was like you had monopoly money unless you liquidated it and moved it into a traditional bank.

But this announcement?

It says: “Okay, if you can verify it, and it’s real value—you might be able to use it as an asset in your mortgage file.”

That’s a big deal for:

• Self-employed folks

• Younger investors who started with crypto before credit cards

• Renters who are stacking Satoshis instead of savings accounts

• Real estate buyers who are holding and waiting for the right time to move

How I Got Into Crypto (The Honest Version)

Let me back up.

I didn’t start with crypto. I started with real estate.

But over the years, I’ve always believed in velocity—moving your money smartly, letting it work in multiple places, and not letting it sit still too long.

So a few years ago, I started saying:

“Why not take 5% of my rental income and park it in something I don’t totally understand—but is clearly growing?”

I bought:

• Bitcoin when it dipped below $20K

• Ethereum when it got hit hard in early 2022

• PancakeSwap (CAKE) because my Son Kelyn told me about it

• A few others just to learn

And I watched it. I didn’t trade every day. I didn’t gamble.

I just wanted to see what would happen—and give myself a chance to learn.

The Connection I Didn’t Expect

Fast forward to today, and now these same wallets—this side investment that I built off my real estate hustle—might actually help someone buy real estate again.

It’s the full circle moment.

You rent a property.

You earn extra.

You invest a little in crypto.

You build up digital assets.

And now… those digital assets might help you buy your first home.

For Investors: Why This Matters

If you’re already in real estate, or thinking about jumping in, this is the kind of thing that should get your wheels turning.

Because it means:

• There’s a new way to help buyers qualify.
  
  If your buyers are crypto-heavy, this gives you a new path to get them approved without telling them to sell everything.

• You might be sitting on more leverage than you think.
  
  That wallet collecting dust on your Ledger or Coinbase account? Might now be a line item in your asset sheet.

• You can reach a new kind of client.
  
  The younger, digital-savvy buyers who feel shut out of traditional finance—this helps bridge that gap.

For Renters and Everyday Tenants

You don’t need to be a Bitcoin expert or Ethereum day trader.

If you’ve put even a little into crypto—$500, $5,000, whatever—and you’ve been responsible, you might now have a real asset that counts when it’s time to apply for a mortgage.

Just like rent payments now help you qualify, this is one more way for people who’ve been overlooked to get their foot in the door.

What to Do Now If You Hold Crypto

Here’s the basic plan—keep it simple.

1. Start tracking your crypto like it’s a bank account.
   
   Keep screenshots, statements, or export your transaction history.

2. Move to verifiable wallets or exchanges.
   
   If it’s sitting in some anonymous DeFi setup, it may be hard to count. Lenders want clear numbers and traceable value.

3. Talk to a lender who understands digital assets.
   
   Not every bank is ready for this, but the good ones are paying attention. Make sure they know how to read a crypto wallet—and don’t treat you like you just walked in from Mars.

4. Don’t go overboard.
   
   Just because crypto is being recognized doesn’t mean you should cash out your emergency fund and YOLO into altcoins. Be smart. Diversify.

My Take as a Non-Expert, Real Estate Guy

Like I said—I’m no crypto expert.

But I am someone who believes in learning, adapting, and using whatever tools are available to build wealth.

If crypto can help more people qualify for homes—especially first-time buyers, gig workers, and younger investors—I’m all for it.

I’m still gonna trust in hard assets. I still love walking a property, fixing it, renting it, flipping it.

But now I’m also gonna keep an eye on my MetaMask and my cold wallet—because the game is changing, and I want to be part of the conversation.

From PancakeSwap to Property

I still love real estate. Still believe in drywall, bricks, and hard numbers. But I also believe in adapting.

Thanks to Kelvyn, I learned about crypto—not as hype, but as a tool. And now, seeing it finally connect with real estate feels like things are heading in the right direction.

If you’re renting and holding crypto, you might be closer to homeownership than you think.

Final Thought

If you’re holding crypto, even just a little, and you’ve thought about buying real estate—this is your moment to start paying attention.

Don’t wait until the rules are all finalized.

Start learning now. Start organizing your numbers.

Start thinking of your crypto not just as an investment—but as part of your financial story.

The doors are opening. Slowly. Quietly. But they’re opening.

Keep it consistent, stay patient, stay true—if I did it, so can you.

This is Jorge Vazquez, CEO of Graystone Investment Group and all our amazing companies, and Coach at Property Profit Academy. Thanks for tuning in—until the next article, take care and keep building!

If you’d like to connect directly with me, feel free to book a time here:

👉 https://graystoneig.com/ceo

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