254 - Avoiding Tenant Scams with Ellen Shmueli

Jun 2, 2025

Avoiding Tenant Scams: Real Talk with Ellen Schmuel - REIGN Podcast

 

Join Jen Josey on the REIGN (Real Estate Investor Growth Network) podcast as she interviews Ellen Schmuel, co-founder of Seneca Property Holdings, about her harrowing experience with tenant scams. Discover Ellen's journey from dealing with a fraudulent tenant to the emotional and financial toll it took, and her advice for other real estate investors. Plus, Ellen shares her future goals, community involvement, and how she's working towards legislative changes to help landlords. Don't miss this insightful and educational episode!

 

00:00 Introduction to REIGN with Jen Josey

01:01 Today's Topic: Vetting Your Contractors

03:06 Guest Introduction: Ellen Schmuel

04:55 Ellen's Real Estate Journey

06:25 Challenges in Short-Term Rentals

06:40 The Importance of Real Estate Education

08:21 REI Roundtable: A Supportive Community

10:15 The Scammer Tenant: A Cautionary Tale

17:17 The Eviction Process: Lessons Learned

33:09 Tenant's Messy Departure

36:06 Emotional Toll and Financial Loss

37:25 Lessons Learned and Advice

39:06 Legal Actions and Realtor Accountability

44:51 Fighting for Legislative Change

50:32 Positive Takeaways and Moving Forward

01:02:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

 

Founded in 2023 by Ellen and Eytan, Senica Property Holdings is a growing real estate investment company based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. What began as a personal home renovation project quickly evolved into a purposeful business venture after they rented out their first home and saw the potential for creating lasting passive income.

Today, Senica Property Holdings manages both a long-term rental and a short-term Airbnb (with plans to convert it to long-term use) and is actively expanding into new markets across Florida. Their core strategy is BRRRR—Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat—focused on revitalizing distressed and foreclosed properties and turning them into safe, high-quality rental homes.

Ellen and Eytan trained under the leadership of Tarek El Moussa through the Homeschooled by Tarek program, where they developed a strong foundation in creative deal-making, property evaluation, and value-add strategies. Ellen is also a committed member of the REI Roundtable, where she continues to collaborate with and learn from top real estate investors. In addition to their residential portfolio, they’ve also invested in Bigger Garages Capital, a firm that specializes in acquiring, upgrading, and operating self-storage facilities.

With a mission rooted in integrity and community impact, Senica Property Holdings aims to help individuals facing difficult situations by offering fair solutions, restoring properties with care, and creating homes that families can count on.

 

To learn more about Jen Josey, visit www.TheRealJenJosey.com

To join REIGN, visit www.REIGNmastermind.com

Stuff Jen Josey Loves: https://www.reignmastermind.com/resources

Buy Jen Josey’s Book: From Beginner to Badass: https://a.co/d/bstKlby