Vanilla Ice says buying below appraised value and tax liens are keys to his real estate strategy

Robert “Vanilla Ice” Van Winkle outlined a step-by-step approach to building a real estate investment career, telling Fox News Digital that buying properties below appraised value and pursuing tax-lien purchases and county auctions are central to his method.

In the interview, Van Winkle said investors should commission appraisals, make repeated low offers and seek motivated sellers rather than relying on public listings. “So, the trick is to learn how to buy your houses first, and you have to buy them below the appraised value. Do an appraisal. It usually costs you about $400 to $600. Check each property, make insulting offers, real insulting and keep making them constantly,” he said. “Nothing I ever buy you'll see on a computer or Zillow. So there's a hint. A little Ice advice for ya.”

Van Winkle, who rose to fame in the 1990s with the hit "Ice Ice Baby," noted that deals often come from sellers facing urgent circumstances, such as divorce or a death in the family, who may accept significantly below-market offers. He said he also learned to buy tax liens — when a government places a lien on a property after unpaid taxes — and to participate in auctions conducted by county governments.

Van Winkle has a long history in real estate and renovation. He began purchasing homes during his music career in the 1990s, later became a licensed general contractor and attended design school to gain industry knowledge. He starred on the DIY Network series "The Vanilla Ice Project," which first aired in 2010 and concluded with its final episode in 2019, showcasing renovations and property flips.

In the Fox News Digital interview, Van Winkle emphasized persistence and volume in making offers. He advised prospective investors to make low, frequent offers and to learn local auction procedures and lien laws, often with legal guidance. He described many of his purchases as off-market acquisitions not visible on mainstream listing platforms.

Van Winkle also shared cultural observations in the interview, saying he views the 1990s as a formative era that preceded widespread computer and internet use. “You gotta understand, I'm from the '90s. We didn't take everything so seriously. We were cheesy, and it was easy and it was fun,” he said, and added that he has seen the decade’s styles return through his children.

Van Winkle is also promoting his appearance on the Apple TV+ competition series "KPOPPED," which pairs Western artists with K-pop groups to perform collaborative covers; the eight-episode show debuted on Aug. 25. He described the series as a vehicle for reliving elements of 1990s pop culture while reaching a broad audience.

Industry observers note that strategies for identifying off-market properties and using tax-lien sales vary by jurisdiction and carry legal and financial risks. Van Winkle framed his remarks as guidance drawn from decades of personal experience in buying, renovating and reselling properties, and encouraged would-be investors to learn the local rules and to engage professionals where appropriate.