Best Real Estate Investing Advice Ever

Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor.

In this episode, Travis Watts shares his journey from time-for-money jobs to generating significant passive income, enabling a lifestyle of freedom, teaching others, and traveling. He emphasizes the power of passive income to reclaim life and offer choices beyond paycheck-to-paycheck living.

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Syndication Attorneys

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My1031Pros

Direct download: PIT_81_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

In this episode, Ash Patel discusses property management and real estate investment strategies with Mike Zucker, managing partner of Peak Properties LLC. They cover Mike's journey from starting in property management to managing over 8,500 units, focusing on achieving high ROI and low vacancy for real estate investors. Mike shares his approach to property management, the importance of adapting to market changes, and strategies for maintaining and increasing property value.

Key Takeaways:

  • Adaptability and Comprehensive Service: Mike Zucker's extensive experience in property management and real estate investment has led to the management of over 8,500 units, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and comprehensive service in achieving high returns on investment.

  • The Value of Perseverance in Real Estate: Starting from the ground up, Zucker's journey from managing a six-flat building to overseeing a vast portfolio of multifamily and commercial properties showcases the value of perseverance, hands-on experience, and strategic growth in the real estate industry.

  • Strategic Property Management for Success: Peak Properties' approach to property management focuses on maximizing occupancy and minimizing vacancy through proactive measures, detailed analysis of operational costs, and strategic investments, demonstrating the critical role of effective property management in the success of real estate ventures.

Mike Zucker | Real Estate Background

  • Managing Partner, Peak Properties LLC
    • Leads a team of over 150+. Together they manage multifamily and CRE properties, valued at over $3B.
  • Based in: Chicago, IL
  • Say hi to him at: 
  • Biggest Learning Experience: "In good times and bad, smart interest rates and smart debt rule the day."

 

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Syndication Attorneys

Monarch Money

My1031Pros

Direct download: Mike_Zucker_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

In this episode, Joe Cornwell interviews Jeremy Goodrich, as they discuss insurance and risk management in real estate investing. They highlight the importance of a holistic approach, common mistakes, and strategies to mitigate costs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Holistic Insurance Understanding: Recognizing the importance of seeing insurance as part of a larger risk management strategy to protect investments.
  • Avoiding Common Mistakes: Learning from typical oversights in risk management, such as inadequate safety practices and documentation.
  • Cost Mitigation Strategies: Implementing methods to handle increasing insurance premiums, including the selection of higher deductibles and choosing the right insurance broker.

Jeremy Goodrich | Real Estate Background

  • CEO of Shine Insurance
  • Helps CRE acquisitions and asset management teams build and implement Risk management & insurance strategies
  • Based in:  Bloomington, IN
  • Say hi to him at: 
  • Best Ever Book: Tribal Branding by Patrick Hanlon

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Syndication Attorneys

Monarch Money

My1031Pros

Direct download: Jeremyfixed.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:07am EDT

In this episode, Ash Patel discusses real estate investing, lending strategies, and market trends with Kurt Weil. They explore the benefits of using lending brokers, changes in lending practices, and the importance of relationship-building with lenders. The conversation also touches on the challenges and strategies for securing loans in the current economic climate.

Key Takeaways:

  • Leveraging Lending Brokers: Utilizing the expertise of lending brokers to navigate the complex real estate lending environment, ensuring access to superior loan products and terms.

  • Fostering Strong Lender Relationships: The critical role of honesty and reliability in building and maintaining relationships with lenders, and how it impacts the success of real estate investments.

  • Adapting to the Changing Lending Landscape: Understanding the dynamics of the current real estate market and how shifts in lending practices require flexibility and strategic planning from investors.

Kurt Weil | Real Estate Background

  • President of Incline Commercial, LLC
  • Portfolio:
    • Multifamily & industrial/flex
  • Based in:  Cincinnati, OH
  • Say hi to him at: 
  • Best Ever Book: The Encyclopedia of Commercial Real Estate by Terry Painter

 

Sponsors:

Syndication Attorneys

Monarch Money

My1031Pros

Direct download: Kurt_V2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

In this episode, Joe Cornwell talks with Derek Peterson about shifting his marketing firm to focus on real estate, helping operators in fundraising and marketing. Peterson highlights the importance of niching down and authenticity in marketing, and shares his journey in real estate, now overseeing over 500 doors and developing a new project in Phoenix.

Key Takeaways:

  • Importance of Niching Down in Marketing: Derek Peterson emphasizes the critical role of focusing on a specific niche in marketing to effectively attract and engage a targeted audience, leading to more successful fundraising and brand building efforts within the real estate sector.
  • Transition to Real Estate from Marketing: Peterson shares his journey of leveraging his marketing expertise to transition into the real estate industry, detailing how he has grown to manage over 500 doors and undertake significant development projects, highlighting the synergy between marketing skills and real estate success.
  • Value of Authenticity and Building Relationships: The discussion underscores the importance of authenticity in branding and marketing, alongside the power of building strong relationships and networking within the industry to facilitate growth, raise capital, and achieve long-term success in real estate investment.

 

Derek Peterson | Real Estate Background

  • Head of Adapt Media Agency and 10Y
  • Portfolio:
    • 500+ doors, including 190 unit BTR currently under construction.
  • Based in: Charlotte, NC
  • Say hi to him at: 
  • Best Ever Book: The Power of One More - by Ed Mylett

 

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Direct download: JF_3440_Derek_Peterson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

In this episode, Joe Cornwell talks with Saad Dar, a BRRRR investor and head at Baselane. They talk about transitioning from CPA to real estate, the benefits of BRRRR in Philly, and leveraging FinTech and PropTech. They discuss the importance of market knowledge, contractor trust, and networking for investment success.

Key Takeaways:

  • Career Pivot to Real Estate Success: Saad Dar's transition from accounting to becoming a BRRRR investor and tech entrepreneur illustrates the power of aligning one's career with their passions and the innovative intersection of real estate with technology.

  • Keys to BRRRR Strategy Mastery: The episode highlights essential strategies for BRRRR success, including deep market knowledge, solid contractor partnerships, and efficient project management, especially crucial in fluctuating markets.

  • The Power of Networking in Real Estate: Saad Dar shares the importance of building strong connections within the real estate community, offering advice on how effective networking can help overcome investment challenges and unlock new opportunities.

Saad Dar | Real Estate Background

  • Head of Baselane
  • Portfolio:
    • 20+ Units, Including Duplexes
  • Based in: New York City
  • Say hi to him at: 
  • Best Ever Book: Multi-family Millions - by David Lindhal
  • Best Ever Advice: Relationships are the key to success.

 

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BAM Capital

Direct download: JF_3439_Saad_Dar.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

Multifamily Fundamentals is a 10-part series hosted by multifamily investor and syndicator Matt Faircloth of the DeRosa Group. In each episode, Matt and his guests dive deep into the fundamentals of not just investing in multifamily, but in building a real estate business. They dissect everything from choosing the right market, to underwriting and financing multifamily properties, to mastering investor relations — all the way to building out your multifamily dream team.

Matt Faircloth and Herve Francois discuss multifamily underwriting, emphasizing its importance in the real estate business. They explore the roles within their company, DeRosa, highlighting the hunter's role in identifying investment opportunities and the underwriter's role in analyzing and implementing business plans. The discussion includes strategies for scaling a business, the significance of market selection, and the intricacies of underwriting, such as assessing market attractiveness, building relationships, and detailed property analysis.

Key Takeaways:

  • Multifamily underwriting is crucial for real estate success: This takeaway highlights the importance of thorough financial analysis and risk assessment in multifamily real estate investments. Underwriting involves evaluating the property's financial performance, market conditions, and potential for future growth to ensure a profitable investment.
  • Different roles, like hunters and underwriters, are essential in a real estate team: This point underscores the collaborative nature of real estate investing. Hunters are responsible for finding potential investment opportunities, while underwriters analyze these opportunities' viability. Both roles are critical for identifying and executing successful real estate deals.
  • Effective market selection and detailed property analysis are key for investment decisions: This takeaway stresses the importance of choosing the right market based on economic indicators, demographic trends, and real estate market conditions. Additionally, conducting a comprehensive analysis of the property, including its condition, location, and potential for appreciation or cash flow, is crucial for making informed investment decisions.

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BAM Capital

Direct download: JF_3438_Matt_Faircloth_5_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:39am EDT

Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor.

In this episode of Passive Investor Tips, Travis Watts discusses five methods to teach children about money management and investing. The episode covers the importance of starting financial education early, using relatable books, personal finance discussions, setting up brokerage accounts, gift-giving focused on financial growth, and mentorship in financial literacy.

 

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BAM Capital

Direct download: JF_3437_Passive_Investor_Tips_80.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

Welcome to the Best Ever midweek news brief, a new series where we will highlight the top headlines CRE investors should be paying attention to this week, followed by a deep dive on a larger news topic or trend alongside a CRE expert.

Today’s Headlines:

  • Retail is Back, Baby: Retail vacancy has hit a 17-year low, prompting landlords to withdraw the rent discounts and concessions they’ve been offering struggling tenants since the pandemic. This signals intensifying competition, meaning that retail may officially be back.

  • PHX Leads in Q4 Apartment Demand: Apartment demand in Q4 outpaced pre-COVID norms in some key markets, with Phoenix leading the way with an absorption of nearly 4,300 units in Q4 — close to 3,500 more than the annual average in the decade leading up to the pandemic.

  • Rental Fraud on the Rise: According to a new survey from the National Multifamily Housing Council and the National Apartment Association, more than 70% of major apartment landlords say they have seen an increase in fraudulent rental applications over the past 12 months. With this report, it appears that this problem is here to stay. (Here’s our previous episode on how renters are using TikTok to defraud landlords.)

 

Today’s Guest: Andy McQuade is the principal of The ARM Companies, which provides procurement and management consulting to clients in the real estate industry. Andy joins host Paul Mueller to discuss recent JLL reports which suggest that material costs are expected to increase in 2024 by anywhere from 2-6%, but electrical and related switchgear costs could be higher as companies continue to face labor and availability issues. Meanwhile, HVAC manufacturers and suppliers have also announced price hikes as high as 10% in some cases.

Andy McQuade | Real Estate Background

 

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BAM Capital

Direct download: JF_3436_Andy_McQuade_News_Show.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

Andrew Brewer, a real estate developer and the owner of IronGall Investments, joins our host Ash Patel to discuss his strategy for development in one of the nation’s hottest markets: Austin, Texas. His former career as a stationary engineer led him to real estate development, and in this episode, Andrew details his due diligence process, the right time to raise capital, how he works with local municipalities, and more.

Key Takeaways:

  • His Competitive Edge: Andrew targets hyper-local projects in the Austin area to maintain a competitive edge. He carefully invests only in the city's fastest-growing submarkets — communities seeing major growth and development of their own job centers beyond just being commuter towns into Austin. By focusing on these localized markets with increasing housing demand, Andrew maintains a competitive edge vs. out-of-market investors.

  • Being Diligent with Due Diligence: Andrew's ideal land contract includes 4-5 months of due diligence with two months to close, plus 30-day extensions on both. This allows time for necessary third-party reports like geotech studies, endangered species assessments, utility mapping, and meetings with the city planning office to confirm allowable density. He prefers to sequence reports by risk level rather than paying for everything upfront, avoiding sunk costs if a deal-breaker emerges.

  • Working with the City: Andrew invests in both raw land and land zoned for multifamily. He aims to maximize density, but scales based on target demographics and pricing. While cities generally don't oppose his projects, he avoids battles by targeting locations aligned with their future land use plans. He secures variances to tweak development requirements, but ensures the overall project conforms to the area's designated use.

Andrew Brewer | Real Estate Background

  • Owner, Developer | IronGall Investments
  • Portfolio:
    • Multifamily, townhomes, mobile home parks, RV parks, single-family subdivisions
  • Based in: Austin, Texas
  • Say hi to him at:
  • Best Ever Book: Michael Collins, by Tim Pat Coogan
  • Greatest Lesson: Make sure that you are very careful when choosing a partner and make sure that the people you partner with can actually deliver on what they say they can do.

 

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BAM Capital

Direct download: JF_3435_Andrew_Brewer_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:15am EDT