Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast

Is the Landlord profession overdue for a Revolution?  Is the Business Model of covering mortgages and operating costs by charging rent no longer sufficient?  My guest today believes both of those statements to be true. Al Williamson is known as the "Worlds First Landlord Scientist", and he's on a quest to help other landlords maximize their Cashflow through alternate income streams such as Short Term Rentals and Corporate Housing.  He also has other valuable tips on increasing income and lowering expenses, many of which I'd never thought of before our conversation. Al's going to share the tips and techniques he's used in many different modes of real estate investing, including turning around inner city houses and neighborhoods, an inexpensive way to avoid costly plumbing issues, why vacancy is a function of marketing, and how he makes money off of corporate rentals even when he doesn't own the property. Al is also the author of "40 Ways to Increase The Net Income of Your Rental Property", and he can be contac

If you had to guess the #1 reason  why many entrepreneurs and real estate investors fail, what would it be?  Lack of money?, Opportunities?, or Bad Timing?  According to my guest today, Lack of Focus and the inability to set Clear and Specific Goals is the number one reason. Nick Disney has spent the past ten years learning how to implement strategic goals in order to build a portfolio of 17 rental properties and 20 performing notes.  He owns a real estate business called "Sell My San Antonio House" and specializes in the different aspects of real estate investing, self-development, entrepreneurship, and running a small business. Today we'll discuss the importance of focusing on what exactly you're trying to achieve and how to break it down into the key activities you need to focus on each day.  Nick will relate these ideas to the specifics of how he achieved his goal of reaching $10,000 monthly income. We'll also discuss the crossroads that investors come to and how they must shift their goals as they find s

What do you do when your business partner goes rogue and ends up destroying your entire Real Estate Portfolio?  If you're like my guest today, then you pick yourself back up and commit to building an even bigger & better one step-by-step. Seth Ferguson is a Canadian real estate investor with 11 years of experience investing in single family, apartments, and helping others as an award-winning real estate broker.  He's also an author, Cable-TV host, and has his own podcast "Purchase To Profits". Today Seth is going to dig deep and share his most painful experience, the disastrous breakup of his business partnership and the Red Flags he should have paid more attention to.  He's also going to explain 'Negative Gearing', which basically means buying properties with negative cashflow, and why investors are willing to buy this way. We also discuss the pitfalls of the Canadian real estate market, the differences in their residential loan structures v.s. the United States, and the movement toward rent control and

There are some great books available that can teach you how to invest in Commercial Real Estate, and one of the best of these books was written by today's guest. Brian Murray is the Best-Selling Author of "Crushing It In Apartments And Commercial Real Estate: How a Small Investor Can Make It BIG".  He's also the Founder & CEO of Washington Street Properties, which owns and operates a large portfolio of assets in upstate New York.  Brian has invested in Apartments, Office Buildings, Retail Centers, Storage, Billboards, Parking, and Mixed Use. Today Brian is going to share how he was able to build his entire portfolio through the "Value Add" process, without raising any capital from outside investors.  You'll learn what those Value Add strategies are, how Brian negotiates with sellers to acquire Seller Financing, what it was like to transition from his first Office Building to investing in Apartments, and why he sometimes will overpay for the right property. At one point in his career, Brian was a full-time

Today we're going to compare the Pro's & Con's of investing in Multifamily & Apartments V.S. two other commercial asset classes: Self Storage & Mobile Home Parks.  Which is harder to acquire in today's market, and which will do the best during a good economy as well as a bad one? Paul Moore has returned to the show to help us answer these questions.  You might remember Paul from episode #42, where we talked about his book "The Perfect Investment: Create Enduring Wealth From The Historic Shift to Multifamily Housing".  Paul has since changed his outlook on Multifamily, and today you're going to find out why. Paul is also the Founder & Managing Director of Wellings Capital, which manages two private equity funds in commercial investments.  Paul is going to share the Value Formula he uses to exponentially create wealth in commercial properties, the tax benefits provided through Real Estate Investing, and the types of returns he strives to achieve for his investors.   Paul also hosts the podcast "

When people ask me about investing in Detroit, my stock response is that there are a lot of great opportunities, but you really need to work with someone who understands the neighborhoods and where to find those opportunities.  Because, if you're one or two blocks off, you could lose a lot of money. Earlier this year I had the pleasure of traveling around Detroit with a seasoned investor who was kind enough to show me the neighborhoods he's investing, improving, and profiting in.  We also got to see a number of properties that he's in the process of rehabbing, flipping & selling. Today I'm excited to have Todd Chunn on the show.  Todd is a Detroit Real Estate Investor, Wholesaler, and Auction Expert at Best Invest, LLC, and he also owns a property management company called 'Investors Property Management Detroit' specializing in managing Detroit rentals for out-of-state & local investors. Todd shares a lot of great information in this episode: how he went from an employee mindset to owning several busi

Today we're going to talk about Adaptive Re-use of Commercial Space and how it can be turned into an Asset Class that is Very Attractive & Extremely Profitable. My guest is Scott Krone, the managing partner of Coda Management Group, a company that teams up with investors to purchase and convert undervalued warehouse space into climate controlled Self-Storage Facilities. Scott has a Masters of Architecture Degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and he's created 47 syndications and has over 400,000 sq. ft. & 2,759 storage units under management, along with over 25 years of development & design-build experience. Scott is going to share the process he goes through in converting old warehouse space to self-storage, including his typical costs per sq. ft. for acquisition, construction & soft costs.  He'll discuss the financing that's available for these projects and how Coda builds and sells their developments to REITS.  Scott & I also discuss the importance of Mentors, what ever happe

My guest today is Frank Maratta, a listener & fan of the show who contacted me with some great questions.  So I thought I'd have him on the show to answer them with the help of Justin Workman, another friend of the show who's been on many episodes. Frank is an experienced investor and landlord with 12 units that he rehabbed & manages.  Frank's favorite strategy is to buy a property, rehab it using his own subs and serving as the General Contractor, and then complete a cash-out refinance in order to pay himself back and raise money for the next deal. Frank has some excellent questions that Justin & I do our best to answer, even though we disagree on several of our answers: Should Frank get a 30-year or 20-year mortgage? Should he "buy down" the points in order to get a lower interest rate? Will a new roof increase the appraisal value? (the answer to this will surprise you) What is our current outlook on the market? Frank's questions make for a lively discussion (& arguments) with Brian & Ju

Jonathan Twombly spent 12 years as a corporate attorney for some of the most prestigious law firms in New York, Boston, and London, before switching tracks and becoming a full-time real estate investor and syndicator. Now, Jonathan is the owner of Two Bridges Asset Management and his attention to detail, creative thinking, and tendency to notice overlooked connections has had a huge impact on his returns, as well as those of his investors. Today we'll discuss how Jonathan chooses his partners, and why you shouldn't treat your partnership like a marriage.  You'll also learn how Jonathan overcame some setbacks early on when his deals didn't pan out, and how he spent three years chasing opportunities before completing his first deal. Jonathan also shares tips on working with attorneys, how he presents his opportunities and tells the story of the deal, what it means to have a fiduciary responsibility to your investors, and his outlook on the multifamily and apartment market. Jonathan also hosts the Real Estate La

Today we're going to talk about Raising Capital from a source that we typically don't consider when putting together the equity for our investment opportunities.  We've discussed syndication and raising funds from high net-worth accredited investors, but what about the Ultra-Wealthy - those with over $30 Million in net worth? My guest today is Richard Wilson, the Founder & CEO of Family Office Club, and he is going to help us understand what the Ultra-Wealthy look for when investing their capital, and the top 6 headaches of Family Offices worth over $100 Million.  He'll also reveal how you might be able to help them while funding your own opportunities. Richard also shares what he teaches investors about coming up with their 'one-line pitch', why its better to be 'long-term greedy' and create lasting relationships with family offices, what a typical deal structure might look like, and what not to do when pitching to the Ultra-Wealthy. Richard is also the author of "Centimillionaire Migraines", as well as

Todd Dexheimer is a former teacher who has been investing in real estate since 2008.  He's accomplished over 200 flips and currently controls over $15 million in Apartments and Multifamily.  Today, Todd is going to share how he's managed to grow his portfolio so quickly, and what he's done to raise over $10 million in private equity. Todd is also the host of the "Pillars of Wealth Creation" Podcast where he interviews successful business leaders.  He's also the principal owner of Venture D Properties which syndicates Apartment Opportunities in emerging markets around the country. Todd and I will discuss how he scaled his business from Single-Family to Apartments, investing in markets outside your backyard, the importance of realistically budgeting for Cap Ex improvements, and the mentors and books that have helped him achieve his success. There's a lot of great insight and information packed into this episode.  You can contact Todd through the following websites: http://www.venturedproperties.com http://coach

Today we're going to talk about New Construction & what it takes to be a Real Estate Developer.  A lot of people think this is an exciting and rewarding career - but is it? My guest today is going to help us figure that out.  Bradley Hartwell is the Founder and Real Estate Strategist with North Town Real Estate, a West Michigan Real Estate firm specializing in acquisition, brokerage, consulting, and development of residential and commercial properties.  He's also a Professor of Real Estate at Central Michigan University. Bradley has been an instrumental player in developing several large commercial and residential projects in the Grand Rapids area, and today he is going to take us through the process - from identifying the site and other pre-development tasks, to the construction process and the eventual completion and leasing of the property. We'll also discuss the strategy of building apartments that can be converted to condos later on, and the role financing and fund raising plays in the process.  Brad

Today we're going to talk about Mobile Home Park Investing with a renowned expert on the subject.  Many of you know Kevin Bupp from his popular podcast "Real Estate Investing For Cashflow".  Kevin is a serial entrepreneur with over $100 Million in transactions, including apartments, single family homes, office buildings, raw land, condos, and his favorite, mobile home parks. Today Kevin is going to tell us how a lunch meeting turned him into a Mobile Home Park Investor, how this asset class compares to apartment investing, why cities and municipalities are zoning these parks out of existence, and what you're really investing in when you buy one of these communities. Kevin will also share his tips on working with the homeowners and residents of these parks, the criteria he uses when conducting due diligence on an investment opportunity, and how to avoid the pitfalls that can cost investors a lot of money.  Kevin shares a scary story about a very lucrative-seeming investment that went wrong because the utilitie

One of the bonuses of attending the RPOA's Annual Conference this past February, is that everyone had the opportunity to enjoy a special Q&A session with Jeremy Cole & Ramon Huerta.  If you don't know who these guys are, you soon will. They're the stars of "Gritty To Pretty", an HGTV show that was just about to air its 2nd episode on the DIY Network, and has since been picked up for a full season by HGTV - which they are currently shooting. Jeremy & Ramon are both passionate about improving the Kalamazoo, Michigan neighborhoods they invest in, and Jeremy is on a mission to save homes that the city would prefer to tear down.  In this episode he goes into detail on the true cost of tearing down homes in terms of dollars, neighborhood impact, and the availability of affordable housing. This is a wide-ranging Q&A with a lot of great questions from the audience about investing, rehabbing, and being on a hit reality tv show.  It was a lot of fun to record, and I know you're going to enjoy this episo

Anna Myers acquired her first 500 Multifamily units in 2018, and another 300 units in 2019 (so far).  Today we're going to find out how she's been able to grow her portfolio so quickly through her systematic approach to analyzing markets and opportunities, as well as her ability to create pivotal & strategic partnerships. From single-mother, to surviving the tech market crash of 2000, to becoming a small business owner and eventually the Vice President of Grocapitus, Anna has always relied on her analytical skills to improve her opportunities.  Today we're going to learn how she's seized certain opportunites along the way that have led to her success.  Whether it be volunteering to build an analysis tool for her mentor, Neil Bawa, or becoming an educator and trainer on commercial underwriting through MultifamilyU. Anna will share how she uses her systematic approach and knowledge of data science to find the best markets that will weather the next downturn, analyze potential multifamily opportunities, and

One of the biggest fears landlords and rental property owners have is nightmare residents.  I'm talking about tenants who seem okay at first, but then decide they're not going to pay rent, damage your property, and cost you thousands of dollars trying to evict them and clean up their mess. How can we avoid this problem?  Well, the best answer is proper tenant screening.  But not everyone understands what the best practices are, or even how to go about it. Today, I'm talking with DJ Newman, the owner of Grand Slam Investigations.  DJ is a licensed private investigator and an expert on running background, criminal & credit checks on potential tenants.  DJ is going to share his screening methods in order to help you find the very best residents for your property. Grand Slam Investigations is also affiliated with the RPOA, and DJ will discuss the benefits they provide to RPOA members.  He also has some great stories of the private investigation work he's done, including the survelliance work that led to havin

Larry Goins is a visionary, entrepreneur, real estate investor, and educator.  He's been investing in real estate for over 30 years, and has previously served as the president of the Metrolina Real Estate Investors Association in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today, Larry is not only going to share details on his Real Estate Day-Trading system, he's also going to show exactly how he builds Confidence, Credibility, and Rapport with Sellers.  He'll take us through real-life conversations to illustrate how you can get people to like and trust you, Price-Condition your sellers, and close the deal. Larry will also share how he builds his lists, vets and funnels his buyers, conducts due-diligence on his opportunities, and the process he follows once the property is under contract.  This is all top-level information that any investor will benefit from. Larry also travels throughout the U.S. speaking and training students on buying HUD Homes, Virtual Real Estate Day Trading, Seller Financing, and his "Filthy Rich" syste

Real Estate Investing and Property Management is a People Business, and Chelsea Roelofs was trained early on how important that concept is.  Chelsea has a background in social work that has helped her attract clients and residents through her company Rockfinch Realty, a full-service property management and real estate brokerage company. Today we're going to learn how Chelsea transitioned into real estate from social work, as well as the house-hacking investments she made in the historic neighborhoods of Grand Rapids, MI. Chelsea is also going to discuss her single-family & vacation rental investments in Grand Rapids & Muskegon, a lodge she recently purchased in Newaygo, and her property management philosophy that has helped build her successful business. I know you're going to enjoy hearing Chelsea share her experiences in real estate, and the lessons she's learned along the way.  You can find out more about Chelsea by going to: http://www.rockfinch.forsale/content/about-rockfinch-realty  

Owning and Managing Student Housing Rental Property can be very rewarding, but it takes a unique approach and strategies that are different from traditional property management.  If you are considering purchasing property for student housing, or you currently own & manage student housing, then you'll definitely want to hear the best practices and advice from our guest today. Jared Behrens is the General Manager at American Realty Property Management, which specializes in managing A-class single family rentals and student housing in the West Michigan area.  They currently manage over 325 units for 60 different owners. Jared is going to share his tips on leasing to students and managing their expectations, along with their parent's expectations.  We're going to discuss which months you have to be prepared to move all your students in & out of the units, as well as when you must have them leased by. You'll learn why Jared advises having the students sign a 'jointly and severally liable' lease, and what t

Performing and Non-Performing Notes.  You've definitely heard us talk on this podcast about this area of investing.  While the returns can be quite lucrative, there are many risks to consider, as well as barriers to entry.  When entering this arena it pays to be well informed. That's why, at the recent RPOA Annual Conference, we held an Expert Q & A Panel Discussion on Note Buying.  We had three experts there to help us understand what notes are, the investment opportunity they provide, the pro’s and con’s of investing in notes, and how they've each been successful in the single-family and commercial note investing arena.  If you’re interested in investing in notes yourself, then you definitely will get a lot of great information from our expert panel today. Sue Nelson is a trainer and coach who has done almost every type of creative real estate deal.  Sue is an expert in commercial, multifamily, REOs and notes, and I actually joined her commercial note training program back in 2012.  Sue was recently a g