Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing

Are you ready to take your first steps towards financial independence through apartment building investing? Do you want to learn from the experiences of those who've journeyed before you?Join us on this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, where we dive deep into the art of multifamily investing and achieving the ultimate goal: financial independence.Our guest, Rich Hamilton, transitioned from a flourishing career as a mortgage broker to become a financially free real estate investor. Rich shares the pivotal moments that led to leaving his W-2 job and the strategies he used to build a successful real estate portfolio.On this episode, Rich and I explore the dangers of complacency in any career and how it impedes growth and fulfillment. Rich opens up about his journey, discussing both the highs of achieving financial freedom and the complexities of not knowing what's next once financial goals are reached.Listen in as we touch on Rich's experiences, from dealing with financial freedom post-exit to his tips on continuing personal and professional growth. You'll hear how Rich overcame his initial fears and challenges, emphasizing the roles of a support team, steady momentum, and a consistent drive towards future goals.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session424/

Are you looking for innovative strategies to capture and convert leads online for your real estate investments? Todd Heitner, the mastermind behind Apartment Investor Pro, shares his two decades of experience in creating online presences for real estate investors, with a special focus on multifamily syndicators over the past decade.Throughout this episode, Todd discusses the essential components of a robust online marketing platform—from having a professional website to leveraging social media and producing valuable content. He highlights the importance of strategic planning to capture and nurture leads, employing tools like lead magnets and automated email sequences to build trust with potential investors. Todd also sheds light on the role of AI in content creation and investor interaction, offering practical tips for using technology to enhance human touchpoints.Whether you're a seasoned syndicator or just starting out, you’ll find Todd’s insights incredibly valuable for scaling your capital-raising efforts online. Don't miss this episode packed with actionable advice on establishing an effective and efficient online presence. Tune in now to learn how to boost your syndication business!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session423/

Do you love networking and meeting new people? Do you regularly spend time with high-net-worth individuals?Then you are a good fit for the capital raiser role in a multifamily general partnership.Christopher Price is the CEO of Red Fox Multifamily and Managing Member of Boost Capital Group. As both a passive and active investor, he has a portfolio of 1,200 units valued over $32.5M.With more than 20 years of experience in medical device sales, Christopher combines his network of professional connections with an outgoing personality to crush it as a capital raiser on the Boost team.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Christopher joins me to explain how he got his start with single family rentals and what inspired his transition to multifamily.Christopher describes his role as the capital raiser in a GP, discussing how he attracts and educates potential investors about real estate opportunities.Listen in to understand Christopher’s journey from passive to active apartment investor and learn how he is leveraging LinkedIn to expand his network of prospective LPs.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session422/

There’s a saying in real estate that ‘you make money when you buy.’ And while that may be true for single family rentals and flips, apartment buildings are a little different.In multifamily, you make money when you add value. When you execute your business plan. When you stick to your budget and achieve projected returns.So, what does successful asset management look like in today’s market? Jonathan and Paula Nichols are the cofounders of Apogee Capital, a multifamily syndication business that helps people invest in commercial real estate.Jonathan and Paula began their investing journey in 2018, and by 2021, they had built a portfolio of 183 units worth $15.6M. The Nichols also serve as mentors with the Michael Blank program.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Jonathan and Paula join us from Deal Maker Live to share their top takeaways from the conference and explain why 2024 is a year of opportunity in multifamily.Jonathan and Paula offer advice on raising capital in the current market and discuss why relationships are crucial in the team sport that is syndication.Listen in for insight around the characteristics of successful mentoring students and find out what it takes to manage multifamily assets well in 2024.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session421/

Wish you could get a bigger real estate deal done faster?Then you need the three freedom accelerators—the right system, the right support, and the right network.Masha Kruskal and Ahuva Druin leveraged this formula to partner on a syndication in Live Oak Florida and fast-track their success as multifamily GPs.Masha has 18 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate and international startups. Ahuva is a principal investor with expertise in value-add, buy-and-hold, and multifamily real estate.They connected as students in the Michael Blank Mentoring Program and joined forces to take on their first big multifamily deal.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Masha and Ahuva join me to discuss what inspired their interest in multifamily and why they chose our mentoring program.Masha and Ahuva describe their roles as capital raiser and deal finder, explaining how their complementary skills and commitment to the process helped them close a deal in just 30 days!Listen in for advice on overcoming limiting beliefs through mentorship and learn how Masha and Ahuva used a proven system and the Michael Blank network to accelerate their path to financial freedom.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session420/

If you’re counting on a financial advisor to grow your wealth, it’s likely that MOST of your money is in the stock market.But that’s not how ultra-high-net-worth individuals approach investing.So, what if you diversified your portfolio to include more alternative investments? Drew Kniffin is Partner and President at Nighthawk Equity, the multifamily investing arm of The Michael Blank Brands.Drew has a corporate finance and real estate investing career that spans two decades, and he is passionate about helping high-net-worth entrepreneurs invest passively in apartments.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Drew joins me to debate the pros and cons of investing in the stock market versus real estate.Drew makes the case for the stock market, explaining why you should stay engaged with Wall Street as part of a balanced portfolio.Michael discusses why he’s cynical about stocks, describing how the volatility of the market can decimate your returns over time.Listen in for insight on how HNWIs invest their money and learn how to optimize your portfolio, mitigate your risks, and grow your wealth with real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session419/

Your attorney is a key player in helping you close on any real estate deal.But the right commercial real estate attorney truly cares about you and your success. They are willing to educate you on aspects of the law you might not know and navigate problems that arise along the way. Kyle Swafford is the founder of Swafford Law, a commercial real estate law firm that represents clients in syndications, tax considerations for investors, join ventures and commercial lending.Kyle has a wealth of experience in tax law, commercial real estate law and securities compliance, working as an International Tax Consultant at Deloitte prior to building his own firm.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, we’re sharing Kyle’s conversation with Garrett Lynch on real estate law at Deal Maker Live 2024.Kyle explains what inspired his transition from tax law to real estate and how he streamlines the process of closing on a multifamily deal.Listen in for Kyle’s insight on distress in the current commercial market and learn how a good attorney can help you avoid mistakes and get your next deal across the finish line!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session418/To contact Kyle here are his details:Website: www.swaffordlawllc.comEmail: [email protected]: 404-532-9531

Is fear holding you back from investing in multifamily?Even seasoned investors like us deal with fear. The difference is, we don’t let it stop us from moving forward. But how do you expand your comfort zone? How do you feel the fear and take action anyway?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Garrett and I sit down to explain why now is the right time to invest in multifamily and ‘be greedy when others are fearful.’ We discuss how we pulled off a refinance on a variable rate property (in just 25 days!) and offer advice on how to never run out of leads for raising capital.Listen in to understand why new investors don’t have to start with single family strategies and learn how to expand your comfort zone to achieve financial freedom with multifamily real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session417/

Are you looking to build a business but don’t want to start from scratch? What if you could learn a proven system and receive support from someone who’s done it themselves?Then you might be interested in an RV rental management franchise, a business that monetizes the RV boom and helps entrepreneurs build wealth with WHEEL estate!Garr Russell is Founder and CEO of Fireside RV Rental, the Airbnb of RVs. Since its inception in 2015, Fireside has grown into a franchise with 40 locations across the country and hundreds of RVs under management.A born entrepreneur, Garr has started, scaled and sold several companies. His genius lies in understanding systems, marketing, and forging the way for others.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Garr joins us to explain how renting out his own RV inspired him to build and scale Fireside.Garr discusses how RV owners benefit from the Fireside business model and describes how franchisees learn his proven system and receive support from expert RV rental managers.Listen in for Garr’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and learn how to launch, grow and manage a successful RV rental business with other people’s RVs—no prior experience required.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session416/

Good multifamily deals have been hard to find in recent years. And Alex Cartwright was struggling to compete with more experienced investors.He was looking for a niche that would give him a unique advantage. That’s when he met a broker at a conference who suggested converting a hotel into apartments.Alex thought it sounded like a pain in the you-know-what. But when he looked at the numbers, Alex realized that the problems were worth solving.Today, Alex is Founder and Managing Partner at Vilicus Capital, a real estate investing firm that specializes in converting hotels into affordable multifamily housing. Alex is also Associate Professor of Economics at Ferris State University, where he teaches classes on managerial economics, economic growth and international business.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Alex joins us to explain what inspired his interest in real estate as a tenured professor making six figures.Alex shares his twist on the traditional multifamily strategy, describing how he finds hotels that can be purchased cheaply in growing markets and converts them into workforce housing.Listen in for insight into Alex’s first deal as lead GP of a hotel conversion and learn how to find your niche as an investor to achieve financial freedom with real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session415/

Here at Nighthawk Equity, we haven’t done a multifamily deal in 18 months.So, we were excited to find what looked like an ideal opportunity in Atlanta. And two months ago, we got the deal under contract.But after spending $15,000 in the due diligence process, we ultimately decided to walk away.What went wrong?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, I sit down with my partners at Nighthawk, Drew Kniffin and Garrett Lynch, to debrief on the deal we didn’t do.We explain what we liked about the deal, describing what made it a textbook value-add opportunity and how we planned to renovate the units and upgrade several amenities in the community.Listen in for insight into the issues we discovered in the due diligence process and learn how to stick to your investment criteria and protect your investors by walking away from a bad deal!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session414/

You don’t know what you don’t know. And if you’re doing your very first multifamily acquisition, every little thing that comes up can seem insurmountable.But if you have the support of a mentor, they can talk you through those obstacles, prevent rookie mistakes, and alleviate your concerns as an aspiring investor.Jeremy Lemere is a successful investor and operator of multifamily, commercial, and self-storage facilities in Northeast Wisconsin. He is also a mentor with the Michael Blank program, and his investment portfolio of $15M is made up of personal investments, self-directed IRA funds, solo 401(k) funds and real estate syndications.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Jeremy joins guest host Marybeth Noonan to explain how being a student in our mentoring program helped him transition out of his W-2.Jeremy describes how he stayed connected to our network through a mastermind and eventually joined the team as a mentor, sharing his strengths in understanding finance and capital markets.Listen in for insight on playing in different asset classes for the best return and learn how a mentor can help you learn the business of being a real estate investor!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session413/

Do you feel stuck? Like you’re not making progress in life?Until my early 30s, I drifted through life. It felt like unseen forces were holding me back. And then I had a breakthrough and started living an intentional life—filled with purpose and fulfillment.What made the difference? What does it mean to live with intention? What disciplines helped me identify and pursue what really matters to me?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, I’m sharing my five clarity practices for living an intentional life.I discuss the My Perfect Day exercise that helped me start making mindful choices and walk you through my process for setting five-year, one-year and quarterly goals.Listen in for insight on scheduling Monthly Clarity Days and Weekly Strategic Time to reflect on your progress and learn how a Daily Morning Routine can help you live a more purposeful, fulfilling life!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session412/

Would David Kamara have figured out how to invest in multifamily on his own?Yes, but at a much slower pace.Working with a mentor accelerated his success. And now, the student has become the teacher.David is a seasoned investor and mentor with the Michael Blank program. With 15 years of experience in real estate, David owns 1,000-plus units across the Midwest, primarily in Michigan and Iowa.David is also a successful management consultant and sought-after advisor to C-suite executives and private equity investors. And he is fluent in five languages!On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, David joins guest host Marybeth Noonan to share his early wins as a student in our mentoring program.David describes a near-perfect deal he manages in Marquette, Michigan, and discusses how he problem-solved an unexpected situation where the property taxes on a pending deal tripled.Listen in for insight on trusting your resourcefulness as an aspiring investor and learn how a mentor like David can fast track your success in multifamily investing.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session411/

Whether you're looking to close a business deal or just improve your everyday interactions, the art of negotiation is key to getting to a YES.But what if you’re not a natural negotiator? How do you build a relationship with the person on the other side of the table? Or learn to navigate difficult conversations? On this episode of the Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Garrett is back to explain how his experience selling Cutco knives helped him become an expert negotiator. He describes how he prepares for a negotiation, discussing what it means to command the relationship and how to respond when emotions run high.Listen in for Garrett’s tips on gaining leverage in a negotiation and learn how to secure the negotiator’s edge in a legal dispute, contract negotiation or real estate deal.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session410/

Reading Rich Dad Poor Dad inspired me to build generational wealth. But the first few cashflow businesses I tried didn’t produce the passive income I expected.So, if you’re thinking about starting your real estate career with fix-and-flips or even a SFH portfolio, know that neither strategy leads to financial freedom.But can you really skip single family investing and jump right into apartments?On this episode of the podcast, I’m sharing my journey to financial freedom with real estate, explaining why I tried to earn passive income with restaurants first—and why that strategy didn’t work.I discuss why it’s impossible to scale a single-family portfolio to achieve financial freedom and describe the light bulb moment when I pivoted to multifamily investing.Listen in for insight on getting into multifamily without money or experience and learn how to skip SFH investing and start building wealth with apartments!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session409/

Whether you’re already involved in multifamily syndications, or you’re interested in getting into the space in 2024, it’s crucial to understand the market outlook.Through Nighthawk Equity, we own a 2,000-unit portfolio worth $350M. And we’re always on the lookout for new deals.That means we have insight into what’s happening in the market and what’s likely to happen in 2024.So, what are our predictions for the next 12 months of multifamily real estate? How can you leverage this information to survive and thrive as an investor in 2024?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, I’m sharing my top three headlines for the multifamily market outlook in 2024.I discuss what’s behind the ongoing operator distress in apartments and describe how the fundamentals of multifamily remain strong despite the challenges.Listen in to understand how economic headwinds are easing and learn how to take advantage of the incredible buying opportunities coming in 2024!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session408/

You want financial freedom, but it feels out of reach.Because you’re living paycheck to paycheck. And struggling to pay down consumer debt.So, how do you get from where you are now to building generational wealth?On this episode of the podcast, I’m walking you through the steps to achieving financial freedom in 2024.I explain how to get your financial house in order first, challenging you to track your current spending and build emergency savings over time.Listen in to understand why apartment investing is the key to financial freedom and learn how to create enough wealth to quit your job in the next six to 18 months!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session407/

Losing is never fun, but it’s often valuable.In fact, Garrett Lynch contends that down moments force us to pick ourselves up and close the gap between who we are and who we want to be.In addition to being my podcast cohost, Garrett Lynch serves as Director of Acquisitions and Managing Member of our investing firm, Nighthawk Equity.And his story is full of setbacks. Setbacks that pushed him to grow and take the next step in becoming a successful real estate investor.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Garrett goes solo to share his journey from troubled teen to millionaire multifamily entrepreneur.Garrett explains how he developed his #1 skill set selling Cutco knives and describes how his experience as a VIP concierge at a nightclub led him to real estate.Listen in to understand what Garrett learned from scaling a portfolio of class D properties and get his advice on finding happiness in the business of real estate investing.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session406/

It's a new year with exciting new possibilities. Which means many of us are setting goals for 2024.But why is it that New Year's resolutions usually don't work? Why can't we seem to stick to them for more than a few weeks before we fall away?And more importantly, what can we do about it?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, I’m sharing the Living Fully Compass system I recommend to crush your goals in 2024.I explain what causes most of us to fail to follow through on our goals and why it’s beneficial to share your vision with a small group of accountability partners.Listen in for insight on eliminating deadlines when you can’t control all the variables and learn how to achieve your goals by committing to the activities that lead to the outcome you want—for as long it takes!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session405/

What are the three most recession-resistant asset classes in real estate?Even in challenging economic times, multifamily, mobile home parks and self-storage perform quite well.Sergio Altomare built a portfolio of small multifamily properties while working full-time in technology for the Federal Reserve.But in 2018, Sergio was having a hard time getting deals to pencil. He anticipated a market correction and pivoted to self-storage.Today, Sergio is Cofounder and CEO of Hearthfire Holdings, a real estate private equity and development firm that manages over $50M in self-storage assets.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Sergio joins Garrett and me to discuss the benefits of investing in self-storage.Sergio describes the financing challenges he’s facing in his business right now and shares his outlook for the self-storage market moving into 2024.Listen in for Sergio’s insight on using data to find deals and find out if self-storage is the right real estate investment for you!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session404/

Passive investors are fearful in the current market environment.Many got burned by rising interest rates, and they’re skittish about putting more money into the real estate market right now.But we know that there are big opportunities coming in 2024. And Warren Buffet encourages us to ‘be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful.’So, how do you position a deal to investors who may have lost money in multifamily? Can you still raise capital at scale—even when it’s not a popular time to invest?Bronson Hill is CEO of Bronson Equity, where he has raised over $20M for real estate ventures and served as GP for a portfolio valued at more than $150M.An advocate for helping others achieve financial freedom through passive investing, Bronson educates aspiring investors through his podcast and new book, Fire Yourself: Replace Your Working Income with Passive Income in 3 Years or Less.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Bronson joins Garrett and me to explain how he raises money at scale through his online marketing platform.Bronson shares the inspiration behind his book, Fire Yourself, and discusses the common mistakes passive investors make.Listen in for Bronson’s insight on vetting deals in new asset classes and learn how to position a multifamily deal to investors and raise money in a challenging market environment.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session403/

Financial freedom opens you up to live a life of significance.To pursue passions that may or may not generate any revenue. To do volunteer work or support causes you believe in.For me, that cause is Uganda Counseling and Support Services or UCSS, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life in remote communities of Uganda.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Drew Kniffin joins me to discuss our involvement with UCSS, describing how I met its founder, Dr. Ronald Kaluya, and what differentiates the organization from other nonprofits. Drew asks me why I trust Dr. Kaluya and his team, and I explain how UCSS measures the impact of donor dollars in the communities we serve.Listen in to understand the vision for UCSS moving forward and learn how you can get involved by sponsoring a student or becoming a legacy partner in the ministry!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session402/

Most real estate investors being their journey while they’re working a W-2.But many hesitate to step away from the perceived security of their regular job, even after they’ve replaced their living expenses.Others achieve financial freedom, leave the rat race, and then feel lost because they don’t have a sense of purpose.So, what is the best way to transition from a W-2 to full-time entrepreneurship?In addition to being a distinguished psychiatrist and mother of four, Dr. Elaine Stageberg is Cofounder and CEO of Black Swan Real Estate.Elaine is a sought-after national presenter and investment thought leader, and she owns and operates a multifamily portfolio of 1,300 units.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Elaine joins Garrett Lynch to share her transition from psychiatry and healthcare administration to full-time real estate investor.Elaine offers advice on preparing to leave your W-2, challenging us to simultaneously work toward our objective freedom number and the more subjective inner freedom it takes to make the leap.Listen in for Elaine’s insight on elevating yourself to the next level of success and learn how to connect with investors who are ahead of you on the journey to financial freedom with real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session401/

What were the top AHA moments on Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing in 2023?As the year comes to an end, it’s time for a highlight reel of our most inspiring moments on the podcast in the last 12 months.On this Best of 2023 episode, we revisit our conversation with Faisal Ensuan and Dr. Sheri Fluellan on why real estate syndicators need the right coach and reflect on Joseph Kimbrough’s advice around building relationships with high-net-worth investors.We look back at Marc Rutzen’s insight on using AI for asset management, Chris Pomerleau’s guidance on overcoming imposter syndrome and Nicole Gauthier’s suggestions for connecting with a real estate investing mentor.We also share wisdom from Rachel Richards on the value of financial independence, Ross Hamilton on successfully pivoting a real estate company, and Jon Jasniak on land flipping with no friction.Listen in for Matt King’s advice on choosing a peer group that will help you level up and get free coaching from our top guests on Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing in 2023!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session400/

There are risks associated with running short-term rentals, especially when your Airbnb units are in a multifamily building.But Syed Lateef has found a way to scale a STR business in apartment buildings.And the landlords don’t just ALLOW Syed to rent their units, they WELCOME it.Syed stands out in the world of short-term rentals, currently managing a portfolio of 300 units with a dedicated team of 50-plus employees.Syed’s business earns over $30,000 a day, allowing him to give back by providing clean water wells to communities in need.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Syed joins us to explain how he replaced his W-2 income with short-term rentals.Syed discusses his rental arbitrage business model, describing what he does to mitigate the risks of renting multifamily units on Airbnb and how he helps landlords solve vacancy issues. Listen in for insight into the risks of running a STR business and learn how Syed achieved financial freedom with Airbnbs in apartments.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session399/

I'm not really a big fan of flipping anything. I flipped three dozen houses early in my real estate career. But couldn't figure out how to turn that into a financial freedom business. That's why I switched to apartments. And I am convinced that apartments are the number one way to become financially free with real estate.But Travis King found a way to earn passive income with land flipping. How does that work?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Travis joins us to discuss how he finds and finances off-market vacant land deals.Travis explains how he gets top dollar on land when he sells it, earning a nice return for investors and interest income for himself through seller financing.Listen in for insight on raising outside money to land bigger deals and learn how long it takes to replace your W-2 income with land flipping!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session398/

Mark Khuri’s real estate business survived the crash of 2008. And the lessons he learned through that experience can help us take advantage of similar circumstances in the current market.But how do you find good deals in tough times? Can you reduce risk without reducing expected returns?Mark is Cofounder of SMK Capital Management, a family-owned investment firm that focuses on providing diversified offerings and attractive returns via income-producing commercial real estate.With 17 years of real estate investing experience, Mark has executed over $1 billion in deals in a variety of asset classes.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Mark joins us to discuss how he leveraged networking to make it through the Great Recession.Mark describes his transition from sponsor and operator of a SFH portfolio to raising capital for mobile home parks, self-storage and large multifamily deals.Listen in for insight around Mark’s process for vetting operators and learn what you should be looking for in a good deal right now!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session397/

Wherever you are in the process of building a company (real estate or otherwise), it’s important to consider your exit strategy.Because even if you don’t plan on selling your business anytime soon, that pushes you to eliminate yourself from the day-to-day and move into what we call the owner’s box.So, what does it look like to position your company to sell? And how do you benefit from building a business that runs without you?Ross Hamilton is the former CEO of Connected Investor, the real estate technology platform he scaled and sold to Fortune 100 Company First American.Today, he is planning a mountain biking trip to Peru and building Saving Homes, a nonprofit that is disrupting affordable housing.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Ross joins us to discuss how he positioned Connected Investor to sell and why First American was the right buyer at the right time. Ross shares what he learned in ten years of scaling Connected Investor and walks us through his ‘lifeboat strategy’ for transitioning into the next chapter of your life.Listen in to understand how Saving Homes is helping people leverage real estate to escape poverty and get Ross’ advice on architecting an exit strategy for your real estate investing business!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session396/

Is your corporate job making you miserable?Are you tired of giving everything to your company for eight hours (or more) and being too exhausted to spend quality time with your family at the end of the day?What if you could get rid of those golden handcuffs with real estate?Brooke Ceballos-Pinero has not only achieved financial freedom through real estate, but she is also dedicated to empowering others on their path to prosperity.After 20 years in corporate America, Brooke left her W-2 just two weeks ago and went all-in on herself, growing the Multifamily Momentum coaching program and Real Women in Real Estate book project.On this episode of the podcast, Brooke describes her frustrations with corporate America and shares the game plan she used to leave her 9-to-5 for real estate.Brooke discusses the societal messaging that keeps women from pursuing multifamily, explaining why she’s committed to inspiring people in marginalized communities to build wealth with real estate.Listen in for Brooke’s advice on planning your own exit from the corporate world and get inspired to achieve financial freedom with real estate—no matter who you are or where you come from! For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session395/

Robert Martinez has been a successful real estate investor for more than a decade. But he made headlines recently when MF1 Capital foreclosed on one of his Houston properties.So, how did it happen? What factors contributed to Robert losing the first deal of his career?Robert is the visionary syndicator behind Rockstar Capital, a multifamily investing firm with a portfolio of 21 apartment communities encompassing 3,762 rental units.In 10 years, Robert has led the underwriting, acquisition and management of 30 multifamily properties, and he is the only two-time National Apartment Association Independent Rental Owner of the Year.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate, Robert describes the perfect storm that led to his first foreclosure, discussing how the Fed rate hikes impacted his business.Robert explains why hiring a third-party management company for help backfired and shares what he did to try and save the deal—and why it didn’t work.Listen in to understand how Robert benefited from being transparent with investors and learn what he is doing to regain their trust before he expands the Rockstar portfolio.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session394/

Former Marine Joseph Kimbrough was a successful wholesaler, but the work was a constant grind.Joseph realized that to achieve financial freedom, what he needed was equity. And he was already comfortable pitching investors on big-ticket wholesale dealsSo, Joseph started building a fund, raising capital from high-net-worth individuals and investing that money in multifamily deals run by the best operators in the business.Today, Joseph is Founder and Fund Manager at Apex Real Estate Investments, a privately held equity investment company that invests in multifamily in the Southeast US.To date, Joseph has built a portfolio of 592 doors worth $150M, and he is also a TEDx Speaker and esteemed member of the Forbes Real Estate Council.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate, Joseph shares his ‘dream team’ approach to investing with top syndicators and describes the challenges he faced raising capital early on.Joseph explains what he learned in the Marines that applies to real estate and offers advice on connecting with high-net-worth investors—both in person and online.Listen in to understand how Joseph is inspired by his trips to East Africa and learn how real estate can give YOU the location and time freedom to travel abroad!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session393/

Mario Rapaj has been in our mentoring program for nine months now, but he hasn’t closed his first deal.And he’s frustrated.So, what’s holding Mario back?Is he doing the right activities? Does he have any limiting beliefs? What can he do to get unstuck and finally become a GP?Mario is Founder of Tex-Alb Real Estate Investment Group, a syndication business headquartered in Dallas, Texas. He has an LP portfolio of 375 multifamily units and owns several single-family properties.Mario is driven to improve the quality of life in the communities where he invests and help passive investors build generational wealth.On this Business Boost coaching session, Mario shares his challenges in finding deals that fit his criteria and getting investors to commit in the current market.I ask Mario what he’s doing to raise capital, offering advice around how to get more investor leads and connect with partners who specialize in raising money.Listen in for insight on finding a mentor to support your investing journey and learn how to stay the course and take consistent daily action to achieve financial freedom with real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session392/

Ed Hermsen’s first multifamily deal fell in his lap, and he got it done fast.But because that initial success came somewhat easy, Ed hadn’t taken the time to work on his mindset.He didn’t have a morning routine. He hadn’t practiced writing down his goals. And no one was holding him accountable to take the next steps.That’s why it took Ed a full two years to buy his second apartment building!Ed is a former mortgage banker turned full-time real estate investor with a portfolio of four multifamily properties and two RV parks.He is also the creator of Campground Ventures, a YouTube channel designed to educate investors on the ins and outs of RV parks.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate, Ed explains why he’s the exception to the Law of the First Deal and describes what he did to get back into multifamily investing.Ed opens up about why he’s self-funded all his deals so far, and we challenge him to overcome his fears around real estate syndications.Listen in for Ed’s insight on the benefits of investing in RV parks and learn why you need MINDSET plus ACTION to grow your portfolio and achieve financial freedom with real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session391/

Andrew Elio is a 22-year-old recent college graduate, but he already knows that he doesn’t want to work for someone else the rest of his life.That’s what motivated him to join our Deal Maker Certification program a month ago. At the same time, he started working a full-time job.How is Andrew juggling both responsibilities? What’s he struggling with? What progress has he made so far?And what’s the most important thing Andrew can do to accelerate his success?On this edition of Business Boost with Michael Blank, Andrew shares his anxiety around talking to brokers, and we discuss the role of practice in building confidence.Andrew describes how he got into the habit of taking consistent action every day, and I discuss the benefits of networking with the Deal Maker Mastermind community.Listen in as I address Andrew’s questions about what a loan covers (and what it doesn’t) and offer advice on finding an experienced mentor to fast-track his journey to financial freedom!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session390/

Sudhir Jarajapu took the first steps on his multifamily investing journey and invested in our mentoring program.But then he got off track.In fact, it took Sudhir nine months to work through the first 90 days of the program!So, what got in the way? And what did Sudhir do to get back in the game?Welcome to the first of our Business Boost with Michael Blank series on Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, where I do a live coaching session with a new syndicator!On this episode of the podcast, Sudhir explains what inspired his interest in multifamily investing and why he chose to pursue mentoring with the Michael Blank organization.Sudhir describes how he struggled to make time for the mentoring program at first and shares how both his mentor and his family eventually held him accountable to take action.Listen in as I ask Sudhir what he needs support with right now, and we design an action plan to help him achieve financial freedom with real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session389/

It took Chris Pomerleau four years to realize he didn’t have to replace toilets himself and another four years to realize he didn’t have to do his own books.That’s when Chris went from simply doing deals to building a real estate business.So, why does it take most investors so long to scale? And what can YOU do to achieve financial freedom much faster?Chris is Cofounder of LeavenWealth Capital, a real estate investment firm out of Omaha, Nebraska, with 2,700 multifamily units totaling $211M in assets under management.Chris also serves as Cofounder and VP of Investment Strategy at Rayven, a Reg A investment business committed to fighting climate change by way of net-zero apartment buildings.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Chris joins me to discuss how he got his start using the BRRRR method with SFHs—until he realized it wasn’t scalable.Chris explains how he grew his real estate business, describing how he made the shift from borrowing money to raising equity and why having conversations with investors outside his circle was scary at first.Listen in to understand Chris’ 50/50 approach to real estate partnerships and learn how to think about hiring not as an expense, but as an investment in your multifamily business!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session388/

Are you surrounding yourself with people who will get you to the next level?Five years ago, a group of seasoned multifamily investors got together and established a Mastermind to support each other as we scale our real estate businesses.And I’m proud to be part of that group with Matt Faircloth, who’s been in real estate full-time since 2005Matt serves as Owner of DeRosa Group, a multifamily investing firm with a portfolio of 1,800-plus units and $150 million in assets under management.Matt is also the author of the Amazon bestseller Raising Private Capital: Build Your Real Estate Investing Empire with Other People’s Money.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Matt and I discuss the opportunities we see coming in the multifamily market.Matt describes the properties in his portfolio that are doing well versus the properties that are struggling, and we brainstorm strategies for dealing with rising insurance rates for multifamily.Listen in as Matt shares his vision for scaling DeRosa Group and learn about the personal disciplines that contribute to his success!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session387/

Chad Schieler saw himself as the numbers guy, so he let partners handle the task of raising money for his first big real estate syndication.But his team was short. At closing, they had $1M of a $1.4M raise, and Chad had to take out a bridge loan to cover the rest.That experience inspired Chad to overcome his limiting beliefs around raising money and take his syndication business to the next level.Today, he is Founder and Principal at Focused Capital, a multifamily firm that helps busy professionals generate passive income and create wealth through real estate investing.After 17 years running a successful credit card processing service business, Chad became a full-time real estate investor. He is a GP on 139 units and LP on 900-plus!On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Chad explains what he struggled with early in his real estate career, describing his fears of asking for money and the flaw in his underwriting formula.Chad discusses how investing in a mentor gave him the confidence to take on bigger multifamily deals and shares his approach to building a team as he scales.Listen in for Chad’s advice on fast-tracking your path to financial freedom and learn how to overcome your limiting beliefs around raising capital and start sharing the opportunity to invest in real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session386/

Does your business feel like a black hole?Are you feeding it all your time, energy and money? But it just keeps sucking away?Too many business owners get to the end of their career and don’t have much to show for it, selling for next to nothing or simply letting the business fade away.But what if you could leverage your business profits to build personal wealth?Todd Polke is an international educator and trainer in the realm of wealth creation and building strategic investment portfolios.Todd is dedicated to the mission of helping as many people as possible break free from the default and ‘live a life unlimited by income.’On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Todd explains the idea behind his Profits to Portfolio system and how it helps business owners grow their personal wealth.Todd shares how Australia’s real estate market compares to the US, offering advice on how to navigate the current downturn and prepare to capitalize on opportunities coming down the pike.Listen in for Todd’s insight on avoiding emotional investment decisions and learn how to leverage a diversified portfolio to build personal wealth—and a lasting legacy.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session385/

We all go through challenging life experiences, be it the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, or painful divorce.And the last thing we need in those circumstances is to worry about money.But what is the best way to build the kind of passive income you need to make it through tough times without stressing about finances?Rachel Richards is the creator of Money Honey, a financial education platform that helps young women manage their money effectively and achieve financial freedom.Rachel achieved her own financial independence at the age of 27 with a portfolio of 38 rental units, and she is the bestselling author of Money Honey and Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Rachel explains how she and her then-husband leveraged real estate to reach a passive income goal of $10,000 a month in just three years.Rachel shares her definition of financial independence and describes how it gave her the opportunity to escape to Italy and heal from a painful divorce.Listen in for Rachel’s insight on rebuilding after a challenging life experience and learn how real estate can give you the financial independence to pursue what you love!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session384/

Asset management can be a real challenge for multifamily operators, especially if you’re managing properties from a distance.If a site is not working, how do you figure out what’s wrong? Is it the staff? Are rents too high? Do you have too many work orders?The good news is, new AI tools can give GPs transparency around what’s going on—helping us set pricing, manage expenses and optimize the performance of our real estate assets.Marc Rutzen is Cofounder and CEO of HelloData.ai, a game-changing platform that is using data science to transform the world of proptech.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Marc joins us to explain why the HelloData team decided to take on asset management.Marc discusses the weaknesses of traditional revenue management software, describing how HelloData leverages AI to address those problems.Listen in for Marc’s insight on the potential dangers of AI and learn how HelloData can help you analyze numbers effectively, evaluate your operations and optimize your real estate portfolio!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session383/

A multifamily operator in Houston recently lost 3,200 units to foreclosure.Is that a sign of calamity to come? Or can we learn from their mistakes and ask better questions before we invest in our next syndication?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, I walk you through nine important questions to ask before you invest in your next multifamily syndication.I explain why not-so-good operators (what I like to call NSGOs) are struggling in the current multifamily market and how to differentiate an NSGO from a capable one.Listen in to understand why it’s a mistake to sit on the sidelines until the real estate market changes and learn how to find great deals right now for pennies on the dollar!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session382/

Caleb Johnson’s mother had just had surgery and was living off savings while she recovered.But after three months, she wasn’t healed and had to make an impossible decision: Return to work in excruciating pain or prolong retirement by several years.Inspired to help his mother financially and achieve financial freedom himself, Caleb started investing in real estate at the age of 18.Today, he is the 25-year-old Founder of Red Sea Capital Group, and Caleb has a $9 million real estate portfolio of 117 units.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Caleb joins us to explain how he started his real estate journey with a house hack and then partnered to invest in bigger multifamily deals.Caleb discusses why it was harder to raise money than he thought and challenges newbie investors to have an experienced partner verify our underwriting early on.Listen in for Caleb’s insight on persevering through roadblocks and learn where to find partners with the capital and knowhow to help you get a deal done—regardless of your age!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session381/

So, you’ve got some money set aside to jumpstart your real estate career. What should you invest in?An apartment building? Mobile home park? Something else?The answer is no. Don't do any of those things. If you have money to invest, the first thing you should invest in YOURSELF.John Manfredy has over 30 years of real estate experience as an architect where he was responsible for design, project management and construction supervision for projects budgeted over $500 million.But when John was laid off during COVID, he transitioned to multifamily investing and development, and today, he serves as Principal at Manifest Multifamily Group.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, John joins us to explain how our mentoring program helped him transition from a W-2 to real estate quickly and avoid mistakes ‘with a lot of zeros behind them.’John describes how he raised $1.7 million in three days, challenging us to share opportunities with potential investors months in advance and build a team with skills complementary to our own.Listen in to understand the benefit of sticking with old deals and learn how John reached his real estate goals faster by investing in himself!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session380/

Scaling up a multifamily investing business starts with scaling up your capital raise.And one key strategy for expanding your investor network is to get referrals from friends and family who already invest with you.But how do you encourage your investors to talk about their experiences? How do you leverage referrals to build momentum in raising money for real estate deals?Dan Reilly and Greg Danielson are Managing Partners at Measured Capital, a private equity firm that sponsors value-add multifamily investment projects.Dan and Greg both walked away from lucrative careers for real estate, and since becoming partners in 2022, they have built a portfolio of 500-plus units.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Dan and Greg join us to explain how they overcame limiting beliefs around talking to brokers and scaling up quickly to build a successful multifamily business.Dan and Greg discuss their decision to invest in Des Moines and Jacksonville, describing how they’re gaining traction in those markets and dealing with deal flow challenges.Listen in for Dan and Greg’s approach to raising money from their network and get strategic advice on how to land referrals for investors from friends and family.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session379/

You say you want financial freedom. You want to build wealth and have money for extraordinary experiences.But if you’re doing what everyone else does, if you’re trying to save your way to wealthy, you’re never going to get results.So, what do you do if the path you’re on doesn’t lead to the outcomes you want?PJ Ghadimi is a self-made millionaire who’s taken the world of entrepreneurship by storm. He transitioned out of a lucrative but limited career in banking to build several successful businesses, including Exotic Car Hacks and Watch Trading Academy.Today, PJ is at the forefront of entrepreneurial education, helping aspiring business owners start their own venture and then grow to the next level of success.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, PJ joins us to share his journey from corporate finance to entrepreneurship and explain how he continues to scale his income exponentially.PJ offers advice on reinventing yourself in order to level up, challenging you to get better at your craft every day and focus on the person you need to become to achieve your financial goals.Listen in to understand the connection between financial freedom and fulfilling life experiences and get PJ’s practical tips for aligning your financial plan with what you say you want.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session378/

The recent foreclosure on 3,200 units in Houston has investors nervous about putting their money in multifamily.But does that default mean we should all be sitting on the sidelines?John Casmon argues that investing in apartments is a business, just like any other. And if we avoid the red flags in the Houston deal, we can (and should) continue business as usual.John is Head of Acquisitions and Investor Relations at Casmon Capital Group, a multifamily investing firm committed to helping busy professionals achieve financial freedom.John has invested in over $100 million worth of apartments, and he is passionate about consulting with active multifamily investors to help them start or grow their business.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, John joins us to discuss what mistakes the Houston operators made and how to protect yourself from a similar fate.John explains how he got started with 2- to 4-unit multifamily properties and shares the breakthrough that gave him the confidence to raise money for bigger deals.Listen in for John’s insight on overcoming low market sentiment and learn why you should still be analyzing deals and looking for opportunities in apartments right now!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session377/

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.But what if you don’t want the same life as your current sphere of influence? How do you connect with successful people who will help you level up?Matt King is CEO of GoBundance, a high-level mastermind group for high-achieving men and women who choose to lead epic lives.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, we revisit Matt’s talk at Deal Maker Live 2023 on the importance of building a powerful sphere of influence.Matt explains how to leverage the power of our subconscious mind, challenging us to create a five-year vision for our life and choose a peer group that holds us accountable to our goals.Listen in for Matt’s insight on auditing your current sphere of influence and learn how to deliver value to the people you want in your tribe!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session376/

Who is better at raising capital, extroverts or introverts?You might think extroverts have the advantage when it comes to raising money for real estate deals. But the truth is, introverts can be just as good at sourcing funds.The secret is to embrace your unique personality and approach networking with investors in a way that leverages your strengths.Mandy McAllister serves as Managing Member at Good Fortune Capital and CEO of GoBundance Women. Camilla Jeffs is Founder and CEO of Steady Stream Investments and Host of the Quiet Wealth podcast.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, we revisit Mandy and Camilla’s talk at Deal Maker Live 2023 around raising capital based on the strengths of your personality.Mandy describes what makes her good at raising capital as an extrovert, and Camilla explains how being an introvert helps her build strong one-on-one relationships with LPs.Listen in for Mandy and Camilla’s top ten tips for networking with investors and learn how to tailor these capital raising techniques to fit your distinct personality!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session375/