Straight Up Chicago Investor

How do I know if my building is in need of masonry work? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Les O'Hara, North Shore Brickwork Sponsors: North Shore Brickwork ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Michael Thorton of Compass leads a top producing real estate team serving Wheaton and surrounding Chicago suburbs! Michael kicks things off with a topic many of us have likely considered; leaving a W2 job to become an entrepreneur and start a business! He explains the challenges of getting the ball rolling and identifies low-hanging fruit that new agents can target to jump start their business. Michael explains how new investors can bring value to seasoned investors for potential partnership opportunities. As a Wheaton real estate expert, he speaks to the financial returns and offerings Wheaton can provide to investors! Throughout the show, Michael emphasizes the importance of truely having clients' and other people's best interest to build lasting relationships that will explode your business! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Michael Thornton, Compass - The Michael Thornton Team Link: Michael's Instagram Link: Codie Sanchez (Self-Development Recommendation) Link: James Clear Newsletter ----------------- Guest Questions 04:08 Housing Provider Tip: Non-paying tenants will come back to units if they have valuables there; facilitate access to prevent break ins! 05:27 Intro to our guest, Michael Thornton! 10:22 Getting bit by the entrepreneurial bug. 13:24 How to start building a real estate business? 24:52 How to partner on a deal? 32:11 The future of real estate brokers. 35:16 Investing in Wheaton! 40:17 Michael's real estate team! 42:08 What is Michael's competitive advantage? 42:52 One piece of advice for new investors. 43:06 What do you do for fun? 43:30 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 44:20 Local Network Recommendation? 44:56 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Ben Smith and Kristen Lopez break down how Rescover's All-in-One Analysis Platform can be your competitive edge to find off-market deals and maximize your ROI! Ben and Kristen lead off with the basics and low-hanging fruit investors must be aware of when planning an off-market property campaign. They discuss the power of leveraging resources; from utilizing Rescover and skip tracing to implementing "Who, Not How". They dive deep into cold calling and tracking off-market leads to increase your success rate. Throughout the show, Ben and Kristen share valuable insight on the mindset and approach required to get you your next Off-Market Deal! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Ben Smith and Kristen Lopez of Rescover Link: Buy Your Time Back (Book Recommendation) Link: SUCI Ep 195 - Victoria Barkate Link: Ryan Holiday Books Link: zInspector Sponsors: Pentwater Cabinetry and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 02:39 Housing Provider Tip: Ensure you have a registered agent as a point of contact in your LLC! 03:35 Intro to our guests, Ben Smith and Kristen Lopez! 13:20 Low Hanging Fruit to start prospecting! 17:13 Implementing "Who, Not How"! 22:35 What is skip tracing? 30:12 Approaches to cold calling. 39:11 Tracking off-market leads. 41:50 What is Rescover? 47:34 What is Ben's and Kristen's competitive advantage? 48:37 One piece of advice for new investors. 49:18 What do you do for fun? 49:48 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 50:40 Local Network Recommendation? 51:02 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

What will interest rates do over the next 6-12 months? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Chris Puleo, Puleo Group Link: Episode 130: Chicago Mortgage Lending in this Inflationary Environment with Chris Puleo Sponsors: Puleo Group ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Jason Wagner is the Managing Broker of Greystone Realty; a brokerage where every agent is also an investor. If you don't already know, Jason is a huge proponent of 75 Hard, and he explains the program and the amazing impact it's had on his life! He breaks down how he started and continues to invest in Portage Park and Jefferson Park. Jason dives deep into the housing supply shortage, recent trends in inventory, and projects what could be on the horizon. Jason closes by discussing Greystone Realty and the Wagner Report and how they are adding huge value to Chicago Real Estate Investors! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Jason Wagner, Greystone Realty Link: Jason's Instagram Link: Traction (Book Recommendation) Link: SUCI Ep 43 - RJ and Nicky De Leon Link: SUCI Ep 82 - Property People Sponsors: Pentwater Cabinetry and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:52 Housing Provider Tip: End leases at noon, instead of midnight, to allow time for turnover! 05:11 Intro to our guest, Jason Wagner! 06:33 Jason explains 75 Hard! 11:05 Jason breaks down investing in Portage and Jefferson Park! 20:00 Discussing months of supply and the supply shortage over the last few years. 31:12 What drew Jason to Belmont Cragin? 36:18 Valuation of 2-4 units vs 5+ units. 40:24 Concept of an investment-minded brokerage! 45:14 How did Jason develop the Wagner Report? 47:00 What is Jason's competitive advantage? 47:22 One piece of advice for new investors. 48:34 What do you do for fun? 49:49 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 50:46 Local Network Recommendation? 52:25 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Curtis Lefebvre shares why he left New York for the Windy City to start investing in Real Estate! Curtis jumps right in by getting granular on acquiring and stabilizing his first househack in East Garfield Park. He discusses everything from dealing with problem tenants to DYI'ing renovations. He dives into the numbers of his killer househack which allows him to not only live for free, but also cash flow while living there! Curtis defines the borders of the neighborhood, and with Mark's input, talks about the differences between East and West Garfield Park. Curtis justifies betting big on East Garfield Park by sharing his bullish outlook on the neighborhood! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Curtis Lefebvre | E-mail Link: Brian Lindstrom (Lender Referral) Link: SUCI Ep 195 - Victoria Barkate Sponsors: Build Your Team and NEGC Remodeling ----------------- Guest Questions 03:02 Housing Provider Tip: Processes to prevent loss of lock keys and codes! 04:21 Intro to our guest, Curtis Lefebvre! 07:03 How did Curtis decide on which Chicago neighborhoods to invest in? 11:48 Curtis' experience acquiring his first rental property in Chicago! 21:39 Dealing with problem tenants. 25:30 DYI'ing renovations on the first property! 32:39 Curtis' bullish outlook on East Garfield Park! 36:04 Borders of East Garfield Park and Going West of the Park! 39:03 What is Curtis' competitive advantage? 39:28 One piece of advice for new investors. 39:40 What do you do for fun? 40:13 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 40:36 Local Network Recommendation? 41:17 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

What Are Five Items Every Investor Should Address in Their Attorney Review Letter? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Chance Badertscher, Lavelle Law Sponsors: Lavelle Law ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

The Mad Scientist of Multifamily, Neal Bawa, returns to the show to share the latest data trends and his outlook on the Real Estate market! Neal jumps right in by summarizing changes in the real estate market over the last 18 months. He explains how his underwriting has changed as a result of market conditions. Neal gives a warning to those investing in office-space and talks about the challenges of converting office-space to residential. Neal concludes by telling us why he's putting his money into Build-to-Rent townhomes, the "next evolution of the Single Family Home!" If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Neal Bawa, Grocapitus Link: SUCI Ep 26 - Neal's 1st Episode Link: SUCI Ep 110 - Neal's 2nd Episode Link: Grocapitus Website Link: Multifamily University Webinars | Free eBook: Location Magic | Join Our Investor Club Sponsors: North Shore Brickwork and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 02:32 Housing Provider Tip: Don't forget to set time aside daily for personal growth! 04:04 Intro to our guest, Neal Bawa! 04:52 What has happened in the real estate market over the last 18 months? 14:32 Discussing previous high-inflation periods! 23:45 How has Neal's underwriting changed given the market conditions? 29:28 Is it worth putting more money down to increase cash flow? 34:48 The future of office space! 43:18 Why Neal is bullish on Build-to-Rent! 52:22 Neal's revised outlook on tokenization. 54:24 What is Neal's competitive advantage? 54:56 One piece of advice for new investors. 55:54 What do you do for fun? 56:15 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 57:24 Local Network Recommendation? 57:49 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Baris Yuksel, Supreme Capital Link: Multifamily Insights Podcast Link: Baris' LinkedIn Link: John Warren SUCI Ep 196 (Network Referral) Sponsors: Pentwater Cabinetry and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:25 Housing Provider Tip: Understand Gross vs Net Income when screening tenants! 05:16 Intro to our guest, Baris 10:20 Why did Boris start with a mixed-use building? 19:31 Establishing a Geographical Focus and Finding Capital to Scale! 22:11 Self-Managing a Growing Portfolio. 31:39 Discussion on different Chicago neighborhoods! 37:15 Baris' outlook on Chicago Real Estate! 40:22 What is Baris' competitive advantage? 40:45 One piece of advice for new investors. 41:19 What do you do for fun? 41:37 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 42:08 Local Network Recommendation? 42:52 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

What's new with the NBOA and how can the NBOA assist small-mid size housing providers? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Michael Glasser, NBOA Link: EUBA Chicago Facebook Link: South Side Community Investors Association Facebook Link: https://lreic.org/ Link: https://lincolnparkbuilders.com/ Link: https://www.rpbg.org/ Link: https://www.chicagonsbc.com/ Link: https://www.southsidebuilderschicago.com/ Sponsors: Pentwater Cabinetry and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Michaela Gordon is a seasoned Realtor and Designer with over 10 years of experience acquiring and renovating properties in Chicago! Michaela kicks things off by talking about her background in architecture and design. She explains the significance of the different Chicago lot sizes and their impact on a building's footprints and redevelopment potential. Michaela also compares Chicago architecture to Los Angeles' architecture. She drops golden insight on modernizing units on a budget and also lays out improvements that are NOT worth the ROI. Michaela closes with powerful words on the value that investment-minded realtors offer and gives her outlook on the Real Estate market! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Michaela Gordon, MG Home Chicago Link: MG Homes Instagram Link: Brandon Hood Instagram (Network Referral) Link: Per My Last Email (Michaela's Podcast) Sponsors: Cost Seg Kev and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 02:49 Housing Provider Tip: Understand Source of Income and other protected classes when screening tenants! 04:54 Intro to our guest, Michaela Gordon! 07:38 Michaela's real estate origin story! 11:32 Chicago Lot Sizes and their importance. 17:52 Modernizing units on a budget. 28:06 Property Improvements that are NOT worth it! 30:29 How can real estate brokers be more investment-minded? 35:32 Michaela's outlook on the real estate market! 40:20 What is Michaela's competitive advantage? 41:08 One piece of advice for new investors. 41:17 What do you do for fun? 41:57 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 43:20 Local Network Recommendation? 44:04 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Kevin Greer joins us to break down Community Banks, Commercial Lending, and the State of the Lending Market! Kevin explains the differences between Regional Banks and Community Banks. You'll learn how you can build and leverage a relationship with your local Community Bank. He also shares how his investor mindset and strategy have changed throughout his years of investing. Then, Kevin tells us his outlook on the lending market and how investors should prepare! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Kevin Greer, Bank Financial Link: [email protected] (Mark Wilczak - Secure Choice Property Inspector) Link: BISNOW Article Sponsors: NEGC Remodeling and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:02 Housing Provider Tip: Monitor the temperature on boiler buildings as the weather warms up! 05:32 Intro to our guest, Kevin Greer! 08:15 Kevin discusses the state of the lending market! 10:04 Ins and outs of a Community Bank. 14:15 How to build a relationship with a Community Bank? 21:32 How do banks stay afloat when business slows? 22:43 How has Kevin's investing mindset changed over the years? 26:32 Where in Chicago is Kevin seeing the most real estate activity? 32:18 DSCR and commercial loan underwriting! 41:32 Kevin's outlook on the lending market. 45:45 What is Kevin's competitive advantage? 46:08 One piece of advice for new investors. 46:35 What do you do for fun? 47:01 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 48:14 Local Network Recommendation? 49:05 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

What is the Chicago Real Estate Rumble and how can I participate, attend, or donate? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Ryan Cotter, The Mortgage Corp Link: Fighter Orientation - Chicago Real Estate Rumble 2023 Link: Real Estate Rumble Series Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Brian Basic is a seasoned investor with experience ranging from Condo Deconversions to Buy and Hold Rentals! Brian starts by explaining the origins of his family's REI business and the lessons learned from his wide range of investing experience. Next is a deep dive on the differences between being a landlord in the City of Chicago compared to the Suburbs. Brian discusses his geographical areas of expertise including West Lawn, Garfield Ridge, and other areas surrounding Midway airport! Throughout the show, Brian emphasizes the power of buy and hold real estate and encourages newbies to get started to begin leveraging the benefits! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Brian Basic, OAC Management Link: https://www.chicagobusiness.com/ Link: Attorney Recommendation Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:16 Housing Provider Tip: Ensure your leases are compliant with the latest laws this leasing season! 05:31 Intro to our guest, Brian Basik! 07:24 How did Brian and his family get started in REI? 13:28 Brian's Lessons Learned! 19:34 What is Brian's REI focus today? 22:01 Land-lording in the City vs Suburbs! 24:19 Positive momentum in West Lawn and surrounding neighborhoods! 34:30 How have Brian and his team set up property management? 38:22 Where does Brian want to be 10 years from now? 42:07 What is Brian's competitive advantage? 42:28 One piece of advice for new investors. 43:07 What do you do for fun? 43:24 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 44:05 Local Network Recommendation? 44:32 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Roger starts by discussing how he found a niche in New Construction and jumps into lessons learned throughout the years. Leaning on his decades of investing experience, he's able to provide insight on red flags leading up to the last housing crash and discuss the emergence of north side neighborhoods like Uptown, Edgewater, and Buena Park. Roger breaks down how he identifies areas where new construction is profitable and summarizes the key players of your real estate investing team. Roger closes by pulling out the crystal ball and sharing a bullish outlook on Chicago! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Roger Luri, LD2 Development Link: Roger's LinkedIn Link: Don't Buy Multi-Family! BUILD IT (Roger's Book) Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and NEGC Remodeling ----------------- Guest Questions 02:24 Housing Provider Tip: Leverage Google Earth as a due diligence tool when purchasing property! 04:19 Intro to our guest, Roger Luri! 07:41 Finding a niche in new construction! 11:28 What red flags did Roger notice leading up to the last housing crash? 14:39 Working with neighborhood groups when redeveloping property! 16:24 Seeing Development in Uptown, Edgewater, and other North Side Neighborhoods! 21:42 Determining locations where new construction is profitable. 25:46 Keys to building a solid real estate team! 32:00 Roger compares rehabs and new construction! 41:02 How to set up Joint Ventures? 43:25 Roger's outlook on Chicago! 46:45 What is Roger's competitive advantage? 47:44 One piece of advice for new investors. 48:31 What do you do for fun? 49:12 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 50:17 Local Network Recommendation? 51:02 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

What is the future of rent control in Illinois and what are the implications based on rent control from other cities? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Mike Baker & Mike Hagensen | New Era Chicago | NBOAChicago Link: Why Rent Control Doesn't Work - Freakonomics Link: Vacant, Rent-Stabilized and Locked Up: NYC's Ghost Apartments Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Ignacio Gonzalez joins us to explain everything you need to know about the neighborhood he was born and raised in, and currently invests in; Back of the Yards! Ignacio jumps right in by explaining how he started investing in the neighborhood and defines its geographical borders. He shares lessons learned from his first (over budget and over schedule) rehab project and other large gut renovations that he's taken on. He provides insight on the explosive growth of property and rent values along with his forecast of Back of the Yards' trajectory. Throughout the show, Ignacio emphasizes the importance of knowing your community and the satisfaction that comes with being a contributing member to a community's growth! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Ignacio Gonzalez, Beyond Legacy Homes Link: SUCI Ep 202 - Ben Sussman Link: Living with the Monks (Book Recommendation) Link: Beyond Legacy Website Link: Beyond Legacy Instagram Link: Dream Catcher Cafe Website Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:08 Housing Provider Tip: Be mindful of tenant notice requirements and plan accordingly! 05:28 Intro to our guest, Ignacio Gonzalez! 06:17 How did Ignacio get started in Back of the Yards? 08:17 What are the borders of the Back of the Yards neighborhood? 10:55 Ignacio discusses his return to Back of the Yards! 18:30 What motivated Ignacio to keep going after his rocky first project? 24:27 Ignacio discusses rent growth in Back of the Yards! 28:34 Lessons learned from large rehab jobs. 38:38 How is Ignacio influencing his peers to invest in Back of the Yards? 40:25 Ignacio discusses his upcoming coffee shop! 44:15 What is Ignacio's competitive advantage? 44:40 One piece of advice for new investors. 45:05 What do you do for fun? 45:32 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 46:24 Local Network Recommendation? 47:04 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Interested in investing near a Chicagoland University to provide student housing?! Harrison Cohen joins us to share how he's built his portfolio using this model! Harrison explains why he decided to focus on student housing and the nuances of student housing near different universities, including University of Chicago, UIC, DePaul, and Loyola. Harrison dives deep on the leasing process and how it differs from leasing to market tenants. Lastly, he shares lessons learned from student housing investments including underwriting tips and advice on pivoting when things don't go as planned! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Harrison Cohen, Triton Realty Group Link: SUCI Ep 22 - Matt Fritzshall Link: Crushing It in Apartments and Commercial Real Estate (Book Recommendation) Link: Chris Titcomb (Attorney) Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 04:07 Housing Provider Tip: Be mindful of incorrect tax exemptions being applied to your property! 06:25 Intro to our guest, Harrison Cohen! 07:07 Why focus on student housing? 09:38 How is student housing different from standard rentals? 11:38 Harrison discusses housing for University of Chicago students! 20:20 Harrison talks about student housing near UIC! 26:41 How to succeed with student housing near DePaul University? 29:13 Are there investment opportunities near Loyola University? 30:38 Harrison gets granular on the leasing process for student housing! 38:45 Does the Chicago RLTO apply to student housing? 48:00 What is Harrison's competitive advantage? 48:24 One piece of advice for new investors. 49:00 What do you do for fun? 49:40 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 51:25 Local Network Recommendation? 51:57 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

What should I expect when I hire a contractor for my first remodel? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Matthew Nosal, NEGC Remodeling ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Do short term, mid term, and new construction rentals interest you?! Andrew Holmes provides great insight on how he's been utilizing all of these investment vehicles to grow his portfolio! Andrew kicks things off by discussing the differences between today's real estate market and the 2012 market when he got started in real estate. He transitions into the new construction development that he and his group have been working on in Florida. Andrew explains how he's been able to explode his cash-flow with short term and mid term rentals while remaining conservative in the underwriting of those investments. He closes with his thoughts on today's interest rate environment, the opportunities that those rates are providing, and provides a 5 year outlook for things he and his team will accomplish! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Andrew Holmes, Chicago REIA Link: SUCI Ep 50 - Andrew's Last SUCI Episode Link: SUCI Ep 62 - Farrah Ali Link: Diaries of a Female Real Estate Investor (Book Recommendation) Link: PetScreening.com Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:31 Housing Provider Tip: Utilize pet screening software to prevent scammers from getting away with false pet certificates! 06:07 Intro to our guest, Andrew Holmes! 08:45 Differences between the 2012 and 2023 real estate market! 11:25 What has Andrew been working on since he was last on the show in 2021? 17:19 Andrew discusses lessons learned from building new construction homes in Florida! 24:23 Andrew talks about investing in Short Term and Mid Term Rentals! 39:05 How can you tell if a market has strong demand for STRs or MTRs? 44:40 Andrew talks about interest rates in today's market! 47:19 What do the next 5 years look like for Andrew and his group? 50:54 What is Andrew's competitive advantage? 51:17 One piece of advice for new investors. 51:34 What do you do for fun? 51:42 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 53:07 Local Network Recommendation? 53:59 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Interested in investing in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, but wondering if you're too late to the party?! Jason Stratton joins us to provide his perspective as a seasoned realtor, investor, and resident of the neighborhood. Jason starts by sharing what attracted him to Bucktown and his first deal. He defines the street borders of Bucktown, the amazing attributes of the neighborhood, and shares how he's finding deal flow in today's market. Adjacent neighborhood Wicker Park is discussed including the implications of owning a landmark property. Jason shares golden input on other emerging neighborhoods that he's bullish on and his rationale behind those beliefs. He closes with empowering words on the Chicago Real Estate market and on the mindset investors should cultivate to be successful! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Jason Stratton, The KlopasStratton Team Link: Extreme Ownership (Book Recommendation) Link: Seth Kaplan (Attorney) Link: Jeff Swanberg (Inspector) Link: KlopasStratton Podcast ----------------- Guest Questions 03:00 Housing Provider Tip: Leverage keyless entry locks to make access easier! 05:12 Intro to our guest, Jason Stratton! 09:58 Jason discusses his first real estate deal! 17:30 What are the borders of Bucktown? 19:19 How is Jason finding deals in the small neighborhood of Bucktown? 23:25 Jason talks about Wicker Park! 30:21 Other North Side Neighborhoods with a ton of potential! 35:52 Jason gives his outlook on the Chicago Real Estate Market. 38:22 What is Jason's competitive advantage? 38:48 One piece of advice for new investors. 39:48 What do you do for fun? 41:57 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 43:43 Local Network Recommendation? 44:46 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

What must an investor consider when planning to work with a contractor? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Matthew Nosal, NEGC Remodeling ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Prashanth Mahakali returns to the SUCI Podcast (Episode 21) with his business partner Fernando Lopez to discuss all things related to New Construction Builds. Prashanth and Fernando discuss the formation of their partnership and their complementary skill sets. They explain how they've made the new construction design and development business model profitable. They dive deep on the level of customization they offer and share challenges they've faced when dealing with buyers. The duo tells us what areas and neighborhoods they are bullish on and planning new developments in! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Prashanth Mahakali and Fernando Lopez, Real View Design & Development Link: SUCI Ep 21 (Prashanth's Last Episode) Link: Alex Hormozi AI Video Link: Indistractable (Book Recommendation) Link: Darpet (Doors and Trim Vendor) Link: Hillside Lumber (Lumber Vendor) ----------------- Guest Questions 02:12 Housing Provider Tip: Change door locks between turnovers! 05:25 Intro to our guests, Prashanth Mahakali and Fernando Lopez! 07:36 Prashanth and Fernando discuss the formation of their partnership and their first deal together! 19:38 How to be profitable building new construction homes. 27:44 How custom are these new construction homes? 33:53 Prashanth and Fernando share challenges they've faced! 43:24 Software and/or Practices for tracking buyer customization. 44:55 What neighborhoods are Prashanth and Fernando focusing on? 51:38 The impact of interest rates on new construction home pricing. 53:03 What is Prashanth's and Fernando's competitive advantage? 54:07 One piece of advice for new investors. 55:19 What do you do for fun? 56:57 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 57:41 Local Network Recommendation? 58:33 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Nick Chaplain joins us to explain how real estate investors can leverage life insurance policies to "Be Your Own Bank". He jumps right into leveraging policies and building cash value as collateral for other investment opportunities. Nick explains how the wealthy take advantage of these strategies and their significant tax benefits. Mark also chimes in on how he has utilized this to help pay for his children's college! Tune in if you're interested in learning more about nuanced strategies to grow your net worth! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Nick Chaplain, Boston Cash Flow Financial Link: The Power of Zero (Book Recommendation) Link: Confessions of a CPA (Book Recommendation) Link: The Snowball (Book Recommendation) Link: Ash Wasilidas (Network Referral) ----------------- Guest Questions 04:00 Housing Provider Tip: Listen to the first 50 SUCI episodes! 05:30 Intro to our guest, Nick Chaplain! 08:06 The "Be Your Own Bank" Strategy! 09:27 Nick explains "compounding money"! 21:55 Different Types of Life Insurance Policies. 28:00 Mark shares his scenario of leveraging his Life Insurance Policy! 39:05 Strategies to Pay for the Annual Premium! 43:57 What is Nick's competitive advantage? 45:40 One piece of advice for new investors. 46:30 What do you do for fun? 46:55 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 47:54 Local Network Recommendation? 48:08 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

An incident happened at my building and now a reporter has reached out. How should I respond? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Myk Snider of Sphere Public Relations ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Catalin Maticiuc of Compass joins us to share a wonderful immigrant success story involving house hacks on the North Side and BRRRRs on the South Side of Chicago! Catalin talks about him immigrating to the United States and getting started in real estate! He speaks about the sleepless nights he had on his first house hack in Humboldt Park involving a FHA 203k loan to renovate that property. He goes on to talk about investing in Hegewisch, the adjacent neighborhoods, and why that model has worked for him. Catalin closes with motivating words on his goals and provides advice that investors of all experience levels will find useful! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Catalin Maticiuc, Compass Link: SUCI Ep 53 - CHA Roundtable Link: BRRRR Book by David Greene Link: Brandon Moulton (Renovo Financial) Link: Catalin's Instagram ----------------- Guest Questions 04:19 Housing Provider Tip: Be mindful that source of income has been added to the Fair 03:18 Housing Provider Tip: Be aware of tax filing requirements set by lenders! 05:01 Intro to our guest, Catalin Maticiuc! 06:56 Catalin talks about his start in real estate! 17:25 What did Catalin do after his first house hack in Humboldt Park? 22:04 How did Catalin start investing in Hegewisch? 33:30 How has Catalin been able to scale? 41:37 What are Catalin's next goals? 45:34 What is Catalin's competitive advantage? 46:44 One piece of advice for new investors. 47:33 What do you do for fun? 48:08 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 49:14 Local Network Recommendation? 49:45 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Interested in learning how our guest has acquired 12 doors before age 30?! Although it may sound glamorous, Ben Sussman gives us a raw breakdown of the mistakes he's made and how he's rebounded strongly to continue growing his real estate portfolio! Ben talks about his start in real estate and explains why he was attracted to the Belmont Cragin and Back of the Yards neighborhoods. He shares a horror story involving a broken sewer line in his first property along with lessons learned. Ben then turns up the horror level notch by discussing his second project where he inherited a gang-member tenant who threatened him with physical violence multiple times! He breaks down how he resolved the situation and how despite all the obstacles, those positives have far outweighed the negatives! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Ben Sussman, Exit Realty Link: The Almanack (Book Recommendation) Link: Retire Early with Real Estate Investing (Book Recommendation) Link: Alan Sussman (Insurance Agent Facebook) Link: Alan Sussman Link: Ben's Instagram Ben's email: [email protected] ----------------- Guest Questions 04:19 Housing Provider Tip: Be mindful that source of income has been added to the Fair Housing Protected Classes and cannot be discriminated against! 07:50 Intro to our guest, Ben Sussman! 09:23 How did Ben get started in real estate? 13:28 Ben talks about the neighborhoods he started investing in and his first acquisition! 22:52 Lessons learned on Ben's first property! 25:12 Why did Ben go from Belmont Cragin to the Back of the Yards neighborhood for this second project? 33:18 Did Ben account for the added risk when acquiring his second property in a lower-class neighborhood? 38:05 How did Ben get out of the situation with his hostile, gang-member tenant? 42:39 Ben summarizes the lessons learned on this second property! 58:16 What is Ben's competitive advantage? 59:07 One piece of advice for new investors. 59:49 What do you do for fun? 61:15 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 62:07 Local Network Recommendation? 64:08 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a property in your personal name or in an LLC? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Bibek Das of Das Law ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

WE'VE REACHED 200 EPISODES!!! Matt Feo, Jake Fugman, and Blake McCreight celebrate with us through an amazing panel discussion on all things Chicago Real Estate! Are you curious on which areas of Chicago are next to double in value? Our panel provides their opinion. Local real estate trends is another topic discussed including golden tips on desirable property characteristics that will maximize your profits! To keep things balanced and realistic, overvalued neighborhoods and Chicago's biggest challenges are also addressed on this show. The crew closes with powerful words on why Chicago will continue to grow and attract investment - in short, we are a central hub and world class city that isn't going anywhere! Listeners, thank you all for your continued support which has allowed us to reach this milestone!!! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Matt Feo, Blake McCreight, and Jake Fugman ----------------- Guest Questions 03:26 Housing Provider Tip: Start a podcast and create a following! 04:22 Intro to our guests: Matt Feo, Blake McCreight, and Jake Fugman! 05:46 In what Chicago neighborhood would our experts invest $3 million? 09:32 Which Chicago neighborhood has the best chance for values to double in the near future? 18:44 Our panel discusses the most overrated Chicago neighborhoods! 27:53 What are some local Chicago real estate trends? 35:13 What are the biggest concerns for Chicago over the next 5 years? 41:37 What's the first step for new investors looking to get started? 47:41 Our panelists give suggestions to improve the SUCI podcast! 51:18 Chicago Fact time! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Matt Menna, Managing Principal of Sterling Bay, joins us to discuss Lincoln Yards; a 53-acre mixed-use community development along the North Branch of the Chicago River! Matt kicks things off by talking about the history of the Lincoln Yards site and the process of acquiring that industrial land. He explains how Sterling Bay has been able to get input from all stakeholders on such a large scale development. Matt tells us how the 606 Trail will be positively impacted by this development and highlights the tremendous benefits that Lincoln Yards will bring to Chicago. He closes with powerful words on why Sterling Bay is bullish on Chicago and will continue development in our great city! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Matt Menna, Sterling Bay Link: Devotion (Book Recommendation) Link: Lincoln Yards Info Link: Midwest RE Networking Summit ----------------- Guest Questions 02:55 Housing Provider Tip: Have multiple exit strategies to mitigate risk on your next investment! 04:48 Intro to our guest, Matt Menna! 05:46 Matt gives the history of the Lincoln Yards location! 07:31 Matt explains the process of acquiring and aggregating the parcels! 10:15 How to get all stakeholders on the same page when planning a large scale development? 17:57 How has the community reacted to the planned Lincoln Yards development? 21:12 What is the 606 Trail and why is it relevant to Lincoln Yards? 27:15 Matt explains how it's been working with the City of Chicago! 32:06 How does the Fulton Market development relate to Lincoln Yards? 35:02 Did the pandemic cause any adjustments to be made during the planning of Lincoln Yards? 39:03 What benefits will Lincoln Yards bring to Chicago? 43:05 Why is Matt bullish on Chicago? 48:02 What is Matt's competitive advantage? 48:48 One piece of advice for new investors. 49:50 What do you do for fun? 50:15 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 50:48 Local Network Recommendation? 51:52 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

It's that time of the year again - tax season is upon us! Michael Procaccio, a tax advisor and Chicagoland investor, joins us to provide insight on optimal tax planning to increase your bottom line! Michael starts by explaining how he got into investing in franchises and kicked off his accounting career! He talks about the latest updates to the tax code and how investors can take advantage. Michael dives deep into the frequently missed deductions and mistakes that investors make. He breaks down the different tax statuses that can be held and addresses rapid fire tax questions from Tom and Mark! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Michael Procaccio, Pro Financial Services Group, Inc. Link: Chicago's Prohibited Buildings List Link: Susan Camiliere (Real Estate Agent Recommendation) Link: Dave Schlueter (Attorney Recommendation) Link: Rick Tayfel (Lender Recommendation) Link: The Wealthy Gardner (Book Recommendation) ----------------- Guest Questions 02:43 Housing Provider Tip: Utilize Chicago's Prohibited Buildings List for due diligence on short term rentals! 04:32 Intro to our guest, Michael Procaccio! 06:22 What attracted Michael to investing in franchises? 08:37 What advice would Michael give to someone new to franchise investing? 10:17 Why did Michael get into accounting? 12:12 What is new this year from an income tax perspective? 13:56 Michael explains tax changes relating to third payment softwares! 16:53 What are some commonly forgotten deductions by smaller scale landlords? 19:12 Michael explains the different types of tax statuses! 32:14 Tom asks Mike a series of tax related questions! 37:29 What are some other frequently missed tax items? 42:23 Are there new tax incentives for 2023? 45:27 What is Michael's competitive advantage? 46:03 One piece of advice for new investors. 47:04 What do you do for fun? 48:10 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 49:05 Local Network Recommendation? 49:42 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

What are the four main mistakes investors make when underwriting multifamily deals? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Mike Morawski, My Core Intentions ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

John kicks things off by talking about underwriting, estimating rehab costs, and formulating the offer to purchase a multifamily building sight unseen. He explains Cicero point of sale inspection and the negotiation process. John then talks about the initial management and dealing with tenants involved in drugs and other criminal activity. Managing a blown rehab budget is another topic of discussion and John tells us how he handled it. This show is full of lessons learned on a heavy rehab of a tenant occupied building - take notes so you don't make the same mistakes! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: John Warren of Forte Properties Link: The Four Hour Workweek (Book Recommendation) Link: Tools of Titans (Book Recommendation) ----------------- Guest Questions 03:03 Housing Provider Tip: Be proactive about preventing frozen pipes during frigid Chicago Winters! 06:21 Intro to our guest, John Warren! 07:45 John introduces the deal that will be discussed on this show! 13:20 John talks about Cicero's point of sale inspection! 14:07 How do you calculate the rehab on a sight-unseen project? 26:29 What were the next steps after receiving the inspection report and closing on the property? 33:31 John talks about the initial management after closing on the property! 42:10 Why does Cicero outsource certain inspections? 43:24 Where did the additional rehab funds come from and what was the project's planned time frame? 51:11 Any lessons learned from the leasing process? 52:50 John talks about resolving the pest control issues. 58:42 Good book that you would recommend? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Victoria Barkate joins us to discuss how she has quickly scaled her rental property portfolio as a W2 employee! Victoria starts by explaining her decision to move to Chicago specifically to invest in real estate. She talks about how she decided which neighborhoods to invest in and how she has utilized partnerships to scale. She dives into the ins-and-outs of her first couple house hacks including things that went well and challenges she faced. Victoria shares how she has learned to find off-market properties and how investors can take the low-inventory issue into their own hands. Throughout the show, Victoria emphasizes the importance of partnerships and building your network and demonstrates that putting in the work to learn investing can really pay off quickly! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Victoria Barkate, Accenture Link: Mark's BP Blog on Tenant Scammers Link: SUCI Ep 51 - John Westbrook Link: SUCI Ep 138 - Mike Scanlon Link: Managing by the Numbers (Book Recommendation) Link: SUCI House Hacking Calculator Brandon Smrz (Plumber Referral): 630-290-9238 ----------------- Guest Questions 02:50 Housing Provider Tip: Be empathetic when interacting with tenants! 05:07 Intro to our guest, Victoria Barkate! 05:54 What attracted Victoria to Chicago's real estate market? 08:36 How did Victoria determine areas/neighborhoods to focus on? 10:32 Victoria talks about her first househack! 15:30 Victoria discusses her second acquisition! 19:05 How did Victoria learn to find off-market properties? 28:26 Victoria shares her tenant horror story! 36:36 What is next for Victoria? 38:54 How has Victoria been able to learn and scale so quickly? Wrap Up Questions 40:37 What is Victoria's competitive advantage? 41:01 One piece of advice for new investors. 41:21 What do you do for fun? 41:51 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 43:10 Local Network Recommendation? 53:27 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

What do I need to know when fixing or building a garage in Chicago? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Vince Sliwa, A-Windy City Garage Corporation ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Jessica Ryan, Head of KSN's Landlord/Tenant Department, joins us to educate Chicago Landlords on the eviction process and best practices! Jessica begins by explaining the first step in the process; properly serving a 5-day notice. She talks about utilizing process servers for notices and summarizes the filing fees associated with an eviction. Jessica then gives a detailed breakdown of the phases of an eviction including time frames that can be expected. It's never fun to have to go through this, but in the event you have to evict a tenant in Chicago, this show will be a tremendous resource to help you minimize your headaches and costs! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Jessica Ryan, Head of KSN's Landlord/Tenant Department Link: SUCI Ep 143 - Jessica Ryan's First Episode Link: Chicago Real Estate Investor Meetups ----------------- Guest Questions 01:14 Housing Provider Tip: Safety precautions to take when encountering squatters in vacant properties! 07:10 Intro to our guest, Jessica Ryan! 09:03 What are the best practices for serving notices to non-paying tenants? 11:07 Jessica explains a 5-day notice! 21:59 What are Jessica's thoughts on utilizing process servers for notices? 24:38 What happens after the 5-day notice? 28:38 Jessica summarizes the filing fees for an eviction. 33:04 Jessica breaks down the phases of the eviction process! 48:29 What's the difference between possession and judgment? 52:00 What's the approximate time frame from placing an eviction order to when the sheriff shows up? 54:04 How should landlords handle tenants during the eviction process? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Nick Yassan, President of Rany Management, grew up in a family of real estate investors and has been instrumental to growing his company's real estate portfolio! Nick begins by explaining how he was involved in real estate from an early age and the competitive advantage that it has given him. He shares what the 2008 housing crash was like and how that impacted his real estate investing. Nick jumps into his investing philosophy, particularly the quality of the finished project he provides and the neighborhoods he focuses on which include Albany Park, Lincoln Square, and Ravenswood. Building a strong team and leveraging technology to improve business operations are also topics addressed on this show! Nick closes by sharing his outlook on the 2023 real estate market and his plan to double the size of his portfolio in the coming years! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Nick Yassan, Rany Management Link: Nick Yassan's LinkedIn Link: Chicago Real Estate Investor Meetups ----------------- Guest Questions 02:06 Housing Provider Tip: Take care of your brick buildings by tuckpointing and keeping up with maintenance! 04:05 Intro to our guest, Nick Yassan! 04:52 How did Nick get started in real estate? 08:09 Nick talks about the real estate market during the housing crash of 2008! 11:17 Nick provides insight on balancing paying down debt and cash flow! 14:25 What areas did Nick start investing in and how has he migrated? 16:49 Would Nick start investing in Albany Park in 2022/2023? 20:36 Nick discusses the process of acquiring and stabilizing a storefront! 27:52 How was Nick able to scale so quickly and what would he have done differently? 31:50 How has Nick incentivized his team to perform at a high level? 33:47 How has Nick leveraged technology and other resources to more efficiently run his business? 36:09 Nick talks about having opportunities in better neighborhoods after proving himself as a serious buyer. 42:58 Nick provides his outlook on the real estate market in 2023! 44:25 What does Nick see as his biggest challenge with growing his portfolio moving forward? Wrap Up Questions 46:14 What is Nick's competitive advantage? 46:31 One piece of advice for new investors. 46:49 What do you do for fun? 47:11 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 47:27 Local Network Recommendation? 49:33 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

What goes into an insurance premium and what are some items investors should look out for? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Josh Steigelmann, State Farm Insurance Link: Investor Stories Featuring Sean Morrisey ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2023.

Real Estate Broker, Developer, and Entrepreneur Luke Blahnik joins us to discuss his neighborhood of expertise: Logan Square! Luke knows the neighborhood block by block and outlines some of the premier streets that feature phenomenal housing stock on oversized lots. Luke elaborates on the different pockets of the neighborhood including the higher priced areas around the Boulevards and other more affordable options near the edges of Logan. Redevelopment around the Bloomingdale / 606 Trail, the associated Anti-Deconversion Ordinance, and Zoning in Logan Square are hot topics discussed during the show. Luke closes by sharing some current and upcoming developments that will keep propelling Logan Square forward! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Luke Blahnik, Flora | Blahnik @properties Link: Flora Blahnik Instagram Link: SUCI Investor Story - Luke Blahnik Link: SUCI Ep 32 - Luke Blahnik's First Episode Link: SUCI Ep 21 - Prashanth Mahakali Link: Building Science Fight Club Instagram Link: Anthony Flora (Network Recommendation) Sponsors: State Farm and Appeal.Tax ----------------- Guest Questions 02:37 Housing Provider Tip: Utilize new delivery services to manage your properties more efficiently! 04:29 Intro to our guest, Luke Blahnik! 05:18 Luke gives an overview on different pockets of the Logan Square neighborhood! 09:15 Why does the width of a property's lot matter? 12:00 Luke talks about the growth within the different areas of Logan Square! 15:45 Where can investors get the best bang for their buck in Logan Square? 20:30 What is the history of the 606 Trail? 22:57 What is the Anti-Deconversion Ordinance around the 606 Trail? 27:30 Where did the push for Ordinance come from? 34:55 How does the extension of the 606 Trail to Lincoln Yards impact homes close to the trail in Logan Square? 36:16 Why did choose Logan Square as his real estate focus? 39:20 Why are values in prime Logan Square higher than other neighborhoods with superior schools? 43:48 Luke talks about new developments in Logan Square! Wrap Up Questions 48:50 What is Luke's competitive advantage? 49:55 One piece of advice for new investors. 50:47 What do you do for fun? 51:38 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 52:35 Local Network Recommendation? 53:27 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Rick Ofman has over six years of experience in commercial real estate and is a Director at Essex Realty Group. Rick kicks things off by defining underwriting and associated terminology. He provides a thorough breakdown of income, expenses, and necessary assumptions. Rick shares insight on forecasting variables such as rehab costs, rent increases, and tax increases to name a few. He explains some valuation terms such as gross rent multiplier (GRM) and cap rate and the impact that interest rates have on these metrics. Rick closes with a bullish outlook on projected rent growth in Chicago and emphasizes the importance of teaming up with a broker that is transparent and has your best interest in mind! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Rick Ofman, Essex Realty Group Link: And Then We Had Kids (Podcast Recommendation) Link: Matt Cohen (Network Recommendation) Sponsors: State Farm and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 04:40 Housing Provider Tip: Consider hiring a process server to best utilize your time! 07:34 Intro to our guest, Rick Ofman! 09:24 What is the definition of underwriting? 10:54 Rick discusses making assumptions and explains other variables during underwriting! 19:54 How are expenses underwritten? 23:18 What are some additional underwriting considerations when evaluating C/D class properties? 23:57 Rick explains "hard" and "soft" costs! 32:37 How can buyers accurately determine utility costs? 34:34 What is the next step in underwriting after determining income and expenses? 46:09 How have rental "seasons" varied over recent years in Chicago? 50:02 How is Rick forecasting expense increases for buyers/owners? Wrap Up Questions 52:42 What is Rick's competitive advantage? 54:02 One piece of advice for new investors. 54:26 What do you do for fun? 54:34 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 55:30 Local Network Recommendation? 55:50 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

What is Forewarn? How does it benefit agents and housing providers and how can I utilize the tool? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Megyn Christensen, Forewarn ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Marisa Novara was appointed as Commissioner of the Department of Housing (DOH) in 2019 and has since led the creation of policies to promote equitably distributed affordable housing across the City. Commissioner Novara starts by explaining the purpose of the DOH. She dives deep on a fascinating study on segregation across the City that her team conducted. She speaks to the results of the segregation study and how her team is utilizing the findings to create policies that promote affordable housing development. The Commissioner explains how the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) and Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) Ordinance are also tools that the DOH is utilizing to combat the affordable housing issues. Commissioner Novara closes with powerful words on the importance of making your voice heard to address these issues within your community! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Commissioner Marisa Novara of the City of Chicago Department of Housing Link: Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) Link: Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) Ordinance Link: City-owned Vacant Land for Sale Link: SUCI Ep 38 - Cook County Land Bank Link: How to Meet Yourself (Book Recommendation) Sponsors: Pentwater Cabinetry and Appeal.Tax ----------------- Guest Questions 04:00 Housing Provider Tip: Understand how legal notices work! 05:54 Intro to our guest, Commissioner Marisa Novara of the Chicago Department of Housing (DOH)! 07:05 Commissioner Novara explains the origin and purpose of the Chicago Department of Housing! 10:30 Commissioner Novara talks about the segregation study her team conducted? 15:35 How was Commissioner Novara's team able to perform a study on such a complex topic? 19:47 How were the findings of the study quantified? 26:33 How were the findings of the study received? 27:40 Where does Commissioner Novara's passion for her work come from? 30:33 Commissioner Novara discusses the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) and its challenges! 39:04 Commissioner Novara explains the Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) Ordinance! 44:32 What are some things happening behind the scenes at the DOH? 49:00 Commissioner Novara talks about Tiny Homes and affordable housing communities in general! Wrap Up Questions 53:37 What is Commissioner Novara's competitive advantage? 55:13 One piece of advice for new investors. 56:22 What do you do for fun? 57:26 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 58:37 Local Network Recommendation? 59:30 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

At the age of 32 years old, Scott Trench has already become CEO of BiggerPockets, and his contributions have helped countless investors build wealth. Scott discusses meeting Josh Dorkin and the early start-up days at BiggerPockets (BP). He speaks to BP's rapid growth, challenges along the way, and of course, BP's loyal customer base. Scott fills us in on BP's current vision and some potential upcoming enhancements to the platform. Inflation, interest rates, the housing market, and goal-setting/tracking systems are also among the many valuable topics discussed in this episode that you won't want to miss! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Scott Trench, BiggerPockets Link: Scott's Instagram Link: Set For Life (Scott's Book) Link: Huberman Lab Podcast Link: The Outsiders (Book Recommendation) Link: David Greene Episode Sponsors: Essex Realty Group and Cost Seg Kev ----------------- Guest Questions 01:50 Housing Provider Tip: Don't forget to cultivate perseverance! 03:12 Intro to our guest, Scott Trench! 03:46 Scott talks about meeting Josh Dorkin from BiggerPockets! 06:30 What were the early days like at BiggerPockets? 09:23 How has BiggerPockets created such a loyal customer base? 16:09 How has BiggerPockets managed their rapid growth? 23:46 What is the EOS system? 25:10 How many BP users go inactive after creating an account? 28:08 How has Scott grown so rapidly in his role within BP? 32:06 What motivates Scott at this stage of his career? 34:51 What can we expect from BP in the near future? 43:18 Why did Scott write Set For Life? 47:26 Scott gives his out on inflation and employment! 58:27 Scott predicts housing values in relation to interest rates! Wrap Up Questions 62:00 What is Scott's competitive advantage? 62:30 One piece of advice for new investors. 62:54 What do you do for fun? 63:22 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 64:32 Local Network Recommendation? 65:12 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

What are the new FHA limits and what do investors need to know when exploring these FHA options? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Chris Puleo, Puleo Group Link: Episode 130: Chicago Mortgage Lending in this Inflationary Environment with Chris Puleo ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Collete English Dixon has overseen over $8 Billion in real estate transactions and joins us to discuss how the industry has changed. Collete explains how large real estate transactions are different today compared to 25 years ago and discusses the impact that large institutional investors have had on the market. She breaks down the difference between large scale deals and smaller transactions. Collete talks about her transition into the education field and the value offered by her real estate programs at Roosevelt University's College of Business. She elaborates on the variety of academic real estate offerings by her team and closes by talking about her advisory work with our friends at CIC! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Collete English Dixon, Roosevelt University - Walter E. Heller College of Business Link: CIC Chicago Link: Fifth Dimensional Leadership (Podcast Recommendation) Link: The Color of Law (Book Recommendation) Link: Stacie Young CIC (SUCI Ep 94) Sponsors: Essex Realty Group and State Farm ----------------- Guest Questions 02:30 Housing Provider Tip: Consider items required to make your flip project rent ready if necessary! 05:13 Intro to our guest, Collete English Dixon! 06:49 What attracted Collete to real estate? 08:05 How are real estate transactions different now compared to 25 years ago? 12:53 How has capital from large institutional investors impacted small investors? 14:35 What's different about large commercial transactions when compared to smaller multifamily and/or residential transactions? 19:58 Collete shares some hiccups she's seen in dispositions of large commercial assets! 22:35 Collete talks about investment strategies! 25:42 How did Collete transition into education? 31:00 Who should be looking into the programs at the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate? 39:17 Collete talks about her role within the CIC Board! 42:12 How would Collete tackle the affordable housing issue in Chicago? Wrap Up Questions 47:55 What is Collete's competitive advantage? 48:28 One piece of advice for new investors. 49:04 What do you do for fun? 49:45 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 51:18 Local Network Recommendation? 52:00 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Vince begins by talking about his previous career as a rockstar manager (Styx)! He shares stories about Roseland and Humboldt Park in the 60s and 70s. Vince transitions into his journey as both a real estate broker and investor. He dives deep into the pros/cons of getting a broker's license as an investor and the requirements to get licensed. Throughout the episode, Vince speaks to the power of real estate as a wealth generator and the importance of education! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Vince DePaul, Your House Real Estate Academy Link: Chicago Heat Ordinance Link: Frank Zappa (Network Recommendation) Sponsors: Appeal.tax and State Farm ----------------- Guest Questions 03:08 Housing Provider Tip: Provide temperature sensors to tenants to document heating and cooling issues! 06:30 Intro to our guest, Vince DePaul! 10:03 Did any of the skills Vince learned in his previous career of managing entertainers translate to real estate? 11:50 Vince talks about Roseland and surrounding neighborhoods in the 60s/70s! 17:40 What was Humboldt Park like back in the day? 18:50 How were Vince's first couple years in real estate? 21:43 Vince talks about his journey from real estate broker to investor! 26:44 Should real estate investors get a real estate broker's license? 33:43 What are the costs and requirements to get a real estate license? 40:30 Vince talks about his real estate school's offerings! 42:16 What is Vince's outlook on real estate brokers given advances in technology? Wrap Up Questions 46:36 What is Vince's competitive advantage? 48:03 One piece of advice for new investors. 48:54 What do you do for fun? 49:33 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 50:10 Local Network Recommendation? 50:57 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

What are the steps I should take to vet my Chicago contractors? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Bolanle Ogunmakin, Quality Builders Link: Straight Up Chicago Investor Episode 76 ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Return guests Bibek Das, Eric Workman, and Matt LaCosse join us to discuss a 5-unit deal with a lot of hair on it! Matt (buyer on this deal) starts by talking about how our very own Mark Ainley (buyer's agent) brought this 5-unit property in Batavia to his attention. Eric (the lender on this deal) dives into the lending aspect of this deal and the group discusses the offer formulation and negotiation process. Bibek (the buyer's attorney) explains the meaning of appraisal waivers and "AS-IS" offers. Navigating a plumbing leak the day before closing and escrow holdbacks are also topics of discussion on this show. The episode is closed out with lessons learned from this "hairy" but ultimately amazing deal! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Bibek Das, Eric Workman, and Matt LaCosse, Das Law & Renovo Financial Link: SUCI Ep 145 - Matt LaCosse Link: SUCI Ep 17 - Bibek Das Link: SUCI Ep 19 - Eric Workman Sponsors: Appeal.tax and GC Reality ----------------- Guest Questions 04:14 Housing Provider Tip: Utilize the main water shut off valve on vacant properties to prevent plumbing issues related to cold weather. 05:55 Intro to our group of return guests: Bibek Das, Eric Workman, and Matt LaCosse! 08:15 Matt introduces the deal that will be discussed in this episode! 14:04 What happened after Matt's initial walk through? 20:02 Matt talks about his initial conversation with the lender on this deal, Eric Workman. 22:30 Matt and Mark talk about the offer and negotiation process! 30:24 Eric weighs in on waiving an appraisal as part of an offer. 32:42 What does it mean to make an "as-is" offer? 36:23 Mark talks about the multiple PIN situation on this deal. 39:27 What did the loan structure look like on this 5-unit property? 40:43 How did the inspection and attorney review process go? 49:47 Matt talks about closing day and reflects on the deal as a whole! That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

From a rough upbringing to a successful REI career in Chicago, Mike Baker joins us to discuss his journey and his vast knowledge on wholesaling, flipping, and consulting. Mike begins by outlining his troubled past involving drugs, gangs, and prison. He shares some of the lessons learned in prison and the mindset shift required to get started and to succeed in real estate. Mike, Mark, and Tom share shocking stories about rehabbing in distressed neighborhoods. Mike closes by explaining how his experience gives him a competitive advantage and how he's leveraging it to offer hourly, a la carte consulting services to investors looking for support and resources! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: Mike Baker of A La Carte REI Link: Mike Baker's Blog Link: SUCI Episode 89 Link: SUCI Episode 146 Link: Michael Kevorkian (Network Referral) Link: 48 Laws of Power (Book Referral) Link: Brie Schmidt (Network Referral) Sponsors: Appeal.tax and Essex Realty Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:23 Housing Provider Tip: Be sure you are cleaning and maintaining your fireplace! 05:40 Intro to our guest, Mike Baker! 06:50 Mike talks about his troubled past! 08:44 What did Mike learn from his time in prison that has been applicable in his real estate journey? 11:29 Mike talks about his start in real estate working for a wholesaler. 17:08 Mike shares stories about rehabbing in distressed neighborhoods! 24:05 What are some advantages of having experience in multiple facets of real estate like Mike does? 26:18 How can newer investors utilize joint-ventures and resources like A La Carte REI? 30:27 What is Mike's motivation for starting A La Carte REI? Wrap Up Questions 37:44 What is Mike's competitive advantage? 38:18 One piece of advice for new investors. 39:04 What do you do for fun? 39:45 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 40:37 Local Network Recommendation? 41:10 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

What are my options to remove maintenance costs on smaller pieces of lawns? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: [email protected] Guest: James Galvin, Chicago Lawn To Garden ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.