The Best Ever CRE Show

Adam Rosenkranz is the chief investment officer of Christina Development Corporation, a Malibu-based real estate developer, manager, and sponsor founded in 1977. In this episode, he discusses what he’s seeing in the Los Angeles market due to interest rate hikes and skepticism in the market, what he is seeing in terms of potential opportunities on the horizon, and his outlook on the residential market going forward. Adam Rosenkranz | Real Estate Background Chief investment officer of Christina Development Corporation, a Malibu-based real estate developer, manager, and sponsor founded in 1977. Previous episode: JF2901: 45 Years Without Losing a Dollar ft. Adam Rosenkranz Portfolio: GP of approximately 20 properties that are a mix of retail, office, and multifamily Based in: Malibu, CA Say hi to him at: christinala.com LinkedIn Twitter Greatest lesson: Great real estate is meant to be held. Throughout the company’s 45-year history, there is not a single property we’ve sold in the Westside region of Los Angeles that we could purchase back today for the price we sold it for. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inflation is at an all-time high and we may be on the brink of a syndication bubble. Deciding where to invest your money is crucial in times like these. In this episode, Best Ever Show host Ash Patel discusses how to start investing in non-residential CRE to increase your returns. What you'll learn: Which deals to look for and how to find them How to underwrite your deals like a pro How to re-tool yourself to look at new deals that will earn your more How to find deals from $200K–$7M Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Parrish is the owner of GLP Investments, LLC, an acquisitions company that identifies and acquires multifamily properties in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. In this episode, she shares why she and her husband transitioned to third-party property management after doing it themselves for years, her advice for finding the right business partners, and how learning things the hard way along her journey has ultimately benefited her. Lisa Parrish | Real Estate Background Owner of GLP Investments, LLC, an acquisitions company that identifies and acquires multifamily properties in NC, SC, and TX. Portfolio: GP of 3,243 units across 26 properties Based in: Charlotte, NC, and AZ Say hi to her at: glpinvestmentsnc.com Facebook Best Ever Book: Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Greatest lesson: The importance of finding great partners is the key. Once we found the partners that were the other piece of our puzzle, we increased our portfolio substantially. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don Wenner is the CEO and founder of DLP Capital, a high-growth IMPACT investor that leverages capital with real estate-backed investments. In this episode, he discusses how he reached $4B in AUM in 17 years, his book titled How to Build an Elite Organization, and why hiring and developing leaders is integral to scaling your business. Don Wenner | Real Estate Background CEO and founder of DLP Capital, a high-growth IMPACT investor that leverages capital with real estate-backed investments. They focus on sectors and property types that help to address the housing affordability crisis in America. Portfolio: Manages over $4B in real estate assets Based in: St. Augustine, FL Say hi to him at: dlpcapital.com Instagram LinkedIn Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Satch Bernhardt is the managing principal at Bernhardt Capital, LLC, which helps airline pilots and busy professionals invest in value-add multifamily deals through real estate syndications. In this episode, he shares the steps he took to jump from wholesaling single-family homes to raising capital for multifamily syndications, the hard lessons he learned from hiring too quickly, and why he believes more pilots are looking to diversify their investments right now. Satch Bernhardt | Real Estate Background Managing principal at Bernhardt Capital, LLC, which helps airline pilots and busy professionals invest in value-add multifamily deals through real estate syndications. Portfolio: GP of 350 units Fund manager for a $25M fund LP of 726 doors. Based in: Orlando, FL Say hi to him at: bernhardtcapital.net LinkedIn Best Ever Book: What It Takes by Stephen A. Schwarzman Greatest Lesson: Real estate is a team sport. Collaborate with others to go far in this field. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor. In this episode, Travis gives three tips on how to find investment opportunities, along with four ways to know if a particular opportunity is right for you. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Stohler is the managing partner at Gateway Private Equity, which creates and manages income-producing hotel real estate investment portfolios for investors. In this episode, he tells us why he made the switch to hotels after accumulating 1400 multifamily doors, how thinking outside the box helped him keep his hotels afloat during the pandemic, and why he is now shifting his focus to hotel development. Mike Stohler | Real Estate Background Managing partner at Gateway Private Equity, which creates and manages income-producing hotel real estate investment portfolios for investors. Portfolio: 8 single-family rentals 3 hotels Based in: Scottsdale, AZ Say hi to him at: gatewaype.com LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Money Secrets of the Rich by John Burley Greatest Lesson: People say your investor comes first. The asset should be first. Don’t jeopardize the asset. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Castronovo is the founder and managing partner of Novo Multifamily Group, a multifamily real estate investment and asset management group that focuses on building communities that offer affordable living at higher standards. In this episode, he discusses his journey from management consulting to real estate, his new company, and the challenges he navigated with his first multifamily property. Tony Castronovo | Real Estate Background Founder and managing partner of Novo Multifamily Group, a multifamily real estate investment and asset management group that focuses on building communities that offer affordable living at higher standards. Portfolio: 868 units across 7 properties Based in: Houston, TX Say hi to him at: novomultifamilygroup.com LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: Who, not how. Proximity is power. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vab Jain left medical school in 1998 to become a stock broker. After serving on the Chicago Board Options Exchange for a time, he returned to school to earn his master’s degree. By 2006, he had an MBA, but no job prospects. Determined to own his own business, Vab began investing in hotels. However, one deal that didn’t work out left him with nothing. Without a home or any money, Vab returned to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, to stay with his parents and start from scratch. He decided to turn around a hotel that his parents owned, which became the catalyst he needed to get back on his feet. Today, Vab is the CEO of Athena Investments. In this episode, he shares how he was able to use creative financing for several years while he worked on improving his credit, how he has been able to adapt to an ever-changing market, and his advice for scaling in today’s economic climate. Vab Jain | Real Estate Background CEO of Athena Investments. He also served on the CBOE (Chicago Board Options Exchange). Portfolio: GP of 200+ residential units Based in: Dayton, OH Say hi to him at: LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson Greatest Lesson: Still in the works, but it’s to be content and accept change. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warren Dresner is the founder and managing partner at Equity Yield Group, a real estate investment and acquisition firm focused on acquiring A- and B-class multifamily assets. In this episode, he tells us how he reached $200M in AUM in just four years, why he decided to go big on his first deal, and how his mindset has helped him find success. Warren Dresner | Real Estate Background Founder and managing partner at Equity Yield Group, a real estate investment and acquisition firm focused on acquiring A- and B-class multifamily assets. Portfolio: GP of 2,000 units LP of 2,530 units $200M in AUM Based in: Miami, FL Say hi to him at: equityyieldgroup.com Greatest Lesson: Being disciplined and focused in your investment strategy reduces risk, and in turn yields better ROI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina Kovacs is a residential broker and owner at Home Agency, a full-service boutique real estate brokerage in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She is also a single-family real estate investor. In this episode, she discusses how she continually pushes herself out of her comfort zone despite her introverted tendencies, how increasing her network has paid off, and her plans to begin raising capital. Christina Kovacs | Real Estate Background Residential broker and owner at the Home Agency, a full-service boutique real estate brokerage in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She is also a single-family real estate investor. Portfolio: LP of 731 units JV partner of 54 units Based in: Fort Lauderdale, FL Say hi to her at: christinakovacs.com LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Crushing It by Brian Murray Greatest Lesson: Proximity is power and never stop learning/growing. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael H. Zaransky’s family has been in the real estate business for three generations. His grandfather began by buying apartment hotels in the Chicago area in the early 1900s. Over the years, his family has pivoted within the multifamily space from purchasing existing properties to developing new ones. Today, Michael is the founder and managing principal at MZ Capital, which focuses on ground-up construction and apartment syndication. In this episode, he shares two reasons why he’s focusing on new construction suburban-style complexes, his perspective on the state of the economy and its impact on multifamily, and his predictions for the future in terms of rent growth and occupancy. “I would never, ever bet against the growth and the vibrancy of the United States economy.” Michael H. Zaransky | Real Estate Background Founder and managing principal at MZ Capital, which focuses on ground-up construction and apartment syndication. Portfolio: GP of 2,500 units Based in: Chicago, IL Say hi to him at: michaelzaransky.com mzcapitalpartners.com LinkedIn Twitter Best Ever Book: Making It in Real Estate by the Urban Land Institute Greatest Lesson: If business success were easy, everybody and his brother could do it and we would not have our edge! Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor. In this episode, Travis discusses how passive income can be used as a way to enhance your lifestyle. He explores whether it is possible to increase your happiness with passive income by sharing his journey from being a W-2 income earner to a full-time passive investor and how it has impacted his own life. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Kontoff left his successful 30-year career as a software engineer to pursue multifamily syndications just a couple of years ago. Today, he is the principal and founder of Redwing Capital, which focuses on multifamily syndication. He is a GP of 43 units and four duplexes and an LP of over 1,000 doors. In this episode, Matt discusses why multifamily investors should be interested in the Columbus market right now, how his skills as an engineer have transferred over to deal analysis and asset management, and how he learned firsthand that the devil is in the details. Matt Kontoff | Real Estate Background Principal and founder of Redwing Capital, which focuses on multifamily syndication. Portfolio: GP of: 43 units Four duplexes LP of: Over 1,100 doors Based in: Acton, MA Say hi to him at: redwingcap.com Facebook LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: Pay attention to the details. Don't assume something to be true until you verify it, especially during due diligence. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marc Weisi spent his career working in financial markets, starting out in IT and then moving on to trading and portfolio management. Over the last five to six years, he has steadily grown his personal portfolio, eventually transitioning to the multifamily space. Today, Marc is the principal at Maple Capital Partners, which invests in multifamily commercial assets in class B and C neighborhoods throughout the United States. In this episode, he shares how he and his partner gained experience by raising for other operators and co-sponsoring deals, what he has done to steadily grow his investor network, and what traits he thinks will be most important for investors to succeed in the current economic climate. “I think it’s going to be the people that are the most creative and the most willing to do what others aren’t in terms of adding value to properties. I think those are the people that are going to get the most deals under contract and do the most in terms of business over the next couple of years here.” Marc Weisi | Real Estate Background Principal at Maple Capital Partners, which invests in multifamily commercial (5+ units) assets in class B and C neighborhoods throughout the United States. Portfolio: GP of 54 units LP of 93 units Based in: Jersey City, NJ Say hi to him at: investwithmaple.com Facebook Instagram Email: [email protected] Greatest Lesson: Your level of success will be in direct proportion to the strength of your team. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Rothstein is a listing specialist at OnSite Retail Group, a commercial real estate brokerage and development company specializing in retail and restaurants. He has been a commercial realtor for 10 years, and he describes his current role as “playing matchmaker between buyer and seller or landlord.” In this episode, he tells us what makes shopping centers succeed (or fail), how urban downtown retailers remained open and survived the pandemic, and tips for how urban core landlords can adapt and fill vacancies post-Covid. Josh Rothstein | Real Estate Background Listing specialist at OnSite Retail Group, a commercial real estate brokerage and development company specializing in retail and restaurants. Based in: Cincinnati, OH Say hi to him at: onsiteretailgroup.com Instagram Best Ever Book: Cincinnati Enquirer Greatest Lesson: Patience. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How a PowerPoint Helped Launch 4 Businesses ft. Mehdi Khachani Mehdi Khachani moved to the United States from Morocco in 1999. He and his wife stumbled into real estate seemingly by accident — after moving into a building with unimpressive property management, they decided that they could do a better job. They presented a PowerPoint to the building owners and were promptly hired as the new property managers. Today, Mehdi is the CEO of the JMK Group, which is a vertically integrated company with a brokerage, contracting, property management, and investment team focused on multifamily syndication. In this episode, he discusses the challenges he and his wife encountered when taking on their first property, why he advises against other investors taking property management in-house, and what practices and tools give them an edge over the competition. Mehdi Khachani | Real Estate Background Chief executive officer of the JMK Group, which is a vertically integrated company with a brokerage, contracting, property management, and investment team focused on multifamily syndication. Portfolio: GP of 511 units Based in: Miami Beach, FL Say hi to him at: jmkpropertyinvestment.com jmkpropertymanagement.com jmkre.com jmkcontractor.com Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Greatest Lesson: Misfortunes can often lead to blessings. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick Hale got his start in real estate in 1996 with a simple goal to sell a few houses and make a living. After his first year, he earned six figures, and after doubling his business by year four, he opened the very first Keller Williams office in Atlanta, GA. Today, Rick is the operating partner of 12 Keller Williams offices that closed on 12,000 homes in the Atlanta metro area last year. He is preparing to publish his first book and has recently taken on the new title of Chief Energy and Education Officer. In this episode, Rick shares the challenges he’s faced with finding the right people to help scale his business, the mindset shift that enabled him to prioritize and value his time, and the best practices he personally employs to remain focused, energized, and positive. Rick Hale | Real Estate Background Opened the first Keller Williams office in Atlanta and now owns 12 brokerages. He is also an author and a limited partner on several commercial deals. Based in: Atlanta, GA Say hi to him at: Email: [email protected] Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Randy Langenderfer is a chief compliance and audit officer at Baylor College of Medicine who began flipping houses with his brother-in-law in 2009. After moving from Cleveland, OH, to Houston for a job opportunity, Randy began to learn about multifamily syndications. His interest was sparked, and he decided to spend a few years learning the intricacies of syndication, underwriting, and the legal aspects of it all. Today, Randy is the president of InvestArk Properties, LLC, a syndication business focusing on identifying, acquiring, and operating large multifamily properties. In this episode, he tells us what he sees most syndicators miss in terms of due diligence and deal analysis, what it takes to obtain a non-recourse loan, and why outsourcing is the key to scaling, growing, and protecting your time. Randy Langenderfer | Real Estate Background President at InvestArk Properties, LLC, a syndication business focusing on identifying, acquiring, and operating large multifamily properties. Portfolio: GP of 787 units & recently sold an additional 139 class C units LP of 3,587 units Also works full-time as chief compliance and audit officer at Baylor College of Medicine Based in: Houston, TX Say hi to him at: invest-ark.com LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: The importance of good property management and of joint venturing to expand your business. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor. “Feed your investments so one day they can feed you.” In this episode, Travis explains how you can dollar-cost average, compound your investments, and build diversified passive income streams in three steps. 1. Create a new bank account. This could be in your own individual name, the name of a trust, or an LLC. Check with your financial advisor to see what makes the most sense for you. The purpose of this bank account is to exclusively hold the real estate that you’re going to be investing in. 2. Fund the account. This can be a lump sum that you place in the account on day one, or perhaps you want to move some cash from one account to another after a liquidity event. You could even begin funding the account through your active income. The goal is to save up enough for either the down payment on real estate you plan to purchase or the minimum investment amount if you plan to invest in syndications or private placements. 3. Make an investment that produces passive income or cash flow. With most syndications or private placements, you will likely have the option to have your cash deposited directly into your bank account. If you purchased your own real estate, you can use different apps and software to directly deposit rent payments into your account on a regular basis as well. Compounding Because you now have distributions from your first deal sitting in your bank account, you can use them to invest in a second deal. As you continue to repeat this process moving forward, it gets easier and easier to invest as your cash continues to compound. Dollar-Cost Averaging This process is considered dollar-cost averaging because if you do one deal per year, for example, the market is likely to change from year to year. Each time you do an investment, you will inevitably buy at a slightly higher or slightly lower price than the deal before. This way, you can dollar-cost average similarly to how it is done with stocks. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Johnny Nelson started out as a contractor and a mechanical engineer before becoming an investor and fund manager. He was motivated to get into real estate after the death of his father. The experience made him realize that he wanted to be able to pay medical expenses for his family and friends, and he knew achieving financial freedom was the key to making that possible. Today, Johnny is the principal at Arctos Capital, which focuses on multifamily assets. He is an apartment owner/operator and real estate fund manager. In this episode, Johnny discusses a recent deal where he struggled to raise funds, how that experience motivated him to focus on capital raising and become a fund manager, and what he would have done differently with that deal with the knowledge he has now. Johnny Nelson | Real Estate Background Principal at Arctos Capital, which focuses on multifamily assets. He is an apartment owner/operator and real estate fund manager. Portfolio: GP of 49 units LP of 70 units Based in: Minneapolis, MN Say hi to him at: arctosfund.com LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: Only do things that positively impact a lot of people. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pete Montgomery got his start in real estate 20 years ago working in property management. He soon realized he had a passion for commercial property management and leasing. Today, Pete is the broker of retail development at CMC Properties, where he specializes in mix-use development. CMC Properties has owned and managed thousands of apartments, offices, and retail stores. In this episode, Pete discusses why he has his sights set on suburban downtowns, why you should always take the time to introduce yourself to the city manager, when to use a broker to help fill vacancies, and how to qualify those brokers. Pete Montgomery | Real Estate Background Broker of Retail Development at CMC Properties, which has owned and managed thousands of apartments, offices, and retail stores. When they select a site that they are going to build on, Pete prospects potential commercial tenants. Based in: Edgewood, KY Say hi to him at: cmcproperties.com Facebook Greatest Lesson: Do what you say you are going to do. Fail to deliver and the customer will lose trust in you and your company. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each week for the Best Ever Round Table, the three Best Ever Show hosts — Ash Patel, Slocomb Reed, and Travis Watts — come together for a deep dive into a commercial real estate investing topic. In this episode, Ash, Slocomb, and Travis discuss a wide range of game-changing practices that can help entrepreneurs to be more successful. The hosts share their Best Ever advice on morning routines, accountability, productivity, goals, mentoring, coaches, and more. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Kelly is the VP of Education and co-owner of Active Duty Passive Income (ADPI), which simplifies the process for active duty and veteran military members and their families to create streams of passive income. He is also the CEO and founder of Kelly Housing Group, which invests in and syndicates both residential and multifamily properties in affordable and workforce housing spaces with a focus on apartment communities, mobile home communities, RV parks, and storage facilities. In this episode, he tells us what steps he took to transition from serving in the U.S. Navy to becoming a commercial multifamily syndicator, how he educates active-duty military members that want to earn passive income, and the tried-and-true elevator pitch that got him to where he is today. Tim Kelly | Real Estate Background CEO and founder of Kelly Housing Group, which invests in and syndicates both residential and multifamily properties in affordable and workforce housing spaces with a focus on apartment communities, mobile home communities, RV parks, and storage facilities. VP of Education and co-owner of ADPI, which simplifies the process for active duty, veteran military members, and their families to create streams of passive income. Worked for 15 years in the U.S. Navy as a Chief Petty Officer. Portfolio: GP of 675 units LP of 220 units Based in: Pensacola, FL Say hi to him at: thetimothykelly.com activedutypassiveincome.com Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Greatest lesson: Always remain curious, humble, and hungry. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Vadim Rey was serving in the U.S. Navy, he realized he wanted a different path that would allow him to give back while living life on his terms. He discovered multifamily syndications and soon learned that the bigger the project he took on, the more people he could help at once. He did his first deal in 2019 and hasn’t looked back since. Today, Vadim is the deputy director and handles investor relations at Fair Winds Capital Investments. He is also the principal at Achieve Your Dream Capital, and he is a GP of 369 units and an LP of 2,114 units. In this episode, he shares how his underwriting has changed given the current economic climate, the biggest concerns he is seeing from LPs right now, and the hardest lesson he’s learned about pushing boundaries. Vadim Rey | Real Estate Background Deputy director and investor relations at Fair Winds Capital Investments, and principal at Achieve Your Dream Capital. They focus on apartment syndication. Portfolio: GP of 369 units LP of 2,114 units Based in: Las Vegas, NV Say hi to him at: fwcinvestments.com LinkedIn All socials: @fwcinvestments Greatest Lesson: The more you give, the more you get, and the more you can keep giving! Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Neiman is the principal attorney at Neiman Law LLC, which works on real estate legal matters with a focus on multifamily acquisitions. He is also a GP of 51 units and five duplexes. In this episode, Mike discusses common mistakes he sees both buyers and sellers make that can get them into trouble; his tips for structuring entities, deals, and personal assets; and why even the most experienced CRE investors still need an attorney. Mike Neiman | Real Estate Background Principal attorney at Neiman Law LLC, which works on real estate legal matters with a focus on multifamily acquisitions. Portfolio: GP of: 51 units (also passively invested in) Five duplexes Based in: Columbus, OH Say hi to him at: neiman-law.com LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: The right partnerships can help you grow exponentially. No one can do it all by themselves. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor. In this episode, Travis explains how passive income is the key to accumulating wealth. He provides examples of different types of passive investments you can make, highlights the top three reasons why someone might consider passive income, and uses a scenario to demonstrate how generating passive income can be truly life-changing. Types of Passive Investments Passive investing doesn’t just apply to real estate. There are many different options for earning passive income: Owning a business without actively working in that business. Owning a rental property that is professionally managed by someone other than you. Purchasing a dividend-paying stock where you make the investment once and just sit back and collect the dividends. Investing in real estate as a limited partner. Publishing a book from which you receive royalties for years to come. Making an oil and gas investment and making profits off of oil production. Lending money to someone and charging interest. Having a whole life insurance policy that is paying an annual dividend to you. 3 Reasons to Consider Passive Income 1. Taxes Long-term capital gains, qualified dividends, real estate — these are tax-advantaged places to put your money. 2. Time Passive income allows you to do more of the things you love and less of the things you don’t. 3. Scalability It’s much easier to make more investments and keep adding to your portfolio than it is to keep adding time onto your plate and working more and more. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Debbie Wilcox is from Honolulu, HI, where she and her husband previously owned and operated a swimming pool business. After 30 years of running their business together, they decided to act on their shared dream of becoming multifamily real estate investors. They uprooted their lives, sold their dream home, and headed for the mainland to attend conferences, network, and soak up as much knowledge as they possibly could. Today, Debbie is the managing partner of Blue Rock Capital Group, which helps investors build and generate passive income through multifamily real estate. She is a co-GP of 33 units in Idaho and an LP of 2,400 units across seven states. In this episode, Debbie tells us what inspired her to leave Hawaii in pursuit of a career in multifamily, why she is adamant about getting out of her comfort zone, and how her background in business has driven her to explore asset management. “I had to ask my husband, ‘Do you want to live in our dream home, or do you want to live our dream life?’” 1. Uprooting Everything to Pursue Multifamily Debbie and her husband owned their own swimming pool business in Honolulu for 30 years before moving to California to pursue multifamily. Debbie says that thoughts of changing careers began to crop up as early as 10 years ago, but limiting beliefs prevented them from making a change. Then, one day, they stumbled upon some real estate podcasts, and they began listening. “What inspired me was listening to the stories of people that I felt were just like me — kind of feeling stuck,” Debbie says. “And maybe they were older just like myself, but they didn’t let that stop them.” She and her husband spent the next few years learning as much as they could, and when they were ready, they did the unthinkable — they sold their home and left Hawaii to set down roots on the mainland, where they could more easily attend conferences, find partners, and oversee properties. 2. Escaping Her Comfort Zone Debbie is a big believer that success lies just outside of her comfort zone. She admits that networking can be a challenge for her, and even scary sometimes, but she doesn’t let that stop her. “If I’m initially scared to do something, I get a little tingly, but I think, ‘Ah, this must be right. This must be good. I’m supposed to do this.’” By applying this mindset at her first conference, she met the people who would eventually bring her in on her first deal. 3. A Knack for Asset Management Debbie assumed that she and her husband would take on the role of raising capital for their deals, but much to their surprise, they developed a strong interest in asset management. “That 30 years in business looking at spreadsheets and budgets and income expenses — we find ourselves diving into that quite a bit,” she says. For the time being, they are enjoying pitching in on the asset management side of things, I think it’s good, in the beginning, to have your toes in a little bit of everything,” she says. “We really just want to learn as much as possible.” Debbie Wilcox | Real Estate Background Managing partner of Blue Rock Capital Group, which helps investors build and generate passive income through multifamily real estate. Portfolio: Co-GP of 33 units in Idaho LP of 2,400 units across seven states Based in: Dana Point, CA Say hi to her at: Facebook LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: In the business of multifamily investing, the quality of the network of people you surround yourself with greatly correlates with the level of success you'll achieve. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Logan Freeman grew up in the Midwest and got his first job bailing hay at 14 years old. He quickly developed a strong work ethic that led him to excel in athletics. After a successful collegiate football career, Logan played in the NFL, but ultimately decided it wasn’t the right career path for him. Soon after returning to school to earn his master’s degree, he discovered the world of real estate investing. Today, Logan is the co-founder and chief development officer of FTW Investments LLC. He is also the managing broker for XChangeCRE, and he is a GP of 1,300 units across four states totaling $130M in AUM. In this episode, Logan discusses the progress and growth the Kansas City market is currently experiencing, how the current market factors are affecting 1031 buyer demand and seller supply, and the piece of advice he received as a college football player that he still swears by today. Logan Freeman | Real Estate Background Co-founder and chief development officer of FTW Investments LLC, and managing broker for XChangeCRE. Their strategy involves acquiring, operating, and the eventual disposition of large-scale commercial real estate assets in key sectors and markets. Previous episodes: JF1845: Ex-NFL Player Turns To Real Estate Investing with Logan Freeman JF1908: Reinventing Yourself After A Traumatic Experience #SituationSaturday with Logan Freeman Portfolio: GP of 1,300 units across four states totaling $130M in AUM Based in: Kansas City, MO Say hi to him at: ftwinvestmentsllc.com Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Above the Line by Urban Meyer Greatest lesson: Put yourself around people that are smarter than you, and that will push you and make you better. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each week for the Best Ever Round Table, the three Best Ever Show hosts — Ash Patel, Slocomb Reed, and Travis Watts — come together for a deep dive into a commercial real estate investing topic. In this episode, Ash, Slocomb, and Travis discuss what a hard landing for the economy or out-of-control inflation might look like. They share their thoughts on what a recession would look like for the overall economy, how it would affect real estate in particular, and how inflation impacts real estate specifically. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny Spitz started his real estate career 20 years ago as an underwriter doing transactions for a middle-market Bank in Chicago. Eventually, he was able to land a mentorship from a broker, investor, and developer who showed him the real estate ropes. Today, Danny is the CEO and managing partner of Greenstone Partners, a brokerage that focuses on various commercial real estate properties including multifamily, industrial, mixed-use, retail, and office. He is a GP of four properties and an LP of over 12 properties across four states. In this episode, he tells us how he typically finds deals, the hardest lesson he’s learned during his 20-year run in the industry, and what he is seeing in terms of macroeconomics with real estate right now. Danny Spitz | Real Estate Background CEO and managing partner of Greenstone Partners, a brokerage that focuses on various commercial real estate properties including multifamily, industrial, mixed-use, retail, and office. Portfolio: GP of four properties LP of over 12 properties across four states Based in: Chicago, IL Say hi to him at: greenstone-partners.com LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: Lean on others who specialize in areas you don’t. Don’t think you can be a GP immediately. It takes years and a number of deals as a limited partner to learn. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joseph Cornwell started his career as a full-time police officer in 2011. Four years later, he began educating himself on all things real estate by reading books, listening to podcasts, and attending meetups. He began buying rental properties and scaling his portfolio. By 2021, he was able to retire from law enforcement and transition into a full-time real estate career. Today, Joseph is a licensed real estate agent at Ownerland Realty and a full-time real estate investor with 75 units. In this episode, he shares why he became a real estate agent before investing in properties, what made him decide to start a general contracting company, and how he planned the transition from his W-2 job to a full-time career in commercial real estate. Joseph Cornwell | Real Estate Background Licensed real estate agent at Ownerland Realty and full-time investor who initially came into real estate looking for a side hustle, but was ultimately able to retire from his full-time W-2 job as a police officer. Portfolio: GP of 75 units Based in: Cincinnati, OH Say hi to him at: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Greatest Lesson: You have to prioritize things, and having a single-track mind is probably not the healthiest approach. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Martin got his start in real estate by working in land development and building houses in his early 20s. He then transitioned to the apartment space, which he thought would be his long-term retirement vehicle until he discovered mobile home parks. Today, Jack is the co-founder and managing partner at 52TEN, a vertically integrated firm that focuses on acquiring and improving underperforming manufactured housing communities. In this episode, he discusses the four main ways mobile home parks are excellent, recession-resistant investment options. 1. Affordability When times get tough, mobile home parks are an affordable option for those who can no longer afford high rent payments. “The reason why most people are attracted to moving to a manufactured housing community is because it’s the most affordable living solution in America,” Jack says. “Anytime you get the most affordable option, you’re going to have a higher degree of recession resistance than anything else.” 2. Low Tenant Turnover The average length of stay in manufactured housing communities is 15 years, Jack says, versus a 12- to 18-month average for apartment communities. This provides stability and consistent cash flow for property owners in the event of a recession. 3. Tenants Own Their Homes All of the tenants in Jack’s manufactured housing communities own their homes. That means that if they are hit hard in a recession, they are able to sell their home and extract enough money to get them back on their feet. If those same tenants lived in an apartment, they wouldn’t have anything of their own to sell in times of economic difficulty. 4. Extra Incentive to Pay Rent Because Jack’s tenants own their own homes, there is a major incentive to stay current on their lot rent payments. In the rare occasion that a tenant decides to default, the penalty is the forfeiture of their home. “Let’s say you own a home that’s work $50K,” Jack explains. “It doesn’t make any economic sense at all to skip a $500 monthly lot rent payment to potentially risk your $50K home.” Jack Martin | Real Estate Background Co-founder and managing partner at 52TEN, a vertically integrated firm that focuses on acquiring and improving underperforming manufactured housing communities. Portfolio: GP and LP of 1,000 sites across seven properties Based in: Scottsdale, AZ Say hi to him at: 52ten.com LinkedIn Best Ever Book: The Secret Life of Real Estate and Banking by Phillip J. Anderson Greatest Lesson: The importance of a long-term vision, and always doing the right thing. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor. In this episode, Travis discusses the 2,000-year-old philosophy of stoicism. He explains that stoicism helps you to train your mind to overcome fear, uncertainty, and obstacles along the way to becoming a better person — or, in this case, a better investor. Travis outlines three different elements of stoicism that helve helped him on his personal journey to becoming a full-time passive investor: 1. Learn to Focus on What You Can Control “You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” —Marcus Aurelius When you are a passive investor, lots of things fall outside of your control. These include government decisions, different regulations and programs, actions taken by the Fed, weather, storms, tenant issues, and more. You can, however, focus on things that are within your control in order to simplify your investing strategy: Do proper due diligence before making an investment. Invest in deals that are conservatively underwritten. Have proper insurance coverage on the real estate you are investing in. Set aside adequate cash reserves for unexpected events. 2. Be Tolerant with Others “Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” —Marcus Aurelius Financial education is not necessarily widespread today. Most people have not taken the time, energy, and effort to become experts in investing. What might seem like common sense to you as a passive investor might not be so obvious to a neighbor, colleague, or coworker. It’s important to be understanding and forgiving of those who, as Marcus Aurelius would say, have been cut off from the truth. 3. You Can Be Twice as Rich by Desiring Half as Much “By desiring little, a poor man makes himself rich.” —Democritus It’s easy to get caught up in the success cycle, always wanting more things and more money. However, if you take a step back and think about what brings you the most happiness, you’ll likely find that many of these things are free or cost very little. It’s important to ask yourself what you're really after and how much is enough. The first episode of Passive Investor Tips covers this topic in more depth. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Tonks’s background is in the automotive industry. He began his studies as a mechanical engineer with the goal of following in his family’s footsteps. However, after purchasing and house hacking his first duplex, Jonathan was immediately hooked on real estate. He decided to pursue his passion through mentorship and coaching and quickly found himself on the route to commercial real estate syndications. Today, Jonathan is the managing partner at Provision Space, which specializes in multifamily syndications and raising capital. He also works full-time as a continuous improvement engineer at Magna International. In this episode, he shares his biggest learning curve as a sponsor, the most valuable skill he’s developed as an apartment syndicator, and how he approaches and builds relationships with potential investors. Jonathan Tonks | Real Estate Background Managing partner at Provision Space, which specializes in multifamily syndications and raising capital. Portfolio: GP of 297 units Works full-time as a continuous improvement engineer at Magna International. Based in: Holland, MI Say hi to him at: provisionspace.com Facebook LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Who Not How by Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy Greatest Lesson: Ask and you shall receive. There have been so many lessons wrapped around this concept, but this is the greatest one I've learned. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bryan McLaren’s real estate background started in sustainable development. He spent his early career working with local communities on how to develop real estate, renewable energy, community systems, agricultural regeneration, and more. Around 2010 when many states started to legalize cannabis, he immediately saw similarities between sustainable development and the cannabis programs that were emerging in the market. The overlap launched his involvement in the cannabis real estate industry. Today, Bryan is the CEO of Zoned Properties, a real estate development firm for emerging and highly regulated industries including legalized cannabis. In this episode, he discusses the three major risk conversations investors need to have when it comes to cannabis, his tips for mitigating those risks, and why he is so passionate about the cannabis real estate industry. “The reason we’re experts is we made every mistake possible along the way, and we learned from them.” Bryan McLaren | Real Estate Background CEO of Zoned Properties, a real estate development firm for emerging and highly regulated industries including legalized cannabis. They provide integrated growth commercial real estate services, including advisory, site identification, commercial brokerage, property acquisition/investment, sustainable development, and Property Technology (PropTech). Portfolio: GP of four commercial properties in Arizona that have been developed, permitted, and leased to regulated/legalized cannabis operators. Based in: Scottsdale, AZ Say hi to him at: zonedproperties.com LinkedIn Twitter Greatest Lesson: Trust in your brain. In other words, identify smart and ambitious people to join your team, provide clear direction about the goals and objectives, and then trust those team members to get the job done. And provide whatever tools they need to support them. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each week for the Best Ever Round Table, the three Best Ever Show hosts — Ash Patel, Slocomb Reed, and Travis Watts — come together for a deep dive into a commercial real estate investing topic. In this episode, Ash, Slocomb, and Travis discuss what they believe a hypothetical investor should do with their money, assuming the investor is accredited and has $100K to invest in real estate. The three hosts offer up their investment vehicle recommendations based on the insights they’ve gained from their own careers. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flint Jamison is a mechanical engineer who spent more than 15 years designing aircraft. He found real estate in 2018, applying the BRRRR model to his first duplex in Milwaukee. However, he quickly pivoted to syndications after coming across a Michael Blank podcast on BiggerPockets. Today, Flint is the program manager at Vestus Capital, a syndicator that focuses on value-add multifamily and new build-to-rent development. He is a GP of 1,500 units and an LP of approximately 800 units. In this episode, he shares the steps he took to pivot from due diligence to capital raising, how he nurtures relationships with potential investors, and the challenges that come with managing a fund in the current economic climate. Flint Jamison | Real Estate Background Program Manager at Vestus Capital, a syndicator that focuses on value-add multifamily and new build-to-rent development. They primarily raise capital, with some deal sourcing and asset management as well. Portfolio: GP of 1,500 units LP of ~800 units Based in: Denver, CO Say hi to him at: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: If you build it, they will come — in regards to capital raising. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Brenner was working 60–70 hours per week at a car dealership full-time before he found commercial real estate. Once the pandemic hit in 2020, his dealership was closed for three months — that’s when he decided to make the jump. He started out with two warehouse deals with friends, which quickly led to bigger deals. Today, Jason is the managing member at Brenner Realty Group, LLC, which performs ground-up developments as well as redevelopment deals. He is a GP of 274 micro apartments, 165 units in development, one warehouse, and one flex-space property. In this episode, Jason tells us how he accommodates the need for versatility in small apartment spaces, how he is able to increase rents by providing convenience to tenants, and why he prefers to capitalize deals in-house. Jason Brenner | Real Estate Background Managing member at Brenner Realty Group LLC, which performs ground-up developments as well as redevelopment deals. Portfolio: GP of: 274 micro apartments 165 units in development One warehouse One flex-space property LP of nine deals Based in: Mechanicsburg, PA Say hi to him at: LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki Greatest Lesson: When I was first starting out in real estate about 12 years ago, a friend/business partner said to me, “It’s no fun to be rich alone.” It took a few years for it to fully sink in, but that simple statement has given me a paradigm shift from a world of scarcity into a world of abundance. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Pranay Parikh is a medical doctor who began investing in real estate to grow his income. He bought a four-unit multifamily property but soon realized his time would be better spent focusing on his full-time career and investing 100% passively. He decided to help other doctors, dentists, and healthcare professionals do the same. Today, Pranay is the president of Ascent Equity Group, which helps individuals build wealth through low-risk, high-growth multifamily investments in strong markets throughout the U.S. with a focus on healthcare professionals. He owns $200M in CRE, 1,200 units, and four properties as a JV, and is also an LP of over $1B in investments. In this episode, he shares why he believes in managing the manager, his criteria for vetting sponsors and deals, and how he gains leverage with operators. 1. Managing the Manager Ever the actively passive real estate investor, Pranay has weekly phone calls with property management. “Anytime there’s more than $1,000 spent, we want to know why,” Pranay says. “And we always compare that to pro forma.” He tasks himself with maximizing the profit for his investors by ensuring that the sponsor or operator is sticking to the plan. 3. Vetting Sponsors and Deals When vetting a sponsor, Pranay looks at their track record first. He prefers sponsors who have been through a recession and who have been working together for at least five years. He likes to meet them face to face and walk the properties as well. Reputation is also a major factor. “It’s a really small world in real estate,” Pranay says. “You’d be surprised.” When it comes to deal selection, Ascent employs its own asset manager. “Usually allocators like us don't have their own asset management, but we really believe in managing the manager,” Pranay says. “So we are very selective with the deals we look at.” They underwrite each deal from scratch, then have their asset manager examine it as well before signing on. 3. Gaining Leverage with Operators Ascent typically brings anywhere from 90% to 97.5% of the equity to a joint venture deal. This gives them major decision rights. They have institutional-level oversight over the properties, which allows them to visit sites as often as every other week. The number-one priority, Pranay says, is always to make sure the business plan is getting taken care of. “We have investor overrides for the decisions, buy/sell rights — we have all of that,” he says. “We really want the power to make sure our investor is taken care of.” Dr. Pranay Parikh | Real Estate Background President of Ascent Equity Group, which helps individuals build wealth through low-risk, high-growth multifamily investments in strong markets throughout the U.S. with a focus on healthcare professionals (doctors, dentists, etc). They do joint ventures with operators to buy value-add multifamily properties. Portfolio: Joint venture $200M in CRE 1,200 units Four properties LP of over $1B investments Based in: Los Angeles, CA Say hi to him at: ascentequitygroup.com Facebook LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Farewell, Godspeed by Cyrus M. Copeland Greatest Lesson: If you are honest and transparent with your investors, they will give you the benefit of the doubt. With how turbulent the debt market has been, on our last deal, they tried to change the terms the day before closing. We had to go back and offer our investors the chance to back out (only one did that out of 300 investors). Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings| PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor. In this episode, Travis discusses both active and passive investing strategies and how to decide which is best for you. Deciding factors include the skill sets required and motivation behind each strategy, plus some scenarios where using both strategies might be the best choice. Active Investing Active investing means having an active involvement in the actual business itself for the real estate that you’re acquiring. Required Skill Sets The ability to understand and underwrite properties, and to understand the analysis that comes with that. The ability to find deals off-market that give you your competitive edge. The ability to assemble teams and manage people. A conservative and realistic approach to project future and current expenses and potential returns for the deals that you’re doing. The ability to follow through on a business plan. Having the time to be able to dedicate to all of this. Motivating Factors You might be doing an active deal because you want to learn the foundation of real estate, or you may simply enjoy work that involves repairs and renovations. Active investors also earn higher profits on return than passive investors. Passive Investing As a passive investor, you do not have material participation in the business or deal itself. You are effectively investing in someone else’s deal or someone else’s business as a hands-off investor. Required Skill Sets A basic understanding of property analysis and how real estate works fundamentally. The ability to network and find deals. The ability to manage your finances and personal budget. The ability to identify conservative underwriting when you’re vetting deals and doing your due diligence. The ability to relinquish control and just simply let others run the deal, make the big decisions, and do what they do best. Motivating Factors Passive investing might be for you if you want to free up your time. You may have another career or other professional interest that you focus on full-time, and investing passively would allow you to continue focusing on those interests. It’s a way to build up supplemental income without sacrificing more of your time. Why Not Both? Many investors choose some combination of active and passive investing. For example, active investors often invest passively as well in order to diversify their portfolios. Additionally, commercial real estate beginners without much capital to invest often choose to start out as active investors. This strategy allows them to build up their “nest egg” in order to accumulate enough capital to create significant returns once they decide to invest passively. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rohun Jauhar began his career in corporate finance, working for General Electric and Facebook before deciding he wanted to branch out on his own. After considering several paths — including running Domino’s franchises — he found multifamily real estate. Today, Rohun is the founding partner of JT Capital, which focuses on 120- to 400-unit apartment complexes that have below-market rents in Florida. He is a GP of 5,000 units as well as an LP in a few multifamily, self-storage, industrial, and short-term rental deals. In this episode, Rohun tells us how he got started in multifamily by underwriting 100 deals in 30 days, his thoughts on rising interest rates, and how systems have helped him to scale his business. Rohun Jauhar | Real Estate Background Founding partner of JT Capital, which focuses on 120- to 400-unit apartment complexes that have below-market rents in Florida. Portfolio: GP of 5,000 units LP in a few deals that span multifamily, self-storage, industrial, and short-term rentals. Based in: Austin, TX Say hi to him at: jtcapitalgroup.com Twitter Greatest Lesson: The fundamental lesson that underpins everything we do was something I heard from Bill Ackman, which was that "while everyone else is thinking in years, you can set yourself apart by thinking in decades.” This underpins everything we do from our business to friendships, to health and fitness. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morgan Henry is a civil engineering inspector who began investing in the stock market in 2019. She quickly realized she loved researching and working to seek out the best opportunities but craved a more exciting asset class. In 2021, she decided to cash out of the stock market and use that money to get a real estate mentor — and she hasn’t looked back since. Today, Morgan is the founder of Cassini Capital Investments, which focuses on multifamily syndication. She is a GP of 404 units and asset manager of 428 units. In this episode, she shares the biggest lessons she took away from her mentorship program, how she found her current partner through Facebook, and her networking tips for CRE beginners. Morgan Henry | Real Estate Background Founder of Cassini Capital Investments, which focuses on multifamily syndication. Portfolio: GP of 404 units Asset manager of 428 units Works full-time in construction management in Civil Engineering. Based in: Dallas, TX Say hi to her at: Facebook LinkedIn Greatest lesson: There are a million ways to make money. I found a lot of my recent success by staying open-minded and taking on any challenge where I can learn and grow my business while providing value for someone else. I’m not caught up in the shiny object syndrome or obsessed with getting a slice of the GP. There are different roads you can take to be successful. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses early on and find someone to compliment them. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each week for the Best Ever Round Table, the three Best Ever Show hosts — Ash Patel, Slocomb Reed, and Travis Watts — come together for a deep dive into a commercial real estate investing topic. In this episode, Ash, Slocomb, and Travis discuss a hypothetical scenario: If they had to start over today with no money, no assets, and no network — but still having all of their current experience in real estate investing — how would they begin engaging in real estate investing again today? Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Richter has 10 years of real estate experience with a background in acquisitions, disposition, property management, transaction coordination, marketing, and CFO. Through that experience, he realized he wanted to help real estate investors learn how to take control of their finances. After reading Profit First by Mike Michalowicz, he knew he had the perfect framework to help real estate entrepreneurs manage the cash in their businesses. Today, David is the owner and founder of Simple CFO Solutions, which matches real estate investors with a fractional CFO to grow their bottom line profit and decrease financial stress. He is also the author of Profit First for Real Estate Investing. In this episode, he discusses common financial pitfalls he sees real estate investors experience, why he recommends entrepreneurs set up at least four bank accounts to manage their finances, and the services he offers real estate professionals through Simple CFO Solutions and the Profit First System. David Richter | Real Estate Background Owner and founder of Simple CFO Solutions, which matches real estate investors with a fractional CFO to grow their bottom line profit and decrease financial stress. 10 years of real estate experience, including acquisitions, dispositions, property management, transaction coordination, marketing, and CFO. Author of Profit First for Real Estate Investing Based in: St. Cloud, FL Say hi to him at: simplecfo.com Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: Make sure to make profit a habit in your business and pay yourself first. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Beyond Multifamily series is hosted by non-residential commercial real estate investor and Best Ever Show host, Ash Patel. Ash’s goal for this series is to introduce you to the world of non-residential commercial real estate investing and teach you how to look at and underwrite different commercial asset classes. In this episode, Ash highlights this often overlooked commercial real estate asset, and why it provides an excellent opportunity to make money. He lays out the benefits of buying medical buildings based on cap rates, stability, diversification, and more — plus what to look for when buying a medical practice. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Long is the CEO and founder of Longyards, a hybrid business model that takes old-world storage and combines it with secure contractor storage yards, as well as community support. Longyards is an exterior storage rental business that caters to small business owners, large-scale operations, and even individuals who simply need more room for their hobbies. In this episode, Chris shares how he came up with the idea for Longyards, how he used a 10-acre commercial property to launch an innovative new business, what his typical customers are like, and the unexpected barriers to entry that come with this unique asset class. Chris Long | Real Estate Background CEO and founder of Longyards, a hybrid business model that takes old-world storage and combines it with secure contractor storage yards, as well as community support. Portfolio: GP of three properties in Ottawa, CA; Florida; and North Carolina Based in: Ottawa, CA Say hi to him at: longyardsfranchise.com All socials: Longyards Storage Greatest Lesson: Communication is key. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor. In this episode, Travis talks about the various levels investors need to achieve on the path to building financial wealth. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Travis has created his own hierarchy of wealth building to illustrate what needs must be met before you can achieve financial independence. There are five tiers in this hierarchy: 1. Self-Sufficiency The first level in the hierarchy of wealth building is self-sufficiency. This is where you can support your living costs and expenses through active income. You may have a W-2 job or work as an independent contractor — in any case, you are working to pay your expenses. 2. Stability At the second level, you eliminate high-interest debt, bad debt, and credit card debt. You also have some cash in the bank as a reserve. 3. Flexibility At the third level, you could potentially take a year off of work, travel, or even pivot careers. You may have some investments or IRA accounts and adequate cash reserves in the bank. However, you are still working to pay your expenses. Your investments have not been able to generate enough income for you to quit your job. 4. Financial Independence At the fourth level, you are able to live off of the income that your investments generate. It is important to note that even if you are a high-income earner who makes millions of dollars per year, it isn’t possible to reach financial independence unless you become a passive income investor. 5. Financial Abundance At the fifth and final level, money is no longer a concern. You have more than you will ever need, and you may begin using that extra money to give back via sizeable charitable donations. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Micy Liu is the founder and managing partner at Life Mission Capital, a commercial real estate firm that focuses on multifamily investing. She is a GP of 348 units, a fund manager of 929 units, and an LP of 187 units. She also works a full-time W-2 job in the data analytics space, which helped her cultivate the skill set necessary to excel in due diligence and data analysis in the commercial real estate world. In this episode, Micy shares how she uses her data analysis background to her advantage during the business plan execution process, the importance of prioritizing the collection of data, and how she is adapting her business models in response to the economic volatility investors are facing right now. Micy Liu | Real Estate Background Founder and managing partner at Life Mission Capital, a commercial real estate firm that focuses on multifamily investing. Portfolio: GP of 348 units Fund manager of 929 units LP of 187 units Based in: Fayetteville, AR Say hi to her at: lifemissioncapital.com LinkedIn Best Ever Book: DotCom Secrets by Russell Brunson Greatest lesson: Confusion causes indecision. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Rosenberg is a passive investor who works full-time for his family business, Ralph Rosenberg Court Reporters. He first became "hooked" on investments after buying his first stock at age 13. Years later, Andrew and his father decided to begin investing their extra money in real estate. They started out with single-family homes but made the switch to syndications in order to scale more quickly. Today, Andrew is an LP of 3,400 units, along with small investments in office, farmland, and ATM syndications. In this episode, he discusses what he looks for when evaluating syndications, the one thing he considers to be a deal breaker, and why there’s no such thing as a truly passive investment. Andrew Rosenberg | Real Estate Background Passive investor who works full-time at Ralph Rosenberg Court Reporters. Portfolio: LP of 3,400 units, along with small investments in office, farmland, and ATM syndications Based in: Honolulu, HI Say hi to him at: LinkedIn Greatest lesson: Much like with most everything in life, you have to work and earn results; there is no silver bullet. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: Cornell Capital Holdings | PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices