Investing In The U.s. - An Aussie's Guide To U.s. Real Estate

What goes into investing in a commodity like oil & gas? Should you consider investing in this asset class to diversify your portfolio? Dave Wolcott is an established entrepreneur, a former captain in the Marine Corps, author of “The Holistic Wealth Strategy, a Framework for Building Legacy Wealth and Unlimited Freedom to Live an Extraordinary Life,” the host of the Wealth Strategy Secrets of The Ultra-Wealthy podcast, and the CEO of Pantheon Investments. In this episode, Dave gives a unique point of view on real estate as a long-term investor, walks us through the asset class of oil & gas, explains how mining from the investment standpoint works, and so much more. We also go into hedging against the devaluation of the dollar, investing in alternative energies, and building a wealth strategy that will resist economic fluctuations. We don’t have a lot of guests going into the nitty gritty of stock market assets, so we’re pumped to have Dave share his valuable insights with us today. Click on that Pl

What goes into designing, building, and selling accessory dwelling units (ADUs)? And how did SnapADU become the biggest ADU company in San Diego? Whitney Hill is the Co-Founder and Head of Business Development & Innovation at SnapADU, a licensed general contractor and San Diego’s biggest accessory dwelling unit construction company. Although Whitney graduated from Yale with a Psychology degree, she found her way to the real estate space, particularly the general contracting niche. With her prominent supply chain background and expertise in the ADU niche, Whitney and her team have built a highly efficient way to provide cost-effective housing for families, young adults, and other Californians looking for affordable housing. Whitney shares how SnapADU differentiates itself from competitors, builds credibility among the community, maintains transparency throughout the sales process, and so much more. Today, we get to learn a bit more about the world of ADUs with Whitney walking us through everything we ne

Did you miss our latest investor webinar? We’ve got you covered—here’s a replay of our hour-long live discussion with Reed, the great people at RSN Property Group, and some of our attendees. Everyone’s on the edge of their seat as the world continues to reel from the pandemic. As real estate investors, we must take preemptive actions against a looming recession and the significant economic changes that will come with it. What are the must-know changes in today’s market? And what can we expect to happen in the near future? Join us on this 2023 Investing in the US Live Webinar to learn about the most relevant market changes, previous recessions, upcoming opportunities, and so much more. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Despite the economic challenges present during post-COVID times, there are still market opportunities out there. 2. Thanks to massive changes in working setups and shopping trends during COVID, there’s a lot of pressure on office and commercial spaces. 3. Interest rates have peaked and may drop in the next f

What is it really like to invest in stocks? Many of us focus on the rewards that we often forget about the time and effort it takes to get there. Luckily, Patrick Geddes is on the show to educate us on the realities of the stock market. Patrick Geddes is the former Research Director and CFO at Morningstar, the co-founder and former CEO of multi-billion dollar firm Aperio Group, the author of Transparent Investing, and of the industry’s leading experts in after-tax investing. Throughout his long and successful career, Patrick dedicated himself to fighting “self-serving bull dung” in the investment industry. He helps consumers understand what they’re getting into beyond the “feel good” moments that pull them in and protect themselves from false promises. Patrick shares valuable insights that every investor needs to hear, centering on becoming a rational, self-aware, and open-minded investor. We talk about understanding your options and potential in stocks, the potential advantages of having wealth advisors,

Revitalizing a property takes a lot of time, money, and energy—but it can add value to both renters and property owners. Matt Ryan joins this week’s episode to explain how they help keep both parties happy. Matt Ryan is the CEO of Re-viv, a private equity investment company that revitalizes communities through growth-inducing and impactful strategies that benefit both renters and investors. He has created an effective system that keeps tenants happy, makes buildings last longer, and brings significant returns to investors. But how exactly does this system work? And what are the benefits for investors and developers? This model can be quite confusing to many, which is why we’re lucky to have Matt to tell us how it works and what it entails. Plus, Matt walks us through the co-living system Re-viv works on. Listen to how co-living works, how it helps renters afford housing, and how they enrich this type of living despite its inherent disadvantages. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Generally, owners don’t want to overpay to

We often talk about building a successful business, but what exactly goes into it? Jerry Green, a seasoned real estate investor, joins us on this episode to shed some light on what we need to know. Jerry Green is the CEO of Real Estate Solutions Unlimited, Inc., and has been in the real estate business for almost three decades. Jerry started building his business in 1994. Despite going through bankruptcy and the tragic loss of his wife, Jerry persevered and bounced back. Today, Jerry leads one of the most successful firms in Southwest Ohio and helps others find financial freedom through investing. We are honored to have Jerry on the show to share his story of overcoming major difficulties and coming out on top. Besides discussing his experiences, Jerry provides valuable insights into running a business, including finding the right people, building an effective production line, and so much more. What does it take to keep a business running like a well-oiled machine? Why is hiring the right people so importa

How do you make money without using your own cash or credit? Is such a thing even possible? Our guest for this week’s episode found a method that does exactly that. Marco Kozlowski is a world-renowned expert in real estate investing, systems process engineering, and platform speaking. Despite starting adulthood struggling to provide for his young family, Marco pulled through by making a massive career and mindset change. Today, Marco has bought over 6,000 units across various asset classes, is a respected speaker, and leads other investors to financial stability. Marco has built a system where he buys properties that owners need to sell quickly. But the process is not as easy as it seems. In this week’s interview, Marco walks us through how he finds property owners in trouble, fixes their problems, and makes significant profits off the deals. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. An exchange for a quick sale is always going to be a discount. 2. If you know where to look, you can find the right deals much easier. 3. When sell

We are honored to have one of the biggest names in the stock market investing world on the show with us this week to share his thoughts on today’s economic issues—Jim Rogers! Jim Rogers is well-known for his historic, around-the-world travels. In 1990, he embarked on a motorcycle journey across six continents over twenty-two months. He did it again in 1999 along with Paige Parker on the iconic Millennium Mercedes, traveling around the world in three years and investing in different markets along the way. Jim is also a bestselling author, a world-renowned financial commentator, and a highly seasoned American investor. Through his lifetime of experience as an investor and world traveler, Jim is now one of the most respected investors and financial commentators in the US. In this episode, we derive Jim’s insights on today’s debt market, the US economy post-COVID, and what could happen in the next few years. While everyone is still reeling from the economic mess the pandemic has created, Jim provides us with s

What is non-food franchising and what are the potential opportunities within that space? We have Jon Ostenson, the CEO of FranBridge Consulting, to introduce us to the world of franchising. Jon is a Certified Franchise Consultant, the author of Non-Food Franchising, and the CEO of FranBridge Consulting, where he helps investors understand the ins and outs of non-food franchising and connects them to the best opportunities possible. In black and white, the franchise business model is quite easy to understand; you buy a franchise and manage the business under the guidance of its parent company. However, executing a successful franchise is where it gets tricky. Luckily, Jon has jumped on the show to explain how franchises work, the most successful ventures beyond food, and what the systems (marketing, management, training, etc.) look like in this model. In addition, Jon gives us some examples of real-life franchisees and how they made whopping profits from various businesses. If you think franchising might ju

What is build-to-rent? How does it differ from traditional multifamily properties? And how exactly does it work? Ruben Greth, a seasoned BTR developer, is here with us this week to tell us everything we need to know about this unique space. Ruben Greth is a multifamily build-to-rent syndicator, the Managing Partner of Legacy Acquisitions, and the Capital Raiser Show host. With Legacy Acquisitions, Ruben and his team provide investors with off-market BTR cash flow opportunities in the best submarkets and neighborhoods. Ruben and I punch through a multitude of topics in this week’s interview—syndications, working with passive investors, development, build-to-rent, and more. Build-to-rent is a relatively new space, and Ruben explains how it differs from other niches, how he works with other partners (engineers, developers, etc.), and how these “horizontal multifamily” subdivisions came about. The build-to-rent space has a lot of potential, and we’re glad to have an expert on the show to discuss how it works.

We’re thrilled to have a fellow Aussie on the show with us this week—Stephen Keighery of Home Buyer Louisiana! Stephen Keighery is the Founder of Home Buyer Louisiana and Bald Eagle Investments, bringing in serious profits for both himself and his investors. But before building his business in the United States, Stephen was a prominent business partner at an Australian company hipages. We get into a deep dive into Stephen’s IPO, including the challenges they underwent and how it paid off in the end. Plus, Stephen walks us through what they do at Home Buyer Louisiana, a home flipping company that buys distressed homes in New Orleans, providing a win-win situation for buyers who want to get fast cash for their properties. Stephen’s US companies are still quite young, but as an experienced entrepreneur, his endeavors are growing pretty fast. However, the journey hasn’t been easy. Find out how Stephen made a massive exit and got to where he is today. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Going the aggressive route in your busines

If you’re a rugby fan like me, you’re going to love this week’s episode. Let’s listen to how John Van Der Giessen, a former professional rugby player for the USA Eagles, went from a pro athlete to a real estate entrepreneur. John Van Der Giessen is a former rugby union player with a successful 15-year career under his belt. He represented the United States as captain of the USA Eagles in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup, etching his name into US rugby history. John traveled the world to learn the sport and spent more than a decade building his career as a remarkable athlete. But just like all other athletes, his time to chase another goal came. Today, John is a successful real estate executive and Partner at REM Capital. John and his multi-talented team now have over $300 million in total assets under management, more than 3,400 units, and $1.5 billion managed by group leadership. While his success as a real estate investor rings clear today, the transition from an international professional athlete to an entre

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to take on property management in its entirety? Jorge Abreu of Elevate Capital shares his journey from single-family deals to multi-million dollar multi-family properties while building his own efficient business ecosystem. Jorge is a multi-faceted businessman with extensive experience in single-family, multi-family, and ground construction. With over 16 years of experience behind him, Jorge is now the Managing Partner at Elevate Commercial Investment Group and the CEO of JNT Construction. Jorge walks us through how Elevate finds and manages optimum deals, minimizes market risks, and works with the people involved in every step of the process. We also dabble into Jorge and his team’s specific challenges regarding property management, particularly the multiple approval processes involved. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Some developers are not good operators. 2. Focus on the things you can control. 3. You might not realize you are paying for certain expenses when you have a third-part

Have you ever come across a property you want to buy and wondered when (if ever) it will go up for sale? What if you can actually predict when the homeowner is going to sell? Sounds impossible, but Paul Wakim of TwnSqr proves otherwise. Paul Wakim is the Co-Founder and CEO of TwnSqr, a real estate technology startup dedicated to breaking barriers in the real estate industry by helping sellers and investors gain full control over their connections. An entrepreneur by heart, Paul started by selling sneakers in college before moving to real estate investing and photography. Paul created a unique algorithm that can predict when people will sell their properties (with 95% accuracy!). What data does this technology use? Why is it a marketplace and an investor network? And how does it help investors find the best deals? We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to go into the nuts and bolts of this innovative startup with Paul. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. While not always necessary, going to college or university can teach you

What are wellness real estate and build-to-rent? How do these make life easier for tenants, and how do investors profit from them? The Mad Scientists of Multifamily, Neal Bawa, is on the show with us this week to give us answers. Neal Bawa is the CEO and co-founder of UGro Investments and Grocapitus, two real estate companies that utilize advanced real estate analytics technology to source, acquire, and build large commercial and multifamily properties across the country. Neal treats his whopping $1 billion portfolio as an experiment in efficiency and optimization, earning him the moniker, the Mad Scientist of Multifamily among real estate circles. As an expert technologist, Neal is one of the best sources of insights, techniques, and hard facts on multifamily real estate. In our highly anticipated interview with Neal, we go into heavy detail about wellness real estate and how Neal has helped transform this niche into something highly beneficial for both investors and tenants. We also delve into Neal’s

What is a short-term loan, and why would a borrower choose it over a traditional loan? Let’s welcome Will Coleman of UrbanGate Capital to the show this week to shed light on some of our questions about hard money lending. Will Coleman is a Co-Founder and the CEO of UrbanGate Capital, a real estate hard money and private capital lending company. Through his expertise in operations and investor relations, Will helps other investors earn high-yield returns on short-term hard money loans in Texas and Tennessee. Since they started two years ago, Will and his team have loaned out over $25 million. How do short-term loans work? And how does UrbanGate gain a profit? Whether you’re an aspiring lender or house flipper—or simply on the lookout for hard cash—you probably have a lot of questions about short-term loans. Luckily, Will is here to walk us through the short-term loan process, including how they find borrowers and keep an edge against other lenders. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Investors have varying risk appetites rega

Don’t know how to underwrite deals yourself? Can’t afford a full-time underwriter for your business? If you’re having problems with your underwriting—or simply want to make the process easier—let’s talk with my good friend and own service provider—Abhi Jain. Abhi Jain is the CEO and Co-Founder of RealVal Private Limited, a real estate financial analysis & accounting firm that helps clients fulfill their needs with the best quality service possible. He is also a seasoned consultant, helping clients work on acquisition & disposition underwriting, budgeting & forecasting, waterfall modeling, and much more. Relative to the other real estate service providers we’ve interviewed in this show, Abhi offers a unique yet extremely valuable service to investors. In today’s interview, Abhi walks us through how his business works, including how they maintain the quality of their services, produce accurate results and essentially help clients make the best decisions for their business. Abhi and his partners a

Ready to dive into more tips that will help you make better business decisions for 2023? Tune into this week’s episode with a very good friend of mine, Ryan Parker. Ryan Parker is a seasoned commercial real estate professional with extensive experience in financing, leasing, originating, and more. He is the Associate Director of Walker & Dunlop, responsible for originating for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, multifamily value-add, and commercial real estate debt placement. Ryan discusses the unique needs, risks, and difficulties associated with investing in industrial real estate. Specifically, we go into how to get a tenant in, what the market is like coming out of COVID, and Ryan’s opinions on how the debt markets will affect conservatism, refinancing, and investor or buyer behavior—plus many more topics that every real estate investor wants to hear in today’s uncertain times. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. One of the most critical factors of industrial real estate investing is the proximity to major transportation thoro

What it’s like managing a demanding W-2 job and a full-blown rental business? How can you create a unique experience for your short-term guests that will give you an advantage over the traditional hotel stay? Dr. Rachel Grainsbrugh and her husband ground through their early careers, paying off hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans and raising five dogs. Then, she realized that sticking with her W-2 alone won’t be sustainable in the long run—and the rest is history. Today, she owns and manages 18 luxury short-term rental properties, all while raising a family and managing a full-time career. What’s her secret sauce? How did she get started in real estate with no prior experience? How does she leverage her resources to only have to work on her rental business for 2 hours a week? In this week’s episode, Dr. Grainsbrugh gives us a crash course on creating unique, short-term luxury rentals based on her own experiences as an investor and business owner. Whether you’re set on creating an Airbnb or sti

Have you ever thought about leaving your comfort zone? Perhaps switching your focus to a new asset class? Or starting a new venture you know nothing about? Bryan Underwood is the Principal Founder of Responsible Real Estate, Inc. (RRE), which purchases land and develops multi-family properties in California. Before RRE, Bryan played a vital role in acquiring over 1.5 million square feet of self-storage while working as an Acquisitions Manager at Caster Properties, Inc./ A-1 Self Storage. Bryan started his real estate journey at just 24 years old, having borrowed $50,000 from a family member. Today, he partners with multiple investors to secure amazing real estate deals in San Diego, Boise, Austin, & Raleigh. Bryan sits down with us today to share his story about working for a decade in the family business before finding his own way. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t easy. Let’s hear how Bryan left a comfortable path, ignored the naysayers, and took the courage to “do his own thing.” KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Some of us