Best Real Estate Investing Advice Ever With Joe Fairless

On this episode of The Horizon, John discusses the surprising inefficiencies in commercial real estate investing, specifically focusing on the apartment sector. He unpacks why markets like Chicago—despite strong rent growth and solid fundamentals—have higher cap rates and attract less capital than high-growth but lower-performing markets like Dallas-Fort Worth. John explores how investor behavior, herd mentality, and institutional capital flows influence asset values more than actual property performance. He concludes by highlighting overlooked cashflow markets like Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Milwaukee that offer strong yields in today’s high-interest-rate environment. Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estat

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Ken Gee, a former CPA and commercial lender who transitioned into multifamily real estate to reclaim time with his family and build lasting wealth. Ken shares his journey from burning the midnight oil as a tax professional to buying his first apartment buildings and making half a million dollars in profit. He emphasizes the importance of overcoming limiting beliefs, finding the right partners (like his "Gary"), and continually evolving your investment strategy—from syndications to blind pool funds. The conversation is packed with advice on adding value, raising capital, and building trust with brokers and investors. Ken Gee Current Role: Founder & Managing Partner at KRI Partners Based in: Cleveland, Ohio Say hi to him at: https://www.kripartners.com Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Ben Fraser, Chief Investment Officer at Aspen Funds and co-host of the Invest Like a Billionaire podcast. They explore how billionaires think differently than millionaires—focusing on growing balance sheets through private market investments rather than just income. Ben explains the dangers of income creep, critiques the limitations of traditional financial planning, and advocates for strategic investing outside Wall Street. They also discuss reshoring trends driving industrial growth, the shifting meaning of retirement in a world of longer lifespans and AI, and what true financial freedom looks like. Ben Fraser Current Role: Chief Investment Officer, Aspen Funds Based in: Kansas City, MO Say hi to them at: https://thebillionairebook.org – Pre-order his upcoming book Invest Like a Billionaire https://www.thebillionairepodcast.com – Listen to his podcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/benwfraser Get a 4-week

On this episode of the Passive Income Playbook, Pascal Wagner interviews Kevin Bupp, a seasoned investor and founder of Sunrise Capital Investors. Known for his success with mobile home parks, Kevin dives into the niche world of parking garage investments—an overlooked asset class with strong cash flow, low maintenance, and high redevelopment potential. He shares his origin story from bartending to building a $400M+ real estate portfolio, discusses how his firm targets value-add parking assets in high-demand urban markets, and explains how they balance risk-adjusted returns across their fund structure by blending cash-flowing parking deals with value-add mobile home parks. Kevin also addresses how autonomous vehicles may impact the future of parking, and why land value and long-term optionality are central to his investment thesis. Kevin Bupp Current role: Founder & CEO of Sunrise Capital Investors Based in: Tampa Bay, Florida Say hi to them at: investwithsunrise.com or connect on LinkedIn

On this episode of Beyond Multifamily, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Sean Graham, founder of Maven Cost Segregation. Sean shares how he uses AI tools like ChatGPT for streamlining both personal and professional tasks, including investigating financial fraud. The conversation dives deep into Sean’s transition from residential to self-storage investing, why it’s not as passive as it seems, and how he built a lean, global operations team to manage over 1,000 units. They also unpack cost segregation strategies, the likelihood of 100% bonus depreciation returning, and the nuances of audit risk in tax planning. Sean Graham Current role: Founder, Maven Cost Segregation Tax Advisors Based in: Detroit, Michigan Say hi to them at: sean@mavencostseg.com or mavencostseg.com/bestever Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditi

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Ari Rastegar, founder of Rastegar Capital, about his journey from law school to building a vertically integrated real estate firm. Ari shares how he got his start in real estate by developing a single-family home during law school, which evolved into a focus on zoning, entitlement, and large-scale developments across Texas. He breaks down the strategic value of land rezoning, lessons learned from leveraging debt, and how his firm partners with major institutions while maintaining rigorous risk controls. Ari also emphasizes the importance of third-party fund administration and institutional-grade governance—even for small operators. Ari Rastegar Current Role: Founder & CEO of Rastegar Capital Based in: Austin, Texas Say hi to them at: rastegarcapital.com Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.lin

On this episode of Unlimited Capital, Chris Lopez and Richard McGirr break down why they chose the fund-to-funds model for their first major capital raise—and why it's a powerful starting point for aspiring syndicators. They share how they scaled quickly without years of operational experience by leveraging experienced operators, reducing risk, and maintaining compliance through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) structure. They also discuss their first deal: a 34-unit value-add multifamily property in Denver, how they structured compensation fairly, and the importance of property walks in converting investors. The episode closes with actionable tips for aspiring capital raisers and operators alike. Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want s

On this episode of The Horizon, John Chang discusses why commercial real estate is likely to outperform over the next five years. He attributes this to two major Trump-era policies: increased tariffs and tightening immigration. Tariffs on materials like steel, aluminum, and Canadian softwood lumber are significantly raising construction costs, while stricter immigration policies are reducing the labor pool, further driving up labor expenses. These structural pressures are expected to constrain new development, shift supply-demand dynamics, and ultimately push up both rents and property values across sectors including multifamily, retail, office, and industrial. Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investo

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Ashley Garner, a lifelong real estate investor who transitioned from student rentals and residential brokerage into multifamily investing. Ashley shares how a near-death health scare motivated him to scale his portfolio more aggressively, going from a 10-unit to a 196-unit property through strategic partnerships and capital raising. He explains the mindset shift required to leverage other people’s money and how relationships and trust are foundational to scaling effectively. The conversation also highlights Ashley’s operational philosophy, including managing third-party property managers and the importance of developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) as his business grows toward a goal of 1,000 units. Ashley Garner Current Role: Multifamily investor and founder of ABG Multifamily Say hi to them at: abgmultifamily.com Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Cameron Herold, founder of the COO Alliance and former COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK. They dive into the nuanced roles of CEO versus COO, and why so many entrepreneurs misunderstand what they truly need in a second-in-command. Cameron shares how building 1-800-GOT-JUNK into a globally admired brand came from creating a strong culture, leveraging free PR, and obsessively developing a business “flywheel.” He also offers tactical advice for hiring, building trust between co-leaders, and crafting a vivid vision that unites and inspires teams—even at the early stages of growth. Cameron Herold Current Role: Founder, COO Alliance; Author and CEO Coach Based in: British Columbia, Canada Say hi to them at: https://www.cameronherold.com Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditio

On this episode of the Passive Income Playbook, Pascal Wagner interviews Matt Picheny, a Tony award-winning Broadway producer turned seasoned multifamily GP with over 16 GP deals and 28 as an LP. Matt shares how his path from acting and digital marketing led to real estate success, including a pivotal first deal where he quadrupled his investment. They dive deep into lessons learned from early LP mistakes, why conservative underwriting (especially around cap rates) is critical, and how today’s market might be ideal for investing if you have the stomach for it. Matt also discusses the values behind his coaching program, his value-add investment philosophy, and how LPs can vet operators more effectively. Matt Picheny Current role: Multifamily GP, LP, Coach, and Author of Backstage Guide to Real Estate Based in: New York City Say hi to them at: picheny.com – includes newsletter, free resources, coaching info, and social links Go to https://zbiotics.com/BESTEVER  and use BESTEVER at che

On this episode of Beyond Multifamily, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview each other in a candid, off-the-cuff solo episode. They reflect on insights from their recent mastermind retreat in Nashville, emphasizing the value of real, in-person networking and the importance of accountability in both personal and professional growth. Amanda shares how she and her husband manage work-life balance while running a business together, and Ash opens up about his structured accountability partnership with Joe Fairless. The conversation also dives into current deal flow challenges, including Ash’s due diligence on a vacant office building and Amanda’s strategies around mobile home parks and industrial warehouses amid economic uncertainty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Nick Stageberg, owner of Black Swan Real Estate. Nick shares how 2024 marked their best acquisition year ever, with 2025 already on pace to surpass it, thanks to a focus on fixed-rate debt and operational excellence. He dives deep into their vertically integrated model, drawing on lessons from software development and Japanese lean manufacturing to run a highly efficient, team-based property management system. Nick also shares a tough lesson from a permitting nightmare in Tacoma and a recent big win on a 112-unit deal in Minnesota secured through creative financing and mission-aligned operations. Nick Stageberg Current role: Owner of Black Swan Real Estate Say hi to them at: blackswanteam.com – book 15 min with Nick securefreedomfund.com – learn about their preferred equity fund Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Pos

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Matt Faircloth is introducing another new segment! Matt introduces Chris Lopez and Richard McGirr, the new co-hosts of Unlimited Capital. Together, they dive deep into the fund-to-funds model, discussing how Chris and Richard built Property Llama to raise and deploy over $60 million in capital across institutional-grade real estate deals. They share how their entrepreneurial roots, complementary skills in software and marketing, and a deep fiduciary mindset helped them scale from local Denver investors to nationally respected capital aggregators. The conversation unpacks key distinctions between co-GP and fund-to-fund structures, the importance of value-driven networking, and how anyone can begin building their own capital raising flywheel—even with just a few million dollars hiding in their phone contacts. Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free a

On this episode of The Horizon, John Chang discusses the delayed impact of new tariffs on inflation and how businesses stockpiling inventory may temporarily mask those effects. He outlines the Federal Reserve’s cautious stance on interest rates, noting likely rate stability through Q3, with potential movement in Q4 depending on economic indicators. John also explores how immigration policy and labor shortages—especially in construction and healthcare—pose challenges for commercial real estate. Finally, he unpacks how the proposed tax bill, including accelerated depreciation and expanded deductions, could benefit CRE investors, particularly those pursuing value-add strategies, and why he believes real estate may outperform other assets under a second Trump administration. Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. Join the Best

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews John Makarewicz, a managing partner at Faris Capital Partners. John shares how he transitioned from a 15-year residential real estate career to multifamily investing after a successful exit from his previous brokerage. He breaks down how his entrepreneurial skill set and passion for improving client and resident experiences laid the foundation for Faris Capital’s early success. They discuss the importance of visionary planning, building the right team from the start, and maintaining strong broker and investor relationships to fuel long-term growth. John emphasizes the power of partnerships, clarity of roles, and the discipline of tracking lead measures to stay on target. John Makarewicz Current Role: Managing Partner at Faris Capital Partners Say hi to them at: fariscapitalpartners.com Linkedin Get 60% off the Magic Mind offer with our link and code https://magicmind.com/bestevermf & BESTEVER60 #magicmind #mentalwealth #

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Jonathan Nichols of Apogee Capital. Jonathan shares how he and his wife scaled from single-family homes to multifamily syndications across Texas and Oklahoma by leveraging broker relationships and applying analytical rigor learned from his engineering background. He recounts the transformation of a distressed 170-unit property in Lubbock—from 68% to 93% occupancy in just a few months—by temporarily relocating on-site and aggressively implementing a value-add strategy. Jonathan and Matt also dig into property management challenges, when to vertically integrate, and the importance of broker trust and clear communication in winning off-market or "first-look" deals. Jonathan Nichols Current Role: Managing Partner, Apogee Capital Based in: Dallas–Fort Worth, TX Say hi to them at: https://apogeemfc.com Get 60% off the Magic Mind offer with our link and code https://magicmind.com/bestevermf & BESTEVER60 #magicmind #mentalwealth

On this episode of the Passive Income Playbook, Pascal Wagner interviews Jimmy Atkinson, founder of OpportunityZones.com and host of the Opportunity Zones Podcast. Jimmy breaks down how Opportunity Zones work—from their 2017 creation in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to the powerful tax incentives they offer investors. He shares how these zones have catalyzed billions in investment across the country, not just in multifamily but also in startups, industrial real estate, and community-focused developments. They also explore the future of the program, including what Opportunity Zones 2.0 might look like, and Jimmy offers tips for LPs considering OZ investments for the first time. Jimmy Atkinson Current role: Founder of OpportunityZones.com and host of the Opportunity Zones Podcast Based in: Dallas, Texas Say hi to them at: https://opportunityzones.com Get 60% off the Magic Mind offer with our link and code https://magicmind.com/bestevermf & BESTEVER60 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperfo

On this episode of Beyond Multifamily, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Matt Drouin, managing partner at Oak Grove Development. Matt shares how his asset-agnostic, opportunistic approach has led to a $18 million portfolio across 25 commercial properties in Rochester, NY. He dives into the strategy behind acquiring underperforming office buildings—like a 55,000-square-foot historic skyscraper bought for $1.5 million—and converting them into workforce housing. Matt also discusses the pros and cons of joint ventures versus syndications, the value of local market dominance, and how he's leveraged content creation to expand his investor network and broker relationships. Matt Drouin Current Role: Managing Partner, Oak Grove Development Based in: Rochester, New York Say hi to them at: LinkedIn, YouTube Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Andy Wyman, a Florida-based attorney and founder of Wyman Legal Solutions, who specializes in construction and real estate law. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience and a background in a family of contractors, Andy shares the most common legal pitfalls property owners and investors face when hiring contractors. He emphasizes the importance of vetting, clear communication, permits, and using contracts that protect both parties. The conversation covers red flags in hiring, the hidden risks of litigation, and practical guidance for both investors and contractors navigating construction disputes and project planning. Andy Wyman Current role: Founder & Construction Attorney, Wyman Legal Solutions Based in: Boca Raton, Florida Say hi to them at: www.wymanlegalsolutions.com Phone: 561-361-8700 Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring t