Wayne Courreges III is a Marine Corps veteran and the founder of CRI Partners, a real estate investment firm focused on building generational wealth through multifamily and entrepreneurial assets. After a 16-year career in asset and property management with CBRE, Wayne transitioned full-time to real estate investing in 2023. He now leads a $50M portfolio that spans value-add multifamily, RV/boat storage development, and strategic commercial projects in Texas and the Southeast.

 

 

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Key Takeaways

• Wayne’s journey from Marine Corps to CBRE to full-time real estate entrepreneur was fueled by long-term vision and layered income streams.

• Asset management and development experience allowed him to take calculated risks while building CRI Partners.

• His model includes multifamily investments (80%) and entrepreneurial projects like RV/boat storage and mixed-use developments (20%).

• For passive investors, education is key—ask the right questions, vet the sponsor, and understand the deal before wiring money.

• Taking action and surrounding yourself with experienced mentors are essential to building momentum and avoiding costly mistakes.

 

 

Topics

From W-2 to Full-Time Investor

• Started investing while working in commercial real estate at CBRE.

• Created income through asset management fees, acquisition fees, and development work before making the leap.

• Made the switch when he realized he couldn’t serve both CBRE clients and investors at the level they deserved.

Why Multifamily Is Still the Foundation

• 80% of his portfolio is traditional value-add multifamily across Houston and San Antonio.

• Focuses on deals in strong, secondary markets with stable rent growth and access to workforce housing.

• Prioritizes transparency, conservative underwriting, and investor trust.

Entrepreneurial Investments: RV, Boat & Business Storage

• Developed a 20x50 enclosed storage facility based on lessons from a successful Huntsville, AL deal.

• Business tenants include HVAC companies, disaster response teams, stagers, athletic companies, ranchers, and state agencies.

• Facility design and location (highway visibility, 100k+ population) drive demand and retention.

Diversification Through Local Development

• Acquired and rezoned 12 acres for a 150-unit multifamily development and SpringHill Suites hotel in Bryan, TX.

• Emphasizes that high-risk projects like these are only pursued when they’re local and manageable.

• Maintains a disciplined approach—stabilize one asset before scaling the next.

Educating Passive Investors

• Created PassiveInvestorCoaching.com to help LPs learn how to vet sponsors, markets, and opportunities.

• Teaches how to assess underwriting, ask better questions, and avoid the most common mistakes.

• Encourages LPs to start small and grow confidence through informed investing.

 

 

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Round of Insights

Failure that set Wayne up for success: Bought a deal in 2022 with bridge debt that required course-correction. Survived the rough patch by refinancing, cutting CapEx, and doubling down on communication with lenders and investors.

Digital or mobile resource:

• PassiveInvestorCoaching.com for LP education

• Google Earth and BestPlaces.net for evaluating new markets

• FEMA.gov for early flood zone vetting

• CrimeReports.org for local safety data

Book recommendation:

• Rich Dad Poor Dad & The Speed of Trust

Daily habit: Schedules each day as either a Focus, Buffer, or Free Day using the Dan Sullivan model—ensuring time is carved out for deep work, meetings, or personal recovery.

#1 insight for investing across asset classes: Know your strengths, and partner with people who complement them. Stay humble and build teams that offset your blind spots.

Favorite restaurant in Texas: Gringo’s Tex-Mex & Sodolaks Beefmasters

 

 

Next Steps

• Learn more at CREIpartners.com 

• Get free passive investor training at PassiveInvestorCoaching.com

• Explore both stable and entrepreneurial deals—but know the difference in risk, return, and responsibility

 

 

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