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The real estate industry often celebrates size—door count, revenue, market share—but what if success looked different? What if it meant building a boutique management company that prioritizes quality over quantity and allows you to design the life you actually want?

Mike Goldstein, founder of HubKey Real Estate in downtown Philadelphia, joins us to share his refreshingly contrarian approach to property management. Having grown up in his grandmother's motel business before purchasing his first investment property in 2008, Mike brings a unique perspective as someone who entered property management after being both an investor and real estate agent.

Managing 110 doors focused exclusively on A, B, and C neighborhoods within a two-mile radius of Philadelphia's city center, Mike candidly discusses the painful lessons learned from what he calls "over-software-ication"—attempting to solve fundamental business problems with technology before establishing clear policies and procedures. "I essentially built a roof before I had a foundation," he reveals, detailing the challenging but necessary process of stripping away complicated solutions to properly document the critical thinking required in property management.

Perhaps most compelling is Mike's ultimate vision: becoming "irrelevant" in his own company within five years. While many chase door count as the primary measure of success, he poses a different question: "Would you rather manage 1,000 doors working 80 hours a week or 100 doors working 10 hours?" This philosophy has shaped everything from his hiring decisions to his innovative approach to realtor referrals, which generate 90% of his business.

Whether you're just starting in property management or looking to refocus an established business, this conversation offers practical insights on building systems that scale, creating processes that allow for critical thinking, and designing a company that serves your life rather than consuming it. The path to freedom isn't always about getting bigger—sometimes it's about getting better.

visit pmsuccess.com for more value packed property management related information or to hire Tony as your property management coach.