Baltimore RE full circle

Maryland's rental rules are shifting, and smart investors are paying attention. I sit down with Adam Skolnik, Aaron Greenfield and Matt Pipkin of the Maryland Multi-Housing Association to unpack rent stabilization in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, the post-eviction tenant property storage that Baltimore City is debating, and the state's new building energy standards. Then we get to what matters most: how to underwrite the risk and still find opportunity in Maryland multifamily.

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, I sit down with Baltimore native and longtime real estate investor Chris Lawson to talk about his 26-year journey building a portfolio across Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. Chris shares how a decision he made at 17 to pursue real estate eventually led to his first four-unit property in Washington, D.C., which became the foundation for everything he owns today. He takes us through his evolution from that first purchase to 42 doors, including his return to Baltimore and his work providing housing for people transitioning from homelessness.

Chris also shares his perspective on today's market, including rising interest rates, loan resets, refinancing challenges, changing rental demand, and why he's choosing to slow down rather than chase the next deal. Most importantly, he explains why patience has been the key to his success, how holding through difficult cycles has shaped his approach, and why he continues to see real estate as his favorite vehicle for building long-term wealth.

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, we sit down with Amy Bonitz of MCB Real Estate to discuss her journey from neighborhood planning and nonprofit revitalization work to leading transformative development projects across Baltimore. Amy shares how thoughtful real estate development can turn long-vacant properties into vibrant community assets, the importance of assembling the right team, and why successful projects begin by listening to the neighborhoods they serve.

We also explore what makes Baltimore such a unique city for development, from its historic architecture and strong community organizations to its anchor institutions and public-private partnerships. Amy explains why she remains optimistic about Baltimore's future, highlights projects that are helping reshape neighborhoods across the city, and offers valuable advice for aspiring developers looking to build not just successful projects, but stronger communities.

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, we sit down with Amy Bonitz of MCB Real Estate to discuss her journey from neighborhood planning and nonprofit revitalization work to leading transformative development projects across Baltimore. Amy shares how thoughtful real estate development can turn long-vacant properties into vibrant community assets, the importance of assembling the right team, and why successful projects begin by listening to the neighborhoods they serve.

We also explore what makes Baltimore such a unique city for development, from its historic architecture and strong community organizations to its anchor institutions and public-private partnerships. Amy explains why she remains optimistic about Baltimore's future, highlights projects that are helping reshape neighborhoods across the city, and offers valuable advice for aspiring developers looking to build not just successful projects, but stronger communities.

Is Baltimore still one of the country's most overlooked real estate markets?

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, Yaakov sits down with Alex Aaron, founder of Blank Slate Development, to discuss why he's bullish on Baltimore while many investors remain on the sidelines. Alex shares his journey from Wall Street to leading one of the city's most active development firms, revitalizing vacant properties, building multifamily housing, and transforming neighborhoods through thoughtful redevelopment.

The conversation dives into Baltimore's biggest investment opportunities, the incentives many investors overlook, the importance of local partnerships and due diligence, and why Alex believes the city's long-term future is brighter than ever. Whether you're an investor, developer, or simply interested in Baltimore's growth, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the East Coast's most misunderstood real estate markets.

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, Yaakov sits down with Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen and Assistant Sheriff Nicholas Blendy for an inside look at how evictions and property enforcement actually work in Baltimore.

They break down the full eviction process—from court orders to on-the-ground execution—while addressing common misconceptions landlords and tenants have about timelines, responsibilities, and legal constraints. The conversation also explores the operational realities the Sheriff’s Office faces, including coordination with property owners, safety considerations, and the challenges of enforcing the law in a complex housing environment.

Whether you’re a landlord, property manager, or investor, this episode offers a clear, practical understanding of what happens beyond the paperwork and how to better navigate the realities of Baltimore’s enforcement process.

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, Yaakov sits down with Tenny Tolofari, co-founder of XSITE Capital, to discuss how he went from a tech career to building a multifamily investment platform with over $240M in assets under management. Tenny shares how a $97 real estate course sparked his journey, the lessons learned scaling into large multifamily deals, and how leveraging partnerships helped his team complete their first acquisition.

The conversation dives into the realities of property management, market selection, and why demand fundamentals—jobs, population growth, and income—matter more than anything else. Tenny also discusses mistakes along the way, including challenges with property management and investing in the wrong markets, while outlining his team’s ambitious goal of reaching $10B in assets under management in the coming years.

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, Yaakov sits down with Yonah Zahler for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build and sustain a multifamily portfolio in today’s market. From disciplined acquisitions and hands-on management to navigating market cycles in Baltimore, Yonah shares practical lessons learned from years in the trenches.

They discuss why patience often outperforms speed, how smart operators evaluate risk beyond the numbers, and what separates long-term builders from short-term speculators. Whether you’re scaling your portfolio or refining your strategy, this episode offers grounded insight on growing the right way, not just the fast way.

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, Yaakov sits down with Avrom Forman of Greystone, for a candid conversation on agency lending, market cycles, and how investors should be thinking about debt in today’s environment.
Avrom draws on decades of experience as an owner, operator, and lender to explain how Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae underwriting really works, where borrowers commonly go wrong, and why many issues stem from misaligned incentives rather than bad intent. They discuss lessons from past cycles, the realities of third-party property management, scattered-site portfolios, and how lenders evaluate risk beyond the spreadsheet.
Whether you’re refinancing, acquiring, or reassessing your capital stack, this episode delivers practical insight into structuring smarter debt, avoiding common pitfalls, and navigating a more disciplined lending landscape.

In this episode of Baltimore RE Full Circle, Yaakov sits down with Aeron Alberti, investor-friendly contractor and real estate operator, for an unfiltered look at what’s really happening on the ground in today’s market.

Aeron breaks down why “passive income” is mostly a myth, how the DSCR bubble quietly popped, and why disciplined buyers are finding opportunity while others are stuck holding the bag. From managing hundreds of contractors to spotting market slowdowns months before the headlines, this conversation dives into what data misses, how investor mistakes compound, and why showing up every day still matters.

If you’re investing, flipping, holding rentals, or trying to navigate a slowing market with clarity instead of hype, this episode delivers real-world insight you won’t get from gurus or spreadsheets.