CREI Partners

In this episode, Wayne talks to The Kitti Sisters—Palmy and Nancy—about how to mitigate risk for both passive and active investors. The Kitti Sisters discuss their journey of owning over 11 apartment projects with more than 2,600 doors.

Palmy and Nancy are first-generation immigrants who were reliant on one income stream despite owning successful fashion manufacturers. The income they worked so hard for dried up. They had to find a different way to financial freedom.

The Kitti Sisters became entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and apartment syndication experts. They are dedicated to teaching others how to live their lifestyle dreams without having to manage apartment complexes or find tenants.

Topics on Today’s Episode:

Backstory: Why Palmy and Nancy transitioned from world of fashion to real estate

Why real estate syndication? To escape daily grind for stability, reliability, and scalability

Why start small?! Takes too much time, money to buy houses, make comfortable living

Why apartment syndication? From flipping business to passive investors for cash flow

Hurdles: Culture, not immigration status was challenge to buy large, multifamily assets

Inflation: How Kitti Sisters underwrite with federal loan rate changes, supply challenges

Multifamily Markets: Consider cap rates, affordability, supply, demand, other variables

Risk Mitigation: Any investment comes with risks, try your best to mitigate known factors

Additional Asset Classes: Diversify in multifamily but concentrate to build wealth

Links and Resources:

Kitti Sisters

https://thekittisisters.com/about

https://www.facebook.com/thekittisisters

https://www.instagram.com/thekittisisters/

CREI Partners

https://www.meetup.com/texas-multi-family-investor-meet-up/

https://www.passiveinvestorcoaching.com

https://www.facebook.com/creipartners

https://linktr.ee/creipartners

In this episode, Wayne talks to Christopher Nelson, Co-founder, and Principal of Wealthward Capital, about building successful teams and passionately protecting sensitive investor data.

Wealthward Capital is a private equity investment firm that invests in cash-flowing, institutional-grade assets and has acquired more than 3,000 multifamily units. 

Christopher focuses on meeting with operators and finding the next investment. When not seeking opportunities, he educates investors on building thriving passive income portfolios.

Also, Christopher is a technology executive, real estate investor, educator, and author. He has built professional services practices, run small businesses, and took Splunk (SPLK) through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to grow it to a billion-dollar company. Christopher is known for building strong partnerships, win-win negotiations, and finding opportunities where others are not looking.

Topics on Today’s Episode:

How Christopher shifted from a tech background to getting started in real estate

What Christopher would have done differently to scale faster and smaller

Onboarding Process: Press and push as much as possible with operators

Project Communication: Builds trust with operators and passive investors

Mentors and Masterminds: Where you tell personal brand stories and solve problems

Cyber Security: New frontier of crime where email, devices w/out passwords aren’t safe

Investing in 2022: 

Equity vs. Cash Flow: What is more important right now?

Do you want investments and partnerships where capital is cycled in 2-3 years? 

What kind of hold period are you wanting with asset classes?

Links and Resources:

Christopher Nelson

linkedin.com/in/christophercnelsonwealthward.com

https://www.wealthward.com/

Wealthward_CAP

CREI Partners

https://www.meetup.com/texas-multi-family-investor-meet-up/

https://www.passiveinvestorcoaching.com

https://www.facebook.com/creipartners

https://linktr.ee/creipartners

https://www.passiveinvestorcoaching.com/enrollnow

In this episode, Wayne talks to Chris Freeman, Principal Partner at High Tech Freedom, about consistency, processes, and technology in real estate. 

Chris is an experienced real estate investor with $30 million in assets under management. His 20 years of real estate investment has focused exclusively on multifamily apartment buildings that generate immediate cash flow.

For more than 25 years, Chris has been fortunate to experience financial success through high-tech sales and sales leadership. He learned how to achieve a high level of performance in sales while re-deploying a portion of his commissions into cash flow generating real estate. 

Through a consistent process over time, Chris created enough passive income to replace his high-tech sales income. This success inspired Chris to create High Tech Freedom Capital and help peers achieve their own personal success. 

Topics on Today’s Episode:

Duplex Days: How Chris got started in real estate was not intentional part of grand plan

Mentor/Partner/Father-in-Law: Chris connected with retiree making serious cash flow

Commissions: Put money down on multifamily properties to increase cash flowing assets

Caution - Shiny Objects: Leverage basic tech platforms and tools to scale business

Workflow: Follow steps in processes, make it consistent, and checklist everything

Avatar: Why Chris focuses on raising capital, growing with high-tech sales entrepreneurs

Property Challenge: Buying is more competitive but more info is available/accessible

Metrics: Are we growing? How are the expenses? Are meetings and investor calls up?

Motivation: Big goals and big dreams to own 300 units all paid off to generate cash flow

To Do: Plan and map out daily, weekly, yearly goals - include revenue-generating activity 

Moving the Business Forward: Is what you are doing matter or just keeping you busy?

Primary Partnerships: How Chris builds relationships and sources deals to grow portfolio

Lessons Learned: Feel sorry for yourself for a few minutes, then start working again

Overlooked Aspects: Numbers game - don’t let emotions/assumptions get in the way 

Links and Resources:

Chris Freeman

linkedin.com/in/chrisfreeman

hightechfreedom.com

PDXFreeman

CREI Partners

https://www.meetup.com/texas-multi-family-investor-meet-up/

https://www.passiveinvestorcoaching.com

https://www.facebook.com/creipartners

https://linktr.ee/creipartners

https://www.passiveinvestorcoaching.com/enrollnow

n this episode, Wayne talks to Stewart Heath, Chairman and CEO of Harvard Grace Capital (HGC), which provides fractional C-level executive services to clients as well as general business consulting. 

Stewart sits on several boards, including HGC, Winsome Truth, The Shepherd’s Call, and Second Chance Sober Living. Also, he holds several fractional CFO positions.  

Previously, Stewart held positions as COO and CFO for companies in retail, real estate, manufacturing, corporate services, entertainment, and digital media. He earned his CPA license in 1987 and has since held several senior financial and operating positions. Stewart also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Auburn University.

 

Topics on Today’s Episode:

Inheritance: How and when Stewart became interested in real estate, long-term assets 

Carleton Sheets: Who inspired Stewart to transition from taxes to real estate investing

Lessons Learned: Financial crisis, pandemic changed view on value of equity/reserves 

840/565 Corridor: Stewart chooses market based on competition, growth, and familiarity 

Inflation and Interest Rates: What to expect and how they will impact real estate

Real Estate Cycle: Consumer demand, labor shortages dictate where businesses locate

Real Estate Metrics: Stewart recommends various resources to research interest rates

Financial/Tax Strategies: Use retirement accounts, credit unions for better terms/deals

In this episode, Wayne talks to U.S. Marine Shelon “Hutch” Hutchinson, Owner and Co-founder of H Squared Capital, about building veterans wealth in real estate.

Hutch immigrated from Jamaica in 1998 and has been serving the nation for more than 23 years. He is a Master Gunnery Sergeant E9 and has created and led teams of various sizes that performed effectively in training and combat operations. Semper Fi!

Hutch has successfully executed more than $2.4 million in single-family real estate transactions. His most recent real estate transaction was a syndication in Augusta, Georgia, with more than 167 units. 

Topics on Today’s Episode:

How Hutch got into real estate – followed in his father’s footsteps

Off-market MLS Listings: Hutch’s strategy to expand and scale his business

Start Conversation: Talk to people to see potential and sell property for cash

Market Trend Tools: Ways to find economic data, job growth, population, demographics

Why multifamily? More predictable, stable, and safer — it’s all about risk

Fix and Flips: Hutch’s experience cost to sell property or make a profit

Marine Corp Traits: Use same stick-to-itiveness, assess potential in real estate investing 

Partnerships: Understand who you are and aspire to be to build better relationships

Multifamily Investing: Hutch is committed to transitioning to a passive investor

Economy of Scale: Who doesn’t want to double their money and save on taxes?  

Cost Segregation and Bonus Depreciation: What needs to happen to get ROI, retire?

In this episode, Wayne talks to Maurice Philogene, founding managing partner of Quattro Capital, retired lieutenant colonel, federal agent, IT services executive, and real estate investor.

With more than 300 acquisitions and dispositions completed, Maurice has built a portfolio of 35 single-family homes as well as owns apartments and mobile homes in eight states.   

Maurice uses real estate and professional careers to generate passive income and build legacy wealth while empowering communities and helping others through lifestyle design.

Maurice is passionate about living life by leveraging freedom principles. He believes that people are meant to live their best life, not simply exist.

Topics on Today’s Episode:

Passive Income: How and why Maurice got started investing in real estate

Schedule: Create and manage time for what’s important by building lifestyle

Real Estate Ups and Downs: Don’t quit or give up, and focus on goals and purpose

Bank Loans and Paychecks: Stable employment let Maurice buy homes in his name 

Less Aggressive Lending: Defining difference between recourse and non-recourse loans

Lifestyle Design Hacks: Leave the rat race and leverage real estate for financial freedom

Freedom Principles: Financial freedom, time freedom, geographic freedom, freedom of purpose, and freedom to build meaningful relationships

Definition of Success: Peers always want more money, Maurice went after time creep

Tools: Maurice uses SyndicationPro, Earth Class Mail, Loom, Slack, and Zoom

Pros, Cons, Pitfalls: Market and interest rate protection related to real estate investing 

Bridge Loan vs. Agency Debt: What’s the difference and which is cheaper, riskier?

In this episode, Wayne talks to Bethany Finch, Community Enhancer at American Made Home Solutions, about creating Christ-centered workforce housing communities. 

Previously, Bethany was a teacher and coach who transitioned to real estate. Her passion is to create change that is beautiful and sustainable. 

Since the inception of American Made Home Solutions, Bethany and her team have rejuvenated neighborhoods and increased the standards of housing for residents.   

Topics on Today’s Episode:

Company Vision and Mission: Create sustainable growth

Property Attributes: Numbers have to make sense for conditions and remote investing

Cash Buyers: New real estate investors need to find creative ways to compete 

Consumer vs. Business Mindset: People get in trouble if they don’t know their numbers

Passive Income: Potential to create momentum and leverage home loans/equity 

Single to Multifamily: Bethany and her husband’s vast experience and business sense   

Negative Growth: Markets where more people are leaving than coming to that market

Additional Asset Classes: Build-to-rent and manufactured/modular homes w/ RV parking  

Step Back, Slow Down, Reprocess: How residents find, feel, love the spirit of Christ?

Passive Investing Tips: 

Assume there will be no return that first year

Ask about correspondence frequency to set expectations 

Ask how often will you get paid (different deals differentiate) 

Ask if you have voting rights or say (different scenarios, sometimes negotiable) 

Be willing to lose it all (it hurts to lose money, but not always detrimental)

Links and Resources:

Bethany Finch on LinkedIn

American Made Home Solutions, LLC

Free Passive Income Checklist

Purpose Driven Investments; Multifamily Real Estate

United Financial Freedom – Innovative Debt Elimination and  Financial Tools

Del Webb: Retirement Communities

Dave Ramsey

Wayne Courreges

Free Passive Investor eBook by Wayne Courreges

The Untold Stories of Real Estate Investing Podcast

In this episode, Wayne talks to John Azar about scaling real estate through private equity. John is the Founder and Managing Partner at Peak 15 Capital, a capital advisory and syndication firm servicing commercial real estate operators and sponsors in identifying, sourcing, and securing their capital stack. 

In his leadership of Peak 15 Capital, John directs strategic development, client growth, and new acquisitions and syndications. Also, John is the Head of the Peak 15 Coaching Program for new syndicators and sponsors.

In addition, John is a managing member of MACC Venture Partners, a southeast focused owner/operator of multifamily assets.  

Topics on Today’s Episode:

Career Path: First venture into real estate investing specialized in structured finance

Then and. Now: Aggressive underwriting and similar unwarranted euphoria 

Debt vs. Equity: Peak 15 specializes in equity placements with active deal sponsors 

Nationwide Market Locations: Look anywhere, everywhere there’s money to be made

Syndicators: What to consider asking a potential equity partner to invest in a deal

Underwriting: Share and show or stop because there’s no deal to move forward with

Asset Classes: From built to rent and multifamily to single-family rentals and self-storage  

Capital Stack/Equity Placement: Takes previous experience, check size, business plan

Establish Relationships: Investors want capacity to do multiple deals with same player

Financial Crisis: The good, bad, and ugly of real estate investing in today’s market 

Links and Resources:

Peak 15 Capital

Jalal John Azar on LinkedIn

John Azar’s Email

Wayne Courreges

Free Passive Investor eBook by Wayne Courreges

The Untold Stories of Real Estate Investing Podcast

In this episode, Wayne talks to Amy Tiemann, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at TM1 Properties, a commercial real estate private equity firm.  

Amy’s first multifamily investment was in 2010. By 2015, she decided to focus primarily on real estate investing, and in 2017, she opened her own investing and property management business. 

Topics on Today’s Episode:

Amy’s Career: Started as general contractor in construction, then real estate investing

Post-COVID Opportunities: Office and retail space is coming back everywhere in Texas 

Value-Add Component: Amy buys ugly properties and makes them better/pretty

Property Attributes: Age, physical condition, foundation – nothing scares Amy

Now: Good time to buy commercial real estate – anything and everything

Acquisition: In new markets, Amy considers existing inventory and sets unit targets 

Scaling: Amy’s doing more asset management and less property management

Smart Building Technology: What owners/residents want based on property price points

Internships: Located in a college town? Go to the Office of Career Planning

Amy’s Goal: So many deals, can’t underwrite them all – raising capital to buy properties

Asking for Money: Are you bankable? Do you have equity? Can you raise capital?

Lessons Learned: Setting up a fund is pretty straightforward, similar to syndications

Investor Qualification: Know/understand deals and what you’re doing, including the risks

In this episode, Wayne talks to Ruben Greth, who has a popular podcast about raising money for multifamily syndications based on what he learns from the best multifamily syndicators in the country.  

Recently, Ruben raised $1 million through cosponsors for multifamily projects in Arizona. He started out doing social media videos for a local apartment investor in Phoenix and successfully raised $625,000 for deals during the post-crash buying frenzy. 

Topics on Today’s Episode:

Ruben’s Real Estate Journey: From mortgages to the power of multifamily investments  

Capital Raising: Facilitate process for raisers, sponsors, syndicators by starting own fund

Services in Demand: Master the finding and acquiring of capital to add value

Ways to Raise Capital: Partner with right people with good track record and experience

Multifamily Investment Benefits: Passive income, generational wealth, and tax benefits  

Brand Yourself: Be go-to multifamily person, automate communication to build trust

Consistency with Touchpoints: Email marketing approach that adds value is successful

Original Base: Once friends and family max out, before investing more, convert others

Best Marketing System: Use several tools, not just one for people to know, like, trust you

Selling vs. Offering: There’s other ways to provide opportunities and diversify portfolio 

Brand Awareness: Not what brand says to audience, but what people say about brand

Assumption: Other people want the same things they want – people have different needs

People, Success, Money: Use strengths to share information by doing certain things  

Lessons Learned: Focus on one thing – raising capital – to get real estate investor label