What’s the smartest way to invest $500,000 in real estate?

In this solo episode of Closing the Deal, Zach breaks down two powerful strategies for building wealth through property:

1️⃣ Buying 10 single-family homes using leverage to scale quickly

2️⃣ Investing in one industrial property for long-term appreciation and stability

Zach explores how your stage of life and risk tolerance should shape your investing approach — whether you’re chasing growth or protecting your retirement. He also dives into the math behind each strategy, the pros and cons of leverage, and why industrial real estate might be the most recession-resistant play on the market.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why leverage accelerates growth — but also increases risk

How industrial investing offers low-risk, long-term appreciation

The trade-offs between cash flow, scalability, and security

How to align your real estate strategy with your life stage

💬 Comment below: Would you rather own 10 leveraged homes or 2 free and clear?

🎙️ Hosted by Zach Dickson — Realtor, investor, and co-host of Closing the Deal.

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 — What would you do with $500K in real estate?

01:00 — Welcome to Closing the Deal (solo episode intro)

02:30 — Why real estate investing creates millionaires

04:00 — How Zach would invest $500,000

06:00 — Option 1: The single-family route

08:15 — Why location matters more than anything

10:00 — Breaking down the numbers: $500K all cash vs. leveraged

13:00 — The power (and risk) of leverage

16:00 — Comparing cash flow: 2 homes vs. 10 homes

18:30 — Option 2: Investing in industrial property

21:00 — Why tech drives industrial demand

24:00 — The appreciation-focused strategy

27:00 — Why industrial is recession-resistant

29:00 — Using equity to scale your portfolio

31:30 — Risk and lifestyle: match your strategy to your stage of life

34:00 — Young investors vs. retirees: different risk profiles

36:00 — Final thoughts: building wealth through real estate

37:30 — Outro: How would YOU deploy $500K in real estate?