Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: ⁠https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this insightful episode of In The Lab, Ruben welcomes back returning guest Zeona McIntyre for a conversation on how real estate investors can evolve with the market while staying grounded in what really matters. Zeona first joined the show in Episode 215, “Normalizing the 30-Day Stay in Your Short-Term Rental Business.” Since that conversation, both the market and Zeona’s investing approach have continued to evolve, making this return to the lab a timely update on where opportunities exist today.

Zeona shares how her journey has progressed from short-term rental arbitrage to property ownership, mid-term rentals, and now creative financing strategies designed to help investors operate in a higher-interest-rate environment. She breaks down the concept of subject-to financing in simple terms, explains how creative deal structures can solve real problems for buyers and sellers, and highlights how investors can position themselves to acquire properties without relying solely on traditional lending.

Throughout the discussion, Ruben and Zeona explore the importance of experimentation in entrepreneurship, emphasizing how investors must continually adapt their strategies as markets shift. Zeona also shares real examples of creative deals, including situations where distressed sellers were able to exit challenging financial positions while investors stepped in with new visions for the property. These stories highlight how creative financing can create multiple wins across a single transaction.

The conversation expands beyond deal structures into the broader mindset required to thrive as an entrepreneur. Ruben and Zeona discuss collaboration, relationship-driven deal flow, and the shift from trying to do everything alone to building networks where multiple people benefit from a single opportunity. They also explore the growing influence of AI and why building strong cash-flowing assets may become even more important as technology reshapes industries.

Toward the end of the episode, Zeona shares insights from her upcoming book, The Creative Closer, which outlines several creative financing strategies and the negotiation frameworks investors can use to structure deals in unconventional ways. She closes with a reminder that while entrepreneurs often focus on the next milestone, it’s just as important to slow down, appreciate the present moment, and find small pockets of joy in everyday life.

Tune in now to hear how Zeona McIntyre continues to experiment, adapt, and help investors think differently about creative financing, collaboration, and the future of real estate.

KEEPING IT REAL

03:20 – Investor evolution

04:36 – Experimentation mindset

06:38 – Sub-to deal story

07:43 – Creative financing shift

08:15 – STR tax strategy

10:41 – Subject-to explained

12:20 – Writing new book

15:00 – Creative deal case

21:27 – Creative deal tools

24:14 – AI and real estate

25:01 – Cash flow strategy

31:26 – Collaboration mindset

45:15 – Enjoy the moment

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://www.zeonamcintyre.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeona-mcintyre/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeonamcintyre

#CreativeFinancing #RealEstateInvesting #CashFlow #SubjectTo #Wholesaling #InvestorMindset #Entrepreneurship #MidTermRentals #InTheLab

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down a powerful mindset shift that quietly determines how long it takes you to win: the timeline you give yourself. Drawing from recent paradigm shifts, personal reflection, and lessons from Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s recent publication of the Science of Scaling and Time is a Tool, he challenges the assumption that big goals naturally require long time horizons.

The episode explores why most entrepreneurs dramatically underestimate what they can accomplish when stakes are raised and timelines are compressed. Using real-life examples—from school deadlines to business growth—Ruben explains how Parkinson’s Law shows up in careers, investing, and entrepreneurship, and why time itself is often the constraint we unknowingly create.

Ruben also walks through a practical reframing exercise: instead of asking “how” something will take ten years, ask what would need to be true if you had to do it in three. By removing pressure and shifting perspective, new pathways emerge, better decisions surface, and execution accelerates.

This conversation is a reminder that growth doesn’t speed up by working harder—it speeds up by changing the questions you ask, the standards you set, and the timelines you accept.

Tune in now to learn how to use time as a tool, collapse long-term goals into shorter horizons, and design experiments that force clarity, focus, and faster results.

#EntrepreneurMindset #TimeIsATool #ParkinsonsLaw #BusinessGrowth #HighPerformance #ExperimentNation #RealEstateEntrepreneur #PersonalDevelopment #MindsetShift #EliteOperators

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: ⁠https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this eye-opening episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Serg Lupescu as he shares how he scaled from starting a single residential assisted living home at 22 years old to building an 8-figure portfolio of care facilities. After beginning his career path in nursing, Serg recognized early that traditional career paths capped both income and freedom, which pushed him toward entrepreneurship and building businesses around real estate-backed healthcare services.

Serg breaks down how residential assisted living actually works from a business perspective — including licensing, staffing models, revenue per bed, and why facilities under 10 beds often struggle financially. He explains how today’s biggest opportunities exist in acquiring distressed but licensed facilities, increasing capacity, improving operations, and repositioning properties to meet modern care expectations.

The conversation also dives into mindset, adversity, and leadership. Serg shares lessons from surviving childhood leukemia, navigating partnership betrayal that resulted in a $300K loss, and redefining his relationship with money, faith, and identity. He explains why true wealth is time freedom, presence with family, and building businesses that create real-world impact for families and communities.

Tune in now to learn how assisted living creates powerful cash flow, why demand is accelerating due to the aging population, and how service-driven real estate can become a long-term wealth and legacy strategy.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

16:36 Serg talks about redefining true wealth as time freedom, presence with family, and living life on your own terms.

59:16 Serg talks about the growing assisted living shortage driven by the aging population.

 KEEPING IT REAL:

03:45 – CNA to Operator

06:30 — Entrepreneur Seasons Shift

10:15 — Hustle Culture Myth

15:45 — True Wealth Defined

20:45 — Career Path Decision

24:50 — CEO Mindset Formation

32:30 — MTR Bootcamp Ad

34:45 — Assisted Living Explained

44:30 — Licensing Setup Timeline

49:45 — Build vs Acquire

52:50 — Per Bed Economics

56:30 — Resident Stay Metrics

58:45 — Silver Tsunami Demand

1:02:15 — Capacity Value Add

1:04:30 — Facility Financing Structures

1:06:50 — Rate Optimization Lever

1:09:10 — Family Buying Drivers

1:12:15 — Low Industry Standards

1:17:30 — Partnership Loss Lesson

1:20:45 — Faith Money Identity

1:28:30 — Five Year Vision

1:35:45 — Emotional ROI Impact

1:42:30 — Community Platform Vision

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serg-lupescu-60a62465/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serg.lupescu/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@serg_lupescu

#AssistedLivingInvesting #ResidentialAssistedLiving #HealthcareRealEstate #SilverTsunami #CashFlowRealEstate #LegacyWealth #ServiceBasedBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #RealEstateScaling #ExperimentNation

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this deep-dive episode of In The Lab, Ruben welcomes back Brent Kesler — creator of The Money Multiplier Method and returning guest from Episode 138 (2021). Four years later, Brent returns with even more clarity, more proof, and more real-world examples of how infinite banking can transform the way entrepreneurs, investors, and families build wealth. Now holding over 30 policies personally, Brent breaks down exactly how he uses IBC to fund real estate, pay off debt, move money through private lending, and build generational wealth inside properly structured trusts.

Brent not only does this himself but he’s empowered thousands of entrepreneurs to use this vehicle including yours truly — Ruben Kanya.

Brent explains why most people misunderstand whole life insurance, how wealthy families have used these strategies for over 200 years, and why “becoming your own banker” gives you control banks never will. He also unpacks the mechanics behind policy design, how to access capital tax-free, why death benefit matters less than cash value, and how to integrate IBC with real estate, business operations, and multi-policy ecosystems.

Throughout the conversation, Ruben and Brent explore advanced strategies — from infinite wealth loops to family banking structures, premium flow sequencing, private lending arbitrage, and legacy planning. Brent also shares what’s changed since 2021, why more sophisticated investors are now using IBC, and how anyone can start regardless of income level.

Tune in now to learn how to take control of your capital, build a long-term wealth engine, and design a financial system that compounds for generations.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

19:08 Brent talks about how entrepreneurs stay broke by bleeding interest instead of building systems.

53:03 Brent talk about using policy loans instead of withdrawing

KEEPING IT REAL:

06:44 – Infinite Banking 101

10:58 – How wealthy families use IBC

15:36 – Brent’s $984K debt payoff journey

19:22 – Cash value explained clearly

23:41 – Why whole life (not term or IUL)

28:55 – Understanding policy design & funding

34:47 – Borrowing against your policy

40:12 – Real estate examples using IBC

45:58 – Arbitrage, spreads & recycling dollars

51:33 – How entrepreneurs misuse debt

56:09 – Avoiding policy design mistakes

1:02:44 – Using IBC inside partnerships

1:08:15 – Trusts, legacy planning & structure

1:14:50 – When not to use IBC

1:20:18 – Brent’s 2026 wealth playbook

1:28:07 – Final advice for long-term thinkers

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://themoneymultiplier.com/brent-kesler

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebrentkesler/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.money.multiplier/

#InfiniteBanking #IBCStrategy #WealthBuilding #CashFlowBanking #RealEstateInvesting #EntrepreneurMindset #FinancialFreedom #MoneyMastery #WealthCreation #ExperimentNation

In this insightful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Boris and Amanda Palomino — the powerhouse couple behind a rapidly growing assisted living operation. What started as a personal passion for meaningful work grew into a scalable business model with real estate, licensing, care teams, and systems all working together. Boris and Amanda break down what assisted living really is, who it serves, and why the demand curve over the next decade makes this one of the most compelling niches in housing and small business ownership.They walk through the true economics behind assisted living — from resident fees to operating margins — and the difference between running a home, owning the real estate, and building a company that can eventually scale across multiple locations. The Palominos also take us inside their story: burnout, breakthroughs, division of roles, supportive mentors, and how they merged purpose with profitability.This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about assisted living as an investment vehicle, a recession-resistant business model, or a mission-driven path into entrepreneurship. Tune in now to learn how Boris and Amanda built a business rooted in care, cash flow, and long-term impact.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:34:30 Amanda talks about a social model of care46:10 Boris talks about the ideal property KEEPING IT REAL:09:40 – The business model explained12:55 – Licensing and compliance basics15:22 – Real estate vs. operating company19:44 – Resident care & staffing challenges24:01 – Revenue, fees & margins28:33 – Demand drivers & demographic trends32:58 – Scaling from one home to many37:45 – Purpose, burnout & balance42:19 – Systems, roles & EOS structure46:58 – Advice for new operators50:44 – Long-term vision & impactCONNECT WITH THE GUESTSBoris PalominoWebsite: https://www.palominoseniorliving.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boris-palomino/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borisvpalomino/Amanda PalominoWebsite: https://www.palominoseniorliving.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-palomino-617a112a/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamandapalomino/#AssistedLiving #SeniorHousing #RealEstateInvesting #CashFlowBusiness #HealthcareEntrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #ImpactDriven #AlternativeInvesting #HousingSolutions #ExperimentNation

Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connect

Get the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this sharp and self-reflective episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down one of the most uncomfortable — yet transformative — questions every entrepreneur must confront: Are you operating like a professional, or like an amateur hoping for professional results?

Coming off an accountability call and stepping into a new year, Ruben unpacks why “professionalism” isn’t about perfection — it’s about preparation, detail, repetition, mastery, and the invisible work nobody sees. He compares the gap between good and great athletes, operators, and creators, showing how the slight edge comes from habits, systems, and a level of intentionality that compounds over time.

Ruben highlights the common traps entrepreneurs fall into: copying highlights instead of understanding the process, wanting the championship without training like a champion, or expecting mastery without the thousands of unseen reps.

From content creation to deal analysis, from running a business to building a brand, he walks through the mindset shifts required to raise your standards, commit to your craft, and step fully into professional territory.

This episode is a wake-up call — a gut check that challenges you to examine the quality of your inputs, the rigor of your process, and the integrity of your ambition.

Tune in now to learn how to adopt the mindset of a professional, build mastery through repetition, and elevate your standards so your results finally match your goals.

#EntrepreneurMindset #Professionalism #HighStandards #BusinessGrowth #Mastery #ExperimentNation #RealEstateEntrepreneur #MindsetMatters #SuccessHabits #PersonalDevelopment

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this strategic episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down the five core pillars he’s taking into 2026: relationships, resources, resilience, speed, and standards. After closing out 2025 with major wins and powerful lessons, he shares how each pillar showed up in the real world—from securing financing after four banks said no, to creating rooms and communities that unlocked new opportunities, to using AI as a force multiplier for execution.

Ruben explains why every major milestone in his life has come from a relationship, how resourcefulness replaces excuses, and why resilience is the non-negotiable trait behind every breakthrough. He also unpacks the power of speed, the mindset shift behind moving without all the answers, and why your standards quietly dictate your destiny long before your habits do.

This episode gives you a clear framework you can apply immediately: build deeper relationships, leverage the right resources, stay resilient through the inevitable challenges, move quickly with conviction, and raise the standards that shape your environment and outcomes.

Tune in now to learn how to apply all five pillars, accelerate your growth, and build a 2026 filled with momentum, clarity, and results.

#EntrepreneurMindset #SuccessFramework #AIForBusiness #BusinessGrowth #ExperimentNation #MindsetMatters #GoalSetting2026 #RealEstateEntrepreneur #HighStandards #PersonalDevelopment

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this forward-focused episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down the three pillars he’s using to engineer a powerful and intentional 2026: a clear definite aim, an AI-powered execution toolbox, and the 1-5-10 framework for turning vision into action. After reflecting on Q4, two AI workshops, and the patterns he’s seen among operators and entrepreneurs, Ruben explains why most people fail at goal setting — and how a simple shift in mindset and structure changes everything.

He walks through why experimentation is the only path to discovering your purpose, how to filter every opportunity through a 10-year trajectory, and why alignment becomes your internal GPS. From there, Ruben shows how AI removes the two biggest excuses holding people back — lack of information and lack of time — and how to use AI as a personal board of directors to eliminate blind spots and accelerate execution.

Finally, Ruben breaks down the 1-5-10 framework, including how to define your 10-year dream life, reverse-engineer your five-year milestones, convert that into one-year focus, and translate everything into monthly and weekly sprints that actually stick. This episode is a practical blueprint for anyone who wants to avoid another “New Year sprint–February fizzle” cycle and instead build a system that compounds for years.

Tune in now to learn how to set a clear aim, harness AI, and build a weekly structure that finally closes the gap between who you are and who you’re becoming.

#EntrepreneurMindset #GoalSetting #AIForBusiness #ProductivitySystems #ExperimentNation #BusinessGrowth #VisionPlanning #RealEstateEntrepreneur #MindsetMatters #2026Planning

In this powerhouse episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Jack Martin — co-founder and CIO of 52TEN, one of the top mobile home park operators in the United States. Jack brings decades of experience across development, acquisitions, capital formation, and operations, having overseen over $1B in real estate projects and more than 2,000 lots nationwide.

Jack breaks down why mobile home parks sit at the lowest end of the real-estate risk spectrum, how they deliver unusually stable cash flow, and why investors from high-net-worth individuals to family offices chase the asset class for its superior tax advantages. He explains the core difference between mobile home parks and RV parks, why land improvements are the real engine of bonus depreciation, and how lot-rent economics create both affordability for residents and reliable income for operators.

Throughout the conversation, Jack unpacks key levers for value creation — sub-metering, operational discipline, expense reduction, proper sizing for scale, and what separates truly institutional-quality parks from everything else. He also reveals how his team evaluates 150 deals a year and buys only three, why scarcity drives long-term upside, and how EOS, belief, and people have shaped 52TEN’s rise into a market leader.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the real math behind mobile home park investing, see how large operators think, and learn why this niche remains one of the most tax-efficient, recession-resistant strategies in the country. Tune in now to discover why Jack calls mobile home parks “the most stable real estate in America.”

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

08:02 Jack talks about why MHPs are lowest on the risk spectrum

25:56 Jack talks about applying cost segregation

KEEPING IT REAL:

06:00 – Mobile home park model

08:06 – Why investors choose MHPs

10:36 – Bonus depreciation power

12:57 – Tax buckets clarified

14:49 – Investor profiles shift

21:17 – Land improvements explained

24:53 – Cost-seg advantage

28:10 – Evaluating properties

33:03 – Renting land, not homes

37:56 – Tenant stability factor

45:28 – Why new parks aren’t built

49:04 – Expense leaks & fixes

53:05 – Affordability for residents

57:22 – Yield expectations

1:04:12 – Belief, EOS, people

Episode Hashtags: #MobileHomeParks #RealEstateInvesting #AffordableHousing #WealthStrategy #PassiveIncome #TaxStrategy #LandImprovements #MHPInvesting #FinancialFreedom #ScaleWithStability

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://52ten.com/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-martin-52ten/

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this reflective episode of In The Lab, Ruben unpacks one of the most overlooked success variables in entrepreneurship and temporary housing: your environment. After attending a high-level BookThinkers event hosted by his friend Nick Hutchinson of episode #99 and reconnecting with mentors and peers, Ruben breaks down how proximity, intention, and the rooms you choose to enter shape your growth more than tactics ever will.

He shares the deeper meaning behind the “white lab coat vs. the suit” rebrand—why beginner operators need experimentation, and why seasoned operators need depth, systems, and specialization. Ruben walks through how he discovered his tribe across short-term rentals, mid-term rentals, insurance housing, and beyond, with pivotal moments sparked by guests like Michael Sjogren (Episode 91), Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh (Episodes 81 & 263), and Will Dotson. Each connection created a bridge, a business model, or a breakthrough reminder.

This episode zooms in on the power of alignment, integration, and why deeper rooms lead to bigger opportunities, why Q4 is advantage season, and how vertically aligning your mission, business, and contribution creates momentum that lasts beyond a single market cycle.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between where you are and the room you know you should be in, this episode is your invitation.

Tune in now to learn how to choose environments that elevate you, adopt belief systems that accelerate you, and build a business that serves something bigger than yourself.

#EntrepreneurMindset #RelationshipEquity #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #Networking #ExperimentNation