Chris Lopez and Paul Shannon welcome investor and author Brian Burke to look back at 2025 and set the table for 2026. Brian recaps his “end the dive in 25” thesis, explains why his pivot to senior housing has outperformed, and shares what actually surprised him this year. The group digs into supply, sentiment, and rates, plus the difference between perfect and imperfect markets and why small multifamily and true needs-based real estate may offer the best risk-adjusted plays right now.

Key Takeaways

2025 recap: senior housing led commercial performance while multifamily price declines slowed but did not fully reverse

Surprise of the year: new construction deliveries in multifamily stayed elevated longer than expected, keeping pressure on rents and occupancy

Portfolio moves: Brian co-invested in his senior housing fund, added selectively to individual stocks on pullbacks, explored biotech, and is eyeing Bitcoin on deeper dips

2026 watchlist: investor sentiment in multifamily, supply tapering, and the rate story split between short-term SOFR and the stubborn 10-year

Strategy notes: in a higher-for-longer world, appreciation must come from income growth more than cap rate compression

For LPs: prioritize needs-based real estate like senior housing, medical office, and data centers; consider contrarian but expert-led office plays and inefficient small-multifamily opportunities

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

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This Episode

It’s the November PassivePockets Pulse Check. Jim Pfeifer, Paul Shannon, and Chris Lopez share what’s new in their portfolios, the real impact of the Fed’s second rate cut, the tool you should use this month (sponsor reviews—now updatable), and how they’re setting concrete goals for 2026. Plus: a big announcement: PassivePockets Summit is in Denver, April 30 (arrival) - May 2. Vote on sessions and networking ideas via the survey in the link above.

Key Takeaways

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

Chris Lopez and Paul Shannon sit down with investor and educator Julie Holly for a candid conversation about wins, losses, and leadership as an LP and GP. Julie traces her path from house hacking to syndications, shares the “receive & release” mindset she uses to process setbacks, and explains what changed in her underwriting and operator vetting after a tough year, including one deal where mismanagement led to a total loss. They cover how LPs should share accountability, the exact questions to ask sponsors (who underwrites, how they stress-test, and how they communicate), and why Julie paused new offerings to focus on stewardship and transparency.

Key Takeaways

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

In this exclusive webinar release, Paul Shannon moderates a market check with brokers Beau Beery, Reid Bennett, and Jakob Andersen. The panel covers where multifamily deals are actually clearing in late 2025, why the bid ask gap is narrowing, and how underwriting has shifted from headline cap rates to year one cash on cash, DCR, and debt yield. They compare Sunbelt supply waves to steadier Midwest fundamentals, walk through valuation reality checks sellers must face, and explain why most 2026 activity will be motivated sales and selective distress rather than a fire sale. The group also digs into operational costs, staffing shortages, financing paths into 2026, and what LPs should demand from GPs.

Key Takeaways

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

Dave Meyer joins Chris Lopez and Jim Pfeifer to unpack the shift from hands-on house hacking in Denver to diversified passive investing. Dave walks through selling select rentals, using a Delaware Statutory Trust for a 1031, and why he caps real estate time at 20 hours a month. He explains dollar cost averaging into syndications for liquidity management, why he still concentrates on multifamily he understands, and how he hedges with fixed-rate debt, cash, and some gold. The crew digs into operator selection, supply awareness, return-to-office tailwinds in core tech markets like Seattle, and the trap of chasing door count instead of clear goals.

Key Takeaways

Control, liquidity, taxes: define your time budget, ladder commitments, and decide when to pay tax versus use a DST

Dollar cost averaging works in private deals too: one allocation per year can smooth illiquidity and vintage risk

Invest in what you understand: pick operators first, then asset class, and underwrite local supply and rent comps

Hedge the cycle with structure: favor fixed-rate debt, bigger reserves, and realistic hold times over rosy exit timing

Strategy before scale: set goals for cash flow versus equity growth, then judge opportunities against those goals

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

The Passive Pockets Pulse Check returns with Chris Lopez, Jim Pfeifer, and Paul Shannon. They break down what they bought and what they skipped, how they are reallocating between equity and debt, and the checks they run before wiring capital. Jim shares two new allocations in healthcare and coffee after negotiating a lower minimum for the community and explains invoking the Shirky rule to avoid doubling up with a new operator too quickly. Paul outlines a simple Indiana cash flow deal, a 22-unit JV turnaround, and an LP win with a partial disposition. Chris walks through a shift toward debt funds, a strong payout month, and a cautionary development story that highlights why transparency, lender diligence, and sponsor communication matter. The trio then uses the PassivePockets Deal Analyzer to spot red flags and assess IRR partitioning before deconstructing a friends and family hotel conversion with fee bloat, phantom equity, and misaligned waterfalls so you know when to pass fast.

Key Takeaways

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

Host Paul Shannon sits down with Gino (of Jake & Gino) to trace the path from family pizza shop to operating ~1,900 units with no outside equity. Gino breaks down why they paused syndications after 2019, how “PPU—profit per unit” drives their buy/hold decisions, and the exact LP diligence framework he wishes he’d had before losing money as a passive. They dig into today’s tighter credit, catching-a-falling-knife rent/occupancy dynamics, and why longer debt runways and operator fit matter more than ever.

Key Takeaways:

The LP Framework: Jockey (sponsor) → Saddle (alignment of interests) → Horse (deal: buy right, manage right, finance right)

Why they exited syndications: control, long-hold strategy, and avoiding the “feed the beast” pressure—investor expectations make investors your de facto bosses

Diligence like a pro: visit the asset, run the PPM through AI, then spend an hour with a securities attorney before wiring a dime

Operate for durability: target $200–$400 PPU, prefer vertical integration, and secure ≥5-year debt to bridge cycles

Match strategy to you: know your relationship with money, stagger commitments (the “conveyor belt”), and choose sponsors aligned with long-term holds if that’s your goal

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Remember that past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any of the advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

Paul Shannon sits down with lender-turned-operator Ryan Duff to unpack how lenders really size risk and how LPs can use the same lens. Ryan financed ~$4B+ across cycles before launching Seaport, and he explains why trailing 3–6 month economic occupancy (physical vacancy + concessions + loss-to-lease) tells you more than any glossy OM. Join us to dive into debt yield, DSCR reality vs. pitch decks, the broker-driven “falsified inputs” fiasco and subsequent lender cleanup, and why he prioritizes local, vertically integrated operators with disciplined leverage and cash buffers.

Key Takeaways:

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Remember that past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any of the advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

Host Chris Lopez and Paul Shannon talks with securities attorney Mauricio Rauld about the compliance landmines that trip up syndicators and how LPs can protect themselves. Mauricio shares why he exited his law firm to focus on education and “in-between” guidance (before the PPM), what an SEC lawyer actually does, and the real differences between 506(b) and 506(c). They cover LP recourse (rescission), how to diligence sponsors and structures (co-GPs, capital raisers, funds-of-funds), why “investment clubs” aren’t a loophole, and where regulations may head next (accreditation changes, a possible finder’s rule).

Key Takeaways:

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Remember that past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any of the advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

Host Chris Lopez sits down with Peter, an anesthesiologist who became an LP and then a GP, to unpack the career jolt that pushed him into real estate and the systems he built to bring more transparency and advocacy to LPs through Ascent Equity Group. Peter shares his first $5k crowdfunding check (and that unforgettable $47 distribution), lessons from launching in the tough 2021 vintage, and how his team handled rate/insurance shocks, lender work-outs, and communication when things got bumpy. We also dive into why he’s been using preferred equity in today’s market—including a 12.5–13.5% monthly-pay deal that returned capital in ~12 months and where he’s hunting now (hospitality, selective retail, and medical office) with a likely recession window following the Fed’s pivot.

Key Takeaways:

Disclaimer

The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Remember that past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any of the advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.