Digital nomads aren’t just a trend—they’re a demand shift that’s changing what “success” looks like for overseas real estate. Michael K. Cobb shares how his team thinks about building the right product for renters who stay three to six months at a time, why “clusters” create momentum for entire markets, and what it really takes to develop across borders without getting “skinned alive.” Along the way, he breaks down the mindset that keeps projects (and reputations) intact: treat mistakes as tuition, lead with humility, and build local trust the hard way—without bribes.   

Guest Bio
Michael K. Cobb has been building communities and working on real estate development across Latin America for over 25 years, with experience in places like Belize, Nicaragua, and Panama.  He also consults with investors and developers on overseas due diligence and execution, and he’s the author of “How to Buy Your Home Overseas.”   Earlier in his international career, he helped start a mortgage company in Belize that later became a bank, giving foreign buyers access to financing in-market and adding liquidity for developers after sales close. 

Episode Highlights and Chapters
00:00 Humility as the “biggest asset” when you leave your home turf 
01:16 The real question: how to avoid getting destroyed building overseas 
01:47 Horror stories, getting ripped off, and reframing mistakes as “tuition” 
03:47 How to enter a new country: test every assumption, and use multiple lawyers (including a hyper-local one) 
06:44 “We’ve never paid a bribe” and the CSR strategy that builds local advocates 
08:59 Timelines and entitlements: a Panama “horror story,” and what “a long time” can mean 
10:27 Project size and phasing: the Panama plan (110 acres, smaller phase one) and an anchor continuing-care concept 
13:53 The demand shift: digital nomad visas, renters (not buyers), and why this wave is “exploding” 
16:44 Build-and-sell vs. hold-and-rent, and how “easy button” services change long-term demand 
19:10 Financing overseas: why it’s mostly private equity/private lending, plus buyer financing as liquidity 
21:14 Pre-sales: how projects get stranded half-built, and when pre-sales can make sense 
40:32 Belize as an “easy button,” and a 1,600-acre project looking for development partners 
44:52 Mike’s book offer: email to get a free Amazon coupon 
45:53 Where to find Mike and ECI Development online 

Contact Information
Michael K. Cobb / ECI Development
[email protected] (email to request the free Amazon coupon for “How to Buy Your Home Overseas”) 
www.ecidevelopment.com

Host: Eugene Gershman
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugenegershman/

To learn more about GIS and our real estate development services, explore our website and see what we’re building.
www.giscompanies.co

Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit our podcast page for details and how to connect: https://giscompanies.co/podcast/

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Preserving affordable housing doesn’t have to mean sacrificing investor returns. Dr. Canaan Van Williams breaks down how his firm targets naturally occurring affordable housing properties—older, often overlooked apartments, manufactured home communities, and SRO motels—and keeps rents 20–30% below market while still structuring “sustainable bonds” that (at the top tier) advertise a 75% total return profile over 36 months. The conversation gets into how these private, unlisted debt securities work, who they’re for (accredited investors), why the strategy focuses on preservation instead of new construction, and how factory-built homes can be deployed quickly to bring more units online without the waste of traditional site-built development. 

Guest Bio

Dr. Canaan Van Williams is the managing founder of Proactive Sustainable Bonds and describes his organization as a Reg D 506C fund issuing sustainable bonds through the Proactive Realty Income Fund II to LLC. He works in the affordable housing and social impact housing space, focusing on low-income and workforce residents across multiple states, and notes third-party impact verification efforts including Morningstar Sustainalytics, UNPRI, BlueMark, and an Impact Evaluation Lab assessment. 

Episode Highlights and Chapters

00:00 – The episode’s focus: affordable housing, manufactured homes, and raising capital. 

01:55 – Dr. Van introduces Proactive Sustainable Bonds and the Reg D 506C structure. 

02:28 – What the “sustainable bonds” are: private, unrated debt securities for accredited investors tied to affordable housing outcomes. 

04:12 – How the bonds are secured: real estate hard assets and property insurance (not a public rating or guarantee). 

05:22 – How capital is used, bridge debt takeout, and Dr. Van’s personal investment in the fund. 

06:39 – Hybrid approach: mostly funding their own strategy, with some allocation possible to aligned projects/managers under the PPM. 

07:26 – UN Sustainable Development Goals discussed and how the strategy aligns with specific SDGs. 

08:24 – Why a bond structure instead of a typical private debt fund: proving a profitable-and-impactful model. 

08:43 – Liquidity and duration: private, unlisted, illiquid; commonly 2–3 year terms with longer options. 

09:23 – Target assets: manufactured housing communities, multifamily, SRO motels; prioritizing “impact rate of return.” 

11:36 – Defining NOAH (naturally occurring affordable housing) and why it matters. 

13:38 – Why new construction rarely replaces NOAH and why preservation is a key strategy. 

14:46 – For-profit vs nonprofit: how a for-profit social impact mandate intentionally preserves affordability. 

16:46 – The nonprofit support layer: housing essentials, transportation support, and behavioral workbooks for second-chance populations. 

18:59 – Manufactured homes in the model: sourcing factory-direct homes, rapid deployment, and passing savings to residents. 

20:05 – “We don’t build anything”: focusing on distressed properties and infrastructure upgrades in existing parks. 

21:02 – Investor programs and tiers: accredited-only, minimums, current income approach, and the headline 75% return tier details as described. 

24:10 – Closing thoughts: execution, claimed investor repayments to date, where to learn more, and Dr. Van’s book. 

Contact Information
Proactive Sustainable Bonds website: www.sustainablebonds.com  
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-626-2089 
Direct: 803-989-8264 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-canaan-williams-aa3924b/
Host: Eugene Gershman – https://giscompanies.co/podcast/

Interested in real estate investing frameworks, underwriting insights, and episodes like this one? Head to https://giscompanies.co/podcast/ to get resources and connect with GIS.

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What does a dry cleaning business have in common with mobile home parks and private debt funds? According to Ian Noble, everything. In this candid conversation, Ian shares his journey from running a family dry cleaning business in Austin to becoming a thoughtful and selective real estate investor. He talks about selling his company in 2023, the mindset shift it took to move into passive investing, and how he now vets operators not just on returns, but on character. Ian opens up about the psychology of trust-building with investors, why he values stability over flashy returns, and what makes mobile home parks an overlooked but compelling asset class. Whether you’re looking to raise capital, allocate capital, or simply understand what separates a good deal from a great partner, this episode is packed with timeless lessons.

Guest Bio

Ian Noble is a Texas-based investor and founder of RunSteady. After selling his family’s dry cleaning business in 2023, Ian transitioned into real estate full-time, focusing on mobile home parks and private lending. His investing philosophy centers around capital preservation, character-driven partnerships, and accessible passive income strategies.

Episode Highlights and Chapters

01:00 – Why capital preservation trumps high returns in Ian’s investment philosophy

02:00 – From dry cleaning to real estate: Ian’s journey into passive investing

04:20 – The challenge of trusting others with your capital

05:45 – How Ian vets character in potential partners

07:45 – Switching roles: From investor to capital raiser

09:00 – Why trust takes time and urgency kills relationships

10:10 – Referrals and long-term relationships as the core of Ian’s investor network

12:30 – Real estate is a full-time job: The appeal of passive investing

13:30 – Marketing and capital raising: Why last-minute outreach doesn’t work

15:30 – Ian’s two key focus areas: private lending funds and mobile home parks

17:30 – How Ian’s debt fund works and what makes it low risk

21:30 – Managing defaults and borrower relationships in a volatile market

23:50 – Why Ian emphasizes risk over upside in private lending

27:30 – Investor psychology: logic brings them in, emotion seals the deal

30:00 – Tips for analyzing underwriting assumptions and red flags

31:30 – What mobile home parks are (and what they’re not)

33:20 – Manufactured homes, zoning, and why foundations matter for taxes

36:00 – Touring a factory: the surprising quality of manufactured homes

38:00 – Why Ian chose mobile home parks over apartments

40:30 – Value creation by infilling lots in mobile home parks

42:00 – Why cities resist approving new parks and how that creates opportunity

43:30 – ADUs, zoning laws, and development trends in Seattle

45:00 – Gentrification, real estate change, and why Ian says “Play the game”

Contact Information

You can learn more about Ian Noble and his investment firm at https://runsteadycapital.com
Free Passive Investing in Real Estate Cheat Sheet: https://go.runsteadyinvestments.com/land-to-legacy-podcast
Join Ian's Passive Investor Mailing List: runsteadyinvestments.com/investor-club
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/iannoble1/
Instagram: @ian_invests  

For more episodes, visit Eugene Gershman’s podcast page at https://giscompanies.co/podcast/
Download our free feasibility study checklist: https://giscompanies.co/development/feasibility-study/ 
Find out if your project is ready to be financed here: https://giscompanies.co/development/feasibility-study/

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David Webb once powered his home by running extension cords from his car. Today, he owns over 100 doors in his real estate portfolio, all acquired without using his own money. In this gripping episode, David shares the raw truth of his journey from evictions and utility shutoffs to structuring multimillion-dollar real estate deals using creative financing. He explains how growing up in Detroit with no examples of financial independence shaped his early limiting beliefs — and how shifting his mindset was the key to changing his life. Whether you’re an investor, a developer, or just someone starting from zero, this conversation offers a compelling breakdown of how deals can be built without traditional financing.

Guest Bio

David Webb, known as the “No Money Millionaire,” is a real estate investor and educator who built a multimillion-dollar portfolio using creative financing strategies — all without investing his own capital. Raised by a single mother in Detroit and evicted more than 15 times before making it, David’s success came through a mix of grit, relentless sales experience, and out-of-the-box deal-making. Today, he mentors others through his platform No Money Millionaire and recently published a book by the same name, aiming to help aspiring investors overcome limiting beliefs and get into real estate regardless of their financial standing.

Episode Highlights and Chapters

00:35 – David’s backstory: from Detroit struggles to his first break in sales

03:40 – Surviving 15+ evictions and powering his home with a car inverter

06:46 – The mindset shift that made real estate investing possible

10:38 – The underrated power of reading and taking action

13:46 – David’s first seller-financed home and early creative deal structures

17:46 – How David funded a 9-home deal using bank and private money

22:43 – Top three no money strategies for real estate investing

26:20 – Understanding ARV (After Repair Value) and securing 100% financing

27:14 – Overcoming fear of rejection: sending “those 3 texts”

28:26 – Why sellers agree to finance deals themselves

29:36 – Where to find seller-financed deals (Craigslist, Zillow, Crexi, more)

31:05 – David’s son’s path from Detroit to USC and real estate in California

33:22 – Real-world parallels between creative investing and development

34:50 – David’s first passive deal and learning from the sidelines

36:05 – How to connect with David and get his free book

Contact Information

David Webb

Free book download and resources: https://nomoneymillionaire.com

Search “No Money Millionaire” to find him on Facebook and all major social media platforms.

Eugene Gershman

If you’re interested in being a guest on the Land to Legacy podcast, submit your application at: https://giscompanies.co/podcast/

Explore more free tools and resources at the GIS Companies website. Download the Feasibility Study Checklist to assess your project’s potential: https://giscompanies.co/development/feasibility-study/

If you’re preparing to finance a development, visit https://giscompanies.co/development/financing/ and take the Financing Readiness Score Card to see where you stand.

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A potato farmer who quietly bought an entire town, a septic system that failed almost the moment after closing, and a self-storage facility where thieves cut through every door just days before the sale—this episode goes deep into the real, unfiltered side of mobile home parks, RV parks, and self storage. Eugene talks with investor and podcast host Gabriel Petersen about how he transitioned from a corporate role at Microsoft into niche commercial real estate, why he loves sticky pad-rent income over single-family rentals, and how he structures creative seller-financed deals (including a 20-year interest-only note). They walk through underwriting mobile home and RV parks, differentiating business models, dealing with crime risk in self storage, navigating municipalities that don’t want new mobile home parks, and deciding when it’s finally time to sell and roll capital into the next opportunity. 

Guest Bio

Gabriel Petersen is a real estate investor focused on mobile home parks, RV parks, and self storage facilities. After starting his career in the corporate world at Microsoft, he flipped houses and wholesaled single-family properties before realizing it would take too long to reach his goals with small rentals. That pushed him into commercial assets, beginning with a mobile home/RV park acquisition in Washington State that he bought with seller financing and then expanded from there. Gabriel now owns multiple parks and storage facilities across markets including Washington and Arkansas, and he is the host of The Real Estate Investing Club podcast, where he interviews active investors across a wide range of strategies and asset classes.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mobile Home Investments

01:47 Gabe's Journey into Real Estate

03:32 First Deal: Underwriting and Financing Insights

08:06 Understanding Mobile Home and RV Parks

10:09 Business Models: Tenant-Owned vs. Park-Owned Homes

10:48 Lessons Learned from Early Acquisitions

13:18 Property Crime and Self Storage Facilities

18:54 Cold Calling vs. Brokerage: Finding Deals

19:11 The Benefits of Off-Market Deals

20:07 Negotiating Directly with Sellers

22:22 Understanding Cap Rates in Real Estate

23:19 Challenges in Developing Mobile Home Parks

25:01 The State of Self Storage Development

26:35 Utilizing Seller Financing

29:14 Finding New Properties in the Market

30:48 Deciding When to Sell Properties

33:26 The Role of Podcasting in Real Estate Networking

Contact Information

To connect with today’s guest, Gabriel Petersen, visit The Real Estate Investing Club at therealestateinvestingclub.com or email him at [email protected]. 

To learn more about host Eugene Gershman, his projects, and the Real Estate Development: Land To Legacy podcast, visit https://giscompanies.co/podcast/.

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Real Estate Cycles, Cross-Border Capital, and Why Raising Money Is Its Own Business — with August Biniaz

Why is now potentially the best time in years to enter real estate — and yet one of the most complex? August Biniaz, co-founder of CPI Capital, breaks down the current state of the real estate cycle, likening it to a clock that’s nearing “six o’clock” — the bottom of the market — and explains how this timing could spell opportunity for investors who know how to underwrite deals and raise capital effectively. He also dives into the challenges of development, the nuances of cross-border investing between the U.S. and Canada, and why treating capital raising as a full-fledged department in your business is critical to long-term success. August shares hard-won advice for new investors, the biggest mistakes developers make when seeking funding, and the real reason a “fund” is not always what it seems.

Guest Bio

August Biniaz is the co-founder of CPI Capital, a real estate investment firm that enables Canadian investors to participate in U.S. multifamily projects. With a career launched just before the COVID pandemic, August has successfully navigated CPI Capital through economic turmoil, shifting markets, and the complexities of cross-border syndications. A frequent speaker and educator on real estate private equity, he is also a LinkedIn Top Voice and known for his insights into capital raising and deal structuring.

Episode Highlights and Chapters

00:00 – Why 9% inflation nearly approached hyperinflation territory

01:06 – The real estate cycle: where we are now and why it matters

02:14 – Launching CPI Capital right before the pandemic

05:23 – Are we in a recession, and how does that affect investing strategy?

09:09 – Bid-ask spreads, why deals don’t pencil, and what investors need to understand

14:22 – How to forecast rent growth and capital appreciation

20:17 – Adjusting expense forecasts and why underwriting must be market-specific

23:41 – Capital raising as a dedicated vertical: building infrastructure and relationships

30:40 – Why retail investors are a hidden goldmine for capital

33:01 – Canadian-to-U.S. investing: tax, structure, and the right way to do it

39:22 – Why most U.S. CPAs give the wrong advice for international structuring

42:16 – Syndication vs. funds: the real difference

46:49 – The spectrum from joint ventures to REITs

47:39 – How August nurtures investor relationships before deals go live

Contact Information

August Biniaz invites listeners to connect directly with him on LinkedIn, where he is a LinkedIn Top Voice: August Biniaz on LinkedIn

Website: www.cpicapital.ca

For investor calls or to connect about raising capital or upcoming deals, book a time via the CPI Capital website.

Eugene Gershman’s podcast hub: https://giscompanies.co/podcast/

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From House Hacking to Neighborhood Revitalization: Cameron Philgreen’s Journey to 35 Real Estate Units in Waco, Texas 

Cameron Philgreen did not begin his real estate career with a blueprint or a mentor—he started with a broken-down house in Waco, Texas, and a desire to offset his mortgage. By renting out his garage and basement, he turned his primary residence into a cash-flowing asset. That first step eventually led him to build a portfolio of thirty-five real estate units and purchase two city blocks of mixed-use properties for revitalization. In this conversation, Cameron shares his exact renovation numbers, his honest mistakes (including a six-figure financial misstep), and his larger vision to transform neighborhoods—not just for profit, but as a calling. From learning how to wire a house with YouTube and getting red-tagged by the city multiple times, to creating strong relationships with private lenders and contractors, Cameron’s story is filled with detailed strategies and deep purpose. Whether you are just beginning in real estate investing or ready to scale, this episode offers clear insights grounded in real experience. 

Guest Bio 

Cameron Philgreen is a real estate investor, business owner, husband, father, and follower of Jesus based in Waco, Texas. Over the past five years, he has built a portfolio of thirty-five investment properties using strategies like “Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat” and by leveraging other people’s capital. Cameron also owns For Keeps Coffee and Bakery in Waco, where he applies the same operational excellence and team-building that guide his real estate ventures. Through coaching, his podcast, and YouTube channel, Cameron helps others take action in business and life—without sacrificing family, faith, or purpose. 

Episode Highlights and Chapters 

00:02 – Starting fresh in Waco, Texas, without a network and buying a home with a unique layout
03:20 – Designing his home as a three-unit rental: garage apartment, main house, and basement suite
05:20 – Earning $1,500/month from rent—more than enough to cover a $1,444 mortgage
07:15 – Dealing with city red tags for unpermitted work and the importance of knowing local regulations
09:30 – Teaching himself how to wire a house via YouTube and the lessons learned through DIY efforts
13:00 – The turning point: deciding to step away from manual labor and build a professional team
16:10 – A pivotal conversation with his wife that changed how he viewed his time and leadership role
17:45 – Real estate as a mission: building community spaces that reflect the “kingdom of heaven on earth”
21:05 – Acquiring and envisioning two full city blocks of mixed-use property for redevelopment
23:10 – Detailed investment math: $90K purchase + $60K rehab = $200K appraised value
25:40 – Costly lessons: How an SBA loan structure ended up being $50,000 more than planned
27:30 – Cameron’s contractor playbook: balancing speed, quality, and clarity of agreements
30:05 – Eugene shares his contractor vetting system using spreadsheets and line-item comparisons
33:00 – Cameron breaks down his financing: long-term loans with banks, short-term with private lenders
35:40 – How content and transparency help build trust with private capital partners
37:20 – Encouragement to new investors: your funding network may be closer than you think

Contact Information 

Cameron Philgreen 
Instagram: @cameronphilgreen 
Podcast: The Legacy Investor with Cameron Philgreen 
Phone number: (913) 832-9919 
Available offerings: personalized real estate coaching, “Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat” training course, and free educational eBook 

Host: Eugene Gershman 
Podcast and resources: https://giscompanies.co/podcast/ 

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From Chaos to Control: Building a Self-Sustaining Contracting Business with Liz Chism 

Working 100-hour weeks, brewing beer, and managing international shipments while raising a toddler might sound like a recipe for burnout—but for Liz Chism, it was a wake-up call. In this powerful conversation, Liz shares how she transitioned from running a multi-million-dollar craft brewery to helping contractors escape the hamster wheel of long hours, missed deadlines, and constant stress. She opens up about the mindset shifts and systems that enabled her to reclaim 30+ hours per week, and now teaches others to do the same—without sacrificing quality, profit, or control. 

If you've ever felt buried by your construction business, struggling to scale, or trapped in a cycle of doing everything yourself, this episode is your blueprint out. 

Guest Bio 

Liz Chism helps contractors build profitable, self-sustaining businesses. Growing up working alongside her father, a third-generation contractor, Liz learned the grit and challenges of construction early on. Later, she co-founded a successful brewery, where she juggled operations, family life, and international distribution—all while refining the systems that allowed her to escape burnout. 

Now, through her Contractor’s Roundtable Program and 90-Day Contractor Operating System, Liz guides contractors in streamlining operations, increasing profit margins, and reclaiming their time. Her book, SOPs SUCK, challenges the traditional approach to standard operating procedures and offers practical methods for building a business that runs without constant supervision. 

Episode Highlights and Chapters 

00:01 — The contractor's hamster wheel: late-night estimates and working weekends 
02:53 — From homeschooling job sites to head brewer: Liz’s journey through construction and beer 
05:43 — Why she shut down the brewery and began coaching contractors 
07:00 — How her construction roots gave her an edge in coaching tradespeople 
08:38 — The real reason contractors are buried in work: communication breakdowns and lack of delegation 
10:25 — The “Jingle Bells” problem: why verbal instructions fail and what to do instead 
13:20 — Contractor case study: boosting margins from 25% to 40% through estimating accuracy 
15:25 — The power of pricing for profit and paying for roles before hiring 
17:00 — Why small jobs burn time and kill margins 
20:00 — Understanding costs as percentages and spotting hidden inefficiencies 
22:00 — The trust recession: how to win clients without lowering your prices 
23:51 — Building trust through content: why most contractor marketing fails 
25:56 — The real reason SOPs don’t work—and what to do instead 
28:58 — How to create SOPs that your team actually follows 
30:37 — AI as a contractor's superpower and the mindset shift to think like a $10M business 
32:11 — Project audits, time audits, and the first steps toward freedom 
34:00 — Discovering your “Working Genius” and delegating your weaknesses 
35:28 — Why the best carpenters make terrible CEOs—and what to do about it 

Contact Information 

Liz Chism 
Website: https://lizchism.com 
Instagram: @liz_chism 
LinkedIn: Liz Chism Coaching 

For more episodes and insights from Eugene Gershman, visit https://giscompanies.co/podcast/ 

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A 27-Year Maui Project, Septic Setbacks, and Real Estate Wisdom from Both Sides of the Border

What do you do when a condo development takes nearly three decades to complete? If you're Dr. Jennifer Salisbury—real estate investor, educator, and ex-Navy Nuclear Propulsion Engineer—you grit your teeth, pivot with purpose, and document every lesson along the way. From her multi-year condo build in South Maui to launching a 48-pad tiny home development in Canada, Dr. Jen shares unfiltered insights into the real costs of development, the assumptions that kill deals, and the mindset needed to survive—and thrive—in the world of real estate. Whether it's negotiating with contractors, walking into City Hall, or learning to “be comfortable being uncomfortable,” this episode offers practical gold for developers at any level.

Guest Bio

Dr. Jennifer Salisbury, known as Dr. Jen, is a former U.S. Navy Nuclear Propulsion Engineer turned international real estate investor and educator. With a Doctorate in Education, her passion lies in teaching through her podcast My Life As A Landlord. She leads real estate projects across the U.S. and Canada, where she applies her skills as an efficiency expert and small business champion to create housing-focused communities. Her recent Maui multifamily development tested every facet of her experience—especially when it wrapped just before the devastating wildfires. Today, she continues her mission of helping people understand real estate while leading with transparency, resilience, and hard-earned wisdom.

Episode Highlights and Chapters

00:00 Align with mentors and watch your assumptions
00:31 Focus your energy—don't be a jack-of-all-trades
01:00 Development always comes with a cost—hire experts
01:14 Education is key: learn a little every day
01:36 The true currency is time
01:52 Eugene introduces Dr. Jen and her 27-year Maui journey
02:08 The burn-it-all-down moments—and why she didn’t
03:06 Building eight fourplexes in South Maui during COVID
04:33 Why tracking progress was more important than IRR
05:14 Managing 60+ partners via weekly update emails
06:08 Weather, delays, and realities of building in Hawaii
07:27 Financing her latest affordable housing project in Canada
08:11 The septic tank dilemma and being 10 feet too close
09:00 How bad assumptions sabotage development
11:00 Oversupply and checking your pro forma projections
12:30 Why you can't model deals based on future appreciation
14:00 Developers pay either way—choose your pain
16:00 Who pays when something goes wrong?
18:00 Real example: Survey creep and septic tank relocation
19:35 The cost of catching mistakes late in the process
21:00 When an inspector finds a problem at final inspection
22:11 Why Eugene stopped running his own construction company
23:16 The value of a strong team and why motivation matters
24:16 Navigating regulatory layers in Canada and the U.S.
27:00 How Dr. Jen got a green light without a permit
28:14 14 tiny homes ready to deploy—but no land
30:00 How to start: city hall, insurance, and then the bank
31:30 Municipalities rarely reject—they just delay
32:00 Insider tip: meet your planner during counter hours
33:00 Free advice vs. paid consultation
34:00 Educate yourself—every single day
35:07 Dr. Jen's personal definition of success
35:56 Where to find and connect with Dr. Jen

Contact Information

Dr. Jen can be found at her website mylifeasalandlord.com and on all major podcast platforms and social media channels under the name My Life As A Landlord. She also shares content about her real estate ventures and life on her boat via YouTube.

Connect with the host, Eugene Gershman, at https://giscompanies.co/podcast/

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From planting his first seeds at age six to advising large-scale developments today, Belgian landscape architect Matthieu Mehuys has built a career around one mission — proving that working with nature is not only good for the planet, but also good for business. In this episode, Matthieu shares the journey from his family’s farm to studying in Munich, traveling the globe to learn from regenerative projects, and ultimately developing strategies that help real estate developers create beautiful, low-maintenance landscapes that increase property value. We discuss why stripping topsoil can be a costly mistake, how irrigation systems can create “lazy plants,” and why smart, nature-based design can outperform conventional methods in the long run. Matthieu also talks about his award-winning book 12 Universal Laws of Nature: How to Get the Most Potential Out of Your Land and how it distills his core principles for working in harmony with the environment. 

Guest Bio 
Matthieu Mehuys is a Belgian landscape architect, regenerative garden designer, and lifelong nature enthusiast. Raised on a farm, he fell in love with plants early, amazed that a tiny seed could grow into food, shelter, or a thriving ecosystem. That fascination became his calling. Driven to understand ecological systems more deeply, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, followed by a Master’s in Landscape Architecture in Munich, Germany, where he honed the rigor and precision that define his work. Through his landscape design studio Paulownia and his online course Garden of Your Dreams, Matthieu helps people create beautiful, low-maintenance gardens that work with nature. His approach blends aesthetics, biodiversity, and practical regenerative principles to bring outdoor spaces to life, no matter the size. Believing gardens are more than just pretty spaces, Matthieu’s mission is to inspire and guide people to reconnect with nature, regenerate the land, and create thriving outdoor environments rooted in natural balance — leaving the Earth better for future generations. 

Episode Highlights and Chapters 

[00:01:06] Childhood fascination with plants and the seed that started it all 
[00:03:53] From corporate landscape architecture to global eco-projects 
[00:04:15] The Amazon rainforest’s impact and a turning point after illness 
[00:06:48] Regenerative design vs. sustainability — moving beyond “less harm” 
[00:08:00] The 12 Universal Laws of Nature and applying them to land use 
[00:09:05] Applying regenerative design to large-scale developments 
[00:11:27] Addressing the “profit first” developer mindset with real numbers 
[00:14:45] Case study: higher property values through quality landscaping 
[00:17:00] The hidden costs of stripping and replacing topsoil 
[00:19:52] Maintenance myths — how conventional landscaping inflates costs 
[00:21:30] Irrigation pitfalls and growing deep-rooted, resilient plants 
[00:23:33] Building in floodplains and wetlands — design strategies for resilience 
[00:27:10] Biggest professional mistake: ignoring gut instinct with a client 
[00:29:04] Key takeaways: profitability, patience, and designing with nature 

Contact Information 

Matthieu Mehuys 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthieu-mehuys-64b0b5111/ 
Book: 12 Universal Laws of Nature: How to Get the Most Potential Out of Your Land 
Podcast: The Regenerative Design Podcast 
Host Contact: Eugene Gershman – https://giscompanies.co/podcast/ 

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