Joe Root - The Deal That Changed My Life

We’re back in the studio with multifamily investor Joe Root, diving into the deal that changed his life.

Joe shares the story of his very first building purchase in Chicago—an investment that nearly went sideways during the 2008 financial crisis. With seller financing, a looming balloon note, and a lender unwilling to refinance, Joe found himself in a high-pressure situation that tested both his strategy and his resilience.

In this episode, we cover: ✅ Joe’s first multifamily deal in 2006 and lessons learned during the Great Financial Crisis ✅ Creative financing strategies and refinancing challenges ✅ How executing a business plan is critical to long-term success ✅ The importance of resilience, timing, and surrounding yourself with the right people ✅ Joe’s outlook on multifamily investing and where he sees opportunities today

Joe’s story is a powerful reminder that even in tough markets, execution and perseverance can turn a near-disaster into a long-term win.

🔗 Connect with Joe:

• Root Property Group: rootpg.com

• ESAPER Real Estate Partners: esrepartners.com

If you enjoy real conversations with real investors, share this episode with a friend and don’t forget to subscribe for more stories that inspire and educate.

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

Empowered Money: Creating Your Own Wealth Strategy with Alan Franks - #247

💰 Ready to take control of your money and build real, lasting wealth? In this episode of the Real Estate Reserve Podcast, we’re joined by Alan Franks — Certified Financial Planner, author of Empowered Money, and a master at helping people create financial strategies that actually work in real life.

From breaking free of commission-only sales to building a thriving fee-based planning practice, Alan shares his insider playbook for growing wealth, minimizing taxes, and using debt the right way.

Here’s what you’ll learn: ✅ How to combine “gas pedal” investing with “brake pedal” risk management for a balanced wealth strategy ✅ Smart ways to use leverage to accelerate your financial growth (without blowing up your plan) ✅ The Millionaire’s Dilemma: Should you invest first or pay off debt? ✅ Why mortgage equity might be quietly underperforming for you ✅ Powerful uses for HELOCs and securities-backed lines of credit ✅ Tax-saving strategies like cost segregation and bonus depreciation ✅ The truth about Dave Ramsey’s advice — what works, what doesn’t, and what wealthy people really do instead

Whether you’re a real estate investor, entrepreneur, or high-income earner, this conversation is packed with strategies you can start applying today to grow and protect your wealth.

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

From Acquisition to Now: Whitehouse Manor Project Update - #246

In this powerful episode of the Real Estate Reserve Podcast, Jason and Ian break down the full lifecycle of a major multifamily investment—the 76-unit Whitehouse Manor project in Baltimore, MD—a deal they've been involved in for the past 5 years.

What started as a $5 million acquisition with 90% seller financing turned into a rollercoaster of refinancing, near-sales, market changes, and valuable lessons. From a missed $8.8M exit to today's valuation closer to $8.2M, they unpack what went right, what went wrong, and what’s next.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How seller financing helped acquire a 76-unit apartment complex

• The real impact of rising interest rates, expenses, and DSCR challenges

• Why timing your exit is everything—and how ego can cost you hundreds of thousands

• The $700K mistake: choosing not to sell when they should have

• The mindset shift from investor to family office

• How to create liquidity without adding headaches

• The importance of opportunity cost and being ready to pivot

• Why it's crucial to keep your capital working—for equity AND cash flow

• The mental bandwidth cost of being an operator vs. passive investor

• A brutally honest look at selling, refinancing, and portfolio rebalancing

💡 Who should watch this:

• Multifamily & rental property investors

• LPs considering passive income strategies

• Real estate operators & syndicators

• Anyone juggling the trade-off between cash flow vs. equity

• Investors thinking about when to sell, refinance, or reposition assets

🔄 Whether you’re holding too long, or second-guessing your exit, this candid conversation will reshape how you evaluate your deals, your ego, and your equity.

✅ Like, comment, and subscribe for more real-world investing talk, transparent case studies, and honest reflections from the trenches.

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

Deferred Sales Trust Secrets with Brett Swarts - #245

In this episode of the Real Estate Reserve Podcast, Jason and Ian sit down with Brett Swarts, Founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, to break down the Deferred Sales Trust (DST)—a powerful, lesser-known strategy to defer capital gains taxes on the sale of real estate, businesses, crypto, and other highly appreciated assets.

Unlike a 1031 exchange, the DST offers far more flexibility and control, with no like-kind requirement, no strict deadlines, and the ability to reinvest into a variety of assets—all while deferring taxes.

🎯 In this episode, we cover:

• How the DST works and how it differs from 1031 exchanges & Delaware Statutory Trusts

• Real-world case studies involving multifamily sales, business exits, and crypto gains

• How investors, entrepreneurs, and syndicators can use DSTs to preserve wealth and create passive income

• Key compliance rules, objections, and how to vet the right professionals

• How to structure DSTs for general partners, LPs, and even single-member exits

If you're planning a major exit and want a smarter tax strategy, this episode is packed with insights.

🔗 Connect with Brett Swarts & Learn More 👉 https://capitalgainstaxsolutions.com/meet-brett/ 👉 https://brettswarts.com/

If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

Dustin Heiner - The Deal That Changed My Life

In this episode of the Real Estate Reserve Podcast, hosts Jason Balin and Ian Horowitz welcome back real estate investor and founder of Master Passive Income, Dustin Heiner, to share the deal that changed his life.

Dustin opens up about the second property he ever bought—the pivotal moment that transformed his investing journey. After a rough first experience where his property manager started stealing from him, Dustin made a powerful mindset shift. He stopped "buying properties" and started building a business. That one decision set him on the path to financial freedom, helping him grow to 30+ single-family rentals and over 750 apartment units across multiple states—all while working less than 30 minutes a month.

Hear how Dustin: ✅ Turned a bad experience into a scalable system ✅ Built a team-first investing business model ✅ Taught his 16-year-old daughter to manage rentals ✅ Traveled Japan for 3 weeks without checking in once ✅ Is helping 1 million people achieve real estate freedom

🎧 Don’t miss Dustin’s first episode for his full investing story: 👉 Build Lasting Wealth With Real Estate Investing with Dustin Heiner

📘 Get Dustin’s Free Course on Building a Rental Property Business: 👉 https://masterpassiveincome.com/freecourse

🌐 Visit his website: https://masterpassiveincome.com 📱 Follow him on Instagram: @thedustinheiner

👍 Like, comment, and share to help spread the knowledge. Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

Real Estate & Interest Rate Shifts Explained with Joe Root #244

In this episode of the Real Estate Reserve Podcast, hosts Jason Balin and Ian Horowitz sit down with Joe Root, a multifamily investor and managing partner at E-Superior Real Estate Partners, to dig into what’s really happening in today’s real estate and debt markets.

Joe shares his unique perspective as a second-generation investor operating in the Chicago multifamily space. From building a vertically integrated company to navigating interest rate hikes, rising expenses, and conservative underwriting—Joe explains how his firm is staying resilient and opportunistic in today’s uncertain environment.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:

• The pros and cons of investing locally vs. in out-of-state markets

• Why long-term holds are creating lasting wealth over 5-year flips

• How conservative underwriting and realistic investor expectations are critical now

• What rising rates and inflation mean for today’s buyers, sellers, and lenders

• Why older condo buildings might present hidden value through deconversions

• The impact of the GFC on Chicago real estate and how it compares to today

Joe also dives into debt strategy, market cycles, and how to spot smart opportunities—plus shares his favorite book for business and personal development: Atomic Habits by James Clear.

🔗 Learn more about Joe’s company: https://esrepartners.com

👉 If you got value from this episode, the best way to say thanks is to share it with a friend who's in the real estate space!

If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

Dave Seymour - The Deal That Changed My Life

In this episode of The Deal That Changed My Life, we’re back in the studio with none other than Dave Seymour—former firefighter, star of Flipping Boston, and full-throttle real estate investor. 🔥

Dave shares the gritty, hilarious, and downright genius story of the first deal that truly changed his life: a trashed two-family foreclosure, 50 pigeons, a hazmat suit, and a bold negotiation strategy that turned a bank-owned wreck into a $35,000 wholesale payday.

💥 From shoveling pigeon poop in a hazmat suit to outsmarting the system with a realty trust structure, Dave breaks down how he made the impossible deal happen at the height of the 2008 housing crisis.

🎯 Whether you’re new to real estate investing or just love a great comeback story, this episode is packed with laughs, lessons, and proof that where there’s a will (and a little hustle), there’s a way.

🛠️ Mentioned in this episode:

• Using real estate trusts to wholesale REOs

• How to turn a firehouse joke into your first big check

• Why commitment is everything when chasing your first deal

• Dave’s resources: LegacyAlliance.club | FreedomVenture.com

📺 BONUS: Want to see Dave dubbed in Hungarian? Google Flipping Boston and thank us later.

If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

What Lead Flow Looks like Today - #243

In this episode, we dive headfirst into one of the most critical topics in real estate investing: lead flow. Whether you're focused on commercial, multifamily, single‑family, or sub‑$200K homes, thriving in today’s market demands having a marketing machine that consistently feeds you opportunities.

🎯 What to Expect in This Episode

• Where serious investors are finding deals—MLS, referrals, online ads, brokers, lenders, and more

• The importance of saying “yes” to unexpected leads—even small deals can teach you valuable lessons

• How market cycles impact your approach: buy wisely during downturns, scale in upswings

• Why constant marketing beats silence—even if you’re not actively buying

• Real stories: from pre‑2020 to post‑pandemic, and how investor mindset evolved

• Key insights: the volume game in deal flow—seeing 100 deals vs. 10 leads to better deals

🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

• Active investors looking to sharpen their lead funnels

• Newer investors learning how to generate consistent deal flow

• Anyone wondering how top investors stay relevant across cycles

🔍 Takeaway:

• Every lead is a chance to build relationships and expand your reach

• Consistency in marketing is what keeps the deals coming—even when you’re not buying

• Volume wins: the more deals you see, the better deals you find

If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

Build Lasting Wealth With Real Estate Investing with Dustin Heiner - #242

In this episode of The Real Estate Reserve Podcast, Jason and Ian sit down with Dustin Heiner—founder of Master Passive Income and a full-time real estate investor—to break down his proven framework for helping new and seasoned investors build long-term wealth through real estate. Dustin shares how he went from being laid off to becoming financially independent through rental income, and how he now coaches others to do the same.

Dustin outlines the four key phases of a real estate investor's journey—from beginner to passive investor—and explains why systems, scale, and mindset shifts are crucial at each level. He emphasizes that even in today’s market, with high interest rates and rising prices, investors can still thrive by focusing on cash flow, not appreciation. Through real-world examples, including how his 16-year-old daughter bought her first rental property, Dustin illustrates why there’s never a “bad time” to invest—only bad deals.

You’ll also hear a candid discussion about building the right team, avoiding common pitfalls, and how to use lending relationships, property managers, and local experts to create a truly passive business. Whether you’re just getting started or scaling into multifamily, this episode is packed with valuable strategies and motivational insight to help you take your next step with confidence.

Topics Covered:

• The four investor phases: Beginner, Income Builder, Scaler, Passive Investor

• Why today's market still offers opportunity

• The candy bar analogy for understanding income vs. appreciation

• Team mentality and relying on local experts

• Generational wealth and buying properties for your kids

• How Dustin continues to grow his portfolio—and his mission

Whether you’re a total beginner or already scaling, Dustin offers a framework to meet you where you are and help you build a business that creates freedom.

👉 Learn more at: https://masterpassiveincome.com/

If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

From Flipping Boston to Flipping Multifamily Properties with Dave Seymour #241

Join hosts Jason and Ian on The Real Estate Reserve as they sit down with Dave Seymour, star of A&E’s Flipping Boston and seasoned real estate investor, to discuss his incredible journey from flipping houses to investing in large multifamily assets.

In this episode, Dave shares how he made the leap from working 100-hour weeks as a firefighter to building a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio. Learn why Dave believes multifamily investing is a “team sport,” how he approaches value-add opportunities, and the strategies that have helped him thrive in today’s market.

Topics covered include: ✅ Dave’s early days flipping single-family homes in Boston ✅ Transitioning from small deals to large multifamily projects ✅ Building a successful real estate investment company ✅ Raising capital and creating opportunities for investors ✅ Dave’s take on current market conditions and how to stay ahead

If you’re looking to scale your investing game or just want to hear some great stories from the trenches, this episode is packed with insights!

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content on real estate investing, multifamily strategies, and more.

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777