The Broker Who Creates Buyers: How Cody Watts Finds and Flips Commercial Deals

Most commercial brokers list properties and hope the right buyer shows up.

Cody Watts does something very different.

In this episode, Beckie sits down with Cody Watts, a commercial broker and investor who has built a powerful strategy for creating buyers instead of waiting for them.

Cody owns his own brokerage and focuses primarily on office, retail, and warehouse properties, though he also has a strong interest in multifamily.

What makes his approach unique is how proactive he is when selling a property.

Instead of simply putting a listing on the MLS, Cody:

Identifies businesses currently operating in smaller spaces

Shows them how upgrading into the new property could benefit their business

Works to move them into the larger space

Then often picks up the listing for the property they’re leaving

This strategy allows him to create demand while also generating additional listings and deal opportunities.

Beyond brokerage, Cody has also built a strong income stream by acting as a principal investor. He often:

Buys commercial properties with his own capital

Remodels or improves them

Leases them up

Sells them later at a profit

Today, he’s finding more commercial value-add opportunities than he can personally fund — opening the door to potential partnerships with capital partners and investors.

If you want to understand how brokers think, how commercial deals really move through the market, and where opportunities exist in office, retail, and warehouse properties, this conversation is packed with insights.

Cost Segregation & Bonus Depreciation: The Tax Strategy That Changes Everything

What if your property could generate significant tax deductions in year one instead of being depreciated slowly over decades?

In this episode, Beckie sits down with Kim Lockridge to unpack the ins and outs of cost segregation and bonus depreciation — two of the most powerful tax strategies available to real estate investors.

This is not surface-level tax talk. It’s strategic planning that directly impacts your after-tax returns and long-term wealth building.

We break down:

What cost segregation really is (in simple terms)

How it accelerates depreciation

How bonus depreciation works alongside a cost seg study

The strengths of using this strategy

The limitations and potential downsides

Who qualifies — and when it makes sense

For many investors, this strategy can create massive upfront deductions — but only if it’s done correctly.

If you own commercial real estate or plan to invest, understanding cost segregation and bonus depreciation is a game changer.

Curious how to use retirement dollars to buy real estate? In this Real Estate to Freedom episode, Beckie Lambert sits down with Brenda Lambert, a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) specialist, to demystify how investors use tax-advantaged accounts to build wealth with real assets.

What we cover:

What a Self-Directed IRA is (and how it differs from a regular IRA)

Eligible assets: rentals, syndications, notes, land, storage, and more

Custodians vs. checkbook control (LLC/Trust) — pros & cons

Deal flow with retirement funds: direct ownership vs. passive syndications

Rules you must know: prohibited transactions, disqualified persons, arm’s-length requirements

Taxes & leverage: UBIT/UBTI & UDFI basics when using debt

Practical steps to open, fund, and execute your first SDIRA real estate deal

Whether you want cash-flowing rentals or truly passive limited-partner stakes, this primer will help you use retirement dollars to buy real estate—legally and strategically.

🎧 Tune in and learn how to supercharge your retirement with real estate!

In this episode of Real Estate to Freedom, Beckie Lambert sits down with Faris Musa, co-founder of Disrupt Equity, to unpack his incredible journey from tech to real estate domination. 💥

Faris started his career at Microsoft as a Program Manager, armed with a Computer Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin. But he didn’t stop there — his entrepreneurial spirit led him to launch a successful software firm before diving headfirst into multifamily real estate.

Today, Faris and his team have built a vertically integrated powerhouse with over 5,500 units and $1 billion in assets — all focused in the booming Sunbelt markets. ☀️

In this episode, you’ll discover:

✅ How a tech mindset and data-driven approach transformed his real estate strategy

✅ The rise, fall, and rebound of Sunbelt markets over the last few years

✅ The systems and leadership lessons behind scaling to a billion-dollar portfolio

✅ Why innovation and operational excellence are the secret weapons of modern multifamily investing

This is one of those conversations that blends entrepreneurial grit with analytical precision—and will leave you thinking differently about what’s possible in real estate.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to build smarter, scale faster, and invest with confidence!

Bonus Depreciation: The Strategy That Could Save You Six Figures

What if one tax strategy could potentially save you hundreds of thousands of dollars?

In this episode, Nate and Beckie sit down with Bill Walpole and Robyn Fujikawa to break down one of the most powerful — and misunderstood — tools available to real estate investors: Bonus Depreciation.

This isn’t generic tax talk. This is high-level strategy that directly impacts your after-tax returns and long-term wealth building.

We cover:

What bonus depreciation really is (in plain English)

How it works alongside cost segregation

The major strengths — and why investors love it

The limitations and phase-down rules you need to understand

The requirements to qualify

Common mistakes that can cost investors big

If you invest in commercial real estate — or are planning to — understanding bonus depreciation is not optional.

It’s leverage.

Listen in and learn how sophisticated investors use tax strategy to keep more capital working for them.

In this episode of Real Estate to Freedom, Beckie Lambert breaks down the fundamentals of analyzing office buildings — one of the most misunderstood asset classes in commercial real estate. 🏢

While some investors claim the office sector is dead post-COVID, Nate reveals why savvy investors are still finding huge opportunities in the right markets with the right strategy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ How to evaluate office buildings and retail properties using commercial fundamentals

✅ The key metrics to determine if a property really pencils

✅ Why value-add opportunities are the fastest way to grow your returns

✅ How to spot risky leases — and know when higher rents are justified

✅ The most stable office niches (like medical, government, and suburban flex space)

If you’ve ever been curious about investing in office space — or wanted to understand how to navigate the “work-from-home” era profitably — this episode gives you the blueprint.

🎧 Tune in now to learn how to find value, stability, and opportunity in today’s office market.

Is retail real estate dead—or is it one of the most overlooked opportunities in commercial investing today? 🏬

In this episode of Real Estate to Freedom, Beckie Lambert breaks down the truth about investing in retail centers—from strip malls and shopping centers to big box stores.

You’ll learn:

✅ The six major types of retail properties and how they differ

✅ Why long-term leases and triple-net structures can make retail incredibly stable

✅ The secret to finding value-add opportunities in underperforming centers

✅ How to identify the most resilient tenants that thrive—even in the age of e-commerce

✅ Key risks and what to look for in population trends, lease clauses, and anchor tenants

Whether you’ve been told to “avoid retail at all costs” or you’re curious about diversifying beyond multifamily, this episode gives you a clear, beginner-friendly framework for evaluating retail deals with confidence.

🎧 Tune in to discover why smart investors are rediscovering retail—and how you can too.

In this episode of Real Estate to Freedom, Beckie Lambert breaks down one of the most overlooked — yet incredibly profitable — asset classes in commercial real estate: warehouse flex space. 🏗️

If you’ve ever wondered what makes this hybrid asset so powerful, this episode is for you. Flex warehouses combine industrial functionality with office or retail adaptability, creating unique opportunities for investors who know how to evaluate and structure them.

In this beginner-friendly deep dive, you’ll learn:

✅ What warehouse flex space really is — and why it’s in such high demand

✅ The key differences between traditional warehouses and flex space

✅ The pros, cons, and risks of investing in this asset class

✅ How to identify value-add opportunities and avoid market saturation

✅ Why e-commerce and logistics growth are fueling long-term demand

Whether you’re looking to diversify your portfolio or expand into new commercial categories, this episode will show you how to unlock opportunities in one of the fastest-growing spaces in real estate.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to turn warehouse flex space into your next big win!

In this episode of Real Estate to Freedom, Beckie Lambert breaks down one of the most recession-resistant and consistent asset classes in commercial real estate — self-storage. 📦

Storage units are often overlooked, yet they perform strongly in both up and down markets. Whether the economy is booming or tightening, people always need extra space — and that makes this a powerful addition to any real estate portfolio.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Why self-storage is counter-cyclical (and performs in any economy)

✅ The key differences between traditional self-storage and “man cave” luxury storage

✅ How to find mom-and-pop deals, syndications, and REITs in this space

✅ Why self-storage offers low overhead and steady cash flow

✅ The main drivers of demand — from moving and downsizing to divorce and travel

🎧 Tune in now to learn why self-storage is one of the most resilient, profitable, and practical assets to add to your portfolio.

Tax Saving Strategies for Real Estate Investors

What if you could legally keep thousands — or even tens of thousands — more of what you earn each year?

In this episode, Nate and Beckie sit down with Matthew Meyer and Ryan Thompson to explore powerful tax strategies specifically designed for real estate investors.

This conversation goes far beyond basic deductions. Instead, we dive into the advanced strategies experienced investors use to dramatically reduce taxable income while staying fully compliant with the tax code.

We cover:

The Augusta Rule and how it can create significant tax advantages for short-term rental situations

Creative tax planning strategies many investors overlook

How real estate investors can structure income and expenses more strategically

Common tax mistakes that cost investors thousands

Why proactive tax planning is essential for long-term wealth building

The reality is that taxes are often the largest expense investors face. Those who understand the rules and plan strategically keep far more capital working for them.

If you're investing in real estate — or planning to — this episode will help you think differently about your tax strategy and long-term financial planning.