Most investors obsess over buying the right deal but overlook the one decision that actually determines long-term returns: the property manager. From tenant placement to maintenance and reporting, the wrong manager can quietly drain your profits, while the right one protects and grows them.

This course also breaks down how different property types and locations require different management approaches, and why not every manager is suited for every asset. If you’re investing out of state or planning to scale, knowing how to properly evaluate and work with a property manager is key to making your investments actually perform (not just look good on paper).

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Why your property manager has a direct impact on your investment performance.

• The operational responsibilities that influence returns beyond the numbers.

• How tenant quality, turnover, and maintenance are tied to management quality.

• Why not all property managers are equipped for every type of asset.

• The risks of poor communication and lack of transparency.

• How management decisions can increase or reduce vacancy and expenses.

• What to look for when choosing a property management partner.

• Why alignment between investor goals and manager execution matters.

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) delivers practical, structured, and experience-driven insights designed to help aspiring or seasoned investors and other real estate participants to thrive in this industry. This series of training courses focuses on real estate investing, property management, and small business operations. While grounded in the Central Indiana real estate market, the principles shared extend beyond the Hoosier state, staying true to the goal of equipping listeners and learners with actionable guidance and real-world insights they can apply immediately.

Indianapolis Investor Map:

https://earth.google.com/web/@39.82822064,-86.23642807,244.55852422a,143828.53126734d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=CgRCAggBMikKJwolCiExMXo0Um9JalJtZk5IOHVYd0dvTXpDZ1hlNDZJbDRIU20gAjoDCgEwQgIIAEoICNqbm6sBEAE?_pxl=djoxLGM6YmZjZGJhMzg2MTY0MzAsYTox&authuser=0  

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address:

Gmail = [email protected] 

Follow us on all of our socials:

Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/ 

Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/ 

You can also check our our website for more information:

Website = www.intriguepm.com 
Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy

In this episode of The Circle Investor Podcast, we sit down with Anthony Strunz from Hawk Operations to unpack the operational and financial side of running a successful property management business. While many conversations in real estate focus on acquisitions and deals, this discussion goes deeper into the systems, accounting discipline, and operational infrastructure that actually allow real estate companies to scale sustainably.

From the challenges of managing complex portfolios to the importance of aligning financial strategy with day-to-day operations, this conversation highlights the less visible, but extremely important, mechanics that keep real estate businesses running effectively. If you're building a property management company, scaling an investment portfolio, or simply trying to understand how strong operational foundations support long-term growth, this episode offers practical insights from the people working behind the numbers.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Why operational systems are critical to scaling a property management business.

• The role accounting and financial reporting play in long-term real estate success.

• Why no two property management companies operate the same way.

• How advisors help operators navigate financial and operational decisions.

• The balance between standardization and customization in growing businesses.

• Why transparency and strong reporting build trust with owners and investors.

• The hidden operational challenges most real estate investors never see.

• How strong financial infrastructure supports sustainable growth.

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) discuss what’s happening in the world of Real Estate Investing, Property Management, and running a small business based in Indianapolis. The show focuses on the Central Indiana real estate market, but also explores beyond the Hoosier state to gain intriguing insights in the world of business and real estate investing. We interview our favorite influential people from across Central Indiana (and beyond) to learn from the people having the biggest impact on our market.

If you’ve ever sold an investment property and felt the sting of capital gains taxes, this course explains how a 1031 exchange allows you to legally defer those taxes and keep more of your capital working for you in real estate.

We walk through what a 1031 exchange actually is (and what it isn’t), how it works in real-world investing scenarios, and why understanding the rules, timelines, and risks is critical before you ever list a property for sale. From upgrading asset quality and consolidating portfolios to relocating investments across markets, this episode explores how experienced investors use 1031 exchanges to compound growth over time and where newer investors often get tripped up.

This is educational content, not tax advice, but if you’re serious about long-term portfolio growth, asset repositioning, and keeping momentum without unnecessary tax drag, this course provides the foundational understanding you need before making your next move.

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:

• What a 1031 exchange actually does (tax deferral vs. tax avoidance)

• When a 1031 exchange applies and when it doesn’t

• Why like-kind exchanges must involve investment properties

• How investors use 1031s to trade up, downsize, or reposition assets

• The compounding power of executing multiple exchanges over time

• Critical timelines: the 45-day identification rule and 180-day close window

• The role of a qualified intermediary and why DIY doesn’t work

• Common mistakes that derail exchanges before they start

• Situations where a 1031 exchange may not make financial sense

• Why planning ahead and assembling the right team is essential

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) delivers practical, structured, and experience-driven insights designed to help aspiring or seasoned investors and other real estate participants to thrive in this industry. This series of training courses focuses on real estate investing, property management, and small business operations. While grounded in the Central Indiana real estate market, the principles shared extend beyond the Hoosier state, staying true to the goal of equipping listeners and learners with actionable guidance and real-world insights they can apply immediately.

Episode 17 of The Circle Investor Podcast features Daniel McCarty to explore the operational realities behind managing rental properties and building a property management business that actually works. From his early start in real estate to becoming one of the foundational members of the Intrigue team, Daniel shares firsthand insight into what investors often overlook once they own a property.

We break down the day-to-day realities of leasing, tenant selection, maintenance management, and the hidden challenges that separate profitable rental portfolios from constant headaches. The conversation also dives into the importance of asset quality, how property class impacts tenant stability, and why many rookie investors underestimate the operational side of owning real estate.

If you’re building a rental portfolio or thinking about buying your first investment property, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on what actually happens after the purchase and how better operational decisions protect your long-term returns.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Daniel’s journey from getting started in real estate to becoming a property management operator

• Why property management is often the most underestimated part of real estate investing

• The difference between Class A, B, C, and D rental properties and how that affects tenant quality

• How tenant screening and leasing speed can make or break a deal

• Common mistakes rookie investors make when buying distressed properties

• The operational challenges behind maintenance, repairs, and tenant management

• Why long-term asset quality matters more than short-term deal excitement

• How strong systems and experience reduce risk for rental property owners

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) discuss what’s happening in the world of Real Estate Investing, Property Management, and running a small business based in Indianapolis. The show focuses on the Central Indiana real estate market, but also explores beyond the Hoosier state to gain intriguing insights in the world of business and real estate investing. We interview our favorite influential people from across Central Indiana (and beyond) to learn from the people having the biggest impact on our market.

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address:

Gmail = [email protected]

Follow us on all of our socials:

Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/ 

Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/ 

You can also check our our website for more information:

Website = www.intriguepm.com 
Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy

Course 3 of The Circle Investor Real Estate Training Course breaks down what actually goes into selecting the right area for your first rental property. From understanding why Indianapolis is a neighborhood-by-neighborhood market (not zip-code-driven like many larger metros) to analyzing appreciation trends, cash flow ratios, and long-term growth potential, this course gives you a practical framework for making smarter location decisions. We also introduce our Indianapolis Investor Map and explain how to use it to evaluate A through D-class neighborhoods, identify paths of progress, and compare diversification versus concentration strategies. If you want to invest with clarity instead of guesswork, this episode lays the foundation.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Why Indianapolis must be evaluated neighborhood by neighborhood.

• The difference between appreciation and day-one cash flow.

• How Hamilton County and Marion County appreciation can vary dramatically.

• What “path of progress” means and how to spot it.

• How amenities, walkability, and development impact property values.

• Diversification vs. concentration: two different investing approaches.

• Why visiting neighborhoods in person changes your investment lens.

• How to avoid analysis paralysis and make confident decisions.

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) delivers practical, structured, and experience-driven insights designed to help aspiring or seasoned investors and other real estate participants to thrive in this industry. This series of training courses focuses on real estate investing, property management, and small business operations. While grounded in the Central Indiana real estate market, the principles shared extend beyond the Hoosier state, staying true to the goal of equipping listeners and learners with actionable guidance and real-world insights they can apply immediately.

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address:

Gmail = [email protected]

Follow us on all of our socials:

Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/

Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/

You can also check our our website for more information:

Website = www.intriguepm.com

Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy

This episode of The Circle Investor Podcast features Neeraj Singh as he shares what it actually takes to build and manage a growing real estate portfolio with precision. From navigating financing decisions and market cycles to structuring operations that support long-term growth, this conversation goes beyond surface-level strategy. We break down the importance of risk management, capital allocation, and thinking like an operator, not just a buyer. If you're serious about scaling responsibly, protecting margins, and building systems that support expansion, this episode delivers a grounded perspective on what sustainable growth really demands.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Why scaling requires stronger systems and not just additional deals

• The role of discipline in financing and capital allocation

• How market cycles influence acquisition timing

• The operational blind spots many investors overlook

• Why risk management determines long-term survival

• The mindset shift from small portfolio to scalable operation

• How clarity in strategy reduces costly decision-making mistakes

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) discuss what’s happening in the world of Real Estate Investing, Property Management, and running a small business based in Indianapolis. The show focuses on the Central Indiana real estate market, but also explores beyond the Hoosier state to gain intriguing insights in the world of business and real estate investing. We interview our favorite influential people from across Central Indiana (and beyond) to learn from the people having the biggest impact on our market.

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address:

Gmail = [email protected]

Follow us on all of our socials:

Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/

Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/

You can also check our our website for more information:

Website = www.intriguepm.com

Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy

Course 2 of The Circle Investor Real Estate Training Course explains the BRRRR method. From what this strategy offers, how it works, and up to the part where investors often get burned. Whether it’s buying under market value and forcing appreciation to refinancing and repeating the process, we unpack the financial realities behind the strategy and the critical factors most YouTube summaries leave out. We also discuss margin protection, contractor risk, timeline management, refinancing requirements, and why positive cash flow after the refi is the make-or-break filter most investors underestimate. If you’re considering BRRRR as your first deal (or trying to decide whether it fits your experience level, capital position, and market), this episode gives you a clear, practical framework before you commit.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• What the BRRRR method actually requires at each stage

• The difference between a true BRRRR deal and a flip

• Why margin is protection (not just profit)

• The two deal filters every BRRRR must pass

• Hidden risks: contractors, timelines, permits, and carrying costs

• Why out-of-state BRRRR deals are significantly harder

• When BRRRR makes sense and when to avoid it

• Safer alternatives for first-time investors (buy & hold, house hacking)

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) delivers practical, structured, and experience-driven insights designed to help aspiring or seasoned investors and other real estate participants to thrive in this industry. This series of training courses focuses on real estate investing, property management, and small business operations. While grounded in the Central Indiana real estate market, the principles shared extend beyond the Hoosier state, staying true to the goal of equipping listeners and learners with actionable guidance and real-world insights they can apply immediately.

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address:

Gmail = [email protected]

Follow us on all of our socials:

Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/

Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/

You can also check our our website for more information:

Website = www.intriguepm.com
Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy

In this episode of The Circle Investor Podcast, we sit down with Summer Hudson to break down what it actually looks like to build a sustainable real estate business in today’s market. From navigating complex transactions and client expectations to understanding the long-term implications of financing, positioning, and negotiation, this conversation goes deeper than surface-level tactics. We unpack the mindset required to operate confidently in high-stakes environments, how preparation separates professionals from amateurs, and why clarity always outperforms chaos. If you’re serious about making smarter decisions, protecting your upside, and thinking several moves ahead, this episode delivers practical perspective you can apply immediately.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Why strategy matters more than speed in competitive markets

• The hidden risks most buyers and investors overlook

• How preparation changes negotiation leverage

• The difference between transactional thinking and long-term positioning

• What disciplined operators do differently

• How clarity reduces costly decision fatigue

• Why experience compounds in high-pressure environments

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) discuss what’s happening in the world of Real Estate Investing, Property Management, and running a small business based in Indianapolis. The show focuses on the Central Indiana real estate market, but also explores beyond the Hoosier state to gain intriguing insights in the world of business and real estate investing. We interview our favorite influential people from across Central Indiana (and beyond) to learn from the people having the biggest impact on our market.

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address:

Gmail = [email protected]

Follow us on all of our socials:

Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/

Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/

You can also check our our website for more information:

Website = www.intriguepm.com

Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy

In Course 1 of The Circle Investor Real Estate Training Course, we break down how out-of-state investors should actually approach visiting and evaluating the Indianapolis market. This isn’t a tourist guide. It’s a strategic blueprint for understanding neighborhoods beyond spreadsheets, analyzing deals with context, and experiencing the city the way your future tenants will. From street-by-street nuances and rental-friendly policies to where to stay, what to explore, and how to structure property tours efficiently, this course lays the groundwork for making informed, confident investment decisions in one of the most investor-friendly markets in the country.

If you’re considering buying in Indianapolis, this is your starting point.

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Why Indianapolis is widely regarded as an investor-friendly, cash-flowing market

• Why spreadsheets alone don’t tell the full story of a neighborhood

• How to evaluate street-by-street differences in A, B, and C class areas

• Why staying in an Airbnb beats staying in a hotel

• Top neighborhoods to explore: Broad Ripple, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, and more

• How to structure property tours (and why 4–6 per outing is the sweet spot)

• Why respecting your agent’s time can directly impact your investing success

• How to plan your visit around events, sports, and local culture

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s course! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) delivers practical, structured, and experience-driven insights designed to help aspiring or seasoned investors and other real estate participants to thrive in this industry. These series of training courses focuses on real estate investing, property management, and small business operations. While grounded in the Central Indiana real estate market, the principles shared extend beyond the Hoosier state, staying true to the goal of equipping listeners and learners with actionable guidance and real-world insights they can apply immediately.

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address:

Gmail = [email protected]

Follow us on all of our socials:

Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/

Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/

You can also check our our website for more information:

Website = www.intriguepm.com

Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy

Most people are attracted to real estate for the freedom. Few are prepared for what it actually demands.

In this episode of The Circle Investor Podcast, we sit down with Scott Chain to talk about entrepreneurship, long-term commitment, and the realities of building a business in a commission-based industry. From navigating inconsistent income and pressure-filled seasons to developing the discipline and mindset required to stay in the game, this conversation unpacks what separates those who last from those who burn out. If you’re serious about ownership, sustainability, and creating a career on your terms, this episode delivers the honest perspective most people don’t hear when they first get started.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Why freedom in real estate comes with responsibility

• The mental shift required to survive commission-based income

• What most new agents underestimate about entrepreneurship

• The difference between short-term wins and long-term careers

• Why commitment — not motivation — determines longevity

• How building resilience impacts financial outcomes

  
  

Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next.

The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) discuss what’s happening in the world of Real Estate Investing, Property Management, and running a small business based in Indianapolis. The show focuses on the Central Indiana real estate market, but also explores beyond the Hoosier state to gain intriguing insights in the world of business and real estate investing. We interview our favorite influential people from across Central Indiana (and beyond) to learn from the people having the biggest impact on our market.

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address:

Gmail = [email protected]

Follow us on all of our socials:

Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/

Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/

You can also check our our website for more information:

Website = www.intriguepm.com

Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy