The Insider's Edge To Real Estate Investing

You will learn about how to surround yourself with excellence to get started in real estate in this episode with Ross Hamilton. Hear about the value in taking action, connecting with others, and participating in a network to find investment opportunities. You'll also learn ways to help others who are struggling to keep their homes.

Ross has a fascinating story and background, which includes a passion for BMX freestyling as a young adult. After an injury caused him to step aside, he began investing in real estate and quickly amassed a portfolio of 50 residential properties. He used some of the profits to establish Connected Investors, an investment property marketplace and social network for real estate investors. Eventually, Ross's tech company sold to First American for approximately $100 million and he retired at 40 years old to start SavingHomes.org, a real estate charity to help those in need.

You can connect with Ross to access additional resources by emailing him at [email protected].

And I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

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My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You will learn about financing deals and how to get involved in the debt side of real estate in this episode with Kevin Amolsch, a real estate investor and private money lender at Pine Financial Group. You'll gather insight on how to be creative with financing and get into properties with no money down.

Kevin earned his degree in finance after serving four years in the U.S. Army. After college, he spent two years working with Wall Street as a mortgage bond analyst. He stepped away to get involved in real estate financing for investors full time, and he and his companies have closed on more than 2,400 transactions as a buyer, seller, or private money lender.

Kevin shares insight in his book, "The 45-Day Investor," and has reports about private lending and the housing crisis available at ThePineReport.com.

You can connect with Kevin through his company website Pine Financial Group.

And I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC

Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC

Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You will learn the differences between investing actively and passively, and what might be best for you on this episode with Mark Khuri, co-founder of SMK Capital Management, a boutique private equity real estate investment firm. Mark talks about the value of diversifying with best-in-class sponsors across multiple asset classes and geographies.

Mark's career in real estate began in 2005 when he started investing in residential real estate in California and Florida. In 2010, he co-founded SMK Capital Management, which focuses on recession resistant investment opportunities. Mark has experience analyzing thousands of investment opportunities, and he shares the value of understanding the story behind the property to find where value could be added. His investments span from mobile home parks to self-storage, ATM machines, and triple net industrial, among others.

If you are going to invest passively, qualifying the sponsor is essential. Mark shares how best to go about this process. You will also benefit as we get under the hood on how these deals are structured.

You can connect with Mark through his company website SMK Capital Management, LLC.

And I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC

Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC

Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You'll learn the benefits of moving forward in real estate, one step at a time, in this conversation with Liz Faircloth, co-founder of The Real Estate InvestHER® community and Facebook group. Liz has developed a model that connects women who are interested in getting started in real estate—or are looking for ways to scale. She is also co-founder of the DeRosa Group, a family-owned business investing in residential and commercial property with a mission of transforming lives through real estate.

If you're looking for tips on balancing priorities, Liz shares advice on how to focus on one task at a time, create the right spaces, and step back periodically to think about the big picture. The Real Estate InvestHER® community offers mentorship and accountability to reduce a sense of being overwhelmed. The holistic approach includes three pillars, which are real estate investing, business strategies, and self-care. You can join to connect both online and in-person at meetups across the U.S. and Canada.

To learn more about Liz and get involved, head to The Real Estate InvestHER® website and the Real Estate InvestHER® Community group on Facebook.

I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC

Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC

Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You'll learn how to think ahead of get ready for what's next in this conversation with Rod Santomassimo. Rod is the founder and president of The Massimo Group, a leading national commercial real estate coaching and consulting organization. He has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry as a broker, owner, and manager of local, regional, and international firms. Rod is a best-selling author with books that include Brokers Who Dominate, Teams Built to Dominate, Knowing Isn't Doing, and most recently, Dominators of Commercial Real Estate Brokerage.

In the interview, Rod discusses the pandemic as an accelerator that led to hybrid working, telecommuting, and teleconferences, among other advances. He also covers ways to leverage AI to stay on top of trends and make processes more efficient. "What's happening right now in AI and the AI world is the greatest accelerant that we have ever seen in our history in regards to what is possible and how quickly it can happen," he shares.

When discussing the key attributes to look for in a broker, Rod suggests searching for an advisory figure. While a broker's role is often viewed as a facilitator of the transaction, the true dominating brokers will focus on the facilitation of a relationship. "That's what matters," Rod says. "One question I would always ask a broker is, 'Tell me a time where you advised your client not to sell.'" He also mentions seeking a broker who is a specialist or has a team of specialists. In addition, he states, "One mistake that most investors make is they focus on the fee versus the result."

To find more opportunities, Rod mentions the power of creating a presence pyramid. This consists of personal, physical, and digital layers. Establishing a presence as either a broker or investor in the marketplace can help you reach a broader audience and gain credibility in the space. "Presence is paramount in everything you do," Rod says.

During the episode, Rod encourages listeners to find a mentor and ask three questions when connecting: What's new? What's next? What do you need? "Intellectual curiosity will be the way to grow—be the doer," he adds.

You can connect with Rod at his website The Massimo Group and find his books on the Resources page.

I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC

Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC

Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You'll learn how to collaborate with others in real estate and learn at every step in this interview with Adam Altman. Adam is the founder and managing member of KABR, which is a vertically integrated private equity real estate firm responsible for the investment, development, and management of real estate. The portfolio includes commercial, multifamily, industrial, hospitality, and development assets. In his role, Adam is instrumental in fundraising, structuring JV partnerships, and sourcing and acquiring real estate property and debt. Adam has participated in transactions totaling approximately 6 million square feet of commercial properties, along with thousands of residential units, hotels, and new development land with over 6,000 units of entitlements.

Prior to joining KABR, Adam focused on acquisitions, development, management and disposition of real estate for a multi-billion-dollar healthcare company. He has also worked with the private wealth team at Deutsche Bank and as a portfolio manager and analyst at Chestnut Ridge Capital. In addition, Adam founded and sold Freshpair.com, an ecommerce company.

Adam was intrigued with real estate from early on, as he walked blocks and neighborhoods while studying at NYU. After college, he went to other ventures, including Wall Street, his own internet company, and a family office, and eventually turned again to real estate. Along the way he learned valuable lessons, such as how to put capital together and the emphasis on personal relationships in real estate. He applied these to his later efforts with his partner at KABR.

Today Adam's firm focuses on the geographical areas of the New York metro area and the Southeastern region of the U.S. Looking back on his track record, he says, "Being able to trust someone is almost more important than anything else. It doesn't guarantee outcomes, but it does guarantee alignment." He also emphasizes the value of teamwork, saying, "It's about collaborating and making it interesting."

For beginning investors, Adam shares the importance of looking for ways to be helpful. Part of his success was built on his willingness to reach out and share information with others without expecting anything in return. "If you love real estate, the best way to do something is to go and do it," he says.

You can connect with Adam at his website KABR Group.

I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC

Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC

Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

On this week's episode, You'll learn how to get connected to others in real estate and build a track record in this conversation with Shawn DiMartile. Shawn is a real estate investor based in San Diego with more than 300 rental units, a boutique hotel, and several Airbnbs, with a cumulative value of more than $50 million. He is also host of the podcast The Real Estate Takeoff and co-founder of Takeoff Capital. Shawn is a U.S. Navy veteran and worked as an air traffic controller prior to investing in real estate.

During his time as an air traffic controller, Shawn found he lacked time freedom, often working six days a week and putting in long hours. After looking into real estate, he liquidated his 401(k) to partner with his now business associate on a 32-unit apartment property located in Indiana. The investment presented several challenges, though within two years, they were able to triple the value of the asset and sell for a substantial profit. The experience left an impression on Shawn and motivated him to further pursue real estate investing.

Recognizing the need for guidance to scale his efforts, Shawn found a mentor who had been an accomplished apartment investor for more than two decades and had a portfolio with 8,000 units. Shawn went on to syndicate his first 150-unit multifamily property in 2021. Just two months later, he syndicated a 145-unit multifamily property.

With an eye for San Diego, Shawn recognized the historic limitations for investors based on low cap rates and landlord tenant laws. However, when San Diego implemented its ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Bonus program to resolve its housing crisis, Shawn found an opportunity to create a niche and build additional rental units on properties. He outlines his investment strategy in his ebook "California Gold."

During the episode, Shawn encourages listeners to overcome the fear of making mistakes when starting out, and to look for ways to contribute when connecting with others. "Become friends and surround yourself with real estate in every way you can," he shares. "Then start as early as you can to provide value to other people."

You can connect with Shawn through Instagram and his website Investor Shawn.

I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC

Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC

Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You'll learn valuable information about affordable housing, institutional investing, and senior living in this conversation with Chris Finlay. Chris is CEO and chairman of Lloyd Jones, a global real estate investment firm with subsidiaries in development and construction. It also has a platform called AVIVA Senior Living and concentrations in multifamily and the hospitality industry. Its investment partners include institutions, family offices, accredited investors, and its own principals.

Chris began his career as a commercial airline pilot with Eastern Airlines and invested in real estate on the side. His real estate business evolved, and in 1983 he shifted from the airline industry to focus exclusively on commercial real estate. He opened Finlay Company, which grew into one of the largest real estate firms in New England.

In 1990, Chris delved into real estate development and during the next 15 years developed, constructed, and managed approximately 40 multifamily and senior housing communities and luxury condominiums. When the Great Recession of 2008 hit, it provided numerous investment opportunities in the multifamily segment, and Chris began investing in the asset class. Those investments led to Lloyd Jones, a company that offered outside investors an opportunity to participate in the acquisitions. Several years later, Chris added senior living and development subsidiaries to capitalize on the exploding demand for senior housing. More recently, spotting opportunities in the hospitality industry, he added a hotel investment division to the company.

Now with a 40-year track record in real estate, Chris also has educational credentials which include Upper Canada College and post-graduate studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He has completed extensive industry training and participates on the board of the National Multifamily Housing Council. Chris is a member of the American Seniors Housing Association and a strong supporter of Shelters to Shutters, a nonprofit organized to connect individuals facing homelessness to employment options and housing within the multifamily community.

During our conversation, Chris discusses how he has followed different segments and been able to make moves during downturns. His vast experience ranges from low-cost housing programs to raising institutional capital and building out a senior living operations business. For listeners starting their journey, he shares, "Primarily we've been a multifamily developer, investor, and owner, and I'm a believer that it's the best asset class in the world for anybody to be in." He also sees unique opportunities in senior living. Regarding what's ahead, he says, "I think there's been a disruption in the market, and we have a period of time here before it gets corrected—and then it will be a very nice ride up."

You can connect with Chris at his company website Lloyd Jones and also AVIVA Senior Living.

I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC

Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC

Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You'll learn about gauging risk and spotting opportunities in this conversation with Kaitlin McCarthy. Kaitlin established Ionic Development Company, which is a certified Woman Business Enterprise, in 2022. She has more than 10 years of experience managing large development and construction projects in downtown Boston. Before she founded Ionic, Kaitlin served as vice president at The HYM Investment Group. She has worked on projects such as The Sudbury with 368 apartments and 55 condos, and One Congress, which is the world headquarters of State Street Bank.

Kaitlin grew up in Connecticut and had an interest in architecture from early on. She studied engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, and leaned into construction management, working for a company called Turner Construction after graduating. While there, she became fascinated with the concepts and many pieces that went into creating a space. To gain skills to help her with the development perspective, she went to Harvard for a MBA.

After finishing her studies there, Kaitlin went into management consulting and worked for Boston Consulting Group. While she gained insight into business and strategy, she also realized she missed the building aspects. With that in mind, in 2017 she connected with HYM Investment Group, a large real estate developer in Boston.

During the pandemic, Kaitlin used the time to step back and realized she wasn't seeing any women-owned developers in her area. She had an "aha" moment and thought, "Maybe I can go out and try this on my own…to make a difference in what the scene of Boston real estate development looks like." In 2022, she took the leap and started her own company, Ionic, a real estate development firm.

Even though the market is going through a challenging time, Kaitlin has found opportunities to pursue development management assignments and projects. From brainstorming the answer to handling office buildings to using technology in new ways, she focuses on the task at hand and maintains a willingness to take a risk. She believes a mindset to try new things and think differently will help set her company apart in the coming years.

You can connect with Kaitlin and her certified Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) Ionic Development Company through LinkedIn.

I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC

Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC

Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You'll gain insight into playing an innovative role in real estate in this conversation with Laura Rapaport. Laura is the founder and CEO of North Bridge, a company offering financing solutions that serve the intersection of real estate, technology, and sustainability. North Bridge is a one-stop-shop for clients nationwide and covers all asset classes, providing support to both improve the built environment and create a greener future.

When she started out, Laura initially took on an internship in real estate prior to her freshman year of college. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and began her career at Lehman Brothers in their Global Real Estate Group in London. She later served as a Director in the New York development group of Tishman Speyer. Laura received an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and went on to become a Managing Director at L&L Holding Company, an owner-operator and developer in New York City. There she was a key member of the leadership team for almost a decade, and her roles included running capital raising and serving as Development Manager of 425 Park Avenue.

Today her company North Bridge specializes in sustainable real estate solutions by providing financing through C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy). C-PACE is a flexible form of ESG financing which allows borrowers to access low-cost, long-term, fixed-rate, pre-payable funding in exchange for making sustainable improvements to buildings. It facilitates energy efficiency, water efficiency, structural resilience, and renewable measures. Borrowers who qualify can use the capital proactively, or they can apply it retroactively to strengthen a capital stack. C-PACE may be used for a variety of functions, including large scale renovations, new construction, acquisition financing, refinancing, and rescue capital.

Based on her experience and background, founding North Bridge "plays to my strengths of being entrepreneurial, but having an institutional expertise and understanding to translate and bring everything together," Laura says. For someone interested in real estate who wants to help create a more sustainable environment, she adds, "I think there's a tremendous opportunity to innovate…there will be more products that have not even been thought of or created that will help all of us make that a reality."

You can connect with Laura through LinkedIn and her company website North Bridge.

I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at:

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC

Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC

Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson

My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson