The Insider's Edge To Real Estate Investing

You'll learn how to strive for the next level while maintaining a healthy balance in this conversation with John Hopfensberger. With more than 30 years of experience in the commercial real-estate industry, John is the founder and president of CMK Properties, and has developed more than $200 million of real estate. In addition to his business accomplishments, John is a triathlete and a two-time Ironman finisher. He also serves on advisory boards and in various nonprofit capacities.

John grew up on a dairy farm just outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was taught to have a strong work ethic. "When we were building a shed, building on the barn, renovating the house…we did as much work as we could ourselves," he says. This fostered a passion for construction, and right out of college, John took on a two-family fixer upper. He made the needed repairs, rented the place, and became hooked on real estate. He obtained a general contractor license and started to take on larger projects, eventually expanding into multiple states.

Facing the decision of whether to become a national-level general contractor or focus on what he loved doing, which was real estate development and investment, John opted for the latter. He also laid out objectives to grow that were attainable, timely, and realistic. He has continued with this strategy, and today holds regular meetings with his team to talk about business goals. Together they break them down into people, operations, marketing, sales, and financial aspects. He also keeps his goals in front of him on a desk.

Now based in Brentwood, Tennessee, John's company CMK Properties serves as a fully integrated real estate investment, development, and management company. It carries out build-to-suit projects for major brands, and has clients such as Dollar General and Tractor Supply Company. For anyone looking to get started in this development space, he suggests finding a site and presenting it to a potential tenant. After breaking into this segment, his company has gone on to generate repeat business and create a portfolio of over $385 million, with more than $235 million in successful exits.

You can connect with John through LinkedIn and his company website CMK Properties.

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 incredible insight on how to jump in, surround yourself with high performers, and communicate in this conversation with Ryan Tseko. Ryan is the Executive Vice President at Cardone Capital in the Miami metro area and has completed acquisitions with a transaction value of over $2.9 billion, secured more than $1.9 billion of debt financing, and has been actively involved in launching every investment vehicle for the company. He holds a B.S. in Aviation and Airway Management from Utah Valley State University. Growing up, Ryan observed his uncle, who was a builder and gave him a job at the age of 13. While Ryan had an interest in real estate from early on, he decided to begin his career as an airline pilot and continued that trajectory for 10 years. During this time, he also invested in real estate, building up a portfolio of 21 units. He discovered Grant Cardone, a renowned business expert and real estate investor, on YouTube, and wanted to get involved with him to pursue his real estate goals. Ryan called the front desk of the company to ask for a job interview, and soon was working alongside Grant every day. He spent the next years learning the day-to-day work of real estate, as he did weekly calls with properties to track performance, carried out due diligence, and ultimately worked through every vertical. He went on to help build teams and expand the real estate business to move deals faster. "Partnerships aren't just internal—they're external and they're powerful," he says. Over the next years, Cardone Capital expanded from 200 investors to more than 13,000. Amid that growth, Ryan and his team wanted to prioritize investor relationships. "More than 90% of our investors have talked to a real live person in our office," he says. Today, Cardone Capital acquires and manages real estate properties with a focus on both near-term income generation and long-term value creation. It aims to provide everyday investors with access to institutional-grade real estate deals. Since 2016, it has raised more than $1 billion across 22 funds. Its portfolio consists of more than 12,000 multifamily units across 36 multifamily properties along with over 500,000 square feet of commercial office space. Ryan cites parallels between aviation and real estate, including the value of being trainable, having checklists, and following processes and procedures. When flying, he says, "there's a rhyme and reason for everything, and I truly believe the same for real estate." You can connect with Ryan through Instagram, YouTube, and also visit Grant Cardone's YouTube channel, Cardone University, and the company website Cardone Capital. 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 a wealth of ideas on how to think outside the box and have a positive social impact in this interview with Matt Blesso, a serial entrepreneur and self-made real estate developer. Throughout his career, Matt has sought opportunities that generate outsized returns and has also focused on modeling a healthy environment and community. He has conceived, developed, and managed a diverse and distinctive portfolio of residential, commercial, and hospitality assets in New York, Panama, and Costa Rica. He is the CEO and founder of Blesso Properties, and the mastermind behind Shift Living, a company dedicated to transforming the way people live.

Matt's career began when he graduated from New York University and got a job in commercial banking. While the work helped pay the bills, Matt had an entrepreneurial mindset and soon spotted a real estate opportunity. He became, as he mentions on the show, an "accidental developer," when he bought his first apartment one year out of college by using a first-time homebuyers program. He fixed it up and two years later, purchased the apartment next door to it.

Realizing the potential in the development space, Matt switched to real estate banking and learned all he could about the industry. He pursued more real estate projects in New York City, including building conversions and innovative designs which often led to returns that outperformed the market. While visiting a friend in Panama, Matt looked for a boutique hotel in Panama City where he could stay during his trip. When he couldn't find one, he spotted the chance to develop a place, complete with a public rooftop space—the first of its kind in the historic district.

After doing more projects, Matt felt a pull to connect with nature and carry out sustainable projects with a positive social mission. By this point, he had everything in place to support his lifestyle, but wanted to create a real estate model that would help people improve their lives. His search led him to Costa Rica, where he purchased a former farm and initiated a project to regenerate the land and the soil. His vision includes growing food that residents can eat, and creating an environment where residents can interact and find support for their wellbeing and health.

"When I started, my goal was to make money," Matt says on the show. "I've since learned…that it really comes down to having purpose—and having purpose in my work. I'm much happier doing this project than I was doing my earlier projects."

You can connect with Matt through LinkedIn, his website Blesso Properties, and his latest project Shift Living.

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 incredible insight into getting a feel for a neighborhood and developing expertise in a niche market in this interview with Wendy Berger, principal of WBS Equities, LLC. For more than 30 years, Wendy has been involved in the real estate business as a developer, lender, property manager, broker, and investor.

She began her career at American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago in commercial lending. Wendy also spent several years as a principal with Berger Realty Group, an 80-year-old family-owned real estate business, where she focused on residential and industrial property management and development. She was responsible for managing 3,000 apartment units, 200,000 square feet of commercial space, and 250,000 square feet of industrial space. Wendy has also paired her decade of experience in technology startups with her real estate knowledge for successful outcomes.

Wendy grew up in a family that was involved in the real estate business in Chicago and has memories of playing at construction sites as a child. She vividly recalls riding through the same neighborhoods repeatedly, as her relatives observed trends in the area and looked for indicators that change was coming. This background helped her establish the value of getting on the ground to find opportunities. "You cannot buy or build real estate sitting at your desk," she says.

After spending time in the technology space, Wendy spotted a real estate investment project and purchased an older hotel in Chicago, which she renovated both physically and digitally. Taking advantage of the rising trend in online bookings, she successfully marketed the hotel and increased the number of rooms rented. She went on to sell the property in early 2007 and applied the lessons she learned to her next deals.

Through her connections, Wendy was given an opportunity to oversee the construction of a pizza manufacturing facility. After completing the project successfully, she realized a great opportunity in building food manufacturing and food distribution facilities. She has formed a team of experts to help carry out these projects which often involve long-term commitments. She actively invests alongside her partner and keeps terms simple to make returns easy for everyone involved. Wendy serves on the board of directors for Green Thumb Industries and has branched into the cannabis space in recent times.

Today Wendy regularly mentors young women who are interested in the real estate industry and encourages other to make courageous career moves. "Think big and don't worry about whether it's possible or not," she says. "Big thinking precedes great accomplishments."

You can connect with Wendy at LinkedIn or at her website WBS Equities, 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

Whether you're interested in active or passive investing, you'll get key takeaways on how to expand your footprint from this episode featuring Charles Carillo, a real estate investor and entrepreneur. Charles has been involved in multifamily and commercial real estate investments since 2006. He is the managing partner of Harborside Partners, a real estate syndication firm, and has invested in more than $200 million worth of investment real estate to date. He's also the host of the Global Investors Podcast, in which he interviews professionals about investing in U.S. real estate and educates listeners about industry-related topics. Charles grew up in Connecticut and watched his father's practices, which included being a multifamily investor and owning about 100 units in the area. The experience helped him learn the inner workings of property management, such as dealing with tenants and making decisions about repairs. He also saw the time flexibility his father was able to have as an investor. During the conversation, Charles advises starting out small, such as with a two- to four-unit multifamily building. That's exactly what he did in 2006, when he purchased a three-unit property and lived in one of the units. He put into play some of the knowledge he had gained from observing his father to manage the building. He then went on to purchase more properties nearby. Spotting opportunities to expand, Charles forayed into other areas of the country, starting with Florida. He saw the synergies that could come from syndications, and established systems to vet deals and operators. Today, having invested in 13 states, he mentions the value of looking for job growth, population growth, and decreases in crime over the past two decades in a region. He also has implemented strategies to create efficiencies, including using AI as a tool to inform investors and cater to their communication preferences. Along the way, Charles fielded questions from those living outside of the U.S. who were interested in real estate within the country's borders. In response, he shared deal opportunities with them and developed resources related to foreign investing. He also uses a referral network to connect investors with required legal work that is involved. He strives to educate those interested in real estate on the importance of studying locations, learning about markets, and working with the right people to get ahead. You can connect with Charles at his website HarborsidePartners.com and his show, the Global Investors Podcast. 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 gain incredible insight in this conversation with George Giannopoulos and Jeffrey Znaty, co-founders of Kings Capital. They share the power of following a regimen, both personally and professionally, which can help you gain an advantage in the real estate world. They advise starting small and taking on bigger deals as you grow, a strategy that has helped them gain an outstanding track record.

Kings Capital is a vertically integrated real estate investment and management firm headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. It specializes in value-add creation through the acquisition, design, and repositioning of multifamily, mixed-use and retail assets. It also carries out ground-up development projects in both core and transitional neighborhoods across the U.S.

George and Jeffrey both grew up in Brooklyn but didn't cross paths and connect until later in life. George graduated with a finance degree from St. John's University and went on to attend NYU Schack Real Estate Institute. He cofounded a real estate brokerage firm focused on off-market investments in the New York City metro area. Later he started Brickstone Properties, a boutique investment firm focused on value add, redevelopment and development properties. Jeffrey holds a degree in business management from Brooklyn College and has actively handled real estate deals for the past decade in New York City. He has been involved in more than $400 million worth of transactions in some of the most complicated and encumbered deals in New York.

A background in brokerage enabled George and Jeffrey to look at many deals and ask investors questions about their projects. George tuned in to buyers who were repositioning properties and looking to add value. Jeffrey started putting his knowledge to work on the investing side and invited George to join in on a deal. The two began taking on projects and eventually formed what is known today as Kings Capital.

Looking back on their keys to success, George and Jeffrey credit going the extra mile, following routines, maintaining relationships, and valuing in-person time. They stay in touch with brokers and manage an extensive network, which helps them grow into bigger projects. Being consistent has opened doors to tremendous opportunities and enabled them to gain a competitive edge.

You can connect with George and Jeffrey at:

LinkedIn: George Giannapoulus

LinkedIn: Jeffrey Znaty

Website: KingsCapitalre.com

Instagram: KingsCapitalre

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

On this episode of The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing, I speak with Oren Neria, a real estate investor and principal of MY BK Investments. We discuss the competitive landscape for brokerage in neighborhoods around Manhattan and the success of targeting smaller, more efficient areas like Northern Manhattan and submarkets in Brooklyn. We also delve into Neria's experience in acquisitions and how he uses rejection as an opportunity to grow. With an eye on Brooklyn and smaller value add deals, Neria believes there are discounts to be had with a bullish outlook on the market.

We also delve into Oren's personal story, including his experience negotiating his starting salary and the importance of understanding the principal of the company you work for.

Oren Neria is the Principal and Founder of MY BK Investments. Throughout his 13-year career, Oren has developed extensive relationships in the Brooklyn market and successfully purchased over 50 investment properties. He currently owns a sizable portfolio of mix-use, multi-family and commercial properties in NYC.

Before founding My BK Investments, Oren was the Vice President of Acquisitions for G-way Management. He worked directly with the firm's founder on acquiring, developing, and managing the existing portfolio. Over three years, Oren led the acquisition team in purchasing over 40 buildings with a total value exceeding $100 million. Oren began his career in the real estate sector as an investment sales broker specializing in Upper Manhattan multifamily sales. He successfully closed deals valued at over $150 million during his tenure.

Oren graduated with a BA from Boston University in History and Philosophy.

Guest: Orien Neria

Website: mybk-investments.com

Linkedin: Oren Neria

Instagram: Oren Neria

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Host: James Nelson

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 are going to get a tremendous benefit from this conversation I had with Alex Budney, who shares how to start off in real estate investing and ultimately build your own platform. Alex is the founder of Ennismore, a real estate investment, management and consulting firm. Since its beginning, Ennismore has advised on or sponsored more than $2.1 billion of active real estate projects. In addition to implementing Ennismore's principal investment strategy, Alex counsels various real estate owners and financial institutions on their real estate investments and strategy. A key component of his tremendous track record stems from conviction, as he bought into the market in 2020, shortly after the onset of Covid and at a time when most were on the sidelines. Alex spotted an opportunity and purchased a property that was almost entirely vacant!

In this episode, Alex shares his journey into real estate and offers tips for those who want to develop their own area of expertise. He grew up on New York City's East Side and became intrigued by buildings at an early age, including how they were constructed and their history. He studied floor plans as a young teen and thought about what it would be like to live in an apartment or co-op.

After graduating with a degree in Business and Economics from Lehigh University, Alex went to work for his father, who had a construction company that served developers, including large multifamily builders. The way deals were put together fascinated him. During this time, Alex spotted a piece of land and put together an idea for it, which he presented to a developer. The pitch opened doors for him, and he landed a job at Related Capital Company, which gave him a chance to learn about the financials of the business. He later shifted to Tishman Speyer, where he showed up early for work every day and got to know his boss. The extra effort paid off, and during his time with the company Alex worked in the London and New York offices as Director in the Acquisitions & Development and Equity Capital Markets groups.

The experiences gave Alex insight into various aspects of real estate, including international approaches and development. He eventually branched into his own space and discovered a niche he could fill, which consists of offering advice to owners and financial institutions with real estate interests. Reflecting on his career, Alex credits his success to listening to others, being eager to learn, and moving forward with opportunities.

You can connect with Alex on LinkedIn and at his website, Ennismore, LLC.

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

My website: JamesNelson.com

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC

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

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

In this episode of The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing, Jeremiah Shamess and James Nelson discusses the importance of having a strong team when it comes to real estate investing and talks about finding trusted professionals to save time and money. James shares insights on financing options for real estate projects, equity distribution, and the different asset classes, such as multifamily, retail, office, and development, including their pros and cons. We also cover the importance of due diligence, building a great investor base, and finding off-market deals. Join us as we explore the intricacies of the real estate market and how to succeed in this exciting and challenging field.

In this episode, we delve into the world of real estate and the importance of having the right team. Jeremiah Shamess and James discuss the importance of building trusted relationships with specialists, finding capital relationships, cultivating an investor base, evaluating properties, and finding great opportunities in the real estate market.

James emphasizes the importance of finding a partner to raise capital and create credibility for investors. He provides tips on property evaluations and finding great opportunities off the market. Lastly, James shares insights on financing options, specializing in asset classes and understanding the associated risks and trade-offs. He also emphasizes the need for thorough due diligence and provides tips for closing deals on time.

Tune in for a comprehensive guide to real estate investing and learn from the experts in the field.