Commercial real estate investing piques many people’s interest, but can seem a bit intimidating from the outside looking in. Thankfully there are platforms like Crowdstreet that can help new commercial investors understand the process and get started.

CrowdStreet is a real estate investing platform that gives investors direct access to individual commercial real estate investment opportunities, allowing you to review, compare, and personally choose the deals that meet your own investment criteria. 

Brent Hieggelke is the Chief Marketing Officer of Crowdstreet and a high-growth tech marketing executive focused on start-up and early category innovators and disrupters.

In this episode Brent and I talk about how Crowdstreet got started, what it’s like doing a deal through the platform, and what new commercial investors need to know to start diversifying their investment portfolio. 

Find complete show notes and more information at therichergeek.com/podcast.

You might remember the mini-series we did on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) a few months ago. Today we’re adding another episode about ADUs, this time about a novel approach to design and construction. Here to talk about the pros of pre-fab ADUs in California is Saliq Hussaini!

Saliq Hussaini is part of Shilo, an ADU start-up in the bay area & Los Angeles. Shilo works with prefab components to provide factory-level precision and unit installation in half the time of traditional construction.

Saliq and I talked about how Shilo is innovating in the ADU industry and why pre-fab construction can be a great way to save time and money when building an ADU. We talk about what it’s like to work with his company, what you need to consider about your local laws before building, and how ADUs can help increase affordable housing stock.

Find complete show notes and more information at therichergeek.com/podcast.

I know quite a few people who have invested in the vacation rental industry and advertise their properties on big OTA platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com. But a lot of vacation home owners are frustrated by the big guys’ approach to refunds, booking revenues, and fees.

Michael Kugler is a software engineer who invented VeeCal automated software back in the late 1990s. The sales he made from that company (which he still owns) allowed him to buy a resort in Branson, Missouri along with short term rental condos. Along the way, he was offered the opportunity to buy a lucrative URL - www.Vacation.Rentals -and jumped at the opportunity.

Michael and I spoke about his newest project - Vacation.Rentals - and how it is aiming to improve the vacation home experience for travelers and homeowners alike.

Find complete show notes and more information at therichergeek.com/podcast.

We’ve talked about all kinds of businesses in other episodes of the podcast, and for some of those - like a barbershop, a franchise, or a restaurant - you’re going to need a physical retail location. So I wanted to dig into what you need to know if you’re looking to rent a retail space to get your business up and running.

Eddie Gonzalez was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He especially prides himself in knowing the Central Phoenix area and his passion for service, which serves as an important attribute in putting his commercial real estate clients above all else.

Eddie provides tips on the process of finding a retail space for your business and what to look for in an agent. We talk about why you need a solid business plan before you do anything else and what you need to know about spending to improve your leased space.

Find complete show notes and more information at therichergeek.com/podcast.

Final regular unedited update during COVID-19.  Wednesday normal episodes will continue and the podcast is almost 1 year old!  

If you’re interested in expanding your real estate investment portfolio, you might be considering the option of getting into commercial or multifamily real estate. This can be an excellent strategy for building wealth, but it’s not as straightforward as simply scaling up your current business - there’s a lot more you need to know about, including commercial funding.

Greg Martin is a Commercial Banker at BB&T Bank, now Truist. With over 14 years of banking experience he is an entrepreneur’s insider to the banking industry. Greg is the creator of The Entrepreneur’s Banker brand and is a certified Profit First Banker (1 of 2 in the world).

Greg and I discuss some of the differences between owning and managing commercial versus single-family real estate and what you need to know about funding. We also talk about some of the strategies you can use to secure funding and why it’s essential for you to have a great team in place as you make the jump into commercial real estate.

Find complete show notes and more information at therichergeek.com/podcast.

Weekly update during COVID-19.  6 reasons why being in our hotel niche is a good thing right now.

Today I’m sharing some crucial information about legal structures for businesses that I really wanted to share a lot earlier. I’ve finally found the perfect person to talk about this important topic in a way that is not only interesting, but will also convince you that now is the time to get all the legal ducks in a row with your side business.

Jennifer Gligoric is the co-founder and COO of Leafy Legal Services and host on Leafy Podcast. Jennifer has been helping entrepreneurs and real estate investors get started for the last 20+ years.

Jennifer and I talk about different legal structures for your side business and why it is essential to your long-term success to determine your structure as soon as possible. We also discuss the importance of anonymity, the protection different legal structures can give you, and what you need to know about business loans and credit.

Find complete show notes and more information at therichergeek.com/podcast.

Weekly episode on what is happening with our hotels during COVID-19.

I always love chatting to fellow tech people who are finding creative ways to fit entrepreneurship into their lives. Today’s guest is balancing a full-time position in tech while also running two convenience stores, an industry I am always excited to learn more about.

Sarok Shareef is an IT Sales Executive who has always had an interest in entrepreneurship. He purchased an existing convenience store and learned so much during his first year about operations and team management. About a year later, he took all those lessons and developed a second retail concept leveraging the lessons from his first store to jump-start success with his second location.

Sarok and I talk about why he wanted to get into owning convenience stores specifically and what it was like buying an existing business. He shares some of the challenges he’s encountered with inventory, personnel, and finding the deal in the first place. And we discuss what he would do differently if he were to do it all again as well as what he loves about his new, second convenience store in a different part of town.

Find complete show notes and more information at therichergeek.com/podcast.