Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

With today's technology, becoming a real estate investor is possible without ever seeing the properties you buy. This is the path many would-be investors take when they live in more expensive areas like California. Today's guest is one such investor.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Michael Albaum, a professional real estate investor with over 12 years of experience. Michael is an Airbnb Superhost and the founder of myFI, which stands for financial independence.

Jonathan and Michael begin their conversation by delving into Michael's path to remote investing through a property in Southern California. Michael shares how he began to scale his business as he better understood costs in various parts of the country. You'll hear how coliving with roommates helped Michael get his business off the ground, the importance of finding an unbiased party to evaluate properties for you remotely, and what drew him to multifamily and mixed-use properties as he expanded. He also outlines the difference between financial independence and financial freedom, the benefits of retaining a W2, and Michael's recommendation to put in offers on homes even when you know they will be rejected. Finally, he shares why he loves midterm rentals and what he sees changing for them in the future.

Real estate can be prohibitively expensive for investing in some parts of the country, but Michael Albaum teaches others how to find investing opportunities in lesser-known areas and create opportunities to build a legacy.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Michael Albaum's path to remote investing and his early interest in real estate
• The fears surrounding remote investing and how systems can help mitigate the fear
• His first property in Southern California and how his dad helped him evaluate the property with numbers instead of emotions
• Scaling the business and understanding costs in various parts of the country
• Coliving and community living while investing in real estate
• Finding an unbiased eye to help evaluate properties for you when buying remotely
• Moving into multifamily and mixed-use
• The difference between financial independence and financial freedom and the role a W2 plays in that
• Why it's okay not to have all the answers when you start and making offers you know will be rejected
• The importance of firsthand experience
• Michael's plans for the future and his focus on his coaching and education business
• What he likes about midterm rentals versus short-term and long-term

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/218/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

myFI academy - www.myfiacademy.com

Find Michael Albaum on Instagram - www.instagram.com/myfimike

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/michaelalbaum

Michael on X - x.com/MichaelAlbaum

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

The real estate market in the United States is magical, but its citizens often miss out on the unique opportunities it offers.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Adiel Gorel, founder and CEO of International Capital Group, a world-renowned real estate investment firm founded in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1987, Adiel has taught investors how to secure a strong financial future for college, business investments, and retirement. Adiel also operates in the wellness space.

Jonathan and Adiel begin their discussion by exploring Adiel's unwilling exposure to real estate as a child. When he began his career in Silicon Valley as a young adult, he discovered the many benefits of the U.S. real estate sector, learning how to leverage the mortgage system to build wealth with rental properties. Adiel explains the fluctuation in interest rates since the 1980s, the benefits of buying today instead of waiting, and why inflation can be a positive for investors. You'll hear about venturing beyond your local market for rental properties, his criteria for the markets he buys in, and Adiel's personal decision to rent for 20 years before buying his own home.

The real estate market in this country is unique, and Adiel wants everyone to know what they could be missing out on by not taking advantage of the magic it offers.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Adiel Gorel's introduction to real estate as a child and when he decided he wanted to pursue real estate investing as a career
• Leveraging the U.S. mortgage system to build wealth with rental properties and how interest rates have fluctuated since Adiel's start in the 1980s
• The benefits of buying today versus waiting for interest rates to fall
• The miraculous real estate market in the U.S. that its citizens often miss
• Why inflation can be a positive for real estate investors
• Adiel's refusal to retire
• Buying rentals outside of your local market for better deals and where Adiel looked outside of his home state of California
• How he began helping a group of coworkers buy homes where he was buying them
• His criteria for buying a particular market
• Adiel's decision to rent for 20 years as an investor before buying his own home
• Why you are never too old to invest in real estate and the advice he gives to new investors
• One of the worst mistakes investors can make

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/217/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Adiel Gorel's website - adielgorel.com

Adiel's YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/@AdielGorel

Adiel on Facebook - www.facebook.com/Adiel.Gorel.Profile

Find Adiel on Instagram - www.instagram.com/adielgorel

Connect with Adiel Gorel on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/adielgorel

Adiel's TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@adielgorel

ICGRE - icgre.com

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Hospitality is an important element of the short-term rental business, but it's too often forgotten in favor of saving money. But little touches, like a tissue box tucked under the bathroom sink, can make or break a guest review.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Katie Cline, a senior global public relations and communications leader. Katie is also a storyteller and the host of the Suite Success podcast. In the last three years, she has become a short-term rental investor, using her hospitality background to create memorable stays for her guests.

Jonathan and Katie explore her decision to get into short-term rentals after she built a successful career in hospitality. Katie explains hospitality's role in STR success, catering to guest needs and wants in a property, and ensuring you've set the right expectation within the first 10 minutes of their arrival. She shares why she believes AI is removing personalization from the STR world, the importance of responding quickly to a guest's concerns, and the difficulties of scaling a business, maintaining high standards, and retaining a personal touch. As they wrap up, Katie explains why differentiating your brand from others can help your STRs stand out and her thoughts on Marriott's acquisition of Postcard Cabins.

Boutique hotel hospitality translates well to STRs, and Katie Cline shares how she does it.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Katie Cline's decision to get into short-term rentals after building a career in hospitality
• The role of hospitality in creating STR success
• Catering to yourself to understand what your guests want in a property
• Setting expectations within the first 10 minutes of a guest's arrival
• Katie's advice to address an issue if you hear it more than once
• How AI is removing some of the personalization from STR stays
• Using a quick response time to mitigate any issues with a stay and using open-ended questions to understand a guest's needs
• Scaling the business while retaining a personal touch and maintaining high standards
• Differentiating your brand from the competition and knowing your market
• Responding to guests' needs and wants when they let you know something is missing
• Taking a page from the hotel playbook to set yourself up for success
• Marriott's acquisition of Postcard Cabins and what was behind that decision
• What you can expect to hear on Katie's podcast, Suite Success

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/216/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Suite Success podcast - www.suitesuccesspodcast.com

Suite Success on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@suitesuccesspodcast

Suite Success on Facebook - www.facebook.com/suitesuccesspodcast

Find Suite Success on Instagram - www.instagram.com/suitesuccesspodcast

Connect with Katie Cline on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/katiecline13

Trout Landing - www.trout-landing.com

Katie Cline's website - www.bykatiecline.com

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Land could be the most underutilized asset class for real estate investors, with a lower barrier of entry, making it perfect for new investors with less capital.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Mark Podolsky, The Land Geek, joins Jonathan to talk about his career in land flipping. Mark teaches others how to get started with this accessible real estate investing vehicle and has completed over 5,000 land deals for his company, Frontier Equity Properties. Mark is also the author of "Dirt Rich: How One Ambitiously Lazy Geek Created Passive Income in Real Estate Without Renters, Renovations, and Rehabs."

Jonathan and Mark start their conversation by exploring what propelled Mark to pursue a career in land, why passive income is the antidote to financial insecurity, and the unpopularity of land compared to other asset classes. You'll hear how to look for raw land, Mark's flipping process, and the downsides of this particular investing class. He shares the personality types that best suit land flipping, who land buyers are, and how Mark finds off-market purchases.

Getting into real estate investing can feel too expensive for many would-be investors. Mark Podolsky advises others on investing in an affordable asset class and creating passive income streams.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The job and commute that drove Mark Podolsky toward the land business
• Passive income as the antidote to financial insecurity
• Why people often ignore land flipping in favor of something like wholesaling
• Looking for raw land with the resources that Mark recommends and the process for flipping it
• The pitfalls of land investing, pricing it for sale, and the importance of systems
• Solving money and time problems with passive income
• The personality types land flipping best suits and why younger people are interested in land flipping
• Who land buyers are and what they're looking for
• Off-market purchases, how Mark finds them, and the criteria he uses to choose a geographic location
• What the future looks like for land

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/215/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

http://www.thelandgeek.com/

http://youtube.com/thelandgeek

https://www.facebook.com/thelandgeek/

https://www.instagram.com/thelandgeek/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thelandgeek

https://www.x.com/thelandgeek

https://www.tiktok.com/@thelandgeek

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Syndications are popular for experienced investors, but they're also gaining steam for new investors who want to make their money work harder.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Sam Morris, CEO of Sunset Capital, a Houston-based vertically integrated real estate investment and asset management firm. Sam has over 18 years of experience as a corporate banker and more than 20 years in real estate acquisition and disposition.

Jonathan and Sam begin their conversation by discussing real estate cycles and why it's important to hang on despite the ups and downs of the market. Sam outlines his experiences during the 2008-09 financial crisis and how he entered real estate investing through his career as an underwriter in corporate banking. You'll hear why syndications appealed to Sam, the importance of risk mitigation, and the dangers of underinsured assets. He explains the tipping point coming with insurance costs, the importance of transparency with investors, and the two assets Sam sticks to. He shares why self-storage is catching up to multifamily in popularity, why you need to know who potential buyers of an asset are before the buy, and how vertical integration can benefit syndications.

Buying into a syndication means someone else is putting in the hard work while the asset creates passive income for the investors. To learn more about making your money work harder through syndications, don't miss this episode with experienced investor Sam Morris.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Understanding the cycles of real estate and hanging on through the ups and downs
• Sam Morris's experiences during the 2008-09 financial crisis
• How Sam entered the real estate world through a career as an underwriter
• Why syndications appealed to Sam and the risk mitigation associated with those deals
• The dangers of underinsured assets, the tipping point that's coming with insurance costs, and being transparent with investors
• Sam's two assets–multifamily and storage–and the avatar of his investors
• What ECRI is and why self-storage is quickly catching up to multifamily
• Recognizing who the potential buyers of an asset are before the buy and having an exit strategy in place
• The importance of vertical integration and the difficulties of property management
• Where Sam finds deals and provides advice for new investors who want more passive investments

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/214/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Sunset Capital - www.sunset-capital.com

Sunset Capital on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@sunsetcapital

Sunset Capital's Facebook page - www.facebook.com/sunsetcapitalre

Find Sunset Capital on Instagram - www.instagram.com/sunset_capital

Connect with Sunset Capital on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/sunset-capital-tx

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Short-term rentals offer many opportunities for creativity. Creating a stand-out property can be the key to building a lucrative business and memorable guest experiences.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Garrett Brown, a resident short-term rental expert for BiggerPockets. Garrett is responsible for many of the STR emails from BiggerPockets and is an expert in short-term rentals, Airbnb, and glamping.

Jonathan and Garrett start their conversation by exploring the lure of short-term rentals and what differentiates the outstanding from the okay. Garrett outlines why a personal touch will always win, the three-year cycle it often takes to create a profitable STR business model, and the challenges of outsourcing communication with guests. You'll hear why it's always a good idea to ask friends to stay at your STR and "test" it before offering it to guests, the growing popularity of glamping, and how determining who your avatar is before you start can be critical to success. As they wrap up, Jonathan and Garrett share the importance of being transparent about the amenities and drawbacks of a property, the impact of reviews on a property's performance, and partnering with local businesses to offer various packages for guests.

Short-term rentals aren't for everyone, but for those with a creative streak and a knack for crafting unique guest experiences, they can be a lucrative and fun creative outlet.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The lure of short-term rentals for Garrett Brown and what separates the best STR owners from the okay ones
• Why a personal touch still wins, and proven vacation markets are reliable investments
• The three-year cycle it takes to start making money in STRs
• Outsourcing communication with guests, ensuring there is a standard operating procedure in place, and the mistakes that can be made
• Asking friends to "test" your STR before offering it to guests and creating a video that shows the nuances of the house
• The growing popularity of glamping and why it's doing better than some of Garrett's STRs
• Determining who your avatar is before you start
• Being transparent about the amenities and challenges of a property
• The importance of reviews to the algorithm on Airbnb
• Increasing ROI by partnering with local businesses and setting expectations
• The sources Garrett uses to evaluate what his markets are doing

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/213/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

BiggerPockets - www.biggerpockets.com

Garrett Brown on Instagram - www.instagram.com/garrettbrownre

Garrett's TikTok - www.tiktok.com/garrettbrownre

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Syndications can be an excellent way to add passive income to your real estate portfolio. Today's returning guest sits down with Jonathan to explain the current state of multifamily syndications.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes back Drew Breneman, founder and CEO of Breneman Capital. Breneman Capital is focused on helping its investors create passive income streams through multifamily syndications.

Jonathan and Drew start by delving into the big changes for real estate investors over the past couple of years. Drew explains why many people are choosing to rent versus buy with the ever-increasing cost of housing and shares he is also a renter. You'll hear the potential downsides of markets, Drew's criteria to decide on one, the markets still doing well in the Midwest, and how he manages their properties remotely. Jonathan and Drew explore the deals Drew never buys, which ones make the most money, and what he will look for over the next two years as the market shifts.

If syndications are on your radar, returning guest Drew Breneman outlines what you can expect in the near future.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The big changes over the last couple of years for real estate investors
• Consciously choosing to rent versus buy with the ever-increasing cost of housing
• Looking at the potential downsides of markets and the criteria Drew Breneman uses to make a decision
• The markets still doing well in the Midwest despite perception
• Average unit count across all of Drew's syndications and how they manage their properties
• The deals he never buys and the deals that make the most money
• Drew's take on the best cost of capital buying multifamily with five units and up
• What he's looking for over the next two years
• The average cycle time for one of Drew's deals and how he calculates when to sell

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/212/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Breneman Capital - www.breneman.com

Breneman Blueprint on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@brenemanblueprint

Breneman Capital's Facebook - www.facebook.com/people/Breneman-Capital/100084325985153

Find Breneman Capital on Instagram - www.instagram.com/brenemancapital

Connect with Breneman Capital on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/brenemancapital

Drew Breneman on Twitter/X - twitter.com/drewbreneman

Drew on Facebook - www.facebook.com/drewb

Drew's Instagram - www.instagram.com/drewbreneman

Connect with Drew on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/drewbreneman

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Real estate wasn't the end game for today's guest, but he always loved the idea of being an entrepreneur. He and his architect brother put their heads together to create a successful construction company, eventually leading to a thriving real estate career.

On today's episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Jose Berlanga. Jose has more than 30 years of experience in real estate, acting as CEO of several construction companies dedicated to investing, designing, and developing residential projects in Houston, Texas. Jose is also the author of "The Business of Home Building: How to Start and Operate a Residential Construction Company."

Jonathan and Jose begin their conversation by delving into the lessons Jose learned from his father about business. The discussion shifts to Jose's decision to start a construction company with his architect brother, the challenges of building affordable housing today, and the best time to make the most money. You'll hear why it's critical to understand your market and customers, the value of being the best in your sector versus moving around to find a market, and how Jose is finding land to develop in Texas. Jonathan and Jose cover the importance of knowing when to say no to a deal, the recent shift in Jose's business model, and why it's still a good time to buy.

Land is becoming a hot commodity in today's real estate market, and Jose Berlanga outlines how he's still building affordable housing in Texas.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The lessons Jose Berlanga learned from his dad about business and what he learned not to do
• Jose and his architect brother's venture in construction and what it taught them about real estate
• The challenges of building affordable housing in today's market
• The best time to make the most money and why commitment and experience matter
• Understanding what to build in any given location and identifying your consumer
• Being the best in your particular sector versus moving around and trying to find the right market
• How Jose is finding land to develop today in Texas and the strategies he uses to continue finding new areas
• Knowing when to say no to a deal and avoiding over-leveraging yourself
• The recent shift in Jose's business model from spec houses to "build to rent" and the safety of the Texas real estate market
• Why it's still a good time to buy and what Jose foresees for the Texas market
• Jose's book, "The Business of Home Building," and who it's written for

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/211/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Jose Berlanga's website - joseberlanga.com

Find Jose on Facebook - www.facebook.com/authorjoseberlanga

Jose on Instagram - www.instagram.com/authorjoseberlanga

Connect with Jose on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jose-berlanga-900a9518

Joses Berlanga's books - joseberlanga.com/books

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Today's guest was introduced to real estate by her mom, and now she's creating a path for her son to continue the generational real estate legacy.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Marcia Socas, an on-market agent at Castro Realty Group. She is a long-time real estate investor and a budget home flipper with extensive DIY and family experience.

As Jonathan and Marcia start their conversation, Marcia explains her initial interest in real estate through her mom's career and when she fell in love with it. You'll hear about her favorite homes to buy in the Florida market, how Marcia makes them stand out, how she got her son involved in real estate early, and her favorite parts of the real estate game. She shares why she recommends holding a real estate license as an investor, the importance of seeing a home in person, and the shift that needs to occur in the real estate market. Finally, Marcia explains why she began creating videos of rehabs she does and why single-family assets are still her favorite asset class.

Marcia Socas had her son's future in mind when she began investing for him as a baby, and now that he is a young adult, she's seeing the results of building a generational real estate legacy.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Marcia Socas's initial interest in real estate through her mom's real estate career and how she fell in love with it
• Her favorite homes to buy in the Florida market and how Marcia makes them stand out
• Getting her son involved in real estate investing in addition to the Florida prepaid college fund and the surprising results from real estate
• Marcia's favorite parts of real estate and the importance of asking for a five-star review at the outset
• Holding a real estate license as an investor and why she recommends it
• Seeing a home in person and learning about the property and the geographical area
• The Orlando market and the shift that needs to occur in the market
• Creating videos on rehabbing properties and the satisfaction that comes from changing them
• Why single-family assets remain Marcia's favorite and what she wants to try next

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/210/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Marcia Socas's website - marciasocas.com

Marcia on YouTube - www.youtube.com/marciasocas

Find Marcia on Facebook - www.facebook.com/marcia.socas

Marcia Socas's Instagram - www.instagram.com/marciasocas

Connect with Marcia on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/marcia-castro-a8a9169

Find Marcia on TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@myhomegoals

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Maintaining a diverse portfolio is one key to real estate investing success, and today's guest outlines why.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Jeremy LeMere, Co-Principal at Navigator Wealth Management, where they direct and offer investment opportunities, which are client-direct fund investments in specific deals. Jeremy began his career in flips and apartment investing. In 2018, he started passively investing in out-of-state assets, offering hard money loans, and syndicating various assets to create diversification in his own portfolio.

As Jonathan and Jeremy begin their conversation, they delve into the importance of remaining diversified in real estate and knowing when to pass on a deal if it doesn't fit the goals of your portfolio. Jeremy outlines the reasons for retaining a W2 for as long as he did, creating win-win deals, and when the BRRRR method isn't a good strategy. You'll hear some of Jeremy's property regrets, where he's buying property today, and his current favorite asset class. He explains Navigator Wealth Management's goals, mezzanine debt and how it's used in real estate investing, how insurance impacts property deals, and the benefits of RIAs.

Diversifying a portfolio is one of the best ways to ensure success, and Jeremy LeMere is sharing how wealth funds can help you achieve both.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The importance of remaining diversified in real estate
• Knowing when to pass on a deal if it doesn't fit your portfolio goals
• When to leave a W2 and focus on real estate full-time
• Being accessible to the buyer of a property and creating a win-win for both parties
• Using the BRRRR method and when it isn't a good strategy
• Property regrets and how Jeremy LeMere is making decisions about where to buy today
• His current favorite asset class and why
• The creation of Navigator Wealth Management and what Jeremy does there
• What mezzanine debt is, and how it works
• The impact of insurance rates on property purchases
• The benefits of RIAs and the importance of stabilization

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/209/ to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Navigator Wealth Fund - www.navwf.com

NWF on Facebook - www.facebook.com/NavWF

Connect with NWF on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/navwf

Jeremy LeMere on Twitter/X - x.com/jeremylemere

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.