Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

Becoming an accidental landlord happens a lot with long-term rentals, but the same cannot be said for short-term rentals. So what happens when it does?

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, short-term rental investor Zoey Berghoff sits down with Jonathan to talk about the successful short-term rental operation she and her husband are running in Colorado. Zoey is a visionary in the world of short-term rentals and is renowned for her unique approach to Airbnb and unique stays that offer unforgettable experiences to her guests.

To start their conversation, Zoey shares with Jonathan what she learned as she watched her mom manage vacation rental cabins in Michigan as a kid. From there, they discuss why simplicity is the secret to hospitality excellence, Airbnb's role as a marketing tool, and why unique stays attract guests. You'll hear why you don't want to appeal to every guest, avoiding the Instant Book feature, how Zoey and her husband became accidental short-term hosts, and why you need professional photos of your listings. Zoey emphasizes setting boundaries and being willing to deny bookings, what her coaching business is teaching others about short-term rental properties, and using your properties to fund new short-term ventures. She also shares the one amenity you cannot put a price on.

If you've ever considered becoming an Airbnb host, you won't want to miss all of the hard-earned lessons Zoey Berghoff shares in this episode.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Zoey Berghoff's introduction to real estate as a kid when her mom rented out cabins in Michigan
• Why simplicity is the secret to excellence in hospitality
• The changes in the hosting experience with the evolution of technology
• Airbnb's role in short-term rentals as a marketing tool
• Taking advantage of every channel available to you as a short-term rental owner
• The unique qualities of short-term rentals that are driving consumer interest
• What Zoey learned to disclose about her properties on listings so that users' expectations are set about the property they're renting
• Why you don't want to appeal to every guest who views your listing
• Choosing not to use the Instant Book feature and making everything else about the listing on point to compensate
• How Zoey and her husband became accidental short-term hosts
• Buying properties where you enjoy spending time and also running it like a business
• Knowing the demographics of your guests and accommodating them
• Getting professional photos and showcasing the seasons
• Using social media to market your properties and the impact an influencer can have
• Setting boundaries as a host and denying bookings
• Zoey's coaching business and what she's teaching her students
• Why all land is not created equal
• Holding short-term rentals for the long term and using the appreciation to fund new rentals
• The importance of having proximity to a town while guests still feel "away" from everything and the advantage of multiple properties at your disposal
• What you can expect from Zoey's coaching program
• The one amenity you can't put a price on

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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/128 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Visit Zoey Berghoff's website - www.zoeyberghoff.com

Connect with Zoey on Instagram - www.instagram.com/zoeyberghoff

Zoey's TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@zoeyberghoff

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 - https://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.

While you may start a career with high hopes of loving your chosen path, it doesn't always work out. You may find yourself looking for alternative paths to create more time freedom, which is where real estate investing comes in.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan's guest is Seena Ghetmiri, a former dentist turned real estate investor leaning into the short-term rental market after learning the ropes with long- and medium-term rentals. Seena and his wife began investing just two years ago, but in that time, they've learned a lot of lessons they're using to continue growing their business. He spent a couple of years as a dentist before pivoting to real estate full-time, which he did with the support of his wife.

You'll hear how Seena discovered real estate investing through a friend and mentor, which led him to buy his first investment property in Phoenix, Arizona. Disillusioned with dentistry as a career, Seena quit his job and went all in on real estate investing, attending meetups, making connections, and making mistakes. He quickly points out that his wife's business enabled him to quit his full-time job and transition careers. Seena shares with Jonathan the role relationships have had in purchasing more assets, how he's learning by doing, and why he switched from long-term to short-term rentals. He explains that catering to a particular type of avatar in his short-term rentals contributes to his success, what can help you remove yourself from analysis paralysis, and what he's still figuring out about the business.

Seena Ghetmiri went all in on real estate investing after deciding dentistry would be a career slog, and his passion for real estate shines through in his conversation with Jonathan.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Seena Ghetmiri's realization that he wanted to leave dentistry and go full-time with real estate investing after losing his dad
• The time freedom that real estate investing has given Seena and his wife to spend more time together as a family
• What he would have done differently to leave dentistry knowing what he knows now
• Experiencing analysis paralysis and overcoming that to make his first investment
• His family and friends' thoughts on his real estate business two years into it
• Seena's first investment home in Phoenix, what made it a good first property, and what he learned from the purchasing process
• Getting comfortable with buying more properties and using the equity they earn to finance new investments
• The role of relationships in purchasing assets and gaining confidence as you stay on the investing path
• Finding trustworthy contacts at meetups, learning from them, and not feeling intimidated by those farther along on the journey
• Learning by doing
• What took Seena to the next level and switched his focus from long-term rentals to short-term
• Paying attention to details in the hospitality and short-term rental business and catering to a particular avatar
• The one thing that can help you get out of the analysis paralysis mindset
• Where Seena is going next with his investing, and what he still has to figure out
• His advice for someone who wants to get into real estate but isn't sure how to start

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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/127 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Connect with Seena Ghetmiri on Instagram - www.instagram.com/seena.ghetmiri

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 - https://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 traditional role of a landlord isn't for everyone—even those who want to become real estate investors. If you don't want to deal with tenants in a traditional rental property, self-storage could be the perfect option.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Fernando Angelucci, CEO of Self Storage Syndicated Equities. Fernando began his real estate investing career in residential, quickly realized it wasn't a fit, moved into multifamily, and ultimately transitioned into self-storage. Today, Fernando is working toward building a billion-dollar company and is sharing the many benefits of a self-storage career.

As they kick off their conversation, Jonathan and Fernando explore his early foray into real estate investing, why residential wasn't a great fit, and how he was introduced to self-storage. Fernando shares his initial mistakes, including maxing out credit cards, what he learned from his early investments, and the central tenets he uses to guide his investing strategy. You'll hear the benefits of self-storage operations, how he decides where and what kind of facilities to build or buy, and the foundation big box retailers lay for him before he lands in a location. Finally, Fernando and Jonathan discuss the importance of marketing in this asset class and why rubbing shoulders with bigger fish in the self-storage game can lead to lucrative relationships.

Real estate doesn't have to revolve around tenants, and Fernando Angelucci has mastered this asset class that continues to produce bountiful returns.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The impact "Rich Dad Poor Dad" had on Fernando Angelucci at 16 years old
• His first entrepreneurial venture painting the exteriors of residential buildings at 19, and what he learned from that experience
• The appeal of time freedom and why a business or investment vehicle can provide that
• Mistakes Fernando made as he started his real estate business, including maxing out credit cards and losing $30,000 within a couple of months
• The first property he invested in, the difficulty he had reselling it, and what he learned
• Dealing with tenants as a landlord and then eventually pivoting to self-storage, which was a great fit for Fernando
• His landmark principles surrounding self-storage
• Three reasons Fernando loves self-storage
• Fernando Angelucci's unique approach to the storage business and the importance of marketing in growing the business
• The three-and-a-half strategies he uses to invest in self-storage
• Letting big box retail like McDonald's and Walmart assist in deciding where to build self-storage facilities
• Saving money on construction by buying buildings like old Sears buildings and converting them to storage
• Why you never want 100% occupancy in storage facilities
• The role of technology in these facilities and why Fernando hasn't jumped on that bandwagon yet
• The top three things he looks for in a facility to scale and sell
• Benefits of a restrictive buy box and why Fernando's is so restrictive
• Creating a package to present to REITs and building relationships that lead to deals

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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/126 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Self Storage Syndicated Equities website - www.SSSE.com

SSSE on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@SelfStorageSyndicatedEquities

Find SSSE on Facebook - www.facebook.com/SelfStorageSyndicatedEquities

SSSE on Instagram - www.instagram.com/selfstoragesyndicatedequities

Connect with SSSE on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/self-storage-syndicated-equities

Find SSSE on Twitter/X - twitter.com/sssequities

SSSE's TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@sssequities

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 - https://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.

Some real estate markets are known for being expensive, so what do you do to become an investor in a state where it can be cost-prohibitive? You look beyond its borders.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Dominique Gunderson shares how she began flipping homes and creating financial—and time—freedom in her 20s. Dominique is a 26-year-old house flipper based in Colorado Springs who focuses on investing in New Orleans. She is also a rental property owner who scaled her portfolio very quickly.

Jonathan kicks off his conversation with Dominique by exploring how she became interested in real estate at such an early age. Once she knew she was not going to college after high school, Dominique went to work for a real estate agent to learn the ropes. She moved on to wholesaling to build capital before she began flipping homes in New Orleans, where her dad lives. You'll hear why Dominique chose New Orleans, how insurance rates impact the New Orleans market, and how price changes have affected her flipping business. Dominique outlines how she's creating rapport and connectivity in New Orleans, how real estate has given her and her husband financial and time freedom, and the credibility she was able to create using social media.

Expensive markets don't have to deter real estate investors, and Dominique Gunderson's story is a masterclass in creating success as a home flipper in an out-of-state market.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Dominique Gunderson's introduction to real estate in high school when her mom bought a distressed property, and she participated in rehabbing it
• Her unusual interest in real estate investing and researching it before she left high school
• The reality of flipping homes versus what HGTV portrays
• The personality traits that enabled Dominique to jump into real estate from her first exposure to it
• Her experience as a 19-year-old female wholesaler and spending time building relationships
• Dominique's dislike of wholesaling in general and the aspects of it she found appealing
• Ensuring safety during showings
• Transitioning at 21 years old to purchasing out-of-state properties without assistance
• Why she chose New Orleans as her target market and the advantages of having a trusted contact in that market
• Deciding to start holding on to some of her flips and create income properties
• The challenges of construction in New Orleans post-Katrina and other weather events
• Insurance rates and how they're impacting Dominique's property decisions
• Changes in price points over the past year for flips and why she now needs to have a resale value of at least $250,000 before buying it
• Reselling her properties, which raises the comps in the area for her other properties
• Dominique's rapport and connectivity in New Orleans, which means deals come to her now and create a competitive advantage
• Why real estate success gave Dominique and her husband the ability to go on the road full-time for the next year or longer
• Finding financing and raising capital from private investors
• Social media's role in raising Dominique's credibility as an investor and the books that made a difference in raising private capital
• Dominique Gunderson's advice for investors who want to scale or get into the business

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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/125 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Find Dominique Gunderson on Instagram - www.instagram.com/dom_flips_nola

Connect with Dominique on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-gunderson-7ba729102

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 - https://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.

While there's a lot of buzz about the death of short-term rentals, some landlords are still finding tremendous success with this asset class. Today's guest explains his methodology, pointing to calculation, hospitality, and the "plus ones" as keys to a thriving business.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Bill Faeth, a short-term rental master, with unbelievable tips for creating a memorable experience in your properties. Bill is an Airbnb coach and eight-figure business leader who founded the STR Wealth Conference, the Build STR Wealth Mastermind, and a Facebook group. Over the years, Bill has coached 20,000+ students through his program and has two podcasts: STRonomics and STR Unfiltered.

Jonathan and Bill begin the episode by exploring his grandparents' influence on how he chooses investments, his belief in price elasticity, and creating an exit strategy for every investment. Bill outlines the reasons for focusing on higher amenities in his short-term rentals (STRs), ensuring you're applying standardized business principles to your strategy, and FOMO's impact on people's investing choices. He explains the importance of treating clients as highly qualified leads while building rapport and trust, three things your guests should know about you, and buying STRs in areas you enjoy visiting as much as your clients do.

Short-term rentals are far from dead, and Bill Faeth's conversation with Jonathan is a mini-masterclass on how to do them right.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Bill Faeth's response to the idea that short-term rentals are dead and why he's a fan of buying during the slower times
• His belief in price elasticity, along with the "Louis Vuitton" model and the importance of an exit strategy
• The discipline Bill's family instilled in him as he began to invest on his own
• Bill's focus on higher amenities to generate more income off one property versus multiple streams that require more management
• Focusing on priorities with intentionality
• Applying standardized business principles to your investing strategy
• How FOMO is impacting people's investing choices
• The minimal impact Bill's investments have experienced versus investments in the typical areas and the need for deeper research
• The mindset it takes to ascend, where it originates from, and why you can't take shortcuts to success
• Treating clients as a highly qualified lead while building rapport and trust, which earns you the right to fail and recover
• Setting the tone for the post-checkout communication and the 200-day funnel
• Three things your guests should know about you
• Enjoying your short-term rentals, buying in locations you love, and clustering
• Why it isn't realistic to get five-star reviews from every renter and how to handle bad reviews
• How a lack of consistency could lead to the demise of the short-term rental industry
• The misinformation surrounding creating LLCs
• Creating repeat customers with small touches and the plus ones
• Implementing ideas from other people into your business to add to your 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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/124 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Build STR Wealth website - buildstrwealth.com

Build STR Wealth Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/284886002732508

Bill Faeth on Instagram - www.instagram.com/BillFaeth73

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/billfaeth

Listen to the STRonomics podcast - stronomics.com

Bill and Kenny's Hot Picks - bkhotpicks.com

Bill Faeth on TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@bfaeth

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 - https://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.

Sometimes, the path to what you really want to do with your career is winding, but the rewards are even sweeter once you get there. Today's guest started with nothing and built a successful company before selling it to dive headfirst into real estate.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Todd Pigott, the principal and managing member of the ZINC companies, which are wide and varied in the real estate space. They consist of ZINC Financial, ZINC Income Fund, ZINC Auto Finance, and ZINC Realty, one of the largest rehabbers in California.

As they begin their conversation, Jonathan and Todd explore Todd's background with real estate, which began when he started a facilities maintenance company as a means of survival while still a college student. He ran that business for 17 years before selling it and pivoting to real estate, establishing the ZINC companies. Todd outlines the typical borrower who works with him, explains the balloons and confetti syndrome in real estate, and the three things he can guarantee for his investors. He also describes how he maps out trends across the country, how market differences impact investors, and why inexpensive markets may be attractive but often don't produce great results. Jonathan and Todd share why they love Google Street View and Google Earth for evaluating a property's location, rental standards to look for in the surrounding area, and using the Government Services Administration to assess a market. Finally, they discuss why the current market is probably not a real estate bubble and why no crash is on the horizon.

Todd Pigott's depth of understanding of real estate investing offers valuable takeaways every investor—new and experienced—can learn from.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Todd Pigott's introduction to real estate as a kid growing up in California and what attracted him to the industry
• How cleaning buildings in college led to a facilities maintenance business with more than 500 employees
• Selling his facilities maintenance business to begin a real estate business that consists of three different entities
• What Todd learned about real estate from caring for all different types of buildings
• The typical borrower he serves and why many of them are entry-level investors
• Balloons and confetti syndrome in real estate, and the three things Todd can guarantee
• Mapping out trends across the country and validating information
• The last resort Todd wants to avoid for his investors
• How market differences impact investors, and where he gets information to analyze those markets
• Why inexpensive markets may be bad for real estate investing
• Todd Pigott's strict two-minute rule and what that means
• The secret value of Google Street View and Google Earth
• The rental standards you should look for near an investment property that will sell the house
• Using the Government Services Administration to evaluate a market and why the housing market probably isn't in a bubble
• Analyzing the current market and why there isn't a housing crash on the horizon

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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/123 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Zinc Financial's website - zinc.net

Connect with Todd Pigott on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/todd-pigott-893aa861

Visit Zinc Investing - zincinvesting.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 - https://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.

Most new investors want to buy properties in their local area, where they're more familiar with their surroundings. However, no rules exist about this principle, and being willing to travel outside your comfort zone can help you achieve big success.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Soli Cayetano joins Jonathan to share how she started real estate investing using out-of-state properties. Soli is the brains behind Lattes & Leases, and she's been documenting her real estate journey since the pandemic. Today, at 26 years old, she's up to 49 units and quit her nine-to-five at 23. By 25, she was a millionaire. Soli focuses on out-of-state investment opportunities and teaches others how to do the same.

Soli shares why documenting her story on Instagram has been instrumental in her success. She and Jonathan cover how the pandemic allowed her to create a fresh start, her introduction to real estate investing as a college student, and the advantages she believes she has as a young female investor. Soli explains her approach to social media, why she chose Cincinnati for her first property investment, and why she had to learn more about financing before she could continue buying properties. Jonathan and Soli also discuss her Out of State Investor Academy, using social media to create authentic connections, and why it's better to start small and make mistakes on those properties than with the big, fun projects you really want to do.

With no followers and a lot of grit, Soli Cayetano leveraged social media to create a thriving business that continues to scale.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How sharing her journey with others has helped Soli Cayetano get where she is today
• The pandemic's impact on who she surrounds herself with and gave her a fresh start
• Her introduction to real estate investing in college and why she didn't suffer from analysis paralysis
• The advantages of being young and female in the real estate space
• Soli's approach to social media and teaching others about her experience
• Her first investment property in Cincinnati and what made that city appealing
• Raising capital and using hard money to begin investing in other properties when the money ran out on the first one
• Focusing on value-add properties, and when she realized she could be financially free with real estate investing
• Realizing there is more than one way to invest and scaling the business
• How Soli's structuring education to help people take action
• Her Out of State Investor Academy and the community it creates for investors
• Using social media to create value and connections
• The markets Soli is focusing on today and the fun projects she's exploring now
• Why it's better to make your mistakes on smaller properties than big, fun projects

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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/122 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Lattes & Leases website - www.lattesandleases.com

Find Soli Cayetano on Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCpN1W8F7G9-3knsBxJq5qkg

Connect with Soli on Instagram - www.instagram.com/lattes.and.leases

Out of State Investor Academy - www.instagram.com/outofstateinvestoracademy

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 - https://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.

For first-time homebuyers, today's purchasing process is stressful—especially with current interest rates and the market's competitive nature. What if there was a different path to becoming a homeowner without the stress?

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Frank Rohde, co-founder of Ownify, a company reimagining the homebuying process by partnering with socially conscious investors to streamline the homebuying process. Frank has a business background in the mortgage industry. He began considering entrepreneurship when he realized he had the tools and know-how to help first-time buyers getting squeezed out of the market find a path to home ownership.

As they start their conversation, Jonathan and Frank explore the two reasons Frank co-founded Ownify, its core value proposition, and what San Francisco's continued property appreciation taught him about the importance of real estate in wealth creation. He explains how Ownify assists both investors and single-family homebuyers to get into the housing market, the importance of payment certainty for first-time buyers, and how investors invest in Ownify properties. Jonathan and Frank discuss why Ownify is yielding a higher rate of return than the traditional single-family rental model, how they find properties, and the markets Frank is considering for future expansion.

While many hopeful first-time buyers are looking for a solution to get into the real estate market, Frank Rohde and Ownify offer a unique solution that benefits both buyers and investors.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The two reasons behind Frank Rohde's decision to co-found his real estate company, Ownify
• The core value proposition behind Ownify
• What San Francisco's continued property appreciation taught Frank about how important real estate is to wealth creation
• Ownify's mission and how they help both investors and single-family homebuyers get into the housing market
• First-time buyers' preference for payment certainty and how Ownify addresses that concern
• How investors invest in Ownify properties, which have built-in diversification from day one
• Creating a circle of trust capital for investors who want to invest in particular homes
• The two reasons Frank says Ownify is yielding a higher return than the traditional single-family rental model
• Where homeowners find properties to purchase and partner with Ownify and a real estate agent's role in the process
• Building a process that supports the buyer with the intent of winning the deal
• Why the Ownify process is appealing to real estate agents and where they're finding investors
• The markets Frank Rohde is considering for expansion

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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/121 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Visit the Ownify website - www.ownify.com

Find Ownify on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@ownifyhomes

Ownify on Facebook - www.facebook.com/ownifyhome

Connect with Ownify on Instagram - www.instagram.com/ownifyhome

Find Ownify on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/ownifyhomes

Ownify on Twitter/X - twitter.com/ownify

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 - https://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.

A W-2 position to back you up as you begin your real estate investing career is a great way to establish stability and a steady income. It's even better if your W-2 career happens to be real estate adjacent.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Diana Ossa and Josh Dobken to the show. Diana and Josh are architects, designers, construction managers, real estate investors, and mid-term rental hosts. Their complementary strengths have led to an investing venture that continues to grow as Diana and Josh work toward their goals together.

Jonathan, Diana, and Josh start their conversation by exploring their backgrounds as architects, Diana's focus on studio art and construction management, and Josh's emphasis on construction management and hospitality. You'll hear them explain the challenges of a limited budget on large-scale projects in terms of architectural design, what pushed them both toward real estate investing careers while maintaining their W-2 positions, and how they landed on Kansas City for their initial investment. Diana and Josh share why they pivoted toward commercial real estate, the great deal that almost was and why it fell through, and how they decided why no deal is better than a bad deal. Finally, Jonathan, Diana, and Josh cover hospitality's role in property management and cohosting in mid-term rentals, where their business is going in the future with a boutique hotel in their sights, and their reasons for keeping the scale small to remain in the boutique world and staffing manageable.

While architecture may not be the first profession to come to mind when you think of real estate investors, Diana Ossa and Josh Dobken are proving that architects have precisely what it takes to be great investors.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Diana Ossa and Josh Dobken's backgrounds and how they complement one another
• How a limited budget on a large-scale project can present challenges in architectural design
• The catalysts that pushed Diana and Josh to begin their real estate investing careers and their "why" behind it
• The biggest gift real estate gave Diana and why she is no longer willing to sacrifice everything for a W-2 architecture career
• Why Josh does not plan to leave his W-2 and the stability it provides to continue pursuing real estate investing
• The markets Diana and Josh explored for their first property and how relocating to Kansas City ended up being a fantastic decision
• Their pivot to commercial real estate and its appeal to Diana and Josh with their architectural backgrounds
• The property they found just outside Rocky Mountain National Park that they acted quickly on and the reasons the deal fell through
• Why no deal is better than a bad deal—even if you can force the numbers
• Hospitality's role in property management and cohosting with others in mid-term rentals
• Where Diana and Josh's business is going over the next couple of years, with a boutique hotel at the forefront
• Keeping the scale small for the boutique world and staffing needs

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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/120 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Design Invest FI website - www.designinvestfi.com

Find Design Invest FI on Instagram - www.instagram.com/d.i.fi

Connect with Josh Dobken on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/josh-dobken-75417015

Connect with Diana Ossa on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/diana-ossa-aia-noma-leed-green-associate-ncarb-82237837

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 - https://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.

If you're new to real estate investing, finding an agent specialized in helping investors can be a game-changer. They know the right questions to ask and can help guide you as you search for properties.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Jon Bombaci, founder of Candor Realty, powered by FourPoints Real Estate, in Massachusetts. Jon's brokerage is focused on working with investors and has more than 30 investor-friendly agents on his team. He has decades of real estate investing and insurance experience behind him and has been involved in many real estate transactions on- and off-market.

As they begin their conversation, Jonathan and Jon explore Jon's first investing experience—a house hack—during his college days and the lessons he took away from it. Jon explains when he realized he wanted to go all in on real estate investing, what prompted him to open an investor-focused brokerage, and why you don't necessarily need a real estate license as an investor. You'll hear how he builds trust with investors and creates long-term relationships, the questions you should ask yourself before approaching an agent to buy properties, and how an investor mindset can help traditional buyers and sellers. Jonathan and Jon also discuss the role of meetup groups in investor education, why he spends almost nothing on marketing, and how you can start meetup groups and grow them.

Having an agent at your side who understands real estate investors can be a powerful tool, and Jon Bombaci outlines the details you need to know in this episode.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How Jon Bombaci began real estate investing with a house hack in college and the landlording lessons he learned
• The realization he came to after his father died and when he went all in on real estate investing
• Opening a brokerage and growing a team of 35 investor-focused agents
• What Jon tells people who want to get their real estate license to save on fees and when a license is a good idea
• Why he seldom represents himself in a transaction
• Building trust with investors and maintaining long relationships with them
• Jon's decision not to have clients sign buyer agreements and the reasons behind it
• The questions new investors should ask themselves before going to an agent to buy properties
• Jon Bombaci's meetup groups and why he requires new clients to attend one
• How having an investor mindset can help traditional buyers and sellers as well
• His rules for lowball offers and why you might not get the deal you think you're getting
• Setting the expectations for house hackers and the properties Jon prefers
• Why he spends almost nothing on marketing, and what he relies on instead
• Starting meetups, hosting them consistently, and growing them

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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/119 to download it.

Supporting Resources:

Candor Realty website - candorealty.com

Candor Realty on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@candorrealty2264

Find Candor Realty on Facebook - www.facebook.com/candorealtygroup?locale=es_LA

Candor Realty on Instagram - www.instagram.com/candorealty

Connect with Jon Bombaci on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanbombaci

Simplified REI Meetup - www.facebook.com/simplifiedREImeetup

Simplified REI Meetup on Instagram - www.instagram.com/simplifiedreimeetup

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 - https://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.