Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with capital-raising expert and Managing Director of M1 Real Capital Marcin Drozdz. With a track record of raising nine figures across multiple funds and mentoring over a thousand operators through his M1 Inner Circle, Marcin brings a clear, principled perspective to building long-term investor relationships, structuring funds, and understanding how capital really moves in today's marketplace. His journey from an immigrant childhood in communist Poland to raising hundreds of millions in U.S. real estate adds valuable context to how he approaches trust, process, and scale.

Throughout the conversation, Jonathan and Marcin break down the realities of capital raising across economic cycles, the importance of people-first frameworks, and how new investors should think about syndications versus funds. Marcin shares his 3P method—people, process, portfolio—and explains why most syndicators get this backwards. He also dives into how credibility is built over years, not online clips, and why understanding investor pain points is critical to positioning the right opportunities for the right individuals.

Listeners will gain insight into how large fund managers think, how to evaluate deals through the lens of return of capital before return on capital, and how authentic relationship-building still drives success—even in a social media–driven world. Whether you're raising capital, investing passively, or trying to understand the current commercial cycle, this episode offers a grounded, experienced perspective.

• Marcin's 3P capital-raising framework and why people—not deals—must come first.

• The value of mentorship and apprenticing before raising capital on your own.

• How funds differ from single-asset syndications and when each structure makes sense.

• The importance of protecting downside risk and prioritizing return of capital.

• Why authentic long-term content—not hype—drives investor trust.

• How today's debt wall may create a unique acquisition window in multifamily.

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Marcin

Website: https://www.marcindrozdz.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealmarcindrozdz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmarcindrozdz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmarcindrozdz/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcindrozdz/

Special Link: https://www.marcindrozdz.ca/optin-podcastm1?utm_source=zenandtheartofrei

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes back multifamily investor, financial educator, and newly certified money coach Gino Barbaro. Known for his work with Jake & Gino and his educational focus on long-term wealth, Gino joins Jonathan to unpack the deeper connection between money, mindset, family values, and building a legacy. The discussion moves beyond real estate strategy into the emotional and psychological frameworks that shape financial behavior across generations.

As the conversation unfolds, Jonathan and Gino explore how childhood experiences influence adult money patterns, why transparency within families matters, and how parents can introduce financial literacy without pressure or fear. Gino also breaks down his philosophy on treating households like businesses, teaching kids financial stewardship, and why thinking like your own "family office" can radically change long-term outcomes.

Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of how to build a mindful, value-driven approach to wealth that supports both personal growth and multigenerational stability. Whether you're raising kids, investing for the first time, or rethinking your relationship with money, this episode offers practical wisdom and grounded inspiration.

• How early memories form unconscious money patterns that affect adult decision-making.

• Why teaching kids autonomy, financial literacy, and values matters more than pushing real estate.

• The importance of transparency around wealth, planning, and tax strategy within families.

• Gino's framework for thinking like a "family office" at any net worth level.

• How real estate fits into long-term legacy building beyond just assets and cash flow.

• Why aligning values, mindset, and financial systems creates more stable generational wealth.

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Gino:

Website: https://barbaro360.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@barbaro-360

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoinGinosFamily

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gino-barbaro-03973b4b/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

Jonathan Greene welcomes interior designer, real estate investor, and New York State licensed agent Mackenzie Grate to the show for a conversation about design-forward investing, building a rental portfolio from scratch, and choosing the right strategy for your lifestyle. Mackenzie, known as "Mac of All Trades," shares how she shifted from working as an assistant principal to becoming a full-time investor and designer, starting with her first long-term rental in Kingston and eventually expanding into short-term rentals, multifamily properties, and design consulting.

Jonathan and Mackenzie explore mindset, risk tolerance, and how every investor evolves over time. Mackenzie explains why being clear about your investor identity matters, how to avoid overspending on design choices, and why community and local knowledge are essential for success. Her experience highlights the balance between creativity, practicality, and long-term planning.

Listeners will learn what it truly takes to build a sustainable portfolio, from selecting the right first property to managing guest expectations and making design decisions that enhance both functionality and profitability. Mackenzie's combination of design expertise and hands-on investing experience offers thoughtful guidance for anyone looking to build a portfolio that performs.

• How Mackenzie bought her first long-term rental while working full-time in education

• The most common design mistakes investors make and how to avoid unnecessary spending

• Why knowing your investor identity should guide every strategic decision

• How local market knowledge and relationships support short-term rental success

• What realistic scaling looks like for new investors

• Why your first property does not need to be your dream property

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Mackenzie:

Website: www.moatinteriordesigns.com

Instagram: @Mackofalltrades

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

Jonathan Greene sits down with Chris Grenzig, founder of JAG Property Management and JAG Capital Partners, a vertically integrated multifamily firm focused on Jacksonville and Orlando. Chris walks through his evolution from working at Toro to moving markets, taking on a 16-unit value-add deal, and learning property and construction management by doing. He and Jonathan explore what it's been like to operate through COVID, explosive rent growth, and then a sharp pullback in Florida.

As the conversation unfolds, Chris breaks down how he approached that first 16-unit acquisition, the role his prior asset management experience played, and why local market knowledge became his unfair advantage. He speaks candidly about Florida's recent "perfect storm" of falling rents, rising insurance, and higher interest rates, and how those forces have impacted his portfolio and his investors. Chris and Jonathan also get tactical on out-of-state investing, the limits of BRRRR and flipping in today's environment, and the differences between property management and true asset management.

Listeners will come away with a grounded understanding of what it really looks like to buy, renovate, refinance, and hold in a shifting market—and how to keep investor trust when the numbers don't go as planned. Chris's experience navigating tough cycles in Florida offers real-world lessons on conservative underwriting, staying honest with investors, and building a property management business that serves both accidental landlords and more sophisticated owners.

• How Chris transitioned from working at Toro to moving to Jacksonville and taking on his own 16-unit value-add property

• Why he chose to self-manage and oversee construction on a deal he'd never managed at that level before

• How COVID, rent drops, rising insurance, and interest rate hikes combined into a "perfect storm" for Florida multifamily

• Why local market knowledge and conservative underwriting matter more than ever in today's environment

• The realities and limitations of flipping and BRRRR strategies in higher-rate, higher-cost markets

• What investors should look for in a property manager—and why asset management and property management are not the same thing

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Chris Grenzig:

Website: https://orlandoproperty.management/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.grenzig

Instagram: https://instagram.com/chris.grenzig

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grenzig/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene welcomes Ari Rastegar, founder and CEO of Rastegar Capital and author of The Gift of Failure. Ari shares his journey from delivering pizzas and attending law school to building a vertically integrated real estate platform with institutional-scale developments across the country. The conversation centers on discipline, philosophy, and how setbacks became the foundation for both his personal growth and business success.

Jonathan and Ari explore the mindset behind enduring market "winters," the cyclical nature of real estate, and why failure is an essential teacher. Ari discusses his approach to entitlements and master-planned communities, his prediction for one of the largest real estate booms in decades, and how technology—from robotics to 3D printing—could reshape the cost and speed of new construction. He also opens up about health, daily habits, and the quiet discipline that sustains high performance in volatile times.

Listeners will take away a deeper understanding of how to balance ambition with patience, why zoning and long-term planning are undervalued edges, and what it means to invest in projects—and people—with lasting value. Ari's story is a reminder that compounding growth begins not in markets, but in the consistency of who you are when no one's watching.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How a $3,500 land purchase in law school launched Ari's development career during the run-up to the Great Financial Crisis

• Why he views market "winter seasons" and failures as essential to building a resilient, multi-billion-dollar real estate platform

• The demographic, technological, and housing-supply forces that he believes will drive an unprecedented real estate boom over the next decade

• How personal development, tiny daily improvements, and emotional awareness compound into better business decisions

• Why zoning, entitlements, and construction innovation (including 3D-printed and robot-built housing) are critical to solving the housing shortage

• How Rastegar Capital structures large projects so accredited investors can co-invest alongside major institutions

Follow and Review If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Supporting Resources

Connect with Ari:

Website: www.rastegarcapital.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rastegarcapital

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rastegarcapital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rastegar/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rastegarcapital/

Twitter: https://x.com/arirastegar

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene is joined by longtime Milwaukee investor and lender Scott Lurie. Scott is the founder and owner of F Street Investments and The Hard Money Co., with deep experience in flipping, multifamily, industrial, private equity, and property management. Together, they explore what it really takes to build durable real estate and lending businesses across multiple cycles, from early "We Buy Ugly Houses" days to large multifamily conversions and a nine-figure lending platform.

Scott and Jonathan dig into why "local always wins" in real estate, how national wholesalers have damaged the reputation of the industry, and the way relationship-driven business still compounds over decades. Scott explains the economics behind converting older Residence Inn hotels into multifamily, how he thinks about replacement cost and basis, and why tax-incremental financing has been key to new development in southeastern Wisconsin. They also unpack the coming pain in overlevered Class A multifamily, the role banks will play, and how disciplined operators can navigate the next 18 months.

Listeners will come away with a clearer picture of what to look for in both operators and lenders, how to think about downside protection, and why character and work ethic are still the real edge in real estate. Scott's stories from buying hundreds of units at the bottom of the Great Financial Crisis and bootstrapping his lending company offer a grounded blueprint for building something that lasts—without chasing Lamborghinis or social media fame.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How Scott went from a zero-experience franchisee with "We Buy Ugly Houses" in 2003 to a seasoned operator with a nationwide portfolio

• Why he believes local investors still have a huge edge over virtual buyers and national wholesalers—and how those wholesaler models created reputational damage

• The business case for converting older Residence Inn hotels into apartments, and why understanding replacement cost and basis matters more than buzzwords

• Scott's view on overlevered Class A multifamily, rising interest rates, and the equity erosion he expects to see over the next 18 months

• How The Hard Money Co. underwrites borrowers (closing only 7–9% of applications) and the behaviors that separate consistently successful flippers from those who end up in foreclosure

• Lessons from scaling to hundreds of units and a nine-figure lending platform while keeping investors first and building a track record of on-time payments

Follow and Review If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Supporting Resources

Connect with Scott

Website: fstreet.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fstreet414

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fstreetinvest/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fstreet_invest/

Website: thehardmoneyco.com

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

Jonathan Greene sits down with self-storage investor and operator Joe Downs, CEO of Bellrose Storage Group, which sources, acquires, and manages self-storage facilities across the East and Southeast. With a background in commercial real estate, capital raising, and distressed second mortgages, Joe explains how he pivoted into self-storage after discovering just how mom-and-pop dominated and under-optimized the space really was.

Their conversation explores why self-storage is still far from "too late," how technology and remote management have transformed operations, and why small, overlooked facilities under 30,000 square feet can be a goldmine for investors willing to modernize them. Joe also breaks down creative plays like boat and RV storage, industrial outdoor storage, and converting large vacant retail boxes into multi-revenue storage campuses.

Listeners will come away with a grounded understanding of why self-storage is such a powerful niche, what to look for in a mom-and-pop facility, and how to avoid overpaying by underwriting expenses correctly. Joe and Jonathan also discuss the importance of relationships and "caretaker" mentality with long-time owners, the role of SBA loans, and how to keep shiny object syndrome in check while still recognizing adjacent opportunities.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How Joe went from distressed debt and 1031 capital raising to building a self-storage platform

• Why self-storage is still largely mom-and-pop owned and what that means for opportunity

• How technology, remote management, and autopay have transformed facility operations

• What to look for in a first small storage acquisition and how to approach owners as a "caretaker"

• The importance of underwriting real expenses (marketing, tech, management) so you don't overpay

• Creative self-storage derivatives, including boat and RV storage, IOS, and big-box retail conversions

Follow and Review If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Supporting Resources

Connect with Joe Downs:

Website: https://belrosegrp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belrosestoragegroup

Twitter: @downsjoe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-downs-7990851/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

In this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Tim Woodbridge, co-founder of WCG Investments, to discuss how he transitioned from a healthcare career to building a portfolio of 19 mobile home parks across the Southeast. Tim shares the lessons he's learned about scaling through partnerships, managing risk with conservative underwriting, and improving communities through value-driven operations.

The conversation explores his early challenges finding deals, developing trust with brokers and lenders, and learning how to take imperfect action without losing discipline. Tim explains why collaboration and follow-up matter as much as capital, what separates good due diligence from guesswork, and how his team builds sustainable systems to support investors and residents alike.

This episode offers a grounded look at what it takes to grow in a niche asset class while maintaining long-term perspective, thoughtful leadership, and a genuine focus on people.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How partnerships built on complementary strengths lead to better deals
• The importance of trust and transparency with brokers and lenders
• Common due diligence pitfalls that can derail returns
• Why realistic underwriting protects both operators and LPs
• How consistent follow-up leads to unexpected opportunities
• The role of community improvements in responsible investing

Follow and Review If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Supporting Resources

Connect with Tim Woodbridge

Website: www.wcginvestments.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WCGInvestments

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wcginvestments

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim.woodbridge/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwoodbridge/

E-Book - https://wcginvestments.cashflowportal.com/leads/e-book

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

Jonathan welcomes Max Emory, founder of Time Capital Bookkeeping & CFO Solutions, a bookkeeping educator and active investor. Together, they explore why clean books form the foundation of every real estate business and how accurate categorization impacts both taxes and lending. Max explains what decision-ready financials allow investors to do, including timing acquisitions, managing cash flow, and avoiding costly tax surprises. He also shares why onboarding with a professional bookkeeper is intensive but worthwhile, how your bookkeeper, CPA, and attorney should collaborate, and the most common financial pitfalls he corrects for flippers, wholesalers, and landlords.

Max shares his path from serving in the Marine Corps to purchasing his first duplex in Columbia, South Carolina, and scaling through clustered small multifamily properties using the BRRRR strategy. He discusses early challenges such as hiring and firing property managers, building a technology-driven team, and using neighborhood comps and appraisals to improve accuracy. He explains how commingling funds can disrupt operations and increase bookkeeping costs, how simple categorization mistakes can inflate taxable income by thousands, and how to adjust profit and loss reporting to support specific goals, whether maximizing lendability or minimizing taxes.

Listeners will leave with a clear checklist for preparing to hire a professional bookkeeper, an understanding of which financial metrics matter most, and the confidence to treat bookkeeping as a strategic advantage rather than a yearly obligation.

• Why bookkeeping is the financial foundation—and how it drives tax strategy, lending, and acquisitions

• The most expensive mistakes Max sees (miscategorization, commingling, missing capex visibility)

• How to align your bookkeeper, CPA, and attorney so your entity structure helps operations

• A simple starter system for receipts, statements, and deal docs (even before you hire help)

• When and why to keep taxable income high (and when to compress it)

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Max Emory

Website: https://www.timecapitalbcs.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@millionairebookkeeper

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themaxemory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timecapitalbcs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millionairebookkeeper/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@timecapitalbcs0?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millionairebookkeeper/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio

On this week's episode, Jonathan welcomes Jon Wells, a real estate matchmaker, syndicator, and longtime realtor with A Better Way Realty and managing partner at Alpha Network—for a candid look at what actually builds durable wealth. Jon traces his journey from early "fix-and-flips" to higher-conviction "fix-and-holds," and ultimately to group homes leased on commercial-style terms. He explains why patience, operator quality, and underwriting discipline matter more than shiny objects, and how aligning with the right partners turns headaches into hands-off income.

As the conversation unfolds, they unpack contractor pitfalls, slim-margin flips that turn into flops and the relief of triple-net-style leases where the business, not the landlord, handles the day-to-day. Jon shares why he prefers renting large, lightly modified homes to sober-living/mental-health operators (versus carving up houses), why meeting new operators is the hardest part of this niche, and how option agreements can create shared upside. They also dive into passive vs. active choices, due-diligence checklists for syndications, and the value of investing in what you truly understand.

Listeners will come away with a calmer, longer-term lens: start with who you trust, de-risk with questions that reveal how an operator thinks, and don't mistake speed for progress—especially when cash flow and sleep-at-night returns are the goal.

• Why slim margins turn flips into long, stressful holds—and how to avoid it.

• The group-home model Jon uses: bigger homes, egress and safety upgrades, and commercial-style leases to vetted operators.

• Triple-net thinking for residential assets: fewer calls, clearer responsibility, steadier income.

• Trust and due diligence: the questions that de-risk syndications and funds—and when "no answer" means "no deal."

• Why investing in what you actually know (and who you truly trust) beats chasing neon "opportunities."

• How to choose between passive and active plays based on temperament, skills, and season of life.

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Jon Wells

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

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

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

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

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - [email protected]

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio