The Paranoid Banker

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, I'll give you five (and one bonus) “festos” from my Multifamily investing manifesto. It's part of a series from my list of 21 things you should do to become a successful multifamily investor. This episode will give you the thousand-foot view to get out of the weeds and to be able to see the whole picture. In addition, this list will keep you from getting too much in the weeds and instead train your mind to focus on what really matters. Part of the reason this is so successful is that you can have many goals as a real estate investor, and some of those goals can contradict each other. So this gives you a framework for consistency, and to have goals that are achievable for you, and leave those contradictory goals to people and organizations with other specialties.  

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, I want to prevent you from making a mistake that might potentially ruin you. When you do your due diligence on your next purchase, make sure to find out how many owners the property has had in the past ten to fifteen years, and why the owner is selling it. More often than not, if the property has had two or more owners, there's a reason why no one wants it, and you shouldn't either. Watch this video to see me go into detail and give an example of how I avoided buying a money pit.

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, I discuss the Trump tariffs. Many people are panicking about this. The Wall Street Journal, on just one day, had three headlines predicting doom and gloom. But here's the truth: No one knows what will happen. And even if some things go wrong, other things can go right as a result. In today's episode, I give three tips that multifamily investors need to act on soon as the tariffs hit the economy. If you follow my advice, you won't let a good crisis go to waste--you'll take advantage of the opportunities that other people are too afraid to take.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, I break down 3 powerful strategies that have helped me win negotiations for over 30 years and none of them require saying the perfect thing. Most deals are lost before anyone speaks, simply because of the energy you bring into the room. Desperation, urgency, or a “win at all costs” mindset can kill a deal faster than a bad offer ever will. I'll show you how to walk into the room with a win-win mentality, project calm confidence, and avoid the trap of time pressure, the silent killer of great deals. These are the exact rules I've used in multimillion-dollar multifamily negotiations, and if you apply them, you'll be in control more often than not.

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, I discuss what should be the goal of every investor: Building equity. If you aren't focused on building equity, you're in for a nasty surprise later in life when you realize that you've worked hard and don't have the wealth to show for it. I went through this myself, and so I'm giving you the benefit of my experience. This episode will show you why you need to build equity and the best way to do it. Watch this video to learn how to get the most out of your multifamily real estate investing.

Should you invest in new construction? As a multifamily investor, I've been approached many times by developers with empty lots and big ideas. And my advice for all aspiring investors is: NO! New developments are rarely worth the money and hassle. On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, my guest Isaiah Garman and I explain the 3 biggest reasons why you should avoid investing in news developments and should instead invest your money in properties with an established record. 

DOGE! The Department of Government Efficiency. This controversial department headed up by Elon Musk has cut millions from the budget in a short period of time. Whether you like Musk or hate him, you have to take the lesson that waste is a thief. You, as a multifamily investor, need to take the time to review your budget to see what inefficiencies may be stealing from you. In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, I share a personal story about how when I reviewed my personal and professional budgets, I was shocked by what I saw. Watch this video to learn easy ways to cut your budget by finding where you are losing money.

In this video, I'm reacting to Ken McElroy's latest take on multifamily real estate — and trust me, there's a lot to unpack here.  ✅ Ken breaks down how inflation and rising costs are hitting multifamily investments — and I'll give you my thoughts on how to navigate these challenges. ✅ He also talks about why political and regulatory environments matter more than ever — and I'll share my perspective on which markets are worth avoiding. ✅ Plus, Ken reveals how Wall Street approaches multifamily real estate — and I'll explain how you can apply those same strategies to WIN BIG. Ken makes some bold points here, and I've got some insights of my own to add. 

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, my special guest, Isaiah and I discuss a crucial element of owning multifamily properties: Hiring the best management company. Many people make the mistake of picking the first 2-3 names on Google they find, interviewing them once, and contracting whoever costs the least. This is a great way to lose all your money and equity. Instead, here are 3 things you need to do before hiring any management company. Follow these steps to protect your investment and your profits.

Today on the Heartland Multifamily Show, we're going to look at three properties you want to avoid. When looking at opportunities to invest in multifamily, you may look at these three types of properties and see a blue ocean. But there's a reason why so few people want to invest in them. They are a headache, a hassle, a money pit. Dealing with these properties will have a very small return on investment. I'm going to explain what three properties to avoid and why.

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily show, I give three actionable instructions on how you can be a passive investor. I explain the different points on the spectrum between being completely passive by investing in shares of REITs and being completely active by buying an existing multifamily property, renovating it, and eventually selling it. And I explain the benefits and risks of each. I tell you what you need to know before investing your time and energy into a rental property.

Is rent control good or bad? As a property owner, I loudly say, it's bad! It's bad because the government shouldn't say that I, the property owner, have to lower my price. The price is determined by the market. If the guy across the street from me charges more and people pay it, why shouldn't I charge more? And by the same token, if I can't get renters, I have to lower my rent. In this episode, I do a deep dive into why the market should determine the price, not the government, and why any attempt to manipulate the market by the government is doomed to fail.

This episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show explores the impact of politics on real estate investing, emphasizing that regardless of who's in the White House, success still requires personal effort and risk-taking.

This episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show explores the question many of you have been asking, will 2025 be a hard year or an easy year compared to 2024? The common wisdom for most people is that it will be harder. But if you're not most people, it will be easier. To give an example of what I'm talking about, Trot and I discussed a recent business conference I went to. As part of a team, I gave everyone the choice to meet and discuss our plans that evening or the next morning. Everyone agreed to meet an hour before the conference started to discuss our plans. But almost everyone except me was late. When your competition isn't willing to get up early and outwork you, you have an advantage over them. If you are willing to work hard, 2025 will be easy.

This episode of The Heartland Multifamily Show covered a topic that might sound familiar to anyone who has watched this show for more than a year. That's because every year, many people most people make New Year's resolutions, and most people never achieve them. This episode is dedicated to finding out why, and what you can do to achieve your goals. The secret is…there is none! You have to do the work every day. Not on January 1, but every day. Don't wait. Start now, develop discipline every day, and you can lose weight, make money, or whatever else your goal is if you stop procrastinating and put the work in.

I am often contacted by people who think that multifamily real estate is a way to hide their money. This is a misconception that I want to address on this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show. There are many benefits to being a multifamily investor. Your money is insulated from theft because no one can steal your ownership of a property. Your money may grow because the property becomes more valuable, or you may be able to write off the depreciation if it goes down, while still receiving income from your tenants. There are also tax benefits, especially if you invest your money in other multifamily properties. Put together, you may see all these benefits as hiding your money, but there's nothing illegal about it. Learn more on this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, we are talking about real estate fails. Specifically, we are talking about why many real estate investors are heading toward a cliff and may have to bail out before they drive off it. The costs of owning and operating multifamily real estate have gone up significantly in the past few years, and because tenants are getting squeezed by the same economic forces, landlords can't raise rent. Watch this episode and we'll do a deep dive into why this is happening and what you can do to prepare yourself for a tough couple of years.

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, we're putting down our real estate hats in favor of thinking caps. It's our first episode of “Uncle Darin.” Uncle Darin is a source of folk wisdom, because, after all, he's wise and he's from Iowa, which is where a lot of folks live. In this inaugural episode, we answer the question of why you don't have what you want. The answer isn't complicated, but it isn't easy to hear. Watch the episode to find out the two biggest reasons you don't have what you want in life.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I talk about market crashes. The market always goes up on a long enough timeline, as does real estate, but market dips and corrections are inevitable. When the market does go down, should you sell or buy the dip? Well, the answer isn't one-size-fits-all. This episode will tell you what to do when the market goes down.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, we're talking about the three different types of multifamily investors: Investors who want income, investors who want to build wealth, and investors who want a mix of both. Trot and I talk about what our experience has been with each type of investor, and what the benefits and drawbacks are of each. What type of investor are you? Leave a comment below.

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, I reveal why I am raising millions of dollars from savvy investors. The past few months and years have been a great opportunity for multifamily investors, especially when it comes to interest rates. But now, interest rates are going up, and other costs are as well, and many investors are starting to lose money. What's more, many of them structured low loan payments in exchange for a balloon payment at the end of the term, and now that last payment is looming. Their inexperience is going to be our opportunity, as we are preparing to buy at much lower prices than market value. Watch this video to learn more about what we're doing now, and what we'll be doing in the future.

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, we are going to reveal 3 tells that give away that you're about to be scammed. When you see these red flags, you know to turn down the offer and never do business with that person or organization again. On this episode, you'll hear about the story of a Ponzi scheme, and why the same principles apply, whether you're selling fictitious pickleball arenas or poor real estate deals. Watch this episode to avoid getting scammed.

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, our special guest is Raul Villacis, founder of the Next Level Experience, a personal development company that teaches men how to discover or rediscover their EDGE. In this episode, recorded in his studio in Stamford, CT, Raul shares his early real estate successes and failures that led him to the personal development world. Like many entrepreneurs, he has multiple income streams, so he never stopped investing in real estate. Raul talks about his experience with cryptocurrency and NFTs, and contrasts the get-rich-quick philosophy of crypto with the build-wealth-slowly philosophy of real estate investing. Watch this episode to learn some of the lessons he's learned from decades of real estate investing.

This is the story of my most unusual multifamily real estate purchase. In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, I tell the strange but true story of how I purchased a 12-unit property from the children of the owner, and why I was never able to even meet the owner. This incredible story involves a grieving widow and a UFO cult. Watch this episode to hear this story.

This episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show is a trip down memory lane. I share the story of one of my investment properties, and the very circuitous route to get it. As you'll hear, I spent years trying to buy it, and when I was able to buy it, I had some last-minute surprises. There are many lessons that you can take away from my experience. Watch this episode to hear this fun and informative story from 20 years ago.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I will be discussing a major decision that multifamily investors must make: whether to invest in a fund, such as my own Heartland Investment Fund, or to buy a rental property and go through the process of finding financing and arranging for maintenance and other expenses. There is no right answer, only the right answer for you. This episode will give you all the information you need to make an informed decision on which investment avenue to invest in, but remember, you can also do both! Watch this video to learn more about multifamily investing.

If you want to make money in multifamily real estate investing, there are three things you need to do. This video will show you the three things you need to do that most people don't: Learning, taking initiative, and learning from your mistakes. They aren't that complicated, but they do require hard work, discipline, and patience. If you implement these three things you will be ahead of most investors.

As you may have heard, New York Justice Arthur F. Engoron ruled that Donald Trump had illegally inflated the value of his real estate holdings to deceive banks into giving him loans that were larger and at lower interest rates compared to the actual value of his properties. Now if value is subjective, or at least subject to negotiation, how is this even possible? This episode is a deep dive into the world of real estate viewed from the perspective of experienced multifamily investors.

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, we watch a clip of Dave Ramsey giving a pretty harsh reality check to any would-be investor. You may have heard on TikTok or other short-form social media sites that once you buy a multifamily property, your renters pay your mortgage. While that is true in the sense that your money does come from rental income, you can't just sit back and wait for a truck full of money to come to you. In this reaction video, Trot and I discuss this clip from Dave Ramsey's show.

This episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show is a reaction to a viral video claiming it's so easy to make money in real estate, it's like printing money. According to this video, you make money in 5 different ways, and you can never lose. Unfortunately, real estate is not that simple. This video covers 3 things that you need to be wary of if you want to be successful in multifamily investing. Life doesn't always go the way the spreadsheet says it will, so watch this episode before you invest.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily podcast, Trot and I discuss the strategic use of debt in achieving financial success, particularly in real estate. The conversation addresses common concerns and strategies associated with taking on debt. Key points include the importance of having a clear understanding of one's balance sheet or net worth, which reflects the value of assets minus liabilities. This understanding helps mitigate the stress associated with debt, especially when it's leveraged strategically to grow one's business or investment portfolio. We also talk about the concept of loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, emphasizing our preferred sweet spot of 50 to 60% LTV as a balance between risk mitigation and avoiding personal loan guarantees, which can add stress and risk to financial ventures. This episode offers valuable insights into managing debt wisely to enhance financial growth and stability.

On this short episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, I react to a TikTok video that claims that many vacant apartments are now empty. According to the content creator, investors have built too many luxury apartments, and now they are sitting empty. As a result, the landlords and management companies have to lower prices or even give away a month or two of free rent (Which actually covers the real estate broker's fee), which even brings down the price of single-family homes. It's quite a claim, but is it overblown? Trot and I discuss this video, and give our insights from our experience being multifamily investors.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I give our predictions for 2024. Our discussion is tailored for investors and property owners, focusing on key trends and predictions that are essential for informed decision-making in this sector. We explore the rise in distressed multifamily properties, the impact of the 2024 election on real estate investments, and the anticipated increase in property values despite market challenges. Additionally, we discuss the politicization of affordable housing and the evolving role of buyer brokers in the multifamily space. Watch this video to gain a concise yet comprehensive understanding of the current multifamily market dynamics. Our conversation is particularly beneficial for those looking to grasp the complexities of the market, offering insights into potential opportunities and challenges. This episode is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in multifamily real estate, aiming to navigate the market effectively in 2024.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I discuss a secret weapon to investing success that most investors overlook. In fact, it's so often overlooked that it's actually noteworthy when someone does take advantage of it. What is it? It's physical fitness. Most people don't make the connection between physical fitness and investing success, but there are many compelling reasons to make time for fitness. Investing is hard. You're going to face adversity. Facing the physical pain of being gassed out or lifting weights is something you will have to face if you are pushing yourself in the gym. This will prepare you mentally for the pain of deals not going your way, or needing to go that extra mile when making a real estate deal. In addition, being fit will give you energy, which is something that you'll always need. Watch this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show.

On this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I discuss three factors that can make the difference between finding the right property manager and having a poorly managed property that will lose renters and value. This is such an important component of successful multifamily investing that it surprises us how infrequently potential owners do this. In fact, we find that many owners come to us after it's too late and they want to sell a property that is losing money. This episode will give you three things you can do (and one bonus one) that can make a huge difference in your multifamily investing journey.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I discuss the importance of not only setting goals but achieving them early. We delve into the common practice of making New Year's resolutions and how many people, particularly entrepreneurs, delay their start, often waiting until the new year begins. We explore strategies for accomplishing goals, targets, and resolutions ahead of schedule. The idea is not to wait until the end of the year to celebrate achievements but to potentially reach these milestones much earlier, like by June or September. This approach can be a game-changer for many, especially in the multifamily business where we constantly operate with targets and goals. The episode promises to reveal practical strategies that can help listeners stop putting brakes on their progress and achieve their objectives well before their deadlines.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I discuss a topic that's crucial for anyone in the multifamily investment space: the common mistakes made by multifamily property sellers. In our many years of experience, we have identified three significant errors that can cost sellers a substantial amount, ranging from tens of thousands to even millions of dollars. These mistakes are not just relevant to the current market conditions but apply to any market. One of the primary mistakes we delve into is the emotional attachment sellers often have to their properties. This attachment can lead to unrealistic valuations and expectations, which can significantly hinder the success of a sale. Surprisingly, sellers can be attached emotionally even when it's an investment property. Watch this episode to learn how to avoid making these mistakes and keep potentially millions of dollars in your pocket.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I, explore the changing landscape of real estate, focusing on the roles of agents and brokers in today's technology-driven market. We discuss how the availability of information and technology has altered the traditional functions of real estate professionals, allowing consumers to take on more responsibilities in property transactions. We also explore the legal complexities surrounding real estate commissions, particularly the recent class action lawsuits against the National Association of Realtors. These lawsuits challenge the traditional commission splits between selling and buying agents, highlighting potential conflicts and legal issues in the industry. This episode offers valuable insights into the evolving real estate market, making it essential viewing for anyone involved in property investments or real estate transactions.

This episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show is about debt. But surprisingly, this show is not about money. Instead it's about a concept called “Primal debt.” Not prime debt, not primordial debt, not sub-prime loans, but a different kind of debt. This is the debt that you owe to your ancestors, to the people around you today, and to your future descendants. The debt is paid by living your best life. You owe it to them, all of them, to live the best life you can. You have to appreciate the sacrifices that your ancestors made to give you the life you have today. You owe it to the people around you today to provide them with the best life you can. And you owe it to your children and future grandchildren and so on, to provide the best foundation so they can live their best lives. Watch this episode to learn about a new way to think about your life.

In this episode of the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I discuss key mistakes that hinder financial success in multifamily investments. We share what prevents regular people from earning the last dollar needed for financial freedom. This episode is a must-watch if you are just beginning your journey in multifamily investing. What you may be surprised to learn is that you are in control of all three of these. You don't have to wait for anyone else's permission to get started in multifamily investing. Watch this episode to learn how to avoid these pitfalls and you can reach your goals much faster than you thought possible.

Today on the Heartland Multifamily Show, Trot and I are talking about Defcon 3. What is it? Why do investors get to Defcon 3? How can you get out of Defcon 3, and what opportunities are there if you want to buy a property that's at Defcon 3? Defcon 3, meaning Defense Condition 3, is a phrase that dates back to the Cold War. The Defense Condition went from Defcon 5, meaning peaceful but aware of threats, to Defcon 1, which is a full-scale nuclear attack. This analogy also applies to multifamily real estate investing. When you are at Defcon 3, you are inching closer to disaster, but you have the opportunity to right the ship before things get so bad that you can't fix them. And on the other side of it, if you are an investor who sees another property at Defcon 3 and you have done your due diligence, you can get a good deal to buy and fix up a property that the previous owner has mismanaged. Watch this episode to learn the basics of Defcon 3.

Today on the Heartland Multifamily Show, I'm talking about a not-so-secret secret to success in life. I know it may sound a little conceited, but if you want to be a winner, you've got to be around other winners. As Jim Rohn and many others have said, you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. On this episode, Trot and I discuss why most people don't spend time around people smarter and better than them, so you can understand what hurdles you have to overcome in order to be around winners, so you can be a winner yourself.