Podcasts about irrs

Join an active community of RE investors here: https://linktr.ee/gabepetersenMASTERING GROUND UP DEVELOPMENT

My guest this week, Jeremy Roll, is a full-time professional passive investor with more than two decades of experience allocating capital across multiple real estate cycles. He is relentlessly data-driven, deeply immersed in macro and capital markets, and unapologetically conservative in how he thinks about risk.   That combination matters right now.   Jeremy is not trying to predict the next rate cut or headline shift. He is focused on something far more useful: where we actually are in the cycle, which assumptions quietly failed in 2025, and why capital remains sidelined despite constant talk of opportunity. His view of the market heading into 2026 is sober, unsentimental, and grounded in how cycles really work.   The overarching thesis of our conversation is simple but uncomfortable: predictability broke, patience was rewarded, and many investors learned the wrong lesson.   We discuss questions that serious investors and sponsors should be asking themselves now, including: Why did "survive till 25" fail so completely? Why have interest rates stayed higher than most expected? If there is so much capital on the sidelines, why isn't it moving? Why hasn't price discovery fully happened yet? Where does real opportunity actually come from in a slow-moving reset? What was the real mistake behind floating-rate, value-add deals? How should investors evaluate sponsors after the last three years? Jeremy also draws a sharp distinction between heavy value-add investors, who are already active, and value-oriented investors, who face the very real risk of being too early. He frames today as closer to late 2009 or 2010 than 2011: the light is visible, but the reset is not complete.   This is not a conversation about hype, shortcuts, or timing the exact bottom. It is about discipline, incentives, and understanding why doing nothing for long stretches is sometimes the most rational strategy.   If you invest in commercial real estate or allocate capital to those who do, this episode will help you think more clearly about what actually matters heading into 2026.   *** In this series, I cut through the noise to examine how shifting macroeconomic forces and rising geopolitical risk are reshaping real estate investing.   With insights from economists, academics, and seasoned professionals, this show helps investors respond to market uncertainty with clarity, discipline, and a focus on downside protection.    Subscribe to my free newsletter for timely updates, insights, and tools to help you navigate today's volatile real estate landscape. You'll get: Straight talk on what happens when confidence meets correction - no hype, no spin, no fluff. Real implications of macro trends for investors and sponsors with actionable guidance. Insights from real estate professionals who've been through it all before. Visit GowerCrowd.com/subscribe Email: adam@gowercrowd.com Call: 213-761-1000

Higher leverage makes deals look better on paper,  but often weakens cash flow and increases risk.In this episode of the LSCRE Podcast, Craig McGrouther and I break down why we structure deals with lower leverage for better cash flow and risk management.We discuss targeting lower loan-to-value, using full-term interest-only debt, and maintaining strong coverage from day one.We explain why LTV alone doesn't tell the full story, how amortization can compress cash flow, and why flexibility matters more than headline IRRs.This episode is about structuring deals that can perform today and survive tomorrow.Learn more about LSCRE:www.lscre.com

This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one. _____________  This Episode is also sponsored by Ryze Health Every minute counts in medicine—so why waste it on clunky admin work? With Ryze Health, practice management becomes effortless. Our all-in-one platform streamlines scheduling, patient communications, and insurance verification, giving you fewer no-shows, faster check-ins, and happier patients. Free yourself from paperwork and phone tag so you can focus on what truly matters: providing care. Visit http://ryzehealth.com/BootstrapMD today and see how simple running your practice can be. ______________  What if physicians could co-invest in $55M industrial parks alongside a $12B family office without $100K consultants or high-risk leverage?  In this insightful episode, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming  interviews Jonathan Spitz from Lightstone Direct, the new direct-to-investor arm of 40-year-old powerhouse Lightstone Group. Jonathan shares the firm's vertically integrated model (25K apartments, 12M sq ft industrial, 5K hotel keys), why they commit 20% of their own capital first (5-10x industry norms), and how physicians can diversify beyond stocks or DIY rentals. He breaks down direct vs. passive CRE, asset class pitfalls (office flops vs. industrial wins), and red flags like inexperienced managers or 85% debt. With examples like their Greenville industrial deal, Jonathan proves alignment and conviction drive better outcomes empowering busy doctors to build legacy wealth safely.  If you're a high-income physician eyeing real estate for tax efficiency and passive income, this is your guide to investing like institutions without the headaches. Three Actionable Takeaways:   Decide direct vs. passive: If time-strapped, skip hands-on rentals for platforms like Lightstone Direct, vet managers on track record, cycles navigated, and skin in game (aim for 20%+). Passive reduces risks like tenant concentration; focus on assets like industrial for steady returns over volatile office or retail. Qualify and evaluate: As accredited (200K/300K income or 1M net worth), request decks/PPMs/operating agreements. Ask: Debt levels? Exit strategies? Risk mitigation? Compare projected IRRs realistically—avoid 20%+ promises tied to high leverage. Prioritize alignment where sponsors invest heavily first for shared incentives. Start the process: Visit lightstonedirect.com or email jspitz@lightstonedirect.com for discovery calls. Define goals (income vs. growth, liquidity horizon). Use a special link lightstone.com/dpn for Bootstrap MD listeners. Early incentives like 6% on parked funds make starting seamless, build long-term partnerships for 3-5 year holds. About the Show: Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career.  Tune in weekly at  http://bootstrapmd.com   About the Guest: Jonathan Spitz is the Head of Capital Formation at Lightstone Direct, where he connects individual investors, especially physicians, to institutional-quality real estate opportunities. With over a decade of experience spanning brokerage, lending, and private equity, Jonathan has navigated multiple market cycles and capital-raising environments. He focuses on transparency, education, and aligned incentives, helping professionals understand how private real estate can diversify portfolios, reduce taxes, and build long-term wealth.   Website:  https://lp.lightstonedirect.com/dpn Email:  jspitz@lightstonedirect.com  About the Host: Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy. Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com   Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!

Mike Zlotnik - Tempo Funding On Investment Advice: "At the end of the day the best risk mitigation strategy is prudent diversification." Investing in real estate is often thought to be a great place to grow your wealth.  But often investors have other things going on and they don't want to deal with tenants, paperwork, searching out properties and all of the headaches that come with doing your own real estate investing. What if there were a way to invest in real estate in other ways?  Investing in the loans other people have on real estate, or investing with a group and getting into large commercial properties with leases that run decades long? Mike Zlotnik started Tempo Funding to help investors grow their money with real estate, without needing to get their hands dirty.  He shares his journey in the tech world to discovering the power of passive real estate investing, buying his first apartment in Brooklyn back in 2000, and growing into large-scale commercial projects like industrial facilities and open-air shopping centers. He explains Tempo Funding's focus on marrying “money and opportunity,” helping individuals, often those who have exited businesses or cashed in on appreciated assets, find reliable income streams backed by real estate. Listen as Mike explains his real estate investing strategies and how they may work for you. Enjoy! Visit Mike at: https://tempofunding.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tempofunding/   Podcast Overview: 00:00 "Triple Net Leasing Explained" 03:50 "Predictable Returns in CRE Investments" 08:17 "Long-Term Commercial Lease Structures" 10:46 Ground Leases and Property Ownership 13:36 Real Estate Tax Implications Simplified 19:31 Deploying Capital for Investments 21:29 Quarterly Distribution Expectations Explained 26:18 "Low Rates, Inflation, and Stimulus" 27:41 "Understanding Capitalization Rates" 32:22 Moore's Law and AI Progress 35:29 Interest Rates and Real Estate Trends 37:13 Industrial Investment: Focus on Longevity 40:49 "Branch Closures and Lease Management" 44:39 "From Tech Exec to Real Estate" 49:21 "Real Estate Value Through Leasing" 50:00 "Value-Add Real Estate Strategies" 54:07 "Strategic Capital for Specialists" Sponsors: Live Video chat with our customers here with LiveSwitch: https://join.liveswitch.com/gfj3m6hnmguz Some videos have been recorded with Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=james-kademan Podcast Transcription: Mike Zlotnik [00:00:00]: I had a successful career, had some exits. I was doing well, but I was a little burned out. I spent almost 15 years in technology. I had great friends. I liked it. Technology. Felt like I wanted something that I really didn't have to work all the time, something that I can make investment decisions and the money could work for me. So I discovered real estate passively in year 2000, buying my first apartment in Brooklyn. Mike Zlotnik [00:00:25]: And then I continued to buy more and passively. James Kademan [00:00:33]: You have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in podcast link found at https//:drawincustomers.com We are locally underwritten by the Bank of Sun Prairie, Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service as well as the Bold Business Book. And today we're welcoming Slash, preparing to learn from Mike Zlotnick of Temple Funding. That's TF Management Group. Is that safe to say, Mike? Mike Zlotnik [00:01:01]: Yeah, yeah, but the easier way, people call me Big Mike. I am six four. So Big Mike. James Kademan [00:01:05]: Well, you can't tell on the screen, so. All right, that is a. That's a Big Mike. Big Mike, indeed. So, Big Mike, what is Tempo funding? Mike Zlotnik [00:01:15]: We are the best way to describe Tempo funding. We marry money and opportunity. We are a platform for folks with capital to invest, typically in real estate, kind of. I don't want to call myself exactly one trick pony, but I am mostly one trick pony. It's real estate. We have a team, we have organization that focuses real estate projects, industrial, open air shopping, multifamily, et cetera. James Kademan [00:01:42]: Okay. Mike Zlotnik [00:01:42]: And then we have folks with capital who sold businesses, they've sold highly appreciated stock, they sold bitcoin, whatever, they made their money and then now they're looking for steady, predictable income. And that's what we try to bring them. That's kind of what we do for many, many years. James Kademan [00:02:01]: You mentioned steady predictable income. And can you elaborate on that? Because sometimes in the real estate world that's not always the case. Mike Zlotnik [00:02:08]: Yeah, so today the world's changed quite a bit and we really gravitated towards predictability. I literally have an article that I wrote and a video comparing high IRRs versus predictability. Wide majority of people, especially with monetary event where they've got significant lump sum, they're looking for predictability. So what is predictability? So normally it means the assets themselves have a great engine, how they generate predictable income. Take an example, triple net industrial. This is just a simple way to explain. It's right before the call we were talking about made in China versus made in America. Well, there's a renaissance now to build in America. Mike Zlotnik [00:02:50]: Made in America and industrial production in America is welcome. So quite often there are companies that manufacture here and the real estate underneath it gets sold by the owner of the business. They sell the real estate, lease back and stay in that property. So where does predictability come from? Well, that business has been there for 60 years. They sell real estate, they use capital for further investment or to pay their parent company and then it's a mission critical property. And to make long story short, they're there, they have a 20, 25 year lease and it's triple net, meaning that all the expenses, taxes, insurance, everything else is covered by the tenant. So as a landlord you collect rent and every year it goes up between 2 to 3%. So you have high predictability of outcome simply because it's contractually guaranteed with a credit quality tenant with long term lease, with rent escalation clauses, with triple net structure. Mike Zlotnik [00:03:50]: So you're collecting this, you're an equity investor, but you're collecting it like a bond. You get your coupon today, this year. So what does that coupon look like? For example, year one you could start with 7%, maybe even higher. And year two goes up, and year three, it goes up. So it begins to look like a predictable investment because it's so contractually built to be predictable. So you know, initial cash flow, you know, year two cash flow, year three, year four, year five. And then that increased NOI drives forced appreciation. Because in commercial real estate, the price of the asset is a function of net operating income. Mike Zlotnik [00:04:24]: You hear these fancy terms, cap rates. All the cap rates describe is what do you pay per dollar of income. The lower the cap rate, the higher the price per dollar of income. So as interest rates obviously impact cap rates, but in general, the structure itself grows. Niy, if interest rates don't do anything, they stay flat. You're still growing the value of the asset because the NOI is growing. That's a predictable structure. You see these structures in real estate quite a bit. Mike Zlotnik [00:04:50]: And I'll shut up for a second, let you chime in more questions because I can talk on this probably for hours. James Kademan [00:04:55]: No, that's awesome. That's awesome. It's interesting you mentioned real estate that's essentially large scale commercial. It sounds like you're talking manufacturing. Yes, this isn't just the small mom. Mike Zlotnik [00:05:06]: And pop house, it is a manufacturing facility quite often gets bought for $25 million. There are of course bigger projects, but the sweet spot is anywhere from, you know, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, $30 million small manufacturing. I'm not talking about AI data centers that are getting built for a billion dollars, not, not for that. James Kademan [00:05:29]: Okay. I guess, I think as you're talking here, I'm thinking south of me on the north way north of Chicago is Belvedere, Illinois, which has a car manufacturing plant that I think since I've been driving to and from Chicago every once in a while, I want to say that thing has changed hands four or five times. And that thing, that property, I don't know if it's necessarily one building, but that complex, it's probably the size of a small city. Sorry, it sounds like you're getting into stuff that big. Mike Zlotnik [00:06:04]: Not that big, but an example, we do have an asset in New Castle, Indiana, again, Midwest. And it's a, you know, it's called $25 million asset. It is a multi acre property and it produces stainless steel and it's been in that business and that location over 60 years. So that kind of a facility. All right, not a small city, but for that local town, it's a significant manufacturer and industrial facility. James Kademan [00:06:32]: Oh, I bet it's huge. And for something like that. Do you. I mentioned the equipment goes with the building. Just because it took so much to get that equipment in there, it's like an old pool table. To get it out is a big deal. Mike Zlotnik [00:06:45]: They end not moving so effectively you own real estate as an investor, but they've made so many tenant improvements themselves over the years for their own business, plus all the equipment, everything else. They're going to stay there, they're going to continue to.

Send us a textA seasoned investor explains how he pivoted from operations into multifamily, self-storage, and private lending.His advice: ignore flashy IRRs — invest in certainty, not promises.https://familyoffices.com/

Pascal Wagner breaks down how the IRS categorizes income into three buckets—active, portfolio, and passive—and why high-income earners often misunderstand how tax write-offs actually work. He explains common investor mistakes, including expecting real estate depreciation to offset W-2 or stock-market gains, and shares the simple rule that changed his entire tax strategy: “you can only offset like with like.” Pascal also walks through exceptions such as oil and gas, real estate professional status, and opportunity zones, along with how wealthy investors intentionally shift income toward passive buckets for long-term tax efficiency. This episode teaches investors to stop chasing IRRs and start choosing deals based on what problem they solve in their tax plan. Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders' Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get my new book: https://bronsonequity.com/fireyourselfDownload my new special report - How to Use Inflation to Your Advantage - www.bronsonequity.com/inflationIn this episode of The Mailbox Money Show, host Bronson Hill and co-host Nate Hambrick dive into one of the most unique—and overlooked—real estate asset classes in the U.S.: marinas. With over 10,000 marinas nationwide and less than 5% consolidated by major operators, this niche offers remarkable opportunities for passive investors seeking strong cash flow, high occupancy, and compelling returns.Joining the show is Josh Conley, COO of New Haven Marinas. Coming from a successful background in oil and gas, Josh now leads operations in a rapidly expanding marina portfolio backed by private equity partners. He grew up around marinas, understands the culture, and now helps investors access an asset class that behaves like “multifamily on the water”—with year-round demand, surprisingly low turnover, and impressive IRRs.Josh shares what makes marina investing so attractive, how it compares to more traditional real estate categories, what risks operators must navigate, and why this sector is poised for significant consolidation and growth.If you're curious about alternative real estate opportunities, want to understand the economics of marinas, or are looking for ways to diversify beyond multifamily and self-storage, this conversation opens the door to a whole new world of mailbox money.TIMESTAMPS00:42 – Season 4 kickoff of the Mailbox Money Show01:16 – Buying insurance contracts as an investment02:38 – Guest Intro: Josh Conley03:36 – Leaving corporate after repeated layoffs04:41 – How Josh entered the oil & gas world05:54 – Transition from oil & gas to buying marinas07:18 – Marinas as “multifamily on the water”08:31 – U.S. marina fragmentation: only 5% consolidated09:28 – Typical slip sizes, occupancy, and pricing10:21 – Evictions and turnover dynamics in marinas12:40 – Why marinas maintain near-100% occupancy13:37 – Underpriced, mom-and-pop marina opportunities16:59 – Typical marina deal structure and leverage17:40 – Cap rates: marinas vs multifamily18:44 – Target returns: 30%+ IRR18:56 – Major risks: weather, flooding, drought22:41 – Marina revenue mix: slips + ancillaries24:36 – Private equity entering the marina space27:39 – Comparing marinas to other niche asset classes33:38 – How to connect with Josh and New Haven Marinas35:03 – Why investors should learn the marina space now36:50 – Final takeaways on high-cash-flow marinasConnect with the Guest:Website: newhavenmarinas.com#MarinaInvesting#AlternativeAssets#CommercialRealEstate#RealEstateInvesting#CashFlowStrategies#PassiveIncome#MarinaOperations

Evan Polaski is the Director of Capital Raising at Black Gate Partners, where he leads investor relations and capital strategy for multifamily real estate syndications. With 18 years of commercial real estate experience—including roles in retail development, multifamily investments, and investor communications—Evan brings a rare blend of institutional perspective and hands-on execution. He has invested as both a general and limited partner and is known for his candid approach to alignment, underwriting scrutiny, and investor education.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Great deals and abundant capital rarely align—it's always a pendulum A conservative deal today may have felt aggressive just 24 months ago True GP-LP alignment is nuanced and difficult to achieve—acquisition fees often skew incentives Passive investors should study sponsors' fee structures, co-investments, and transparency The best investor relations approach isn't sales—it's expectation management     Topics Falling in Love with Real Estate Early Evan's fascination with real estate began as a child watching shopping centers being built in Atlanta Studied finance and real estate at the University of Cincinnati, and started in retail REIT investor relations Has worked across roles in capital raising, investing, and ownership The Market's Capital-Deal Imbalance Capital and deal quality are rarely in sync—one is always scarce 2021–2022 saw capital flood the market, but often into weak deals Today feels like 2009 again, with conservative investors and fewer phone calls returned Lessons from the Downturn Floating-rate loans and short-term debt—not real estate quality—are behind many failed deals Evan cautions that "safe" real estate only stays safe with proper structure and conservative assumptions Overly optimistic IRRs, misaligned capital stacks, and loose underwriting have been exposed On Alignment and Fees Evan focuses on age and experience as critical factors when evaluating GPs Acquisition fees deserve close scrutiny—especially when they exceed co-investment amounts Sponsors who transact just to earn fees raise red flags around long-term alignment Managing Investor Expectations Great IR is about setting, managing, and exceeding expectations LPs who receive clear, accurate communication—regardless of performance—stay engaged longer Sales-driven approaches often lead to mismatches in trust and long-term relationships Navigating Growth and Team Building Scaling a syndication business brings team demands—growth isn't always about ego Even small increases in payroll or promotions require deal flow and capital Balance between investor returns and internal sustainability is delicate and evolving Track Record and Debt Structure IRR isn't enough—investors should ask how much of a return came from NOI growth vs. cap rate compression Evan favors sponsors who have survived downturns and learned from risk exposure Floating debt creates the illusion of strong deals—fixed-rate debt demonstrates stability    

Private equity has long promised smooth returns, operational excellence, and sophisticated diversification. But behind the pitch decks and performance charts lies a growing crisis. In this video, we explore:

Most people think real estate means fixing toilets, chasing tenants, or giving up your weekends.But what if you could earn cash flow, appreciation, and tax benefits… without ever becoming a landlord? In this episode, we sit down with Shawn Winslow of Greenbriar Capital to break down how busy professionals and high earners can build wealth passively by investing in large multifamily deals as Limited Partners. Shawn manages tens of millions in assets and shares how syndications work, why he targets high-demand markets in New England, and how he helps everyday investors earn 18–20% IRRs without doing any of the dirty work. Together we walk through two deals that we recently executed as a team detailing how we boosted rents using Section 8 in New Hampshire and how we're attracting high-paying travel nurses in Vermont. You'll hear our exact strategy behind forcing appreciation and protecting investor capital. If you have capital but no time, this is the blueprint. No tenants. No headaches. Just passive income and equity upside. Additionally, if you'd like to join our investor list to stay up to date on upcoming projects, please fill out the form below. https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/9uNTUCcH8zv1IZRZN9UI   RESOURCES

Shane Carter opens with one big lesson: focus. In his early years he chased shiny objects, made some money, but not “real” money—and burned relationships in the process. Getting calm and centered changed everything: better relationships, more income, less grind, and genuine work–life balance.

The starting gun has gone off: The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates 25 basis points. Now CRE can be off to the races.At least that's the narrative.In practice, CRE cares more about long-term debt, and the 10-year Treasury ran counter to expectations and actually rose 10 bps, Jim Costello, MSCI's director of real estate economics, said on this week's show. Besides, the industry's problems go far beyond interest rates, and 25 bps isn't large enough to make much difference.“If you want to be successful in CRE, it's not about that home run of capital market forces lifting the value tremendously,” Costello said. “It's going to be a lot of singles and doubles.”That means a focus on proper leasing, getting the right broker, careful analysis of tenants and focusing on operating expenses.How about all that money waiting on the sidelines — will that finally loosen up with the drop in rates?“Here's the thing about dry powder: When you get a little wind, it can blow it away,” Costello said.“If you don't have a situation where managers can place money effectively and hit their IRRs, that dry powder will dissipate.”

In this episode, Craig McGrouther sits down with Bernard Pierson, co-founder of EHP Capital, who's been LP investing since 2012 and now focuses on value-add multifamily in Kansas City. Bernard reveals a counterintuitive insight from his 50+ LP investments: deals projecting 15-17% IRRs often outperformed those advertising 30%+ returns. He shares how Kansas City has consistently ranked in the top 5 U.S. markets for rent growth over the past 3 years while avoiding the supply issues plaguing gateway markets. Bernard breaks down their operational value-add approach, including discovering 200 unchecked voicemails on a property's leasing line that no one was monitoring. With family office investors from Latin America, EHP targets 17-18% IRRs, 5-7% cash-on-cash, and 2x equity multiples using conservative 60% LTV agency debt. His key lesson: the boring, down-the-fairway deals often deliver the best risk-adjusted returns.Learn more about Lone Star Capital at www.lscre.com 

Brad Johnson breaks down mobile home park investing—debunking myths, sharing value-add strategies, and explaining why this asset thrives in housing crises.In this episode of RealDealChat, Jack sits down with Brad Johnson, co-founder of Vintage Funds, to discuss why mobile home parks are one of the most misunderstood—and potentially profitable—asset classes in real estate.Brad explains why one in 20 Americans lives in a mobile home, how this sector solves the affordable housing crisis, and why stigma keeps many investors out of the space. He also shares his approach to building long-term cash flow rather than chasing short-term IRRs.Here's what you'll learn in this conversation:Why mobile home parks still suffer from stigma (and why that's an opportunity)The difference between “trailer parks” and manufactured housing communitiesWhy consolidation is slow and why mom-and-pop operators still dominateHow forced appreciation (or “operational alpha”) drives value in parksThe importance of seller financing and building trust with ownersTax advantages of mobile home park investing (bonus depreciation & cost seg)How professional management changes tenant experienceWhy long-term cash flow beats short-term flips in this niche

Small Bay Industrial (a.k.a. Flex Space) wasn't on your radar—and for good reason.But what if the most overlooked asset class in commercial real estate turned out to be one of the most profitable? In this episode, Cody Payne, SVP at Colliers, breaks down why Small Bay Flex Industrial is quietly exploding—and why more active and passive investors are taking notice. Cody shares how he transitioned from leasing to owning, how syndication plays a role in the space, and why this niche might outperform retail and office over the next decade. Whether you're looking to diversify your portfolio or find a less management-intensive asset, this is an episode you don't want to miss.Key TakeawaysWhy Flex Industrial Is Heating UpThe asset class has evolved: from basic metal garages to glass-fronted multi-use spaces.Demand is surging as small businesses, gyms, e-commerce, and retail users flood in.Triple-net leases and low tenant improvement costs make this a capital-efficient play.How to Add Real Value with Small Bay AssetsSimple cosmetic upgrades (like storefront glass) can attract higher-paying tenants.Reconfiguring larger units into smaller ones can boost PSF rent.Strategic side yards and outdoor storage add ancillary income.Investor Returns: What to ExpectTypical stabilized deals offer 8–10% cash-on-cash returns with low capex.Value-add plays or development deals can push IRRs significantly higher.Cap rates range from 6–8%, depending on market and quality.Management Made SimpleTriple-net leases reduce headaches—tenants handle their own maintenance.Very few after-hours calls; most businesses operate during daytime hours.Easy to find third-party managers who understand this asset class.Syndication in Small Bay: A New FrontierCody's early deals involved rolling his broker fee into equity—low-risk entry point.Syndication works well, especially for stabilized assets or light value-add.Investors like the stability, tenant diversity, and ease of management.Navigating the Market: Deal Flow and FinancingGood deal flow in most metros if your buy box is realistic (e.g., 7–8% cap).Financing is accessible: 25-year terms, 65% LTV, and ~6.25% interest.Banks used to avoid this asset class—now they're chasing it.Connect with CodyWebsiteBook: Flex Space DominationLinkedInConnect with MichaelFacebookInstagramYouTubeTikTokResourcesTheFreedomPodcast.com Access the #1 FREE Apartment Investing Course (Apartments 101)Schedule a Free Strategy Session with Michael's Team of Advisors

About this episodeWhat if your next real estate investment didn't take years to yield returns—and came with white-glove service, real-time reporting, and a team that can flip three luxury mansions faster than most contractors finish one?In this episode, Adi Soozin interviews Roberto Bolona, CEO of Brenner Cox™ the favorite Luxury Real Estate Development company of investors. Brenner Cox™ is the secret weapon behind some of South Florida's most profitable, high-speed luxury mansion flips (don't believe me? checkout the before & after images on the 9x90™ page). In this episode Roberto reveals how his team transformed a $1.1M teardown into a $10M mega-estate—with precision upgrades that included a custom gym, guest house, and basketball court.In this episode you will hear how Brenner Cox™ offers an average of 33% IRRs to their investors in as little as 12 months. While most flippers lose money hiring cheap & incompetent contractors, Roberto's team keeps elite investors at the top of their game with rapid turn-around times and real-time updates—so they can be on top of their investments without ever needing to lift a finger. From integrating Ferraris into home theaters to building in the most exclusive zip codes, this team turns wild ideas into sold-out homes and seven-figure returns.If you're investing in luxury real estate—or want to start doing it smarter, faster, and more profitably—this episode will change how you evaluate your next deal.About this guestFor those of you who do not know Roberto, he:Built over $50 million in real estate transaction volume, with a decade of experience acquiring and developing luxury properties in Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, and Arizona (multifamily ventures).Recently, his firm sold a luxury Southwest Ranches estate for $7.2 million, showcasing his success in high-end South Florida developments.Is often referred to as the #1 luxury home builder in Southwest Ranches, Brenner Cox has delivered marquee mega‑estates—such as the 14,000 sq ft showpiece valued over $10 million.Co-founded both Monumental Real Estate and Brenner Cox Construction Management, reinforcing his leadership as both visionary developer and managing partner.Read more at 9x90.co/Roberto-Bolona

From Multifamily to Market Mastery: Raising Capital in Uncertain Times with Hunter Thompson | Raise Capital Legally PodcastIn this episode of Raise Capital Legally, hosts Kim Lisa Taylor and Krisha Young are joined by Hunter Thompson, founder of RaisingCapital.com and creator of the RaiseMasters coaching program. Hunter is also the author of Raising Capital for Real Estate and has deep experience in navigating market cycles.In this conversation, Hunter shares valuable insights on the multifamily asset class, the dangers of high projected IRRs, and how to structure investor deals during challenging times. He also emphasizes the importance of advertising compliance and discusses the growing role of business acquisitions in today's investment landscape.If you're new to raising capital or facing uncertain market conditions, this episode is a must-listen. Hunter's advice will help you navigate the complexities of real estate investing and capital raising with confidence.Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction2:30 - Hunter's journey through market cycles8:15 - Understanding IRRs and investor expectations15:00 - The role of advertising compliance in capital raising22:10 - Structuring deals in challenging times30:50 - Why business acquisitions are becoming more important37:30 - Key takeaways for investorsDon't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more insights from top industry experts!#RaiseCapitalLegally #RaisingCapital #RealEstateInvesting #CapitalRaising #HunterThompson #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateTips #InvestorDeals #AdvertisingCompliance #RealEstateBusiness

Title: Rare Earths to Truffles: Diversified Investments You've Never Heard Of with Louis O'Connor Summary: In this episode of Raise the Bar Radio, Seth Bradley welcomes back Lou, an international investor, to discuss diversification, rare earth metals, and a unique agricultural investment opportunity. Lou, who splits his time between Europe and Latin America, emphasizes the importance of global diversification for peace of mind and flexibility. He highlights the geopolitical dynamics affecting rare earth metals, where China dominates the refining process, and discusses the increasing demand due to restricted exports. Transitioning from metals to agriculture, Lou introduces his truffle farm investment. Leveraging agri-science and Ireland's favorable climate, the project offers investors ownership of inoculated truffle trees with professional farm management. Returns are projected to begin in year 4-5 and continue for up to 40 years, offering IRRs between 14% to 69% based on historical truffle prices. Risks include mismanagement and natural elements, though strong biosecurity and proven success mitigate concerns. Lou finishes with a valuable mindset tip: improve by 1% daily to compound results over time. Bullet Point Highlights: Diversification across countries and industries provides flexibility and peace of mind China's control of rare earth refining and export restrictions create scarcity and opportunity Truffle farm investment offers strong IRR potential, with returns starting in years 4-5 and lasting 30-40 years Minimum $30K investment includes 400 saplings and full farm management with a 70/30 profit split Primary risks are mismanagement and nature, mitigated through biosecurity and replacement guarantees Lou's golden nugget: Focus on improving 1% daily to unlock exponential long-term growth Transcript: (Seth Bradley) (00:02.062) What's up, builders? This is Raise the Bar Radio, where we talk about building wealth, raising capital, and all in all, raising the bar in your business and your life. This is the No BS podcast for capital raisers, investors, and entrepreneurs who are serious about scaling their business and living life on their own terms. I'm Seth Bradley, securities attorney, real estate investor, and entrepreneur, bringing you world-class strategies from the best in the game.   If you're ready to raise more capital, close bigger deals, build a better you and create true financial freedom, you're in the right place. Let's go. Lou, what's going on, brother? Welcome back to the show.   Thank you very much Seth. Thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Good to see you again.   Yeah, absolutely man. Great to catch up with you. Are you tuning in from where?   Well, in Europe still, you know, I'm back and forth between Ireland, Germany, mostly, a little bit of time in Panama as well, because my wife's from there, but I'm in temporary in Ireland, horse breeding country and agricultural heartland actually of Europe. And at the moment anyway, yeah, so in Europe.   (Seth Bradley) (01:16.664) awesome, awesome. That's the beauty of being on a video conference call that you can talk to anyone from anywhere in the world now. That's the one good thing that came out of COVID is it made it normal to do it.   Yeah, it's funny, unbelievable. Just yesterday I was contacted actually by CNBC in the US, I'm in Europe, about the metals. We're not talking about metals today, but I've spoken with you before about the rare earth metals. And I guess the US chamber, secretary chamber of commerce is in China this week because China is restricting the export of certain technology metals and that's their area.   And within a day, there's like an hour after I speak with you, I'm doing an interview with CNBC on, I think it's Power Launch or something they call it. So it's fascinating really how quickly you can sort of ping around the globe and find somebody and do this.   Yeah, yeah, very cool, very cool, man. Well, thanks for taking the time to tune in with us today. And we've got a brand new thing to talk about and we'll jump into that. But before we do, just for listeners who didn't listen to your previous episode, give us a little bit about your background and your story. Just a general synopsis,   Sure, thank you. Yeah, so I'm obviously, you can tell from the accent, I'm Irish or Scottish or Australian, but it's Irish. And I suppose you could say I'm bit of a world traveler who has come back home specifically for this project we're going to talk about. Ireland is known as sort of the breadbasket of Europe. But yeah, I lived in Germany for 10 years, lived in Central America and traveled extensively in South America during that time.   (Louis O'Connor) (03:05.422) But my niche, if you will, you know one other business we're involved in. And my niche, what I'm looking for is always what I call, I don't know what you might call it in the US, but we sort of call it a path of progress play here, which is if you sort of look at an industry or a product, what's happened in the last 10 years, or even a country or even a business for that matter, if you look at what's happened in the last 10, you can sort of   have a look at likely what's going to happen in the next 10. So I'm always looking for somewhere where demand is increasing and supply is either going to be limited or subject to disruption and somehow, and that's what we will be talking to an agricultural product and we'll talk more about it. But I like to be diversified in every way. So I have business in Germany, this agricultural product is in Ireland.   I do my banking in Belize and Panama and different parts of Europe. So just trying to be as diversified as possible.   Right, right. And that's part of your kind of plan as well, right? Like to be kind of this international man of mystery, right? Like you have different ties to a couple of different countries, which gives you flexibility in case something goes wrong in one of them, right? Like, you know, I think a lot of people were worried here for a while and I think it's still in the back of people's minds in the United States about, you know, the strength of the dollar and   You know, people were talking about getting a second citizenship and things like that. Can you speak to that a little bit about kind of, you know, how you've done that and what your kind of thoughts and feelings are around that?   (Louis O'Connor) (04:46.552) Sure, sure. Well, you my feeling always has this peace of mind, you know, I just want peace of mind. I want to be at peace with myself and the world around me. that's, I mean, I'm probably talking about more philosophically and spiritually as well, but also, you know, in business or residencies or banking. I suppose it's because I left Ireland quite young and I did live.   I didn't just go on a vacation somewhere. lived in Germany for 10 years. I learned the language. Ireland is an island, even though we're part of Europe, continental Europe is completely different. And then I went to Latin America, which is a completely different kettle of fish altogether. And I suppose it was those experiences that the perspective that gave me was that, that sounds very simple, really, root of entry, but there's...   there's good and bad, know, you we do certain things in Ireland very well, and maybe other things not so well in Germany, they do, you know, they've made better cars and better roads. And we do and you know, Latin America, I think they dance better and drink better maybe than you know, but so yeah, what I learned is, you know, you know, you can pick is a bit like life can be a bit like a buffet, and you can pick what you like, and you know what you don't like leave behind, you know, so and the idea, I suppose the point I should make is that   What I've learned is it's not expensive or difficult to be diversified. Like have your banking in different jurisdictions really doesn't cost anything. Having a second or third residency if you do the right homework on I'll go into more detail if you want. have residency still in Panama and I three passports. I'm working on the fourth and it has been a little bit of effort but not expensive or costly.   And will I ever use it? I worried that the world's going to end? No. But it's just that peace of mind you have when you've got these other options that, God forbid if something did happen here in Ireland or Europe, I have a residency in Panama, I banking there. So it's just that, suppose it's like having a parachute or a safety net that's always there.   (Seth Bradley) (07:00.13) Yeah, yeah, I agree. mean, that's, you know, especially the way that things are today and people kind of just worry about things generally, right? If you have that peace of mind and you have that, you know, second or third option, it's just something that can kind of let you sleep at night a little bit better. It's like having a nest egg or, you know, having a second, third, fourth, fifth stream of income.   things like that that can let you sleep at night and while other people are panicking and worrying and making, you know, maybe even bad decisions based on that, you know, based on those worries, you can sleep soundly and make decisions that are best for you.   Yeah, yeah, and you're not limited, know, if you're just, you know, like, I mean, it's funny though, as well, I think it's timely. I think the time has come. I you see people, you know, we were chatting earlier, you know, being involved in multiple different industries and, you know, with technology, we're allowed to do that. We can reside in one country, we can do our bank in another, we can do our tax responsibility somewhere else, we can do our business. So it's probably just in the last 20, 30 years that we can move so freely.   with all this stuff, know, you know, only maybe 25, 30 years ago, I wanted to, I couldn't really do business in Germany, but live in Ireland, it'd have to be one or the other. There was no internet, you know, everything. So, so yeah, I think, I think we're heading in that direction anyway. And it's just, yeah, there's great freedom in it and great peace of mind, even though, you know, I mean, I'll be in Ireland for, you know, my two kids are, there's another six or eight years.   before they finish school. So I plan to be here, but I just have other options as well, you know.   (Seth Bradley) (08:41.42) Yeah, yeah, that's fantastic. And speaking of diversification, mean, your investments are very diverse, right? I mean, in the previous episode, we jumped into rare earth metals. And then in this episode, we're going to jump into something new. Before we jump into the new thing, though, give us a little update on what has changed in your business with the rare earth metals or if anything has changed or how those things are going.   Yeah, well, thanks. Thanks for asking, Seth. Since we spoke, actually, the big news is just in the last 60 days, I think I mentioned to you that China pretty much sort of dominates the rare earth industry. it's, I think really, it's possible and we understand now that China sort of saw before the EU and maybe before the US or they understood at least that rare earths would become   the backbone of manufacturing in the 21st century and they've been, you know, they've taken action on that. So we're in a situation now and it's not really an economic strategy. It's more of a geopolitical strategy that China has big plans for electric cars, big plans for solar, big plans for wind. you know, they, they've hundreds of million people, they're, taken out of the poverty, into the middle class all the time. So sort of   thinking strategically and long term, they rightfully secured their supply of rare earths. And what happened just in the last 60 days is the US sort of initiated a sort of a block. Now it was also supported by Holland and Japan and they're blocking sort of the latest sort of semiconductor technology from going to China. And in retaliation for that, China   You know, they have, you know, an ace up their sleeve, which is where it hurts. So the West has the technology and China has the raw materials. And just in the last 60 days, China has said they're going to, well, effective August 1, which is a month ago, they're restricting the export now of gallium and germanium, which is two of these technology metals, and that China, you know, is responsible for 95 % of the global production. so we're seeing the prices go up and this is sort of.   (Louis O'Connor) (10:57.826) what I talked to you about that these metals are in demand on a good day, you know, you will make a nice return. But if something like this happens where China sort of weaponizes these metals economically, then you'll see prices increasing quite dramatically, which they are. Yeah, that's that's what's happening there. It's basically a market where there's surging demand and you have sort of political landscapes affecting as well. So   It makes for interesting investment.   Yeah, yeah. Are these rare earth metals, are they not something that we can mine or is it something we're not willing to mine, like let's say in the West?   (Louis O'Connor) (11:44.142) Yeah, good question actually. that actually gets right to the heart of it, Seth, because despite the name rare earths, they're not all that rare. Some of them are as sort of common as copper and stuff, but there's about eight or ten of them that are rare and they are available in the US. But this is what's changed dramatically in the last 30 years is the rare earths don't occur naturally. So they always occur as a byproduct of another raw material.   They're sort of, they're very chemically similar. they're, sort of all stuck together. So they have to be extracted and separated and then refined and processed into, you know, high purity levels for jet engines or smartphones or whatever the case might be. what's happened where China dominates is, is China is responsible for 95 % of the refining. Now there's about 200 or sorry, $390 billion available in subsidies in the U S.   from the Inflation Reduction Act, which despite the name is all about energy transition. And that's all very well, except the human capital and the engineering expertise to refine rare earths is depleted in, it doesn't exist in Europe, and it's very much depleted in the US. Just to give you some context, there's 39 universities in China, where they graduate degrees in critical minerals.   So the Chinese are graduating about 200 metallurgists a week, every week for the last 30 years. I think the US has a handful of universities. I'd say there's probably 300,000 metallurgists in China and there might be 400 in the US and probably none in Europe at all. So it's not just a question of if they're there, it's how do we get them into 99.99 % purity? Without the engineering expertise, we can't, not anytime soon anyway.   Wow, yeah, yeah. mean, that just alone sounds like a recipe for a pretty good play for an investment. you know, there's these bottlenecks, right? Whether that's people that can refine it or the actual element itself or willingness to mine it, you know, all these different things come into play to make it a good investment. All right, let's switch over a little bit here. Let's talk about the new investment vehicle.   (Seth Bradley) (14:06.99) that you talked to me about. It's an agricultural play, correct? we're talking about truffles, talking about mushrooms, right? Tell me a little bit about it just to get started here.   Okay, well, you probably I mean, you know, truffles are in the culinary world, they're known as the black diamond of the kitchen, you know, they're, they're a delicacy going back to, you know, thousands and thousands of years. Traditionally, the black perigord, which is the Mediterranean truffle would have originated in France, but for the last sort of, you know, the last 100 years or so,   they've been growing abundantly in sort of South, Southwestern France, Northern Spain and Italy. So traditionally, you know, that's where they grow and they sort of, know, because the truffle, as you said, it's a mushroom that has a symbiotic relationship with a a native tree, an oak tree or hazel tree or sometimes beech. So it's a very delicate balance, you know.   And although I have invested in agriculture before, we started, we, I mean, a collective does not just me involved here, and I don't want to sound like I take credit for any of this really. I was just a part of a team where we had some agri-science people, and we had sort of four generational farmers involved. But we were looking at, it is no question that climate, there's a climate change, right?   It doesn't matter to me whether people, whatever the causes of that are, the reality is if you talk to an olive grower or a truffle grower in Italy or France, they'll tell you the climate has changed because their harvests have been decreasing for about the last 30 to 40 years actually, but really more so in the last 10. So we were sort of, I'll tell you basically the AgriScience partner involved in this.   (Louis O'Connor) (16:10.958) As a test back in 2005, they started to plant and the trees inoculated, the baby trees inoculated with the truffle sort of in the root system as a test all over different countries, not just Ireland, England, UK, also the US. So this has been in sort of research and development since about 2005.   And we got seriously involved in about 2015 when history was made and this Mediterranean truffle was grown here in the British Isles for the first time. we then with our agriscience partner in 2015 planted a thousand trees in five different locations in Ireland where I am.   and one of them is about 20 minutes away from me here. They're all secret locations. I won't even tell you where they are because they really are. They're highly valued or highly prized. And so it takes about four or five years to see if you're a business. So yeah, we now are growing the Mediterranean truffle, not just in Ireland, but in other parts of the UK. But the real interesting thing, Seth, it's just now ready for scale. And all of the farmers,   who were involved in the original research. None of them are going to take it to scale. The one that's local to me is a lovely gentleman. in his 60s and he planted a thousand trees really just as a retirement. His daughter works in banking in Switzerland and so there's nobody really to take over the farm. So we're the first to do it with scale. So we're inviting in...   a portion of some investors in as well.   (Seth Bradley) (18:05.87) Gotcha. Are there specific, I assume there are, are specific growing conditions where these things can prosper? Like I can't, I'm in San Diego, I can't just plant them in my backyard and wait five years and be a millionaire.   Well, if you you if I hear you're growing truffles death, you know, we should assign an NDA we should assign. You could try but no, they wouldn't grow in San Diego because I mean, there's a very delicate balance and you're what you're you're what you're using here is agri science and nature. You're working with nature. And because the reason they've grown so well in demand is   No way.   (Louis O'Connor) (18:48.738) just because of that balance up they get a sort of a dry season or sort of they got to get a lot of rain and then they get the dry season and what's happened is they're getting more drought and less rain and it's just upset the balance. So it's a very, very delicate balance. But what people wouldn't know, I think, is that truffles have always grown wild in Ireland.   There was a time five or 600 years ago when Ireland was 85 % forest and our native tree is the oak and the hazel tree, is the tree that's also where the fungus grows. And what happened was when the Brits were before, you know, when shipbuilding was the thing and the British Navy were, you know, the Spanish were, so the Brits sort of chopped down a lot of the forest for the wood for shipbuilding. you know, our forests were depleted. But to this day,   Truffles do still grow wild here, but we're doing it differently. know, we're only planting on land where you have like certain protein and pH levels and limestone. And then we're planting baby saplings that are already two years old that were inoculated with the truffle fungus like at birth, like in the root system. And we only plant them after we see that the root system and the fungi are already thriving.   So if you get into the right soil and it's already thriving, then two, three, four years later, you'll get truffles.   (Seth Bradley) (20:17.216) the interruption, but we don't do ads. Instead, know that if you're raising capital for real estate, my law firm, RaiseLaw, is here to give you the expert legal guidance you need to raise capital compliantly and structure and close your deal. And if you're looking for a done-for-you fund-to-fund solution, Tribest is the industry's only all-in-one setup and fund administration solution. Visit Raise.Law and Tribest.com to learn more.   That's awesome. just, I think about like wine and like, you know, you can grow it, you know, vines in different places. Some places they grow, some places they don't, some places they grow and the result isn't good and some places they grow and the result is awesome. It's probably a very delicate balance between, you know, environment plus how they're raised, how they're taken care of and all those sorts of things.   It is 100%. I mean, first and foremost, mean, because of angry science and technology today, you know, I mean, we can plant baby saplings that are already and not, I mean, we're playing God a little bit with nature, but you know, I mean, it's just amazing, you know, like you could do it. And then, you know, the biggest threat is actually mismanagement. You know, if you don't then manage it correctly. If you have a root system inoculated with the fungus and you have the right soil conditions,   after that and it's management and it's sort of bio security meaning they have a very pungent smell. mean, squirrels and pigs and they love them. They love to eat. So you have to, mean, you're literally it's like protecting a bank, know, you have a bio security fence. You've you know, you limit visitations to the farm, you've, know, special footwear and cleaning and stuff. so yeah, it's serious stuff, you know.   Yeah. Yeah. Wow. That's awesome. Well, let's dive in a little bit to the kind of the investment itself. Like what does that look like for an investor? Like what are your projected returns? You know, what, how does it all kind of, how does it all shape out? Like you've grown these wildly valuable truffles and now I guess the first step would be what's the business plan? Who are we selling these truffles to? What makes them so valuable? And then get into kind of the investor   (Seth Bradley) (22:33.794) portion like how would someone get involved in whether projector returns.   Okay, so we sell, first of all, the estate that the farm is, it's called Chan Valley Estate. People can Google it, it's beautiful. It's 200 acres of north-temporary farmland. The estate itself, it's a bit like a smaller version of Downton Abbey. It's a Georgian.   a three story Georgian home, it's over 200 years old. It's also a museum and we have events there and it's also a working farm. And it's a herbal farm. So we grow plants and herbs there that we then we have our own, we work the value chain where we also sell those herbs for medicinal purpose and we convert them into medicinal oils and things like that. So the location is already up and running.   And what we're doing with the truffles is for every acre, we can plant 800 trees. And so what we're doing is we're offering investors, well, a client, the minimum investment is $30,000 and the investor for that price gets 400 baby saplings already inoculated with the truffle fungus. And then they get the farm management   included up to the first four to five years. takes about, there'll be truffles after, bearing in mind that the sapling, the baby tree is two years old. So after three years in the ground, it's already five years old and there'll be truffles then and the returns don't begin until then. But what's included in the price is all the farm management, know, all the, you know, the,   (Louis O'Connor) (24:23.508) implementation of the farm, the irrigation, the electricity, the hardware that's needed. So all the management right up until there is production and then when they're producing, the investor gets 70 % of the growth and the farm management company, we get 30%. So it's a 70-30 split. Now the great thing about the oak and the hazel is they'll produce   for 30 to 40 years. it's a long term, it's a legacy investment, you might call it, because you won't see returns until the fourth or fifth year. But once you do, you'll see returns then for another 30 to 35 years. And they're very, very good. mean, we have three numbers in the brochure. We looked at what's...   price half the truffles never dropped below. So we have the very low estimate, which is they've never gone below this price. That brings in an IRR, which would be from day one of about 14%. And then the highest that they've sold for, you're looking at about 69%, but the average is about 38%.   So the returns will be very, very good once production kicks in and then they'll maintain. We've included an inflation for 30 to 40 years. I hope, I think I answered everything there.   Yeah, definitely. sorry. I gave you about six questions there to answer in a row. But yeah, I think you covered everything. And having an IRR, which is time-based on something that has this long of a horizon and even takes four or five years to even start producing, those are really, really strong numbers.   (Louis O'Connor) (26:23.63) Yeah, well, again, even the, you know, one of the reasons obviously we like truffles because they're very, very expensive. mean, they're a luxury product. You know, we're about an hour from Shannon Airport here, which is the transatlantic hub between Europe and the U.S. So we can have truffles in U.S. or anywhere in Europe or even the Middle East or the Far East, for that matter, in less than 24 hours. that's important as well. But they're a luxury item. There's huge demand for them. mean,   You know how the world is. mean, there are, unfortunately, you know, there's always sort of, people are getting richer and some people maybe are getting poorer. But the luxury, you know, high end market and the culinary, international culinary explosion means that, you know, there's huge demand for truffles. And also you have to factor in the fact that the harvests in the Mediterranean are less and less every year. And I mean, very, very sadly,   I mean, it's an opportunity for us, but very sadly that they've done very specific scientific studies and it's going to over the next 50 years, the truffle harvests in the Med will go will decline between 73 and 100%. So literally, they will not be growing truffles there in 50 plus years from now. So that's an opportunity for us. you know, again,   We've been working on this really since 2015. And it was only, you know, it was only 2019, 2020 when we began to get to truffles we knew because there was no guarantee, you know. But yeah, now that we're growing them, we just need to scale up.   Gotcha. Gotcha. what's kind of the I see that you know, for that minimum investment, you get X number of baby saplings. How many was that again? 400. That's what I Okay, 400. What's kind of the survival rate, I guess, of those saplings? Do you have kind of a percentage on that? Is it like?   (Louis O'Connor) (28:17.102) 400   (Louis O'Connor) (28:27.086) Yeah, well, we expect you got what's happening so far is within in about year three, which is actually year five, because the sapling, you should get three of the five trees producing. But once you have production, once that fungi is thriving, it will just continue to grow. So in year four, you should have four of them. In year five, you should have all of them producing.   Now we also put a guarantee in the farm management contract that if any tree, you know, if it dies or if it's not, you know, producing truffles, we'll replace it free of charge at any time. in the event, you know, for some reason, I mean, we put a tree in that's inoculated and it doesn't take, then we just replace it. So either way, over the first four to five years, we get them all. And the great thing is if you protect that soil from   pests and diseases and other sort of unwelcome sort of mycorrhizal or fungi, then it will thrive. It will thrive. It'll keep, you know, it'll spread, you know, it's a symbiotic relationship underground between the tree and the fungi.   Got it. Yeah, that's awesome to know. like survival is not one of the things that we should consider because if for some reason it wouldn't survive or is not producing, then it just gets replaced. So you actually are getting those full 400 saplings turning into trees that will be producing.   almost they mature and produce and you know as I said barring you know any pests or diseases or you know interference then they just continue you just protect them you just allow nature then to do its work.   (Seth Bradley) (30:18.848) Yeah, yeah. So what are some of the risks then? What are the downsides that you can foresee if something were to go wrong? What would it be?   Well, the greatest threat is mismanagement, literally. I obviously we're doing this with scale, so it's a professional endeavor, you know, people from time to time, know, I mean, some of the test sites here, mean, I don't know, it seemed like a good idea at the time, and they're not that hard to manage, but people just lose interest, or the younger kids don't want to farm. But the greatest threat is mismanagement. So as long as you put in these biosecurity measures,   and manage, you know, there's got to be some clearing done, there's got to be some pruning done, there's got to be tree guards. So there is a process involved in bringing them to nurturing them along and then keeping everything, you know, neutral, if you will. that's first, weather is always, you know, factor in agriculture. We don't feel it's as much of a threat here, because although we're for the first time,   growing the Mediterranean truffle. Truffles have grown, they grow here wild anyway. So the climate is right and has been right for thousands of years in Ireland. So, you know, and again, we'll have irrigation as well. You know, we get a lot of rain here. It's not likely we'll need any more rain, but yeah, we, you know, the agri-science will kick in there as well. And then, you know, as I said, like,   you know, biosecurity we call it, which is, you know, very, very serious fencing, limited visits to the farm, know, special footwear if people are going up to the area and sort of rinse. We have a pool area where they have to disinfect before they go into, you know, it's a very, very, very protected area from pests and from diseases or anything, you know, that could be brought in from the outside on whether that's machinery or humans.   (Louis O'Connor) (32:22.892) So yeah, it's almost like a laboratory. mean, you keep it very, very delicate balance and keep it very limited on who visits and, you know, people are a visit, but they have to be properly, you know, the feet have to be cleaned and footwear has to be worn and stuff like that. So, but, know, at the end of the day, Seth, it's, you know, well, any investment really, but agriculture, you know, the final say is in nature's hands, you know, not ours. mean, we...   We like to think, suppose, we're in the results business, but the reality is we're not. in the planning business and all we can do is plan everything as well as we can. It's just like, you if you planted a rose, you know, bush out in your backyard there today, you wouldn't stand outside and will it to grow, right? You know, grow quicker. You know, we have to allow nature and the cosmos to do its work. so yeah, nature has the final say, you know.   Yeah, yeah, no, totally, totally understand. And any investment has its risks, whether you're investing in truffles or real estate or any of the above. Quick question on this. Don't want to paint you like in a bad way at all, but we have had and it's not you, of course, of course, but we've had an influx of bad sponsors and people that are anything from mismanaging investor capital on one end, which can happen pretty easily. And there's not a whole lot of   Not a lot of bad blood there. Things happen. And then on the other side of the spectrum, we've seen everything from fraud to Ponzi schemes and all kinds of stuff lately. One thing that I tell investors is to make sure you know who you're investing with and make sure your investing dollars are actually getting invested where they're supposed to. Could an investor invest with you and actually go to the farm?   and see their saplings or see the farm and see this business.   (Louis O'Connor) (34:24.654) 100 % in fact, we would rather people do I mean, I it's not always possible. Right. But Shan Valley Estate, I mean, I'll give you the website and stuff after Shan Valley Estate. It's a 200 acre farm. It's already a museum. have events there. It's a herb dispensary as I said, as I said, it's our our manage our farm management partner is the Duggan family, their fourth generation farmers and they're being in temporary, you know,   longer than that even. absolutely, you you know, of course, there's legal contracts. mean, people get a legal contract for the purchase of the trees and then we have a legal contract for the farm management that we're responsible for implementing the project, we're responsible for bringing the hard, the trees to truffles to harvest. But we do, we just beginning, we just had our first tour, but it was sort of Europe from Germany. Last, sorry,   the 18th, 19th of August. But we will be having tours every quarter. And if anybody wants to come at any time, we'd be delighted to have them because it's like I said, it's like a smaller version of Downton Abbey. And we've accommodated, we converted the stables into accommodation, you know, because we have weddings and events and stuff there as well. It's not just a field that we bought.   Yeah.   And so it's a big deal. I'll give you the website. The location is spectacular and clients can, you know, stay the night, you know, and there's a three story Georgian estate house and the bottom floor is a museum. So it's like walking into a pharmacy from 1840, all the bottles and the counter is 200 years old, you know, and then the middle level, we've an organic vegetarian restaurant, all the   (Louis O'Connor) (36:17.24) food is grown on the farm. There's an old walled garden that they used to wall the gardens years ago to keep out the pests. And all the food that's served is grown on the farm. And then the top floor is accommodation as well and the stables have been converted. look, it's all about trust, Seth. And, you know, I would say to anybody, you've   I mean myself, if I have any doubt about anything, don't do it. And it might not be that somebody's a scam or a fraud, it's just if you're not 100 % sure about it, don't touch it. But what I would recommend is people do their due diligence because we've done ours. We've eight years invested in it, put a lot of time and effort into it. And at the very least, we'd like people to check it out and see it all the way through.   for what it is. yeah, we'll be, we're hoping to, we have a partner in Europe and we're to connect with somebody in North America. I don't want name anybody here because it might not come off, but there's a few sort of marketers and there's plenty obviously that we might sort of do a sort of an agreement with where they'll, you know, I mean, we could even have sort of investment real estate conferences on the farm.   you know, and do farm tours as well. so definitely 100 % we'd love for people to visit and, and they get to drink some Guinness and they're really brave, they can swim in the Irish sea.   Yeah, and I'm looking at the website right now. We'll drop that in the show notes, but it is absolutely gorgeous. I mean, it's making me want to get on a plane right now and check it out. It's incredible.   (Louis O'Connor) (38:00.046) Yeah, that's the estate, shambali.ie. I mean, what I love about it's 100 % organic or members of the Irish Organic Association, track ref, fourth generation. You know, this is not me, I'm a part of this, but the farm management team are, you know, they're already like growing herbs and plants and converting them to medicinal, you know, oils and things. And this is just another, it's more of a farming enterprise, I suppose, than a farm.   And then the other partner is the Agri Science Partner, which is this team of scientists who basically made history by growing for the very first time eight years ago, the black, the Mediterranean truffle in Ireland, you know, so there's a lot of professionalism and thought and effort being put into a chap.   Love that. Love that man. Is there anything else about this type of investment that I didn't ask about that I should have?   I think you know Seth, you should be on CNN or something because I you did. I'm pretty sure you did, you definitely covered it. I mean I may have left something out but I think it's a good foundation for somebody if they're interested, I'll give them my email and you know it's not that expensive to get to Europe and it's a great way to mix a holiday and you know come to the farm and stuff you know.   Absolutely, absolutely. Well, since you're repeat guest of the guest of the show, we won't go into the freedom for but you have one last golden nugget for our listeners.   (Louis O'Connor) (39:34.446) You know, I knew you were going to ask me that, Seth, you caught me off guard. So I have one ready and I stole this from someone else. So I'm not going to take it. But I was listening to a guy last week and he, sort of a big operation in Europe. And he was talking about a phrase they have in the office and it's 1%. And they always look at each other and when you pass them, they go 1%. And I love what it's about. It's about the idea that in a way it sort of comes back to what we talked about earlier, which is forget about.   Yeah.   (Louis O'Connor) (40:04.664) the fact don't think you're in the results business. You're in the planning business. And the 1 % is every day, try and improve every little action. I'm not just talking about work. I'm talking about family, your spiritual practice, if you have one, increase it by 1 % every day. And you know, it's like compound interest, isn't it? That in a way, then you don't have to worry about the big picture. And the results will just look after themselves then, you know.   Yeah, yeah, I love that man. Always improve. mean, you you've got to take small steps to get to those big goals. And a lot of times you just need to ask yourself, did I improve 1 % today? If the answer is yes, then it was a successful day.   Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And it's great because, you know, if I was to try and think now, or you were to try and think now, everything you have to do in the next three weeks, right, you just be overwhelmed, right. And sometimes my head is like that, you know, I mean, I've got meditation practice and stuff, but I watch my thoughts and you know, I mean, it's it's a fact. I mean, it's a human condition. I don't know, some disestimates of how many thoughts do we have a day? How many are repetitive and how many are useless?   A lot of them are repetitive, a lot of them are useless. So it's good just to narrow it right down to what's the next thing I can do right now and can I do it 1 % better than I did yesterday, you know?   Absolutely. Love that man. All right, Lou, we're gonna let us find out more about you.   (Louis O'Connor) (41:34.954) Okay, so they can email me. It's Truffle Farm Invest. Sorry, it's a new website www.trufflefarminvest.com or they can if somebody from your your audience wants to email me directly, it's louis at trufflefarminvest.com   Alright, perfect man. We'll drop all that in the show notes. Thanks again for coming on the show. Always a pleasure, brother.   Thank you very much, Seth. A pleasure.   (Seth Bradley) (42:08.088) Thanks for tuning in to Raise the Bar Radio. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Keep pushing, keep building, and keep raising the bar. Until next time, enjoy the journey. Links from the Show and Guest Info and Links: Seth Bradley's Links: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/ https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/ https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesq https://medium.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en Louis O'Connor's Links: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054362234822 https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-o-connor-a583341b8/ https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/08/30/strategic-metals-founder-louis-oaconnor-breaks-down-china-u-s-rare-metal-wars.html

Title: Rare Earths to Truffles: Diversified Investments You've Never Heard Of with Louis O'Connor Summary: In this episode of Raise the Bar Radio, Seth Bradley welcomes back Lou, an international investor, to discuss diversification, rare earth metals, and a unique agricultural investment opportunity. Lou, who splits his time between Europe and Latin America, emphasizes the importance of global diversification for peace of mind and flexibility. He highlights the geopolitical dynamics affecting rare earth metals, where China dominates the refining process, and discusses the increasing demand due to restricted exports. Transitioning from metals to agriculture, Lou introduces his truffle farm investment. Leveraging agri-science and Ireland's favorable climate, the project offers investors ownership of inoculated truffle trees with professional farm management. Returns are projected to begin in year 4-5 and continue for up to 40 years, offering IRRs between 14% to 69% based on historical truffle prices. Risks include mismanagement and natural elements, though strong biosecurity and proven success mitigate concerns. Lou finishes with a valuable mindset tip: improve by 1% daily to compound results over time. Bullet Point Highlights: Diversification across countries and industries provides flexibility and peace of mind China's control of rare earth refining and export restrictions create scarcity and opportunity Truffle farm investment offers strong IRR potential, with returns starting in years 4-5 and lasting 30-40 years Minimum $30K investment includes 400 saplings and full farm management with a 70/30 profit split Primary risks are mismanagement and nature, mitigated through biosecurity and replacement guarantees Lou's golden nugget: Focus on improving 1% daily to unlock exponential long-term growth Transcript: (Seth Bradley) (00:02.062) What's up, builders? This is Raise the Bar Radio, where we talk about building wealth, raising capital, and all in all, raising the bar in your business and your life. This is the No BS podcast for capital raisers, investors, and entrepreneurs who are serious about scaling their business and living life on their own terms. I'm Seth Bradley, securities attorney, real estate investor, and entrepreneur, bringing you world-class strategies from the best in the game.   If you're ready to raise more capital, close bigger deals, build a better you and create true financial freedom, you're in the right place. Let's go. Lou, what's going on, brother? Welcome back to the show.   Thank you very much Seth. Thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Good to see you again.   Yeah, absolutely man. Great to catch up with you. Are you tuning in from where?   Well, in Europe still, you know, I'm back and forth between Ireland, Germany, mostly, a little bit of time in Panama as well, because my wife's from there, but I'm in temporary in Ireland, horse breeding country and agricultural heartland actually of Europe. And at the moment anyway, yeah, so in Europe.   (Seth Bradley) (01:16.664) awesome, awesome. That's the beauty of being on a video conference call that you can talk to anyone from anywhere in the world now. That's the one good thing that came out of COVID is it made it normal to do it.   Yeah, it's funny, unbelievable. Just yesterday I was contacted actually by CNBC in the US, I'm in Europe, about the metals. We're not talking about metals today, but I've spoken with you before about the rare earth metals. And I guess the US chamber, secretary chamber of commerce is in China this week because China is restricting the export of certain technology metals and that's their area.   And within a day, there's like an hour after I speak with you, I'm doing an interview with CNBC on, I think it's Power Launch or something they call it. So it's fascinating really how quickly you can sort of ping around the globe and find somebody and do this.   Yeah, yeah, very cool, very cool, man. Well, thanks for taking the time to tune in with us today. And we've got a brand new thing to talk about and we'll jump into that. But before we do, just for listeners who didn't listen to your previous episode, give us a little bit about your background and your story. Just a general synopsis,   Sure, thank you. Yeah, so I'm obviously, you can tell from the accent, I'm Irish or Scottish or Australian, but it's Irish. And I suppose you could say I'm bit of a world traveler who has come back home specifically for this project we're going to talk about. Ireland is known as sort of the breadbasket of Europe. But yeah, I lived in Germany for 10 years, lived in Central America and traveled extensively in South America during that time.   (Louis O'Connor) (03:05.422) But my niche, if you will, you know one other business we're involved in. And my niche, what I'm looking for is always what I call, I don't know what you might call it in the US, but we sort of call it a path of progress play here, which is if you sort of look at an industry or a product, what's happened in the last 10 years, or even a country or even a business for that matter, if you look at what's happened in the last 10, you can sort of   have a look at likely what's going to happen in the next 10. So I'm always looking for somewhere where demand is increasing and supply is either going to be limited or subject to disruption and somehow, and that's what we will be talking to an agricultural product and we'll talk more about it. But I like to be diversified in every way. So I have business in Germany, this agricultural product is in Ireland.   I do my banking in Belize and Panama and different parts of Europe. So just trying to be as diversified as possible.   Right, right. And that's part of your kind of plan as well, right? Like to be kind of this international man of mystery, right? Like you have different ties to a couple of different countries, which gives you flexibility in case something goes wrong in one of them, right? Like, you know, I think a lot of people were worried here for a while and I think it's still in the back of people's minds in the United States about, you know, the strength of the dollar and   You know, people were talking about getting a second citizenship and things like that. Can you speak to that a little bit about kind of, you know, how you've done that and what your kind of thoughts and feelings are around that?   (Louis O'Connor) (04:46.552) Sure, sure. Well, you my feeling always has this peace of mind, you know, I just want peace of mind. I want to be at peace with myself and the world around me. that's, I mean, I'm probably talking about more philosophically and spiritually as well, but also, you know, in business or residencies or banking. I suppose it's because I left Ireland quite young and I did live.   I didn't just go on a vacation somewhere. lived in Germany for 10 years. I learned the language. Ireland is an island, even though we're part of Europe, continental Europe is completely different. And then I went to Latin America, which is a completely different kettle of fish altogether. And I suppose it was those experiences that the perspective that gave me was that, that sounds very simple, really, root of entry, but there's...   there's good and bad, know, you we do certain things in Ireland very well, and maybe other things not so well in Germany, they do, you know, they've made better cars and better roads. And we do and you know, Latin America, I think they dance better and drink better maybe than you know, but so yeah, what I learned is, you know, you know, you can pick is a bit like life can be a bit like a buffet, and you can pick what you like, and you know what you don't like leave behind, you know, so and the idea, I suppose the point I should make is that   What I've learned is it's not expensive or difficult to be diversified. Like have your banking in different jurisdictions really doesn't cost anything. Having a second or third residency if you do the right homework on I'll go into more detail if you want. have residency still in Panama and I three passports. I'm working on the fourth and it has been a little bit of effort but not expensive or costly.   And will I ever use it? I worried that the world's going to end? No. But it's just that peace of mind you have when you've got these other options that, God forbid if something did happen here in Ireland or Europe, I have a residency in Panama, I banking there. So it's just that, suppose it's like having a parachute or a safety net that's always there.   (Seth Bradley) (07:00.13) Yeah, yeah, I agree. mean, that's, you know, especially the way that things are today and people kind of just worry about things generally, right? If you have that peace of mind and you have that, you know, second or third option, it's just something that can kind of let you sleep at night a little bit better. It's like having a nest egg or, you know, having a second, third, fourth, fifth stream of income.   things like that that can let you sleep at night and while other people are panicking and worrying and making, you know, maybe even bad decisions based on that, you know, based on those worries, you can sleep soundly and make decisions that are best for you.   Yeah, yeah, and you're not limited, know, if you're just, you know, like, I mean, it's funny though, as well, I think it's timely. I think the time has come. I you see people, you know, we were chatting earlier, you know, being involved in multiple different industries and, you know, with technology, we're allowed to do that. We can reside in one country, we can do our bank in another, we can do our tax responsibility somewhere else, we can do our business. So it's probably just in the last 20, 30 years that we can move so freely.   with all this stuff, know, you know, only maybe 25, 30 years ago, I wanted to, I couldn't really do business in Germany, but live in Ireland, it'd have to be one or the other. There was no internet, you know, everything. So, so yeah, I think, I think we're heading in that direction anyway. And it's just, yeah, there's great freedom in it and great peace of mind, even though, you know, I mean, I'll be in Ireland for, you know, my two kids are, there's another six or eight years.   before they finish school. So I plan to be here, but I just have other options as well, you know.   (Seth Bradley) (08:41.42) Yeah, yeah, that's fantastic. And speaking of diversification, mean, your investments are very diverse, right? I mean, in the previous episode, we jumped into rare earth metals. And then in this episode, we're going to jump into something new. Before we jump into the new thing, though, give us a little update on what has changed in your business with the rare earth metals or if anything has changed or how those things are going.   Yeah, well, thanks. Thanks for asking, Seth. Since we spoke, actually, the big news is just in the last 60 days, I think I mentioned to you that China pretty much sort of dominates the rare earth industry. it's, I think really, it's possible and we understand now that China sort of saw before the EU and maybe before the US or they understood at least that rare earths would become   the backbone of manufacturing in the 21st century and they've been, you know, they've taken action on that. So we're in a situation now and it's not really an economic strategy. It's more of a geopolitical strategy that China has big plans for electric cars, big plans for solar, big plans for wind. you know, they, they've hundreds of million people, they're, taken out of the poverty, into the middle class all the time. So sort of   thinking strategically and long term, they rightfully secured their supply of rare earths. And what happened just in the last 60 days is the US sort of initiated a sort of a block. Now it was also supported by Holland and Japan and they're blocking sort of the latest sort of semiconductor technology from going to China. And in retaliation for that, China   You know, they have, you know, an ace up their sleeve, which is where it hurts. So the West has the technology and China has the raw materials. And just in the last 60 days, China has said they're going to, well, effective August 1, which is a month ago, they're restricting the export now of gallium and germanium, which is two of these technology metals, and that China, you know, is responsible for 95 % of the global production. so we're seeing the prices go up and this is sort of.   (Louis O'Connor) (10:57.826) what I talked to you about that these metals are in demand on a good day, you know, you will make a nice return. But if something like this happens where China sort of weaponizes these metals economically, then you'll see prices increasing quite dramatically, which they are. Yeah, that's that's what's happening there. It's basically a market where there's surging demand and you have sort of political landscapes affecting as well. So   It makes for interesting investment.   Yeah, yeah. Are these rare earth metals, are they not something that we can mine or is it something we're not willing to mine, like let's say in the West?   (Louis O'Connor) (11:44.142) Yeah, good question actually. that actually gets right to the heart of it, Seth, because despite the name rare earths, they're not all that rare. Some of them are as sort of common as copper and stuff, but there's about eight or ten of them that are rare and they are available in the US. But this is what's changed dramatically in the last 30 years is the rare earths don't occur naturally. So they always occur as a byproduct of another raw material.   They're sort of, they're very chemically similar. they're, sort of all stuck together. So they have to be extracted and separated and then refined and processed into, you know, high purity levels for jet engines or smartphones or whatever the case might be. what's happened where China dominates is, is China is responsible for 95 % of the refining. Now there's about 200 or sorry, $390 billion available in subsidies in the U S.   from the Inflation Reduction Act, which despite the name is all about energy transition. And that's all very well, except the human capital and the engineering expertise to refine rare earths is depleted in, it doesn't exist in Europe, and it's very much depleted in the US. Just to give you some context, there's 39 universities in China, where they graduate degrees in critical minerals.   So the Chinese are graduating about 200 metallurgists a week, every week for the last 30 years. I think the US has a handful of universities. I'd say there's probably 300,000 metallurgists in China and there might be 400 in the US and probably none in Europe at all. So it's not just a question of if they're there, it's how do we get them into 99.99 % purity? Without the engineering expertise, we can't, not anytime soon anyway.   Wow, yeah, yeah. mean, that just alone sounds like a recipe for a pretty good play for an investment. you know, there's these bottlenecks, right? Whether that's people that can refine it or the actual element itself or willingness to mine it, you know, all these different things come into play to make it a good investment. All right, let's switch over a little bit here. Let's talk about the new investment vehicle.   (Seth Bradley) (14:06.99) that you talked to me about. It's an agricultural play, correct? we're talking about truffles, talking about mushrooms, right? Tell me a little bit about it just to get started here.   Okay, well, you probably I mean, you know, truffles are in the culinary world, they're known as the black diamond of the kitchen, you know, they're, they're a delicacy going back to, you know, thousands and thousands of years. Traditionally, the black perigord, which is the Mediterranean truffle would have originated in France, but for the last sort of, you know, the last 100 years or so,   they've been growing abundantly in sort of South, Southwestern France, Northern Spain and Italy. So traditionally, you know, that's where they grow and they sort of, know, because the truffle, as you said, it's a mushroom that has a symbiotic relationship with a a native tree, an oak tree or hazel tree or sometimes beech. So it's a very delicate balance, you know.   And although I have invested in agriculture before, we started, we, I mean, a collective does not just me involved here, and I don't want to sound like I take credit for any of this really. I was just a part of a team where we had some agri-science people, and we had sort of four generational farmers involved. But we were looking at, it is no question that climate, there's a climate change, right?   It doesn't matter to me whether people, whatever the causes of that are, the reality is if you talk to an olive grower or a truffle grower in Italy or France, they'll tell you the climate has changed because their harvests have been decreasing for about the last 30 to 40 years actually, but really more so in the last 10. So we were sort of, I'll tell you basically the AgriScience partner involved in this.   (Louis O'Connor) (16:10.958) As a test back in 2005, they started to plant and the trees inoculated, the baby trees inoculated with the truffle sort of in the root system as a test all over different countries, not just Ireland, England, UK, also the US. So this has been in sort of research and development since about 2005.   And we got seriously involved in about 2015 when history was made and this Mediterranean truffle was grown here in the British Isles for the first time. we then with our agriscience partner in 2015 planted a thousand trees in five different locations in Ireland where I am.   and one of them is about 20 minutes away from me here. They're all secret locations. I won't even tell you where they are because they really are. They're highly valued or highly prized. And so it takes about four or five years to see if you're a business. So yeah, we now are growing the Mediterranean truffle, not just in Ireland, but in other parts of the UK. But the real interesting thing, Seth, it's just now ready for scale. And all of the farmers,   who were involved in the original research. None of them are going to take it to scale. The one that's local to me is a lovely gentleman. in his 60s and he planted a thousand trees really just as a retirement. His daughter works in banking in Switzerland and so there's nobody really to take over the farm. So we're the first to do it with scale. So we're inviting in...   a portion of some investors in as well.   (Seth Bradley) (18:05.87) Gotcha. Are there specific, I assume there are, are specific growing conditions where these things can prosper? Like I can't, I'm in San Diego, I can't just plant them in my backyard and wait five years and be a millionaire.   Well, if you you if I hear you're growing truffles death, you know, we should assign an NDA we should assign. You could try but no, they wouldn't grow in San Diego because I mean, there's a very delicate balance and you're what you're you're what you're using here is agri science and nature. You're working with nature. And because the reason they've grown so well in demand is   No way.   (Louis O'Connor) (18:48.738) just because of that balance up they get a sort of a dry season or sort of they got to get a lot of rain and then they get the dry season and what's happened is they're getting more drought and less rain and it's just upset the balance. So it's a very, very delicate balance. But what people wouldn't know, I think, is that truffles have always grown wild in Ireland.   There was a time five or 600 years ago when Ireland was 85 % forest and our native tree is the oak and the hazel tree, is the tree that's also where the fungus grows. And what happened was when the Brits were before, you know, when shipbuilding was the thing and the British Navy were, you know, the Spanish were, so the Brits sort of chopped down a lot of the forest for the wood for shipbuilding. you know, our forests were depleted. But to this day,   Truffles do still grow wild here, but we're doing it differently. know, we're only planting on land where you have like certain protein and pH levels and limestone. And then we're planting baby saplings that are already two years old that were inoculated with the truffle fungus like at birth, like in the root system. And we only plant them after we see that the root system and the fungi are already thriving.   So if you get into the right soil and it's already thriving, then two, three, four years later, you'll get truffles.   (Seth Bradley) (20:17.216) the interruption, but we don't do ads. Instead, know that if you're raising capital for real estate, my law firm, RaiseLaw, is here to give you the expert legal guidance you need to raise capital compliantly and structure and close your deal. And if you're looking for a done-for-you fund-to-fund solution, Tribest is the industry's only all-in-one setup and fund administration solution. Visit Raise.Law and Tribest.com to learn more.   That's awesome. just, I think about like wine and like, you know, you can grow it, you know, vines in different places. Some places they grow, some places they don't, some places they grow and the result isn't good and some places they grow and the result is awesome. It's probably a very delicate balance between, you know, environment plus how they're raised, how they're taken care of and all those sorts of things.   It is 100%. I mean, first and foremost, mean, because of angry science and technology today, you know, I mean, we can plant baby saplings that are already and not, I mean, we're playing God a little bit with nature, but you know, I mean, it's just amazing, you know, like you could do it. And then, you know, the biggest threat is actually mismanagement. You know, if you don't then manage it correctly. If you have a root system inoculated with the fungus and you have the right soil conditions,   after that and it's management and it's sort of bio security meaning they have a very pungent smell. mean, squirrels and pigs and they love them. They love to eat. So you have to, mean, you're literally it's like protecting a bank, know, you have a bio security fence. You've you know, you limit visitations to the farm, you've, know, special footwear and cleaning and stuff. so yeah, it's serious stuff, you know.   Yeah. Yeah. Wow. That's awesome. Well, let's dive in a little bit to the kind of the investment itself. Like what does that look like for an investor? Like what are your projected returns? You know, what, how does it all kind of, how does it all shape out? Like you've grown these wildly valuable truffles and now I guess the first step would be what's the business plan? Who are we selling these truffles to? What makes them so valuable? And then get into kind of the investor   (Seth Bradley) (22:33.794) portion like how would someone get involved in whether projector returns.   Okay, so we sell, first of all, the estate that the farm is, it's called Chan Valley Estate. People can Google it, it's beautiful. It's 200 acres of north-temporary farmland. The estate itself, it's a bit like a smaller version of Downton Abbey. It's a Georgian.   a three story Georgian home, it's over 200 years old. It's also a museum and we have events there and it's also a working farm. And it's a herbal farm. So we grow plants and herbs there that we then we have our own, we work the value chain where we also sell those herbs for medicinal purpose and we convert them into medicinal oils and things like that. So the location is already up and running.   And what we're doing with the truffles is for every acre, we can plant 800 trees. And so what we're doing is we're offering investors, well, a client, the minimum investment is $30,000 and the investor for that price gets 400 baby saplings already inoculated with the truffle fungus. And then they get the farm management   included up to the first four to five years. takes about, there'll be truffles after, bearing in mind that the sapling, the baby tree is two years old. So after three years in the ground, it's already five years old and there'll be truffles then and the returns don't begin until then. But what's included in the price is all the farm management, know, all the, you know, the,   (Louis O'Connor) (24:23.508) implementation of the farm, the irrigation, the electricity, the hardware that's needed. So all the management right up until there is production and then when they're producing, the investor gets 70 % of the growth and the farm management company, we get 30%. So it's a 70-30 split. Now the great thing about the oak and the hazel is they'll produce   for 30 to 40 years. it's a long term, it's a legacy investment, you might call it, because you won't see returns until the fourth or fifth year. But once you do, you'll see returns then for another 30 to 35 years. And they're very, very good. mean, we have three numbers in the brochure. We looked at what's...   price half the truffles never dropped below. So we have the very low estimate, which is they've never gone below this price. That brings in an IRR, which would be from day one of about 14%. And then the highest that they've sold for, you're looking at about 69%, but the average is about 38%.   So the returns will be very, very good once production kicks in and then they'll maintain. We've included an inflation for 30 to 40 years. I hope, I think I answered everything there.   Yeah, definitely. sorry. I gave you about six questions there to answer in a row. But yeah, I think you covered everything. And having an IRR, which is time-based on something that has this long of a horizon and even takes four or five years to even start producing, those are really, really strong numbers.   (Louis O'Connor) (26:23.63) Yeah, well, again, even the, you know, one of the reasons obviously we like truffles because they're very, very expensive. mean, they're a luxury product. You know, we're about an hour from Shannon Airport here, which is the transatlantic hub between Europe and the U.S. So we can have truffles in U.S. or anywhere in Europe or even the Middle East or the Far East, for that matter, in less than 24 hours. that's important as well. But they're a luxury item. There's huge demand for them. mean,   You know how the world is. mean, there are, unfortunately, you know, there's always sort of, people are getting richer and some people maybe are getting poorer. But the luxury, you know, high end market and the culinary, international culinary explosion means that, you know, there's huge demand for truffles. And also you have to factor in the fact that the harvests in the Mediterranean are less and less every year. And I mean, very, very sadly,   I mean, it's an opportunity for us, but very sadly that they've done very specific scientific studies and it's going to over the next 50 years, the truffle harvests in the Med will go will decline between 73 and 100%. So literally, they will not be growing truffles there in 50 plus years from now. So that's an opportunity for us. you know, again,   We've been working on this really since 2015. And it was only, you know, it was only 2019, 2020 when we began to get to truffles we knew because there was no guarantee, you know. But yeah, now that we're growing them, we just need to scale up.   Gotcha. Gotcha. what's kind of the I see that you know, for that minimum investment, you get X number of baby saplings. How many was that again? 400. That's what I Okay, 400. What's kind of the survival rate, I guess, of those saplings? Do you have kind of a percentage on that? Is it like?   (Louis O'Connor) (28:17.102) 400   (Louis O'Connor) (28:27.086) Yeah, well, we expect you got what's happening so far is within in about year three, which is actually year five, because the sapling, you should get three of the five trees producing. But once you have production, once that fungi is thriving, it will just continue to grow. So in year four, you should have four of them. In year five, you should have all of them producing.   Now we also put a guarantee in the farm management contract that if any tree, you know, if it dies or if it's not, you know, producing truffles, we'll replace it free of charge at any time. in the event, you know, for some reason, I mean, we put a tree in that's inoculated and it doesn't take, then we just replace it. So either way, over the first four to five years, we get them all. And the great thing is if you protect that soil from   pests and diseases and other sort of unwelcome sort of mycorrhizal or fungi, then it will thrive. It will thrive. It'll keep, you know, it'll spread, you know, it's a symbiotic relationship underground between the tree and the fungi.   Got it. Yeah, that's awesome to know. like survival is not one of the things that we should consider because if for some reason it wouldn't survive or is not producing, then it just gets replaced. So you actually are getting those full 400 saplings turning into trees that will be producing.   almost they mature and produce and you know as I said barring you know any pests or diseases or you know interference then they just continue you just protect them you just allow nature then to do its work.   (Seth Bradley) (30:18.848) Yeah, yeah. So what are some of the risks then? What are the downsides that you can foresee if something were to go wrong? What would it be?   Well, the greatest threat is mismanagement, literally. I obviously we're doing this with scale, so it's a professional endeavor, you know, people from time to time, know, I mean, some of the test sites here, mean, I don't know, it seemed like a good idea at the time, and they're not that hard to manage, but people just lose interest, or the younger kids don't want to farm. But the greatest threat is mismanagement. So as long as you put in these biosecurity measures,   and manage, you know, there's got to be some clearing done, there's got to be some pruning done, there's got to be tree guards. So there is a process involved in bringing them to nurturing them along and then keeping everything, you know, neutral, if you will. that's first, weather is always, you know, factor in agriculture. We don't feel it's as much of a threat here, because although we're for the first time,   growing the Mediterranean truffle. Truffles have grown, they grow here wild anyway. So the climate is right and has been right for thousands of years in Ireland. So, you know, and again, we'll have irrigation as well. You know, we get a lot of rain here. It's not likely we'll need any more rain, but yeah, we, you know, the agri-science will kick in there as well. And then, you know, as I said, like,   you know, biosecurity we call it, which is, you know, very, very serious fencing, limited visits to the farm, know, special footwear if people are going up to the area and sort of rinse. We have a pool area where they have to disinfect before they go into, you know, it's a very, very, very protected area from pests and from diseases or anything, you know, that could be brought in from the outside on whether that's machinery or humans.   (Louis O'Connor) (32:22.892) So yeah, it's almost like a laboratory. mean, you keep it very, very delicate balance and keep it very limited on who visits and, you know, people are a visit, but they have to be properly, you know, the feet have to be cleaned and footwear has to be worn and stuff like that. So, but, know, at the end of the day, Seth, it's, you know, well, any investment really, but agriculture, you know, the final say is in nature's hands, you know, not ours. mean, we...   We like to think, suppose, we're in the results business, but the reality is we're not. in the planning business and all we can do is plan everything as well as we can. It's just like, you if you planted a rose, you know, bush out in your backyard there today, you wouldn't stand outside and will it to grow, right? You know, grow quicker. You know, we have to allow nature and the cosmos to do its work. so yeah, nature has the final say, you know.   Yeah, yeah, no, totally, totally understand. And any investment has its risks, whether you're investing in truffles or real estate or any of the above. Quick question on this. Don't want to paint you like in a bad way at all, but we have had and it's not you, of course, of course, but we've had an influx of bad sponsors and people that are anything from mismanaging investor capital on one end, which can happen pretty easily. And there's not a whole lot of   Not a lot of bad blood there. Things happen. And then on the other side of the spectrum, we've seen everything from fraud to Ponzi schemes and all kinds of stuff lately. One thing that I tell investors is to make sure you know who you're investing with and make sure your investing dollars are actually getting invested where they're supposed to. Could an investor invest with you and actually go to the farm?   and see their saplings or see the farm and see this business.   (Louis O'Connor) (34:24.654) 100 % in fact, we would rather people do I mean, I it's not always possible. Right. But Shan Valley Estate, I mean, I'll give you the website and stuff after Shan Valley Estate. It's a 200 acre farm. It's already a museum. have events there. It's a herb dispensary as I said, as I said, it's our our manage our farm management partner is the Duggan family, their fourth generation farmers and they're being in temporary, you know,   longer than that even. absolutely, you you know, of course, there's legal contracts. mean, people get a legal contract for the purchase of the trees and then we have a legal contract for the farm management that we're responsible for implementing the project, we're responsible for bringing the hard, the trees to truffles to harvest. But we do, we just beginning, we just had our first tour, but it was sort of Europe from Germany. Last, sorry,   the 18th, 19th of August. But we will be having tours every quarter. And if anybody wants to come at any time, we'd be delighted to have them because it's like I said, it's like a smaller version of Downton Abbey. And we've accommodated, we converted the stables into accommodation, you know, because we have weddings and events and stuff there as well. It's not just a field that we bought.   Yeah.   And so it's a big deal. I'll give you the website. The location is spectacular and clients can, you know, stay the night, you know, and there's a three story Georgian estate house and the bottom floor is a museum. So it's like walking into a pharmacy from 1840, all the bottles and the counter is 200 years old, you know, and then the middle level, we've an organic vegetarian restaurant, all the   (Louis O'Connor) (36:17.24) food is grown on the farm. There's an old walled garden that they used to wall the gardens years ago to keep out the pests. And all the food that's served is grown on the farm. And then the top floor is accommodation as well and the stables have been converted. look, it's all about trust, Seth. And, you know, I would say to anybody, you've   I mean myself, if I have any doubt about anything, don't do it. And it might not be that somebody's a scam or a fraud, it's just if you're not 100 % sure about it, don't touch it. But what I would recommend is people do their due diligence because we've done ours. We've eight years invested in it, put a lot of time and effort into it. And at the very least, we'd like people to check it out and see it all the way through.   for what it is. yeah, we'll be, we're hoping to, we have a partner in Europe and we're to connect with somebody in North America. I don't want name anybody here because it might not come off, but there's a few sort of marketers and there's plenty obviously that we might sort of do a sort of an agreement with where they'll, you know, I mean, we could even have sort of investment real estate conferences on the farm.   you know, and do farm tours as well. so definitely 100 % we'd love for people to visit and, and they get to drink some Guinness and they're really brave, they can swim in the Irish sea.   Yeah, and I'm looking at the website right now. We'll drop that in the show notes, but it is absolutely gorgeous. I mean, it's making me want to get on a plane right now and check it out. It's incredible.   (Louis O'Connor) (38:00.046) Yeah, that's the estate, shambali.ie. I mean, what I love about it's 100 % organic or members of the Irish Organic Association, track ref, fourth generation. You know, this is not me, I'm a part of this, but the farm management team are, you know, they're already like growing herbs and plants and converting them to medicinal, you know, oils and things. And this is just another, it's more of a farming enterprise, I suppose, than a farm.   And then the other partner is the Agri Science Partner, which is this team of scientists who basically made history by growing for the very first time eight years ago, the black, the Mediterranean truffle in Ireland, you know, so there's a lot of professionalism and thought and effort being put into a chap.   Love that. Love that man. Is there anything else about this type of investment that I didn't ask about that I should have?   I think you know Seth, you should be on CNN or something because I you did. I'm pretty sure you did, you definitely covered it. I mean I may have left something out but I think it's a good foundation for somebody if they're interested, I'll give them my email and you know it's not that expensive to get to Europe and it's a great way to mix a holiday and you know come to the farm and stuff you know.   Absolutely, absolutely. Well, since you're repeat guest of the guest of the show, we won't go into the freedom for but you have one last golden nugget for our listeners.   (Louis O'Connor) (39:34.446) You know, I knew you were going to ask me that, Seth, you caught me off guard. So I have one ready and I stole this from someone else. So I'm not going to take it. But I was listening to a guy last week and he, sort of a big operation in Europe. And he was talking about a phrase they have in the office and it's 1%. And they always look at each other and when you pass them, they go 1%. And I love what it's about. It's about the idea that in a way it sort of comes back to what we talked about earlier, which is forget about.   Yeah.   (Louis O'Connor) (40:04.664) the fact don't think you're in the results business. You're in the planning business. And the 1 % is every day, try and improve every little action. I'm not just talking about work. I'm talking about family, your spiritual practice, if you have one, increase it by 1 % every day. And you know, it's like compound interest, isn't it? That in a way, then you don't have to worry about the big picture. And the results will just look after themselves then, you know.   Yeah, yeah, I love that man. Always improve. mean, you you've got to take small steps to get to those big goals. And a lot of times you just need to ask yourself, did I improve 1 % today? If the answer is yes, then it was a successful day.   Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And it's great because, you know, if I was to try and think now, or you were to try and think now, everything you have to do in the next three weeks, right, you just be overwhelmed, right. And sometimes my head is like that, you know, I mean, I've got meditation practice and stuff, but I watch my thoughts and you know, I mean, it's it's a fact. I mean, it's a human condition. I don't know, some disestimates of how many thoughts do we have a day? How many are repetitive and how many are useless?   A lot of them are repetitive, a lot of them are useless. So it's good just to narrow it right down to what's the next thing I can do right now and can I do it 1 % better than I did yesterday, you know?   Absolutely. Love that man. All right, Lou, we're gonna let us find out more about you.   (Louis O'Connor) (41:34.954) Okay, so they can email me. It's Truffle Farm Invest. Sorry, it's a new website www.trufflefarminvest.com or they can if somebody from your your audience wants to email me directly, it's louis at trufflefarminvest.com   Alright, perfect man. We'll drop all that in the show notes. Thanks again for coming on the show. Always a pleasure, brother.   Thank you very much, Seth. A pleasure.   (Seth Bradley) (42:08.088) Thanks for tuning in to Raise the Bar Radio. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Keep pushing, keep building, and keep raising the bar. Until next time, enjoy the journey. Links from the Show and Guest Info and Links: Seth Bradley's Links: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/ https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/ https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesq https://medium.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en Louis O'Connor's Links: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054362234822 https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-o-connor-a583341b8/ https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/08/30/strategic-metals-founder-louis-oaconnor-breaks-down-china-u-s-rare-metal-wars.html

In today's episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Brad Johnson, co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Vintage Capital. With over $3.3 billion in commercial real estate transactions under his belt, Brad brings a deep well of experience in structuring long-term, risk-adjusted investments, especially in the mobile home park space. Brad's journey into real estate began in his twenties, when he and his friends started buying single-family rentals with profits from a startup. Over time, he transitioned from remote investing to institutional asset management, eventually discovering the opportunity-rich world of mobile home parks. What began as curiosity evolved into a nationwide operation of 2,300 pads. Brad and Jonathan explore what makes mobile home parks uniquely positioned for stable, long-term returns. They discuss the operational demands of the asset class, why infrastructure and capital reserves are essential, and how seller relationships shape acquisitions in this niche market. Brad emphasizes that these often-misunderstood communities fill a critical need in the affordable housing landscape. You'll also hear how Brad built trust with mom-and-pop sellers, scaled a portfolio through reputation and consistent deal flow, and developed the ability to underwrite quickly and confidently. His firm's approach to long-term holds, tax efficiency, and conservative underwriting stands in contrast to the high-leverage, short-term mindset that has tripped up many investors in recent years. Whether you're an experienced investor or exploring alternatives to traditional real estate assets, Brad's perspective highlights the importance of patience, structure, and choosing the right operating partners. In this episode, you will hear: Brad's early path from startup founder to long-term investor Lessons from managing over 2,000 mobile home park pads How infrastructure and reserves impact mobile home park performance Ways reputation and follow-through win deals in tight-knit markets Why tax advantages make long-term holds more attractive The pitfalls of chasing high IRRs with short-term strategies What separates strong operators from struggling syndicators 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. Supporting Resources: Vintage Capital website - www.vintage-funds.com Connect with Brad Johnson on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyjohnson Website - www.streamlined.properties YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties Email - info@streamlined.properties 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.

Interview with Chris Stevens, CEO of Coda Minerals Ltd.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/coda-minerals-asxcod-copper-cobalt-project-demonstrates-robust-economics-7009Recording date: 8th July 2025Coda Minerals Limited (ASX:COD) represents a compelling investment opportunity in the rapidly strengthening copper market, positioned at the critical intersection of technical innovation, proven management execution, and exceptional infrastructure advantages. The Perth-based company has achieved a transformational metallurgical breakthrough at its Elizabeth Creek copper-cobalt-silver project in South Australia, fundamentally altering the project's economics and development pathway.The company's most significant achievement is the successful development of an ammonium chloride whole ore leaching process that delivers recovery rates exceeding 95%, representing a dramatic improvement from the previous 55% recovery rates at the Windabout deposit. CEO Chris Stevens characterizes this advancement as "effectively free money," highlighting the direct revenue enhancement potential over the mine's life. This breakthrough eliminates a major technical risk while opening possibilities for smaller-scale startup operations with reduced capital requirements and earlier cash flow generation.Elizabeth Creek's robust project economics align closely with recently acquired Australian copper companies, delivering an $802 million NPV post-tax with a 35% IRR based on over one million tons of contained copper equivalent in JORC indicated resources. Critically, 93% of resources are classified as indicated, providing exceptional geological confidence rarely seen at this development stage. These economics become particularly compelling when viewed against recent takeover activity, with Rex Minerals acquired for $393 million, New World Resources subject to competing bids exceeding $230 million, and Xanadu Mines accepting a $160 million offer.Stevens emphasizes the validation from peer transactions: "There is now empirical evidence that companies that are able to do that with credible solid projects with comparable MPVs, comparable IRRs, comparable capexes are being valued over $200 million." This peer group comparison suggests significant value realization potential as Coda advances through its 12-month Pre-Feasibility Study timeline.The company's management team brings proven execution capability, having previously developed 17 projects and transformed Elizabeth Creek from two open pits to five times the original resource base. Stevens notes: "This is a team that has taken, frankly, a bit of a busted project with two open pits, turned it into five times the resources." The team's disciplined approach to capital allocation and project advancement provides confidence in their ability to deliver on development milestones.Elizabeth Creek benefits from exceptional infrastructure advantages that distinguish it from typical remote Australian developments. Located adjacent to BHP's established haulage road with contractual usage rights, the project sits one hour from Roxby Downs and maintains access to power infrastructure and established supply chains. South Australia's streamlined regulatory environment offers additional advantages through its unique iterative approval process.The investment opportunity is enhanced by favorable copper market timing, with prices advancing from $8,000 to over $10,000 per ton while financing availability improves and capital costs reduce. Stevens observes the strategic timing: "I personally think doing that is maybe leaving a party just as it starts to get exciting with the way that copper's moving."Coda maintains strong financial positioning with over $4 million cash and low corporate costs, providing runway to advance critical path items without immediate dilution pressure. The company's critical minerals classification through cobalt credits enhances strategic value while multiple development pathways provide flexibility in capital structure approaches.For investors seeking exposure to the copper supply shortage driven by electrification trends, Coda offers a de-risked entry point with established resources, proven economics, exceptional infrastructure, and experienced management positioned to deliver significant value appreciation through the critical feasibility phase.View Coda Minerals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/coda-minerals-ltdSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

What do experienced real estate investors do when deals don't pencil, the capital stack is shifting, and the data feels contradictory? In this episode, Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon are joined by real estate investor, CPA, and UCLA professor Eric Sussman to explore how sophisticated LPs should think about today's economic signals, capital markets, and sponsor behavior. Eric brings decades of experience across syndications, private equity, and academia to this conversation. He dives into how inflation data, rate policy, and lending trends are impacting both sponsors and investors and why understanding the real risk lies beyond cap rates and projected IRRs. The hosts and Eric discuss debt mismatches, how institutional players are positioning, and why trust and underwriting discipline matter more than ever. Plus, Eric shares his candid take on why some deals should fail and why that's ultimately healthy for the market. Key Takeaways How to interpret mixed signals in the real estate and macroeconomic data Why sponsors are struggling to refinance and recapitalize The impact of capital stack misalignment on passive investors Why some LPs aren't getting paid—even when the deal is “performing” What Eric looks for in a sponsor beyond the deck How institutional players are preparing for distress Why a wave of failed deals could actually benefit long-term investors Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Remember that past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any of the advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

The Margin of Error Has Vanished: What CRE Investors Should Be Watching Now Commentary on a conversation with John Chang, Senior Vice President and National Director, Research and Advisory Services, Marcus & Millichap   The New CRE Investment Mandate: Survive First, Then Thrive “The margin of error has narrowed to virtually zero.” This was John Chang's stark assessment of today's commercial real estate environment – an era marked by fragile capital markets, rising Treasury yields, policy instability, and speculative hangovers from a decade of cheap money. According to Chang, the headline playbook hasn't changed: keep leverage low, maintain reserves, underwrite for downside. But the stakes have changed. What used to be prudent is now required. Those who forget that, particularly those lulled by the long post-GFC bull run, risk extinction.   Cap Rates, Treasury Yields, and the Compressed Spread A central theme of our conversation is the vanishing spread between borrowing costs and asset yields. Cap rates have risen 100–200 bps depending on asset class and geography, but Treasury rates have risen more. That's compressed spreads, rendering most acquisitions reliant on a value-creation story or an eventual rate reversal.   Investors are still transacting, says Chang, but only if they believe they can bridge the spread gap through operational improvements i.e. leasing, renovation, management upgrades. Passive cap-rate arbitrage is no longer viable. “The potential for something to go wrong is high,” Chang warns, especially in a policy environment that remains erratic.   The Treasury Market's Imminent Supply Shock Chang outlines why he expects upward pressure on Treasury yields for the balance of the year – contrary to the market's general expectations of rate cuts. Key reasons: Federal Deficits: With a delayed budget, Treasury issuance has been running below historical norms. That's about to reverse, with $1–1.5 trillion in supply expected by October. Shrinking Buyer Base: The Fed is reducing its balance sheet. Foreign holders, especially China and Japan, are net sellers. Even traditional allies are showing less appetite, driven partly by frictions over U.S. trade policy. Trade Tensions: Tariffs of up to 145% on imports from China, EU saber-rattling, and a broad retreat from globalization are alienating the very buyers of U.S. debt. “People don't want to do us any favors right now,” Chang says. “That uncertainty alone elevates risk premiums.”   Normalcy Bias and the Myth of the Perpetual Up Cycle Chang pulls no punches on the market psychology underpinning risky underwriting in recent years. He describes a bifurcated investor landscape: Those who entered post-GFC and think 2–3% interest rates and infinite rent growth are normal. Veterans of the 1990s S&L crisis, the dot-com bust, or the GFC, who know better. What's striking is the lack of long-term data. Even Marcus & Millichap, he notes, only has robust CRE data going back to 2000. Without context, many have mistaken the tailwind-fueled 2010s as a standard baseline.   “We're back to old-world real estate,” Chang says. “Where you have to actually understand the property, the tenant mix, the microeconomics of location. The era of pure financial engineering is over.”   Lessons from the Pandemic and GFC: Underwrite for Downside, Not for Hype Chang recounts closing on an investment in April 2020 at the very onset of pandemic uncertainty. “What if we rent at breakeven?” he asked. If the answer was yes, he proceeded. That conservative approach worked then and still applies today.   The biggest blow-ups, he says, came from sponsors who: Modeled double-digit rent growth. Over-leveraged. Used floating-rate debt without hedges. Ignored capex and reserves. By contrast, Chang praises sponsors who locked in fixed debt, kept leverage under 65%, and stayed humble. “They're embarrassed to be earning 7% IRRs,” he jokes, “but in this climate, that's a win.”   Washout in the Syndication Space: Good Riddance? Perhaps most damning is Chang's commentary on the wave of underqualified syndicators who entered during the boom years.   “Thousands came in with no operating experience,” he says, pointing to the proliferation of coaching programs offering checklists instead of expertise. These new entrants mimicked industry language – AUM figures, fund manager titles – but often had no institutional track record or risk management skills.   Many of them, Chang believes, are now out or on their way out. And while some may return with hard-earned wisdom, he expects the flow of “tourists” into the syndication world to dry up for the foreseeable future.   Tailwinds Still Exist: But Only for the Well-Prepared Despite the short-term risks, Chang sees multiple long-term tailwinds: Demographics: Millennials are delaying homeownership, renting into their 40s and fueling demand for multifamily. Inflation Resistance: Assets like multifamily, self-storage, and even select retail have pricing power in inflationary environments. Constrained Supply: Rising costs (e.g., lumber, steel tariffs) are slowing new construction, which will support existing asset values over time. He also flags tax policy as a positive surprise: The “BBB” tax bill, now working its way through the House, offers accelerated depreciation and expansion of Opportunity Zones particularly in rural areas. This could buoy returns in an otherwise challenging environment.   On the Aging of America: A Selective Case for Healthcare-Adjacent Assets Chang views medical office and senior housing through a bifurcated lens: Medical office: Attractive if tenants are stable, young, or anchored by heavy equipment. Long leases. Minimal turnover. Durable income. Assisted living: Demographic tailwinds are real, but operators matter more than ever. The Achilles heel? Labor. “About 30% of healthcare workers in the U.S. are foreign-born,” he warns. “And immigration policy, especially under restrictive regimes, will constrain the labor supply.” No staff, no NOI.   Final Signals: What He's Watching Closely If you want to forecast CRE performance, Chang suggests watching: University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment: A leading indicator of retail sales and housing trends. Currently falling. Inflation-adjusted Retail Sales: Shows how real consumption is holding up. Trade Policy & Supreme Court Rulings: The potential invalidation of Trump-era tariffs could reset inflation and Treasury outlooks but introduces a new kind of uncertainty. “We're not facing one black swan,” he concludes. “We're facing a whole flock. Pick your bird.”   Bottom Line This is not a time for heroic assumptions. It's a time for competence, humility, and discipline. If you must deploy capital, do so with sponsors who have been through a major downturn GFC style, and focus on those who didn't make capital calls, who still generate yield, and who underwrite to reality, not to hope.   The next 2–3 years may be rocky. But the long term still belongs to those who survive the short term.   *** In this series, I cut through the noise to examine how shifting macroeconomic forces and rising geopolitical risk are reshaping real estate investing.   With insights from economists, academics, and seasoned professionals, this show helps investors respond to market uncertainty with clarity, discipline, and a focus on downside protection.    Subscribe to my free newsletter for timely updates, insights, and tools to help you navigate today's volatile real estate landscape. You'll get: Straight talk on what happens when confidence meets correction - no hype, no spin, no fluff. Real implications of macro trends for investors and sponsors with actionable guidance. Insights from real estate professionals who've been through it all before. Visit GowerCrowd.com/subscribe Email: adam@gowercrowd.com Call: 213-761-1000

Leyla Kunimoto brings a rare and unfiltered perspective to today's commercial real estate conversation: that of a full-time individual LP who writes publicly about her investment decisions. She's not a sponsor, a capital raiser, or a fund manager; she's an investor allocating her own capital and speaking candidly about what she sees in the market.   Through her newsletter Accredited Investor Insights, Leyla connects with hundreds of other LPs and GPs, giving her a uniquely well-informed view of how sentiment is shifting, how sponsors are adapting (or not), and why many individual investors, herself included, are taking a more cautious, capital-preserving stance in the current environment.   Track Records Are the New Credentials Leyla made one thing immediately clear in my conversation with her: experience across market cycles matters more than ever. Sponsors who lived through the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), and made it out intact, view the world differently. “There's a certain level of conservatism they develop,” she said, that translates into more disciplined underwriting, more thoughtful pacing, and fewer emotionally driven decisions.   This stands in sharp contrast to what Leyla observed in 2020, when billboards at Dallas airports advertised real estate masterminds promising to teach people how to raise capital fast. She watched sponsors pile into deals with razor-thin margins, driven more by optimism than fundamentals. Some of those same players are now facing tough questions from investors.   Tariffs Are Already Affecting CRE in Two Big Ways While many LPs focus on interest rates, Leyla highlighted tariffs as a macro driver that's beginning to affect commercial real estate, particularly in development. First, tariffs are raising costs on imported materials, like lumber, pushing construction budgets higher. Second, she's watching what tariffs could mean for demand in the industrial sector.   “If trade with Mexico declines, what happens to logistics facilities near the border?” she asked. Conversely, if reshoring takes off, we may see demand rise for inland warehouse space. It's a nuanced picture and one that sponsors in ground-up deals can't afford to ignore.   Equity Is Cautious. Retail Capital Is Now in Play. Another shift Leyla is tracking is on the capital side. Institutional equity has pulled back in many corners of the market, and some sponsors are turning to retail LPs for the first time. But this isn't an easy pivot.   “Retail investors are expensive to reach,” she said. They also tend to ask more questions – and now, they're more skeptical. Many LPs are sitting on deals that aren't performing. As a result, the bar for new allocations is much higher. “There's a sense of caution,” she noted. “LPs aren't allocating blindly anymore.”   Floating Rate Debt Divides the Market Leyla sees a bifurcated sponsor landscape: those who are still dealing with the aftermath of floating-rate debt, and those who have the capital and flexibility to transact but can't find deals that pencil.   Sponsors with legacy floating-rate loans are focused on rate caps and marginal cash flow. They're rooting for the Fed to cut rates. Others are hunting for acquisitions, but the math isn't working. “Without aggressive assumptions, most deals don't pencil,” she said.   The IRR Illusion: What LPs Should Actually Be Watching Many sponsors still lead with IRR projections, but Leyla has shifted her mindset. “I don't screen for how much money I'm going to make. I don't screen for the IRR probability,” she told me, “the only thing I'm laser beam focused on when I evaluate private placement deals is the probability of losing money.”   That loss-aversion lens changes everything. She believes LPs are better off compounding modest, positive returns over time than chasing double-digit IRRs that come with a real chance of loss. “Making 3-4% positive IRR for 10 years straight outperforms hitting 20% on some deals and going to zero on others,” she said.   Stress Tests Are Private. Optimism Is Public. Behind closed doors, sponsors are more conservative than they let on, she says. The real pros run multiple models – best, worst, and most likely scenarios. “I always ask for stress test scenarios underwritten to the GFC,” she says, continuing that she used to hear sponsors saying such scenarios were never going to play out because the underwriting is too stringent. “I'm hearing a little bit less of that now,” she says.   Still, she's skeptical of any deck that doesn't acknowledge the possibility of a rent decline. Of course deals won't pencil if you underwrite to a 10% rent drop but, in some markets, that's exactly what's happening.   Cash Is a Position. Waiting Is a Strategy. When I asked what she'd do if handed a $1 million windfall today, Leyla didn't hesitate: “I'd keep it in cash and I would try to get very narrow on what my buy box is,” not because she's fearful but because she wants to be surgical when she deploys.   She encourages LPs to be patient and wait for opportunities that fit tight criteria. In an environment where you can make 4.5%+ tax and risk-free, “there's no harm in waiting,” she says. She also shared stories of seasoned sponsors that sold early, sat in cash through the entire 2021 run-up, and are still waiting because they can't find deals that pencil – that are still too expensive for prudent investors.   What Leyla's Watching Now Leyla doesn't try to predict markets. But she does monitor signals: The 10-Year Treasury yield Local supply pipelines Investor sentiment from her network of LPs And her biggest piece of advice? Focus on not losing money. That alone will make you a better investor.   *** In this series, I cut through the noise to examine how shifting macroeconomic forces and rising geopolitical risk are reshaping real estate investing.   With insights from economists, academics, and seasoned professionals, this show helps investors respond to market uncertainty with clarity, discipline, and a focus on downside protection.    Subscribe to my free newsletter for timely updates, insights, and tools to help you navigate today's volatile real estate landscape. You'll get: Straight talk on what happens when confidence meets correction - no hype, no spin, no fluff. Real implications of macro trends for investors and sponsors with actionable guidance. Insights from real estate professionals who've been through it all before. Visit GowerCrowd.com/subscribe Email: adam@gowercrowd.com Call: 213-761-1000

How to Survive the Coming Real Estate Storm – What Sean Kelly-Rand Learned at Lehman   For the experienced real estate investor or sponsor, this is a masterclass in what really matters.   When Lehman Brothers unraveled in 2008, it exposed a truth that many in the real estate world still prefer to ignore: even the most sophisticated capital structures can implode when the cost of capital and access to liquidity are misunderstood – or worse, taken for granted. My podcast/YouTube show guest today, Sean Kelly-Rand, didn't just watch that collapse unfold; he lived through it from inside and the playbook he uses today as the managing partner of RD Advisors is shaped, in part, by that early, formative experience.   His approach offers a deeply pragmatic framework for anyone navigating real estate in today's uncertain climate. In an era of overpromised alpha and fragile capital stacks, Kelly-Rand's doctrine is a study in restraint, structure, and staying power.   From the Heart of Lehman to the Edges of Risk   Kelly-Rand joined Lehman Brothers in 2006, just before the implosion, drawn by its dominance in the bond markets which he saw, even then, as the true engine behind real estate. While most looked to equity investment banks for leadership, he understood that the debt markets were where real decisions were made. His work centered on real estate financing and syndication, with a front-row view of a business model that was, in hindsight, structurally doomed.   Lehman's capital stack had been stretched too far – built on short-term funding to support long-term positions. As the firm accumulated assets, expanding its real estate exposure from $5 billion to over $36 billion, it did so with virtually no cushion. Liquidity was cheap and ubiquitous, but inherently unstable. When securitization markets seized up, those long-term assets could not be offloaded without catastrophic discounts to book value. And because any sale would have forced a full repricing of the entire book, no sale could be tolerated. Lehman was stuck – and the system broke.   That lesson remains central to Kelly-Rand's thinking today. The real issue wasn't the quality of the assets; it was the fragility of the structure behind them. Risk wasn't in the deal. It was in the funding.   Rebuilding from the Ground Up   In the years that followed, Kelly-Rand transitioned from the institutional capital markets to operating in the private lending space. He co-founded RD Advisors not just to chase yield, but also to build a firm capable of weathering downside scenarios – starting with a clean-sheet design of its capital strategy.   The fund today focuses exclusively on senior secured debt, kept short in duration and conservatively underwritten. The business avoids the artificial stability of interest reserves or payment-in-kind structures that mask actual performance. Instead, it emphasizes cash-paying borrowers and short-term duration to preserve optionality and liquidity. Leverage is kept modest by design, with loan-to-value ratios structured around exit values that tolerate declining markets. Crucially, every deal is evaluated with a focus on capital preservation. Underwriting is done not with optimism, but with contingency: would the fund be comfortable owning the asset if they had to should a borrower walk? If the answer is anything but a clear yes, the deal doesn't proceed.   This mentality isn't just prudent, it's essential. The goal is to never rely on someone else's execution for one's own capital security. And that institutional memory from the GFC sits the core of the process.   Avoiding the Illusion of Alpha   Much of what passes for outperformance in today's real estate environment is simply leverage in disguise. Sponsors show high IRRs, but beneath them is a capital structure dependent on favorable refis or asset appreciation that may no longer be achievable. That's not skill, it's exposure.   Kelly-Rand's fund's returns, by contrast, are deliberately boring. They are stable, predictable, and quarterly. It's a feature, not a bug. In fact, Kelly-Rand views volatility as a symptom of poor underwriting or misaligned structure, not a badge of aggressive performance.   He's wary, too, of the growing interest in ‘loan-to-own' strategies, particularly among opportunistic capital looking to buy defaulted notes in the hopes of acquiring assets at a discount. While technically accurate – private credit can convert into equity when things go wrong – he emphasizes that building a business around that premise introduces operational complexity, execution risk, and volatility that neither he nor his investors are seeking.   Today's Market Echoes the Last Crisis   What concerns Kelly-Rand most now is how little has changed in institutional behavior since the last crisis – and how closely today's market echoes that of 2007.   There is the same creeping complacency in the banking system. Institutions are holding loans at par that would clear far below face value if sold today. Marking one loan down would trigger writedowns across the portfolio, and many banks simply can't handle that. Instead, they hold and wait, even as rates rise and deposits become more expensive than the loans on their books. This, too, is unsustainable and, like last time, it's a question not of credit risk, but of duration mismatch and funding fragility. Depositors have not yet realized en masse that their money could be earning 4.5% elsewhere. But when they do, the cost of capital for banks could spike rapidly and the system isn't ready.   Worse still, foreign capital, the marginal buyer that has helped sustain U.S. real estate valuations for decades, may be losing interest. If geopolitical or currency instability weakens demand for U.S. treasuries or assets, long-term rates could drift higher, even if the Fed cuts short-term rates. That shift would have a profound impact on real estate pricing, permanently resetting cap-rate expectations – and values.   A Framework for the Informed Investor   The takeaway for sponsors and investors is stark but empowering: you don't need to predict the next crash, but you must be structurally prepared for it.   Kelly-Rand's fund is an expression of that principle. It's structured to be resilient, not just profitable. Its margins are modest but consistent. Its leverage is low by design. And its underwriting focuses on the downside – not because of fear, but because of discipline. His experience at Lehman Brothers gave him a visceral understanding of how quickly capital evaporates when confidence is lost. What makes his insights so valuable today is not just that he's survived a cycle but that he's operationalized that survival into a repeatable, durable framework.   In a world where risk is increasingly hidden behind optimism and spreadsheets, Sean Kelly-Rand offers a different kind of edge: memory.   *** In this series, I cut through the noise to examine how shifting macroeconomic forces and rising geopolitical risk are reshaping real estate investing.   With insights from economists, academics, and seasoned professionals, this show helps investors respond to market uncertainty with clarity, discipline, and a focus on downside protection.    Subscribe to my free newsletter for timely updates, insights, and tools to help you navigate today's volatile real estate landscape. You'll get: Straight talk on what happens when confidence meets correction - no hype, no spin, no fluff. Real implications of macro trends for investors and sponsors with actionable guidance. Insights from real estate professionals who've been through it all before. Visit GowerCrowd.com/subscribe Email: adam@gowercrowd.com Call: 213-761-1000

What makes one investor's offer stand out over another's—even when the numbers look the same?   In this episode, Angel hosts Fernando Arias and Anna Latysheva for a detailed walkthrough of how underwriting variables impact real estate valuations, investor returns, and bidding strategies. They examine the unseen levers—like DSCR, interest rates, amortization schedules, and capital expenditures—that can shift IRRs dramatically. With real-world scenarios and expert commentary, this episode provides valuable insights for both novice and seasoned investors navigating a tightening lending environment.     [00:01 - 04:14] Why Debt Terms Change the Game The significance of DSCR in determining actual loan amounts—not just LTV assumptions How interest rates and loan terms affect down payments and investor returns The need to build strong banking relationships for accurate underwriting inputs   [04:15 - 08:44] The Impact of Amortization on IRR What amortization periods reveal about monthly debt service and deal feasibility Why a higher down payment reduces IRR—even if the NOI stays constant The importance of recalculating purchase offers based on updated debt quotes   [08:45 - 13:28] Expense Assumptions That Can Break a Deal How slight changes in operating expenses significantly affect valuation The importance of classifying capital expenditures below the line Why expense accuracy is essential in low-cap markets   [13:29 - 18:00] Income Projections vs. Market Realities Why underwriting based on realistic rent comps boosts your competitiveness The significance of local PM data over online averages like Rentometer How fluctuating lending terms can lead to broken contracts   [18:01 - 23:40] Cap Rates, Risk, and Investor Psychology Why understanding cap rate spreads is essential for valuation decisions The relationship between NOI, cap rate, and perceived asset risk How market psychology and alternative income streams influence investor behavior       Connect with Anna:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibuybuildings/   Connect with Fernando:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernandoapartments/     Key Quotes:   “Just because your pro forma shows a 1.89 DSCR a year from now doesn't mean the bank will underwrite that way.” - Fernando Arias   “Every $1,000 in NOI can mean a $20,000 swing in valuation in low-cap markets.” - Anna Latysheva     Visit sponsorcloud.io/contact today and unlock $2,000 of free services exclusively for REI Rocks community members! Get automated syndication and investor relationship management tools to save time and money. Mention your part of the REI Rocks community for exclusive offers. Help make affordable, low-cost education summits possible. Check out Sponsor Cloud today!

What is the state of syndications today? How to structure a syndication for protection purposes? Major differences between funds vs syndications and why are funds popular today? Jonathan Tavares, Managing Partner at Premier Law Group, shares his insights. Read the entire interview here: https://tinyurl.com/25hhhjsfWhat is the state of the market today? What are the IRRs looking like? Are you seeing more or fewer deals come across your desk?There has been a shift to funds in the last 6-8 mos. Traditionally, especially during COVID, a lot of clients were doing a lot of multifamily syndication. Now, granted, that's been a piece that we focused on for a long time. A lot of our clients are heavily involved in the multifamily space, but with increasing interest rates over 22 and various other factors, property taxes throughout many counties and throughout the country, going up very quickly, as well as insurance and specific markets. We have a lot of clients in various markets in Texas that have just gone crazy, places like Houston or Florida, where insurance rates have skyrocketed. It's presented some challenges for some of our clients. Instead of seeing just a straight deal with a certain percentage of debt somewhere around 70- 80%, a lot of times, there's a lot of creative financing going on to make up for that debt piece that may not be there or where those percentages of debt to purchase price may be a little bit lower than what a lot of clients were used to before.You see a lot of preferred equity. We've seen clients building out structures where, in essence, they're providing almost a debt structure to their investors too, to create a sort of debt piece as well as an equity piece in their raises. We've seen a lot of clients create funds and use their funds to come in for part of the debt piece for specific projects as well.Depending on the asset type, and I'll specifically exclude development projects, we're seeing a lot of target IRRs between 15 and 20% generally.Where do all the LLCs go for a syndication so that everyone is protected as much as they can possibly be?There's all sorts of different structures that you might use to set up a syndication or a fund and for different reasons, for tax reasons, for asset protection reasons, etc. A typical syndication structure is going to include a syndication entity, and that's typically known as the issuer entity, that's the entity that's selling securities.Why does the SEC care about what I'm doing if I'm raising capital to go buy real estate? The Supreme Court came up with a test that's called the Howie test. The SEC does an analysis to determine if you were selling securities or not, and essentially boils down to the four main tenets of the Howie test:1) Is an investor investing money? Typically, the answer is yes.2) Are they expecting some sort of return on profits? And usually the answer is yes.3) Whether the efforts are generated by someone other than the person who's investing, like some sort of promoter, or in the space we call a sponsor. In these deals, a sponsor where a GP that is raising the capital from investors. The investors are passive in the deal. 4) A common enterprise is if the investors are pooling together capital through the efforts of the GP to buy some sort of underlying investments. That's typically going to be real estate.Jonathan Tavares(508) 212-1193jonathan@plglp.comwww.premierlawgroup.netJoin our investor list at https://montecarlorei.com/investors/

Fifth Wall's Brendan Wallace and CBRE's Connor Hall explore innovation in commercial real estate, from flexible workspaces to AI-driven investment strategies.Share these insights on proptech investing: · Investing in PropTech, like all venture capital investments – is high risk and high reward. Investors typically underwrite 40%+ internal rates of return (IRRs), betting that a few transformative companies succeed and compensate for those that fail. · Investing in PropTech provides early access to innovations that enhance asset performance, reduce costs and create competitive differentiation. · Artificial intelligence is expected to improve underwriting, asset selection and risk modeling for real estate investors. Those that adopt AI-driven tools early may gain a significant edge. · The initial public offering (IPO) market has slowed, but standout exits like ServiceTitan show that public capital is still available for top-tier companies. Investors in private companies should be prepared for longer holding periods prior to exits. · The most investable PropTech companies are those that solve challenges for real estate in operations, capital markets, risk management and elsewhere. Deep industry knowledge is key to identifying winners.

In this episode, James sits down with Paces colleagues Kyle Baranko and Tony Wagler to discuss their new white paper, “Pre-Development at Scale: Modeling Risk in Early-Stage Solar Development”. They dive into how AI, probabilistic methods, and standardized development workflows can dramatically reduce soft costs and increase project success rates.Kyle shares how Monte Carlo simulations were used to model development risks and timelines, while Tony outlines the four key archetypes—environmental, permitting, design, and interconnection—that shape project outcomes. They explain how early de-risking leads to faster decisions, improved IRRs, and better positioning in incentive programs.Other topics include:Why 70–90% of post-site control projects failThe power of failing fast and cutting development timelines by up to 50%How automation preserves data integrity while saving timeReal-world feedback from developers and IPPsA new interactive tool to explore portfolio-level risksWhether you're a solar developer, investor, or curious about energy infrastructure, this conversation offers practical insights into the future of clean energy project planning.Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

Show Notes: Venture Blues: Cloud, Silver LiningOverviewThis week's “Venture Blues” editorial brings into focus a brewing transformation in early-stage venture capital. As funds endure stretched timelines and mounting LP pressure, long-taboo secondary markets are stepping into the limelight. At the same time, traditional VC structures—anchored to power-law home runs and decade-long illiquidity—are under fresh scrutiny.What makes this collection compelling is its blend of on-the-ground investor testimony (from Dan Gray, Hunter Walk, Rob Hodgkinson) and hard data (Carta charts, Series B MOIC trends) that together sketch a venture asset class at a crossroads: can it engineer better liquidity and more dependable returns without sacrificing outsized upside?Key Trend 1: The Liquidity Imperative and Rise of SecondariesAs portfolio companies stall in late-stage rounds, early-stage VCs and LPs alike are waking up to the need for earlier liquidity—and rediscovering secondaries.Why it matters:– Stigma around selling GP stakes is eroding when 10-year fund cycles stretch toward 15 years.– Liquidity becomes critical to meet IRR targets and redeploy capital.Talking Point 1: From Taboo to ToolboxQuote:“The obvious desperation for liquidity has — for now — removed the stigma associated with secondaries.”— Dan Gray's X postEarly-stage managers, once loath to let shares go, now view secondaries as a legitimate value-preservation tactic.Removing psychological barriers makes secondaries a core liquidity channel, not just a last-resort option.Talking Point 2: Fund Cycles Stretch, LP Calculations ShiftQuote:“For the earliest funds (pre-seed, seed) this means instead of 10 year fund cycles for LPs, you're seeing closer to 15, which fundamentally changes LP calculations about the asset class.”— Hunter Walk, HomebrewLonger holding periods erode IRRs and cash-on-cash returns.LPs factor in delayed distributions, pressing GPs to surface secondary opportunities sooner.Key Trend 2: Structural Challenges in Traditional VC ModelsDespite aggregate Series B investments growing 476% over eight years, most value remains on paper—and out of reach.Why it matters:– Healthy MOIC doesn't equate to real cash returns.– Most LPs lack access to top-performing funds and can't live off latent value.Talking Point 1: MOIC vs. Cash—The Distribution DilemmaQuote:“And the 4.76x is measured in MOIC, not cash, so was not distributed.”— Venture Blues editorialVenture's celebrated power law produces massive paper returns skewed toward a handful of winners.Without distributions, LPs can't recycle gains, creating a false sense of asset-class health.Talking Point 2: Concentration of Compelling ManagersQuote:“Most LPs do not get returns, and certainly not liquid returns (the only real kind).”— Venture Blues editorialA small club of star GPs capture most performance.Broader LP community remains exposed to illiquidity without average outcome participation.Key Trend 3: Rethinking the LP Base and Investor AlignmentEconomic uncertainty is forcing a recalibration of who backs VC—and how.Why it matters:– Traditional LPs (endowments, pensions) face funding pressures.– New entrants (sovereign wealth, retail, alternatives platforms) demand different structures.Talking Point 1: Endowment Exodus to SecondariesQuote:“A harbinger of change is Yale, who pioneered the ‘endowment model'… selling $6 bn in its PE portfolio in secondaries for the first time.”— Rob HodgkinsonEndowments under the gun from taxes, tariff impacts and political hostility.Liquid strategies gain priority, reshaping demand for evergreen and secondary vehicles.Talking Point 2: LP Preferences Shape Fund ProductsQuote:“VC is changing. Venture firms need to rethink not just who they raise from, but how their LP base influences what they're offering.”— Rob HodgkinsonA move toward evergreen, co-invest, direct, and secondary funds rather than classic 10-year vehicles.Funds must tailor structures to new LP appetites for liquidity and risk profiles.Key Trend 4: Emerging Structures for De-Risked, Liquid VC InvestmentsAlgorithmic selection and private-company indexes promise to lower risk, broaden access and embed liquidity.Why it matters:– De-couples returns from a small set of GPs and rare unicorns.– Creates tradable vehicles for average VC outcomes.Talking Point 1: Filtering the 7% That MatterQuote:“Investing in this 7% as an index gives investors the ability to participate in de-risked average outcomes.”— Venture Blues editorialData and machine learning reject 93% of Series B rounds.The top 7% deliver 6.2x MOIC in five years, enabling an index tilted for performance.Talking Point 2: Liquidity by DesignQuote:“There is no longer a dependency on which fund an LP can invest in… And liquidity is built into the index approach.”— Venture Blues editorialIndex shares can be bought and sold once listed on public markets.Retail investors and non-traditional allocators gain direct VC exposure.Discussion QuestionsHow has the elongation of fund cycles from 10 to 15 years altered LPs' appetite for early-stage VC?Can the rise of secondaries truly resolve liquidity challenges, or does it merely shift them to later rounds?With secondaries becoming “primary” for early-stage VCs, is there a risk of misaligned incentives between GPs and founders?How might new LP entrants (retail platforms, sovereign wealth funds) reshape venture fundraising and governance?Is algorithmic selection and index-based investing a silver bullet for de-risking VC, or does it introduce new systemic biases?Is the core issue in venture the lack of liquidity or the inherent power-law structure forcing “home runs”?What unintended consequences could emerge from tradable private-company indexes?Closing SegmentVenture Blues reveals an asset class in flux: the thirst for liquidity is rewriting norms, LPs are demanding new structures, and data-driven models offer a glimpse at more equitable, de-risked returns. As we watch secondaries soar and index products emerge, the central question remains: can VC evolve beyond its 70-year blueprint to deliver both outsized growth and true liquidity?Final thought: the silver lining in today's venture clouds may be a fundamentally redesigned asset class that finally brings average, liquid outcomes within reach.Stay tuned as we track which of these trends will reshape the venture landscape for good. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thatwastheweek.com/subscribe

Welcome back to The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection. In this week's episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Cari Lodge, a seasoned investor with 25 years in private equity secondaries. They explore the market's rapid growth from $2 billion to $160 billion, the increasing need for liquidity, and how secondaries optimize portfolio management. Cari discusses GP-led secondaries, continuation funds, and the market's evolution, offering key insights into future opportunities in this space. Breakdown: [00:00] Introduction to the episode and guest, Cari Lodge, Managing Director and Head of Secondaries at CF Private Equity.[00:28] Cari's background, her start in secondaries, and how the market has expanded from $2 billion to $160 billion.[01:45] Common mistake in private equity: Holding assets too long. How increasing holding periods from 5.7 years to 6.7 years impacts returns.[03:34] Why firms miss exit opportunities. The importance of DPI and how delaying exits can lead to the same returns years later.[04:29] Explanation of secondaries for newcomers. The role of LP secondaries, GP-led solutions, and the growing demand for liquidity.[06:53] The benefits of secondaries for investors, including diversification, shorter duration, and strong IRRs and ROIs.[08:49] Demand for GP-led secondaries, continuation funds, and LP transactions. How secondaries are now part of active portfolio management.[10:42] The future of secondaries. Market expected to grow from $160 billion to $200–220 billion in 2024, but constrained by capital and human resources.[12:33] Challenges holding the market back. Capital constraints, lack of resources, and evolving perceptions of secondaries.[14:21] Why Cari loves the secondaries market. Exposure to 1,200+ private equity funds, constant evolution, and a collaborative industry.[17:12] Key trends in private equity. The impact of higher interest rates, valuations, and the growing focus on liquidity solutions.[20:32] Secondaries' role in providing liquidity. Now contributing 15–20% of total private equity liquidity.[22:28] How secondaries adapt to market cycles. Benefits in both up and down markets, shifting from a distress play to a mainstream strategy.[23:22] Cari's recommended reads: The Economist, Private Equity Analyst, and What It Takes by Steve Schwarzman.[25:14] How to reach Cari Lodge. Best contact method: LinkedIn.[25:45] Closing thoughts. Recap of insights and encouragement to subscribe to The Private Equity Podcast.Thank you for tuning in! Connect with Cari here. To get the newest Private Equity episodes, you can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify here.Lastly, if you have any feedback on the podcast or want to reach out to Alex with any questions, send an email to alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com.

For this episode of the DCF Show podcast, host Matt Vincent, Editor in Chief of Data Center Frontier, is joined by Santiago Suinaga, CEO of Infrastructure Masons (iMasons), to explore the urgent challenges of scaling data center construction while maintaining sustainability commitments, among other pertinent industry topics. The AI Race and Responsible Construction "Balancing scale and sustainability is key because the AI race is real," Suinaga emphasizes. "Forecasted capacities have skyrocketed to meet AI demand. Hyperscale end users and data center developers are deploying high volumes to secure capacity in an increasingly constrained global market." This surge in demand pressures the industry to build faster than ever before. Yet, as Suinaga notes, speed and sustainability must go hand in hand. "The industry must embrace a build fast, build smart mentality. Leveraging digital twin technology, AI-driven design optimization, and circular economy principles is critical." Sustainability, he argues, should be embedded at every stage of new builds, from integrating low-carbon materials to optimizing energy efficiency from the outset. "We can't afford to compromise sustainability for speed. Instead, we must integrate renewable energy sources and partner with local governments, utilities, and energy providers to accelerate responsible construction." A key example of this thinking is peak shaving—using redundant infrastructure and idle capacities to power the grid when data center demand is low. "99.99% of the time, this excess capacity can support local communities, while ensuring the data center retains prioritized energy supply when needed." Addressing Embodied Carbon and Supply Chain Accountability Decarbonization is a cornerstone of iMasons' efforts, particularly through the iMasons Climate Accord. Suinaga highlights the importance of tackling embodied carbon—the emissions embedded in data center construction materials and IT hardware. "We need standardized reporting metrics and supplier accountability to drive meaningful change," he says. "Greater transparency across the supply chain can be achieved through carbon labeling of materials and stricter procurement policies." To mitigate embodied emissions, companies should prioritize suppliers with validated Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and invest in low-carbon alternatives like green concrete and recycled steel. "Collaboration across the industry will be essential to drive policy incentives for greener supply chains," Suinaga asserts. The Role of Modular and Prefabricated Builds As the industry seeks more efficient construction methods, modular and prefabricated builds are emerging as game changers. "They significantly reduce construction waste, improve quality control, and shorten deployment times," Suinaga explains. "By shifting a large portion of the build process to controlled environments, we can improve worker safety and optimize material usage. Companies leveraging prefabrication will gain a competitive edge in both cost savings and sustainability." Modular construction also presents financial advantages. "It allows for deferred CapEx investments, creating attractive internal rates of return (IRRs) for investors while reducing the risk of oversupply by aligning capacity with demand," Suinaga notes. However, he acknowledges that the approach has challenges, including potential supply chain constraints and quick time-to-market pressures during demand spikes. "Maintaining a recurrent production cycle and closely monitoring market conditions are key to ensuring capacity planning aligns with real-time needs." Innovation in Cooling and Water Use With AI workloads driving increasing power densities, the industry is rapidly shifting toward liquid cooling, immersion cooling, and heat reuse strategies. "We're seeing innovations in direct-to-chip cooling and closed-loop water systems that significantly reduce water consumption," Suinaga says. "Some data centers are capturing and repurposing waste heat to provide energy to nearby facilities—an approach that needs to be scaled." Immersion cooling, he adds, offers the potential to shrink data center footprints and dramatically improve Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). "A hybrid approach combining air and liquid cooling is key," Suinaga explains. "There's still uncertainty around the right mix of technologies, as hyperscalers need to support not just AI but also continued cloud growth. Flexibility in cooling design is now essential to accommodate a diverse range of workloads." Regulatory Pressures and the Future of Sustainability Standards Regulatory frameworks such as the SEC's climate disclosure rules and Europe's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are pushing data center operators toward greater transparency. Suinaga believes these measures will enforce more accurate sustainability reporting and drive greener investment decisions. "This will push data center operators to adopt more energy-efficient designs early in the planning phase and, in the long term, standardize carbon reporting and create incentives for sustainable practices," he explains. He also highlights the role of investors and publicly traded companies in enforcing stricter climate reporting requirements across their portfolios. "At iMasons, we are refining existing reporting benchmarks and frameworks to provide the industry with a holistic view of best practices. This is an area where we aim to support data center operators with an analytical approach." The Road to Net Zero: Overcoming Challenges Despite ambitious net zero goals, execution remains a significant challenge. "The biggest roadblock to net zero is the availability of truly carbon-free energy and materials at scale," Suinaga states. Achieving net zero requires substantial investment in renewable infrastructure, grid connectivity improvements, and energy storage innovation. To accelerate progress, he emphasizes the importance of adopting circular economy practices, advocating for renewable energy policy support, and investing in next-generation cooling and power technologies. "The demand from AI is outpacing current power infrastructure and renewable options. While some net zero commitments may be delayed, investing in new technologies and clean energy solutions will ultimately put us back on the path to net zero." Workforce Development and Addressing the Talent Shortage The digital infrastructure industry has long faced a talent shortage, which has only become more urgent as demand increases. To help address this challenge, iMasons has launched a new job-matching platform. "It's designed to bridge the talent gap by connecting skilled professionals with opportunities in digital infrastructure," Suinaga explains. "For job seekers, it's free to use, providing a streamlined way to match with job listings based on skills, experience, and location." For employers, iMasons partners gain access to the platform to find vetted candidates efficiently. "At the pace this industry is growing, the current workforce isn't enough—we need to bring in talent from other industries and create new career pathways. Digital infrastructure is recession-proof and offers tremendous opportunities for growth." Industry Partnerships Driving Innovation iMasons has been expanding its partnerships, adding 15 new partners in recent months. "We've welcomed companies from various backgrounds, including AI-driven construction management firms, energy-related companies, and cooling solution providers," Suinaga shares. "iMasons is a hub for industry collaboration, helping to drive innovation across the entire digital infrastructure ecosystem. Our mission is simple: to ensure the industry thrives." Looking Ahead As AI accelerates the demand for digital infrastructure, the industry must embrace innovative, responsible strategies to balance scale with sustainability. iMasons, alongside major players in the sector, is committed to ensuring the next generation of data centers are not just fast to deploy but also environmentally responsible.

Discover how Ben Kogut successfully raised over $114M for triple net lease properties. With a focus on steady cash flow and reduced risk, Ben takes us inside the world of triple net leases and how these investments have become a powerful alternative to traditional asset classes like multifamily. Learn how Ben has strategically scaled his business to over $354M in assets, using creative deal-making strategies and a unique approach to tenant relationships. Tune in now to discover how Ben's insights can help you make smarter, more profitable investments! 5 Key Take-aways to learn from this episode:Triple Net Lease Benefits: Triple net leases (NNN) offer stable, predictable cash flow with minimal landlord responsibilities. Tenants cover property taxes, insurance, and maintenance, making these investments less risky compared to other real estate asset classes like multifamily.The Importance of Tenant Credit: When investing in triple net properties, it's crucial to evaluate the tenant's creditworthiness. High-credit tenants, such as national retailers or government offices, provide greater stability and reduce investment risk.Creative Deal Structuring: Ben emphasizes the power of creativity in structuring deals, such as negotiating extended lease terms to increase property value or using AI tools to evaluate the viability of locations. This approach can significantly improve returns for investors.Syndication Structure and Investor Focus: Rooster Equity Partners typically uses an 8% preferred return and a 50/50 split on profits after that, focusing on providing stable cash flow to investors from day one. The firm also targets upper teen to low 20% IRRs, emphasizing cash-on-cash returns over long-term projections.Building Relationships for Investment Growth: Ben attributes much of his success to building strong, personal relationships with investors. Hosting intimate dinners, providing educational content, and maintaining trust and transparency are core strategies for growing his investor base.About Tim MaiTim Mai is a real estate investor, fund manager, mentor, and founder of HERO Mastermind for REI coaches.He has helped many real estate investors and coaches become millionaires. Tim continues to help busy professionals earn income and build wealth through passive investing.He is also a creative marketer and promoter with incredible knowledge and experience, which he freely shares. He has lifted himself from the aftermath of war, achieving technical expertise in computers, followed by investment success in real estate, management skills, and a lofty position among real estate educators and internet marketers.Tim is an industry leader who has acquired and exited well over $50 million worth of real estate and is currently an investor in over 2700 units of multifamily apartments.Connect with TimWebsite: Capital Raising PartyFacebook: Tim Mai | Capital Raising Nation Instagram: @timmaicomTwitter: @timmaiLinkedIn: Tim MaiYouTube: Tim Mai

The best credit opportunity lies in middle-market collateralized loan obligation equity, according to Carlyle. “It is a newer market and not everyone’s investing and chasing that asset class,” said Lauren Basmadjian, the firm’s global head of liquid credit. “We’re seeing mid-to-high teens IRRs,” Basmadjian tells Bloomberg News’ James Crombie and Bloomberg Intelligence’s Mike Campellone in the latest Credit Edge podcast. That compares to 12%-13% internal rates of return from CLOs backed by broadly syndicated loans, she adds. Basmadjian and Campellone also discuss growing risk from liability management exercises, private/public debt convergence, default rates, M&A and European leveraged loan market opportunities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does wakeboarding have in common with real estate? My guest this week, Austin Hair, is an expert at connecting the dots between these two careers.    In today's show, he discusses how he transitioned from being a professional wakeboarder to becoming the Managing Partner at Leaders Real Estate, where he raises capital for his own healthcare real estate acquisitions. Austin is also exploring the ‘capital allocator' model as the next stage in his career and shares insights he's gained about that approach.   Deal Structure   Having attended several real estate and business masterminds, Austin has identified three key roles in a fund: the fund manager (largely administrative), the ‘expert investor' (more commonly known as the sponsor or operator), and the capital raiser (the role Austin plays).   Austin's approach is to seek opportunities where these roles split the General Partner economics equally, one-third each, or at least where the capital raiser earns a pro-rata share of the GP economics based on the proportion of equity raised relative to the project's total equity requirement.   Target Deal Criteria   Austin prefers deals in the $14-$15 million acquisition range that require approximately $5 million in equity and is comfortable raising $500,000-$1 million per deal.   He seeks sponsors with a minimum of 5+ years and 5+ deals of experience, avoids first-time sponsors aiming to raise large funds (up to $100 million), and is skeptical of sponsors projecting unrealistic IRRs (70%+) preferring, instead, deals with IRRs of 15-18%, which he considers more realistic.   Austin is particularly drawn to healthcare real estate, especially dental practices, as his research shows they have some of the lowest tenant default rates, making them a safer investment option.   Challenges and Lessons Learned   Listen to this episode to hear Austin discuss the biggest challenges he has faced in raising capital and to learn about the single most effective way he has found to connect with more investors for his fund.   *** Explore the world of real estate capital allocators—a fresh approach to financing that's reshaping the industry.   In this series, I talk with allocators, investors, sponsors, and service providers to give you an inside look at this fast-growing space.   PLUS, subscribe to my free newsletter for real estate investors and gain access to: * Introductions to sponsors, allocators, and investment opportunities. * Insights drawn from my 30+ years of experience in real estate investing. * Hacks and tactics for raising capital to help you scale your real estate portfolio.   Visit GowerCrowd.com/subscribe

Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Jason Adams, owner and president of Signal Ventures, who shares his extensive experience in real estate development, particularly in self-storage and light industrial properties. Jason discusses the current state of the self-storage market, the intricacies of ground-up development, financial insights, and marketing strategies for stabilization. He also delves into adaptive reuse projects and the potential of existing facilities, while reflecting on his past experiences and future plans in the real estate sector.   Sponsors: Altra Running

Amanda and Ash welcome Matthew Ricciardella, the principal and managing partner of Crystal View Capital. Matthew shares his journey from residential flipping to managing over 25,000 units in mobile home parks and self-storage facilities. He discusses the importance of passive income, key performance indicators in management, and the strategies he employs to source off-market deals. Matthew also highlights the impressive returns his funds have delivered to investors and the challenges of navigating a competitive market. He emphasizes the significance of building strong relationships with investors and the lessons learned from scaling his business.   Sponsors: Altra Running  

Join Tim Mai for an illuminating conversation with Michael Haigh, Director of Investment Relations at ATX Acquisitions, whose remarkable journey from managing the University of Chicago's $14 billion endowment to overseeing ATX's $600 million portfolio showcases exceptional market timing and investment acumen. Discover how ATX's contrarian approach led them to sell $1 billion in assets before market valuations peaked, and learn why they're now strategically re-entering the market with a focus on multifamily properties. With an impressive track record of over 99% successful deals across 115 properties and consistent above-20% net IRRs, Michael shares invaluable insights into capital raising strategies.Key Takeaways to listen for:Market Timing Mastery: ATX demonstrated exceptional market insight by selling $1 billion in assets between 2019-2023 when they recognized frothy valuations and compressed cap rates.Strategic Acquisition Criteria: Less competition exists in 1980s vintage properties due to institutional investors' rigid cutoff dates and ceiling height requirements, creating opportunities to acquire similar quality assets at better pricing compared to early 1990s properties.Capital Raising Success: ATX's approach to raising capital involves multiple channels - over 300 high-net-worth individuals, 10 family offices, and fund offerings - with persistence in follow-ups (5-12 touches) and a mindset that they're providing valuable portfolio opportunities to investors.Risk Management Lessons: From their one unsuccessful deal out of 115 properties, ATX learned crucial lessons about the importance of thorough JV partner vetting, maintaining healthy cash buffers, and ensuring close property oversight for labor-intensive assets.Marketing Strategy: Their investor attraction approach combines LinkedIn presence, educational events (including expert speakers), podcast appearances, and strategic partnerships with other syndicators, creating multiple touchpoints for potential investors while providing genuine value through content and networking.About Tim MaiTim Mai is a real estate investor, fund manager, mentor, and founder of HERO Mastermind for REI coaches.He has helped many real estate investors and coaches become millionaires. Tim continues to help busy professionals earn income and build wealth through passive investing. He is also a creative marketer and promoter with incredible knowledge and experience, which he freely shares. He has lifted himself from the aftermath of war, achieving technical expertise in computers, followed by investment success in real estate, management skills, and a lofty position among real estate educators and internet marketers. Tim is an industry leader who has acquired and exited well over $50 million worth of real estate and is currently an investor in over 2700 units of multifamily apartments.Connect with TimWebsite: Capital Raising PartyFacebook: Tim Mai | Capital Raising Nation Instagram: @timmaicomTwitter: @timmaiLinkedIn: Tim MaiYouTube: Tim Mai

Get an exclusive preview of the upcoming Commodities Global Expo 2024 with this insightful interview featuring Serafino Iacono, Executive Chairman and CEO of Denarius Metals (Cboe CA: DMET | OTCQX: DNRSF).In this Stocks to Watch interview, Serafino shares the latest updates on Denarius Metals' projects in Colombia and Spain, including plans to reach 75,000 ounces of annual gold production by 2025. Learn about the company's promising IRRs exceeding 230% and their strategy to unlock shareholder value. He also offers his bullish outlook on gold and silver markets, predicting gold to stabilize between $2,000-$2,500 and silver prices to potentially double. With a current market cap of $50 million and over $100 million invested, Denarius Metals presents an interesting opportunity for investors in the precious metals sector. Don't miss this preview of the Commodities Global Expo 2024, happening on October 20-22 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.Learn more about Denarius Metals: https://denariusmetals.com/Join the upcoming Commodities Global Expo 2024: https://topshelf-partners.com/Watch the full YouTube interview here: https://youtu.be/55FEqWP-XGIAnd follow us to stay updated: https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalOneMedia?sub_confirmation=1

Get an exclusive preview of the upcoming Commodities Global Expo 2024 with this insightful interview featuring Serafino Iacono, Executive Chairman and CEO of Denarius Metals (Cboe CA: DMET | OTCQX: DNRSF).In this Stocks to Watch interview, Serafino shares the latest updates on Denarius Metals' projects in Colombia and Spain, including plans to reach 75,000 ounces of annual gold production by 2025. Learn about the company's promising IRRs exceeding 230% and their strategy to unlock shareholder value. He also offers his bullish outlook on gold and silver markets, predicting gold to stabilize between $2,000-$2,500 and silver prices to potentially double. With a current market cap of $50 million and over $100 million invested, Denarius Metals presents an interesting opportunity for investors in the precious metals sector. Don't miss this preview of the Commodities Global Expo 2024, happening on October 20-22 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.Learn more about Denarius Metals: https://denariusmetals.com/Join the upcoming Commodities Global Expo 2024: https://topshelf-partners.com/Watch the full YouTube interview here: https://youtu.be/55FEqWP-XGIAnd follow us to stay updated: https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalOneMedia?sub_confirmation=1

Key Takeaways:CRE Central offers comprehensive education and coaching for commercial real estate investors, covering fundamentals to advanced strategies.Tyler Cauble recently launched a new, more in-depth underwriting spreadsheet for his CRE Accelerator members, which includes features like a green box for debt service coverage ratio and waterfalls.When choosing between starting at a boutique brokerage or a large firm like CBRE or JLL, the decision depends on the resources needed and the type of clients one wants to work with.Proper underwriting and being realistic about the numbers are crucial in commercial real estate, as Tyler takes a conservative approach to ensure deals work even if things go wrong.The self-storage market has remained relatively stable in terms of cap rates, but Tyler advises looking into markets with more multifamily units than self-storage facilities to find attractive deals.Tyler recommends investing in areas north of the Cumberland River in Nashville, such as East Nashville, Madison, and Hendersonville, as they are undervalued compared to more established markets.Tyler is launching a Broker's Mastermind program in October, designed to teach brokers how to earn a million dollars in commissions in a year.When marketing industrial outdoor storage before the property is complete, Tyler suggests using Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and large signage on the property, as well as writing blog posts to attract potential tenants.

Lending to law firms against portfolios of legal assets can generate hefty returns, according to North Wall Capital, the London-based credit investor. “We target 25%-plus IRRs, and we have historically outperformed that,” Fabian Chrobog, its chief investment officer and founder, says in Bloomberg Intelligence's Credit Edge podcast. Separately, North Wall aims to make “mid teens” gains in middle-market private credit, Chrobog tells Bloomberg News' James Crombie and BI senior credit analyst Tolu Alamutu. Also in this episode, Chrobog and Alamutu discuss creditor protections, real estate opportunity and the advantages of geographical diversification. “I can see the returns in the US decreasing while I can see still some really interesting opportunities in Europe,” says Chrobog. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Trench, CEO of BiggerPockets, shares his first-hand experience losing money in real estate syndications - and what it teaches us about finding quality operators. He also looks at the commercial real estate market, predicting pain over the next 18 months. Here are some useful key insights from this episode:Avoid syndicators that diversify across many markets instead of specializing in one. Look for operators with proven long-term track records close to the properties.Thoroughly analyze a syndicator's assumptions about rent growth, expenses, and exit cap rates. Be wary of overly optimistic projections just to show high IRRs. Commercial real estate is in for major pain as oversupply crashes into higher rates. Rents may not recover for years. Protect yourself by understanding these market forces.Tune in now to hear BiggerPockets insider's unfiltered lessons on thriving through today's syndication landmines and shifting market tides.Timestamps:00:46 Introduction to Scott Trench of Bigger Pockets02:53 Four major asset types in Scott's portfolio06:32 Investment strategy, prioritizing real estate and index funds09:35 Scott's real estate buying strategy12:46 Passive investing in syndications with mixed results17:28 Real estate market challenges in 2023 and 202420:43 Taxes, insurance, and interest rates23:43 Multifamily and commercial real estate predictions for 2025 and further28:13 Investing in a real estate syndication operator's integrity and performance34:31 Unethical practices in the multifamily investing industry37:23 The danger of fraud and challenges of investing in real estate syndications47:11 Scott's future investing plans51:46 Personal vision, goal-setting, and aligning goals with a spouse1:00:14 How does Scott give backVISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow

Mark Gerson is an investor, businessman, and philanthropist. He co-founded Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), Thuzio, and most recently, 3i Members. Mark is also the Co-Founder and Chairman of United Hatzalah, a network of volunteer medics in Israel, and the African Mission Healthcare Foundation.3i Members is an investing network of 400+ investors—all who have exited a company or lead a family office. Members participate in monthly deal meetings, regional events, diligence discussions, and more. 3i deal flow is characterized by its high-yielding nature (15-20%+ IRRs), underwritable, uncorrelated, and off-market alternatives with asymmetric return profiles.See here:https://bit.ly/44ff6r1

Mark Purtell and Preston Hartsell of CTC Capital Management join Slocomb Reed on the Best Ever Show. In this episode, Mark and Preston discuss bringing co-GP equity to deals, when to focus on IRR, and what kind of IRRs they're currently targeting. Mark Purtell and Preston Hartsell | Real Estate Background Head of Real Estate Acquisitions and Development | CTC Capital Management Based in:  Chicago, IL Say hi to him at:  https://ctccapitalmanagement.com/ Best Ever Book: The Gambler: How Penniless Dropout Kirk Kerkorian Became the Greatest Deal Maker in Capitalist History by William Rempel Sponsors: Viking Capital Baselane  

Today's podcast is with Irwin Boris, head of acquisitions and investor relations at Heritage Capital Group, a 3rd generation family office with over $750MM in assets under management, whose Number 1 investment priority is Don't Lose Money! Irwin does not believe in basing investment decisions on the IRR but focuses on underwriting investments to prioritize stable, ongoing cash flow while aiming to at least double equity through appreciation during the lifecycle of any deal. Evidence of the prudence of this approach, Irwin says, is seen in the current market where many sponsors and their investors who were chasing high IRRs are now facing serious cash crises and, in the worst cases, complete loss of invested capital. Heritage Capital Group has an extensive history of investing through multiple economic cycles and multiple asset classes including multifamily, having owned over 7,000 units at one time, office, and today, industrial of which they currently own and manage some 6 million square feet. Irwin shares his insights into the broader implications of rising interest rates and their impact on the real estate market and he discusses how Heritage's cautious approach to debt, favoring longer-term fixed debt structures, has helped mitigate the risks associated with macro-economic market volatility. Wrapping up, Irwin shares his projections for the industrial real estate market as we move into 2024. He provides a nuanced perspective on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, offering strategic advice for navigating the complex landscape of commercial real estate investment. This podcast is an essential listen for those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of industrial real estate investment, market trends, and the strategic considerations crucial for successful real estate ventures in any asset class or during any phase of the economic cycle. **** In this brand new podcast series at GowerCrowd, The Real Estate Reality Show, we take a realistic view of commercial real estate investing, providing pragmatic insights for passive investors who are looking for sponsors they can trust and distressed opportunities they can invest in. You'll find no quick fixes or easy money ideas here, no sales pitches, big egos or hype. You'll learn how to build your wealth while protecting your capital investing as a limited partner in commercial real estate investments, even and especially during an economic downturn. Subscribe to our free newsletter here. 

Are you looking to dive into the world of passive investing in real estate syndications but have a ton of questions? Well, you're in luck! Our latest episode of the Multifamily Wealth Podcast is a treasure trove of insights just for you.In this special solo episode, I tackle the nine most frequently asked questions by prospective investors and LPs (Limited Partners). Whether you're a seasoned active investor or a curious LP, this episode is packed with valuable information to help you navigate the complex landscape of real estate syndications.Here's a sneak peek of what you'll discover:Who Can Invest in Real Estate Syndications? - Uncover the nuances of who can get involved and the types of offerings availableInvesting with Retirement Accounts - Learn how to leverage self-directed IRAs for investing in private real estate transactionsExpected Returns on Investment - Get a grasp on the typical ROI ranges for cash on cash returns, IRRs, and equity multiplesUnderstanding Downside Risks - Find out how your investment is protected as an LPDistribution Schedules and Methods - Discover how and when you can expect to receive your returnsLiquidity Concerns - Address the common concern of how to access your money when neededSyndications vs. REITs - Learn the key differences between these two investment vehiclesDeal Structures Explained - Gain clarity on the legal and economic frameworks of syndication dealsThe Investment Process - Walk through the steps from commitment to closingAre you a new multifamily investor looking to grow your portfolio but don't know where to start? Are you an existing multifamily investor looking to scale your business and master advanced topics such as capital structure, finding off-market deals, and establishing JV partnerships? Click here to learn more about 7-Day Multifamily, a program in which I teach investors the foundational skills they need to start and scale a multifamily portfolio rapidly.Are you looking to invest in real estate, but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners provides investment opportunities to passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits multifamily real estate offers, but without the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedInSubscribe to our YouTube channelLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners

Welcome back to the Real Estate Syndication Show! I'm your host, Whitney Sewell, and today we had the pleasure of speaking with Aleksey Chernobelskiy, an expert advisor for LP (Limited Partner) investors in the real estate syndication space.Aleksey brings a wealth of knowledge from his experience managing Store Capital's $10 billion commercial real estate portfolio and his impressive educational background as a quadruple major from the University of Arizona. He now shares his insights with nearly 2000 investors through his Substack and assists GPs (General Partners) with various aspects of LP relations.In our conversation, Aleksey emphasized the importance of LPs taking their time to understand deals and maintaining a healthy dose of scepticism when evaluating potential investments. He also highlighted the need for LPs to be sensitive to the GPs' position, as they manage inquiries from various investors.We dove into Aleksey 's article on the top 15 syndication mistakes, discussing how LPs should approach deal splits, preferred returns (PREFs), and IRRs (Internal Rate of Return). Aleksey stressed that LPs should not focus solely on IRRs, as they can be misleading and often depend on aggressive assumptions. Instead, he advises LPs to understand the risks and the factors that could impact the deal's success.We also touched on the topic of fees, with Aleksey  explaining the rationale behind acquisition fees and the importance of transparency from GPs. He pointed out that while fees are necessary for GPs to operate, LPs must understand how these fees impact their investment from day one.For those interested in learning more from Aleksey , you can find him on  LinkedIn, and his Substack, where he regularly shares valuable insights into the world of real estate investing.Thank you for tuning in, and don't forget to like and subscribe for more expert advice on real estate syndication. Share the show with your friends and help them become better investors too!VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow

This episode is brought to you by Presario Ventures, a private equity real estate firm based in the booming Austin, Texas, market. To learn how to invest in the future of Texas with Presario Ventures, visit info.presarioventures.com/bestever. In this episode, Andrew Freed, an experienced commercial real estate investor, shares his journey from a one-bedroom condo owner to managing a diverse portfolio of multifamily properties. He discusses his innovative syndication approach, lessons learned from past investments, and strategies for maximizing returns while mitigating risks. Key Takeaways: Syndication Strategies: Andrew explains the intricacies of syndicating a diverse portfolio of 12 properties with 65 units. He delves into the importance of negotiating a partial release clause with lenders, which allows for the sale of individual properties and offers greater flexibility in managing debt. Investor-Focused Approach: Andrew's syndication model prioritizes investor returns. He outlines a transparent and straightforward profit-sharing structure, with investors receiving a preferred return and a substantial portion of profits, resulting in higher internal rates of return (IRRs). Continuous Self-Development: Andrew emphasizes the significance of self-discovery and personal development in the entrepreneurial journey. He encourages aspiring commercial real estate investors to focus on becoming the best versions of themselves to achieve their investment goals.   Andrew Freed | Real Estate Background Founder of Freedom Management Portfolio: 95 Units - 65 units in New Bedford MA, 29 units in Worcester, 1 condo in Boston Based in: Worcester, MA Say hi to him at:  LinkedIn Instagram Best Ever Book: The Wealthy Gardener by John Soforic Greatest Lesson: Have an endless desire for self-development and self-discovery.   Click here to learn more about our sponsors: Presario Ventures Rentec Direct