Podcast appearances and mentions of john casmon

When your corporate job feels "secure" until it suddenly isn't, real estate can become the Plan B that turns into your best move…  In this episode of the #DoorGrowShow, DoorGrow founder Jason Hull sits down with John Casmon (multifamily syndicator, host of Multifamily Insights, and co-creator of the Midwest Real Estate Networking Summit) to break down how corporate professionals can transition into multifamily investing without becoming a stressed-out landlord. They dive into how John went from corporate bankruptcies to building a multifamily portfolio, what passive investors actually need to know before putting money into a deal, and why trust + clear expectations matter just as much as the numbers.  Jason and John also unpack what this means for property managers: how to align with investor goals, why the best operators project calm control (even in chaos), where syndicators hang out, and how PMs can position themselves to win more multifamily doors.    You'll Learn (00:00) Transforming Property Management: An Introduction  (00:59) John Casmon's Entrepreneurial Journey  (02:56) Transitioning to Multifamily Investing  (04:33) Understanding Investor Types and Property Management  (05:48) The Role of Property Managers  (07:49) Investor Control vs. Trust in Management  (09:33) Challenges in Property Management  (11:17) Aligning Goals with Property Managers  (14:19) The Real Product of Property Management  (17:14) Managing Investor Expectations  (19:50) Syndication: A New Avenue for Property Managers  (23:44) Legal Considerations in Syndication  (26:41) Calmness in Chaos: The Key to Success  (31:40) Partnering with Syndications  (33:54 The Role of Property Management in Syndication  (38:29) Finding Syndicators and Building Relationships  (42:24) Understanding Passive Investment in Syndication  (47:45) Identifying Your Investment Goals  (51:54) Assessing Risk in Real Estate Investments  (55:15) Choosing the Right Market for Investment  (01:00:12) The Three C's of Raising Capital Quotables "The first C is confidence. Confidence comes from preparation." "The investment itself, we got to go out there and execute. But that investor psyche is a completely different game."  "It is not your job to hope. Your job is to analyze the information in front of you and make an informed decision." Resources DoorGrow and Scale Mastermind DoorGrow Academy DoorGrow on YouTube DoorGrowClub DoorGrowLive Transcript Jason Hull (00:01) All right, five, four, three, two, one. All right, I'm Jason Hull, the founder and CEO of DoorGrow, the world's leading and most comprehensive coaching and consulting firm for long-term residential property management entrepreneurs. And for over a decade and a half, we have brought innovative strategies and optimization to the property management industry. At DoorGrow, we are on a mission to transform property management business owners and their businesses.   We want to transform the industry, eliminate the BS, build awareness, change perception, expand the market and help the best property management entrepreneurs win. Now let's get into the show. So my guest today, I'm hanging out here with John Casman, a multifamily syndicator, host of the multifamily insights podcast and the co-creator of the Midwest real estate networking summit. And in today's episode, John's going to break down how corporate professionals can transition.   into multifamily investing, how to find the best markets, how to raise capital effectively, and what separates successful operators from everyone else. John, welcome to the DoorGrowth Show.   John Casmon (01:10) Yeah, Jason, thank you for having me. I'm really excited to be here. Love the intro, your intro, not my intro, ⁓ but excited to be here and share as much as we can on our journey to help all of your listeners reach their goals.   Jason Hull (01:22) Cool. So John, ⁓ it's great to have you. I would love for people to hear about your entrepreneurial journey. How did you get to where you are now? And then we can get into your business.   John Casmon (01:34) Well, the short answer is bankruptcy, right? I worked for a couple of different companies that went through bankruptcy and that really made me consider my other options. You know, I was at General Motors back in 2007, 2008, 2009 when we went through bankruptcy and I was there and I watched what that did to a lot of my peers. I one day in particular when we were going to have a lot of layoffs, I went to work as late as I could. But when I got there, I had a red message, a little red dial on your phone.   for anybody who's worked in corporate and remember voicemails. So I had a red dot on my phone, picked it up, pushed the play button and my heart skipped a beat because I thought maybe I was getting to the can, right? And it was actually a colleague of mine who sat kind of kitty corner in front of me and he had been let go. He, you know, was diabetic. He didn't know I was going to pay for his medication. He just was venting in his voicemail. And I just remember feeling empathy for him, but also   a sense of I just never wanted to be in that situation. So it made me really start to think about Plan B. Eventually I moved to Chicago, realized real estate was going to be that path and learned everything I could about investing. So it kind of took me down that pathway to say, you know what, I need a Plan B because no matter what you do, when you work in corporate America, you do not control your future. You know, there's politics, there's policy, there's a lot of different things involved that you do not control.   And sometimes it does just come down to someone not liking you for whatever reason, or they think you're a threat. And I didn't want to spend the rest of my career navigating those issues. So I figured I had to take more into my own hands.   Jason Hull (03:16) got it. And so you start taking things in your own hands and what was the result?   John Casmon (03:20) Yes. So we landed on multifamily investing, started with small multifamily. My first investment was a two unit building. We house hacked it, which is a common popular phrase now. But back then it wasn't quite as common. But we lived upstairs. We rented out the first floor unit and it worked great. You know, it worked so great that we went to refinance and we had created enough equity in that first investment to pull out a six figure line of credit and go out and buy another property. So.   Jason Hull (03:45) Nice.   John Casmon (03:47) That really got the ball rolling. bought a three unit building, we bought an eight unit building, and at this time I'm still working in advertising, still working in corporate America, and I enjoyed what I was doing, and I just had my second child, but the agency I was working for also went through bankruptcy right at this time. We had expanded, we were growing, and we had kind of combined with a few other agencies and kind of became this little conglomerate, and it just eroded just as quickly as it grew.   I remember again, just sitting there and I've got some real estate. I've got a little bit of cashflow, but not enough to pay all my bills. New baby. And I just realized this real estate thing is working, but the exact strategy I'm employing doesn't allow me to insulate myself from these economic changes and shifts. So I had to change my strategy and that led me to syndication. Since then, we've acquired over $150 million worth of apartments.   We've partnered with busy professionals to buy these properties and give them some passive income. And that's what we've been doing ever since.   Jason Hull (04:50) Got it. So your area of genius really is helping these people that were similar to you, they're in the corporate environment transition into being an investor in real estate.   John Casmon (05:01) Yeah, exactly. And I would say too, it doesn't have to be you're going to quit your job and do this full time. And in fact, most people don't, you know, but most people do want a little bit more control over their life. You want a little bit more flexibility. You want to earn and start building up, you know, your net worth. You want to have a little bit more liquidity. You have to look at your investments to say, what should you be doing? I think most people know that their 401k, their, you know, company issued life insurance.   probably not enough to really get you on the fast track to retirement. So what else could you do? Certainly you can invest in the stock market. Lots of folks do that. But real estate is a proven vehicle. The challenge is, I don't know anyone who really wants to be a landlord, right? ⁓ Certainly you want the benefits of real estate investing, but very few of us want to get those 2 a.m. phone calls. So the shortcut there is, ⁓ hire a property manager. Great solution. But now you have to be able to manage   property managers, right, which is this whole other business. And if you don't have enough scale, then it's hard to get that person really focused on your business. So we offer an alternative, right? You get all the benefits of real estate investing, all the ownership perks without any of the headaches of being the landlord yourself. So it really is a great marriage of being in real estate without having to do the heavy lifting yourself.   Jason Hull (06:15) Okay.   Okay, so ⁓ the target audience of this show are property managers. So if they're not gonna use property managers, then what's the alternative? How does this work?   John Casmon (06:29) Well,   first of all, what we do is not always for that individual. So I think that's the key, right? You've got to understand who you are from a psychological standpoint. So when it comes to investors, there's two types of investors. One wants control, right? They're not willing to be passive. And some people think they want to be passive until they're in a passive situation and then they're calling and they want to know why you did this and why you did that and how come you did do that. That's not a passive investor. And that's fun.   Jason Hull (06:45) Yeah.   Yeah, they're anxious. Yeah. Yeah.   John Casmon (06:58) And   if that's you, you should be active, right? And you should work with a property manager, but you also want to work with the property manager who is going to be right for you, right? Because sometimes that is not how they operate. So you want to understand that. And that's a process to understand who you are as an investor, what kind of investment strategy fits you and what's going to be right there. When it comes to property managers, though, I think there are a couple of things. And as a matter of fact, we just left out of meeting with   property management company yesterday. They have 2000 units. We talked about some other services that we offer. And one of things that stood out to me was just understanding some of the challenges that property managers face. And one of them is property managers are really in a position to think like everyone. They're supposed to think like an investor. They're supposed to understand maintenance and kind of the construction arm enough to understand what needs to happen at a property. But they are really little CEOs, right? Because for   Our stuff, the large apartment stuff, those are typically million dollar annual revenue businesses. And this person is in charge of that asset of that business. They are making the day to day decisions. They are the face for the residents, aka the customers of that business. They are the face and their experience with that individual is how they view that business. So it really is an important role. And if you're working with property managers, it's really important to understand how to find the right people.   to connect with them and have them represent your business, your brand, company in the right light.   Jason Hull (08:30) So now you left an open loop that I want to close. So you said there's two types of investors, those that want control and maybe should go find a property manager, you said. And then what's the other type?   John Casmon (08:34) Yeah.   The other type is those who don't want control and they trust someone else to handle that. And for them, there are a couple of different ways of investing. One is investing passively with a group like ours. The other is turnkey investing where again, you hire a property manager, but you really entrust them to manage the property. The only thing I would say for either one of those groups, myself included, is you want to trust but verify. Okay. You've got to do a lot of your due diligence upfront. You want to understand how they operate. You want to talk to   some of their other clients, some of their other investors, because you need to get a really good sense of what to expect. And a lot of people are great at selling themselves upfront, right? I can tell you everything you want to hear upfront. You want to know what is it like once you sign the paperwork? How often are we going to talk? How frequently am I going to get updates? And at what point am I able to weigh in and make decisions? Because if, if you are someone who wants to be more active or be heard, or you've got thoughts and opinions,   Jason Hull (09:18) yeah.   John Casmon (09:35) You want to make sure you have a voice in your investment. Otherwise you may get really disappointed or you may bring on someone who has a different perspective of what that relationship looks like and that never is going to work out.   Jason Hull (09:47) Yeah, there's a big challenge in the industry and that's that most property management companies suck. so most investors that have dealt with property management to some degree are they have some scar tissue, they've been burned a little bit. They've a lot of property managers that started their businesses that come to me for help to grow their business. They started because they were investor and they couldn't find anyone else to manage the property good enough. And that's why they started their business, but it can be a difficult business to run. so none of them start their business saying, I want to suck.   But that's kind of the default unless they get some really good support or figure some things out through a lot of trial and error. And so that's where DoorGrow comes in. We help them with that. But one of the things I coach my clients on a lot is that they need to shift into being daddy over these rental properties. They need to like tell the owner, hey, you need to trust me. And they need to be able to have a really effective business so that they can lean into that trust.   because a lot of people are anxious. They'll come to them with concerns, but generally if a property manager is good, they're much better at this investing stuff than most investors. And they're much better at coordinating maintenance. They're much better at handling leasing. And so when an owner tries to micromanage a property manager, it kind of doesn't make sense to hire somebody to manage your asset just so you can manage them to do the job. And so I think the secret is finding a really good property manager that you can   let go of control because you can trust them. And but yes, you need to verify that they can do the job that you need them to do. And so a good property manager will take ownership of it and they'll take control and they will, they'll display a lot of certainty and confidence in how they communicate and they won't allow you to micromanage them is what I've seen. So.   John Casmon (11:37) Yeah, Jason, and I'll add to it. There's a two way street there. And I think it's easy for people to say, ⁓ most property managers suck or they're not good or whatever. And listen, there's certainly a lot of challenges there. A lot of folks who are not living up to par to the standards. But I will go back to this. We ask property managers to do the work of generally like a CEO. Right. I mean, again, they're managing million dollar businesses in many cases, yet they don't have that training. They don't have that experience. They don't have the ability to navigate.   all of these various things. So part of what owners and investors need to also understand is that you play the role of asset manager. And that means giving clear direction of what success looks like so that that property manager has a framework to make decisions. It's not to micromanage those decisions, but to help them understand how their decisions impact the greater good. And part of that is like, again, just sitting down with annual goals. What are revenue goals? What are our goals on?   Occupancy, what are our goals on in a lot? And this may seem simple, but I promise you a lot of folks don't do this. And if you don't do that, then that property manager is going to default to, for instance, I'll give you a great example. I've got a property manager. She's awesome rock star. But she always gets nervous when occupancy is not at like 96 or 97 percent of this property. So she is, you she starts apologizing profusely and all I did this or done that and like.   Jason Hull (12:58) Yeah.   John Casmon (13:04) Occupancy is one of our KPIs for sure. It's important, but that is not the KPI. I am focused on my net operating income. And if we're going to push rents, the impact of that is you're going to have higher vacancy and she is not comfortable with that. And that's probably because she's used to working with owners who want that thing fully rented and they are comfortable having 100 % occupancy.   Jason Hull (13:13) Yeah.   Hmm.   Yeah.   John Casmon (13:33) if they're leaving 50 bucks, 75 bucks, whatever it is of rent on the table. And that's the part where you've got to really align with your vision versus their vision, because what they have in the back of their mind may not completely align with what you have. Or they have residents in their face who are coming into the office. They want something fixed. They want it done quickly. They want it done right. They want it done yesterday.   Jason Hull (13:49) Right.   .   John Casmon (13:59) So they've got that pressure of this person in their face. So they may go out there and spend the money or authorize the money to get spent. And maybe they're not picking the most cost effective measure. So you have that. And I'll give you one third one. A lot of times when you run into the flip side of that is maybe occupancy is low. They say, hey, we need to increase our marketing spend, right? We got to increase our marketing budget. know, ox is down to 88 or 90%. We got to spend more money. And we're not necessarily.   really zeroing in on what the specific issue or challenge is at that property. So for an owner, your job as an asset manager is to partner with them and to help them see what the options are, help them work through with some of those challenges and solutions are and partner with them to find success. It's not to micromanage them and tell them what to do, but it's really to understand the situation better and give them that perspective.   Jason Hull (14:49) Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. think, you know, one of the things I've seen is that I've noticed a lot of property managers, they make the mistake of thinking that the goal or the product that people want to buy from them is property management. But investors don't wake up in the morning and go, man, I'm so excited to get property management today. The thing that they want. And so the way I describe it to them as they say, property management is like the flight to Hawaii. It's not Hawaii.   and you're trying to sell the flight. That's not the exciting part. You need to figure out what the investor wants, what their goal is. Where do they want to go? What's Hawaii for them, right? What's paradise? And then how do we optimize for that? And how do we help them create a path for that? Because the actual product that a property manager is selling is not what they do. It's not property management. The actual product is them. It's them and their values and their belief system and how they create trust and the team they build and the system and mechanism they build around them.   That's the actual product the property manager is selling. so a lot of property managers make that mistake. They sit there and talk to you about maintenance coordination and leasing and inspections. And meanwhile, you're just wondering as an investor, can I even trust this person? Like do our values align? Yeah. So I don't know what your thoughts are on that, but.   John Casmon (16:11) I think you're spot on, right? Because, I mean, ultimately, as an investor, you are only as good as the team you can build. And that property manager is in charge of the day-to-day aspects of the business. especially when you, you know, I've heard horror stories of folks who have done like turnkey investing, right? Where the property manager, someone owns it, they buy it, they fix it up, and then they rent it back to...   an investor. And I've heard horror stories where that property was not being well managed. And that's the fear. If you're not in that marketing, you can't come and see it. So if you got an out of town investor, you really are trusting that property manager. So that is the most important thing, right? Everything else are tactical, daily situational things that can change. But it comes down to do I have the right people, people that I can trust, people who are going to make the right decision based on the information they have.   because they may not know what I know or maybe something shifted and changed where they would have made a different decision. We can't, you know, ache on that. It really comes down to are they doing their best? Are they making good decisions? If they're not making good decisions, is it because they didn't have the correct information, which again, could fall back on you as the investor to say, hey, are they aware of what your goals are? Are they aware of maybe this situation, these tools, these resources, whatever it is? And that's on you to sit and collaborate.   But trust is absolutely paramount because at end of the day, the thing that I think most of us are concerned with is who we partner with. And there's a great book I'm reading right now. And it gets into decision making and the fear of decision making for most of us and why deals stall. Why didn't you hire somebody? Why didn't you, you know, go with the vendor or go with the contractor or with the company? And the biggest thing is we are scared of making the wrong choice. All of us in decision and no action.   Jason Hull (17:43) Absolutely.   John Casmon (18:04) is better than the wrong action for many people because they once they take action. Well, now they're blaming themselves because you didn't pick the right person. Why did you hire that guy? You should have like now this starts to go on in their head versus doing nothing. Well, at least it's you know, it's not going to get worse, you know, it will in lot of cases get worse. So for a lot of people, that is the scariest thing. So if you can take that fear off the table as far as being the right person or being someone who is trustworthy.   Jason Hull (18:07) Right, yeah.   John Casmon (18:32) everything else gets easier. So if you can do that, that's, you know, the best thing you can do as an investor or as a property manager.   Jason Hull (18:38) Yeah, I agree. think one of things that I talk about a lot is that clarity has to come before action because if you don't have clarity and you start taking a bunch of action, doing stuff, every action you take is a little bit wrong. Sometimes it's a lot wrong. so, yeah, we need to get that clarity first before we start ⁓ making moves. And you talked about, I love the example of your property manager that is trying to   optimize maybe for the wrong thing. They're like, want to optimize to the, making sure their vacancy is super low. But that might not be the goal. That's not the primary goal. The goal is money, you know, and there's a really good book is by Elihu Goldratt. It's a good book for operations people, but it's called The Goal. And spoiler alert, the guy's trying to figure out the goal through this whole book, the story and it's money. That's the secret. The goal is the of the business, should be making making money.   And what happens in this book is that people are over optimizing individual pieces in this flow at this warehouse. And it's actually not helping to make money. It's causing more constraint. And so if we over optimize at one stage, it actually creates waste, bloat, inventory, additional work for the next stage. And so sometimes the best thing certain departments can do is slow down and do less in order to get the outcome to be maximized outcome.   And there's some really great examples in that that I think are really powerful. But I think the if you're optimizing for the wrong thing, then you're not making it effective. So you want to make sure you're optimizing for the right thing. Otherwise. ensues. You get mad at somebody, but nobody understood what the goal was. And so I think, yeah, getting a greed upon set of criteria of what what the outcome is and asking the property manager, can you help me achieve this?   And they know, they know if they know what the problem is, usually they can, they know how to help you get whatever goal that you have. And they know whether your goal is probably realistic or not, because they've helped probably a lot of people do this similarly. And so, but yeah, I think it's very important. Make sure you know, where's Hawaii and maybe property management is the vehicle. Now you had mentioned like, I'm really curious about this idea of, you know, maybe creating syndications.   Some property managers are now starting to think, maybe I should create a syndication. What's your criteria for, what's a good syndication and what are some of the, I'd be really curious to get into if some of the property managers listening were wanting to do kind of a little bit of what you do, how they might be able to get started in that. Like what are the beginning steps to make sure they don't make the mistakes you probably already figured out in the beginning?   John Casmon (21:27) Well, I think the first thing is, you really want to get into it? Right. Because for a lot of people, you got to understand it's a different business. Now you're not talking about real estate investing. You're not talking about property management. You're really talking more about, you know, investment management. You're talking about bringing on private investors who are looking for a return. That is communication skills. That's building up a network and a database of   Jason Hull (21:35) Mm-hmm.   Right, returns.   John Casmon (21:54) prospective investors, it's understanding the return projections that they're looking for. And it's really kind of managing the investor expectations, not necessarily the investment. And to give you a great example here, I had a deal where the investment went great, but it was slightly lower than what we initially projected. And I had an investor who was upset.   Jason Hull (22:07) Yeah.   Yeah.   John Casmon (22:23) about that. And we had communicated all throughout the entire process where things sat and he wasn't too upset, but he still made it a point to let me know, hey, well, this is less than what you initially thought. And that's challenging because the market shifts, right? Anybody who's bought properties in 2022 and beyond knows the market has shifted drastically over the last three or four years. So those projections made in a 2021-22 environment   Have a hard time standing up in a 25 26 environment We still make good money on that deals double-digit returns for investors ⁓ But you know there was that that was that feedback I got from one of the investors conversely We just exited deal a couple months ago, and we completely exceeded our return projections You know we delivered on a almost a 2.7 equity multiple Hit all you know mid 20s on the IRR completely unheard of stuff in this environment   And I have one investor call me and say, hey, John, I just checked my account. Is this right? And I'm like, yeah, it's it's right, man. He's like, my gosh, you guys killed it, man. my. Like, this is amazing. And it's great to hear. But again, that is separate from the investment. Right. Happy to manage the investor expectations and concerns. But that was an up and down investment where we had, you know, a moment where we actually had to put some of our general partner capital into the deal to keep it going.   Jason Hull (23:27) Yeah.   Yeah.   John Casmon (23:48) We have floating rate debt. had to refinance out of that. And we had to kind of rush to do that before rates started to go crazy. We had moments where our construction or renovation costs were much higher than we anticipated. So there are a lot of things that we had to navigate. And I think what happens for a lot of operators, a lot of people who get into syndication, they know the real estate and want to do the real estate, but they do not understand the perspective of the investor. And when you don't communicate to investors on a frequent basis and a clear, transparent nature,   Jason Hull (24:19) Yeah. Yeah.   John Casmon (24:19) They fill in the blanks and   the first concern every investor has and they won't say it. Most of time they don't say it, but I promise you they're thinking it after they make that investment. my gosh, did I make a mistake? Am I going to lose money? Is this person going to run off? Is this going to be some sort of fraudulent thing? Is this deal going to fail? These are all that we're wired like that. This is caveman stuff, right? We're wired to protect ourselves.   Jason Hull (24:36) Hmm.   Right.   John Casmon (24:45) And when you make an investment, and by the way, our investments are typically $50,000 and up, right? So these are not small investments. So when you make that investment, people start to second guess that decision. So my job when it comes to this side of the business is to keep them grounded that, hey, you've done your research, you've made an informed decision, you've picked a good partner, we've done this before. ⁓   Jason Hull (24:50) Yeah. Right.   John Casmon (25:13) And it's really to make sure that they feel comfortable with that decision. It has nothing to do with the investment, right? The investment itself, we got to go out there and execute. But that investor psyche is a completely different game. So first thing I would tell any of your property managers when they get into this business is understand, do you actually like people? Do you want to manage investors? Are you comfortable managing people's money? ⁓ And then beyond that, you have to do it the legal way. There are a lot of regulations around accepting capital from other people.   Jason Hull (25:31) you   John Casmon (25:42) So you can do it as a joint venture. The more common way of doing it, the more accepted way of doing this is by doing a formal syndication, which requires you to file SEC documentations. ⁓ know, there's regulation D and regulation A and there's some couple others, but typically it's going to be reg D 506 B or 506 C filing, which basically is the the structure that allows you to offer ⁓ passive investment opportunity or a security to investors. So again, for some people,   It's overwhelming. they're like, nope, never mind. But for some people, they love it. They want to get into it and they can learn more about that process.   Jason Hull (26:19) Got it. Yeah. I think I love your idea that it's more about managing expectations rather than the investments. And I think, I think that's good advice for all the property managers listing. This is something we spend a lot of time coaching clients on because they think their job is to manage properties. But really, if they're not strong in managing expectations and managing the relationship, it's 10 times to 100 times harder to manage the properties.   their operational costs go through the roof because owners are getting anxious. They're asking more questions. They're getting all these interruptions and calls, tenants, owners constantly. And if they had just managed the relationship and expectations and set strong boundaries at the outset, everybody would feel calmer. And I think really for business owners, I think the thing that really stood out to me that I've been focused on, and this is I've done some personal coaching and this is just nervous system regulation.   If you can, and John, seem like you're pretty chill and pretty calm and I'm sure the investor feel safe with you, which is why you've had success. If you are a person that is anxious and you're running around like a chicken with your head cut off, you're going to have, you're going to struggle in leading anybody, especially in relationships to your spouse and like everybody else. so having a calm, regulated nervous system allows your investors.   to entrain to your nervous system and to feel safer and to calm down. And that's not something you can pretend or you can just fake. You have to be that and they can sense and they can feel that it'll come across in your tone and in your body language and how you communicate. But if you can make sure that you're in that space and that you're able to regulate your own system, you're able to stay calm when other people are coming at you.   and other people are angry and other people are emotionally heightened. And you recognize this isn't really you. It's just that's them. And you can maintain that calm. You will be able to create a lot more safety. And that's really what people want to buy. Most people out there, their primary basic need is safety and security. Most people. That's why they aren't entrepreneurs. That's why they don't go start jobs. That's why they aren't like you and me. And if you're a property management business owner listening to this,   Most people are not like you. They want safety and security. That's why they get a property manager. They want peace of mind. And so, and I'm sure investors in a syndication, they also want some peace of mind because this is a big chunk of change.   John Casmon (28:55) They do. And I will say to most of the property managers I come across thrive in chaos. Right. They're used to stuff getting thrown at them. Right. And when you talk to them and get to know them, you learn very quickly. They like it. They do. They like the fact that they don't know what the day is going to bring. It could be a. Yeah, yeah. Could be a tenant coming with some crazy issue. It could be something from it's never boring and they thrive in it. However.   Jason Hull (29:00) Yeah.   Yeah.   They like the variety and unique challenges that property management brings, for sure.   It's never boring.   John Casmon (29:25) What happens then if you if they're going to look to work with investors and particularly raise capital and kind of do their own syndications, they have to understand that while they may thrive in chaos and uncertainty, most other people want organization. You want everything you said right. You want to have the calmness. You are looking for a captain to steer the ship. And for that part of the personality, they're going to have to tap into a different side of it to demonstrate how they handle chaos.   Jason Hull (29:37) Hmm.   Yeah.   Yeah.   John Casmon (29:54) not that they are chaotic. And I think what happens a lot of times when you're working with property managers is that they don't project that level of control. It just feels like they're reacting. So part of it is that, and they're really, really good ones. The ones who make it to that next level who are the regional managers and get those promotions, well, that's what they do. They manage the chaos and they manage up. They do a great job of telling the owners,   Jason Hull (30:06) Yeah.   Mm.   John Casmon (30:23) the leadership, whoever they need to talk to, they're telling them, hey, here's how here's our process. Here's how we're managing the situation. Here's what's going on. Here's what we're into. Hey, we had a water main burst here. Here's we bought. call three companies. We've got three quotes, but it's calm, right? It can be the worst. I'll give you a real example, right? At a fire, one of my properties and I was going to meet a property manager and I just happened to have a meeting with her that day at the property. She called me.   I was literally about to get in the car. She called me and said, Hey, I just want to let you know we've got a fire going on at the property. I'm not sure if you still want to meet. You're happy to come. We already have, you know, the fire department's here. They're they're putting the fire out right now. We already have another company that's coming in. They're going to walk through the damages once this is kind of settled. And I've already talked to the residents. Residents are good. We've got them hotels for the evening. We've checked with insurance. This is covered in your policy. So they're good to go. So you're happy to come down and talk and all of that if you want to.   Or we can let things settle down and maybe we can meet next week. This is a fire, right? This is like a scary situation. She called me.   Jason Hull (31:26) Right. A literal fire. Yeah. And there's plenty of fires   in managing properties. The literal ones.   John Casmon (31:33) Her calmness, she was so calm. Not only was   she calm, she had handled 90 % of it, right? It was the stuff you could handle in the moment. She handled it. So was like, hey, I don't think it makes sense for me to because I'm probably just going to add more anxiety to the situation at this point, right? It seems like you've got it under control. Why don't we let things settle, literally let the dust settle? And then once it's there, I'll come down. We can assess the damages, figure out what else needs to happen, what other next steps need to take place, right?   Jason Hull (31:41) Yeah? huh.   question. Yeah.   John Casmon (32:03) but had it handled like a rock star. Now, a lot of other folks would have saw the flames, called immediately, my God, there's a fire. ⁓ my God, what are we gonna do? So now you freaking out, everyone's freaking out, no one's controlling the situation, right? So now everyone's mind is just spinning and going. it does really take, kind of go back to where we started the conversation, that mindset of someone who was the boss, who was leading.   Jason Hull (32:05) Yeah, I love that.   Yeah. Freaking out. Yeah.   Hmm. Yeah.   John Casmon (32:32) who is going to take charge, even though it's not their property, they're going to take charge. Here's what needs to happen next. Maybe you have an emergency response plan already put in place, but you have these things already scheduled and ready to go. So when they happen, you're not shocked. You're not surprised. You're not asking questions that maybe you should have figured out upfront. And that's what a great property manager does. And if you convey that to owners, you're going to stand out above and beyond your competition because most people cannot convey that level of control, the level of   planning and the level of expertise that it takes to truly and effectively manage properties from the front, being proactive as opposed to just reacting to whatever the issue of the day is.   Jason Hull (33:13) Got it, okay. So ⁓ I'm reading, I just read, well, I didn't just read. I read in the past a really great book called Extreme Ownership. Really good book. Yeah, phenomenal book. ⁓ I'm going through their newer book, which I think is even better, called The Dichotomy of Leadership. leadership is what we're talking about right now, is that that,   John Casmon (33:23) Yeah, I think I got it like right here. It is right there.   Absolutely.   Jason Hull (33:38) creates a huge impact and there's a lot of misunderstandings of what leadership is, like it's control or it's being aggressive or, but yeah, it's really that calm presence of letting people know I've got it. Like we can take care of this. We've got a plan and staying regulated and calm. So I love that. ⁓ have a, so another question I have is how can the property managers listen to this? How could they maybe target or partner   with, if possible, syndications like you, like people that are doing what you're doing. Is there a chance that they could be a resource or do most syndications just in-house and do, they are a property management business?   John Casmon (34:19) No, no, most ⁓ most that I know work with third party manager companies. So I would say first and foremost, if you and syndications, I mean, it sounds like a big, huge, fancy word. But I mean, honestly, anytime you work with passive investors is technically a syndication. So it really comes down to figuring out who is looking for third party management and whether or not it's technically a syndication or not is really irrelevant. You want someone who is going to be managing or owning the property.   Jason Hull (34:24) Okay.   Yeah.   John Casmon (34:49) They want third party, but you have to understand their plan, going back to understanding the goals, right? Most syndications are looking to sell in a three to seven year timeframe, typically five to seven years. Most buy and hold owners have not decided or have not identified their exit strategy. So that's probably the biggest difference is when you have, let's just call it an individual investor or maybe it's a   Jason Hull (35:01) Okay.   Right.   John Casmon (35:17) a family or whatever that's buying and they want a third party manager, they don't know the exit. They haven't predetermined that they're going to sell in five years. So they are buying and holding it. And that goes back to the the I think the separation of understanding the objective, because for that person, having a full property is great. It means they're maximizing the revenue potential today. When you are syndicating.   most syndicators already assume 5 % vacancy. That's that's in everyone's underwriting. So you being at 100, they won't even give you credit banks don't even give you credit for it. So all of these things are already assumed. So for us to be above that is actually a miss, because it means we're not being as aggressive on the rent. So just understanding the mindset of a syndicator, which is they are looking to sell typically they're looking to double their money over a five or six year period. So how can you create value?   And that's something most property managers don't fully understand. But I would sit and I would talk to that syndicator. And if you want to be a syndicator or partners, not just be a third party vendor, but you actually want a partner, which we have seen a lot of folks look to do. You want to figure out how you can bring value to the table, because now we are aligning your interest with that syndicators interest. And now you've got a great partnership.   because every syndicator is going to need property management and they're going to need construction management to drive value. So if they can bring those people in as partners, that's a great opportunity for you. And if you're a property manager, you may have phenomenal relationships. You may already have contractor or the vendor partners that you trust in that marketplace. And if you could then take that and get a slice of the equity, that makes you very valuable for both sides.   Jason Hull (37:08) Do syndications, do they also need investors in capital or do most of them have that, are they really good at that? Okay.   John Casmon (37:15) Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.   mean, I mean, syndication at its core really just comes down to the need of capital. If someone had the capital themselves, they would probably just buy it directly and not go through the process of syndication. Because the syndication is literally just raising the money from passive investors. And in that scenario, again, being able to manage that, manage the communication, ⁓ that's really what a syndication truly is.   Jason Hull (37:42) So a really good property management partner could bring property management, some of the construction elements and investors and capital to the table. So it could be a nice little.   John Casmon (37:51) That would be amazing.   I'll be honest, man. That's because I don't want your listeners sitting here like, oh, I don't have one of those. I don't know if I've ever met one that had all of those. If you do have all of them, yes, you should consider syndicating yourself because you got all the pieces to the puzzle. Typically, what happens is a property manager has the property managers. I'll give you a great example. I got a 54 unit down in North Carolina. OK, so I came in as a key principal. I've got a.   Jason Hull (38:03) Okay.   Okay.   John Casmon (38:20) to my coaching clients. It's his property that he found. He asked me to come help him with the loan, which I did. One of the members, one of the partners is the property manager. So that's kind of their role to the table is they're managing the property. That's what they kind of came on. They had a couple of relationships, but their main role is the asset and property management side of it. So that's a great way to come to the table. But. Just like anything else in business.   Jason Hull (38:33) Mm-hmm.   John Casmon (38:49) It's very hard to find someone who checks every single box. I mean, that's like finding the marketer who's a CMO, who's also the CFO, who's also the COO, who's also the chief of human resource. very like no one, people don't really have like top notch excellent skills at every single one of those, right? Like you might be great at business, great at sales, great at marketing. You're probably terrible at finance, right? Like you just, you just forget to do your expense report type person, right? So it's hard to find someone who's   checks all those boxes. And I think typically when comes to property management, you want someone who's great with people, can resolve issues, but also has to be somewhat, you know, sufficient when it comes to the numbers, tracking all the data, tracking all the, you know, the rent roll, the leases, the income and expense statements, things like that. So usually they're not going to do every single box. But again, if you can find someone or that's where partnerships make sense.   Jason Hull (39:24) Mm-hmm.   John Casmon (39:43) If you've got that awesome. And again, I'm not saying a company doesn't have that. I'm just saying a single individual doesn't, which is why it's great to partner. If you can find someone who maybe brings a set of skills that you don't have, whether they're joining you in your property management business or they're partnering up where you're bringing your property management skills to the table with their investing or their networking skills, that makes for a good partnership.   Jason Hull (39:43) Mm-hmm.   Yeah, I got it. Well, we've got several clients, you know, all over the U S that are really good at property management. They're really good at handling the maintenance stuff and they obviously have a pool of investors as clients and, and, know, and they know that they can't do everything. So we coach them in making sure that they would do time studies. They figure out which, what their purpose is. We start to align them towards more fulfillment, more freedom, more contribution and more support in their business.   John Casmon (40:32) Yeah.   Jason Hull (40:38) And they start to build the right team. So they're getting operators, they're getting BDMs, they're getting the things they're not like strong in. And so we just make healthier businesses. So for those of maybe my clients listening that have healthy property management companies. And, but they don't want to do syndication. They're just like, man, that's a whole nother business. If I stay in my lane, I can grow that faster. How do they find syndicates? Like, how do they find people like you? Cause you've got a lot of properties connected to you.   and they would probably love to chat with somebody like you. Where do you syndicate people hang out? What's the title? Who runs a syndicate? What are they called? Do they have a specific title?   John Casmon (41:15) You   Yeah.   Yeah, great. Great question. Multifamily syndicator is is kind of the name just syndicator. We're all over. So I've got a podcast called Multifamily Insights. I interview like minded individuals. I've been doing that for a long time. We've done our seven hundred and seventy plus episode. So lots of people, lots of syndicators there. Definitely conferences. So if you look up any multifamily conference in your city.   Jason Hull (41:25) Okay.   Nice.   Okay.   John Casmon (41:46) meetups, lot of meetups in different cities as well. Those are great places to find syndicators. I think the biggest thing though is this.   Figure out who your avatar is. Because while we're talking about syndicators, ultimately, if you want to scale your property management business, I presume you're trying to scale with folks who are looking for third party management and the best option for that. OK, and let me back up. had one of the guests out of a podcast some years back, ⁓ Ashley Wilson. Love Ashley. As you said, something really changed when I thought about the business.   And she said the best way to find any vendor, any vendor is to figure out who relies on that vendor next and ask them for referral. So if you think about it, if you want a great drywall person, ask a painter. A painter is going to know who's great at drywall because they're going to know who makes their job easy and they can come in and just start painting versus a drywall guy who maybe doesn't, you know, you know.   Jason Hull (42:38) I like it.   John Casmon (42:55) mud the drywall properly or doesn't sand it down. So they got to do all this extra work before they start their process. Right. So a painter is going to know a great drywall guy. And in this case, it's really hard on ⁓ the property manager because you guys are the ones who do the work. But if you are looking for syndicators, OK, well syndicators, person who buys the deal. Well, who sells the deal? A broker. Find brokers. Go to a broker, commercial multifamily broker and ask them, hey,   Jason Hull (43:01) I love this.   Yeah.   John Casmon (43:25) Do you know some groups or you have properties that you're going to list? Here are the kind of deals we want to do now on the flip side of that. You got to be good at your job, right? You got to sell yourself and share what you do. So if you've got a great track record, a great resume, showcase that, bring that broker through and let them know, hey, we're looking to scale our property management business here. Here are the kind of assets that we want to manage. If you come across any of these that you're going to list, would you mind keeping our main name out there or referring us or giving us introductions to any of those buyers?   Jason Hull (43:53) Yeah.   John Casmon (43:54) so that we can throw our hat in the running to manage these properties. That's a phenomenal way to do that. And it allows you to shine and expand your relationships in your core networks and in your core markets.   Jason Hull (44:06) Brilliant. think I love the, I love Ashley's idea that you shared, you know, the drywall. Yeah. The painters, like they don't want to be painting over a crappy drywall. They're like, this is a mess. Like this doesn't even look good in my job. Now I'm going to look bad. Yeah. So the brokers know who maybe those best syndicators are. And so they could just go to the brokers and say, Hey, who's, who's doing deals like this? Who who's got things going on? Like who could you connect me with?   And I avoid maybe.   John Casmon (44:36) And on top of that, keep in mind, too, like what   are the times when? Yeah, but think about to like when is a property hiring or bringing on a new property manager? Right. So it's either a current owners firing the existing property manager or the property is being sold. Right. So, I mean, if you can get in during that transition phase, that's going to help you tremendously. And if even if they're firing their existing property manager, you can think through, OK, how do I?   Jason Hull (44:51) Yeah. Yeah.   John Casmon (45:06) work myself and get my name out there. And a lot of times, again, you're going to ask, right? You're going to ask other investors. If I were going through that process, I'm going to call my buddies into space, right? And say, hey, man, having a hard time, my current PM is not working out or we're not hitting our objectives, looking at some other options. Do you have any experience with these guys? What do you know about these guys? Or do you have anybody you could recommend? It's word of mouth, right? So that's what's going to start happening as well. So you kind of have to get out there and network and let folks know who you are, what you do. But you want to be someone who   people can say, yeah, these guys are amazing. You know, they, they only had an eight unit, but they crushed my eight unit for me. I'm sure they kill your 25 unit or your 50 unit. And you've got to start building that rapport and building your reputation in your market.   Jason Hull (45:44) Yeah.   Nice. This is good advice, my friend. So, cool. For those that maybe are investors listening to this show, ⁓ I'd love to hear a little bit about what you do, how you do run your syndication, and how they can ⁓ make things more passive, if that's what they're looking   John Casmon (46:08) Yeah, man. So there are lots of different ways to get in. If you are looking to be more passive, ⁓ high level, here's how it works. OK, so first and foremost, me and my team would go out. We look for the deals. We focus on a really tight radius. So we're in Cincinnati. We like Cincinnati, Columbus, Louisville, Kentucky. Really a two hour radius of the Cincinnati market is where we focus. And right now we actually think there's more opportunities locally. So we're really honed in on Cincinnati right now. But we focus on that once we find a deal.   We reach out to folks in our network. So we have folks in our investor list. ⁓ Once they're on our list, we kind of have a quick vetting process and then we can share opportunities with them. Once they see that opportunity, they get a chance to review it. We like to have a webinar where we answer any questions about the deal. I think for new investors, it's a great way to learn because we have a lot of experienced investors who ask very intelligent, thoughtful questions that   Many first time investors probably would not even think of. And that's a great way to learn, right? And ultimately when it comes to this space, it's really about education. know, it's educating yourself, understanding how you think about risk, how you mitigate risk in your investment choices. And those webinars are a great chance for you to learn about that the first time. Once you've done that, you can go ahead and fill out our official paperwork with our SEC documents.   Jason Hull (47:30) Mm-hmm.   John Casmon (47:30) And then   once you're through there, you can make the investment. But the first thing is just to get on our list, you can have access to the deals. And before you do that, we've actually put together a guide that can help people because I found that when I have these calls, people don't ask great questions. Sometimes they do. But I want to make sure that you are informed and well educated because this is a big investment. You know, this is not a 599 thing. And if it doesn't work out, OK, well, I just wasted six bucks. No.   Jason Hull (47:54) .   John Casmon (47:59) We're asking you to make a pretty large investment, whether it's with us or with others. If that's what you're looking to do, I want to make sure you're well informed. So we put together a guide. It's seven questions you must ask before investing in apartments. You can get that on our website. It's casmancapital.com slash seven questions, but it gets into questions around the market itself, the operating team, what you should be looking for, the deal. What is the story of this property? What's the business plan? And it helps you identify different levels of risk because the reality is   Anything can work, but you want to mitigate risk as much as possible, particularly when you're a passive investor, because you are basically saying, I'm trusting these people to find the right deal and execute. And you want to make sure that you are finding and identifying the right individuals who have a proven track record doing the thing that they are asking to do. When I hear about people losing money in real estate. At least 50, if not 70 % of the time.   Jason Hull (48:35) Hmm.   John Casmon (48:57) It is someone doing something for the first time. It is the first time in the market, first time doing this kind of deal, first time doing this kind of business plan. And. I can't tell you how frustrating it is because it's a big red flag, and it's not to say they can't do it and can't have success. But if it's your first time, I want to see how you're mitigating that right. You want to partner with someone who does have the experience you want. Like there are lot of things that you can do to put the odds in your favor. And when you're a passive investor.   Jason Hull (48:59) Mm, yeah.   John Casmon (49:26) It is not your job to hope. Your job is to analyze the information in front of you and make an informed decision. So this guide can help you do that.   Jason Hull (49:34) Yeah, love it. I'm going to run a quick word from our sponsor real quick. Our sponsor for this episode is Vendero. And many of you tell me that property management maintenance is probably the least enjoyable part of being a property manager and definitely the most time consuming. But what if you could cut that workload by up to 85 percent? That's exactly what Vendero has achieved. So they leverage cutting edge AI technology to handle nearly all your maintenance tasks from initiating work orders.   Troubleshooting, coordinating with vendors and reporting. This AI doesn't just automate, it becomes your ideal employee. Learning your preferences, executing tasks flawlessly and never needing a day off and never quitting. This frees you up to focus on the critical tasks that really move the needle for your business, whether that's refining operations, expanding your portfolio or even just taking a well-deserved break. Don't let maintenance drag you down. Step up your property management game with Vendero. Visit vendero.ai slash door grow today and make this the last maintenance hire you'll ever need.   All right, so John, this is super helpful. love you've got your list. ⁓ You got your webinar, you've got your guide. I would recommend property managers listening to this. If they're curious about the world of syndication, that they start getting into your stuff and seeing how an expert like you is doing this and maybe even get involved in some of the deals with you or something might be a good idea. And they can kind of get a feel for how this works. And then maybe they'll say, I don't want to do what John does.   And I'll just find people that do, but they'll at least understand how they could partner with people like that. then, or they may decide, you know what? John's clever, but I'm clever too. I might be able to figure out how to do this too. And maybe they'll do it too. And, but I think there's a solid opportunity for property managers that want to be in the multifamily space and do multifamily management to find third party people that are doing these syndication deals. They need good property managers and property managers want more doors and they want to grow.   And if you don't, because your business sucks and it's uncomfortable, then reach out to me. I'll help you out. We'll get you dialed in. But ⁓ John, what else would you say to the investors that are maybe they're familiar with this and they've done some real estate investing and they've worked with some syndications ⁓ and they get on your list to do the webinar. What would you say to them next?   John Casmon (51:56) Yeah, I think the biggest thing is understand what you're looking for. You know, I think one of the biggest challenges for investors is when you can't pull the trigger, it's typically because you haven't figured out what you're solving for. Are you looking for passive income? So you're just looking for a cash flow? Are you looking for long term wealth appreciation? Are you looking for tax benefits and to reduce kind of your tax liability? Do just want to diversify? Maybe you got feel like you have too much in a stock market, just like we put something somewhere else. So.   Figure out what you're actually solving for. Understand your risk tolerance, you know, because every deal is different. In our case, we do value add B class deals. That's a fancy way of just saying we like properties that already making money that are solid, solid tenant based. Think of when I say B class, I'm thinking of all stuff that was built maybe 30 years ago, maybe 40, maybe 20 years ago. Stuff that.   your teachers, your firefighters, your police officers, places where they might rent. So desirable locations, not luxury, not super high end, not, you know, super courts, everything. ⁓ But, you know, places that you would want your kid, your kid was in college, places you would be fine with your kid living, right? So you're thinking about that stuff. That's, you know, I don't say affordable stuff. That's not crazy price. So that's kind of what we focus on.   Jason Hull (53:15) So would   that be like, is that how you find the best markets then?   John Casmon (53:21) That's part of it. That's our strategy. There are different strategies that people utilize. I have found for us that is a sweet spot where we can take those kind of assets, modernize them and create value for potential renters. Some people like to focus only on they call it core plus right where they're buying newer stuff, stuff built five years ago or three years ago. And maybe it was, you know, leased up and they're just going to go in and hold it longer. You'll find other ways to add more money through amenities.   Jason Hull (53:35) Okay.   John Casmon (53:50) So some people do that strategy. Some people like older properties where they're buying more distressed or much older properties and are trying to fully renovate them and bring them up. There are strategies out there, something like new construction, stuff that doesn't exist. They want to build from the ground up. So it really comes down to you. Every investing strategy has a different level of risk. This has nothing to with real estate, right? This is investing in general. you're buying, you know, know, value stocks versus growth stocks versus Internet, it's the same stuff, right?   So you just have to figure out your level of risk. We like value at B-class multifamily deals. Once you understand your level of risk and balance that with your return expectations or projections, that's when you can figure out which investments actually make sense. You know, I have some folks who they like to invest in what we call trophy assets. And...   They may not know that right away, but when you send them a couple of deals and they look at the property like, ⁓ it's okay. They want something. They want something they can brag about. They want to drive you by like, see that building over there? That's me. And if that's fine, if that's what you want, understand what comes with that, right? That's going to be a lower term, right? Because these are, there's not much value to create, right? You've got a brand new property. It's A class, rents are $2,500. There's not a whole lot you can do there. And because of that,   Jason Hull (54:49) Yeah, they don't want to show that off. Look what I'm connecting.   OK, right.   Thank   Yeah.   John Casmon (55:13) There's not as much risk. So you're going to get less return because there's less risk. That's fun. Some people want to maximize their return, right? Hey, I don't need this money. I want to let it ride for 20 years. So they might want to do new construction or they might want to do a deep discount, highly distressed vacant property that needs, you know, $50,000 per unit to renovate it and turn around because the upside is there. So it just depends on that investor and your level of risk. Right. And most of us fall somewhere in the middle.   Jason Hull (55:27) Thank   John Casmon (55:43) which is kind of our strategy. figure out your level of risk tolerance, what you're looking for. And sometimes you don't know until you start looking at a Because you might think you're a cashflow person until I show you what cash flows. And you're like, oh, no, I don't want to be in that de

John Casmon interviews Matthew Pezon, who shares his journey from being told he was the “worst employee” in his engineering job to building a vertically integrated multifamily portfolio in Pennsylvania. Matthew explains how early mentorship, relentless deal touring, and making dozens of offers helped him build confidence and land his first deals through distressed single-family and small multifamily properties. The conversation digs into Matthew's shift away from long-term buy-and-hold thinking toward what he calls the “velocity of capital,” recognizing when equity becomes trapped and redeploying it into larger value-add assets. After becoming a father of twins, he realized brute-force solo investing no longer scaled, pushing him to trade up into 20–40 unit properties and build leverage through people, systems, and capital. Matthew also breaks down how long-term relationships with agents and investors unlock off-market deals, why certainty of closing often matters more than top-dollar pricing, and how maintaining a reputation for not retrading sellers has fueled his growth. He closes by sharing how in-house property management, acquisitions staff, and clean financial reporting have helped him scale to hundreds of units while reclaiming time with his family. Guest Info Matthew PezonCurrent role: Founder and owner, Pezon PropertiesBased in: Lehigh Valley, PennsylvaniaSay hi to them at: https://pezonproperties.com Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  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

John Casmon interviews Reed Goossens, who reflects on more than a decade in multifamily investing and how market cycles, technology, and investor behavior have reshaped the business. Reid explains how the long stretch of cheap debt and rapid appreciation masked operational risk, and why today's environment demands far greater discipline around underwriting, expense control, and asset management. The conversation dives into rising operating costs, insurance inflation, labor challenges, and why the idea of “set it and forget it” investing no longer applies. Reid shares how increased competition and tighter margins have pushed his firm to underwrite significantly more deals while becoming more selective in what they buy. He emphasizes that staying active in the market and deeply familiar with real operating data is now essential to avoiding mispriced risk. Reid also discusses expanding beyond multifamily into acquiring CPA and accounting firms, explaining how private-equity fundamentals like KPIs, systems, culture, and cash flow translate across industries. This matters because transaction-driven income has become less reliable, and operators increasingly need complementary cash-flow businesses to stabilize their platforms while continuing to invest in real estate. Reed GoossensCurrent role: Founder, RSN Property GroupBased in: United StatesSay hi to them at:https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens | https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens/ Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  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

John Casmon interviews Dusten Hendrickson about why he believes development can be less risky than acquisitions when executed with discipline, repetition, and a long-term mindset. Dusten explains how creating value at the ground-up stage provides more margin to weather interest rate shifts and market cycles, especially compared to buying stabilized assets at peak pricing. He breaks down why “cool” trophy projects often underperform, how his team focuses on scalable workforce housing, and the operational efficiencies that drive stronger cash flow and durability. The episode offers a detailed look at development strategy, vertical integration, and why boring, repeatable projects often outperform flashy builds over time. Dusten HendricksonCurrent role: Founder, Mailbox MoneyBased in: United StatesSay hi to them at: https://mailboxmoneyre.com Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  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

John Casmon shares a solo episode focused on how multifamily investors can win in 2026 by “mastering their leverage” in a tougher, more competitive market. He outlines a practical framework built around skills, speed, relationships, and resources, explaining how investors should lean into their unique advantages instead of chasing every deal. John discusses why local market knowledge, operational control, and creative deal structures matter more than ever as institutional competition shifts. The episode emphasizes that disciplined execution, strong relationships, and clarity around where you can move fastest will unlock opportunities others miss. Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  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

Yosef Lee is a full-time litigation attorney based in New York who pivoted into multifamily real estate investing to gain greater control over his time and legacy. Driven by his desire to be more present for his two daughters, Yosef began his investing journey in 2019, joining mastermind communities and building a network from scratch. Since then, he has become a general partner in 17 syndications, participated in 5+ joint ventures, and successfully exited multiple deals—including a 3X equity multiple from his first investment. He now shares his journey to help others take purposeful action, emphasizing relationships, self-education, and long-term vision.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Join the right masterminds and network consistently to accelerate your learning and deal flow. Learn the language of multifamily investing before pitching yourself or underwriting deals. Focus on people first, trustworthy partnerships are more important than proximity in out-of-state investing. Multifamily value-add deals are often won through rent increases, not just renovations. Being honest about where you are in your journey builds authentic trust with your network.     Topics From Legal to Legacy Yosef shares how his role as a litigation attorney conflicted with his values as a father. Realized that financial success wasn't enough without freedom of time, place, and occurrence ("TPO"). Accidental Discovery of Multifamily Found BiggerPockets in 2019 and stumbled into multifamily after exploring other investment options. Chose multifamily for its scalability and team-based structure. First Deal Breakdown: 44 Units in Kansas Partnered with others through a mastermind group to buy off-market. Pushed rents by $150–$200 and executed a cash-out refinance before ultimately selling for 3X returns. The Power of Masterminds and Community Did 200+ Zoom calls in 2020 to build relationships. Contrasts 80% of people who said "don't join" masterminds vs. the 20% who helped him scale. Emphasizes that education is free, but access to the right people is worth paying for. Authentic Branding and Thought Leadership Recalls a 2019 comment from John Casmon that gave him the confidence to start showing up online, even before his first deal. Encourages investors to be real about where they are and build in public.    

John Casmon interviews Justin Spillers, a former real estate attorney turned full-time multifamily investor, about his journey from practicing law to building a vertically integrated value-add multifamily business in Ohio. Justin shares how his first seven-unit deal shaped his confidence, why focusing on tertiary markets along the I-75 corridor gives his team a competitive edge, and how disciplined underwriting plus heavy renovations drive rent growth. He also explains the importance of operational control, unscalable relationship-building tactics, and relentless process improvement in scaling efficiently. The conversation highlights how focus, systems, and creativity have positioned his firm to grow from hundreds of units toward an ambitious long-term goal. Justin SpillersCurrent role: Co-Founder, Real Estate AlphaBased in: OhioSay hi to them at: ⁠https://realestatealpha.io⁠ Visit⁠ ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to ⁠quo.com/BESTEVER⁠ 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

John Casmon interviews Keith Miller about scaling from small backyard ADU and infill development projects into large-scale modular and manufactured home communities as a way to solve affordability and construction bottlenecks. Keith explains how subcontractor shortages, cost overruns, and timeline risk pushed his team toward factory-built housing, which offers faster delivery, more predictable pricing, and comparable quality to site-built homes. They break down the real differences between manufactured and modular housing, how Freddie and Fannie financing has changed the game, and why these homes can appraise and sell like traditional single-family residences. The conversation also covers Keith's transition from a full-time teaching career to real estate, the importance of building a rental income base before going full time, and how thoughtful development can create both investor returns and meaningful social impact. Keith MillerCurrent role: Co-Founder, Upslope GroupBased in: MontanaSay hi to them at: https://upslopegroup.com/ Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. 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

Pascal Wagner interviews Matt Faircloth, John Casmon, and Ash Patel in a year-end roundtable reflecting on the biggest lessons from 2025 across their own portfolios and hundreds of investor interviews. The group digs into why distress has been slower and more “behind the scenes” than expected, how liquidity, discipline, and deal structure mattered more than macro predictions, and why many LPs are now prioritizing cash flow and capital preservation over appreciation. They also debate bridge debt, LP risk assessment, and where opportunities may emerge in 2026—from small-cap multifamily inefficiencies to deeply discounted office assets—while emphasizing accountability, conservative underwriting, and adaptability as the cycle evolves. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. 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

In this guest appearance on the Investor Fuel – Real Estate Mastermind podcast, John Casmon shares his journey from working in corporate advertising to building a $150M multifamily portfolio. He opens up about his employer filing bankruptcy during the 2008 financial crisis, house hacking in Chicago, and discovering the power of mentorship and raising capital. With clarity, honesty, and strategic insight, John lays out a realistic roadmap for transitioning from W-2 work to full-time real estate investing—and how mindset and mission can elevate your ability to serve others through multifamily.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways How the 2008 financial crisis sparked John's journey into real estate House hacking a duplex and scaling to an eight-unit with personal savings The financial trap of saving to buy—why John pivoted to raising capital The value of mentorship and how one post on BiggerPockets changed everything John's 3 Cs framework for raising capital: Confidence, Credibility, and Connections How to build trust with passive investors by educating, not convincing     Topics Corporate Roots and a Harsh Wake-Up Call John's early career in advertising at General Motors How the 2008 financial crisis sparked the need for a financial plan B From House Hack to Portfolio Growth Buying a three-unit with his wife in Chicago Scaling to an eight-unit using all of their savings—and realizing it wasn't scalable Discovering the Power of Mentorship Finding a coach via BiggerPockets and lunch in Cincinnati Why mentorship helped shift his mindset, strategy, and results Learning to Raise Capital Moving beyond the myth of needing wealthy friends or family The mental shift from "asking for money" to "offering a service" Education as a Tool for Connection Building trust with passive investors through consistent education How one friend declined to invest nine times—then came back for the tenth The 3 Cs of Raising Capital Confidence: Built through preparation and market knowledge Credibility: Leaning on your experience and team Connections: Expanding beyond friends and family to reach aligned investors    

John Casmon interviews Yonah Weiss, a cost segregation expert known as the “Cost Seg King,” about how cost segregation works as an advanced form of depreciation and why it can be a powerful cash-flow tool for real estate investors. They break down who benefits most, plus other scenarios like the short-term rental “loophole” and income-based exceptions that can allow depreciation to offset active income. Yonah also explains depreciation recapture in plain English and shares common strategies investors use to defer or reduce tax impact at sale, including 1031 exchanges and Opportunity Zones. Finally, they shift into marketing—why Yonah built his brand on LinkedIn through consistency and real engagement, and why in-person networking is still hard to beat. Yonah WeissCurrent role: Regional Business Director, Madison SPECS Based in: New York City, New YorkSay hi to them at: https://www.yonahweiss.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/yonahweiss/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/cost-segregation-yonah-weiss/ | https://twitter.com/YonahWeiss | https://yonahweiss.madisonspecs.com/ Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. 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

This episode features a solo session with John Casmon, where he draws on personal investing experience in markets like Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, and San Antonio to share a deep-dive framework for evaluating which markets to invest in, and how to spot the signs of long-term growth. From understanding economic indicators and infrastructure to aligning your personal investing style with neighborhood dynamics, this episode is packed with strategic guidance on identifying the right market — and the right moment — to make your move.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Start by investing in your own backyard, local familiarity and access outweigh national trends early on. Use "path of progress" logic to spot adjacent neighborhoods with similar fundamentals but lower prices. Look for population growth, industry diversification, infrastructure investment, and pro-development policies. Understand your own investing goals to determine what kind of markets and submarkets align with your criteria. Ride the coattails of developers and large employers, when they commit to a market, opportunity follows.     Topics Why Market Selection Matters Why investing close to home gives you an advantage How John evaluated neighborhoods like North Center, Avondale, and Hermosa in Chicago Expanding Beyond Your City Lessons from shifting to Cincinnati and using family ties to anchor new market exploration The importance of clarity on investor criteria before analyzing new areas What Makes a Market Attractive Key indicators: population growth, job diversity, geographic accessibility Red flags: rent control, oversupply, misaligned development Case Studies: Cincinnati, Louisville, San Antonio The impact of infrastructure and corridor development in Cincinnati How recession-resistant industries shaped John's decision to invest in Louisville Why San Antonio's "quiet strength" made it a strategic move Using Public Data to Guide You Sites John uses: census.gov, bls.gov, datausa.io How to track local chambers of commerce, development plans, and funding incentives What to Avoid or Watch Closely Risks of relying on government subsidies or unstable funding Importance of local political climate and long-term planning by municipalities    

John Casmon interviews Dani Lynn Robison, co-founder of a vertically integrated “Freedom Family” of nine real estate businesses, about how she moved from Ohio turnkey rentals into larger multifamily and fund management. Dani walks through why she brought renovations, property management, acquisitions, brokerage, and capital raising in-house, and how that 56-unit “drugs, thugs and bugs” deal became a $2M proof-of-concept for scaling apartments. She shares her hard-won lessons on hiring “Ferrari-level” leaders, structuring roles with profit sharing, and keeping a 100% payout track record by always making investors whole—even on bad deals. Dani also explains why many turnkey buyers don't actually want to be landlords, how she now focuses on truly passive vehicles like funds and syndications, and where she's seeing opportunities in Sun Belt multifamily, senior housing, self-storage, and build-to-rent as bridge loans come due over the next few years. Dani Lynn RobisonCurrent role: Co-Founder and CEO, Freedom Family Investments & Freedom Real Estate Group Family of CompaniesBased in: Davenport, Florida Say hi to them at: https://freedomfamilyinvestments.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/danilynnrobison/ Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever 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. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever 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

In this conversation, John Casmon shares his journey in real estate investing, emphasizing the importance of intentionality, mindset shifts, and the value of education in raising capital. He discusses overcoming limiting beliefs, the significance of building a network, and how to provide value to potential investors. The conversation also highlights the role of confidence, credibility, and connections in successful fundraising, along with resources available for aspiring investors.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

John Casmon interviews Ed Mathews, a former Silicon Valley tech executive who walked away from a high-flying software career to build a more family-centered, freedom-focused life through real estate. Ed shares how missing too many “18 summers” with his daughters pushed him to leave DocuSign and go all-in on multifamily after seven years of flipping houses and small-building rehabs on the side. He explains how he scaled his Connecticut portfolio by finding “rock star” contractors through trade-to-trade referrals, building tight systems, and using process—not heroics—to let average people perform exceptionally well. Ed details why he prefers long-term residents over constant value-add turnover, how he achieved 4.2-year average stays, and why responsiveness, respect, and presence on site drive both mission and NOI. The conversation closes with his shift away from property management toward asset management, his expansion into AI-powered operations, and the launch of both a debt fund and private equity fund to pursue larger 150-unit-plus acquisitions. Ed MathewsCurrent role: Founder & CEO, Clark Street CapitalBased in: ConnecticutSay hi to them at: Website: https://www.clarkst.com Phone: (860)675-5800] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clarkstinvestorsacademy Podcast: https://www.clarkst.com/podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clark-st-capital Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarkstcapital1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarkStCapital Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarkstcapital Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever 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

John Casmon interviews James Faillettaz, a Minneapolis-based investor who scaled from five units in a spreadsheet to restructuring an entire real estate company after an ambitious early strategy nearly collapsed. James shares how he over-hired, over-built, and over-extended while trying to operate like a Silicon Valley startup—then completely rebuilt his structure with the help of mentors and mastermind groups. He walks through how he created new momentum by taking over distressed properties through master lease with purchase option agreements, ultimately acquiring 101 units with zero money down. James also breaks down the value he brings to sellers, how he structures creative deals, and the lessons he learned from reinventing his model the hard way. James FaillettazCurrent role: Founder, Verus Praedium Holding / Revolution Renting, Investing, Construction & RealtyBased in: Minneapolis–St. Paul, MinnesotaSay hi to them at: https://veruspraediumholding.com 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

In this week's solo episode, John Casmon steps away from guest interviews to break down one of the most misunderstood topics in multifamily investing: underwriting. After speaking at the Big Deal Summit in Columbus, John shares the real-world framework he uses to analyze deals—not just in spreadsheets, but in practice. From setting clear investment criteria to identifying operational inefficiencies, John walks through how successful investors combine vision, market insight, and execution to drive lasting results.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Underwriting isn't about the spreadsheet—it's about the vision, people, and execution Always define your buy box and end goals before analyzing numbers Focus on markets with both macro strength and micro-level renter desirability Investors don't pay premiums for plumbing or electric—focus on visible value Operational inefficiencies are gold if you know how to identify and fix them Don't assume you can operate better than a seasoned owner without proof Stress test your assumptions: What happens if the plan breaks?     Topics The Real Goal of Underwriting Spreadsheets don't reflect operations—real estate is about people, not numbers Get clarity on what kind of asset and community you're trying to build Defining Your Buy Box Understand your own criteria before chasing ROI or IRR Why Cincinnati and surrounding markets meet John's standards for long-term growth Macro and Micro Market Selection How renter desirability shapes submarket selection Population growth ≠ renter demand—context matters Value-Add the Right Way Tenants won't pay more for new pipes—focus on kitchens, lighting, appliances Target properties with updated mechanicals so your upgrades actually add value Operational Inefficiencies to Look For Low occupancy, slow turn times, bloated expenses, and misaligned staffing Why seasoned operators aren't always "mismanaging"—stay humble Creating vs. Assuming Value Ask questions before opening a spreadsheet—what is the business plan? Don't guess your way through the numbers; know what levers create value Stress Testing the Deal Underwrite break-even points and failure scenarios Real story: How one business plan unraveled when resident profiles clashed Final Thoughts on Strategy Vision before budget—start with what you want to create IRR matters, but timing and exit assumptions often fail Know your buyer—plan your renovations around future investor demand    

In this episode of Loral's Real Money Talks, real estate expert John Casmon joins the show to talk about the power of multifamily investing and how he went from a W-2 marketing career to partnering on more than $145M worth of apartments. John shares how losing his job during multiple economic downturns pushed him to build a plan B through multifamily investing, and why partnering with the right teams can completely change your trajectory.We explore the three pillars of smart multifamily investing: market selection, team quality, and deal criteria. John breaks down how he evaluates markets, why he prefers B-class properties, and how investors can protect themselves in a shifting economy. He also shares his lessons from choosing partners, selecting vendors, creating deal criteria, and navigating market cycles with confidence.Whether you're new to multifamily investing or ready to scale, this episode gives you the clarity, strategy, and confidence to move forward.Loral's Takeaways:John Casmon's Journey from Corporate America to Real Estate Investing (00:05)Challenges and Opportunities in Real Estate Investing (02:20)The Role of Mentorship and Current Market Conditions (05:06)John Casmon's Deal Criteria and Investment Philosophy (08:09)Structuring Real Estate Deals and Lessons Learned (11:54)Lessons on People, Cash Flow, and Appreciation (16:24)Involving Children in the Real Estate Business (19:37)Meet John Casmon:Website: https://casmoncapital.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnCasmonMultifamilyPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/multifamily-insights/id1269346577Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcasmon/?hl=enMeet Loral Langemeier:Loral Langemeier is a money expert, sought-after speaker, entrepreneurial thought leader, and best-selling author of five books.Her goal: to change the conversations people have about money worldwide and empower people to become millionaires.The CEO and Founder of Live Out Loud, Inc. – a multinational organization — Loral relentlessly and candidly shares her best advice without hesitation or apology. What sets her apart from other wealth experts is her innate ability to recognize and acknowledge the skills & talents of people, inspiring them to generate wealth.She has created, nurtured, and perfected a 3-5 year strategy to make millions for the “Average Jill and Joe.” To date, she and her team have served thousands of individuals worldwide and created hundreds of millionaires through wealth-building education keynotes, workshops, products, events, programs, and coaching services.Loral is truly dedicated to helping men and women, from all walks of life, to become millionaires AND be able to enjoy time with their families.She is living proof that anyone can have the life of their dreams through hard work, persistence, and getting things done in the face of opposition. As a single mother of two children, she is redefining the possibility for women to have it all and raise their children in an entrepreneurial and financially literate environment. Links and Resources:Ask Loral App: https://apple.co/3eIgGcXLoral on...

John Casmon interviews Travis Watts, a long-time Best Ever contributor, full-time LP, and author of Passive Investor Tips. They dig into where we are in the multifamily market cycle, why the last three-plus years have felt so painful for LPs, and why Travis believes we're entering a true recovery phase that could mirror the opportunity of buying in 2010. Travis shares how investing consistently from 2015 to today—even with about 30% of his portfolio “compromised”—still leaves him well ahead of where he'd be if he'd stayed on the sidelines. He and John also break down operator selection, capital calls, fixed vs. floating debt, and how to align your investment strategy with your life stage and risk tolerance. Travis WattsCurrent role: Full-time passive investor and author of Passive Investor TipsBased in: Orlando, Florida Say hi to them at: https://ashcroftcapital.com/our-team/travis-watts/ | LinkedIn 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

John Casmon interviews Bronson Hill. Bronson shares how he walked away from a high-paying medical sales career to pursue time freedom, eventually raising over $50 million for multifamily, oil and gas, debt funds, and development deals. He and John dig into the core reasons investors should define their goals around cash flow, capital preservation, and tax benefits instead of blindly chasing returns, and how to properly vet operators and opportunities across different asset classes. Bronson also explains his “fire yourself” framework, the concept of wealth worthiness, and why mindset and service-driven capital raising are critical to building a diversified, resilient passive income portfolio. Bronson HillCurrent role: Founder and CEO, Bronson Equity Based in: Los Angeles, California Say hi to them at: https://bronsonequity.com/ | YouTube | LinkedIn 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 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

John Casmon interviews Pete Schnepp. Pete shares how he went from running a contracting company to building a 150-door portfolio, including his “five years to freedom” cash-flow goal and the mindset shift from “keep it small, keep it all” to partnering through JVs. He explains why many high-net-worth partners prefer voting rights and alignment over passive LP checks, and how he supplements third-party management to beat market occupancy. You'll hear practical tactics like speeding up turns, leveraging Facebook Marketplace for leasing, and using your “ikigai” to decide what to scale next. Pete SchneppCurrent role: Founder, Asset Stream Properties; creator of The Deal Room. Based in: Gilbert, Arizona. Say hi to them at: https://assetstreamproperties.com/ | https://peteschnepp.com/ | https://dealroomonline.com/ | LinkedIn | Instagram 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 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

On this week's episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Christopher Tiessen. They dig into how mechanical “puzzle parking” multiplies stall counts on tight sites, helping developers hit parking ratios, reclaim rentable square footage, and preserve project feasibility. Chris explains safety redundancies, EV-charging integrations, and where these systems pencil best—from New Jersey and California to student housing in Columbus and land-locked mountain markets. He also shares real-world outcomes, costs per space, and why educating municipalities is often the unlock for approvals. Christopher TiessenCurrent role: President & CEO, KLAUS Multiparking AmericaBased in: Hightstown, New Jersey Say hi to them at: https://us.multiparking.com/ | LinkedIn | YouTube Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER 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

In this episode, Loral Langemeier joins John Casmon to share her most powerful wealth building strategies and lessons from a remarkable career that began on a Nebraska farm and led to becoming “The Millionaire Maker.” From working with Bob Proctor and the Rich Dad Poor Dad team to authoring six bestselling books, Loral explains how mentorship, sequencing, and mindset create sustainable wealth.Through real stories, she breaks down the myths that keep people stuck, including the false belief that you must be debt-free before you can grow. Instead, she explains why doing the right thing at the right time and surrounding yourself with the right mentors can fast-track results.Whether you're transitioning from a 9-to-5, investing in real estate, or starting your first business, this conversation is packed with actionable wealth building strategies that help you think, act, and build like a millionaire.Loral's Takeaways:Loral Langemeier's Background and Early Career (00:00)Transition to Real Estate and Becoming a Millionaire Maker (02:39)The Importance of Mentorship and Team Building (11:06)Sequencing and Financial Strategy (17:35)Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Success (30:27)Connect with John Casmon:https://casmoncapital.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/multifamily-apartments-john-casmon/https://www.instagram.com/jcasmon/?hl=enMeet Loral Langemeier:Loral Langemeier is a money expert, sought-after speaker, entrepreneurial thought leader, and best-selling author of five books.Her goal: to change the conversations people have about money worldwide and empower people to become millionaires.The CEO and Founder of Live Out Loud, Inc. – a multinational organization — Loral relentlessly and candidly shares her best advice without hesitation or apology. What sets her apart from other wealth experts is her innate ability to recognize and acknowledge the skills & talents of people, inspiring them to generate wealth.She has created, nurtured, and perfected a 3-5 year strategy to make millions for the “Average Jill and Joe.” To date, she and her team have served thousands of individuals worldwide and created hundreds of millionaires through wealth-building education keynotes, workshops, products, events, programs, and coaching services.Loral is truly dedicated to helping men and women, from all walks of life, to become millionaires AND be able to enjoy time with their families.She is living proof that anyone can have the life of their dreams through hard work, persistence, and getting things done in the face of opposition. As a single mother of two children, she is redefining the possibility for women to have it all and raise their children in an entrepreneurial and financially literate environment. Links and Resources:Ask Loral App: https://apple.co/3eIgGcXLoral on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askloral/Loral on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/lorallive/videosLoral on LinkedIn:

On this week's episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Christine Healey. Christine explains how accredited investors can access late-stage private tech companies like SpaceX, Stripe, and OpenAI, drawing parallels to real estate syndication while outlining critical differences around illiquidity, pricing, and structures. She shares how a licensed pre-IPO broker sources sellers, compares offer structures, and protects buyers from red flags in a fragmented market. The conversation also touches on where risk really shows up and why today's mega-unicorns are staying private longer, concentrating who participates in the upside. Securities offered through Old City Securities, LLC. This discussion is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an affiliation with or endorsement of any company, and does not constitute a recommendation, offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. Investments in private companies are offered only through appropriate offering materials and accreditation requirements apply as defined under SEC Regulation D. Investments in private companies involve high risk, including the risk of complete loss of capital. These investments are illiquid, through a variety of structures including SPVs, may be difficult or impossible to resell, and may not ever result in an IPO or other liquidity event. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The speaker may receive compensation in connection with certain transactions discussed. There is no guarantee these private companies will achieve any specific valuation, and returns can vary widely and may underperform public markets. They may also involve additional risks not present in public market investments. Christine HealeyCurrent role: Founder, HEALEY PRE-IPO Based in: Austin, Texas Say hi to them at: https://healeypreipo.com/ | LinkedIn Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER 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

On this week's episode of Best Ever CRE, John Casmon delivers a solo deep dive on the mindset and coaching that keep multifamily investors moving forward when deals get tough. He shares a client story about choosing sanity over maximal profit, the importance of asking for help, and why accountability beats ego. John also breaks down lessons from a challenging 81-unit in Florence, Kentucky, including rate caps, refis, and management pivots that ultimately set the asset up for better performance. The takeaway is simple and powerful: recommit to your goals, stay resourceful, and lean on a community that has already solved the problem you're facing. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you're brand new to oil and gas investing. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER 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

On this week's episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Victor Collazo. Victor breaks down his 50–100 unit, Class B buy box in the Dallas suburbs and why he prefers “boring and stable” markets over pricier, concession-heavy Florida metros. He explains how taxes, insurance, and new-build amenities compress value-add spreads in West Palm Beach, why his team is expanding into senior living, and how a pull-based, education-first approach helped him go from raising zero to consistently filling allocations. Victor also shares a primer on data centers and why he's researching them as AI-driven infrastructure demand grows. Victor CollazoCurrent role: Co-founder, Extraordinary Assets Based in: West Palm Beach, FloridaSay hi to them at: https://extraordinaryassets.com | LinkedIn | YouTube This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you're brand new to oil and gas investing. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER 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

In this week's solo episode, John Casmon steps away from guest interviews to share hard-earned lessons from his own investing journey. After returning to Chicago to speak at the Chicago Multifamily Club—a group he co-founded years ago—John reflects on the recurring questions he heard from investors eager to scale. Drawing on his personal experience building a portfolio from the ground up, he outlines the four pillars that every multifamily investor needs to master: clarity, relationships, process, and resilience.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Clarity creates direction—understand your “why” before chasing numbers or vanity metrics. Building relationships (“Who not How”) is the key to growth—find mentors, partners, and communities. Follow a proven process instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. Resilience and resourcefulness matter more than experience—problems are inevitable but solvable. Scaling isn't about doing more work—it's about building the right team to achieve freedom.     Topics The Chicago Multifamily Club Origin Story John co-founded the club in 2015 after attending too many unproductive meetups. Wanted to create an event that truly helped investors learn how to scale portfolios. Returning to speak at the same event years later was a full-circle moment of growth. 1. Get Clarity Understand why you want financial freedom, not just arbitrary goals like “100 doors.” Real success comes from knowing what your investments are solving for—security, time, or impact. Clarity fuels motivation when challenges arise. 2. Identify Your “Who's” Networking consistency led John to relationships that shaped his trajectory. Relationships create shortcuts that experience alone cannot. 3. Follow a Proven Process Instead of guessing, John invested in mentorship to learn syndication and scale faster. First syndication: a 192-unit deal in San Antonio with partners from his coaching network. Proven processes eliminate guesswork and create predictable results. 4. Be Resilient and Resourceful Real estate is full of surprises: contractors stealing, investors asking tough questions, and deals going sideways. Resourcefulness—not resources—separates those who thrive from those who quit. Learn from setbacks and keep moving forward.    

On this week's episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Jack Mullen. Jack shares how his background in banking and his advisory firm, Summer Street Advisors, have positioned him to help both institutional and family office investors navigate due diligence, capital calls, and distressed real estate opportunities. They dive into how LPs should evaluate whether to reinvest in troubled deals, the pitfalls of 1980s vintage multifamily projects, and why execution—not just capital markets—separates successful operators from struggling ones. Jack also offers guidance on scaling from friends-and-family deals to institutional partnerships and emphasizes the importance of professionalism, reporting, and alignment between sponsors and LPs. Jack MullenCurrent role: Founder and Managing Director, Summer Street AdvisorsBased in: Westport, ConnecticutSay hi to them at: https://summerstreetre.com/ | LinkedIn This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you're brand new to oil and gas investing. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER 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

On this week's episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews David Hrizak. With nearly three decades of experience across asset classes, David shares his evolution from Chicago broker to vertically integrated developer and investor. He recounts the pivotal $4M townhome project during the Great Recession, the sudden loss of his partner, and how relationships with community banks helped him pivot, survive, and ultimately thrive. David explains why he shifted from multifamily to commercial—highlighting the stability of long-term leases, the value of tenant credit, and how to structure triple-net leases that pass expenses through to tenants. He also stresses the importance of asking sponsors about their worst deals, vetting relationships, and learning from experienced partners before diving into commercial real estate. David HrizakCurrent role: Principal, Streamline Asset Management & Streamline DevelopmentBased in: Phoenix, AZ Say hi to them at: https://www.streamlinecapitalgroup.net | Linkedin Try Gusto today at gusto.com/CRE, and get three months free when you run your first payroll. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you're brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Jeff Niemeier. Jeff explains how his journey began in student housing, scaled into workforce rentals, and ultimately led him to focus on build-to-rent townhomes in Iowa. He shares how leveraging his unfair advantage of deep local knowledge and strong partnerships—has given him control over projects and higher margins than traditional multifamily. Jeff also details his entrepreneurial background in internet and cable services, his pivot into syndications, and why personal development, community involvement, and taking action are the cornerstones of long-term success. Jeff NiemeierCurrent role: Managing Principal, JB Capital; Host, Student of Money PodcastBased in: Cedar Rapids, IowaSay hi to them at: https://jbcapitalfund.com/| LinkedIn | YouTube This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you're brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of Best Ever CRE Show, John Casmon interviews fellow Best Ever host, Ash Patel. Ash breaks down why he shifted from multifamily to non-residential CRE, citing shrinking returns, intense competition and far greater room for creativity in retail, office, industrial and mixed-use. He shares case studies including a Louisville office portfolio bought for pennies on the dollar with a split-and-sell strategy, and an 80,000-square-foot Canton office deal that breaks even with one floor leased. They compare underwriting, leasing risk, and management intensity, with Ash arguing commercial can deliver higher NOI with fewer headaches when you play defense and buy creatively. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you're brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John breaks down the two “jobs” of multifamily—acquisitions and execution—and why asset management wins in today's market. He explains why he favors Midwest markets for steadier rent growth, how local supply/demand and job bases drive performance, and why newer “boom” markets can be whiplash-prone. John also walks through a recent Louisville deal—from spotting a mismarketed opportunity on LoopNet to boosting income with simple operational plays (think pet amenities, fee optimization, and insurance compliance partnerships). On raising capital, he shares how expectations have shifted, why education and service-first relationships matter more than ever, and practical ways to expand your reach without “selling.”   - Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/

On this week's episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Axel Ragnarsson. Axel breaks down his direct to seller playbook for small to mid-size New England multifamily, from dream-list targeting to low-pressure, relationship-first outreach by phone, email, text, and mail to stay top of mind with unsophisticated owners. He shares how he overcame capital bottlenecks by building a marketing engine that attracts retail LPs via podcasts, LinkedIn, and a growing newsletter, plus the mindset shifts to handle rejection. Axel also unpacks scaling through vertical integration and people, including partnering into property management, hiring an acquisitions manager, and using VAs for asset management, along with tactical tips on list building, skip tracing, channel sequencing, and when to use cold calling versus direct mail. Axel RagnarssonCurrent role: Founder, Aligned Real Estate PartnersBased in: Boston, MassachusettsSay hi to them at: https://alignedrep.com | mailto:axel@alignedrep.com This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you're brand new to oil and gas investing. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Ben Reinberg. Ben shares his 32-year journey in commercial real estate, beginning with his first industrial syndication in his early 20s that launched him into office, industrial, and medical office leadership. He explains why Alliance CGC has now launched a multifamily division, pointing to trillions in debt coming due and the buying opportunities it presents. Ben emphasizes the importance of mindset, resilience, and personal development while also breaking down his investing philosophy of conservative leverage, the ability to hold, and scaling through talent and in-house management. Ben Reinberg Current role: Founder & CEO, Alliance CGC Based in: Chicago, Illinois Say hi to them at: LinkedIn | alliancecgc.com | benreinberg.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Georgy Marrero. Georgy shares his journey from coding prodigy to Big Tech (Amazon/Meta) and why he pivoted into real estate after early single-family flips led him toward multifamily, development, and industrial deals across the U.S. and Dominican Republic. He breaks down his operator-first framework (operator → market → asset), emphasizes downside protection through conservative debt and buying at a discount, and explains his AI-driven 21-point market screen. Georgy also details how he uses AI to scale capital raising, compress underwriting from hours to minutes, and tighten asset/development oversight with computer-vision tools. Georgy Marrero Current role: Founder, Equis Capital Based in: United States and the Dominican Republic. Say hi to them at: Instagram (@georgymh) |equis.capital | georgymarrero.com Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Dave Dubeau. Dave breaks down why “a great deal will make the money appear” is a myth, urging capital raisers to build relationships and line up soft commitments well before they need funds. He explains today's tougher LP sentiment around multifamily and why targeting fresh, accredited investors can outperform chasing burned LPs. Dave also shares his podcast-led system for consistently booking investor meetings and converting value-first conversations into capital. Dave Dubeau Current Role: Owner of Results Enterprises Based In: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. tedthomas.comiHeart Say Hi To Them At: LinkedIn, Results Enterprises, 20AccreditedInvestorsBook.com Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Zach Winner, a former attorney turned full-time real estate investor who shares how he transitioned from single-family rentals to large-scale commercial real estate. Zach breaks down his "Value Add Plus" strategy, which focuses on buying newer properties from developers and increasing NOI through underutilized revenue streams and advantageous tax incentives, rather than heavy capex renovations. He emphasizes the importance of landlord-friendly markets and reveals some of the 25 metrics his team uses to vet markets—like the presence of STEM jobs and evolving tenant laws. The conversation also touches on 1031 exchanges, a little-known 1245 exchange tactic, and the steady returns found in Midwest markets. Zach Winner Current Role: Managing Partner at Prosperity CRE Based in: Los Angeles, CA Say hi to them at: zw@prosperitycre.com LinkedIn Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Trevor Schade, a systems-driven real estate investor, tech consultant, and automation expert. Trevor shares how his early career in programming, analytics, and Lean Six Sigma efficiency principles led him to build a high-performing real estate business where he sold 27 homes in just his first seven months. He dives into how he uses AI, virtual assistants, and automation to manage multiple companies and streamline operations—eliminating or outsourcing low-value tasks. Trevor also explains his strategic investing approach across flips, long-term rentals, and multifamily, with an emphasis on fast-appreciating single-family homes and value-add apartment assets. Lastly, he shares powerful insights into culture building and hiring, including how he scaled a real estate team to 26 agents with zero turnover. Trevor Schade Current Role: Entrepreneur, Real Estate Investor & Automation Consultant Based in: Nebraska Say hi to them at: trevorschade.com Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Chris Streit, a tax strategist and founder of CSAP, a firm specializing in cost segregation and the innovative 1245 exchange. Chris breaks down how cost segregation helps investors accelerate depreciation and unlock upfront cash savings, while the 1245 exchange mitigates depreciation recapture by revaluing personal property assets at the time of sale. He shares real-world case studies, including how one client saved $1.5M on a $36M multifamily deal. Chris also discusses often-overlooked tax strategies such as partial asset dispositions, proactive planning for property improvements, and how new legislation impacts bonus depreciation and energy efficiency credits. Chris Streit Current Role: Founder and Principal, CSAP (Cost Segregation Advisory Partners) Based in: Just south of Salt Lake City, Utah Say hi to them at: csap.com Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities. Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Cary Clarke, a seasoned developer who shares his journey from working in his father's multifamily business to launching a 351-unit ground-up apartment development in the DFW metro. Cary discusses how the 2008 financial crisis reshaped his approach to real estate, why he pivoted back into multifamily after decades of homebuilding, and the power of mentorship and community through programs like Apartment Addicts. He also unpacks how he secured land in a booming submarket near Fort Worth and structured a HUD 221(d)(4) loan for long-term, fixed-rate financing. Cary Clarke Current Role: Founder, Founders Development Company Based in: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Say hi to them at: www.foundersdevelopmentcompany.com or cary@foundersdevelopmentcompany.com Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon dives deep into the critical role markets play in multifamily investing. He shares his personal journey of starting in Chicago and progressively identifying better opportunities by understanding the “path of progress.” John breaks down key criteria for evaluating new markets—like population growth, job diversity, infrastructure development, and net absorption rates—and explains why investors should start with their backyard before expanding outward. He also explores his experiences investing in cities like Cincinnati, Louisville, and San Antonio, and emphasizes the importance of local economic commitment and sustainable growth for long-term success. Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Matthew Teifke, a Texas-based real estate entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience who began his journey inspired by his single mother's rental property portfolio. Matthew shares why he believes this is the best buying environment he's seen, citing motivated sellers impacted by 2020–2021-era debt structures and the unique opportunity to acquire properties below market value. He explains how assuming attractive existing loans creates high cash flow opportunities with less equity required and details his focus on San Antonio and Austin as long-term growth markets. Matthew also emphasizes the importance of playing the long game, building real relationships, and adapting investment strategies to market conditions. Matthew Teifke Current Role: Co-Founder at TR3 Capital and Founder of TRE (Teifke Real Estate) Based in: Austin, Texas Say hi to them at:

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Paul Kaseburg, Chief Investment Officer at MG Properties. Paul shares insights into managing a 32,000-unit portfolio across the Western U.S., emphasizing the importance of vertical integration, legislative compliance, and proactive risk management. He details how MG navigates current challenges such as oversupply in multifamily housing, using a value-driven acquisition strategy that balances core-plus and value-add opportunities. Paul also discusses the firm's centralized operational strategies, measured use of AI tools, and the enduring power of company culture and long-term investment planning. Paul Kaseburg Current role: Chief Investment Officer at MG Properties Say hi to them at: mgproperties.com Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Ken Gee, a former CPA and commercial lender who transitioned into multifamily real estate to reclaim time with his family and build lasting wealth. Ken shares his journey from burning the midnight oil as a tax professional to buying his first apartment buildings and making half a million dollars in profit. He emphasizes the importance of overcoming limiting beliefs, finding the right partners (like his "Gary"), and continually evolving your investment strategy—from syndications to blind pool funds. The conversation is packed with advice on adding value, raising capital, and building trust with brokers and investors. Ken Gee Current Role: Founder & Managing Partner at KRI Partners Based in: Cleveland, Ohio Say hi to him at: https://www.kripartners.com Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Ashley Garner, a lifelong real estate investor who transitioned from student rentals and residential brokerage into multifamily investing. Ashley shares how a near-death health scare motivated him to scale his portfolio more aggressively, going from a 10-unit to a 196-unit property through strategic partnerships and capital raising. He explains the mindset shift required to leverage other people's money and how relationships and trust are foundational to scaling effectively. The conversation also highlights Ashley's operational philosophy, including managing third-party property managers and the importance of developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) as his business grows toward a goal of 1,000 units. Ashley Garner Current Role: Multifamily investor and founder of ABG Multifamily Say hi to them at: abgmultifamily.com Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews John Makarewicz, a managing partner at Faris Capital Partners. John shares how he transitioned from a 15-year residential real estate career to multifamily investing after a successful exit from his previous brokerage. He breaks down how his entrepreneurial skill set and passion for improving client and resident experiences laid the foundation for Faris Capital's early success. They discuss the importance of visionary planning, building the right team from the start, and maintaining strong broker and investor relationships to fuel long-term growth. John emphasizes the power of partnerships, clarity of roles, and the discipline of tracking lead measures to stay on target. John Makarewicz Current Role: Managing Partner at Faris Capital Partners Say hi to them at: fariscapitalpartners.com Linkedin Get 60% off the Magic Mind offer with our link and code https://magicmind.com/bestevermf & BESTEVER60 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews George Otel, a commercial real estate finance expert and founder of US Business Funding. George shares his journey from the transportation industry into real estate, detailing his pivot into multifamily and ultimately commercial lending. He explains how his team works with over 1,000 lending sources, including private lenders, family offices, and funds, to help investors navigate complex financing scenarios—especially when traditional banks fall short. They discuss the importance of structuring deals creatively, moving fast on off-market opportunities, and the emerging landscape of business acquisitions as a wealth transfer looms. George Otel Current role: Founder, US Business Funding Say hi to them at: https://usbizfunding.net Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite some of the challenges that have faced multifamily in the past few years, some markets have been affected less than others. The Midwest in particular has fared better than most other parts of the country. There are many markets like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Louisville, and many others that have experienced minimal new construction combined with consistent renter demand. As a result, these markets have maintained high occupancy rates and fewer issues finding quality tenants. John Casmon, Managing Partner at Casmon Capital Group, focuses on buying and operating workforce multifamily within a two-hour radius of his home in Cincinnati.

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Matt Faircloth to celebrate the launch of the new "Multifamily Mastery" segment on the Best Ever CRE Show. They dive into the concept of mastery—not as a destination but as a lifelong journey—and explore how multifamily investing embodies that evolving path. John shares his personal investing journey, from discovering multifamily through books like The ABCs of Real Estate Investing to building a career around scaling operations, acquisitions, and asset management. Together, they debunk myths around off-market deals, broker tactics, and the true responsibilities of asset managers, emphasizing current market strategies over outdated playbooks. Matt Faircloth Current Role: Founder & CEO of DeRosa Group, multifamily investor, author of Raising Private Capital Based in: New Hope, Pennsylvania Say hi to them at: derosagroup.com or on Instagram @themattfaircloth Go to https://zbiotics.com/BESTEVER  and use BESTEVER at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews John Casmon of Casmon Capital and Kent Ritter of Hudson Investing to explore the current state of multifamily investing and development. John shares insights on exiting value-add multifamily assets in the Midwest, strategic refinancing, and how he doubled NOI on a key property by identifying hidden upside. Kent dives into public-private partnerships as the secret to making development deals pencil in today's environment and highlights a mixed-use project in Westfield, Indiana, backed by city support and creative financing. They also discuss investor sentiment, capital raising challenges, and how to identify stalled listings that can be repositioned into winning deals. John Casmon Managing Partner Based in: Cincinnati, Ohio Say hi to them at https://www.linkedin.com/in/multifamily-apartments-john-casmon/ Kent Ritter CEO Based in: Carmel, Indiana Say hi to them at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentritter/ vikingcapllc.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices