The Best Ever CRE Show JF 4061: D-Class Lessons, Lender Workouts and Multifamily Wholesaling ft. Garrett Lynch
Oct 17, 2025
Garrett Lynch, an experienced multifamily investor and CEO of Clever Investor, shares his journey from wholesaling D-class apartments to leading a major educational brand. He discusses the challenges of self-managing properties, critical lessons learned about focusing on better neighborhoods, and the importance of market due diligence. Garrett also delves into lender workout strategies, explaining hard-pay/soft-pay structures to improve cashflow. He emphasizes the role of AI in revitalizing education for real estate students and why his transition to Clever Investor marks a new chapter.
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Humble D-Class Start Led To Large Scale Buying
- Garrett started wholesaling D-class apartments in Chicago and scaled to buying ~3,400 units over ~3.5 years with minimal underwriting.
- He self-managed across 10 markets, learned by working for a large operator, and later exited one company via buyout.
D-Class Has Little Upside And High Unknowns
- Buying in bad neighborhoods gives little appreciation and many unpredictable expenses that kill cash flow.
- Heavy cashflow assumption fails when tenants default, destroy units, or force abatements.
Call Local Landlords Before Entering A Market
- Call local landlords when evaluating a new market to gather on-the-ground intel and build contacts.
- Use those relationships both for market insight and potential direct deal sourcing.