Masters of Moments

Inside America's Most Generous Real Estate Company - Micah Lacher - Principal @ Anchor Investments

Apr 16, 2025

In this engaging talk, Micah Lacher, founder of Anchor Investments, shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood in North Memphis to leading a successful real estate firm in Nashville. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, the risks taken during the 2009 financial crisis, and how personal guarantees shaped his business approach. Micah also discusses balancing family life with entrepreneurial aspirations and his commitment to community impact through innovative projects like turning churches into boutique hotels.

01:29:19

Episode guests

Micah Lacher

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Micah's journey from a struggling childhood in North Memphis to becoming a successful real estate entrepreneur illustrates the transformative power of resilience and opportunity.

The podcast emphasizes the importance of mentorship in Micah's career, highlighting how guidance can significantly impact professional growth and help navigate industry challenges.

Micah discusses the need for a long-term perspective in real estate investing, urging investors to make informed decisions rather than attempting to time the market.

The conversation reveals Micah's commitment to philanthropy and community impact, showcasing how personal values can shape business strategies and promote a culture of generosity.

Deep dives

Market Timing and Investment Strategy

The discussion emphasizes the idea that investors should not focus solely on timing the market but rather on making informed buying decisions based on conviction in specific companies or stocks. Even in a declining market, opportunities exist to purchase assets at lower prices and potentially sell them at a profit later. The importance of maintaining a long-term perspective while assessing short-term market fluctuations is highlighted, encouraging investors to consider conservative estimates when underwriting deals. This approach reassures that even if investments do not perform as anticipated, there is still a chance for financial recovery.

Intro

6min

From Roots to Real Estate

9min

Family First: Balancing Work and Home

4min

Navigating Parenting and Real Estate Challenges

22min

Resilience in Real Estate: Lessons from the Financial Crisis

15min

From Profit to Purpose

17min

Transforming Spaces: Hotels with a Heart

10min

Nashville's Investment Boom

5min

Reflections on Asheville and the Grove Park Inn

2min

In this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with Micah Lacher, founder of Anchor Investments, for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation about real estate, entrepreneurship, and the power of second chances. From growing up in a struggling household in North Memphis to building a respected investment and development firm in Nashville, Micah’s story is both gritty and inspiring.

They begin with Micah’s early exposure to real estate, sparked by a life-changing move that took his family from an unsafe neighborhood to one of the best public school districts in Memphis—secured through an unlikely deal involving two Delta Airlines plane tickets. That experience set the tone for a life shaped by faith, hustle, and resilience.

Throughout the episode, Micah shares how he transitioned from a brokerage role at Cushman & Wakefield into real estate development, thanks to the mentorship of Bob Tull, a former Walmart developer. He recounts launching Anchor in the depths of the 2009 financial crisis, raising capital deal-by-deal to purchase distressed assets when few others had the conviction to buy.

They also discuss:

- The high-stakes risk of personal guarantees during the Great Financial Crisis

- How Micah structured deals, underwrote for worst-case scenarios, and still found upside

- The transition from broker to principal and the influence of early mentors

- Raising children without entitlement while building wealth

- Using his business as a platform for purpose and service to the community

Micah’s outlook is rooted in gratitude and long-term thinking, with a focus on character, consistency, and building something that matters. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of values, leadership, and real estate.

Links:

Micah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-lacher-1366151/

Anchor Investments - https://www.anchorinv.com/

Connect & Invest with Jake:

Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JWurzak

1 on 1 coaching with Jake: https://www.jakewurzak.com/coaching

Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8Pwo

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:14) - Micah’s upbringing

(00:08:03) - Early career

(00:13:19) - Mentors, marriage, and breaking phone addiction

(00:19:17) - The fear of raising entitled children

(00:22:16) - Learning the brokerage game

(00:30:14) - Transitioning from broker to principal

(00:39:24) - Developing “Walmart shadows” and experiencing the GFC

(00:45:06) - Raising capital in 2009

(00:51:51) - Thoughts on RTO

(00:53:42) - How do you think about your business today, given how you started?

(00:57:30) - Using the business to effect change

(01:10:37) - Establishing a competitive edge

(01:13:08) - Developing hotels in Nashville - and giving away the profits

(01:23:11) - The Nashville market

(01:27:34) - What’s your favorite hotel?

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Masters of Moments

Inside America's Most Generous Real Estate Company - Micah Lacher - Principal @ Anchor Investments

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Market Timing and Investment Strategy

Early Real Estate Experiences

Educational Impact

Transition to Business

Navigating Challenges in Real Estate

The Influence of Personal Values

Evolving Business Landscapes and Opportunities

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts