Deep Dive into Real Estate: Interview with Jon Farling

Colin Schwartz's Background and Early Endeavors

Colin Schwartz lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife and three children, focusing on multifamily real estate. He has built an impressive portfolio with approximately 2,400 rental units valued at around $250 million and a hard money lending business that has issued nearly 400 loans totaling $17 million. Colin's entrepreneurial spirit began at a young age when he started selling cupcakes as a child and learned valuable lessons from early life experiences, including the importance of hard work. After a difficult academic journey, which included losing scholarships and attending multiple colleges, he ultimately earned his bachelor's degree and worked a variety of jobs while pursuing his passion for real estate.

Transitioning from Corporate Life to Real Estate

Colin's journey into real estate began after a life-changing moment sparked by reading 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad.' This book made him realize that his corporate job was limiting his potential, prompting him to seek new opportunities in real estate. He aimed to learn as much as possible about multifamily properties and started networking and reaching out to seasoned professionals in the field. After securing a line of credit against his home thanks to his supportive wife, he began acquiring rental properties, focusing on minimizing risk through strategic investments.

Hands-on Approach to Real Estate Investment

Colin emphasized the importance of being proactive in his investment strategy, which included sending out marketing letters to potential sellers. He personally handwritten 191 letters to absentee property owners, resulting in multiple responses and successful deals. This hands-on approach allowed him to make connections and gain valuable knowledge from those conversations, facilitating quicker pivots in his strategy. Colin's dedication paid off, leading to consistent growth in his real estate portfolio after closing on numerous deals following a structured plan.

Creating Community Through Meetup Groups

Colin identified a need for a more engaging real estate community and launched a local meetup group, which quickly grew to nearly 6,000 members. By transforming the typical meetup format—often characterized by cold coffee and uninspired presentations—into a lively platform that fosters interaction and collaboration, Colin created an environment where participants could connect and share valuable resources. He leveraged social media to enhance the group's outreach, emphasizing the importance of education without the pressure of a sales pitch. This initiative solidified Colin's reputation in the industry and provided a steady stream of opportunities for both him and the members.

Nimbleness Through Property Management

Recognizing the essential nature of property management in real estate success, Colin decided to manage his own properties to ensure operational efficiency. By handling everything from leasing to maintenance, he positioned himself to respond quicker than others in the market. This strategy not only generated a steady income stream from property management but also allowed him to refine his processes and build relationships with tenants. His experience in management ultimately led to handling over 1,300 rental units, paving the way for future scalability and growth within his ventures.

Keepin it Real Estate with Chris & Collin

Deep Dive into Real Estate: Interview with Jon Farling

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Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Colin Schwartz's Background and Early Endeavors

Transitioning from Corporate Life to Real Estate

Hands-on Approach to Real Estate Investment

Creating Community Through Meetup Groups

Nimbleness Through Property Management

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