
The Multifamily Wealth Podcast
Axel Ragnarsson speaks with successful real estate investors and dissects how they started, built, and scaled their businesses. In each episode, listeners can expect tactical and actionable information to help grow their business and real estate portfolio.
Latest episodes

Oct 23, 2020 • 15min
#27: What Real Estate Investors Can Learn From Bill Belichick... Thoroughly Understand Everyone's Role!
Stick with me on this one... one of the things that makes Belichick a great coach is that he understands each facet of the game at such a high level, above and beyond what's expected of him as a head coach. In real estate, you need to understand the role and business of every individual you'll be working with (brokers, lenders, property managers, contractors, attorneys, etc) and how each piece of the business works together. Yes, you should master one or two skills and focus on them, but you need to understand what everyone you're working with does, and how their role impacts your decisions (and the business at a high level).Struggling to find good multifamily deals? Looking to close deals with less of your own money? Want to operate like the pros and maximize the cash flow of your assets? Join The Multifamily Wealth Community, where we help multifamily investors start, build, and scale their businesses… specifically, those looking to grow from 1-10 units to 250+ units.Are you looking to invest in real estate but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners partners with passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits investing in real estate offers, but not the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners

Oct 20, 2020 • 49min
#26: How To Make Hiring Virtual Assistants a Breeze And Why "VAs" Are The Quickest Way To Scale Your Business with Bob Lachance
This episode with Bob Lachance is a great one if you are looking to learn more about what a virtual assistant is, how you can hire one, and what they can specifically help within your business. We get into the weeds and discuss what tasks are most commonly outsourced to VAs, how much a VA typically costs, and the exact process of how to best source, vet, and hire a virtual assistant.Bob Lachance is the founder and CEO of the premiere Virtual Assistant staffing company REVA Global LLC. Bob specializes in helping customers automate their business through the use of trained real estate Virtual Assistants. Before starting REVA Global LLC, Bob played professional hockey for 8 years, 4 years in the United States, and 4 years in Europe, before going into real estate in 2004. Bob acquired his first flip shortly after and has since completed over 800 transactions. Some of Bob's other highlights are: he has started 2 very successful real estate coaching programs, 2 technology companies, various real estate products, etc.Struggling to find good multifamily deals? Looking to close deals with less of your own money? Want to operate like the pros and maximize the cash flow of your assets? Join The Multifamily Wealth Community, where we help multifamily investors start, build, and scale their businesses… specifically, those looking to grow from 1-10 units to 250+ units.Are you looking to invest in real estate but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners partners with passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits investing in real estate offers, but not the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Show Notes:3:43 Bob shares how he transitioned from his NHL career to real estate investing.8:32 We learn what a virtual assistant is and how it can be integrated into someone's business. 12:53 Bob shares what most of his clients use virtual assistants for.16:40 Bob discusses how he finds virtual assistants and their common misconceptions.19:28 We discuss how Reva Global vets, hires and trains VAs. 21:42 Bob discusses his competition with UpWork and the benefits/compensation he provides to employees.24:31 We discuss how many of Bob’s clients hire their VA’s full-time and build relationships with their employees. 28:00 Bob shares the tasks and roles that are ideal for VA’s, as it relates to scaling your real estate business.36:38 We discuss the organizational structure of VA’s and how REVA has a strategy session to help determine the type of help companies need.41:59 Bob shares what he would do differently if he was starting both of his businesses again. 43:32 Bob shares the importance of taking a loss and how it is beneficial for the learning process.CONNECT WITH BOB:https://revaglobal.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/boblachance/Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners

Oct 16, 2020 • 13min
#25: Start Sourcing Off-Market Deals By Planting "Deep Seeds" and Mastering a Few Strategies (Don't Spread Yourself Thin)!
In this episode, the host shares insights on sourcing off-market deals by planting 'deep seeds' and mastering a few key strategies. They discuss the importance of consistency, patience, and building relationships in the real estate market. Tips on financing options and negotiation tactics are also highlighted for finding success in off-market deals.

Oct 13, 2020 • 50min
#24: How To Pay WAY Less In Taxes Through Cost Segregation And The Power of Being Classified as a "Real Estate Professional" with Yonah Weiss
Talk about an eye-opening episode with Yonah Weiss… we discuss the power of cost segregation as a strategy to minimize your tax liabilities when investing in commercial real estate, as well as the power of being classified as a “real estate professional” in the eyes of the IRS. This is an episode where you’ll be giving your accountant a call once you’re done listening and asking them how you can implement these strategies!Yonah is a powerhouse with property owners' tax savings. As Business Director at Madison SPECS, a national Cost Segregation leader, he has assisted clients in saving tens of millions of dollars on taxes through cost segregation. He has a background in teaching and a passion for real estate and helping others. He’s a real estate investor and host of the new podcast Weiss Advice.Struggling to find good multifamily deals? Looking to close deals with less of your own money? Want to operate like the pros and maximize the cash flow of your assets? Join The Multifamily Wealth Community, where we help multifamily investors start, build, and scale their businesses… specifically, those looking to grow from 1-10 units to 250+ units.Are you looking to invest in real estate but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners partners with passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits investing in real estate offers, but not the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Show Notes:4:00 Yonah shares his background as a teacher and how he got into real estate. 7:35 Yonah gives a high-level overview of cost segregation and we discuss the power of depreciation in real estate. 12:28 We discuss how depreciation works and how important it is for real estate investors to understand and utilize it.17:48 Yonah discusses who he works with most on tax deductions and how it offsets rental income and other forms of income… and how wholesalers and flippers can benefit from depreciation, even if they aren’t buying and holding (this is huge)!20:52 We discuss bonus depreciation and how you can take it all in year one with new tax reforms. 27:55 Yonah shares what kinds of buildings (price and size) most benefit from cost segregation studies.31:10 We discuss where Yonah believes that his method works best, according to land value and state laws. 34:05 Yonah shares the process of performing a cost segregation study and what it looks like.39:32 We discuss how depreciation deductions differ within each asset class (multifamily, office, retail, industrial, etc).45:04 Yonah shares what he attributes his success to and what his short-term goals are.CONNECT WITH YONAHhttps://madisonspecs.com/https://www.instagram.com/yonah_weiss/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cost-segregation-yonah-weiss/Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners

Oct 9, 2020 • 9min
#23: Why You SHOULDN'T Be Re-Trading Deals After Due Diligence... (Don't Sacrifice Future Deals)!
Hey everyone, trying something unique with the podcast feed... I thought there might be value in releasing shorter (5-10 minute) solo episodes highlighting things I've learned in my business, changes I've seen in the market, overviews of deals, etc.In this episode, I discuss the value of being "easy to work with" when working with sellers and brokers, specifically as it relates to re-trading deals. Negotiating after inspections or due diligence is sometimes necessary, however, I often see both newer and experienced investors negotiating after finding trivial issues. Don't negotiate just to negotiate... it will hurt your reputation.Struggling to find good multifamily deals? Looking to close deals with less of your own money? Want to operate like the pros and maximize the cash flow of your assets? Join The Multifamily Wealth Community, where we help multifamily investors start, build, and scale their businesses… specifically, those looking to grow from 1-10 units to 250+ units.Are you looking to invest in real estate but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners partners with passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits investing in real estate offers, but not the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners

Oct 6, 2020 • 47min
#22: Wholesaling 200+ Properties, Starting A Construction Company, and Buying 1,720+ Units with Jorge Abreu
Jorge has been Investing in Real Estate for over 15 years now. He started in Single-Family and small Multi-family properties. He has wholesaled over 200+ Properties, Fixed & Flipped over 100+ properties, and developed several new construction projects, over $20M in the ground up. My main focus now is on large Multifamily properties. He is currently an Active & Passive Full Time Multifamily Real Estate Investor with 1,720 Doors on the GP side & over 1,400+ doors on the LP side. Jorge is the CEO of Elevate Commercial Investment Group. He also owns a construction company, JNT Construction, that focuses on helping Multifamily Investors with their full renovations.Struggling to find good multifamily deals? Looking to close deals with less of your own money? Want to operate like the pros and maximize the cash flow of your assets? Join The Multifamily Wealth Community, where we help multifamily investors start, build, and scale their businesses… specifically, those looking to grow from 1-10 units to 250+ units.Are you looking to invest in real estate but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners partners with passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits investing in real estate offers, but not the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Show Notes:2:56 Jorge shares what he did earlier in his career and how he got into real estate.8:37 We discuss the benefits of having construction services vertically integrated with your business.11:10 Jorge shares what an investor should consider when bringing construction in-house and his favorite benefit.13:00 We discuss the challenges Jorge faced while starting his real estate career. 18:36 Jorge shares tips on how to successfully find deals in your market.21:05 We talk about cold calling and how it can be a more personal approach to prospecting.27:48 Jorge shares the key aspects he pays attention to while doing due diligence on a property. 31:45 Jorge shares the areas he feels he has an advantage in, as a result of vertically integrating construction.34:42 We discuss how Jorge calculates his CapEx costs. 40:13 Jorge shares what he attributes to his success in his real estate business. 41:58 We discuss what Jorge would do differently if he was starting his business again.CONNECT WITH JORGE:https://www.elevatecig.com/https://www.instagram.com/jorgemultifamily/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgelabreu/Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners

Sep 29, 2020 • 59min
#21: Escaping the "W2 Employee" Life Through Uniquely Adding Value To Multifamily Properties (Both Small and Large!) with Mark Davenport
Today’s episode with Mark Davenport is a great example of how you can go full-time in real estate with just a few deals! Mark is an investor that I’ve personally known for a long time with a very unique story… you’ll learn how he managed renovation projects from multiple states away, how he uniquely added value to his first few properties, and how he was able to scale his business. This is a great show for both newer and experienced investors - stick around!Mark and his partner, Phoebe, are the owners of Levare Properties, LLC. Mark got started in real estate when he and his partner, Phoebe, purchased and started working on an owner-occupied single-family in Dover, NH. Fast forward many years, and they wanted to pivot away from a 9-5, middle-class career model. In 2015 they chose to sell the single-family and renovate a foreclosed duplex in a neighboring town. They discovered a passion for renovation and generating passive income and began scaling their business - moving quickly through a 4plex and a few 6 units. Most recently acquiring a 72-unit 12-story apartment building in Kansas, they're still adopting a posture of aggressive growth as they push through a target to pass 100 doors by the end of 2020. They also work with investors who are keen on using real estate to generate strong, sustainable returns.Struggling to find good multifamily deals? Looking to close deals with less of your own money? Want to operate like the pros and maximize the cash flow of your assets? Join The Multifamily Wealth Community, where we help multifamily investors start, build, and scale their businesses… specifically, those looking to grow from 1-10 units to 250+ units.Are you looking to invest in real estate but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners partners with passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits investing in real estate offers, but not the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Show Notes:2:55 Mark shares his background as a musician, how he got into real estate, and what his business looks like today.5:06 We talk about Mark’s first deal and how it paved the road for his future investments. 6:23 Mark shares how he got into small multifamily properties and how he progressed to larger properties by “trading up”14:30 We discuss the issues Mark encountered during the value-add process with one of his properties and how he overcame them.18:00 Mark shares the details on one of the mixed-use properties he purchased and how he converted it to residential. 22:17 We discuss the differences between renting on Airbnb vs. renting traditionally and how he successfully rented on Airbnb. 26:36 Mark talks about why he sold his properties and the types of properties he is seeking in the midwest. 34:12 We discuss the details regarding Mark’s 72 units and what drew him to the deal.40:40 Mark shares how he plans on leasing his property and what his vision for the project is43:40 We learn about the fears and concerns Mark had when closing his large multifamily property.48:01 Mark shares his vision for the next 6-12 months and what types of deals he plans on pursuing.51:40 We learn what Mark considers his biggest failure in real estate.54:38 Mark talks about what he would do differently if he started his real estate business again.CONNECT WITH MARK:https://www.linkedin.

Sep 22, 2020 • 55min
#20: Focusing On Acquisitions and Building a Robust Pipeline of Off-Market Multifamily Deals (In Your Early 20s!) with Adrian Salazar
I really enjoyed this interview with Adrian Salazar - we talk about how you can transition from wholesaling or single-family investing to multifamily, how he has been able to build his business at such a young age, and most importantly, how to find off-market multifamily deals. We thoroughly discuss the importance of "staying top of mind" and why it is so critical to do so in real estate - be sure to give this one a listen!Adrian is the Founder of Optimum Buyers, a real estate firm that focuses solely on providing above-average returns to our investors through investing in multifamily properties.Struggling to find good multifamily deals? Looking to close deals with less of your own money? Want to operate like the pros and maximize the cash flow of your assets? Join The Multifamily Wealth Community, where we help multifamily investors start, build, and scale their businesses… specifically, those looking to grow from 1-10 units to 250+ units.Are you looking to invest in real estate but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners partners with passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits investing in real estate offers, but not the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Show Notes:2:53 Adrian talks about growing up in Texas and how he found his entrepreneurial spirit at an early age.5:10 We discuss how Adrian got started in wholesaling and how he found a mentor.9:21 Adrian shares how his marketing strategy changed as he entered the multifamily field.12:47 We discuss Adrian’s cold-calling method and why he feels his database is so important. 17:22 Adrian shares information about his team and their roles in his business. 22:48 We discuss Adrian’s last acquisition and information about his property including rents, CapEx, etc.24:32 Adrian shares how he structured the syndication on his most recent deal. 32:00 We discuss the importance of starting small and getting involved before “going big”, as it relates to multifamily properties. 38:24 Adrian shares the challenges he faced as a young wholesaler and investor and how he overcame those roadblocks. 44:08 Adrian discusses the importance of identifying a target market, and how it helps with outreach and finding off-market deals. 52:29 Adrian shares what he would do differently if he started his business again.CONNECT WITH ADRIAN:https://www.instagram.com/adriannsalazar_/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/realestatestrategist/Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners

Sep 15, 2020 • 1h
#19: What A Home Inspector Looks For When Walking An Investment Property with Justin Eaton
Today’s show is an interesting one - I speak with Justin Eaton, an NJ-based home inspector (and investor!) about what investors need to be looking for when walking investment properties! Justin has a breadth of experience in the home inspection industry and shares numerous tips that I’m sure the audience will keep in mind when walking properties and conducting due diligence... I wish I had his insight when I first started in the business!Justin owns a home inspection & structural engineering business in South Jersey. To supplement his income he invests in real estate via re-development projects and rental properties. He has been a part-time investor since 2014 and I am currently in the process of transitioning into multifamily syndication.Struggling to find good multifamily deals? Looking to close deals with less of your own money? Want to operate like the pros and maximize the cash flow of your assets? Join The Multifamily Wealth Community, where we help multifamily investors start, build, and scale their businesses… specifically, those looking to grow from 1-10 units to 250+ units.Are you looking to invest in real estate but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners partners with passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits investing in real estate offers, but not the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Show Notes:3:43 Justin discusses how he got into the home inspection side of real estate and he shares his background in construction engineering. 7:16 Justin shares how being an inspector has helped him in his investing career.11:32 We discuss things that Justin values while walking through a property. Also, we learn why the foundation is crucial. 15:22 Justin shares common issues that are found while walking a property. 20:50 We discuss the common signals within a property that may signify deeper issues behind the walls.23:10 Justin shares easy cosmetic fixes that can drastically increase the value of a property. 29:33 We discuss what investors need to be aware of specifically older properties.38:47 Justin shares what is essential to assess prior to buying a property. 41:43 We discuss what differentiates a good home inspector from a bad home inspector. ****Also, we talk about why it is crucial to hire a home inspector for your first few deals.48:32 Justin shares what characteristics make somebody successful and what has contributed to his success. 52:18 We discuss what Justin’s short-term goals are and what he plans to do in the near future. CONNECT WITH JUSTIN:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-eaton-a9619936/https://www.dwellsafenj.com/Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners

Sep 8, 2020 • 54min
#18: Overcoming Numerous "Resets" and Building a Business Doing 60+ Deals a Year with Nick Aalerud
I loved this interview with Nick Aalerud - we discuss how he was able to build a business that does 60+ deals a year, why he decided to vertically integrate different lines of businesses into his company, and how he has overcome numerous "resets" in the process of growing his business. Nick is an awesome guy and a better real estate investor, be sure to give this one a listen!Nick’s Redevelopment Company the AA Real Estate Group has completed over 200 deals since its inception, including rehabs, lease options, condo conversions, buy & hold rentals, and multi-unit buildings. The firm’s current deals are being done all over New England, including MA, NH, Southern ME, & CT, with others in PA & FL. He also is involved in multiple businesses and franchises, including founding a new type of real estate sales & brokerage firm (AA Premier Properties LLC) which has seen excellent growth over the past few years, now with 30+ agents.Struggling to find good multifamily deals? Looking to close deals with less of your own money? Want to operate like the pros and maximize the cash flow of your assets? Join The Multifamily Wealth Community, where we help multifamily investors start, build, and scale their businesses… specifically, those looking to grow from 1-10 units to 250+ units.Are you looking to invest in real estate but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners partners with passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits investing in real estate offers, but not the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Show Notes:3:51 Nick shares his background in investment banking and how he got into real estate.8:05 We discuss the deals Nick has targeted this year and how COVID-19 is impacting his progress.10:52 Nick shares how he finds deals and how his acquisition strategy has changed due to the competitive nature of the market.14:45 We discuss the software Nick uses to run his real estate business and why he uses it. 16:56 Nick shares his motivation behind why he utilizes multiple lines of business to grow his company. 21:40 We talk about how Nick manages his different streams of business by hiring a team and partnering with individuals that have a competitive advantage in specific areas. 26:26 Nick shares how he balances his in-house management by offering his services to other landlords and businesses. 31:15 We discuss how Nick went from a “solopreneur” to an “entrepreneur” by scaling his business in the past 2 years. 37:03 Nick discusses his progression of building a team. 40:27 Nick shares what he would do differently if he were starting his business again. Also, we discuss how Nick overcame multiple resets in his career. 48:50 We discuss Nick’s goals for the next year and where he sees his business in the future.CONNECT WITH NICK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarealestate/https://aarealestategroup.com/Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners