

The Real Estate Syndication Show
Whitney Sewell
With over 2000 episodes and counting, The Real Estate Syndication Show - hosted by entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor Whitney Sewell - is your comprehensive guide to all things real estate and beyond. Here you’ll find real, raw conversations full of expert insights and practical strategies, along with powerful and inspirational personal journeys.From real estate tycoons like Scott Trench (CEO @ Bigger Pockets) and Spencer Rascoff (Zillow co-founder) to investing gurus like Joe Fairless (Best Ever CRE) and philanthropy leaders like Lloyd Reeb (Halftime Institute) – each conversation brings its own unique edge, inspiration, and actionable value.Tune in every Thursday for a new episode and start your weekend educated, inspired, and refreshed.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 7, 2023 • 24min
WS1539: New Life with Real Estate | #Highlights
If you are still looking for a sign to go full-time in real estate, then today’s episode may give you some wisdom. In this #Highlights episode, we look back at our conversations with real estate entrepreneurs Kevin McGrath and Yishai Breslauer. The two both left a W2 job before they went full-time as investors.Kevin dives into why he left his high-paying job to be a full-time real estate investor and how the rise of e-commerce is increasing the demand for industrial space, further bolstering the resilience of his niche. Meanwhile, Yishai shares what made him leave a job that he loved for a greater opportunity in real estate, and how he got into syndication and do deals all across the U.S. even if he is based in Israel. Enjoy the show!VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/

Jan 6, 2023 • 31min
WS1538: Building Authentic Investor Relationships | Ghislain Larochelle
After markets became highly volatile during the pandemic, most real estate investors now seek property syndicators who are trustworthy and transparent. Nothing compares to feeling prioritized and guaranteed that only their best interests matter through proactive communication through a weekly or monthly cadence. In today’s episode, Ghislain Larochelle, founder of real estate investing training firm Immofacile, shares his techniques for finding investors, maintaining transparent communication, and cultivating a long-term relationship with them. Key Points From This Episode: Why did he choose to thrive in real estate?What's the difference between syndication in Canada and the United States?What are his techniques when it comes to finding investors?How does he cultivate relationships with investors?Why does he always set a 10% target of interested investors out of the total number of calls he makes?How does he handle conversations professionally?What are the four questions he asks investors?Why is it important to create a compelling presentation document for investors?What does he do when a business plan changes?How does he communicate business plan changes to investors?How does he choose his investors?How does he share bad news with investors?Why is transparency highly important?What are his top tips for communicating with investors?What does he do to get prepared for a downturn?What are his best pieces of advice for passive investors?What are some of the most important metrics that he tracks?What are his daily habits that have produced the highest returns?How does he give back to the community?Tweetables: “You have to call them, you take the number, and you call them directly. That's the best way to find people.”“And with my expertise on the partnership, I would say that you get one to two entrusted people out of 10 calls. That's my stats: 10 to 20% will say yes, after you present your project.”“Do you have some money available to invest in a project? That's the first question. And if they say, ‘No,’ I don't have to spend the next 10, 15, 20 minutes explaining the project. And I get the ‘No’ idea.”“You should communicate with investors every month or every three months, at least.”“And one thing why they want to be on the VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/

Jan 5, 2023 • 19min
WS1537: Using Life Insurance to Build and Protect Wealth | Marc Beshears
Did you know that you can use your life insurance policy to create wealth and protect your assets? Yes, you can grow your money safely and predictably with minimal risks using your whole life insurance policy. Want to learn how to do it?Listen to our conversation today with Marc Beshears of Top Wealth Agenda. Master of the principles and knowledge of the concepts of Infinite Banking, Bank On Yourself, and other proven financial strategies, Marc has helped his clients grow their wealth and achieve financial security. Click now and discover how you can take advantage of the features of your life insurance, economic principles, and tax laws to build wealth safely and predictably in any economic environment by “becoming your own banker.” VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/

Jan 4, 2023 • 22min
WS1536: Top Value-Adds to Force Appreciation | Steven Gesis
What are the value-adds that you need to consider today? What specific technology can you incorporate into your renovation to force appreciation? In the last episode of our three-part series with Steven Gesis of Smartland, he discusses the top value-adds you need to consider right now so you can add value to your tenants.Steven first defines what force appreciation means. He then names the top four value-adds you can have so that you can force appreciation to your property. These are LVT, WaterSense fixtures, paint, and the common area. He also reveals what he thinks is the ultimate sales piece and why it is important that your sales team is better educated about the value-adds your property offers. Tune in now!VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/

Jan 3, 2023 • 23min
WS1535: What Is Heavy Value-Add | Steven Gesis
Value-add is an investment strategy that we often hear in real estate. But, have you ever heard of a heavy value-add? Is this something that you should be considering doing in your business? What are the pros and cons of doing it? Find out the answers to these questions in today’s episode with Steven Gesis of Smartland.In the second part of our three-part series with Steven, he talks about how to be able to serve your investors better. He also details what heavy value-add is, the benefit of doing it, and how you can do it on your project as well. Listen now!Key Points From This Episode: Steven defines what a value-add is.Steven shares that when they buy for $50,000 per door per unit, they spend 50% on it for value-add.Why can Steven and Smartland be considered heavy value-add lifters?The way you do your underwriting can help you decide which value-add deals to pursue.What are the considerations to have before making a deal?Steven talks about the 112-unit, seven-story deal they had in 2018.Steven details what Smartland is and its focus.Tweetables:“So our value-add look is that we're looking at it from a holistic and complete turnaround of an apartment. So some guys say value-add, it's just going to be the common areas, the carpets, the lights, the signage. No, we're going full gauntlet here.”“You have to consider that the entry barrier into multifamily is quite high simply because you have to have a closing track record with some sort of brokerage. And you have to develop that over a period of time.”“What we really have to focus on buying, there's a lot of things that have to go right.”“We're a market maker anywhere we're going.”Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Steven Gesis on LinkedInSmartland websiteWS1534: Scaling from Single-Family to Multifamily | Steven GesisAbout Steven GesisSteven is responsible for the strategic direction and performance of all teams within Smartland. As EVP Steven is the catalyst for all department directors to ensure the Smartland vision and Smartland standards are being implemented and adhered to. Prior to jVISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/

Jan 2, 2023 • 18min
WS1534: Scaling from Single-Family to Multifamily | Steven Gesis
When you think of a real estate business, single-family homes first come to mind. It is the most common asset class in the space and people are drawn to it especially when they are new in the industry. Today, we speak with Steven Gesis, co-founder of Smartland, and he talks about how they transitioned from having single-family rentals to investing in multifamily homes.In this first episode of our three-part series with Steven, he talks about the successes he and Smartland had in the single-family rental (SFR) space. He then talks about the decision they made after scaling to transition to the multifamily space, how the asset class is a heavy value-add opportunity, and a lot more. Listen now and deep dive into SFR and multifamily today!Key Points From This Episode: Steven talks about his background and how he got into the real estate business.Steven shares that Smartland began with single-family homes then they transitioned into multifamily investing.Why having a scattered site is a tough marketplace to capture?How do Steven and his partner divide their responsibilities in the business?Steven elaborates on the single-family rental business Smartland used to own.How did Steven look at his business model as a strategic opportunity to build a bigger management company than just his own portfolio?How big was Steven’s staff when the business was in full speed and scattered sites, single-family rental?Steven discusses how they were able to purchase a single-family home then.Steven shares they participated in some crowdfunding to raise funds for their single-family rental business.Why did Steven and Smartland decide to transition to multifamily?Tweetables:“You know, we sought out those deals, we found what was tough to find. We did the tough things we did on our own against the lot of naysayers that said, ‘No, you can't do that. Oh, that's not a good business. Oh, that's not popular. Oh, that's different.’ You know, that's not something we do.”“We are able to look at things globally and triangulate information from multiple views. And, I think that's really been a successful part of our journey, is that we're not necessarily singular in our one path.”“The beautiful thing about SFR (single-family rental) is its ability, how agile you can be with it if you do have the scale.”“At the end of the day, it does boVISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/

Jan 1, 2023 • 27min
WS1533: Finance Laws To Keep In Mind | #Highlights
Being in a real estate legal crossfire can be quite daunting, especially when you are financially swamped. That’s why learning more about the specific role a litigation firm can play in your case and in what circumstances you may need to call for support can be crucial. It is also important to keep abreast of the latest tax laws concerning the industry. In this #Highlights episode, we feature our conversations again with Roni Elias and Steve Moskowitz.Roni talks about his business and breaks down what litigation finance is. Meanwhile, Steve shares how he helps businesses and individual clients across the country and overseas to resolve a wide variety of tax matters. Listen now and enjoy this very informative show!VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/

Dec 31, 2022 • 19min
WS1532: Systems And Processes in Real Estate | #Highlights
How do you handle business growth? Are there systems and processes that can help you manage that? In today’s #Highlights episode, we look back at our conversations with real estate entrepreneurs Ben Risser and Shelby Osborne. The two talk about their successful journey in real estate and how they manage to grow their business fast.Ben talks about his primary focus on the operations and finance side of the business and puts most of his time into developing and adopting suitable systems to help the business transition smoothly as it grows. Meanwhile, Shelby shares her journey of transitioning from working in the military to doing real estate full-time, as well as the systems she uses that enable her to scale her business fast. Tune in now!VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/

Dec 30, 2022 • 34min
WS1531: Asset Management Is a Superpower | Jason Balara
Asset management is a crucial part of a real estate syndication business. As an asset manager, you need to be prepared to take on varying roles, as this may involve construction and leasing. In today’s episode, we speak to Jason Balara, CEO and Co-founder of Lark Capital Group, and he dives deep into this superpower called asset management.Jason first talked about his background as a veterinary surgeon, how he managed to juggle his training and real estate business, and eventually going full-time in the industry. He then dives deep into asset management, its two components, and the qualities of a good asset manager. Enjoy the show!Key Points From This Episode: Jason talks about his background as a veterinary surgeon and how he transitioned into real estate.How did Jason manage to do his veterinary surgeon training and simultaneously venture into real estate?Jason discusses the two components of asset management.Property manager versus asset manager.What do you have to navigate in the world of asset management?What are the KPIs in asset management?The importance of having the right property management in place.Jason discusses the kind of communication between the property manager and asset manager.What should an asset manager focus on in the next six to 12 months?Jason explains why adaptability is important in asset management.How does Jason prepare for a downturn?Why is social media the best and the worst tool for meeting new investors?Jason’s advice to passive investors is to vet sponsors wisely.What are the important metrics that Jason tracks personally and professionally?The number one thing that contributed to Jason’s success was not quitting.How does Jason like to give back?Tweetables:“As the asset manager, you have to establish that business plan, you have to adequately communicate it to your property management team. And then you need to make sure that you have systems in place, and KPIs and things that you want to look at, to make sure that the business plan you've put in place is being executed. And if it isn't, you have to step in there and sort of steer them in whatever direction that needs to go.”“I do think, especially now, with the way things are, you have to be very, very on top of the numbers.”“We're gonna have to work twice as hard as wVISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/

Dec 29, 2022 • 22min
WS1530: Investing in Industrial Properties | David Cruz-Palmer
With consistent cash flow and relatively higher real estate returns, it’s no wonder why industrial real estate has earned the attention of many investors. Whether it's a warehouse, factory, or logistics management area, the minimal maintenance that this asset class requires makes it an ideal option for those who want to diversify their portfolio.In today’s episode, David Cruz-Palmer, founder and operator of Corridor Capital Partners, relates how he successfully focused on syndicating investments and industrial properties that generate passive income and tax-advantaged returns for equity partners. Key Points From This Episode: How did he become involved in industrial real estate investing?What propelled him to take such a leap after more than a decade in the corporate world?What did he learn from his experience working in a call center?Why is industrial real estate profitable?What are the advantages of industrial property investing?How does he give back to the community?Tweetables: “When I was just starting out, I was what I call the world's worst mortgage broker. I did absolutely zero deals for probably three to four months.”“There's a real shortage of demand for what's called flex-warehouse, or a shortage of supply for these 30-foot tall ceilings because the concept of building it to that size is relatively new.”“You ask about why industrial? It's just because there isn't very much of it.”“Industrial [real estate] seems really strong. There are a lot of macroeconomic forces [and] factors that also point to the fact that industrial might remain strong for years to come.”“More manufacturing is coming back to the US, so there's more storage for products. And that just means that there's going to be more need for industrial space.”“It's a matter of just trying to relate to people and understand their perspective. I feel like that's my best way of trying to make a friend.”“The things that are good from an investor's perspective aren't necessarily good from a bank's perspective.”“But for industrial or for any commercial, there are leases, and they're years long. And the credit of the tenant has a big impact on the quality of the deal.”“If you can get 10 or 20% seller care and only put 10 or 15% down, then that does a lot for your equity multVISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://lifebridgecapital.com/Here are ways you can work with us here at Life Bridge Capital:⚡️START INVESTING TODAY: If you think that real estate syndication may be right for you, contact us today to learn more about our current investment opportunities: https://lifebridgecapital.com/investwithlbc⚡️Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateSyndicationShow📝 JOIN THE DISCUSSIONhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/realestatesyndication➡️ FOLLOW UShttps://twitter.com/whitney_sewell https://www.instagram.com/whitneysewell/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-sewell/ ⭐ Be Our Guest!We are continuously working hard to help our listeners with their journey to real estate syndication. If you think you can add value in any way to our listeners who are in commercial real estate, then we’d love to have you over. Apply here: https://lifebridgecapital.com/join-our-podcast/