Real Estate Reserve Podcast

Joe Downs - The Deal That Changed My Life In this episode of The Real Estate Reserve Podcast, Jason Balin of Hard Money Bankers and Ian Horowitz of Equity Warehouse welcome back Joe Downs from Bellrose Group for The Deal That Changed My Life. Joe dives deep into a distressed debt portfolio acquisition that reshaped his investing strategy — a $115 million UPB deal involving 2,500 second-lien residential loans. He breaks down how his team saw opportunity where banks saw risk, leveraging "emotional equity" to create value and long-term impact. You'll learn: 🏦 How to identify opportunities in distressed debt and charged-off loans 💡 Why understanding emotional equity gives investors a competitive edge 📊 How to look beyond traditional metrics to uncover hidden value ⚙️ The mindset shift that separates institutional lenders from successful investors Whether you're an experienced investor, a note buyer, or curious about how creative deal-making really works, this episode is packed with insight into real-world problem-solving, risk assessment, and strategic investing. 🎧 Listen now to hear the deal that changed Joe's life — and could inspire your next big move. If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

Would You Rather Wholesale, Stabilize to Sell or Long Term Hold This Deal - #257 In this episode of The Real Estate Reserve Podcast, Jason and Ian break down a real multimillion-dollar deal they were recently presented with — and debate the big question every investor faces: 👉 Should you wholesale it, stabilize and sell, or hold long-term? They walk through the full case study — from how the opportunity came about, to the financing terms, equity structure, and potential returns. You'll hear their real-time underwriting process and thought-out strategies on raising capital, analyzing risk vs. reward, and deciding when to take quick cash versus play the long game. Whether you're an active investor, syndicator, or just love diving into deal analysis, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways on: 💰 Structuring partnerships and capital raises 🏢 Evaluating light industrial and flex space investments 📈 Balancing short-term profits with long-term wealth building 🧠 Overcoming mental blocks around raising capital and deal risk Listen in, then drop a comment — what would YOU do with this deal? Would you wholesale, stabilize to sell, or hold it long-term? If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

Joel Friedland - The Deal That Changed My Life In this episode of The Deal That Changed My Life, we welcome back Chicago industrial real estate investor Joel Friedland to share the incredible story of a deal that completely transformed his career. Joel has purchased more than 100 industrial buildings with over 250 investors across the Chicago area—but one deal in Elmhurst, Illinois, stands out above the rest. What started as a vacant 100,000-square-foot warehouse once home to Keebler turned into a 15-year lease with Comcast and an unbelievable 40% cash-on-cash return. From panic over a year-and-a-half vacancy to landing a dream tenant—and even getting his cable fixed along the way—Joel breaks down what made this deal the best (and luckiest) of his career. 🎙️ In this episode: How Joel discovered and financed the Elmhurst deal The turning point that brought Comcast to the table Negotiating a 15-year lease and record returns Why taking risks (and keeping your sense of humor) matters in real estate Lessons learned from 100+ industrial investments If you love real estate success stories, investor insights, and candid conversations about risk, luck, and grit, this one's for you. If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

How Mastering Foreclosure and Tax Sale Overages Led This Investor to Move to Puerto Rico - #256 In this episode of The Real Estate Reserve Podcast, hosts Jason and Ian sit down with Bob Diamond, a seasoned real estate attorney and investor now living in Puerto Rico, to unpack how mastering foreclosure and tax sale overages turned into a lucrative real estate business—and ultimately gave him the freedom to live in paradise. Bob shares his journey from working at Arthur Andersen to building a real estate empire through foreclosure auctions, tax sale investing, and recovering excess funds for homeowners. He breaks down how overages work, why most people don't even know they're owed money, and how investors can turn this overlooked niche into a profitable venture. 💬 Topics covered: How foreclosure and tax sale auctions really work Understanding overages and excess funds Why 70% of funds go unclaimed—and how to recover them Lessons from flipping, rentals, and tax sales The mindset behind successful investing Why Bob chose to move his business to Puerto Rico Whether you're a real estate investor, attorney, or just curious about passive income through unique strategies, this episode is packed with insight and experience from someone who's done it all. If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

Lane Kawaoka - The Deal That Changed My Life In this episode of The Deal That Changed My Life, we welcome back Lane Kawaoka from The Wealth Elevator to share the pivotal real estate deals that shaped his journey. Lane dives into how he went from buying rental properties in Seattle in 2009 to managing 10,000 rental units across multiple U.S. markets. We explore: ✅ The challenges and lessons of investing out-of-state ✅ Transitioning from single-family homes to Class B apartments and development projects ✅ How moving "upstream" toward less competitive, higher-quality deals can transform your portfolio ✅ The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and networks ✅ Key insights on navigating market cycles and scaling your investments Whether you're a new investor or a seasoned pro, Lane's story offers actionable strategies and mindset shifts for long-term success in real estate investing. 📚 Check out Lane's book: The Wealth Elevator on Amazon 🎧 Listen to Lane's podcast: The Wealth Elevator If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

How to deploy $100,000 in todays Market - #255 In this episode of The Real Estate Reserve Podcast, hosts Jason and Ian break down real-world strategies for deploying $100K in today's market — whether your goal is fast growth, cash flow, or wealth preservation. They share how they'd personally invest $100,000 based on different scenarios — from flipping houses and building active income to creating long-term passive income through rentals, private lending, or syndications. Jason and Ian also dive into risk tolerance, capital allocation, education and mentorship, and the mindset shift it takes to turn $100K into $1 million. 🎯 What You'll Learn: How to invest $100,000 in real estate right now The difference between active vs. passive investing Smart ways to grow your capital through flips and small deals How to partner with operators or syndicators When to prioritize education and mentorship Why betting on the jockey (operator) matters as much as the horse (asset) Whether you're a new investor looking to build wealth or a seasoned pro with extra capital to deploy, this episode is packed with actionable insight and hard-earned experience from two full-time real estate entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

How Does This Canadian Investor Own So Many Properties In The United States - #254 In this episode of The Real Estate Reserve Podcast, hosts Jason and Ian sit down with Glen Sutherland, a Canadian investor who has built an impressive real estate portfolio — entirely in the United States! 🇨🇦➡️🇺🇸 Glen shares how he went from being limited by Canadian lending and tenant laws to owning dozens of properties across U.S. markets like Huntsville, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. He breaks down: ✅ Why he chose to invest south of the border ✅ How he financed his first deals using Canadian capital ✅ The challenges of remote investing and managing U.S. contractors ✅ Legal and tax differences between Canadian and U.S. real estate investing ✅ Tips for other Canadians looking to buy, BRRRR, or syndicate deals in America From navigating lending rules to creating systems for managing renovations across borders, Glen's story is packed with real-world advice for international investors — or anyone curious about building wealth through out-of-state real estate. 🎧 Tune in to learn: • How Glen scaled from single-family homes to large multifamily deals • The strategies that helped him transition from 9-to-5 to full-time investor • Common mistakes Canadians make when investing in the U.S. • How to protect yourself when hiring contractors remotely 📺 Watch now to discover how Glen made cross-border investing work — and how you can too! 🔗 Connect with Glen Sutherland: 🎧 Canadian Investing in the U.S. Podcast 🌐 https://acanadianinvestingintheusa.com/ If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

How To Invest Anywhere with Mitchell England #253 In this episode of the Real Estate Reserve Podcast, Jason and Ian sit down with Mitchell, a mobile home park investor from Washington State, to dive deep into one of real estate's most misunderstood — yet highly profitable — asset classes: mobile home parks. Mitchell shares his inspiring journey from being a burned-out W2 employee to taking the leap into full-time real estate and entrepreneurship. He walks us through how reading Rich Dad Poor Dad changed his mindset, how he started small, and how he built his portfolio to include a 39-unit mobile home park across the country in North Carolina. If you've ever been curious about: 🏘️ Why investors are turning to mobile home parks for stable cash flow 💡 How to analyze, underwrite, and finance MHP deals ⚙️ The real expenses and management systems behind park ownership 🚫 Common pitfalls (like overestimating vacant pad potential) 💪 And what makes this space resistant to inflation — — this episode breaks it all down with firsthand experience and actionable insights. 🎙️ Key Topics Covered: Mitchell's background and mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur His first big commercial deal: a 39-unit mobile home park Understanding MHP expenses, utilities, and management models The truth about filling vacant pads and dealing with POH (park-owned homes) Why mobile home parks offer long-term stability and community What the future looks like for mobile home park investing 📈 Whether you're a seasoned investor or just exploring new opportunities in real estate, this conversation will change how you think about affordable housing and passive income. 👉 Subscribe for more real estate investing insights, interviews, and strategies every week. 👍 Like this episode? Share it to help us bring on more great guests! If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

The Next Big Asset Class with Joe Downs - #252 In this episode of The Real Estate Reserve Podcast, Jason and Ian sit down with Joe Downs, a Philadelphia-based investor with deep experience across multiple real estate asset classes. From distressed residential debt to self-storage, RV and boat storage, and even flex industrial space, Joe shares how he navigated market cycles, reinvented his business, and discovered what he calls the next big asset class. Joe's story highlights how he transitioned from distressed mortgage debt and hard money lending into building a self-storage portfolio of 20+ facilities nationwide. He dives into: ✅ Why self-storage remains a powerful opportunity despite increased competition ✅ Lessons learned from distressed debt investing and market downturns ✅ The rise of "pro storage" and small-bay flex as niche investment opportunities ✅ How COVID changed storage operations, technology adoption, and valuations ✅ The benefits of long-term coaching, masterminds, and partnerships in scaling Whether you're a multifamily operator, private lender, or a new investor looking for your next move, this episode is packed with candid insights about what it takes to pivot, adapt, and thrive in today's market. 🎧 Don't miss this conversation if you want to understand where the real estate investing world is headed next! If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777

CJ Calio - The Deal That Changed My Life In this episode of The Deal That Changed My Life, CJ Calio from WNN Properties shares the real estate deal that transformed his path from UPS driver to financial freedom in just four years. Based in Hawaii, CJ focuses on out-of-state investing, building wealth through buy-and-hold residential and commercial properties in more affordable markets. CJ dives into the pivotal deal that changed everything: an 11-property portfolio he secured without having the cash in hand. By leveraging OPM (other people's money), he raised $500,000 in under 30 days to close on the deal. This portfolio not only accelerated his journey to early retirement but also opened doors to larger opportunities, including a $3 million commercial property. Topics covered in this episode: How CJ built financial freedom in 4 years through real estate The power of resourcefulness vs. resources in investing Leveraging private money and creative financing to scale Using the BRRRR method on a portfolio of 11 single-family homes Transitioning from residential to commercial real estate deals Whether you're a beginner investor or looking to scale your portfolio, CJ's story is proof that with the right mindset and strategy, you can create financial independence through real estate. 🔗 Follow CJ on Instagram: @WNNProperties 👉 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share if you found value in this episode! If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-reserve-podcast/id1507982777