The Best Ever CRE Show

Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Darren Smith to explore why industrial real estate became his long-term focus after years in residential investing. Darren shares how flipping and wholesaling hundreds of homes pushed him toward simpler, scalable assets, and why warehouses—with fewer tenants, stronger cash flow, and less operational friction—fit his personality better than multifamily. He breaks down how he finds off-market industrial deals, uses relationship-driven seller financing, and adds value through demising space, rent resets, and creative lease structures like fixed CAM. The conversation also covers real-world headaches, leverage discipline, and why patience and downside stress-testing are critical in today’s commercial market. Darren SmithCurrent role: Principal, Solid Growth PropertiesBased in: York, PennsylvaniaSay hi to them at: https://solidgrowthproperties.com/ https://www.facebook.com/solidgrowthproperties https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-smith-cre-investor/ Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seth Bradley interviews Sam Silverman to break down fund-of-funds economics, common misconceptions, and why this structure has become a critical part of modern capital raising. Sam explains how fund-of-funds models create cleaner, more compliant alignment between sponsors, fund managers, and passive investors—without automatically eroding returns. The conversation walks through how margins are actually created, why share classes and underwriting decisions matter earlier than most sponsors realize, and how fund managers can structure compensation sustainably. Sam also shares practical guidance on when fund-of-funds make sense, how to explain layered economics to investors, and why long-term alignment matters more than short-term fee optimization. Sam SilvermanCurrent role: Founder, Fully FundedBased in: United StatesSay hi to them at: https://www.fullyfunded.com/ Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard McGirr interviews Brent Neely about how he quietly acquired over $25 million in real estate before ever formally raising outside capital—and why he’s now preparing to bring investors into his deals. Brent shares how profits from multiple successful e-commerce businesses were rapidly redeployed into real estate, the advantages of leveraging an existing business-owner network, and why one-on-one conversations drove nearly $2M in soft commitments in just 45 days. The discussion dives deep into early-stage capital raising strategy, building trust through education and transparency, and why starting with smaller, oversubscribed raises creates long-term momentum. The episode offers a practical blueprint for operators transitioning from self-funded investing to scalable capital raising. Brent NeelyCurrent role: Founder, Neely Property InvestmentsBased in: OregonSay hi to them at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-neely/ | https://www.neelypi.com/about Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Lapidus, a commercial real estate investor and host of the Best Ever Conference, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of CRE. He discusses the shift from survival to selective investor strategies, emphasizing the rise of niche property types like industrial and retail. Lapidus highlights the trend of LPs consolidating capital with trusted operators post-losses and explains why he favors tangible real estate over equities. He reveals how unique investment theses and adaptability can outperform generic strategies as the market resets.

John Casmon shares a solo episode focused on how multifamily investors can win in 2026 by “mastering their leverage” in a tougher, more competitive market. He outlines a practical framework built around skills, speed, relationships, and resources, explaining how investors should lean into their unique advantages instead of chasing every deal. John discusses why local market knowledge, operational control, and creative deal structures matter more than ever as institutional competition shifts. The episode emphasizes that disciplined execution, strong relationships, and clarity around where you can move fastest will unlock opportunities others miss. Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Faircloth interviews David Kamara of Cape Sierra Capital, who shares how patience, operational discipline, and a willingness to tackle complex deal structures have shaped his investing success. David walks through his path from management consulting to multifamily ownership, explaining how hands-on operations, strong reserves, and trusted property management partners helped him navigate fires, insurance claims, and long hold periods while still delivering outsized returns. The conversation dives deep into niche strategies like LIHTC properties coming off restrictions and Housing Assistance Program (HAP) deals, highlighting why many investors avoid them—and how that creates opportunity for those willing to be patient. David also breaks down why investing close to home, even in smaller Midwest markets, has allowed him to scale efficiently while maintaining control over operations and risk. David KamaraCurrent role: Founder and Principal, Cape Sierra CapitalBased in: Ann Arbor, MichiganSay hi to them at: https://capesierracapital.com/ | Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pascal Wagner interviews Adam Gower, founder of GowerCrowd, to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes when sponsors raise capital in today’s market. Adam explains why the current shift toward smaller checks and retail capital isn’t necessarily distress, but a strategic move by experienced sponsors preparing for cyclical downturns. He breaks down how LPs can spot sponsor strength versus weakness, why IRR-driven underwriting often leads to failure, and how conservative debt, disciplined operations, and in-house property management separate survivors from casualties. The conversation also explores where Adam sees asymmetric opportunities emerging in 2025–2026, particularly in discounted assets with operational inefficiencies rather than reliance on market rebounds. Adam GowerCurrent role: Founder, GowerCrowdBased in: United StatesSay hi to them at: https://www.gowercrowd.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/gowercrowd/ Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Cruise interviews Liz Faircloth about her two-decade real estate journey, the evolution of InvestHER, and how her investing philosophy has shifted alongside life, family, and market cycles. Liz shares how early hands-on investing grew into larger multifamily projects, why supply-and-demand fundamentals matter more than ever, and how stepping outside hyper-local markets unlocked scale. She also explains the confidence gap women face in investing, the power of building the right team instead of knowing everything, and why legacy, joy, and impact now guide her decisions as much as returns. The conversation highlights how intentional strategy, clear lanes in partnerships, and mission-driven investing can create long-term success for both individuals and communities. Liz Faircloth Current role: Co-Founder, InvestHer; Principal, DeRosa Group Based in: Pennsylvania Say hi to them at: ⁠https://therealestateinvesther.com⁠ Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seth Bradley breaks down what it actually takes to build a professional, scalable private investment fund, drawing on more than a decade of experience structuring hundreds of funds across real estate and private markets. He explains why so many funds stall or fail by treating fund formation as a paperwork exercise instead of a full business system. Seth walks through the complete anatomy of a fund—from strategy and entity structure to compliance, capital flow, administration, and investor experience—highlighting where sponsors unknowingly create risk. The episode reinforces that capital raising is a long-term operating discipline, not a one-off transaction, and that credibility comes from structure, standards, and integrated infrastructure. Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard McGirr dissects his astounding $26M capital raise, crediting focused strategies and disciplined growth. He reveals how narrowing focus led to a remarkable 50% increase in new LPs. McGirr discusses the advantages of fund-to-fund strategies and emphasizes the significance of essential traits for successful fund managers. He also shares insights on automation and team hiring to meet ambitious 2026 targets, while navigating the potential challenges of a credit crunch. Plus, he explores the importance of strong contracts to mitigate risks.