

The Best Ever CRE Show
Joe Fairless
Welcome to the Best Ever CRE Show, the world’s longest-running daily COMMERCIAL real estate podcast. Founded by Joe Fairless, a co-founder of Ashcroft Capital who went from buying $35,000 homes to controlling more than $2.7 billion in real estate assets, the Best Ever CRE Show provides commercial real estate expert insights, education, and timely information to our community of active and passive investors who want to build wealth, build a legacy, and do more good in the world.So if you want the real stories behind the good, the bad, and the worst ever deals — plus, insights into what really goes on in commercial real estate investing — you’re in the right place. Our hosts interview commercial real estate experts every day to uncover secrets and strategies YOU can use to become a better, more informed investor. This is the Best Ever CRE show.Join the Best Ever CommunityThe 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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 4, 2022 • 24min
JF2983: From Airline Pilot to Multifamily Syndicator ft. Satch Bernhardt
Satch Bernhardt is the managing principal at Bernhardt Capital, LLC, which helps airline pilots and busy professionals invest in value-add multifamily deals through real estate syndications. In this episode, he shares the steps he took to jump from wholesaling single-family homes to raising capital for multifamily syndications, the hard lessons he learned from hiring too quickly, and why he believes more pilots are looking to diversify their investments right now. Satch Bernhardt | Real Estate Background Managing principal at Bernhardt Capital, LLC, which helps airline pilots and busy professionals invest in value-add multifamily deals through real estate syndications. Portfolio: GP of 350 units Fund manager for a $25M fund LP of 726 doors. Based in: Orlando, FL Say hi to him at: bernhardtcapital.net LinkedIn Best Ever Book: What It Takes by Stephen A. Schwarzman
Greatest Lesson: Real estate is a team sport. Collaborate with others to go far in this field. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 3, 2022 • 16min
JF2982: How to Spot Good Investment Opportunities | Passive Investor Tips ft. Travis Watts
Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor. In this episode, Travis gives three tips on how to find investment opportunities, along with four ways to know if a particular opportunity is right for you. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 2, 2022 • 36min
JF2981: How Hotels Can Adapt to a Shifting Market ft. Mike Stohler
Mike Stohler is the managing partner at Gateway Private Equity, which creates and manages income-producing hotel real estate investment portfolios for investors. In this episode, he tells us why he made the switch to hotels after accumulating 1400 multifamily doors, how thinking outside the box helped him keep his hotels afloat during the pandemic, and why he is now shifting his focus to hotel development. Mike Stohler | Real Estate Background Managing partner at Gateway Private Equity, which creates and manages income-producing hotel real estate investment portfolios for investors. Portfolio: 8 single-family rentals 3 hotels Based in: Scottsdale, AZ Say hi to him at: gatewaype.com LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Money Secrets of the Rich by John Burley
Greatest Lesson: People say your investor comes first. The asset should be first. Don’t jeopardize the asset. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 1, 2022 • 33min
JF2980: Pivoting from a Perfect Business Plan ft. Tony Castronovo
Tony Castronovo is the founder and managing partner of Novo Multifamily Group, a multifamily real estate investment and asset management group that focuses on building communities that offer affordable living at higher standards. In this episode, he discusses his journey from management consulting to real estate, his new company, and the challenges he navigated with his first multifamily property. Tony Castronovo | Real Estate Background Founder and managing partner of Novo Multifamily Group, a multifamily real estate investment and asset management group that focuses on building communities that offer affordable living at higher standards. Portfolio: 868 units across 7 properties Based in: Houston, TX Say hi to him at: novomultifamilygroup.com LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: Who, not how. Proximity is power. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 31, 2022 • 38min
JF2979: Starting from Scratch & Seizing Opportunities ft. Vab Jain
Vab Jain left medical school in 1998 to become a stock broker. After serving on the Chicago Board Options Exchange for a time, he returned to school to earn his master’s degree. By 2006, he had an MBA, but no job prospects. Determined to own his own business, Vab began investing in hotels. However, one deal that didn’t work out left him with nothing. Without a home or any money, Vab returned to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, to stay with his parents and start from scratch. He decided to turn around a hotel that his parents owned, which became the catalyst he needed to get back on his feet. Today, Vab is the CEO of Athena Investments. In this episode, he shares how he was able to use creative financing for several years while he worked on improving his credit, how he has been able to adapt to an ever-changing market, and his advice for scaling in today’s economic climate. Vab Jain | Real Estate Background CEO of Athena Investments. He also served on the CBOE (Chicago Board Options Exchange). Portfolio: GP of 200+ residential units Based in: Dayton, OH Say hi to him at: LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson
Greatest Lesson: Still in the works, but it’s to be content and accept change. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 30, 2022 • 34min
JF2978: Explosive Growth Is All About Mindset ft. Warren Dresner
Warren Dresner is the founder and managing partner at Equity Yield Group, a real estate investment and acquisition firm focused on acquiring A- and B-class multifamily assets. In this episode, he tells us how he reached $200M in AUM in just four years, why he decided to go big on his first deal, and how his mindset has helped him find success. Warren Dresner | Real Estate Background Founder and managing partner at Equity Yield Group, a real estate investment and acquisition firm focused on acquiring A- and B-class multifamily assets. Portfolio: GP of 2,000 units LP of 2,530 units $200M in AUM Based in: Miami, FL Say hi to him at: equityyieldgroup.com Greatest Lesson: Being disciplined and focused in your investment strategy reduces risk, and in turn yields better ROI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 2022 • 31min
JF2977: How to Push Past Your Comfort Zone ft. Christina Kovacs
Christina Kovacs is a residential broker and owner at Home Agency, a full-service boutique real estate brokerage in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She is also a single-family real estate investor. In this episode, she discusses how she continually pushes herself out of her comfort zone despite her introverted tendencies, how increasing her network has paid off, and her plans to begin raising capital. Christina Kovacs | Real Estate Background Residential broker and owner at the Home Agency, a full-service boutique real estate brokerage in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She is also a single-family real estate investor. Portfolio: LP of 731 units JV partner of 54 units Based in: Fort Lauderdale, FL Say hi to her at: christinakovacs.com LinkedIn Best Ever Book: Crushing It by Brian Murray
Greatest Lesson: Proximity is power and never stop learning/growing. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 28, 2022 • 31min
JF2976: What’s Next for Multifamily? ft. Michael H. Zaransky
Michael H. Zaransky’s family has been in the real estate business for three generations. His grandfather began by buying apartment hotels in the Chicago area in the early 1900s. Over the years, his family has pivoted within the multifamily space from purchasing existing properties to developing new ones. Today, Michael is the founder and managing principal at MZ Capital, which focuses on ground-up construction and apartment syndication. In this episode, he shares two reasons why he’s focusing on new construction suburban-style complexes, his perspective on the state of the economy and its impact on multifamily, and his predictions for the future in terms of rent growth and occupancy. “I would never, ever bet against the growth and the vibrancy of the United States economy.” Michael H. Zaransky | Real Estate Background Founder and managing principal at MZ Capital, which focuses on ground-up construction and apartment syndication. Portfolio: GP of 2,500 units Based in: Chicago, IL Say hi to him at: michaelzaransky.com mzcapitalpartners.com LinkedIn Twitter Best Ever Book: Making It in Real Estate by the Urban Land Institute Greatest Lesson: If business success were easy, everybody and his brother could do it and we would not have our edge! Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 27, 2022 • 12min
JF2975: Monday Doesn’t Make You Happy, But Can Positive Income? | Passive Investor Tips ft. Travis Watts
Passive Investor Tips is a weekly series hosted by full-time passive investor and Best Ever Show host, Travis Watts. In each bite-sized episode, Travis breaks down passive investor topics, simplifying the philosophy and mindset while providing tactical, valuable information on how to be a passive investor. In this episode, Travis discusses how passive income can be used as a way to enhance your lifestyle. He explores whether it is possible to increase your happiness with passive income by sharing his journey from being a W-2 income earner to a full-time passive investor and how it has impacted his own life. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 26, 2022 • 20min
JF2974: Finding the Devil in the Details ft. Matt Kontoff
Matt Kontoff left his successful 30-year career as a software engineer to pursue multifamily syndications just a couple of years ago. Today, he is the principal and founder of Redwing Capital, which focuses on multifamily syndication. He is a GP of 43 units and four duplexes and an LP of over 1,000 doors. In this episode, Matt discusses why multifamily investors should be interested in the Columbus market right now, how his skills as an engineer have transferred over to deal analysis and asset management, and how he learned firsthand that the devil is in the details. Matt Kontoff | Real Estate Background Principal and founder of Redwing Capital, which focuses on multifamily syndication. Portfolio: GP of: 43 units Four duplexes LP of: Over 1,100 doors Based in: Acton, MA Say hi to him at: redwingcap.com Facebook LinkedIn Greatest Lesson: Pay attention to the details. Don't assume something to be true until you verify it, especially during due diligence. Join the newsletter for the expert tips & investing content. Sign up to be a guest on the show. FREE eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Multifamily Deals & Investing Register for this year's Best Ever Conference in Salt Lake City Stay in touch with us! www.bestevercre.com YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Click here to know more about our sponsors: PassiveInvesting.com | DLP Capital |Reliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices