Your attorney is a key player in helping you close on any real estate deal.But the right commercial real estate attorney truly cares about you and your success. They are willing to educate you on aspects of the law you might not know and navigate problems that arise along the way. Kyle Swafford is the founder of Swafford Law, a commercial real estate law firm that represents clients in syndications, tax considerations for investors, join ventures and commercial lending.Kyle has a wealth of experience in tax law, commercial real estate law and securities compliance, working as an International Tax Consultant at Deloitte prior to building his own firm.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, we’re sharing Kyle’s conversation with Garrett Lynch on real estate law at Deal Maker Live 2024.Kyle explains what inspired his transition from tax law to real estate and how he streamlines the process of closing on a multifamily deal.Listen in for Kyle’s insight on distress in the current commercial market and learn how a good attorney can help you avoid mistakes and get your next deal across the finish line!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session418/To contact Kyle here are his details:Website: www.swaffordlawllc.comEmail: kyle@swaffordlawllc.comOffice: 404-532-9531

Is fear holding you back from investing in multifamily?Even seasoned investors like us deal with fear. The difference is, we don’t let it stop us from moving forward. But how do you expand your comfort zone? How do you feel the fear and take action anyway?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Garrett and I sit down to explain why now is the right time to invest in multifamily and ‘be greedy when others are fearful.’ We discuss how we pulled off a refinance on a variable rate property (in just 25 days!) and offer advice on how to never run out of leads for raising capital.Listen in to understand why new investors don’t have to start with single family strategies and learn how to expand your comfort zone to achieve financial freedom with multifamily real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session417/

Are you looking to build a business but don’t want to start from scratch? What if you could learn a proven system and receive support from someone who’s done it themselves?Then you might be interested in an RV rental management franchise, a business that monetizes the RV boom and helps entrepreneurs build wealth with WHEEL estate!Garr Russell is Founder and CEO of Fireside RV Rental, the Airbnb of RVs. Since its inception in 2015, Fireside has grown into a franchise with 40 locations across the country and hundreds of RVs under management.A born entrepreneur, Garr has started, scaled and sold several companies. His genius lies in understanding systems, marketing, and forging the way for others.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Garr joins us to explain how renting out his own RV inspired him to build and scale Fireside.Garr discusses how RV owners benefit from the Fireside business model and describes how franchisees learn his proven system and receive support from expert RV rental managers.Listen in for Garr’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and learn how to launch, grow and manage a successful RV rental business with other people’s RVs—no prior experience required.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session416/

Good multifamily deals have been hard to find in recent years. And Alex Cartwright was struggling to compete with more experienced investors.He was looking for a niche that would give him a unique advantage. That’s when he met a broker at a conference who suggested converting a hotel into apartments.Alex thought it sounded like a pain in the you-know-what. But when he looked at the numbers, Alex realized that the problems were worth solving.Today, Alex is Founder and Managing Partner at Vilicus Capital, a real estate investing firm that specializes in converting hotels into affordable multifamily housing. Alex is also Associate Professor of Economics at Ferris State University, where he teaches classes on managerial economics, economic growth and international business.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Alex joins us to explain what inspired his interest in real estate as a tenured professor making six figures.Alex shares his twist on the traditional multifamily strategy, describing how he finds hotels that can be purchased cheaply in growing markets and converts them into workforce housing.Listen in for insight into Alex’s first deal as lead GP of a hotel conversion and learn how to find your niche as an investor to achieve financial freedom with real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session415/

Here at Nighthawk Equity, we haven’t done a multifamily deal in 18 months.So, we were excited to find what looked like an ideal opportunity in Atlanta. And two months ago, we got the deal under contract.But after spending $15,000 in the due diligence process, we ultimately decided to walk away.What went wrong?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, I sit down with my partners at Nighthawk, Drew Kniffin and Garrett Lynch, to debrief on the deal we didn’t do.We explain what we liked about the deal, describing what made it a textbook value-add opportunity and how we planned to renovate the units and upgrade several amenities in the community.Listen in for insight into the issues we discovered in the due diligence process and learn how to stick to your investment criteria and protect your investors by walking away from a bad deal!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session414/

You don’t know what you don’t know. And if you’re doing your very first multifamily acquisition, every little thing that comes up can seem insurmountable.But if you have the support of a mentor, they can talk you through those obstacles, prevent rookie mistakes, and alleviate your concerns as an aspiring investor.Jeremy Lemere is a successful investor and operator of multifamily, commercial, and self-storage facilities in Northeast Wisconsin. He is also a mentor with the Michael Blank program, and his investment portfolio of $15M is made up of personal investments, self-directed IRA funds, solo 401(k) funds and real estate syndications.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Jeremy joins guest host Marybeth Noonan to explain how being a student in our mentoring program helped him transition out of his W-2.Jeremy describes how he stayed connected to our network through a mastermind and eventually joined the team as a mentor, sharing his strengths in understanding finance and capital markets.Listen in for insight on playing in different asset classes for the best return and learn how a mentor can help you learn the business of being a real estate investor!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session413/

Do you feel stuck? Like you’re not making progress in life?Until my early 30s, I drifted through life. It felt like unseen forces were holding me back. And then I had a breakthrough and started living an intentional life—filled with purpose and fulfillment.What made the difference? What does it mean to live with intention? What disciplines helped me identify and pursue what really matters to me?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, I’m sharing my five clarity practices for living an intentional life.I discuss the My Perfect Day exercise that helped me start making mindful choices and walk you through my process for setting five-year, one-year and quarterly goals.Listen in for insight on scheduling Monthly Clarity Days and Weekly Strategic Time to reflect on your progress and learn how a Daily Morning Routine can help you live a more purposeful, fulfilling life!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session412/

Would David Kamara have figured out how to invest in multifamily on his own?Yes, but at a much slower pace.Working with a mentor accelerated his success. And now, the student has become the teacher.David is a seasoned investor and mentor with the Michael Blank program. With 15 years of experience in real estate, David owns 1,000-plus units across the Midwest, primarily in Michigan and Iowa.David is also a successful management consultant and sought-after advisor to C-suite executives and private equity investors. And he is fluent in five languages!On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, David joins guest host Marybeth Noonan to share his early wins as a student in our mentoring program.David describes a near-perfect deal he manages in Marquette, Michigan, and discusses how he problem-solved an unexpected situation where the property taxes on a pending deal tripled.Listen in for insight on trusting your resourcefulness as an aspiring investor and learn how a mentor like David can fast track your success in multifamily investing.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session411/

Whether you're looking to close a business deal or just improve your everyday interactions, the art of negotiation is key to getting to a YES.But what if you’re not a natural negotiator? How do you build a relationship with the person on the other side of the table? Or learn to navigate difficult conversations? On this episode of the Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Garrett is back to explain how his experience selling Cutco knives helped him become an expert negotiator. He describes how he prepares for a negotiation, discussing what it means to command the relationship and how to respond when emotions run high.Listen in for Garrett’s tips on gaining leverage in a negotiation and learn how to secure the negotiator’s edge in a legal dispute, contract negotiation or real estate deal.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session410/

Reading Rich Dad Poor Dad inspired me to build generational wealth. But the first few cashflow businesses I tried didn’t produce the passive income I expected.So, if you’re thinking about starting your real estate career with fix-and-flips or even a SFH portfolio, know that neither strategy leads to financial freedom.But can you really skip single family investing and jump right into apartments?On this episode of the podcast, I’m sharing my journey to financial freedom with real estate, explaining why I tried to earn passive income with restaurants first—and why that strategy didn’t work.I discuss why it’s impossible to scale a single-family portfolio to achieve financial freedom and describe the light bulb moment when I pivoted to multifamily investing.Listen in for insight on getting into multifamily without money or experience and learn how to skip SFH investing and start building wealth with apartments!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session409/

Whether you’re already involved in multifamily syndications, or you’re interested in getting into the space in 2024, it’s crucial to understand the market outlook.Through Nighthawk Equity, we own a 2,000-unit portfolio worth $350M. And we’re always on the lookout for new deals.That means we have insight into what’s happening in the market and what’s likely to happen in 2024.So, what are our predictions for the next 12 months of multifamily real estate? How can you leverage this information to survive and thrive as an investor in 2024?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, I’m sharing my top three headlines for the multifamily market outlook in 2024.I discuss what’s behind the ongoing operator distress in apartments and describe how the fundamentals of multifamily remain strong despite the challenges.Listen in to understand how economic headwinds are easing and learn how to take advantage of the incredible buying opportunities coming in 2024!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session408/

You want financial freedom, but it feels out of reach.Because you’re living paycheck to paycheck. And struggling to pay down consumer debt.So, how do you get from where you are now to building generational wealth?On this episode of the podcast, I’m walking you through the steps to achieving financial freedom in 2024.I explain how to get your financial house in order first, challenging you to track your current spending and build emergency savings over time.Listen in to understand why apartment investing is the key to financial freedom and learn how to create enough wealth to quit your job in the next six to 18 months!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session407/

Losing is never fun, but it’s often valuable.In fact, Garrett Lynch contends that down moments force us to pick ourselves up and close the gap between who we are and who we want to be.In addition to being my podcast cohost, Garrett Lynch serves as Director of Acquisitions and Managing Member of our investing firm, Nighthawk Equity.And his story is full of setbacks. Setbacks that pushed him to grow and take the next step in becoming a successful real estate investor.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Garrett goes solo to share his journey from troubled teen to millionaire multifamily entrepreneur.Garrett explains how he developed his #1 skill set selling Cutco knives and describes how his experience as a VIP concierge at a nightclub led him to real estate.Listen in to understand what Garrett learned from scaling a portfolio of class D properties and get his advice on finding happiness in the business of real estate investing.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session406/

It's a new year with exciting new possibilities. Which means many of us are setting goals for 2024.But why is it that New Year's resolutions usually don't work? Why can't we seem to stick to them for more than a few weeks before we fall away?And more importantly, what can we do about it?On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, I’m sharing the Living Fully Compass system I recommend to crush your goals in 2024.I explain what causes most of us to fail to follow through on our goals and why it’s beneficial to share your vision with a small group of accountability partners.Listen in for insight on eliminating deadlines when you can’t control all the variables and learn how to achieve your goals by committing to the activities that lead to the outcome you want—for as long it takes!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session405/

What are the three most recession-resistant asset classes in real estate?Even in challenging economic times, multifamily, mobile home parks and self-storage perform quite well.Sergio Altomare built a portfolio of small multifamily properties while working full-time in technology for the Federal Reserve.But in 2018, Sergio was having a hard time getting deals to pencil. He anticipated a market correction and pivoted to self-storage.Today, Sergio is Cofounder and CEO of Hearthfire Holdings, a real estate private equity and development firm that manages over $50M in self-storage assets.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Sergio joins Garrett and me to discuss the benefits of investing in self-storage.Sergio describes the financing challenges he’s facing in his business right now and shares his outlook for the self-storage market moving into 2024.Listen in for Sergio’s insight on using data to find deals and find out if self-storage is the right real estate investment for you!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session404/

Passive investors are fearful in the current market environment.Many got burned by rising interest rates, and they’re skittish about putting more money into the real estate market right now.But we know that there are big opportunities coming in 2024. And Warren Buffet encourages us to ‘be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful.’So, how do you position a deal to investors who may have lost money in multifamily? Can you still raise capital at scale—even when it’s not a popular time to invest?Bronson Hill is CEO of Bronson Equity, where he has raised over $20M for real estate ventures and served as GP for a portfolio valued at more than $150M.An advocate for helping others achieve financial freedom through passive investing, Bronson educates aspiring investors through his podcast and new book, Fire Yourself: Replace Your Working Income with Passive Income in 3 Years or Less.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Bronson joins Garrett and me to explain how he raises money at scale through his online marketing platform.Bronson shares the inspiration behind his book, Fire Yourself, and discusses the common mistakes passive investors make.Listen in for Bronson’s insight on vetting deals in new asset classes and learn how to position a multifamily deal to investors and raise money in a challenging market environment.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session403/

Financial freedom opens you up to live a life of significance.To pursue passions that may or may not generate any revenue. To do volunteer work or support causes you believe in.For me, that cause is Uganda Counseling and Support Services or UCSS, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life in remote communities of Uganda.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Drew Kniffin joins me to discuss our involvement with UCSS, describing how I met its founder, Dr. Ronald Kaluya, and what differentiates the organization from other nonprofits. Drew asks me why I trust Dr. Kaluya and his team, and I explain how UCSS measures the impact of donor dollars in the communities we serve.Listen in to understand the vision for UCSS moving forward and learn how you can get involved by sponsoring a student or becoming a legacy partner in the ministry!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session402/

Most real estate investors being their journey while they’re working a W-2.But many hesitate to step away from the perceived security of their regular job, even after they’ve replaced their living expenses.Others achieve financial freedom, leave the rat race, and then feel lost because they don’t have a sense of purpose.So, what is the best way to transition from a W-2 to full-time entrepreneurship?In addition to being a distinguished psychiatrist and mother of four, Dr. Elaine Stageberg is Cofounder and CEO of Black Swan Real Estate.Elaine is a sought-after national presenter and investment thought leader, and she owns and operates a multifamily portfolio of 1,300 units.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Elaine joins Garrett Lynch to share her transition from psychiatry and healthcare administration to full-time real estate investor.Elaine offers advice on preparing to leave your W-2, challenging us to simultaneously work toward our objective freedom number and the more subjective inner freedom it takes to make the leap.Listen in for Elaine’s insight on elevating yourself to the next level of success and learn how to connect with investors who are ahead of you on the journey to financial freedom with real estate!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session401/

What were the top AHA moments on Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing in 2023?As the year comes to an end, it’s time for a highlight reel of our most inspiring moments on the podcast in the last 12 months.On this Best of 2023 episode, we revisit our conversation with Faisal Ensuan and Dr. Sheri Fluellan on why real estate syndicators need the right coach and reflect on Joseph Kimbrough’s advice around building relationships with high-net-worth investors.We look back at Marc Rutzen’s insight on using AI for asset management, Chris Pomerleau’s guidance on overcoming imposter syndrome and Nicole Gauthier’s suggestions for connecting with a real estate investing mentor.We also share wisdom from Rachel Richards on the value of financial independence, Ross Hamilton on successfully pivoting a real estate company, and Jon Jasniak on land flipping with no friction.Listen in for Matt King’s advice on choosing a peer group that will help you level up and get free coaching from our top guests on Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing in 2023!For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session400/

There are risks associated with running short-term rentals, especially when your Airbnb units are in a multifamily building.But Syed Lateef has found a way to scale a STR business in apartment buildings.And the landlords don’t just ALLOW Syed to rent their units, they WELCOME it.Syed stands out in the world of short-term rentals, currently managing a portfolio of 300 units with a dedicated team of 50-plus employees.Syed’s business earns over $30,000 a day, allowing him to give back by providing clean water wells to communities in need.On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Syed joins us to explain how he replaced his W-2 income with short-term rentals.Syed discusses his rental arbitrage business model, describing what he does to mitigate the risks of renting multifamily units on Airbnb and how he helps landlords solve vacancy issues. Listen in for insight into the risks of running a STR business and learn how Syed achieved financial freedom with Airbnbs in apartments.For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session399/