EP036 Building a Full Service Property Management Company, Tips on Leasing and Managing, Mistakes landlords make and the importance of the RPOA in protecting landlords with Mark Troy

My guest today wants you to know that if he can make it as a successful real estate investor, then anyone can.  Glenn Gonzales began as a maintenance man working for several other successful real estate investors.  As he grew more confident in his job, he began to realize how the proactive decisions he was making were improving the health of the properties he was maintaining.  But it was the other lessons he learned on the job that propelled him to where he is today.  Glenn is now the CEO and Co-Founder of Obsidian Capital, a real estate investment firm out of Austin Texas.  In the past 6 years Glenn has accomplished over $290 Million in total acquisitions, 5,000 total units, and raised over $80 Million. Glenn is also the author of the bestselling book “Maintenance Man to Millionaire: Real Estate Wealth Creation for Everyday People”. He’s also a great guy with a lot of fun stories to share, and today he’s going to tell us how he was continuously pushing himself to take on new challenges at the property management company he worked for, and how he was able to raise the funds to acquire his properties.  We’ll also discuss his experiences raising money from crowdfunding companies, as well as Family Offices. I know you’re going to enjoy this conversation with Glenn and benefit from his wisdom.  Glenn can be reached by email or through his website: glenn@obsidiancapitalco.com https://www.obsidiancapitalco.com

20 Apr 202047min

Back in the pre-covid-19 days when people could actually sit together in the same room, a group of rental property owners met to answer one simple question:  "When is it time to sell your rental property?"  Even though the world has changed considerably since then, the answers they came up with still hold true today. Let’s say you’ve acquired a decent sized portfolio of rental properties, they’re cash flowing, well-managed, and achieve your goals of long-term wealth.  But maybe the cash flow you’re receiving isn’t enough to allow you to quit your job, or retire early, or pay for that cruise ship vacation.  However, there is enough equity in your portfolio to sell for a substantial profit. Is it time to sell and take your chips off the table?  Or are you better served to stay on the ‘buy & hold’ path that you set out on so long ago? Many investors are faced with this very question, and I have two of them in the studio with me today.  Plus, I have a very special guest who’s going to help us talk through this very important decision-making process. My first guest is Ben Blake, and when he was last on the show, episode #149, he discussed his 12-unit Grand Rapids portfolio, and why he decided to take over the management himself.  Ben recently sold his entire portfolio, and today we’re going to learn why.  Also in the studio is Jeremy Schumann, who owns a 13-unit portfolio here in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Jeremy is currently trying to decide whether he should hold or sell, and we’ll be talking through that decision with him. And friend of the show, Justin Workman, is joining us as well. Justin always lends a mathematical and informed perspective on these types of decisions, and I’m sure he’ll balance out any opinions I might have as the four of us go through the different thought processes and cashflow and appreciation calculations a rental owner must consider before selling their investment property. And visit our show on Facebook to leave comments and ask questions by going to "RPOA Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast"

13 Apr 202059min

Imagine what it’s like to get started in real estate investing when you have nothing.  No money, no experience and no network.  Now imagine you’re also in your 20’s and have more student loan debt than actual capital to invest in deals.  On top of that, you have a job in corporate America, but you’re still BROKE. That is where today’s guest was 8 years ago.  Ryan Narus is a self-made real estate entrepreneur and accredited investor who started with nothing and now owns and operates 12 Mobile Home Parks spanning over 1,300 units.  He’s the co-founder of The Archimedes Group where he works at home, has 5 employees, and hosts his own podcast called ‘Mobile Home Parks in Real Life”. Today Ryan is going to share why he was eager to sacrifice and do things others weren’t willing to do, so that he could live the life others only dream of.  We’re also going to discuss the nitty gritty of mobile home park investing, including the times Ryan has had his life threatened while confronting drug dealers on his properties.  Despite all this you’ll learn why Ryan has dedicated his business to this asset class.  You can contact Ryan through his website:  http://www.archimedesgrp.com

6 Apr 202054min

Hello everybody.  I hope you’re all safe & healthy and maintaining your sanity in this Coronavirus world we now find ourselves in. If you’re a rental property owner or investor, you might have some questions about the State of Michigan's Executive Order to stay in place and what this means to you.  We still have tenants to take care of, buildings to maintain, units to fill, and bills to pay.  It’s not always clear which of those activities are considered essential, and which ones will get us in trouble. Luckily the Rental Property Owners Association has been in communication with the Governor’s office here in Michigan, and we’re going to clarify what you can and can’t do in this very special episode with Clay Powell, the Director of the RPOA of Michigan and Grand Rapids. You can access the RPOA’s online courses by going to www.rpoaonline.org You can also call the RPOA at 616-454-3385 Or email:  contactrpoa@rpoaonline.org

2 Apr 202025min

I hope all of you are safe and healthy.  Here in Michigan we are on lockdown, and wherever you are in the world I hope you’re doing well and taking this coronavirus pandemic seriously. There is no way to discuss real estate right now without admitting that every asset-class will be impacted heavily.  Today I’m talking with Kevin Bupp about his investments in mobile home parks across the United States to find out how he believes they’ll hold up in this new economic reality.  Kevin is going to share the high-level conversations he’s been having with his team and the processes they’ve put in place to help their residents who suddenly find themselves unable to pay their rent. We’ll also be discussing Parking Lots as an Asset Class.  Kevin is going to share why they’re such an under-appreciated & over-looked asset, the economics of owning them, and how he’s finding Mom & Pop type operators who are willing to sell them. Kevin is the Founder & CEO of Sunrise Capital Investors and he has over 16 years of experience and over $100 Million in transactions.  He teaches others how to invest in mobile home parks through his Mobile Home Academy and he also hosts the very popular podcast “The Real Estate Investing for Cash Flow Podcast”.  If you’re looking for a deep dive into the in’s & out’s of mobile home park investing you can listen to my previous conversation with Kevin on episode #181 of this show.  You can find out more about Kevin by going to https://www.kevinbupp.com

30 Mars 202044min

This coronavirus pandemic has changed our society and the way we live in a very short amount of time.  Those of us who own investment property can’t help but ask: “How bad will it get, what does this mean for my investments, and will there be new opportunities that arise from these unfortunate circumstances?” There are so many opinions and overnight experts sharing those opinions, that it can be difficult separating the good information from the bad. That’s why I’m excited to have Neal Bawa on the show today in order to cut through the clutter and give us a clear-eyed perspective on what we can expect. Neal is not only a real estate expert with a $250 + million portfolio of multifamily, mixed-use and self-storage, but he’s also a technologist who successfully applies data science to his systems and processes. Neal is also the CEO and Founder of Grocapitus and Multifamily University and he’s known as the Mad Scientist of Multifamily. In our conversation today, Neal is going to help us understand the two distinct scenarios that could occur depending on our government’s willingness to put many parts of the U.S. on lockdown.  He’ll discuss the outlook for multifamily and apartment investors and breakdown the different asset classes on their vulnerabilities to the economic shock.  Neal will also share the types of opportunities he sees on the horizon and whether you should be doing any deals right now. If you own and invest in real estate then you’ll definitely want to hear what Neal has to say.  He’s not going to sugar-coat the truth, and there are some silver linings that could help us survive and thrive through this difficult time.  If you want to learn more about Neal or get access to his timely webinars, you can go to: https://www.grocapitus.com https://multifamilyu.com https://coronavirusrealestate.com

23 Mars 202052min

Are we heading into another recession?  If so, how will it affect housing and real estate prices? Mike VanderWoude doesn’t have a crystal ball to answer that question, but what he does have is historical data from the previous five recessions to help us understand what might happen.  And you’ll probably be as surprised as I was by his answers. And if you’re wondering what effect the Coronavirus is having on real estate so far, Mike also shares his ‘on-the-ground’ perspective in a quick update at the end of this episode. Mike is an Associate Broker at Edison Brokers + Co in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He was also a guest on Episode #79 where we discussed his dilapidated & run-down 2-unit that he had purchased and renovated on the West-side of Grand Rapids. It was right next door to a 4-unit that I owned.  Since then, Mike has purchased my 4-unit and he’s going to let us know how its working out. I believe you’ll find great reassurance from Mike in this episode that, based on historical data, real estate is likely to do okay during these turbulent times.  You’ll also learn the value of ‘controlling the corner’ and playing real life ‘Monopoly’. You can get in touch with Mike by email or phone: Mike@grar.com 616-914-1556

16 Mars 202046min

What do you do if you have a 'no pet' policy and your tenant decides that they need an Emotional Support Animal.  What if that animal happens to be a pig, or a goat, or a bat?  Well, as crazy as it sounds, this is happening to landlords and its protected by laws and rental rules. Part of the RPOA's mission is to fight these types of laws that are adverse to a rental property owner's ability to control the well-being of their property and business. And helping us fight these laws and pass better ones here in Michigan is Tabitha Zimny, an Associate Lobbyist for Karoub Associates out of Lansing.  Also joining us is Clay Powell, the Director of the RPOA of Michigan and Grand Rapids.  Today we're going to discuss legislation having to do with Emotional Support Animals, Short-Term & Vacation Rentals, Rent Control, and the upcoming LLC bill that allows landlords the ability to represent themselves in eviction court even if they own their property through an LLC. Clay will also be making a special announcement regarding the new Short-Term Rental Association which will be representing Short-Term & Vacation rental owners across Michigan.  We'll also discuss the RPOA PAC fund, which brings us to the table with our lawmakers in order to have influence on the votes and decisions they make. If you own rental property it is imperative that you know what's going on at the legislative level that will affect your business.  After listening to this episode you'll have a much better understanding of the gauntlet a bill has to go through to become a law, as well as the importance of the RPOA and Tabitha in shaping those laws.

9 Mars 202055min