There’s a saying in real estate that ‘you make money when you buy.’ And while that may be true for single family rentals and flips, apartment buildings are a little different. In multifamily, you make money when you add value. When you execute your business plan. When you stick to your budget and achieve projected returns. So, what does successful asset management look like in today’s market?  Jonathan and Paula Nichols are the cofounders of Apogee Capital, a multifamily syndication business...

Wish you could get a bigger real estate deal done faster? Then you need the three freedom accelerators—the right system, the right support, and the right network. Masha Kruskal and Ahuva Druin leveraged this formula to partner on a syndication in Live Oak Florida and fast-track their success as multifamily GPs. Masha has 18 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate and international startups. Ahuva is a principal investor with expertise in value-add, buy-and-hold, and...

If you’re counting on a financial advisor to grow your wealth, it’s likely that MOST of your money is in the stock market. But that’s not how ultra-high-net-worth individuals approach investing. So, what if you diversified your portfolio to include more alternative investments?  Drew Kniffin is Partner and President at Nighthawk Equity, the multifamily investing arm of The Michael Blank Brands. Drew has a corporate finance and real estate investing career that spans two decades, and he is...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

I'm not really a big fan of flipping anything. I flipped three dozen houses early in my real estate career. But couldn't figure out how to turn that into a financial freedom business. That's why I switched to apartments. And I am convinced that apartments are the number one way to become financially free with real estate. But Travis King found a way to earn passive income with land flipping. How does that work? On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Travis joins...

Mark Khuri’s real estate business survived the crash of 2008. And the lessons he learned through that experience can help us take advantage of similar circumstances in the current market. But how do you find good deals in tough times? Can you reduce risk without reducing expected returns? Mark is Cofounder of SMK Capital Management, a family-owned investment firm that focuses on providing diversified offerings and attractive returns via income-producing commercial real estate. With 17 years...