Best Real Estate Investing Advice Ever With Joe Fairless

On this week’s episode of Horizon Podcast, John Chang breaks down the Fed’s latest rate cut, why he thinks it’s driven more by confidence and political pressure than liquidity, and what the dot plot implies for the next few years. He explains how lower rates could briefly unjam CRE deal flow, then pivots to retail where inflation-adjusted sales are still rising and household leverage looks manageable relative to income. John also maps out how a mild, tariff- and labor-constraint-driven slowdown could create winners and losers by market, highlighting durability, policy orientation, industry mix, and overdevelopment risk as key filters. He closes with a demographic tailwind for consumption as millennials move deeper into peak earning years. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monar

On this week’s episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Jeff Niemeier. Jeff explains how his journey began in student housing, scaled into workforce rentals, and ultimately led him to focus on build-to-rent townhomes in Iowa. He shares how leveraging his unfair advantage of deep local knowledge and strong partnerships—has given him control over projects and higher margins than traditional multifamily. Jeff also details his entrepreneurial background in internet and cable services, his pivot into syndications, and why personal development, community involvement, and taking action are the cornerstones of long-term success. Jeff NiemeierCurrent role: Managing Principal, JB Capital; Host, Student of Money PodcastBased in: Cedar Rapids, IowaSay hi to them at: https://jbcapitalfund.com/| LinkedIn | YouTube This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit inve

On this week’s episode of The Best Ever CRE Show, Matt Faircloth interviews Lane Kawaoka. Lane shares how he scaled from house hacking and turnkeys to mid-sized multifamily, then to more than a billion in acquisitions, and why smaller C-class assets can be the hardest to operate. He opens up about a tough partnership that required removing a GP, the critical role of bank draw paperwork and airtight operating agreements, and how tax status changes can swing valuations by seven figures. Lane also talks market lessons from the 2020s, why competent and ethical operators matter more than splits, and his Wealth Elevator framework for graduating from operator to true investor. Lane KawaokaCurrent role: Founder, The Wealth ElevatorBased in: HawaiiSay hi to them at: thewealthelevator.com/ | LinkedIn | YouTube This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise

On this week’s episode of Passive Income Playbook, Pascal Wagner interviews Sean Smith. They dig into the search fund landscape from traditional and self-funded models to independent sponsors, why the silver tsunami and SBA financing make now a compelling moment, and Sean’s thesis of backing essential businesses serving attractive end markets. Sean also walks through his four-part diligence system and a 200+ point checklist, how he evaluates terms so LPs are actually protected, and what realistic deal flow looks like when you’re only closing on roughly 2 percent of what you review. If you’re curious how to be a sharper LP in small business acquisitions without running a company yourself, this one’s your roadmap. Sean SmithCurrent role: Managing Partner, Search Fund VenturesBased in: Chicago, IllinoisSay hi to them at: https://www.searchfundventures.co/ | Linkedin This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’

On this week’s episode of Beyond Multifamily, Ash Patel interviews Spencer Carpenter, Best Ever CRE's Guest Booker. They explore how commercial real estate investors can use podcast guest appearances to expand their reach, build credibility, and attract capital. Spencer shares why preparation matters, the common mistakes that hold guests back, and the small details that can make a big impact on how you’re perceived. Spencer CarpenterCurrent role: Founder, Outlier AudioBased in: Oxford, PASay hi to them at: LinkedIn | Outlier Audio | Instagram This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at ⁠https://www.stamps.com/cre⁠. Thanks to Stamps.com for s

On this week’s episode of Best Ever CRE Show, John Casmon interviews fellow Best Ever host, Ash Patel. Ash breaks down why he shifted from multifamily to non-residential CRE, citing shrinking returns, intense competition and far greater room for creativity in retail, office, industrial and mixed-use. He shares case studies including a Louisville office portfolio bought for pennies on the dollar with a split-and-sell strategy, and an 80,000-square-foot Canton office deal that breaks even with one floor leased. They compare underwriting, leasing risk, and management intensity, with Ash arguing commercial can deliver higher NOI with fewer headaches when you play defense and buy creatively. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monar

On this week’s episode of Unlimited Capital, Richard McGirr interviews Ryan Watts. Ryan shares how he co-founded Red River Development and scaled a Build-to-Rent platform to 1,900 units and $600M AUM by leaning on RIAs, family offices, high net worth investors, and a robust fund-manager channel. He explains why they prioritize prerecorded webinars, turnkey deal rooms, and third-party experts to help fund managers raise faster with more credibility. Ryan also previews their 206-home Waco, Texas BTR project, outlining a conservative 65% LTC capital stack, a merchant-build strategy targeting 2x equity, and why Texas demand makes the story compelling. Ryan WattsCurrent role: Co-Founder, Red River DevelopmentBased in: Dallas, TexasSay hi to them at: https://redriverdevelopment.com/ | LinkedIn This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn

On this week’s episode of The Horizon, John discusses why inflation is rising in a slow “trickle,” with food prices leading the gains, and how this feeds into rising odds of Fed rate cuts and a ~4% 10-year treasury. He explains why today’s financing window—around 5% for agency multifamily—creates rare positive leverage and is already sparking activity. With construction starts falling and labor/material costs high, John outlines a favorable long-term setup: tighter future supply, elevated cap rates, and improving fundamentals. He also maps the risks (recession, weaker jobs data) and where to focus: Class A/B multifamily, necessity retail, medical office, and storage—while flagging trade-exposed West Coast industrial and some discretionary retail, and noting office as a potential “dark horse” on rising RTO pressure. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit invest

On this week’s episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Axel Ragnarsson. Axel breaks down his direct to seller playbook for small to mid-size New England multifamily, from dream-list targeting to low-pressure, relationship-first outreach by phone, email, text, and mail to stay top of mind with unsophisticated owners. He shares how he overcame capital bottlenecks by building a marketing engine that attracts retail LPs via podcasts, LinkedIn, and a growing newsletter, plus the mindset shifts to handle rejection. Axel also unpacks scaling through vertical integration and people, including partnering into property management, hiring an acquisitions manager, and using VAs for asset management, along with tactical tips on list building, skip tracing, channel sequencing, and when to use cold calling versus direct mail. Axel RagnarssonCurrent role: Founder, Aligned Real Estate PartnersBased in: Boston, MassachusettsSay hi to them at: https://alignedrep.com | mailto:axel@alignedrep.com This is a

On this week’s episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Mike Roeder. They dig into lessons from scaling Granite Towers Equity Group, including why words matter at the property level and how third-party teams should embody owner values. Mike breaks down risk controls like raising CapEx up front instead of out of cash flow, screening hard for delinquency and true affordability, and favoring 1980s–2000s assets with seven-year fixed-rate debt. He also shares hands-on asset management plays, from incentivized collections specialists and secret shopping to revenue boosts like monetizing structured parking and bulk Wi-Fi. Mike RoederCurrent role: Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Granite Towers Equity Group. Based in: Central Minnesota. Say hi to them at: https://www.granitetowersequitygroup.com/ | Instagram | YouTube This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visi

On this week’s episode of Passive Income Playbook, Pascal Wagner interviews Amanda Han and Matt MacFarland. They break down the One Big Beautiful Bill for real estate investors, from the return of 100% bonus depreciation and why placed-in-service timing matters to smart ways LPs can plan for depreciation recapture instead of fearing it. Amanda and Matt also hit SALT cap relief, pass-through entity tax elections that can turn state taxes into deductible business expenses, and a niche but powerful new 100% write-off for buildings used directly in manufacturing. You’ll hear practical LP due-diligence red flags, how to sync exit timelines with your CPA, and why “strategy stacking” can compound savings across your portfolio. Amanda Han & Matt MacFarlandCurrent role: Managing Director & Co-founders, Keystone CPA. Based in: Fullerton, CaliforniaSay hi to them at: https://www.keystonecpa.com/ | LinkedIn | Instagram This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor

On this week’s episode of Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise interviews Jon Ostenson. They dig into the real playbook for non-food franchises, from what makes home and property services so profitable to when you’re just buying yourself a job versus building a manager-run business. Jon breaks down territory strategy, startup costs and funding options like SBA and ROBS, plus why national accounts, an aligned tech stack and franchisor support can 10x your speed to market compared with going solo. They also cover due-diligence “dating,” culture and hiring, exit multiples, and why food concepts often carry more risk than “unsexy” winners like dumpsters, asphalt and temporary walls. Jon OstensonCurrent role: Founder & CEO, FranBridge Consulting. Based in: Atlanta, Georgia. Say hi to them at: https://franbridgeconsulting.com/ | LinkedIn | YouTube This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil

On this week’s episode of Best Ever CRE Show, Matt Faircloth and John Chang are bringing you another fireside chat. They go back and forth on multifamily’s next five years, debating rent ceilings versus demand tailwinds, class-by-class dynamics, and why construction tariffs and replacement costs could freeze new supply even as Gen Z household formation builds pressure. John explains how treasury issuance and the 10-year may keep long rates sticky, why office could be a dark-horse recovery play, and how hotels trading below replacement cost create near-term opportunity. They wrap with recession risk, practical stress tests, and when it’s smarter to build reserves or sell before the cycle turns. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at

On this week’s episode of Unlimited Capital, Richard McGirr interviews Lauren Brychell. They dig into her new 90-day playbook Beyond the Lead, outlining the four pillars of capital attraction and why most firms don’t need more leads, they need better conversion and nurture systems. Lauren and Richard get tactical on aligning marketing and sales into a single machine, building a lightweight tech stack with CRM, investor portal and segmented drips, and running discovery calls that keep your talk time under 20% while guiding prospects up a yes-ladder. They also compare top-of-funnel strategies—high-ROI in-person events, heavy content repurposing and distribution, and the realities of paid ads where only best-in-class funnels win. Lauren BrychellCurrent role: Founder, Equity Elevated ConsultingBased in: Denver, ColoradoSay hi to them at: https://equity-elevated.com/ | LinkedIn This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide

On this week’s episode of Horizon Podcast, John Chang breaks down the newest jobs report, why the Fed is poised to cut, and how a sub-4 percent 10-year Treasury creates a short window to lock attractive debt for acquisitions and refis. He explains why policy uncertainty and tariffs could stoke stagflation, then maps the likely impacts by asset class, from steady necessity retail and mixed industrial outlooks to a nascent office recovery fueled by rising return-to-office pressure. John also outlines why supply pipelines are tapering faster than demand in many markets, how absorption could remain positive even through a mild recession, and why real estate may still outperform stocks and bonds if inflation lingers. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities.  Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one

On this episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Ben Reinberg. Ben shares his 32-year journey in commercial real estate, beginning with his first industrial syndication in his early 20s that launched him into office, industrial, and medical office leadership. He explains why Alliance CGC has now launched a multifamily division, pointing to trillions in debt coming due and the buying opportunities it presents. Ben emphasizes the importance of mindset, resilience, and personal development while also breaking down his investing philosophy of conservative leverage, the ability to hold, and scaling through talent and in-house management. Ben Reinberg Current role: Founder & CEO, Alliance CGC Based in: Chicago, Illinois Say hi to them at: LinkedIn | alliancecgc.com | benreinberg.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

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Paul Moore. Paul shares his remarkable journey from selling his first company and chasing “shiny objects” that left him $2.5M in debt, to giving his way out during the 2008 crash, and eventually pivoting into real estate. He explains why multifamily wasn’t the “perfect investment,” how Wellings Capital now focuses on fund-of-funds strategies using Pareto’s principle to back only top-tier operators, and why diversification across operators, geographies, and asset classes is key. Paul also highlights how private equity firms vet operators, what passives should know about due diligence (including NOI audits), and how Wellings has raised over $800K to fight human trafficking through AIM Paul Moore Current role: Founder & Managing Partner, Wellings Capital Based in: Lynchburg, Virginia Say hi to them at: LinkedIn| Wellings Capital| AIM Free Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with c

On this week’s episode of Passive Income Playbook, Pascal Wagner interviews Fred Hubler. Fred shares why he built a retainer-based advisory model that helps entrepreneurs and high-net-worth families allocate beyond stocks into private credit, real estate and other alternatives, and he explains his 50-10-20-20 portfolio framework for traditional assets, cash, alts and hard assets. He digs into his due-diligence rubric of legal, ethical and moral unfair advantages, plus concrete playbooks like franchise roll-ups, optioning underused retail land for townhouse developments, and partnering with institutional-grade sponsors to protect downside. You’ll also hear how to vet operators, get closer to the underlying asset, and set break-even thresholds in volatile areas like oil and gas. Fred HublerCurrent role: Founder and CEO, Creative Capital Wealth Management GroupBased in: Chester Springs, PennsylvaniaSay hi to them at: https://ccwmg.com | mailto:frederickhubler@ccwmg.com | Instagram This is a limited time o

On this week’s episode of Beyond Multifamily, Ash Patel and Amanda Cruise interview each other for a solo episode. Amanda breaks down her land-home playbook for manufactured housing near Raleigh, explaining why county zoning and well plus septic areas unlock buildable lots and how smart cost segregation can offset gains with highly depreciable mobile home park components. She and Ash compare notes on commercial operations, from insisting on true commercial property managers and hyperlocal leasing pros to swallowing six-figure commissions when they add millions in value. They trade hard-won lessons on equity-sharing promissory notes, saying no to small time-sucks, and protecting sale-leasebacks with rent escrows, personal guarantees, and never dropping lawsuits, then close with practical etiquette for earning mentors and second calls. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investi

On this week’s episode of Best Ever CRE, John Chang and Matt Faircloth interview each other in a fireside chat style. They unpack the three market drivers John watches most — jobs, demographics and local supply — and why rates matter mainly when the deal hits underwriting rather than for predicting operating performance. Matt explains his pivot toward day-one cash flow, positive leverage and scalability while moving away from C class value add plays. They debate hospitality with Matt favoring flagged limited-service hotels tied to business travel as John flags labor and construction headwinds, then trade war stories on COVID and Lehman that forced forecasts to flip overnight. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you’re brand new to oil and gas investing. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at