Most investors blame the market.
Very few examine their management.
Vacancy, delinquency, and maintenance creep rarely start with the economy. They start with weak systems, poor tracking, and inconsistent execution.
In this episode, Brian talks with Donny Nguyen, real estate investor, business strategist, and founder of VanderWinn Property Management. Donny brings a background in corporate strategy, supply chain, finance, and systems design into the world of rental property management.
If you want your rentals to function like real assets instead of side hustles, this episode is for you.
Why most property management problems are system failures
The three operational workstreams every management company must build
How to structure tenant communication to reduce friction and conflict
Why clean inputs matter more than fancy software
How Donny uses dashboards to track maintenance in real time
The operational difference between “not started,” “in process,” and “complete”
Why bookkeeping is one of the most overlooked drivers of investment performance
How AI is being used to improve intake, ticket routing, and operational efficiency
Why simple tech stacks outperform bloated ones
The risk of building your business around software instead of building software around your business
Donny structures property management around three core workstreams:
Operations (Maintenance & Repairs)
From intake to ticket resolution to billing.
Tenant Acquisition & Experience
From listing to lease signing to turnover.
Owner Acquisition & Reporting
Sales, bookkeeping, and clean financial statements.
Instead of adding endless tools, Donny focuses on clean process design first. Software is layered in only after the workflow is clearly defined.
DoorLoop (Property Management Software)
Trello (Maintenance workflow tracking)
QuickBooks (Owner bookkeeping)
Excel + ChatGPT (Data analysis and modeling)
Donny emphasizes a key principle:
Software should accelerate a clean system. It should not replace thinking.
Donny also serves on the RPOA conference committee. He shares how volunteering and collaborating with other investors helped sharpen his own investing skills.
If you want to grow as an investor, surround yourself with other operators.
Socials: @AdvisorDonny
Email: donny@vanderwinn.com
Website: vanderwinn.com
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and Medicare benefits.
https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com
Too many investors chase interest rates and ignore structure.
They worry about an eighth of a point while overpaying on taxes, misunderstanding underwriting, or choosing the wrong loan product entirely.
In this episode, Fred SaintAmour of Boathouse Commercial Funding Group breaks down how lenders actually assess risk and why most investors misunderstand leverage.
We cover:
How debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) loans really work
When hard money makes sense — and when it doesn’t
Why collateral and marketing time matter more than you think
What immediately disqualifies a deal
How to structure loans through LLCs without wrecking your credit
Why waiting for lower interest rates can cost you more than acting now
The biggest mistakes investors make when qualifying for financing
Fred explains the difference between market price and investment value from a lender’s perspective, and why certainty of execution often matters more than rate.
If you are growing a rental portfolio, refinancing existing assets, or evaluating bridge loans, this episode will help you think more clearly about financing structure.
Loans for landlords, real estate investors, and entrepreneurs.
Website: https://boathousecfg.com
Email: Fred@BoathouseCFG.com
If you are an accredited investor and would like to learn more about participating in private lending opportunities, visit:
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com
In this episode, Dr. Paul Isely joins the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference podcast for another MREIC 2026 Speaker Spotlight where he unpacks the market signals, economic trends, and bigger-picture forces that could shape investment decisions in the months ahead.
Dr. Isely is Associate Dean and Professor of Economics at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business and is widely respected for making economic insight practical, relevant, and actionable. His closing keynote session at MREIC 2026 will help attendees better understand where the market may be headed and what that could mean for real estate investors.
Dr. Isely will speak at the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from 2:30–4:30 PM at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Join us at MREIC 2026 on April 27–28 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Manufactured housing rarely gets attention until markets tighten. That’s exactly why Matthias Gruenwald built a business around it.
In this episode, Matthias, co-founder of WCG Investments, shares how he grew from a duplex in 2022 to overseeing roughly $45 million across 25 manufactured housing communities in less than three years.
Before real estate, Matthias was a global manufacturing COO. He brought that same operational discipline into an asset class that rewards execution over hype.
We break down why manufactured housing can be one of the most stable and misunderstood sectors in real estate.
The difference between park-owned homes and tenant-owned homes
Why converting homes to tenant-owned dramatically lowers expense ratios
How some parks run at 30–40% expense ratios
Creative “handyman special” strategies to reduce CapEx
Infill strategies that add new homes and boost NOI
Why infrastructure matters more than curb appeal
Sewer systems, lagoons, and what to avoid in due diligence
Why tiny rural markets without job centers can stall growth
Scaling from small parks to 280+ unit acquisitions
Building in-house management for tighter operational control
How AI is improving collections and reducing staffing overhead
Matthias also shares how his automotive manufacturing background shaped his approach to reporting, metrics, and disciplined execution.
If you want predictable cash flow, low operating volatility, and exposure to workforce housing demand, this episode lays out exactly how the model works.
Website: https://wcginvestments.com
Free Ebook on Manufactured Housing available on the website
Instagram: Matthias Gruenwald
Facebook: Matthias Gruenwald
LinkedIn: Matthias Gruenwald
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com
Short-term rentals have matured fast.
But many operators are still stuck paying rising distribution costs while losing control of the guest relationship.
In this episode, Eric Goldreyer, hospitality entrepreneur and founder of BedandBreakfast.com, former co-founder of TurnKey Vacation Rentals, and creator of Savvy, joins Brian to unpack what’s happening behind the scenes in vacation rental distribution.
Eric has built, scaled, and sold companies in the space. He also owns and operates a 20-key boutique hotel outside Austin, giving him both strategic and ground-level insight into hospitality operations.
This conversation focuses on one core issue:
Who owns the guest relationship — and what does that cost you?
Why vacation rental distribution costs have increased while hotel distribution costs have decreased
The “Airbnb tax” and how it affects long-term profitability
Why hosts don’t truly own their customer data on major OTAs
The difference between transaction fees and customer acquisition costs
Why professional property management is separating from gig-economy hosting
How book-direct marketplaces are changing the economics of short-term rentals
What it takes to scale a property management company nationally
Leveraging tech stacks, automation, and AI in modern vacation rental operations
How Eric approaches hiring high-performance teams
Why hospitality — not just technology — is the real differentiator
Eric also shares how his company Savvy is building a book-direct marketplace designed to reduce fees for travelers while giving property managers ownership of their customer relationships.
Short-term rental profitability
OTA dependency risk
Distribution strategy
Hospitality vs platform control
Direct booking models
AI in vacation rental tech stacks
Savvy: https://savvy.com
Eric Goldreyer on LinkedIn
Sage Hill Inn (Boutique Hotel outside Austin)
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
Nathan Biller is joining us at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference to break down what real estate investors need to know about ADU development in today’s market.
Nathan is a real estate investor, infill developer, ADU specialist, and Co-Founder of My Backyard Build. Based in Grand Rapids, he helps homeowners and real estate investors add housing through small-scale, zoning-aligned development. His work combines practical operator experience, a finance background, and active involvement in local housing policy and planning.
In this conversation, Nathan explains what an accessory dwelling unit actually is, why ADUs are becoming more relevant, and how investors can think clearly about zoning, site design, financing, and project feasibility. He also talks about the policy changes that could make ADUs easier to pursue in Michigan and why the current moment matters for investors paying attention.
Nathan Biller will speak on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In this episode, you will hear:
Many Sunbelt markets that once dominated headlines are now facing oversupply, rising expenses, and compressed returns.
Meanwhile, much of the Midwest is quietly doing the opposite — holding occupancy, stabilizing rents, and delivering durable cash flow.
In this episode, Jeremy Yost, Navy veteran and CEO with over $244M developed across 56 properties and 2,000+ units, shares why his disciplined Midwest strategy continues to perform through volatile market cycles
Jeremy focuses on workforce housing, market-rate multifamily, Litech developments, assisted living, and hospitality — all built around one principle:
Execution beats speculation.
Why many Sunbelt multifamily deals are struggling today
Oversupply, rent flattening, and over-leveraging in hot markets
Why Midwest secondary and tertiary markets remain stable
The case for “boring” workforce housing
What disciplined underwriting actually looks like
Why most real estate failures stem from poor execution
Lessons from losing financing mid-construction during COVID
How persistence secured funding after 302 lender rejections
Why Class C Midwest assets still pencil in today’s environment
Insurance risk vs lending risk in current cycles
How Litech (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) development works
Misconceptions about affordable housing and workforce housing
Why small-town developments often pre-lease 100%
Secondary Midwest markets can deliver 10–12%+ cash-on-cash returns
Occupancy above 94% across stabilized Midwest assets
Workforce housing demand is structural, not speculative
Rural communities are often underserved and overlooked
Capital protection matters more than chasing upside
Jeremy also explains how his Navy background shaped his approach to real estate:
No speculation. Only execution.
Midwest multifamily investing
Workforce housing development
Litech tax credit investing
Recession-resistant housing
Class C multifamily strategy
Secondary and tertiary market investing
Insurance pressures in multifamily
Hospitality development case study
Instagram: Jeremy R. Yost
Website: https://www.yms-rentals.com
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
Zachary Beach is next up in our 2026 MREIC Speaker Spotlight series.
Zachary breaks down why creative financing is becoming more important in today’s market. As CEO and Partner of SmartRealEstateCoach.com, Zach shares how real estate investors can structure deals without relying solely on traditional bank loans, large down payments, or personally guaranteeing debt, and why those strategies are gaining momentum as interest rates remain elevated and more sellers need flexible solutions.
Zachary previews what attendees will learn in his MREIC session, including how to buy and sell creatively, how to create multiple streams of income from a single deal, and why his federally trademarked 3 Paydays® system is built for the market ahead. He also shares his perspective on where opportunity is growing in 2026, why rent-to-own remains underused, and how relationship-building and virtual assistants can help real estate investors scale more consistently.
Zachary Beach will speak at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 2:30 PM at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Most Airbnb failures don’t come from bad luck.
They come from bad assumptions made before the deal ever closes.
In this episode, John Bianchi, founder of STR Search, breaks down how he evaluates short-term rental deals using data most investors either misunderstand or completely ignore. John has helped guide more than $100M+ into short-term rental properties and has reviewed 350+ deals nationwide, all using a strict data-first process designed to avoid downside risk.
This conversation focuses on how to pressure-test Airbnb deals so they still work when demand softens, regulations tighten, or competition increases.
Why many Airbnbs fail within 1–2 years
The biggest mistakes investors make when reading Airbnb data
How to identify bad data vs. reliable data in AirDNA
Why listings must show 270+ days of activity and consistent reviews
How regulations can quietly kill otherwise “great” deals
Why cash flow matters more for STRs than long-term rentals
John’s 20% price-to-revenue rule and how it compares to the 1% rule
Why Class-A vacation markets often underperform
How oversupply, foreign capital, and design arms races crush returns
What data reveals about competition, saturation, and revenue durability
Why management matters less than buying the right property
How John reverse-engineers top-performing listings to find winners
Where investors go wrong trying to “make” bad deals work
John also explains why he never publicly shares specific markets, how he thinks about regulatory risk at the state and local level, and why not buying a bad deal is often the real win.
STR Search: www.strsearch.com
Free 7-Day Airbnb Data Course available on the site
This episode is essential listening for anyone considering short-term rentals, especially investors who want clear downside protection, not hype.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
Anthony Chara joins the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference Speaker Spotlight to talk about why multifamily investing deserves serious attention in 2026. In this conversation, he breaks down what he sees happening in the apartment market, where opportunities may emerge, and why investors need to be ready to analyze deals with discipline.
With more than 30 years in real estate, Anthony has owned, partnered in, or syndicated more than 2,000 multifamily units across the United States and internationally. He is known for a practical, numbers-driven approach to underwriting, cash flow, and portfolio growth.
Anthony Chara will be speaking at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Monday, April 27 at 4:30 PM.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
At some point, every real estate investor has to ask a hard question:
Is this property still working for me, or am I just holding it out of habit?
In this episode, Dan Ihara, a national real estate planner with more than 400 completed 1031 exchanges and over $110M in deferred capital gains, joins Brian Hamrick to talk about how investors should evaluate aging properties, declining returns, and next-stage portfolio decisions.
Dan specializes in helping investors recognize when an asset has quietly stopped performing and how tools like Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) can be used to transition into truly passive, tax-efficient ownership—without emotional or rushed decisions.
How to tell when a property has become dead capital
Why many long-held assets produce 0–2% cap rates without owners realizing it
How rising taxes, insurance, and expenses quietly erode returns
Why most investors don’t actually know their current cap rate
The difference between appreciation and real performance
How DSTs work in practice as a 1031 replacement property
Who DSTs are designed for—and who they are not
Passive income vs active ownership late in an investor’s career
How step-up in basis can eliminate capital gains for heirs
The role of 721 UPREIT conversions and long-term planning
Why real estate causes family conflict after death
How pre-inheritance planning can prevent disputes
Why real estate planning is about clarity, not control
This episode is especially relevant for investors who are:
Over 50 and thinking about simplification
Tired of active management but hesitant to sell
Concerned about capital gains taxes
Focused on wealth preservation and family harmony, not just growth
Book: Property Decisions: Avoiding Family Disputes and Painful Taxes to Create a Legacy That Lasts by Dan Ihara
Available on Amazon (ebook and paperback)
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
AI is no longer theoretical. It is already changing how real estate decisions get made in underwriting, leasing, operations, marketing, asset management, and communication.
In this special episode, I sit down with Steve Brown, AI futurist, bestselling author, and former senior leader at Google DeepMind and Intel. Steve is the Opening Keynote Speaker at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference (MREIC), and his message is clear: this shift is happening faster than most people realize—and “wait and see” is not a strategy.
Steve’s lens is built for real-world operating environments with real assets, teams, capital, and risk. He breaks down what AI changes at the workflow level, where it creates real leverage, and what actually matters now versus what can wait, so you do not waste time, money, or focus chasing the wrong thing.
Steve explains what’s accelerating in AI right now, what’s likely to change over the next few years, and how real estate entrepreneurs and business owners should think about AI as a capability shift, not a collection of tools.
In This Episode, Steve Breaks Down:
Why AI is moving faster than even experts expected
Why buying AI licenses is not a strategy (and what is)
How smaller teams can operate like they’re 5x or 10x their size
The shift from “people are the engine” to “AI becomes the engine”
What it takes to rethink workflows, not just adopt tools
The biggest fears, misconceptions, and early implementation mistakes leaders make
We also dig into the real competitive risk ahead: you won’t lose to AI, you’ll lose to someone who uses AI better than you.
That applies directly to real estate investors.
If you own rental properties, manage assets, raise capital, or run a real estate business, this conversation will sharpen how you think about leverage, workflows, and long-term competitiveness.
Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference (MREIC)
DeVos Place Conference Center | Grand Rapids, Michigan
April 27–28, 2026
Steve Brown Opening Keynote: Monday, April 27 at 9:00 AM
Keynote Title: Navigating What’s Next: Practical AI Strategy for Real Estate Investors and Operators
Steve will also host a VIP Luncheon at 12:30 PM for attendees who want to go deeper on practical AI strategy and real-world implementation.
Learn more and get tickets: midwestreiconference.com
Steve Brown is an AI futurist and former executive at Google DeepMind and Intel. He spent decades helping Fortune 100 companies navigate digital transformation and now advises organizations on how to thrive in the AI era.
He is the author of The AI Ultimatum, written specifically for business leaders who want to understand and implement AI strategically.
Learn more at:
stevebrown.ai
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and Medicare benefits.
www.rcbassociatesllc.com
Paul Moore is coming to MREIC 2026 with a message a lot of investors need right now: the path to long-term wealth isn’t exciting—it’s durable, disciplined, and often “boring.”
In this Speaker Spotlight conversation with host Brian, Paul (Founder of Wellings Capital) explains why many investors are still dealing with the fallout from the last cycle—paused distributions, capital calls, dilution, and deals that were sold as “set it and forget it.” His session, The Boring Investor, is built to help you recalibrate how you evaluate risk, returns, operators, and long-term wealth preservation.
Paul will be speaking at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference (MREIC) on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 9:30 AM at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why “high risk” doesn’t automatically mean “high returns”
What it looks like to invest for decades (not quarters)
The three-part framework Paul uses to evaluate investments: durable assets, strong operators, and intrinsic value
How to spot disciplined underwriting vs. “boom time” thinking
A practical investor communication tool Paul uses
Get tickets + conference details: midwestreiconference.com
View ticket options: midwestreiconference.com/view-ticket-options
Dr. Jordan Romano is an Ivy League–trained physician who has built a strong real estate portfolio not by chasing headlines or spreadsheets—but by going extremely hyper-local, staying curious, and learning to see what others overlook.
Jordan shares how he uses on-the-ground observation, municipal GIS tools, zoning knowledge, and simple pattern recognition to uncover opportunities that don’t show up in a typical MLS search. One of his most creative wins: realizing a single-family home sat on nearly an acre of land, then successfully subdividing it into three buildable lots.
This episode dives into how he thinks, how he evaluates properties, and how he adapts in a shifting market.
We cover:
The power of curiosity: constantly asking, “What am I missing?”
How municipal maps, zoning meetings, and Google Earth reveal hidden value
A step-by-step look at his subdivision deal
How he leveled up from a condo to a three-unit via a clean 1031 exchange
Why he sticks to B-class rentals for resilience in all market cycles
A tough lesson learned about rejecting pet-owning tenants
Why he only invests in one small region—and how that protects him
How he uses AI for negotiation, deal clarity, and even diagnosing a broken toilet
This is a practical, detailed, and refreshingly honest look at what happens when you invest deeply in one market and understand it at street level.
📍 Find Jordan:
LinkedIn
Medical Expert Witness: https://medicalexpertwitness.com
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
The first Speaker Spotlight for MREIC 2026 is live. We’re kicking off with John Burley, real estate fund manager and capital raiser with 40+ years of investing experience and $600M+ raised.
In this conversation with Brian, John breaks down why real estate success becomes dramatically simpler when you stop chasing “magic deals” and learn how to raise capital in a proper, formal, compliant way—including the exact scripts, structure, and risk-control approach he teaches.
John will be speaking at Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference (MREIC 2026) on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 2:30 PM, at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why “no money down” strategies don’t scale the way people think they do
The mindset shift: real estate is a money business first
How experienced capital investors evaluate risk in today’s market
Why safety + structure often beats flashy returns when raising capital
What it looks like to raise money and get paid on the way (placement-fee model examples)
Get tickets + conference details: midwestreiconference.com
View ticket options: midwestreiconference.com/view-ticket-options
Every real estate investor has at least one deal they would redo if given the chance. Some teach expensive lessons. Others leave scars.
In this episode, Brian Hamrick shares a live panel recording from the 2025 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference, where three experienced investors pull back the curtain on their toughest deals and what they learned the hard way.
This is not theory. These are real properties, real numbers, real mistakes, and real consequences.
Ramond Harris – Detroit investor and founder of Harris Family Contracting, sharing the realities of rehabbing in high-risk neighborhoods and managing theft, vandalism, and city challenges.
Brooke Veltkamp – Newaygo County investor walking through extreme fixer projects, budget blowouts, and why buying right still matters more than anything else.
David Hall – Lansing-based investor, broker, and coach breaking down due diligence failures, permit issues, and why “new” does not always mean “good.”
Buying properties with hidden deferred maintenance
When zero-down and creative financing deals go sideways
Fires, theft, vandalism, and city enforcement surprises
Roofs, plumbing, HVAC, and inspections that were missed
How long projects really take versus the original plan
When luck saves a deal and when it does not
Risk versus reward in changing market conditions
How experienced investors recover, pivot, and move forward
This panel is a clear example of what you get at the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference.
Experienced operators sharing real decisions, real consequences, and what they would change if they had the chance.
No theory. No highlight reels.
Just lessons earned the hard way and explained so you do not have to repeat them.
If you want to make better decisions, manage risk more clearly, and avoid common traps, this episode delivers.
The Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference is a two-day, content-dense event built for investors who want to think clearly, act decisively, and grow with intention.
You will hear from active investors, operators, lenders, and builders covering acquisitions, financing, market cycles, operations, and risk. Conversations are practical, candid, and grounded in real experience.
If this panel resonated, you will want to be in the room.
For more information and to get your ticket, go to midwestreiconference.com
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and Medicare benefits.
How do you come back after losing $50 million — and build it all back stronger?
In this episode, Rod Khleif, multifamily investor, mentor to thousands, and host of one of the world’s top real estate podcasts, joins Brian Hamrick to share the mindset, systems, and focus that made his comeback possible.
Rod opens up about:
His journey from immigrant beginnings to owning thousands of units
The $50 million crash during 2008 and the mindset shift that helped him rebuild
How to create unshakable goals and “burn the ships” commitment
Why fear of regret is more dangerous than fear of failure
What today’s economic uncertainty and AI revolution mean for investors
The biggest wealth-transfer opportunities emerging in 2025-2026
How to pivot into new asset classes like senior housing and mobile home parks
Why focus, peer groups, and playing to your strengths drive lasting success
Rod also explains how he’s using AI to streamline his business and training systems, and why he believes this next decade will create more opportunity than any in history — for those willing to act.
📚 Resources Mentioned
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
Most real estate investors have never heard of surety bonds, yet these little-known financial tools can determine whether a project finishes on time—or falls apart.
In this episode, Brian Hamrick talks with Gary Eastman, attorney turned entrepreneur and founder of Axcess Surety and Swiftbonds, two of the nation’s leading surety bond brokerages. After 17 years as General Counsel for Fortune 500 companies, Gary discovered how surety bonds quietly drive the $22 billion construction and development industry.
Gary explains why every developer, investor, and property owner should understand how surety bonds protect capital, guarantee performance, and keep projects moving even when contractors fail or materials run short.
You’ll learn:
What a surety bond actually is—and how it differs from insurance
How surety bonds protect investors from contractor default, liens, and delays
Real-world examples of bonds preventing multimillion-dollar losses
Why material shortages and labor constraints are making bonds more essential than ever
How lenders are beginning to require bonds for new development projects
The cost-benefit math behind when to bond and when not to
How Gary uses AI to analyze project data and identify emerging risks in real estate
If you’re investing in multifamily, development, or rehab projects, this conversation will change how you think about risk management in real estate.
https://swiftbonds.com/
https://x.com/swiftbonds
https://www.facebook.com/swiftbonds
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-swiftbonds-76a4b861/
https://www.youtube.com/@SwiftbondsOverlandPark
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
Billions of dollars in office and retail buildings are trading at deep discounts right now. While most investors see risk, Scott Sherman, Founder and Principal of Torose Equities, sees opportunity.
Scott has built a $700M+ portfolio by buying, repositioning, and re-tenanting distressed commercial assets — from South Beach retail to Florida office towers. In this episode, he joins Brian Hamrick to break down:
Why the best deals are hidden inside distressed office and retail
How to spot management problems and operational inefficiencies that destroy value
The strategy behind buying retail condos and mixed-use ground floors before they’re built
How to work with institutions and family offices to finance value-add projects
Why office space isn’t dead — it’s just being repriced
The 2026 outlook for commercial real estate, from Florida to national markets
Whether you’re an investor, developer, or property owner, you’ll learn how to turn distress into profit — and why the next wave of opportunity may already be here.
Find out more:
scott@toroseequities.com
https://toroseequities.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-sherman-6019234/
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
It’s tax season — and the rules have changed again.
With new updates to the 1031 exchange and bonus depreciation, real-estate investors have more ways than ever to defer taxes and build wealth in 2025.
In this episode, Brian Hamrick welcomes Dave Foster, one of the nation’s top Qualified Intermediaries and founder of The 1031 Investor. Dave breaks down what the new “Big Beautiful Bill” means for real-estate owners, and how to use the latest tax provisions to maximize returns and preserve legacy wealth.
You’ll learn:
What’s new (and now permanent) in the 1031 exchange rules
How bonus depreciation and cost segregation help you eliminate taxable income this year
How to combine 1031 exchanges with bonus depreciation for massive savings
Why the step-up value in basis creates tax-free generational wealth
The difference between Section 179, Section 121, and 1031, and how each applies to real-estate owners
The role of LLCs, trusts, and estate planning in preserving tax benefits
Creative strategies like setting up a family foundation for charitable giving and tax deductions
Whether you’re an active investor, flipper, short-term-rental owner, or planning for retirement, this episode will help you understand how to protect your profits and plan smarter for the future.
Find out more:
Website: https://www.the1031investor.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/The1031Investor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveFoster1031
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davefoster1031/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveFoster1031
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davefoster1031/
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
Kolaiah “Fuzzy” Jardine, co-founder of HUI Mastermind, joins Brian Hamrick to share how he overcame adversity and built a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio across Hawaii—developing over 100 affordable homes for local families.
From growing up in a multi-generational household on leased agricultural land and serving time in federal prison to becoming a real estate developer and mentor, Fuzzy’s story is one of redemption, resilience, and purpose. In this episode, he reveals how he builds homes in Hawaii’s lava zones, why he focuses on affordable housing, and how his “Pono Way” approach honors both the people and the land.
You’ll learn:
How Hawaii’s unique land and housing challenges create opportunities for developers
What it takes to build in “lava zones” and why local lending still supports these projects
The philosophy behind people before profits and respecting the land
How Fuzzy scaled from $0 to over 150 completed homes
How the HUI Mastermind is empowering Native Hawaiians and locals to build generational wealth
🎧 Listen now to discover how a local boy from Honolulu turned his life around, helped families stay in Hawaii, and is now teaching others to do the same — the Pono Way.
Find out more:
https://huimastermind.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hifuzz/
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
The Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference (MREIC) is back April 27–28, 2026 at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and this year’s theme is Thrive.
This quick special announcement features Erika Farley, Executive Director of the Rental Property Owners Association of Michigan (RPOAM), breaking down what’s new, who it’s for, and why you should lock in your ticket now. (Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference)
You’ll hear how the 2026 agenda is built around systems, real-world strategy, and operating resilience, including major focus on AI integration and a grounded economic outlook for 2026 that investors can actually use. (Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference)
Thrive, with a clear emphasis on “Where Strategy Meets Systems” and building portfolios that can perform in changing market cycles. (Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference)
Why “Thrive” matters right now and what attendees should expect to walk away with
AI keynote with Steve Brown (former executive at Google DeepMind and Intel) and what practical AI strategy looks like for investors and operators
Economic forecast keynote with Dr. Paul Isely (GVSU) and why it’s consistently one of the most packed sessions
Featured speakers and what they’re known for (private equity, tax and legal, multifamily, commercial, missing middle housing)
Networking, kickoff reception, vendors, and sponsor support that make the event worth showing up for
Steve Brown (AI keynote)
Dr. Paul Isely (2026 economic outlook keynote)
John Burley, Mark Kohler, Anthony Chara, Paul Moore, Nathan Biller
Smart Systems and AI Integration
Market Outlook and Economic Data
Operational Risk and Compliance
Capital and Acquisitions Strategy
Sustainable Growth and Scaling
Advanced Portfolio Management
MREIC Kickoff Reception: Sunday, April 26, 2026 (5:00–7:00 PM). Included with registration, RSVP required, space limited.
Private Keynote Strategy Forum: limited capacity add-on for deeper discussion (conference registration required).
Discounted conference hotel options include the Amway Grand Plaza (connected to DeVos Place) and the JW Marriott Grand Rapids (short walk). Book through the official hotel block.
Super Early Bird pricing runs through January 31 and pricing increases February 1. (Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference)
00:00 Conference dates, location, and why this matters
00:40 Theme: Thrive in Every Market
01:00 AI keynote and why it’s front and center
02:00 Economic outlook with Dr. Paul Isely
02:40 Speaker lineup and topic variety
05:00 Networking and kickoff reception
06:00 VIP and deeper access opportunities
08:00 Sponsors, vendors, and early pricing
Lock in your seat at midwestreiconference.com. (Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference)
Creative financing opens amazing doors for real estate investors—but it can also destroy deals when done wrong.
In this episode, Caleb Christopher, founder of Creative TC, breaks down how to use Subject-To and Seller-Financing strategies safely, legally, and ethically. Caleb shares real-world stories from the trenches—like taking over a mortgage where the sellers actually paid him—and explains what to watch out for when banks threaten the due-on-sale clause.
You’ll learn:
What creative financing really means (and when you should—or shouldn’t—use it)
How to protect sellers, buyers, and your reputation
The biggest legal and ethical mistakes wholesalers make
What happens when banks call a loan due—and how to fix it
How Caleb uses AI to streamline contracts, due diligence, and compliance
If you’ve ever been tempted to close a deal “subject-to,” this conversation will show you how to do it right—and keep yourself out of trouble.
Find out more:
Homepage: https://calebchristopher.io/
Creative Finance Consulting: https://creativetc.io
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fcalebchristopher
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/calebchristopherhimself
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebchristopher/
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
Artificial intelligence is transforming every corner of real estate—from how we analyze deals to how we manage tenants, leads, and operations. But most investors still don’t know where to start.
In this episode, Brian Hamrick talks with Clay Lehman, a longtime investor, property-management expert, and AI educator who helps entrepreneurs and agents use today’s tools to save time, make better decisions, and grow their business.
You’ll learn:
The fundamentals vs. hype of AI in real estate investing
How to use Google Gemini, Notebook LM, and Claude for research, analysis, and automation
Ways to map your ideal client using AI and psychographic data
How to build AI-driven processes that improve communication, marketing, and customer service
What’s coming next: agentic AI tools like Manus and Comet that can complete multi-step tasks for you
Clay also shares real-world use cases—how he runs a title company with AI assistance, automates team training, and even experiments with voice and text AI agents to follow up with leads.
Whether you’re an investor, property manager, or agent, this episode will show you practical ways to start integrating AI today and stay ahead of the curve in 2026.
Find out more:
www.imclaylehman.com
www.facebook.com/claylehman
www.facebook.com/unstuckai
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.
Every successful real estate development starts long before the first shovel hits the ground. From concept and capital stack to design, construction, and operations—understanding the process is key to building with purpose.
In this episode, Steve Achram and Peter Skornia of Cella Building Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, share a step-by-step guide to sustainable development and walk us through their Wealthy & Sheldon project—an example of how thoughtful design, solid financial modeling, and community collaboration can turn a vision into a high-performing building.
We cover:
What goes into a bulletproof proforma and capital stack
How to conduct site due diligence and align with municipal priorities
Using grants and incentives like the Emerging Developer Grant in Grand Rapids
The full timeline from concept to construction to operations
How sustainability and community equity drive long-term value
Lessons learned from the Wealthy & Sheldon mixed-use development
Why affordable and attainable housing starts with smart design
How Cella is using (and approaching) AI tools in their business
Whether you own land or are just exploring development, this episode demystifies what it takes to plan, finance, and deliver a successful project that serves both people and planet.
Learn More: https://cellagr.com
Contact Steve: sachram@cellagr.com
RPOAM Webinar: Beyond Rent Checks: Boost Health, Go Green, and Unlock Hidden Profit in Your Portfolio – January 26, 2026 (Register here: https://bit.ly/49qGKV7)
Today’s episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.
https://www.livegreenlocal.com
And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and Medicare benefits.