How to be Successful in Real Estate in 2025

In this episode, Chris Burns takes us deep into the messy, high-stakes world of real estate deals that most investors won’t touch. From DJing in Mumbai to mastering DC’s complex Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), Chris has worn nearly every hat in real estate—agent, developer, landlord, flipper, Section 8 operator, land entitlement negotiator, and tenant advocate. He shares the reality of chasing deals that drag on for years, battling landlords in court, and dealing with hazardous chopped-up boarding houses where 20 people lived in spaces designed for five. Chris explains why being pragmatic, even keel, and obsessively detail-oriented is the only way to survive in this business—and why sometimes walking away is smarter than squeezing juice that isn’t worth it. He also opens up about his biggest wins, like building a diverse portfolio over 12 years by relentlessly learning every angle of the business, and how joining the right coaching program finally brought everything into focus. Beyond just chasing deals, Chris has represented both tenants and landlords in TOPA negotiations, built lasting relationships, and proven that understanding the rules better than anyone else gives you leverage in even the toughest situations. He stresses that this isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme—it’s a business that rewards obsessive learners who can think multiple moves ahead, stay calm under pressure, and adapt when things get chaotic. Whether you’re new to real estate or already knee-deep in complex transactions, Chris’ story shows what it takes to thrive where others give up.