Straight Up Chicago Investor

Return guest (Episode 15) John Casmon drops in to share golden nuggets on how he separates himself from the competition in this tight market! John starts off by reminding us of his humble real estate beginnings which came via a house hack in the North Center neighborhood of Chicago. He explains how his flipping experience helped propel his growth despite facing adversity. John provides tips on how investors can create opportunities and separate themselves from their competition in this highly competitive environment. Mr. Casmon shares practical advice on deal screening, approaching investors for syndication deals, and finding a mentor/coach! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: John Casmon, Casmon Capital Link: Capital Impact Club (Coaching) Link: Multifamily Insights Podcast Sponsors: Kiser Group, and Appeal.tax ----------------- Guest Questions 03:09 House Provider Tip: Watch out for fraudulent rental applications! 05:44 Intro to our guest, John Casmon! 07:14 How does a newer investor get involved in multi-family real estate? 11:22 Why did John decide to get into flipping properties? 17:41 What experience did John gain flipping properties? 23:33 What motivated John to keep going after his struggles with flipping? 30:14 How can investors create deal opportunities in this limited supply market? 34:22 How can investors balance valuing properties based on current value compared to future value? 37:33 How do John and his team screen deals? 39:18 What is the difference between syndicating and joint-venturing a real estate deal? 42:31 What is it like to approach investors with a deal? 47:15 What's the best way to get connected with a mentor/coach? 49:39 What made John start his podcast and how has it helped his growth? Wrap Up Questions 52:40 What is John's competitive advantage? 52:57 What is the one piece of advice for new investors looking to buy their first property in Chicago? 53:49 What do you do for fun? 54:02 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 55:12 Local Network Recommendation? 55:50 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

What is a condo deconversion and how can investors benefit from purchasing a deconversion opportunity? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Jake Parker & Andy Friedman from Kiser Group ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Interested in Modular Housing? Josh Braun explains modular housing and how he's been able to be a pioneer in Chicago Modular Housing Construction. Josh starts off by talking about his start in real estate and his early interactions with the City's Building Department. He discusses the specs of his different finished products and lessons learned that have helped him evolve his business. Josh shares how he was able to be a pioneer in Chicago's modular construction housing space. He closes by providing insight on 3D printing and the future of housing construction. If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Josh Braun, from Kinexx Modular Construction Link: Book Recommendation: The Machine That Changed the World Link: Local Network Recommendation: Jim Darrow of Essex Realty Sponsors: Kiser Group, and GC Reality ----------------- Guest Questions 03:45 House Provider Tip: Do your due diligence on the HOA of condos and townhomes! 05:41 Intro to our guest, Josh Braun! 06:59 How did Josh get into real estate? 19:06 Josh's story of receiving a stop work order from the City of Chicago. 20:32 How does modular housing work from an economic standpoint (i.e. how is this profit margin created when it's intended to be affordable housing)? 22:35 What is the definition of a modular home? 23:45 What are the standard specs on a finished modular home by Kinexx? 26:03 Are the homes built on slabs and is there any evidence that they are modular homes compared to traditionally built homes? 26:56 What did Josh learn on his first modular home project that helped him evolve his business? 29:45 Where is Josh building these modular homes? 31:41 How are end users finding Josh's modular homes and how are they financing the homes? 34:52 What were the initial challenges with Alderman and elsewhere to get started? 39:00 What is Kinexx's standard build and how does Kinexx interact with the end user? 40:40 What is unique about building modular homes in Chicago? 42:40 Is 3D printing on Josh's radar and how can 3D printing impact modular homes building? 45:09 What is Josh seeing from his competition? Wrap Up Questions 49:22 What is Josh's competitive advantage? 49:49 One piece of advice for new investors. 50:24 What do you do for fun? 50:55 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 51:35 Local Network Recommendation? 52:35 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Did you know that you can raise or deploy funds found in IRAs to invest in Real Estate? Adam Sypniewski joins us to break down how this can be accomplished. Adam kicks things off by defining an IRA and explaining the limitations when withdrawing IRA funds. He dives into the different ways investors can leverage their IRA funds or someone else's funds to invest in real estate. Adam talks about rules and regulations along with things to consider when using IRA funds in partnerships. He closes with pitfalls to avoid when structuring a deal involving an IRA so you can be prepared to implement this strategy! If you enjoyed listening to today's episode, please leave us a 5 star review and share us with a friend! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Adam Sypniewski from Midland Trust | LinkedIn | Email Adam (adam@midlandtrust.com) Sponsors: Kiser Group, GC Reality, and Prime Lending ----------------- Guest Questions 02:10 House Provider Tip: Plan ahead and knock out spring projects! 04:50 Intro to our guest, Adam Sypniewski! 06:00 How did Adam start working in the IRA space? 07:10 What is an IRA? 09:15 What are the rules and limitations of pulling funds out of your own IRA? 10:43 Why would someone want to pull from their IRA to use their capital in real estate? 12:42 How have IRAs been around? 14:13 What are the limitations of investing through an IRA compared to any other money market? 16:28 What opportunities/options are there for individuals wanting to use their IRAs to invest in real estate? 20:20 How does funding a deal with an IRA differ from having liquid funds to acquire a property? 21:54 How can investors be on the debt-side or equity-side of deals when investing with their IRAs? 24:58 Aside from ensuring there is a papertrail, any other requirements investors should be aware of when investing with their IRA? 27:34 Is there a specific demographic investors who are looking for private capital should be targeting? 29:27 What are an IRA's typical repayment terms? 33:46 How do distributions for repayment to an IRA work in partnerships? 36:23 What happens if IRA funds are lost? 38:20 While an investor is holding a property in their IRA, the traditional real estate tax benefits do not apply, correct? 39:37 Any other tips for investing with your IRA? Wrap Up Questions 40:22 What is Adam's competitive advantage? 41:42 What is the one piece of advice for new investors looking to buy their first property in Chicago? 42:11 What do you do for fun? 42:36 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 43:13 Local Network Recommendation? 43:40 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Jake Fugman walks us through the numbers, rationale, and challenges of a recent househack in Hermosa that our listeners can learn from. Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Jake Fugman, The Axon Group (EXP Realty) ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Want to know how to take your real estate marketing to the next level to grow your business? Our guest Aram Ghazaryan provides insight on how to differentiate yourself from your competition! Aram explains his tremendous story of how he got into real estate at the young age of 21 and methods used to achieve great success after 5 years in the business! He shares how to consistently put out engaging social media content and the importance of connecting with followers on an emotional level. He talks cold-calling as a new agent, flipping for the first time, and becoming a source of knowledge for many Chicago neighborhoods and its suburbs. Aram closes by talking about how he is executing real estate transactions and how he is able to be an asset for his clients! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Aram Ghazaryan from RE/MAX | Instagram | Aram's Other Pages Sponsors: Kiser Group, GC Reality, and Prime Lending ----------------- Guest Questions 03:41 House Provider Tip: Be mindful that the higher rents that come with the CHA Mobility Program can go away - underwrite deals using market rents! 04:10 Intro to our guest, Aram Ghazaryan! 06:05 How is volatility being seen in the lending market? 07:04 How did Aram decide to jump into real estate at the young age of 21? 09:25 How did Aram's perspective on opportunity for success change when he moved to the United States? 10:47 What were Aram's first thoughts on Chicago? 12:23 How did Aram get his first deal as a broker? 13:55 What are some of the lessons learned from cold calling? 16:05 How did Aram develop his social media marketing? 20:22 How is Aram translating his following on social media to his real estate business? 23:40 How did Aram acquire knowledge on so many different suburbs? 25:10 How does an introvert work up the courage to put themselves out there for marketing? 27:44 How is Aram translating lead generation to being an asset and executing for his clients? 32:22 How does Aram deal with buyers looking to low-ball sellers and how does he set expectations? 34:34 Is Aram doing all the marketing himself or outsourcing? 35:52 How did Aram start flipping and what are some of the lessons learned so far? 40:28 What are the projected numbers on Aram's first flip? Wrap Up Questions 43:38 What is Aram's competitive advantage? 44:56 What is the one piece of advice for new investors looking to buy their first property in Chicago? 45:22 What do you do for fun? 45:55 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 47:11 Local Network Recommendation? 48:34 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Return guest Chris Puleo drops in to share a lending market update! Chris starts off by commenting on the volatility in the market and looks back on how the pandemic shaped what is happening today. He explains "bait and switch" and the questions you should be asking your mortgage lender. Chris dives deep into the different loan programs available in today's market. Chris also delivers Chicago-specific advice on how to navigate the loan process when dealing with non-conforming units! If you enjoyed listening to today's episode, please leave us a 5 star review and share us with a friend! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Chris Puleo, Neighborhood Loans Link: SUCI Merch Store Sponsors: Kiser Group and GC Reality ----------------- Guest Questions 02:33 House Provider Tip: Be aware of freeze and thaw cycles during the Spring season! 04:10 Intro to our guest,Chris Puleo! 05:40 How is volatility being seen in the lending market? 07:37 How did the pandemic create artificially low interest rates? 09:18 Why does inflation increase interest rates? 11:02 Chris explains "float down" options as it relates to interest rates. 13:05 Are there any good indicators for trying to project the direction of interest rates? 16:06 What is "bait and switch" and what should people watch out for? 19:35 Is Chris seeing a lot of new real estate agents and lenders in this hot market? 24:05 What are other low-down payment options aside from FHA? 26:42 How do "gifts" work in the lending industry? 28:33 What COVID restrictions were previously in place that lenders have lifted? 30:30 What do the requirements look like for self-employed individuals seeking a loan? 32:45 What are some of the programs for investment loans? 35:15 What are things to consider when looking to purchase a building with a non-conforming unit? 38:54 Is there a premium paid for a cash-out refinance compared to a rate-and-term refinance? Wrap Up Questions 43:20 What is Chris' competitive advantage? 44:14 What is the one piece of advice for new investors looking to buy their first property in Chicago? 44:23 What do you do for fun? 45:17 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 45:47 Local Network Recommendation? 46:42 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

What are the many factors investors must consider if they are looking to sell in this hot market? (And buyers need to know this info as well!) Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Ron Plonis & Jeff Leibovich from Kiser Group ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Ever wonder what it takes to convert a condo building into rental apartments? Sean Connelly of 33 Realty explains the ins and outs of deconverting condos as an investment strategy. Sean starts by defining basic terms and the strategy associated with deconverting condos. He then dives into the more technical aspects of underwriting and handling negotiations with owners and associations. Sean closes out the episode by forecasting the future of condo deconversions in Chicago and explains why he is bullish on the "Capital of the Midwest". If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Sean Connelly from 33 Realty Link: Sean Connelly | 33 Realty Sponsors: ClickInvest and Kiser Group ----------------- Guest Questions 02:56 House Provider Tip: Ensure that property condition and cost of unit turn-overs is properly being taken into account! 06:10 Intro to our guest, Sean Connelly! 07:37 What is a condo deconversion? 08:48 What is driving the surge of condo deconversions? 10:05 What is a T-12 (i.e. trailing 12 months of expenses)? 10:53 What are the expectations from the HOA during this deconversion process? 11:57 How did Sean and his group get into condo deconversions? 14:24 What is the acquisition strategy? 15:35 What type of timeframe can be expected to deconvert? 18:47 How are tenants treated when purchasing a rented condo to deconvert? 21:04 What is the process like when dealing with owner-occupants who likely won't be in favor of deconverting? 22:44 How are taxes underwritten when deconverting? 24:07 Is there a typical strategy as it relates to separating utilities, updating mechanicals, etc? 27:31 Sean walks through the high-level process of deconverting. 31:10 How are meetings with a larger group of owners/investors handled? 32:49 How are special exceptions and general negotiations handled? 37:26 Are people generally looking to purchase multiple condos in smaller buildings to have a larger share of ownership? 38:47 What does the future look like for this condo deconversion strategy? Wrap Up Questions 42:09 What is Sean's competitive advantage? 42:29 One piece of advice for new investors. 42:48 What do you do for fun? 43:20 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 43:40 Local Network Recommendation? 44:15 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Think it's possible to scale to 80 rental units while working a W2 job? We know it sounds tough, but our guest David Pezzola explains how he did that and then continued on to build a massive portfolio! David shares insights on how was able to grow and manage his large portfolio while having his W2 job. He then talks about his post W2 investment journey including his acquisition strategy and lessons learned. David closes out with why Chicago is the "mutual fund" of cities and why he continues to be bullish on investing here! If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content! Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: David Pezzola, from Icarus Investment Group Link: Rich Dad Poor Dad (Book Recommendation) Link: Chris Puleo (Lender) Sponsors: GC Reality and Kiser Group ----------------- Guest Questions 02:42 House Provider Tip: Seal holes/gaps inside and outside your property to prevent animals from getting in! 04:54 Intro to our guest, David Pezzola! 05:40 How did David get to 80-units and how did he balance owning that many units while working a W2? 07:56 How was David financing his deals while scaling? 09:38 Does David see similarities between the West Loop prior to its emergence and any neighborhoods currently? Why did David hold on to his W2 for as long as he did? 12:12 After establishing a credit line to allow for acquisition/scale, what was the next step? 14:48 What was the extent of the rehab when beginning to scale? 19:13 What goes into making a condo warrantable? 21:02 What are some of the lessons learned while David was scaling? 25:09 What were some of the management challenges in the south side of Chicago? 28:36 How has David's group improved management efficiencies? 30:50 How did David purchase 300 units near Midway Airport? 34:45 What advice would David give to new investors on Section 8 rentals? 37:10 Why is David still bullish on the south side and on Chicago in general? Wrap Up Questions 45:56 What is David's competitive advantage? 48:16 One piece of advice for new investors. 50:26 What do you do for fun? 52:25 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend? 53:45 Local Network Recommendation? 56:15 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show! Thanks for listening! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.