Straight Up Chicago Investor

How is inflation affecting the Chicagoland market? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Danny Mantis & Matt Halper from Kiser Group ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Thought about taking down a mixed-use building to improve your neighborhood's streetscape? Not sure where to start? Our guest Nicholas Katsafados explains how he found a niche in mixed-use buildings and what other things he is doing to contribute to redevelopment in his neighborhood! Nicholas provides insight on how investing in mixed-use buildings differs from other types of buildings. He talks about neighborhoods and Wards along with the political implications. Nicholas elaborates on the importance of understanding Zoning and how this could be your competitive advantage. He closes out the episode with a fact-driven explanation for why higher-density Zoning helps neighborhoods emerge and the argument of this causing displacement of residents is not as drastic as portrayed in the media! 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: Nicholas Katsafados from Cobblestone Realty Group Link: Chicago Fair Housing Link: Cook County Just Housing Amendment Link: Avondale Bowl Sponsors: ClickInvest and Kiser Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:22 House Provider Tip: Screen tenants consistently - abide by Fair Housing Laws! 05:05 Intro to our guest, Nicholas Katsafados! 06:15 How did Nicholas get started in investing here in Chicago? 07:43 How did Nicholas transition from his starting point of buying a condo to larger redevelopment projects? 10:55 Where is Nicholas focusing his investing today? 11:45 How do the financing requirements on mixed-use buildings differ from requirements on other types of buildings? 13:25 Any tips or advice for finding contractors to do facade work on mixed-use buildings? 15:25 What is the difference between a neighborhood and a Ward? 18:17 Are there any positives to how the Wards are delineated? 21:37 What role do Aldermen play in Zoning within their Wards? 23:32 What are some examples of how Zoning rulings impact development? 29:46 How can we as investors take action to address some of these political headwinds? 31:03 What are other ways investors can make their case when seeking support on their project's Zoning? 34:42 How can there be a balance between neighborhood development and retaining existing residents? 41:26 What is Nicholas' outlook on Chicago? Wrap Up Questions 44:30 What is Nicholas' competitive advantage? 46:25 What is the one piece of advice for new investors looking to buy their first property in Chicago? 47:40 What do you do for fun? 48:01 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 49:04 Local Network Recommendation? 49:55 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? That's our show. Thanks for listening to another great episode! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Wondering who is partnering with big developers to sell and lease their finished product? Our guest Aaron Galvin explains how his company is capturing a large market share in this space! Aaron provides insight on how his company's focus on people and relationships has led to tremendous growth. He talks about the mistakes he made while growing his business and how he had to learn to "elevate and delegate". Aaron elaborates on the importance of building a team that is aligned in its core values and vision. He closes out the episode with reasons for why he is bullish on our great city of Chicago! 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: Aaron Galvin from Luxury Living Chicago Realty Link: Aaron Galvin | CEO | Luxury Living Chicago Realty Link: The Messy Middle Sponsors: GC Reality and Kiser Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:30 House Provider Tip: Prevent moisture and freezing on lockboxes by planning accordingly! 05:55 Intro to our guest, Aaron Galvin! 07:17 What was the original mission of Luxury Living Chicago? 09:20 What were some mistakes that Aaron made while scaling his business? 18:47 How did Luxury Living Chicago make a name for themselves to grow to the scale that they have? 25:05 What were some of the biggest challenges Aaron faced while growing his business? 33:55 How is Aaron connecting with big developers? 39:40 How is Aaron communicating opinions of value to his clients? 42:56 Why is Aaron bullish on Chicago despite the negative press it gets? Wrap Up Questions 46:41 What is Aaron's competitive advantage? 47:27 What is the one piece of advice for new investors looking to buy their first property in Chicago? 47:57 What do you do for fun? 49:02 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 50:00 Local Network Recommendation? 50:50 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 should buyers expect in 2022? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Rosario Terracciano from Clickinvest Link: AttomData.com ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Can't find a deal in this Chicago Real Estate Market? You are not alone! John Warren of Presto Properties joins us to discuss how he acquired his 3 most recent properties. John discusses properties he purchased in Bellwood, Albany Park, and Cicero. He shares how he acquired each deal, the strategy implemented, the nuances, and lessons learned. While breaking down the deals, John elaborates on partnerships, stabilized vs. value-add properties, and how he is growing his team to continue to scale efficiently. Lots of golden nuggets in this episode from one of Chicagoland's finest! 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 Warren from Presto Properties Link: Get Rich Education Podcast Link: Yan Pesotskiy LinkedIn (Local Network Recommendation) Sponsors: GC Reality and Kiser Group ----------------- Guest Questions 03:18 House Provider Tip: Use the time-stamp camera app! 04:50 Intro to our guest, John Warren! 07:30 Deal #1 - How did John find his Bellwood deal? 09:29 Why did John sell his previous building and use a 1031 exchange to buy the Bellwood building? 11:40 How did John get familiar with Bellwood and what went into the due diligence process? 13:03 What's the permitting process like in Bellwood? 14:35 What were the lessons learned on the Bellwood property? 15:55 Deal #2 - How did John find his Albany Park deal? 17:25 What are the main differences between buying stabilized properties compared to value-add properties? 18:43 What are some things to consider when determining whether or not to enter into a partnership?. 20:50 How is John structuring his partnerships? 21:39 What was John's outlook when recently making the decision to buy a stabilized multi-family compared to value-add? 24:40 Is John outsourcing management or keeping it in-house? 27:17 What were the lessons learned on the Albany Park property? 28:57 Deal #3 - How did John find his Cicero deal? 30:42 What was the background on the deal? 31:48 How did John assess the risk of buying the building sight unseen? 33:00 What are the numbers on this deal? 35:42 How has John handled tenants when coordinating the heavy rehab of the building? 37:00 How to get existing tenants to relocate when they are currently paying substantially below market rent? 39:45 What were the lessons learned on the Cicero property? 41:25 What are John's plans for his local meetup in 2022? Wrap Up Questions 43:00 What is John's competitive advantage? 46:33 One piece of advice for new investors. 47:04 What do you do for fun? 47:28 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 48:00 Local Network Recommendation? 48:42 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.

Dr. Brad Hunt of Loyola University's Department of History joins the show to educate us on the complicated history of Chicago's Public Housing developments and why real estate investors should care. Brad is the author of Blueprint for Disaster, in which he traces Chicago's Public Housing history and transformation under various government administrations. Leveraging this knowledge of poorly operated public housing in Chicago, Brad is able to share what he would do differently and how investors can use this knowledge to be better housing providers. 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: Brad Hunt, Loyola University Chicago Department of History Link: Blueprint for Disaster: The Unraveling of Chicago Public Housing Link: Loyola University Chicago's Department of History Sponsors: Pentwater Cabinetry and Kiser Group ----------------- Guest Questions 02:25 House Provider Tip: Thoroughly screen tenants and ask for additional documentation (tenant will always provide info that makes them look good)! 05:30 Intro to our guest, Brad Hunt! 06:38 How did Brad select his career path? 08:38 What is the high-level overview of Brad's book, Blueprint for Disaster, and why did he write it? 13:00 What are some examples of "cost-cutting" used in Chicago Public Housing that had significantly negative impacts? 16:10 How did Public Housing begin to get a negative stigma? 20:54 How did screen changes impact the feel of Public Housing? 22:50 What tenant mix would be ideal to optimize how Public Housing runs? 26:20 How did Chicago Public Housing maintenance costs compare to other cities? 34:13 What was going on in Public House leading up to the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1990s? 40:50 Why are certain Public Housing developments being preserved while others have been torn down? 42:52 What would Brad change about the way Public Housing is run today? Wrap Up Questions 45:44 What is Brad's competitive advantage? 46:04 What is the one piece of advice for new investors looking to buy their first property in Chicago? 46:31 What do you do for fun? 47:12 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 48:34 Local Network Recommendation? 49:42 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 new 2022 conventional and FHA loan limits? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Perry Farella of Prime Lending ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

Thinking about buying Real Estate or a Yacht in the Metaverse? Want to learn more about the Metaverse, Blockchain, and other innovations that will impact your real estate strategy? This episode will scratch that itch! Simon Enwia of Flawless Homes shares mind-blowing insight on developing technologies in real estate! Before jumping in, Simon lays out his background as a Chicago investor and breaks down the nuances and hidden-value in mixed-use buildings. He then transitions into the concept of Tokenization and how this will affect the general public. Simon closes out by explaining Real Estate in the Metaverse and what we can expect to see in the future! 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: Simon Enwia, from Flawless Homes | LinkedIn Sponsors: Kiser Group and ClickInvest ----------------- Guest Questions 02:45 House Provider Tip: Stop using mailboxes with keys if possible! 04:20 Intro to our guest, Simon Enwia! 05:10 How did Simon start investing in Chicago? 06:19 What was the first big "scary" project that Simon worked on? 08:06 What are the nuances of mixed-use buildings? 10:45 How did Simon get into mixed-use buildings? 12:00 What is the history of Flawless Homes? 12:57 Why should investors care about Blockchain and does it impact real estate? 16:13 How will Blockchain impact real estate agents and brokerages? 19:00 What is the potential of Blockchain in the real estate market? 20:34 What is the definition of Blockchain? 22:34 What is Tokenization? 24:41 How will Tokenization help the general public and their ability to get involved in real estate? 25:46 How are "Tokens" different from shares or stocks? 26:55 What are some real estate inefficiencies that will get eliminated because of Blockchain and other technologies? 28:35 What other technological advances should investors be mindful of? 29:50 What is the Metaverse in real estate? 31:41 Simon's final thoughts and tips on real estate in the current market and moving forward. Wrap Up Questions 32:58 What is your competitive advantage? 33:17 What is the one piece of advice for new investors looking to buy their first property in Chicago? 33:27 What do you do for fun? 34:07 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 34:29 Local Network Recommendation? 34:58 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you? Thanks for tuning in! ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

New development strategies, hot Chicago areas, derivative financing trading, long-term holds, and an Englishman! This episode is packed with nuggets across the board. With a background in finance and derivatives trading, Lawrence Dunning has shifted his analytical skills to real estate and is making a name for himself by linking developers to long-term investors before inventory hits the market. Lawrence explains how the pandemic has affected the economy and real estate in Chicago. We had him drop street-level knowledge on areas that he's bullish on and directing his buyers towards. He also talks about the value of new construction buildings and how they compare to rehabbed buildings. He closes out the episode with how to project taxes on new construction and some pretty amazing stories on his background! 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: Lawrence Dunning, Main Street Real Estate Group Link: Lawrence Dunning LinkedIn Link: Enter the Lionheart Podcast Sponsors: Kiser Group and ClickInvest ----------------- Guest Questions 03:37 House Provider Tip: Be sure to check up on properties during these frigid cold days/weeks of the year! 05:47 House Provider Tip: Intro to our guest, Lawrence Dunning! 06:58 How has the pandemic impacted our economy and the asset classes? 08:41 Why did Lawrence choose to dive into real estate out of all the asset classes? 13:54 In retrospect, what areas of the city and what types of real estate had noticeable changes as a result of the pandemic? 15:50 What is Lawrence's business model and what areas is he focusing on? 19:08 How is Lawrence finding inventory for his clients in hot areas like Pilsen? 22:58 Where would Lawrence take a new investor who can't buy a new construction, but is looking for a solid but attainable investment? 25:15 Who is buying new construction buildings and how does new construction compare to rehabbed buildings? 28:50 What other areas is Lawrence seeing with good investment opportunities? 33:50 What are some signs or things to look for in an area that is or will be experiencing development? 38:54 What is the approximate cost per square foot of new construction? 41:18 How to estimate taxes on new construction? Wrap Up Questions 47:21 What is Lawrence's competitive advantage? 48:32 What is the one piece of advice for new investors looking to buy their first property in Chicago? 49:57 What do you do for fun? 52:10 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend? 54:18 Local Network Recommendation? 55:45 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.

As a buyer, how can I find wholesalers, get them to work with me, and what should I expect throughout the process? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Blake McCreight of Express Property Solutions ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.