The Best Ever CRE Show

Pascal Wagner interviews Adam Gower, founder of GowerCrowd, to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes when sponsors raise capital in today’s market. Adam explains why the current shift toward smaller checks and retail capital isn’t necessarily distress, but a strategic move by experienced sponsors preparing for cyclical downturns. He breaks down how LPs can spot sponsor strength versus weakness, why IRR-driven underwriting often leads to failure, and how conservative debt, disciplined operations, and in-house property management separate survivors from casualties. The conversation also explores where Adam sees asymmetric opportunities emerging in 2025–2026, particularly in discounted assets with operational inefficiencies rather than reliance on market rebounds. Adam GowerCurrent role: Founder, GowerCrowdBased in: United StatesSay hi to them at: https://www.gowercrowd.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/gowercrowd/ Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.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 the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liz Faircloth, co-founder of InvestHer and principal at DeRosa Group, is a real estate investor who empowers women and scales multifamily projects. She discusses scaling from hands-on duplexes to large multifamily, why market fundamentals and stepping outside hyper-local markets matter, the confidence gap women face in investing, and the power of building the right team and mission-driven long-term strategy.

Seth Bradley breaks down what it actually takes to build a professional, scalable private investment fund, drawing on more than a decade of experience structuring hundreds of funds across real estate and private markets. He explains why so many funds stall or fail by treating fund formation as a paperwork exercise instead of a full business system. Seth walks through the complete anatomy of a fund—from strategy and entity structure to compliance, capital flow, administration, and investor experience—highlighting where sponsors unknowingly create risk. The episode reinforces that capital raising is a long-term operating discipline, not a one-off transaction, and that credibility comes from structure, standards, and integrated infrastructure. Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.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 the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard McGirr dissects his astounding $26M capital raise, crediting focused strategies and disciplined growth. He reveals how narrowing focus led to a remarkable 50% increase in new LPs. McGirr discusses the advantages of fund-to-fund strategies and emphasizes the significance of essential traits for successful fund managers. He also shares insights on automation and team hiring to meet ambitious 2026 targets, while navigating the potential challenges of a credit crunch. Plus, he explores the importance of strong contracts to mitigate risks.

John Chang dives into the complexities of housing affordability, debunking the myth that institutional investors are to blame. He reveals how a surge in millennials, paired with low mortgage rates and years of underbuilding, has frozen inventory. Analyzing job growth versus apartment completions, Chang highlights markets with healthy ratios and those at risk. He suggests that uncertainty creates unique opportunities for disciplined investors, making a case for lower rates and increased supply to tackle these challenges.

Justin Spillers, a former real estate attorney and co-founder of Real Estate Alpha, dives into his transformation from law to multifamily investing. He reveals how his first seven-unit deal fueled his confidence and discusses why focusing on tertiary Ohio markets offers a competitive edge. Justin emphasizes disciplined underwriting and heavy renovations for rent growth, alongside the importance of operational control. He shares unique relationship-building tactics and insights into maximizing efficiency, all while preparing to scale his multifamily portfolio.

Micah Lacher, Founder and President of Anchor Investments, dives into the concept of radical generosity. He discusses his innovative 'Rooms for Rooms' initiative, which channels hotel profits to charities. The conversation also covers the transformation of outdated shopping centers into thriving retail hubs with durable tenants like medical services. Micah explains the importance of maintaining community-focused principles while maximizing real estate value, and shares ambitious goals for feeding the needy through Mission Hotels.

Join Bob Fraser, CFO and chief macro strategist at Aspen Funds, as he shares his extensive expertise in oil and gas investing. Bob breaks down the industry into upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, emphasizing the risks associated with drilling. He explains why buying producing, non-operated working interests can mitigate these risks. Delve into tax intricacies like IDCs versus depletion allowances and uncover vital red flags in underwriting deals. Bob's insights on natural gas demand and the importance of hedging in volatile markets make this discussion a must-listen for investors!

Michael Cobb, Founder and CEO of ECI Development, shares insights on buying international real estate, particularly in Central and South America. He discusses the unique legal systems and cultural nuances that can trip up investors. Michael emphasizes the importance of community engagement and designing expat-friendly developments through New Urbanist principles. He highlights the appeal of Belize as an investment hotspot and forecasts emerging market potential in El Salvador. Plus, learn how thoughtful diversification can enhance both lifestyle and financial stability.

Seth Bradley, a former securities attorney and co-founder of TribeVest, delves into the evolution of capital raising. He highlights the rapid growth of private markets compared to public ones, linking it to technological advancements since the JOBS Act. The conversation explores the risks of co-GP models and common SEC compliance pitfalls. Seth also presents how TribeVest's fund-of-funds structure can enhance investor returns while ensuring legal compliance, ultimately streamlining the capital-raising process for sponsors.