Westside Investors Network (WIN)

181. Real Estate Cycle Investing: Selling at the Peak, Buying at the Bottom with Brian Burke

Check the episode transcript hereABOUT BRIAN BURKEBrian Burke is President / CEO of Praxis Capital Inc, a vertically integrated real estate private equity investment firm, which he founded in 2001.  Brian has acquired over $1 billion dollars’ worth of real estate over a 36-year career including over 4,000 multifamily units, over 1,600 senior housing units, and more than 700 single-family homes, with the assistance of proprietary software that he wrote himself. Brian has subdivided land, built homes, renovated a lakefront resort, and constructed self-storage, but his current focus is senior housing, specifically skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care. Brian is the author of The Hands-Off Investor: An Insider’s Guide to Investing in Passive Real Estate Syndications, and is a frequent public speaker at real estate conferences and events nationwide.   THIS TOPIC IN A NUTSHELL:  ·         Brian Burke’s 36-year real estate journey·         Selling down holdings ahead of the 2022 market reset·         2025–2026 outlook and where he sees opportunity by asset class·         Why small multifamily can outperform in today’s market·         The pivot into senior housing: assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing·         Demographics + post-COVID distress creating a “bottom of cycle” setup·         Buying below replacement cost: the per-bed basis advantage·         Operator-first investing and structuring for operational risk ·         Cash flow, hold periods, and multiple exit paths ·         Raising capital: single-asset syndications vs. funds and “semi-blind pool” strategy·         Sponsor vetting and real track record beyond IRR·         Lessons learned: the power of partnerships and the danger of overleverage   KEY QUOTE:  “The best opportunities are created in chaos.”   ABOUT THE WESTSIDE INVESTORS NETWORK   The Westside Investors Network is your community for investing knowledge for growth. For real estate professionals by real estate professionals. This show is focused on the next step in your career... investing, for those starting with nothing to multifamily syndication.     The Westside Investors Network strives to bring knowledge and education to real estate professionals that is seeking to gain more freedom in their life. The host AJ and Chris Shepard, are committed to sharing the wealth of knowledge that they have gained throughout the years to allow others the opportunity to learn and grow in their investing. They own Uptown Properties, a successful Property Management, and Brokerage Company. If you are interested in Property Management in the Portland Metro or Bend Metro Areas, please visit www.uptownpm.com. If you are interested in investing in multifamily syndication, please visit www.uptownsyndication.com.     We would like to thank our Sponsors:  OffsitePros and MyMoneyWorksForMe  #RealEstateInvesting #PassiveInvesting #PassiveIncome #CommercialRealEstate #CREInvestor #SeniorHousing #SeniorLivingInvesting #AssistedLivingInvesting #MemoryCareInvesting #SkilledNursingInvesting #MultifamilyInvesting #SmallMultifamily #RealEstateSyndication #RealEstateFund #AccreditedInvestor #InvestorEducation #DueDiligence #SponsorVetting #OperatorFirst #CashFlowInvesting #ValueAddRealEstate #ReplacementCost #MarketCycleInvesting #RiskManagement #CapitalRaising #PortfolioDiversification #InflationHedge #LongTermInvesting #WealthBuilding #FinancialFreedom   CONNECT WITH BRIAN BURKE:Website: www.PraxCap.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/praxcap , www.linkedin.com/in/praxiscapital Social Media: Facebook / X / PraxCap Instagram / Brian’s Instagram Book:  www.BiggerPockets.com/SyndicationBook     CONNECT WITH US   For more information about investing with AJ and Chris:  ·    Uptown Syndication | https://www.uptownsyndication.com/  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/71673294/admin/   For information on Portland Property Management:  ·    Uptown Properties | http://www.uptownpm.com  ·    Youtube | @UptownProperties     Westside Investors Network  ·    Website | https://www.westsideinvestorsnetwork.com/  ·    Twitter | https://twitter.com/WIN_pdx  ·    Instagram | @westsideinvestorsnetwork  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13949165/  ·    Facebook | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Tiktok| @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Youtube | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  

180. The 5 Pillars of Smart Private Real Estate Investing with Spencer Hilligoss

Check the episode transcript hereABOUT SPENCER HILLIGOSSSpencer Hilligoss is a passive investor who runs Madison Investing - a club where LPs gain access to the same types of niche investment opportunities where Spencer deploys his own money - including cash-flowing assets like self-storage, mobile home parks, multifamily and private credit.  Spencer Hilligoss brings over 13 years of leadership experience as a former technology executive, building and scaling high-performing teams at five companies—three of which became billion-dollar "unicorns." Before co-founding Madison Investing, he led business development and professional development at LendingHome, one of the nation’s largest private lenders.As CEO, Spencer drives Madison Investing’s strategic vision, investor relations, and business development efforts. He is also an active investor and sought-after speaker, sharing his expertise on real estate and financial growth strategies.  THIS TOPIC IN A NUTSHELL: ·         Spencer’s background in real estate investing·         From Fintech to Full-Time Investing ·         Growing Up in Real Estate (And Coming Full Circle) ·         First Rental Lessons in the Bay Area ·         Scaling Through Long-Distance & Private Placements ·         Entrepreneurship as a Lifestyle Design Tool ·         Over-Education to Accelerate Confidence ·         The Importance of Community & Mentorship ·         Adapting to Market Cycles ·         Preferred Asset Classes & Investment Focus ·         The 5-Part Sponsor Vetting Framework ·         Looking Beyond IRR: Evaluating True Track Record ·         Getting “Under the Hood” of a Deal ·         Behavioral Interviewing for Sponsors·         Sponsor Transparency & Communication   KEY QUOTE:  “If someone has been able to operate an asset, buy it, operate it, improve it, whatever that business plan might be, and sell it at a profit, they should be able to articulate that in exhaustive detail and show that on paper and somehow.”    ABOUT THE WESTSIDE INVESTORS NETWORK   The Westside Investors Network is your community for investing knowledge for growth. For real estate professionals by real estate professionals. This show is focused on the next step in your career... investing, for those starting with nothing to multifamily syndication.     The Westside Investors Network strives to bring knowledge and education to real estate professionals that is seeking to gain more freedom in their life. The host AJ and Chris Shepard, are committed to sharing the wealth of knowledge that they have gained throughout the years to allow others the opportunity to learn and grow in their investing. They own Uptown Properties, a successful Property Management, and Brokerage Company. If you are interested in Property Management in the Portland Metro or Bend Metro Areas, please visit www.uptownpm.com. If you are interested in investing in multifamily syndication, please visit www.uptownsyndication.com.     We would like to thank our Sponsors:  OffsitePros and MyMoneyWorksForMe  #RealEstateInvesting #PassiveInvesting #RealEstateSyndication #SponsorVetting #DueDiligence #PrivateEquityRealEstate #MultifamilyInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #AccreditedInvestor #InvestorEducation #CashFlowInvesting #AssetProtection #WealthBuilding #LongTermInvesting #PortfolioGrowth #AlternativeInvestments #CapitalPreservation #InvestmentStrategy #RealAssets #InflationProtection #FinancialIndependence #MarketCycleInvesting #SmartCapital #DealAnalysis #OperatorSelection #InvestmentFramework #RiskAdjustedReturns #GenerationalWealth #HighNetWorthInvesting #RealEstateProfessionals  CONNECT WITH SPENCER HILLIGOSS:Website: www.madisoninvesting.com Personal site: https://spencerhilligoss.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilligoss/ X: https://x.com/SpenceHilligoss    CONNECT WITH US   For more information about investing with AJ and Chris:  ·    Uptown Syndication | https://www.uptownsyndication.com/  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/71673294/admin/   For information on Portland Property Management:  ·    Uptown Properties | http://www.uptownpm.com  ·    Youtube | @UptownProperties     Westside Investors Network  ·    Website | https://www.westsideinvestorsnetwork.com/  ·    Twitter | https://twitter.com/WIN_pdx  ·    Instagram | @westsideinvestorsnetwork  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13949165/  ·    Facebook | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Tiktok| @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Youtube | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  

179. How Rising Interest Rates Are Reshaping Multifamily Investing with Ben Murphy

Check the episode transcript hereABOUT BEN MURPHYBen has a proven track record of successfully closing approximately $600 million in multifamily transactions in Oregon and SW Washington since 2014. His outstanding market relationships and reputation are best in class and will significantly enhance our existing reach across all divisions that we work. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ben is a dedicated supporter of environmental causes, actively contributing to organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and Greenpeace. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Multifamily Northwest Government Affairs Committee. THIS TOPIC IN A NUTSHELL:  ·         Guest Introduction – background and journey in real estate·         Blue State vs. Sunbelt Investing·         Market Cycles & Supply Trends ·         Current Lending Environment·         Multifamily Distress Reality Check ·         Broker Metrics & Prospecting Data ·         Cap Rate Expansion & Value Decline ·         Expense Pressure on NOI ·         Transaction Volume Slowdown ·         Outlook for 2026 & Market Bottom ·         Affordable Housing & Policy Challenges ·         Preparing Assets for Sale ·         Connect with Ben  KEY QUOTE:  “The best real estate strategies are built for decades, not market cycles.”  ABOUT THE WESTSIDE INVESTORS NETWORK   The Westside Investors Network is your community for investing knowledge for growth. For real estate professionals by real estate professionals. This show is focused on the next step in your career... investing, for those starting with nothing to multifamily syndication.     The Westside Investors Network strives to bring knowledge and education to real estate professionals that is seeking to gain more freedom in their life. The host AJ and Chris Shepard, are committed to sharing the wealth of knowledge that they have gained throughout the years to allow others the opportunity to learn and grow in their investing. They own Uptown Properties, a successful Property Management, and Brokerage Company. If you are interested in Property Management in the Portland Metro or Bend Metro Areas, please visit www.uptownpm.com. If you are interested in investing in multifamily syndication, please visit www.uptownsyndication.com. We would like to thank our Sponsors:  OffsitePros and MyMoneyWorksForMe #RealEstateInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #MultifamilyInvesting #CREInvestor #MultifamilyRealEstate #ApartmentInvesting #RealAssets #HardAssets #LongTermInvesting #BuyAndHold #CashFlowInvesting #CapRate #ValueAddRealEstate #RealEstatePortfolio #WealthBuilding #InflationHedge #InvestmentStrategy #PassiveIncome #RealEstateMarket #InvestorMindset #BlueStateInvesting #MarketCycles #RiskAdjustedReturns #CapitalPreservation #SmartCapital #CREWealth #FinancialFreedom #RealEstateEducation #ProfessionalInvestors #GenerationalWealth CONNECT WITH BEN MURPHY:Email: ben.murphy@cinw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-murphy-35968935 CONNECT WITH US   For more information about investing with AJ and Chris:  ·    Uptown Syndication | https://www.uptownsyndication.com/  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/71673294/admin/   For information on Portland Property Management:  ·    Uptown Properties | http://www.uptownpm.com  ·    Youtube | @UptownProperties     Westside Investors Network  ·    Website | https://www.westsideinvestorsnetwork.com/  ·    Twitter | https://twitter.com/WIN_pdx  ·    Instagram | @westsideinvestorsnetwork  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13949165/  ·    Facebook | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Tiktok| @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Youtube | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  

178. Money Traps to Avoid: How To Take Control of Your Finances & Time with Joey Mure

Check the episode transcript hereABOUT JOEY MUREJoey Muré is co-founder and Partner at Wealth Without Wall Street, dedicated to helping individuals achieve financial independence through passive income strategies. After over a decade of success in the mortgage industry, Joey shifted his focus to empowering others to break free from traditional financial systems and build lasting wealth.As co-host of The Wealth Without Wall Street Podcast and co-author of Wealth Without Wall Street: 3 Steps to Freedom Through Passive Income, Joey shares practical steps for achieving financial freedom.  THIS TOPIC IN A NUTSHELL: ·         Guest Introduction – background and journey in real estate·         Why only asset-producing income becomes a problem·         Shift in Mindset: From Income to Passive Income·         Intentional wealth building·         Breaking Away from Wall Street·         Pivotal book that changed his financial trajectory·         Retirement is deferred living, not financial freedom·         Regaining control of capital instead of outsourcing it·         Identifying “Money Traps”·         Opportunity cost and loss of liquidity·         Cash Flow vs. Cash Accumulation·         Building a Passive Income Operating System·         Overview of Wealth Without Wall Street’s framework·         Investor DNA & Buy Box Framework·         Chasing Trends vs. Building Freedom·         Flipping and Crypto as investments ·         Structured lending and cash-flowing assets·         Tax Strategy & Family Office Insights·         Final Thoughts & Closing Insights·         Free Resources and tools    KEY QUOTE:  “Passive income is what buys your time back” – Joey Mure      ABOUT THE WESTSIDE INVESTORS NETWORK   The Westside Investors Network is your community for investing knowledge for growth. For real estate professionals by real estate professionals. This show is focused on the next step in your career... investing, for those starting with nothing to multifamily syndication.     The Westside Investors Network strives to bring knowledge and education to real estate professionals that is seeking to gain more freedom in their life. The host AJ and Chris Shepard, are committed to sharing the wealth of knowledge that they have gained throughout the years to allow others the opportunity to learn and grow in their investing. They own Uptown Properties, a successful Property Management, and Brokerage Company. If you are interested in Property Management in the Portland Metro or Bend Metro Areas, please visit www.uptownpm.com. If you are interested in investing in multifamily syndication, please visit www.uptownsyndication.com.   We would like to thank our Sponsors:  OffsitePros and MyMoneyWorksForMe #RealEstateInvesting #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #RealEstateInvestors #InvestorMindset #WealthBuilding #CashFlowInvesting #AlternativeInvestments #FinancialIndependence #TimeFreedom #MoneyMindset #GenerationalWealth #InvestingEducation #SmartInvesting #WealthWithoutWallStreet #RealEstatePodcast #InvestorEducation #AssetBasedIncome #IncomeProducingAssets #PrivateInvesting #RealAssets #BuildWealth #FinancialLiteracy #InvestmentStrategy #PassiveCashFlow #CapitalControl #InvestForFreedom #LongTermWealth #AccreditedInvestors #DealDeepDive  CONNECT WITH JOEY MURE:Website:          https://www.wealthwithoutwallstreet.comLinkedIn:          https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-mure-b376824/Free resource: https://go.wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/win   CONNECT WITH US   For more information about investing with AJ and Chris:  ·    Uptown Syndication | https://www.uptownsyndication.com/  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/71673294/admin/   For information on Portland Property Management:  ·    Uptown Properties | http://www.uptownpm.com  ·    Youtube | @UptownProperties     Westside Investors Network  ·    Website | https://www.westsideinvestorsnetwork.com/  ·    Twitter | https://twitter.com/WIN_pdx  ·    Instagram | @westsideinvestorsnetwork  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13949165/  ·    Facebook | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Tiktok| @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Youtube | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  

177. The 4Ds of Self-Storage: Why Demand Keeps Growing with Bill Kanatas  & Ben Salzberg 

Check the episode transcript hereABOUT BEN SALZBERG Ben is a real estate developer, operational strategist, and business leader with over 25 years of experience building and optimizing high-performing real estate platforms. As Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Self Storage Developers, Ben leads strategy, operations, and market expansion across Class “A” Self Storage, RV & Boat Storage, and Multi-Family developments nationwide. With a background in mechanical engineering, an MBA in quality management, and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Ben brings a rare blend of technical precision, process optimization, and leadership development to real estate. His engineering expertise drives smart, efficient design.   ABOUT BILL KANATAS Bill is a visionary entrepreneur and real estate developer with a strong track record in self-storage, multi-family, and mixed-use developments. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Self Storage Developers, he leads the company’s strategic growth, site acquisition, and investment initiatives, focusing on developing Class “A” self-storage facilities across the United States. With a deep understanding of market trends and a commitment to quality, Bill has played a key role in forging partnerships with top national operators such as Public Storage, Extra Space Storage, and Life Storage.   THIS TOPIC IN A NUTSHELL: ·         Guest Introduction – background and journey in real estate·         How they transitioned into self-storage from corporate and construction careers·         Why self-storage is a recession-resistant, tax-advantaged investment·         The "4 D's" driving demand·         National growth strategy using data, demographics & local relationships·         Navigating zoning, development costs, and municipal red tape·         Leveraging REIT-level management and exploring solar-powered RV storage·         Finding off-market land deals and building for future market demand    KEY QUOTE:  “Self-storage is a product that everyone needs at some point in their life.” – Bill Kanatas “You can build wealth and help people at the same time. That’s what this business is all about.” – Ben Salzberg     ABOUT THE WESTSIDE INVESTORS NETWORK   The Westside Investors Network is your community for investing knowledge for growth. For real estate professionals by real estate professionals. This show is focused on the next step in your career... investing, for those starting with nothing to multifamily syndication.     The Westside Investors Network strives to bring knowledge and education to real estate professionals that is seeking to gain more freedom in their life. The host AJ and Chris Shepard, are committed to sharing the wealth of knowledge that they have gained throughout the years to allow others the opportunity to learn and grow in their investing. They own Uptown Properties, a successful Property Management, and Brokerage Company. If you are interested in Property Management in the Portland Metro or Bend Metro Areas, please visit www.uptownpm.com. If you are interested in investing in multifamily syndication, please visit www.uptownsyndication.com.    We would like to thank our Sponsors:  OffsitePros and MyMoneyWorksForMe#SelfStorageInvesting #RealEstateDevelopers #StorageUnits #AlternativeInvestments #CREDevelopment #RealEstateDeals #BuildToRent #LandAcquisition #PassiveInvesting #CommercialDevelopment #InvestInStorage #REITStrategy #PropertyDevelopment #StorageDevelopment #InvestSmarter #PrivateEquityRealEstate #OffMarketDeals #InvestorMindset #CREOpportunities #RealEstateReturns #IncomeProducingAssets #ScalableInvesting #LongTermInvesting #StorageFacilities #DataDrivenInvesting #NationalRealEstate #RealEstateStrategy #TaxAdvantagedInvesting #StorageSyndication #WealthThroughRealEstate  CONNECT WITH BILL & BEN:Website:          https://self-storagedevelopers.comBill’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-kanatas-micp-999255141/ Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensalzberg/     CONNECT WITH US   For more information about investing with AJ and Chris:  ·    Uptown Syndication | https://www.uptownsyndication.com/  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/71673294/admin/   For information on Portland Property Management:  ·    Uptown Properties | http://www.uptownpm.com  ·    Youtube | @UptownProperties     Westside Investors Network  ·    Website | https://www.westsideinvestorsnetwork.com/  ·    Twitter | https://twitter.com/WIN_pdx  ·    Instagram | @westsideinvestorsnetwork  ·    LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13949165/  ·    Facebook | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Tiktok| @WestsideInvestorsNetwork  ·    Youtube | @WestsideInvestorsNetwork