279. What Every Investor Should Know Before Their First Ground-Up Development

Welcome back to the Real Estate Investing School Podcast! In this episode, host Joe Jensen sits down with Harry Arsene, co-founder and manager of Arsene Construction, a Seattle-based real estate development and construction company. Harry brings a wealth of technical expertise to his role, holding a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Product Development Engineering. Over the past 17 years, Harry and his team have built an impressive portfolio, ranging from luxury townhomes to multifamily residential buildings.

The conversation kicks off with Harry's inspiring journey, including how he and his wife started in real estate after attending a seminar while he was still working full-time in the aerospace industry. Harry shares the ups and downs of scaling from single-family flips to full-scale multifamily developments, including the story of their largest project to date—a 50-unit, 50,000-square-foot multifamily building in Seattle. He dives deep into the complexities of ground-up development, explaining the entitlement process, funding strategies, and how to manage construction risks in a volatile market. Along the way, Harry reveals how their first deal—initially a flip that turned into a long-term rental due to market conditions—laid the foundation for a philosophy of flexibility and multiple exit strategies, a key lesson for any investor.

Whether you're a beginner looking to move into multifamily projects or a seasoned investor curious about large-scale development, this episode is packed with insights on navigating risks, leveraging partnerships, and building wealth through real estate.

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