MFM Chapter Leader Spotlight (from Los Angeles)

My name is Jason Malabute. I am a real estate investor born and raised in Los Angeles. I was born with cerebral palsy. Growing up, some people believed in me, but a lot didn’t.. I never cared about society’s expectations of me. I remember thinking, “I just want the world to see me how I see myself.”

As a kid, I was a big Kobe Bryant fan. I used to practice basketball for 5-8 hours a day. I was a terrible basketball player, but at the time, there was nothing you could have said to deter me from being the first NBA player with a disability.

A couple of decades later, I took the same tenacity, dedication, obsession, and healthy delusion in the business world. My dad always pushed me towards entrepreneurship. He prepared me for the reality that I would struggle to find a high-paying W2 job because of my disability. I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, I just didn’t know what kind of business I wanted to be involved in.

I found my calling working as a CPA. I was preparing a tax return and noticed that the client's rental property was generating thousands of dollars yearly without him doing anything. In 2018, I read every Biggerpockets book and watched every podcast. In 2019, I built my portfolio of single-family homes in Indianapolis.

I was doing BRRRR (buy, repairs, rent, refinance, and repeat) deals, turnkeys, and long-term hold. I made every mistake in the book. I have underestimated rehab budgets, bought properties in C-/C areas, overlooked major items in inspection reports, fired several property managers, etc. However,I always got out unscathed.

I am proud to say I have never lost money in real estate. I have learned more about the deals I broke even from, than ones I profited from. I started working with my mentors Sterling White, Charles Seaman, and David Monroe, to leverage their experience and knowledge in the multifamily business. I learned and implemented their acquisition strategy, underwriting techniques, and market analysis. I built a team of boots-on-the-ground teammates and started working with our asset manager to ensure our success regardless of the market cycle. We are focused on acquiring 8-99 unit apartment buildings in B/C+ neighborhoods in Indianapolis and Kansas City.

In 2022, I started a meetup chapter in Los Angeles because I watched Grant Cardone say that if you want to be successful, you need to spread your message and brand.. I was already featured on podcasts, articles, and audio interviews. Starting a meetup would help me spread my brand and meet like-minded people. I connected with Powell Chee to learn how to collaborate with Multifamily Masters and leverage their established brand and member network. I contacted my co-organizer, Dexter Harris, to help with the meetup.

Dexter is a successful real estate investor, vending machine chain owner, and entrepreneur. Dexter is a great team member and is a big part of our meetup’s success. Dexter is responsible for helping spread our meetup’s brand, booking our guest speakers, and arranging our venues. Our meetup has grown to be one of the biggest meetups in Los Angeles, with 30-50 attendees regularly. I am most proud that we had our first toy drive on November 30th. The toys and gifts will be donated to A Place Called Home to benefit the less fortunate kids in South LA. That is a dream I have had ever since I was a child.

I am forever grateful for real estate because it has given me a vehicle to inspire others. I want to thank everyone for their support. For the first time in my life, people finally see me how I see myself. If you would like to connect, I would love to hear from you, and if you are in the California area, hopefully i will see you at my next #MultifamilyMasters meetup that I will be hosting in the Los Angeles area.