All Forum Posts by: AJ Smith

When I was a district manager overseeing multiple grocery stores, 

my days were filled with 

-> juggling inventory

-> handling personnel issues

-> putting out fires (sometimes literally)

The stress, long hours, and constant on-call nature made me realize I needed a better way to build my future.

Thankfully, I discovered the power of real estate investing. 

✅ By 25, I built a portfolio of 105 units. 

✅ I learned how to find properties with potential, add value, and maximize returns for myself and my investors. 

✅ Now, I help others escape the grind and grow their wealth by connecting them with real estate syndications that offer consistent, passive income.

If you’re a fellow district manager feeling 

-> overworked, 

-> on call 24/7, 

-> looking for a way to grow your nest egg outside of the standard 401k program, 

I’m here to show you there’s a better way.

Ready to learn how to make your money work for you?

Check out my newsletter and send me a DM

https://ajsmith.cashflowportal.com/leads/newslettersignup

Just weeks away from wrapping up another successful project that is generating a 12% APY return for our private lending partners.

This got me thinking about what makes real estate partnerships truly work. 

It's not just about the numbers – it's about creating win-win scenarios where both parties can sleep well at night.

3 principles I've learned after 4 years in real estate investing:

1) Transparency builds trust. 

-> Quarterly Webinars for syndications

-> Pictures to lenders showing progress

-> Calls with lenders sharing our updates

2) Conservative underwriting is key. 

-> Plan for the worst

-> Work toward the best. 

-> Stress-test rehab/vacancy/hold time.

3) Your profit is made at purchase. 

-> We reject 95% of the deals we analyze 

-> Most don't meet our strict criteria

-> for safety and returns.

If you've been considering diversifying into real estate but aren't sure where to start, let's connect.

Quote from @Joe S.:

I think the reason why you had So few replies thus far is it’s hard for people to relate to these three examples. 

Nice article though I read it. :-)

 Thanks Joe

Quote from @John Mason:

Maybe a  weekly retrospective with most of these

Our Property Manager

-> My Business Partner

-> Our Realtor

-> Myself

Gotcha, like a debrief?

Quote from @John Mason:

AJ Smith wow.amazing post and great steps!

Thanks John! Anything you would add?

We're renovating 6 properties right now.

(Here's how we keep it all straight.)

Project management software (Asana)

-> Order of operations

-> Responsibilities 

-> Deadlines

-> Notes

-> SOPs

Daily Contractor Check-in Calls/Texts

-> Roadblocks

-> Resolutions

-> Results

In Person Walkthroughs

-> Our Property Manager

-> My Business Partner

-> Our Realtor

-> Myself

How do you drive results for your renovations?

"A candle loses nothing of its own light by lighting another candle."

I grew my portfolio to 105 units in 3.5 years because I had partners and mentors who poured their knowledge into me.

Every Thursday at 6pm CT, I do my best to pour what I've learned into others on my Facebook/Instagram Lives.

If you have a burning question about real estate, DM me, leave a comment, or join me live on Thursday.

Would love to see you there and help who I can.

- AJ

Looking at successful real estate investors, we can draw insights from some key figures:

Sam Zell

Donald Bren

and Barbara Corcoran. 

Here's a breakdown of their tactics:

1. Sam Zell: Known as the "Grave Dancer" for his ability to find value in distressed properties.

--- Tactic 1: Opportunistic Buying: He purchased undervalued or distressed properties during down markets.

--- Tactic 2: Focus on Fundamentals: Zell emphasized cash flow and property performance over speculation.

--- Tactic 3: Diversification: He invested across various real estate sectors, reducing risk.

2. Donald Bren: A real estate mogul with a focus on master-planned communities.

--- Tactic 1: Long-Term Vision: Bren focused on large-scale, long-term developments, creating entire communities.

--- Tactic 2: Quality and Aesthetics: He emphasized high-quality construction and appealing design, enhancing long-term value.

--- Tactic 3: Strategic Land Acquisition: Bren acquired land in strategic locations, often before areas became highly desirable.

3. Barbara Corcoran: Built a real estate empire from a modest start and became a prominent figure in the industry.

--- Tactic 1: Branding and PR: Corcoran used media and public relations to build her brand and attract high-end clientele.

--- Tactic 2: Niche Specialization: She focused on the New York market, becoming an expert in her area.

--- Tactic 3: Empowering Agents: Corcoran built a strong team, providing them with the tools and support needed to excel, which in turn grew her business.

These investors show that success in real estate often comes from a mix of strategic purchasing, market specialization, strong branding, and building robust teams. 

They capitalized on their unique strengths to create value and scale their businesses to impressive heights.

Quote from @Christopher Benedict:

I have managed both commercial and residential, as well as HOA communities. I have handled multiple 6-figure capital improvements, including assisting after a tornado that hit the Philly region in 2021. I would love to take this skill, and apply it to asset management, just not sure where to start!

Who have you managed these renovations/apartments for?

Are you still connected to them?

Ask if they have any other projects they need asset management help with, and offer your services in exchange for an equity stake rather than a paycheck.

That's how I would think about it

Quote from @Christopher Benedict:

A worthwhile property management professional is an invaluable partner to a sponsorship team.

Are you familiar with just residential, or residential and commercial?

If you have commercial experience and are an excellent asset manager (managing the property manager, driving revenue, reducing expenses,  managing GCs)

You wont just provide value to a sponsor

You will be highly sought-after after by sponsorship groups.

The ones worth their salt know how incredibly valuable a strong asset manager is (and how much work it takes)

So if you can bring that skillset, I have a feeling it won't take long for you to find a sponsorship team.