All Forum Posts by: Ariel Gonzalez

I was once presented with a portfolio of apartments that were the only apartments in a sub-market. This particular market had a small population, I believe it was under 15K. But it was near a neighboring city (30-45 minute commute) with a lot of potential value. Each property had a value-add opportunity for each of them so I could have purchased them for a discount. I reviewed other market conditions (population growth, median household income, etc.) and I ended up passing up on this deal since it didn't have a population growth over the past 2 years.

I'm curious to know if anyone has ever been presented with a deal like this before and if so, are you still concerned with the market conditions in that market even though you have more control?

Also, are there more requirements that you have for a deal like this? Or any other data you look for with a deal like?

I'm curious to know if I weighed too heavily on market conditions instead of the actual properties in the portfolio.

1 Vote

@Arn Cenedella Thank you for this post!

I'm starting out my apartment investing journey and it's been about 6 months since I joined a mentorship program. I've benefited a lot from it and my mentor has been very beneficial throughout this journey. I'm still working on getting my first deal which gets a little frustrating at times. Sometimes I question whether I made the right decision to do this in the first place but when I read success stories like this, it makes the process that much more exciting!

Congratulations on your success!

1 Vote

Greenville, South Carolina

Quote from @Lisa Burns:

I'm an experienced entrepreneur, but new to real estate investing (no deals under my belt yet apart from my own home). I want to replace my income within a reasonable timeframe, so I'm looking at a syndication mentorship with a "guru" who claims I'll close my first syndication deal on a commercial multi-family property within 6 to 12 months. I know the whole mentoring space is full of charlatans and "those who can't, teach," but I've done my due diligence and this outfit has legitimate results, so I'm comfortable moving ahead.

What I'm struggling with is if I actually want to own or be responsible for a large apartment complex. I mean, once the deal is inked, then I'll be in charge of a syndication and contractually bound to certain things, and even with good property management in place, I assume there will be some headaches (especially as a newbie). My "guru" has shared some thoughts on that, but I'm interested in additional opinions.

I'm not afraid of hard work, but I'd appreciate any thoughts on what I need to be prepared for if I head down this road, as well as opinions on the risks I'm signing up for. Any and all thoughts are welcome, including wet blankets if need be.

Thanks in advance!

I've recently started my MF commercial real estate business about 6 months ago and still working on getting my first and I had the same thoughts you're having now. What's helped me throughout this whole process is that I knew I needed to build a team of other investors to manage the properties together. A team investors that have more experience than me in this business. Before I did that however, I figured out what my skills are and how I could apply them to commercial real estate.

For example, are you good with numbers? Maybe you're role could be an underwriter. Or maybe you're great at project management. I knew I was good with numbers so I'm constantly underwriting deals and I also worked in sales for a long time so building relationships is something I do as well.

As far as the 6-12 months, I can't say for certain that I can find a deal in the next 6-12 months, but I'm not focusing on the how long it takes me to find a deal. Instead I focus more on building my knowledge, my skills, and building and maintaining relationships to give you a better chance for success.

0 Votes

@Timothy Hero - Could you PM me your contact information? It would be great to get more information about your lending process.

1 Vote

Raleigh, North Carolina

Quote from @Avery Heilbron:

Hi @Ariel Gonzalez I host one that was last night that we do monthly in Durham. There are also two others in Raleigh that are pretty good. Typically posts are made on the events & meetups page for all of them

I'm certain I went to your event last night and had a great time!
I was able to chat with several investors and contractors and hear some insightful stories.

Thank you for hosting the event!

1 Vote

Raleigh, North Carolina

Quote from @Adam Schneider:

@Ariel Gonzalez --I bet that if you scheduled a meetup, people would attend. Javier Hinojo would be a person to contact. He is active in that space, and is a good guy!!

That's interesting I was thinking about hosting an event so I appreciate the referral!

Do you mind sending me his contact information?

1 Vote

Raleigh, North Carolina

Quote from @Timothy Hero:

Most of the deals I quote for multi are in major cities and it's not usually NC. Obviously NC has multi's, but the market isn't as big as Houston, for example.

There's meet up sites for things like this. Have you searched those?

Yes, I have I've attended a couple of those and met some really great people. I was just reaching out in the forum to look for other meetups.

On a separate note, I see that you're a lender, do you have provide loans for properties in the NC or SC area?

1 Vote

Raleigh, North Carolina

For MF investors near Raleigh, NC are there any meetups that are possibly coming up? Would love to connect with and maybe share some insights.

So far I've been working in the MF space for about 4 months now and was able to connect with many great individuals in many different parts of the US, however, I have yet to connect with people that are close by.

2 Votes

Raleigh, North Carolina

Quote from @Jorge Abreu:

@Ariel Gonzalez can you do a lot on your own just to get it started. The key is to be authentic, consistent and add value to others. I know it sounds to simple but it really easy that easy. Then as you pick up momentum you can look into bringing on a third party to help grow.

Yes that make sense.

Thank you!

0 Votes

Dallas, Texas

Quote from @Jorge Abreu:

When I dove deeply into the social media pool, I had no idea I was going to capture a tidal wave of undiscovered real estate investing opportunities. Suddenly, sites like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube became my trusted surfboards, allowing me to ride the digital waves and connect with a large network of other investors. It was like surfing a wave of opportunity right to the shores of prosperity.

Here's one method that's helped me achieve success: I flaunt my wins, transactions, and triumphant stories on social media. Oh boy, does it capture some attention! Potential investors flock to me like seagulls to a fresh catch, eager for a taste of the wealth. Sharing my experiences not only inspires but also confirms beyond a doubt that I am the real thing, the financial guru.

The best social media post is when we distribute cheques to our investors. It's a great indicator of the success of our investments.

Documenting my investment trips was critical for establishing credibility and trust with my audience. I began uploading behind-the-scenes film from property inspections, due diligence processes, and other facets of my investment operations. This transparency not only demonstrated my competence, but also allowed potential investors to see the meticulousness and professionalism that went into each investment decision.

As the importance of social media expanded, I recognized I needed a committed team member to efficiently manage my online presence. This person would assist with documenting our investment adventures, engaging with our audience, and ensuring a steady flow of valuable information. By investing in social media management, I was able to increase my reach and influence, attracting more possible investors and prospects.

To summarize, using social media has been an effective instrument in my real estate investment path. By maximizing its potential, bragging about my triumphs, chronicling my investment travels, and recruiting a dedicated team member for social media management, I've increased my reach and attracted a slew of wealthy investors. 💥

Jorge,

Thank you for this post. I'm currently looking to build my social media presence to start connecting with real estate investors, which hopefully leads to having committed investors willing to invest capital in a property with me. However, not sure where to start since I'm not very savvy with social media. I was thinking about hiring a marketing specialist to get me started but I'm not sure if that would be the most cost effective method for someone beginning their real estate career.

Based on your experience, do you think that having a specialist from the beginning would be beneficial or do you think I can get by on my own in the beginning?

1 Vote

Dallas, Texas

All Forum Posts by: Ariel Gonzalez

Ariel Gonzalez has started 8 posts and replied 33 times.

Post: Monopolized portfolio in submarket

Post: The value of coaching and mentorship

Post: What's it really like to be a commercial MF syndicator? Will I be sorry I tried?

Post: MF Investor Meetup

Post: MF Investor Meetup

Post: MF Investor Meetup

Post: MF Investor Meetup

Post: MF Investor Meetup

Post: Social Media Alchemy: From Influence to Opportunities Galore

Post: Social Media Alchemy: From Influence to Opportunities Galore