All Forum Posts by: Travis Watts

@John Allen Love the topic! My wife and I built up to our financial freedom goal by investing in apartment syndications as limited partners. I didn't start out on the track in real estate, but I ended up there 10 years later. It was very important for us to have truly passive income. I had my fair share of tenant issues and property management issues, so it was time for us to start building a diversified portfolio of passive investments. We've done more than 14 of them now and I've never regretted the decision. Best of luck! 

#1 Best Ever Real Estate Investing Advice Podcast with Joe Fairless (because the episodes are quick and to the point and you can choose a topic very easily) #2 The Real Estate Guys (I had a chance to hang out with these guys a few years ago in Texas and they are a wealth of knowledge, especially Russell Gray, no offense Robert Helms) 

@Parris Edwards Love this question and I think of it all the time. The ability to become 100% passive and have the potential to earn more money (without working) than I do actively working. I have achieved this goal and it has given me what I refer to as "time freedom". The ability to do what I want, when I want, as much as I want....with my time. It's a beautiful thing. 

@Duke Giordano I have recently encountered the same thing with two syndicate groups I invest with. One of the groups offered a buyout option (which I took) prior to morphing into a fund and going public, the other simply announced they would be restructuring. I am not a fan. Like you, I had done a tremendous amount of due diligence on each property and felt comfortable placing a particular amount into each deal. Now it's all just lumped into one thing. Very upsetting to me, but part of the trade-off of being an LP on a deal. I still love being 100% passive in real estate at the end of the day. 

@Mike Rutallie Good question. I found myself in a very similar spot many years ago; however, I wanted to be on the limited partner side of the syndication and not the GP due to lack of available time. I was working 98 hour work weeks in the oil field and managing several single-family properties and a vacation rental. Needless to say, I was in over my head. I decided to invest in apartment syndications for cash flow and to take a 100% passive approach to real estate, usually only investing the minimum (50k in most cases) so I could get some additional diversification. I have now invested in 14+ syndications and it's been a fantastic decision. Best of luck!

@Baset S. Good question. I found myself in a very similar spot many years ago. I decided to invest in apartment syndications for cash flow and to take a 100% passive approach, usually only investing the minimum (50k in most cases) so I could get some additional diversification. I have now invested in 14+ syndications and it's been a fantastic decision. Best of luck! 

The Best Ever Apartment Syndication Book is a great resource. I listened to it recently and it covers "How-To" structure all types of syndications. Best of luck! 

In full disclosure, I have not invested with Cardone Capital. However, I did review numerous PPMs and SAs from them over the past year and a half on their funds and individual offerings. After reading these replies and having invested in about 14 syndications myself, I'd say you can find lower fees and better value-add properties through other groups out there. I'm not saying that you shouldn't invest with Cardone, just saying there are some other great syndicate groups out there as well. Best of luck! 

@Brian Eastman That is an interesting perspective, I see your point. Thank you

I guess my question really is IF you had the chance to do the deal either with your IRA or with all cash. For example, If you could make 10% inside your IRA and be taxed later at a 30% bracket upon withdrawal, that's a 7% net return. On the other hand, if you could make that same 10% on a cash investment and pay 0% in taxes due to depreciation, that would be the equivalent to a 13% investment inside an IRA. In this case, I would say cash investment would be best. But I understand your point of....what else are you going to do with your IRA funds if you invest with cash? You must have other opportunities on where to put that capital to work.

@Greg Dickerson Thank you Greg. That is also good to now. Is there such thing as a triple net syndication where you could partner with others on a NNN?