In this exclusive webinar release, Paul Shannon moderates a market check with brokers Beau Beery, Reid Bennett, and Jakob Andersen. The panel covers where multifamily deals are actually clearing in late 2025, why the bid ask gap is narrowing, and how underwriting has shifted from headline cap rates to year one cash on cash, DCR, and debt yield. They compare Sunbelt supply waves to steadier Midwest fundamentals, walk through valuation reality checks sellers must face, and explain why most 2026 ac...
Nov 18, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Dave Meyer joins Chris Lopez and Jim Pfeifer to unpack the shift from hands-on house hacking in Denver to diversified passive investing. Dave walks through selling select rentals, using a Delaware Statutory Trust for a 1031, and why he caps real estate time at 20 hours a month. He explains dollar cost averaging into syndications for liquidity management, why he still concentrates on multifamily he understands, and how he hedges with fixed-rate debt, cash, and some gold. The crew digs into operat...
Nov 11, 2025•38 min
The Passive Pockets Pulse Check returns with Chris Lopez, Jim Pfeifer, and Paul Shannon. They break down what they bought and what they skipped, how they are reallocating between equity and debt, and the checks they run before wiring capital. Jim shares two new allocations in healthcare and coffee after negotiating a lower minimum for the community and explains invoking the Shirky rule to avoid doubling up with a new operator too quickly. Paul outlines a simple Indiana cash flow deal, a 22-unit ...
Nov 04, 2025•54 min•Ep. 245
Host Paul Shannon sits down with Gino (of Jake & Gino) to trace the path from family pizza shop to operating ~1,900 units with no outside equity. Gino breaks down why they paused syndications after 2019, how “PPU—profit per unit” drives their buy/hold decisions, and the exact LP diligence framework he wishes he’d had before losing money as a passive. They dig into today’s tighter credit, catching-a-falling-knife rent/occupancy dynamics, and why longer debt runways and operator fit matter mor...
Oct 28, 2025•39 min
Paul Shannon sits down with lender-turned-operator Ryan Duff to unpack how lenders really size risk and how LPs can use the same lens. Ryan financed ~$4B+ across cycles before launching Seaport, and he explains why trailing 3–6 month economic occupancy (physical vacancy + concessions + loss-to-lease) tells you more than any glossy OM. Join us to dive into debt yield, DSCR reality vs. pitch decks, the broker-driven “falsified inputs” fiasco and subsequent lender cleanup, and why he prioritizes lo...
Oct 21, 2025•36 min
Host Chris Lopez and Paul Shannon talks with securities attorney Mauricio Rauld about the compliance landmines that trip up syndicators and how LPs can protect themselves. Mauricio shares why he exited his law firm to focus on education and “in-between” guidance (before the PPM), what an SEC lawyer actually does, and the real differences between 506(b) and 506(c). They cover LP recourse (rescission), how to diligence sponsors and structures (co-GPs, capital raisers, funds-of-funds), why “investm...
Oct 14, 2025•53 min
Host Chris Lopez sits down with Peter, an anesthesiologist who became an LP and then a GP, to unpack the career jolt that pushed him into real estate and the systems he built to bring more transparency and advocacy to LPs through Ascent Equity Group. Peter shares his first $5k crowdfunding check (and that unforgettable $47 distribution), lessons from launching in the tough 2021 vintage, and how his team handled rate/insurance shocks, lender work-outs, and communication when things got bumpy. We ...
Oct 07, 2025•33 min
Chris Lopez is joined by co-hosts Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon for the September PassivePockets Pulse Check, our monthly roundup of what’s moving passive real estate, the shifts we’re making in our own portfolios, and what we expect next. We unpack the Fed’s recent 25 bps cut (what actually changes for fixed vs. floating debt), why many LPs are rotating toward private credit, and the rules-of-thumb we’re using right now for debt funds, multifamily, and development. Paul opens the hood on a heavy...
Sep 30, 2025•50 min
Host Chris Lopez sits down with John Bowens, CISP of Equity Trust to demystify Solo 401(k)s for real estate investors. John explains who actually qualifies, how to stack contributions up to $70k/$77.5k/$81,250 (2025 limits) and use the “mega backdoor” to Roth, and why Solo 401(k)s can avoid UBIT on debt-financed syndications when IRAs often can’t. They get tactical on plan design- one bank account with clean source tracking, blending traditional + Roth into a single subscription (and later in-pl...
Sep 23, 2025•49 min
Host Chris Lopez sits down with Matt Faircloth, author of Raising Private Capital and co-founder of DeRosa Group, to talk hotels, multifamily, and building cash flow today while creating upside for tomorrow. Matt breaks down why he is adding branded hotels to complement multifamily, how a 9 cap can deliver day one cash flow, and what the real risks are. He also shares simple paths for 1031 sellers to go passive without sacrificing tax advantages. You will hear real numbers from his 96 key Housto...
Sep 16, 2025•41 min
From chiropractor to running a billion dollar portfolio, Dan Handford joins hosts Paul Shannon and Chris Lopez to unpack how he scaled across multifamily, storage, car washes, hotels, and private debt. He shares why he invested as an LP in 80 plus deals to sharpen his GP playbook, how he allocates for durable returns, and where he is leaning today. You will hear candid lessons from floating rate pain, capital calls, investor communication, and why debt strategies and selective distress are front...
Sep 09, 2025•49 min
Industrial syndicator Joel Friedland joins Paul Shannon to share 40 years of Chicago lessons and why he now buys with little to no debt. They break down a debt-light playbook, how that changes capital raises and returns, and the investor profile that prefers sleep-at-night income. Joel also details his off-market system, what makes a “perfect” small-bay building, and how he creates liquidity and plans succession. Key Takeaways: Debt-light strategy: target 0 to 30 percent LTV, current portfolio a...
Sep 02, 2025•45 min
Can blockchain make private real estate more accessible? Paul Shannon speaks with Larry Kalis and Tyler Vinson about tokenization for LPs. They cover TRIFs from American Digital Realty, how RE Tokens enables secondary trading after a one year lockup, and what changes for custody, liquidity, and tax reporting. If you know syndications but are new to tokenized assets, this is a simple, practical breakdown. Key Takeaways: What tokenization means for LPs, a digital wrapper of your fund or deal inter...
Aug 26, 2025•55 min
How do serious LPs sharpen due diligence, avoid shiny objects, and stay liquid enough to pounce? In this PassivePockets Pulse Check kickoff, Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon welcome new co-host Chris Lopez to go behind the scenes on community-powered due diligence, share their written investing theses, and walk through real deals they’ve funded, across equity and debt, plus the wins, misses, and lessons that are guiding allocations right now. You’ll hear why sponsors and deals must be vetted on sepa...
Aug 19, 2025•50 min
What do billionaires know about investing that the average person doesn’t? In this episode, Paul Shannon sits down with economist, fund manager, and author Bob Fraser, author of Invest Like a Billionaire, to unpack the strategies, asset allocations, and decision-making frameworks of the ultra-wealthy. Bob explains why billionaires aren’t chasing “hot” trends, they’re looking for asymmetric risk-reward opportunities and sectors that offer long-term compounding. He shares how they think about dive...
Aug 12, 2025•34 min
We’re back with another episode of Dig In or Delete , where Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon react to real investment pitches from their inbox and decide whether each one is worth a deeper look or should be deleted on the spot. This week’s lineup includes a six-property self-storage deal in Arkansas, a triple-net Starbucks opportunity with a 4.5% cap, and a cash-out refinance pitch for a 68-unit apartment building. Jim and Paul break down the good, the bad, and the questionable, offering LP investor...
Aug 05, 2025•35 min
How should LPs evaluate retail real estate deals, especially when the strategy involves stabilized shopping centers and low leverage? In this episode, Paul Shannon is joined by Andy Weiner of RockStep Capital to walk through a real-life deal and answer questions from a panel of passive investors including expert LPs Pascal Wagner and Adam Cranmer. Andy lays out his firm’s “hometown market” strategy, targeting power centers and neighborhood retail with national tenants in overlooked metros. He br...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 7 min
What’s better: FIRE or “flow”? Owning rentals or investing in syndications? Jim Pfeifer and Scott Trench (former CEO of BiggerPockets) go head-to-head in a friendly but fiery debate about cash flow, control, diversification, and what financial freedom really looks like. Scott explains why, even as a FIRE advocate, he can’t bring himself to follow the traditional 4% withdrawal rule—and why most retirees don’t either. He shares the logic behind his personal portfolio strategy, which includes mostl...
Jul 22, 2025•52 min
What happens when a well-known multifamily operator shifts focus to a completely different asset class? In this episode, Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon are joined by real estate investor and Praxis Capital founder Brian Burke to explore his pivot into assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities. Brian shares why he's stepped away from multifamily, for now, and what signals led him to target the senior housing sector. He explains why this niche is coming out of a bottom, how it dif...
Jul 15, 2025•44 min
What do experienced real estate investors do when deals don’t pencil, the capital stack is shifting, and the data feels contradictory? In this episode, Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon are joined by real estate investor, CPA, and UCLA professor Eric Sussman to explore how sophisticated LPs should think about today's economic signals, capital markets, and sponsor behavior. Eric brings decades of experience across syndications, private equity, and academia to this conversation. He dives into how infla...
Jul 08, 2025•41 min
Join the Active to Passive Cohort (Starts July 28): https://get.biggerpockets.com/active-to-passive-investing/ Passive Pockets members save $100! Find your promo code here: https://passivepockets.com/forums-listing/discussion/5-week-cohort-starts-7-28-active-to-passive-portfolio-transformation-cohort/ Contact Chris Lopez: chrislopez@biggerpockets.com Is your real estate portfolio truly aligned with your goals or is it just what you've accumulated over time? Chris Lopez, investor, educator, and f...
Jul 01, 2025•42 min
Real estate deal flow is back but is it better? With inboxes full of syndications boasting high returns and “rare” opportunities, passive investors are under more pressure than ever to separate substance from spin. In this episode of Dig In or Delete , Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon return to scrutinize real deals sent straight to their inboxes, highlighting red flags, potential gems, and everything in between. From a 9-unit Seattle multifamily deal with fuzzy cap rate math to a BJ’s Brewhouse gro...
Jun 24, 2025•42 min
Investing in mobile home parks can rebuild your real estate empire efficiently after economic setbacks. How do you navigate this sector to ensure sustainable growth and returns? Kevin Bupp, a seasoned investor with a wealth of experience in various real estate asset classes, shares his journey and insights into this unique investment space. In this episode, you’ll learn the intricacies of mobile home park investments, from understanding market dynamics to overcoming infrastructure challenges. Th...
Jun 17, 2025•43 min
What if you could pay taxes on a smaller amount while investing in the same deals—and then watch your money grow tax-free for decades? In this episode, we explore a little-known strategy that allows investors to convert traditional retirement accounts to Roth at a discount, even when those funds are tied up in illiquid syndications. Today, we’re joined by John Bowens, a self-directed retirement expert from Equity Trust, to walk us through the “discount conversion” strategy and other advanced tax...
Jun 10, 2025•39 min
AI integration in real estate investing allows savvy investors to make faster, smarter decisions and avoid costly mistakes. So, how can you leverage AI tools to evaluate deals and optimize your investment strategy? Leyla Kunimoto, a finance expert and limited partner, joins us to share her insights on using AI for real estate due diligence. In this episode, you’ll learn how real estate investors can employ AI to analyze deal pro formas, identify risks, and pinpoint key follow-up questions for sp...
Jun 03, 2025•40 min
After a wave of failed real estate syndications and several years of declining commercial real estate prices , passive investors are understandably hesitant to deploy their capital . But despite mixed LP sentiment and economic uncertainty , today’s guest believes there’s reason for optimism and that multifamily real estate is poised to rebound. Our conversation provides a data-driven perspective from one of the industry’s most informed voices, Andrew Cushman —a seasoned multifamily investor and ...
May 27, 2025•39 min
What recourse do limited partners have when their fund is being mismanaged? Do triple net leases (NNN) offer safety in an uncertain economy ? In this episode, we’re delving into a recent LP-led succession that underscores the latent power of passive investors and a low-risk investing strategy that delivers steady returns in volatile markets . Today, we’re joined by Zane Schartz , president of Freedom CRE and a specialist in single-tenant, triple net investing. After a coalition of LPs called upo...
May 20, 2025•35 min
Are you eager to deploy capital but wary of making the wrong decision in this uncertain economic climate ? Passive investing could help you capture the long-term gains of real estate —without the operational burdens of active management . Today’s guest provides low-risk, time-tested strategies for any stage of your investing journey. In this episode, we interview Pascal Wagner —seasoned limited partner and host of The Passive Income Playbook Podcast. With a cash-flowing rental portfolio that spa...
May 13, 2025•35 min
Conventional financial advice keeps you tethered to Wall Street , locking up all your cash in retirement accounts and home equity . But what if there’s a smarter way for passive investors to build wealth ? In this episode, we explore the strategies financial institutions adopt but don’t advertise—like using high cash value, whole life insurance to unlock capital and create real passive income . Today, Russ Morgan and Joey Muré from Wealth Without Wall Street share how they’ve used over 30 whole ...
May 06, 2025•47 min
Would you invest in any of these six syndication deals? In today’s episode, we’re trying something new, a “Delete or Dig In” segment, where we pull real deals from our inboxes and break them down on the show . We’ll review their returns , minimum investments , value-add strategies, and timelines—then choose to either “dig in” or “delete” and move on to the next opportunity. We’ve been sent a stream of syndication and fund deals, so we’re reviewing a spectrum of investments in today’s show—from a...
Apr 29, 2025•27 min
