Eric Burns is a Cincinnati-based entrepreneur. His journey has taken him from being a finance major to a Cincinnati Firefighter to a residential real estate investor and flipper to finally landing in commercial real estate. He values his journey and believes in the entrepreneurial spirit. His message to fellow entrepreneurs is simple, STOP TRADING YOUR TIME FOR MONEY and LIVE LIFE BULLISH. Like many, Eric started his real estate investment career in the residential space and expanded into the commercial arena. His first property was a student housing rental in 2016, while he was still active with the Cincinnati Fire Department. Later, he expanded into renovations, and eventually, after many years of growth, education, and “failing forward”, Eric found himself in the commercial space.Eric’s story is similar to many entrepreneurs’ as he has navigated ups and downs with successes and failures in his entrepreneurial journey. As it turns out, it was during a less-than-ideal renovation when he realized, after years spent starting side hustles and residential real estate, that he was still only trading his time for money! As a believer in financial freedom, Eric leaned into commercial real estate and found a path to lead him to that destination. To that end, Flowers Capital reflects Eric’s fundamental philosophies of sourcing and funding deals. Priorities include, firstly, the preservation and growth of investor capital. As a strong proponent of multiple, passive sources of income and protecting the commodity of time, he believes financial freedom is achievable through commercial real estate investment. Flowers Capital is fully intent on achieving those goals for its investors. Eric considers himself a life-long learner. He believes in the entrepreneurial spirit and understands the realities of that life path. His greatest strengths include curiosity, personal accountability, and resilience. Real estate investing is truly a labor of love for Eric, but he also thoroughly enjoys fly fishing, traveling, and his Labrador Retriever, Baron.

Summary

In this episode of the Gentle Art of Crushing It podcast, host Randy Smith interviews Eric Burns, founder of Flowers Capital. They discuss the current market conditions for passive investors, Eric's journey from active real estate investing to capital raising, and the importance of due diligence in selecting deals. Eric shares insights on navigating market cycles, building relationships with operators, and the significance of believing in the deals presented to investors. The conversation emphasizes the goal of achieving financial freedom through passive income and the evolving strategies in the real estate investment landscape.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Passive Investing and Market Conditions

02:59 Eric Burns' Journey to Capital Raising

05:59 The Transition from Active to Passive Investing

08:49 Understanding Capital Raising and Deal Structuring

12:03 The Importance of Due Diligence in Investments

15:00 Navigating Market Cycles and Operator Relationships

17:47 Future Goals and Strategies for Financial Freedom

RANDY SMITH

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor

Zander Kempf is a RV and Glamping Resort focused developer through his firm, Clear Summit Investments. Zander’s strategy involves adding value and expanding midsize resorts that are ideal for professional management but remain outside the scope of institutional competition. By rolling up, stabilizing, and branding these properties, Zander aims to create a unique portfolio that reflects his company's adventurous spirit, providing freedom to investors through long term cash flow, and ultimately positioning it for an institutional exit. He is a former US Army officer and paratrooper with an Iraq deployment, and served in Special Forces.

Contact Info:

zander@clearsummitinvest.com

Links:

Website

Insta

Youtube

Linkedin

Tiktok

Facebook

Twitter

Summary

In this episode of the Gentle Art of Crushing It podcast, host Randy Smith interviews Zander Kempf, founder and CEO of Clear Summit Investments, who specializes in RV and glamping resorts. They discuss the current market conditions for passive investors, Zander's journey from military service to real estate investing, and the unique opportunities within the RV park sector. Zander explains the business model of RV resorts, including revenue streams and the importance of long-term debt structures. The conversation also covers the tax advantages of RV investments, market trends, and key questions for investors to consider when evaluating opportunities in this asset class.

Chapters

00:00 Market Conditions and Passive Investment Opportunities

03:02 Zander Kempf's Journey and Investment Background

05:54 Transitioning to RV and Glamping Resorts

09:00 Understanding RV Parks and Resorts

11:53 Revenue Streams and Business Model of RV Resorts

14:54 Debt Structures in RV Investments

17:55 Investment Strategy and Fund Structure

20:46 Tax Advantages of RV Investments

24:02 Market Trends and Economic Resilience

27:07 Due Diligence and Key Questions for Investors

29:51 Final Thoughts and Resources for Passive Investors

RANDY SMITH

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor

Zihao Wang is the CEO at Motiva Holdings, a vertically-integrated multifamily development firm. Zihao embarked on his real estate journey alongside his family in his teenage years. He began by being the property manager of his family’s assets, handling tasks from collecting rents, conducting repairs, and maintaining tenant relationships, before moving onto the acquisitions and capital markets side. Currently, Zihao leads the Diligence and Operations divisions and is responsible for the strategic decisions within MH.

Outside of MH, Zihao is actively involved in the Urban Land Institute (ULI), National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), and other real estate associations. He is an active speaker at multiple events and conferences including IMN, iGlobal Forum, etc.

Summary

In this episode of the Gentle Art of Crushing It podcast, host Randy Smith interviews Zihao Wang, founder and CEO of Motiva Holdings. They discuss the current state of the real estate market, particularly for passive investors, and explore Zihao's journey into multifamily syndication. The conversation covers strategies for navigating California's unique challenges, the importance of expanding into new markets, and innovative approaches like ADUs. Zihao shares insights on the current market conditions, future outlook, and valuable advice for new passive investors.

Chapters

00:00 Market Overview and Passive Investment Opportunities

02:51 Zihao Wang's Journey into Real Estate

08:41 Expanding Beyond California: New Market Strategies

12:22 Navigating California's Unique Challenges

15:35 Innovative Strategies: ADUs and Mixed Development

19:23 Current Market Conditions and Future Outlook

24:01 Advice for New Passive Investors

RANDY SMITH

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor