Shows
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowAspen Legacy Fund Deal Review: Evergreen Multifamily, Compounding, and Tax EfficiencyThis Episode
Can an evergreen fund deliver the benefits of long-term real estate ownership without forcing investors to start over with every new deal? Ellis Hammond of Aspen Funds presents the Aspen Legacy Fund, a multifamily fund designed to compound capital, limit tax drag, and provide exposure to multiple properties through a single K-1.
Chris Lopez, Pascal Wagner, and Christine Kwasny examine the fund’s assets, debt, valuation process, liquidity provisions, and investment strategy. They also press Ellis on refinancing risk, related-party investments, NAV calculations, redemption limits, and what investors should understand be...
2026-10-151h 14
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowJeremy Roll on Positive Leverage, Market Cycles, and Staying DefensiveAfter nearly 25 years as an LP, Jeremy Roll is 99% on the sidelines. He joins Chris Lopez to explain why he believes real estate still has more pain ahead, what would bring him back into the market, and why positive leverage remains his clearest measure of whether a deal is fairly priced.
Jeremy also shares the few asset classes he is watching, how he built a portfolio spanning more than 60 active LLCs, and the conservative standards that helped him avoid many of the problems now facing other investors. Plus, he explains why LPs should consider the economic cycle...
2026-10-1335 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowSelf-Storage in a Bear Market: Big-Box Conversions, Distress, and Buying Below Replacement Cost | Neil HendersonSelf-storage has long been considered recession resilient, but what happens when high interest rates freeze the housing market and fewer people move? Neil Henderson of Nomad Capital joins Chris Lopez to explain why the industry is facing one of its most difficult markets in decades and what could finally restart demand.
Neil also breaks down Nomad’s strategy of converting vacant big-box stores into climate-controlled storage at roughly half the cost of ground-up construction. They discuss current deal economics, slower lease-ups, competition from major REITs, and why shopping centers with existing retail income could of...
2026-10-0632 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLP Roundtable: Self-Lending Funds, Capital Calls, Securitization, and Fund RiskEpisode #293
This Episode
Would you invest in an income fund created primarily to lend money back to its own sponsor? Chris Lopez, Adam Cranmer, Pascal Wagner, and Christy Burakovsky examine the conflicts, hidden risks, and missing checks and balances that LPs should consider before investing on both sides of the same operation.
The panel also shares real portfolio updates involving capital calls, securitization, debt funds, and multifamily distributions. Plus, they discuss whether monthly payouts should influence an investment decision, how much confidence audited financials should provide, and why several panelists...
2026-09-2938 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowInside Performing Second Mortgages: Junior Liens, Private Credit, and Cash Flow | Shawn MuneioThis Episode
What if you could earn real estate-backed income without owning or operating the property? Shawn Muneio joins Chris Lopez to explain how investors can access private credit through performing second-lien mortgages and why today’s high-interest-rate environment has created new opportunities in this overlooked corner of the debt market.
Shawn breaks down how these loans are sourced, what protects investors when a borrower falls behind, and why equity coverage matters when investing from the second position. They also discuss Regulation A bonds, how they differ from traditional LP investments, and how nonperforming debt ca...
2026-09-2229 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLP Deal Review: Red River Development’s 206-Home Waco BTR ProjectCheck Out The Deal:
https://passivepockets.com/directory/deals/trulo-homes-cottonwood-creek/
See What Others Are Saying:
https://passivepockets.com/forums-listing/discussion/new-deal-red-river-development-trulo-homes-cottonwood-creek/
This Episode
Ryan Watts of Red River Development returns to PassivePockets for an LP Deal Review of the firm’s latest build-to-rent project: a 206-home community currently under construction in Waco, Texas. Ryan walks Chris, Christy Burakovsky, and Pascal Wagner through the project’s capital structure, construction progress, market thesis, and projected exit strategy and explains why Red River believes this point in t...
2026-09-171h 01
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowInside a Private Debt Fund: Underwriting, Leverage, Liquidity, and Capital Preservation | Kevin AmolschThis Episode
Kevin Amolsch returns to PassivePockets to take Chris behind the scenes of private lending and debt funds from how lenders actually make money to the underwriting decisions that determine whether investor capital stays protected when a deal goes sideways.
Kevin has been lending to real estate investors for nearly two decades through Pine Financial Group, and he walks through how the business evolved from brokering individual private loans into managing diversified debt funds. He explains why Pine prioritizes return of capital over maximizing return on capital, how its fund economics...
2026-09-1543 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowPascal Wagner on Cash Flow, Debt Funds, Portfolio Risk, and Building Deal ConvictionEpisode #289
This Episode
Pascal Wagner joins Chris Lopez for a deeper one-on-one conversation about his investing journey, portfolio strategy, and current approach to risk, cash flow, and diversification. Pascal shares how he started in real estate through house hacking and single-family rentals, later gained experience deploying capital at a venture capital fund, and eventually became the financial steward for his family after his father passed away.
Chris and Pascal unpack how that responsibility shaped Pascal’s investment philosophy: stabilize cash flow first, avoid catastrophic losses, and only ta...
2026-09-0837 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowQualified Opportunity Zones 2.0: Tax Deferral, Active-to-Passive Investing, and Real Estate Gains | Alicia MillerAlicia Miller joins PassivePockets to break down Qualified Opportunity Zones, why they matter for real estate investors, and how they can fit into an active-to-passive transition strategy. Chris and Alicia start with the basics: what a QOZ is, how the original program worked, and why investors with capital gains from selling real estate, a business, or other appreciated assets may want to understand this structure before making their next move.
They walk through the key differences between QOZ investing and a 1031 exchange, including why QOZs only require investors to reinvest the capital gain, not...
2026-09-0136 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowKeep, Refi, or Sell: Chris Lopez’s Framework for Going Active to PassiveThis Episode
Chris breaks down one of the biggest questions active real estate investors face as their portfolios mature: should you keep, refinance, or sell your rental properties?
Drawing from his own shift from active landlord to passive investor, Chris explains why many investors get stuck evaluating properties based on their original investment instead of their current equity. A rental that looks like an “infinite return” on paper may actually be producing weak cash flow on equity or underperforming compared to simpler, more passive alternatives.
The episode walk...
2026-08-2527 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLP Roundtable: Return of Capital, Reinvesting Distributions, and Sponsor Due DiligenceIn this PassivePockets community roundtable, Chris Lopez sits down with Adam Cranmer, Pascal Wagner, and Christy Burakovsky to talk through real portfolio moves, new investments, and the questions LPs should be asking before and after they write a check.
The conversation starts with portfolio updates: Adam shares why he invested in Alturas’ retail-focused fund through an SPV, passed on a strong sponsor because the deal was outside their core market, and received capital back from a debt fund that no longer fit the team’s risk/reward standards. Pascal walks through how he’s helpin...
2026-08-1844 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowWhy Red River Is Building 206 Rental Homes in Waco, TexasThis Episode
Ryan and Steven Watts of Red River Development join Chris to break down the build-to-rent market, why Red River focuses on secondary markets, and how recent housing legislation could reshape the future of single-family rental investing.
Ryan and Steven share how their backgrounds in energy, banking, construction, development, and property management led them to launch Red River in 2020, right as COVID was reshaping housing demand and capital markets. Since then, the company has grown to more than 2,200 units and roughly $690 million in assets under management, with a focus on purpose-built...
2026-08-1137 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMedical Office Investing: A Recession-Resistant Real Estate Niche | Jeff AxleyJeff Axley of Ridgeline Capital Partners joins Chris to break down medical office buildings, one of the healthcare real estate niches more LPs are starting to pay attention to. Jeff walks through how his background across office, multifamily, development, restructuring, industrial, and master-planned communities ultimately led him to focus on medical office as a more durable, recession-resilient asset class.
Chris and Jeff start with the basics: what medical office buildings are, how they differ from hospitals, senior housing, skilled nursing, assisted living, and other parts of the healthcare real estate landscape, and why outpatient...
2026-08-0440 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowU.S. Multifamily Reset: August Biniaz on Distress, Debt Maturities, and BTRAugust Biniaz of CPI Capital joins Chris to unpack why his firm is bringing Canadian capital into U.S. real estate and why he believes the U.S. remains one of the most attractive rental markets in the world. August walks through his path from fix-and-flips and ground-up construction to launching CPI Capital, a firm built to help Canadian investors access U.S. multifamily and build-to-rent opportunities.
Chris and August dig into the cross-border investing mechanics, including why Canadian investors look south for stronger yields, how withholding taxes and entity structures matter, and why...
2026-07-2831 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowBuild-to-Rent in 2026: Where Matt Sinclair Sees OpportunityThis Episode
Matthew Sinclair returns to PassivePockets to break down the build-to-rent market, the state of single-family institutional investing, and why he believes BTR is still in the early innings compared to traditional multifamily. Drawing on his background in real estate investment banking and private equity, Matthew explains why home affordability, demographic shifts, and renter preferences are creating long-term demand for professionally managed single-family rentals.
Chris and Matthew dig into how BTR compares to scattered-site single-family rentals, why large institutions are increasingly recycling capital out of older homes and into newer construction...
2026-07-2134 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowDLP’s Preferred Credit Fund: 10-11% Target Returns, Loan Tape, and Risk QuestionsEpisode #281
See what others have to say about the deal and join the conversation:
https://passivepockets.com/forums-listing/discussion/new-deal-dlp-capital-preferred-credit-fund/
Check out the DLP Preferred Credit Fund for yourself:
https://passivepockets.com/directory/deals/dlp-preferred-credit-fund/
This Episode
In this special LP Deal Review episode, Chris Lopez is joined by Adam Cranmer and Pascal Wagner to evaluate DLP Capital’s Preferred Credit Fund with Don Wenner, founder and CEO of DLP Capital. Don walks through the fund’s strategy, targ...
2026-07-141h 02
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowPat Zingarella on Fraud, Sponsor Reputation, and Verified LP FeedbackThis Episode
Pat Zingarella joins Chris Lopez to share the story behind Invest Clearly, a platform built to bring more transparency to the private real estate investing world. Pat’s journey started like many BiggerPockets listeners: learning through podcasts, buying his first small multifamily property, making painful mistakes, and slowly realizing how hard it can be for LPs to know who they can trust.
Pat walks through the lessons from his first fourplex, including inherited tenants, COVID-era nonpayment, poor screening decisions, and the difference between blaming real estate versus recognizing where his ow...
2026-07-0726 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowBoth Sides of the Table: Paul Shannon’s Complete LP PlaybookGet Paul Shannon's Book, Both Sides of the Table: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4W5D288?spcref=PUBLISHED_PREORDER_LIVE
This Episode
Paul returns to PassivePockets to discuss his new book, Both Sides of the Table, and the lessons he has learned as an LP, fund manager, and GP. He and Chris unpack the difference between being a “syndication consumer” and a true capital allocator, including why newer investors often get pulled in by polished decks, urgency-driven marketing, and projected IRRs without fully understanding the downside.
Paul explains how...
2026-06-3040 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowCommunity Roundtable: Treasuries vs Debt Funds, Office “Bargains,” and How to Deploy Cash NowIn this Community Roundtable, Chris Lopez sits down with PassivePockets members Pascal Wagner, Adam Cranmer, and Christy Burakovsky for a candid investor-to-investor conversation on how they’re allocating capital right now and what would make them change course.
Pascal frames the dilemma many LPs are feeling: with risk-free rates near 5% and major macro signals flashing red (record debt loads, expensive public markets, and uncertainty around where rates settle), does it still make sense to allocate to interest-rate-sensitive commercial real estate? He shares how he’s thinking about portfolio construction with fresh liquidity and why he’s...
2026-06-0937 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowPost-Summit Pulse Check: How Our Thesis Changed + What We’re Buying NextThis Episode
The Pulse Check is back with the full crew. Chris Lopez, Jim Pfeifer, and Paul Shannon reconvene just days after the PassivePockets Summit to unpack what they learned, how their theses got challenged (sometimes in real time), and what they’re actually doing with their portfolios right now.
They talk through why this conference hits differently: top-tier speakers in a small room where you can actually have real conversations and how those competing viewpoints are the whole point. From “sit in treasuries” caution to “this is the window to buy” optimism...
2026-05-1240 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHow to Get Better Deal Terms with SPVs | AAA StoragePassivePockets members have asked for two things over and over: better terms and access to more deal options without writing huge checks. In this special webinar, Chris Lopez breaks down how “community capital” can do exactly that—by pooling investor commitments into an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) to unlock lower minimums, stronger economics, and cleaner access to sponsor funds.
Chris is joined by Travis Smith (Founder & CEO of TribeVest) and Paul Bennett (President of AAA Storage). Travis explains what SPVs are, how Open Tribes work, and why modern tech has dramatically reduced the cost and complexity of runnin...
2026-04-211h 09
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHow Aspen Funds Is Winning Industrial | Deal ReviewLink to Deal:
https://passivepockets.com/directory/deals/aspen-industrial-growth-fund/
This Episode
Aspen Funds’ Ben Fraser and Ellis Hammond return to PassivePockets for an exclusive LP Deal Review on their Industrial Growth Fund—an industrial land + development strategy concentrated in Kansas City’s “Golden Triangle” submarket. Chris, along with LP panelists Pascal Wagner and Christy Burakovsky, breaks down the thesis behind the fund: why Kansas City is positioned as a major industrial “supernode,” how onshoring and supply chain reshoring supports long-term demand, and why Aspen is focusing on smaller-bay industrial where vacancy has re...
2026-04-141h 06
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMultifamily 2026 Pulse Check: Supply, Distress, and Where We’re InvestingChris Lopez is back with Paul Shannon for this month’s PassivePockets Pulse Check, catching up on why Paul stepped back from co-hosting, what he’s focused on now, and what both of them are actually doing with their own portfolios. They get into the real-life tradeoffs that don’t show up in an OM: liquidity vs. deployment, concentration risk vs. investing where you have an edge, and why relationships with operators matter more than ever coming out of the last cycle.
From there, Paul drops a data-heavy market update across multifamily and beyond- where supply is still...
2026-03-3154 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHotel-to-Multifamily Conversions 101 with Alex CartwrightHotel-to-multifamily conversions are one of the most interesting “free market” solutions to the affordable housing crunch, and Alex Cartwright is building his entire business around that niche. In this episode, Chris sits down with Alex to break down how (and when) these conversions actually pencil and why the opportunity exists in the gap between hotel cap rates and multifamily cap rates.
They also talk about a real-time example: Alex has a conversion project happening about 15 minutes from the hotel where the 2026 PassivePockets Summit will be held in Denver. Alex will be at the Summit, and...
2026-03-2442 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowBoots-on-the-Ground Due Diligence with Adam CranmerTrack Record Assets Deal Page:
https://passivepockets.com/directory/deals/morgan-bay-apartments/
A few weeks after an LP Deal Review with Track Record Assets, PassivePockets member Adam Cranmer realized he’d be in Houston, just minutes from the actual property. So he did what most LPs wish they could do: boots-on-the-ground due diligence, in-person operator time, and a full “does this actually feel real?” check.
Adam walks through the deal at a high level (268-unit Class C value-add in north Houston acquired from a distressed seller, not a distre...
2026-03-1730 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowScott Trench's 2026 Office Thesis with J Scott & Ash PatelScott Trench brings a contrarian 2026 office thesis to the table, starting with the idea first, then stress-testing it with three expert investors: Ash Patel, J Scott, and host Chris Lopez. The group debates where office is truly mispriced, what “trophy” means post-COVID, and why “downtown vs. suburbs” might be the wrong framing without understanding tenant demand, floor plates, and lease-up realities.
They dig into the mechanics of making office work (cash-flowing vs. vacant assets, tenant improvements, buildouts, leasing risk, and financing constraints), plus the biggest wild cards shaping demand going forward, from work-from-home to AI to lo...
2026-03-1056 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLP Deal Review: Origin Investments Select Asset Fund | Michael EpiscopeIn this LP Deal Review, Chris Lopez and LP panelist Christy Burakovsky sit down with Michael Episcope, Co-CEO of Origin Investments, for a deep dive into Origin’s Select Asset Fund—an intentionally small, vintage-based multifamily development fund built to deploy in 2026.
Michael walks through the macro thesis (supply peaking, concessions stabilizing, and starts slowing), the fund’s structure (targeting five shovel-ready ground-up deals, four-year duration, and an option to continue holding for long-term compounding), and the underwriting guardrails designed to protect downside in a still-volatile environment.
The panel then p...
2026-03-0346 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMarket’s “Rolling Recession”: 18-Year Cycle 2026 Update | Logan FreemanLogan Freeman is back for his 2026 update on the 18.6-year real estate cycle: breaking down where he believes we are right now (still in the “Winner’s Curse,” but with a messy, sector-by-sector twist) and what signals he’s watching to spot a true shift into contraction.
We dig into the big contradictions investors are feeling: transaction volumes and pricing stabilization on one hand, and real pain in certain sectors (office distress, Sunbelt multifamily oversupply, looming debt maturities) on the other. Logan’s take: we’re in a “rolling recession by sector,” where top-quartile assets and defen...
2026-02-2437 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowThe “Market Metronome” for Deal Stress Tests | Christine KwasnyToday’s show is part of our Community Spotlight Series, where we feature PassivePockets members who share hard-won lessons to help other LPs invest smarter. Christine Kwasny joins Chris Lopez to walk through a detailed retrospective on her syndication portfolio, what she thought she was buying, what actually happened, and what she’ll do differently going forward.
Christine started investing actively in 2008, building a Portland-area rental portfolio (single-family renovations that eventually grew into fourplexes). After moving abroad in 2013, she shifted into syndications in 2019–2020 but like many investors, she later found that several 2021–2022 vintage deals didn’t p...
2026-02-1737 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMastering Capital Protection and Cash Flow in a Volatile Macro Environment through Real Estate Private LendingFOR MORE - Debt Fund Due Diligence Hub:
www.passivepockets.com/debtdd
Next Steps
Join the discussion + access links/resources: www.passivepockets.com/debtdd
Attend the community Zooms (or watch recordings later)
Dates mentioned in the episode: Feb 18, Feb 25, Mar 3 (check the member dashboard for times/updates)
Attend the 2026 Summit Conference:
https://get.biggerpockets.com/passivepocketssummit2026/
This Episode
We’re officially kicking off PassivePockets’ new Debt Fund Due Diligence Series built around what members told us they want most...
2026-02-1046 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHotels for LPs: Cash Flow & Playbook feat. Jai Desai & Suraj ReddyAttend the 2026 Summit Conference:
https://get.biggerpockets.com/passivepocketssummit2026/
This Episode
Hotels for passive investors: what actually matters and how it’s different from multifamily. Chris Lopez digs in with Jay Desai and Suraj Reddy on the underwriting stack (ADR, occupancy, RevPAR and RevPAR penetration), why brand fit and comp sets (STAR reports) drive the thesis, and how operations (daily pricing, sales/RFPs, third-party management aligned on expenses) move the needle. They walk through break-even occupancy math (often far lower than MF), margins, bonus depreciation via FF&E/capex, fixed-rate/co...
2026-02-0345 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowState of PassivePockets 2026: Survey & InitiativesAttend the 2026 Summit Conference:
https://get.biggerpockets.com/passivepocketssummit2026/
It’s our “2026 State of PassivePockets.” Chris Lopez (now lead host, alongside co-hosts Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon) shares highlights from the 2025 member survey (96% accredited; 91% already LPs), explains why our Net Promoter Score jumped from -4 (2024) to 44 (2025), and unveils three big initiatives for 2026: (1) community-driven resources that go deep on due diligence—starting with debt funds; (2) using the community’s pooled volume to negotiate better investor terms; and (3) doubling down on what’s working—Sponsor Ratings & Reviews, LP Deal Reviews, the podcast, and a more active pr...
2026-01-2726 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowPulse Check 2025: Multifamily, Debt Funds & LiquidityChris Lopez, Jim Pfeifer, and Paul Shannon run a year-end Pulse Check on what worked in 2025, what did not, and where they are deploying capital in 2026. The hosts compare notes on gold and silver, why hard assets helped, and why many expected more multifamily distress than actually appeared. They dig into operator risk, liquidity as an edge, and the niches they like now, from B-class value add with day one cash flow to flex industrial and neighborhood retail. They also cover contrarian views on office and coastal markets, the interest rate outlook and fixed versus floating debt, non-performing loan...
2026-01-2049 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLeka Devatha’s Playbook: Creative Exits, ADUs & Value-Add DealsChris Lopez welcomes Seattle-based investor/author Leka Devatha to unpack how she built from flips to a diversified active/passive portfolio—plus what’s actually working in a high-cost, tenant-friendly market. Leka breaks down her first LP deal (why operator selection and interest-rate caps mattered), a 12-unit Seattle value-add that tripled gross rents, and the creative lending + multi-exit playbook behind her new book, Return on Real Estate. She shares a tactical framework for sourcing, underwriting, and operating in micro-markets—and how middle-housing zoning (ADUs, townhomes, duplexes) is shaping her 2026 pipeline.
Key Takeaways
Operator first...
2026-01-1329 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowScott Trench’s 2026 Playbook: Rates, Rents, and the Office BetThis Episode
Chris Lopez and Jim Pfeifer sit down with Scott Trench for a frank 2025 recap and a practical 2026 game plan. Scott reviews what he got right (rates staying sticky, supply-driven rent trends) and where the surprises showed up (gold strength, stock market resilience), then opens his playbook: selling a chunk of stocks, buying paid-off 2–4 unit Denver rentals, and allocating a small slice of retirement capital to private credit via a solo 401(k). Looking ahead, Scott focuses on multifamily supply tapering, demand uncertainty, and the 10-year vs. Fed funds dynamic. He also lays out a contrarian Class A...
2026-01-0639 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMaximize 2025, Plan 2026: John Bowens on Solo 401k Deadlines and Roth ConversionsChris Lopez is joined by Equity Trust’s John Bowens to close out 2025 and prep smart moves for 2026 using self-directed retirement accounts. John walks through contribution and conversion timelines for IRAs, Roth IRAs, HSAs, and Solo 401(k)s, explains the seven-day payroll rule for S- and C-corps, and shares practical strategies like spousal IRAs, backdoor Roths, staged Roth conversions over two tax years, and maximizing early-year compounding. The conversation also covers 2026 limit increases, Solo 401(k) employer vs employee buckets, and the Secure Act 2.0 tax credit for new plans.
Key Takeaways
Roth conversions mu...
2025-12-3037 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowResidential Assisted Living: Cash Flow, Risks, and 2026 OpportunityChris Lopez welcomes Dr. Alex Schloe and Charlie Cameron to demystify residential assisted living. Alex lays out the macro drivers behind the silver tsunami and why small, boutique homes can deliver better care and stronger cash flow. Charlie breaks down the models from LP to lease-to-operator to full operations and development, including typical home specs, licensing basics, private pay vs Medicaid, and realistic risk controls. The trio covers returns, staffing, marketing, and the due diligence questions LPs should ask before backing an operator or sponsor.
Key Takeaways
What residential assisted living is and...
2025-12-2339 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowJ Scott’s 2026 Playbook: Inflation, Rates, and Where Real Estate WinsJim Pfeifer and Chris Lopez sit down with investor and author J Scott to recap 2025 and map out what LPs should be watching in 2026. J shares where the year defied expectations (supply, rates, and “real” distress), how he’s positioning for a higher-for-longer rate regime, and the simple filters he’s using to decide between equity and credit today. The conversation covers underwriting discipline, liquidity planning, and why needs-based real estate and inefficient small-multifamily niches may offer the best risk-adjusted plays right now—if you partner with true specialists.
Key Takeaways
2025 reality check: dis...
2025-12-1640 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowBrian Burke’s 2026 Playbook: Small-Multi Deals & What’s Next for RatesChris Lopez and Paul Shannon welcome investor and author Brian Burke to look back at 2025 and set the table for 2026. Brian recaps his “end the dive in 25” thesis, explains why his pivot to senior housing has outperformed, and shares what actually surprised him this year. The group digs into supply, sentiment, and rates, plus the difference between perfect and imperfect markets and why small multifamily and true needs-based real estate may offer the best risk-adjusted plays right now.
Key Takeaways
2025 recap: senior housing led commercial performance while multifamily price declines slowed but did...
2025-12-0933 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing Show2026 Game Plan, Debt vs. Equity, Rate Cuts RealityGive Us Your Ideas For Next The PassivePockets Summit!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vwcvF1z03HYiKmR3a4JN8up0ja4kgKPzG2bCGS6640c/viewform?edit_requested=true
This Episode
It’s the November PassivePockets Pulse Check. Jim Pfeifer, Paul Shannon, and Chris Lopez share what’s new in their portfolios, the real impact of the Fed’s second rate cut, the tool you should use this month (sponsor reviews—now updatable), and how they’re setting concrete goals for 2026. Plus: a big announcement: PassivePockets Summit is in Denver, April 30...
2025-12-0249 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLP Lessons From Losses: Julie Holly on Transparency & RecalibrationChris Lopez and Paul Shannon sit down with investor and educator Julie Holly for a candid conversation about wins, losses, and leadership as an LP and GP. Julie traces her path from house hacking to syndications, shares the “receive & release” mindset she uses to process setbacks, and explains what changed in her underwriting and operator vetting after a tough year, including one deal where mismanagement led to a total loss. They cover how LPs should share accountability, the exact questions to ask sponsors (who underwrites, how they stress-test, and how they communicate), and why Julie paused new offerings to focu...
2025-11-2536 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMultifamily 2026: Bid-Ask Reality, Distress Signals, and Where Deals PencilIn 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 activity will be motivated sales and selective distress rather than a fire sale. The group also digs into operational costs, staffing...
2025-11-181h 00
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowDave Meyer: The 20-Hour Rule & Systems for Busy Real Estate InvestorsDave 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 operator selection, supply awareness, return-to-office tailwinds in core tech markets like Seattle, and the trap of chasing door count instead...
2025-11-1138 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowPulse Check: Multifamily Momentum, Debt Funds Rising, Q3 MovesThe 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 JV turnaround, and an LP win with a partial disposition. Chris walks through a shift toward...
2025-11-0454 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowFrom Pizza Shop to $100M+ Multifamily w/ Gino BarbaroHost 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 more than ever.
Key Takeaways:
The LP Framework: Jockey (sponsor) → Saddle (alignment of interests...
2025-10-2839 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLP Protection 101 with Ryan DuffPaul 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 local, vertically integrated operators with disciplined leverage and cash buffers.
Key Takeaways:
Underwrite like a lender: focus on econom...
2025-10-2136 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLP Safety 101: Mauricio Rauld on SEC Compliance for LPsHost 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 “investment clubs” aren’t a loophole, and where regulations may head next (accreditation changes, a possible finder’s rule).
Key Takeaways:
2025-10-1453 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowPeter Kim's Recession Setup: Asset Classes To WatchHost 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 also dive into why he’s been using preferred equity in today’s market—including a 12.5–13.5% monthly-pay deal that returned...
2025-10-0732 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowRate Cuts and LP Accountability: Pulse CheckChris 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 value-add 22-unit (50% vacant) targeting an ~11% yield-on-cost in an ~8 cap mark...
2025-09-3049 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowSolo 401(k) Made Simple: Bigger Limits, Fewer GotchasHost 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-plan conversions), and exactly how to roll over or restate a plan without triggering a termination. John also breaks down s...
2025-09-2349 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMatt Faircloth: Why He’s Adding Hotels (9% Caps), 11% Prefs & 1031 TICsHost 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 Houston hotel, how he structures A, B, and...
2025-09-1640 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowDan Handford: Debt Funds, Reg A Access, and Lessons from 80+ LP DealsFrom 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 of mind.
Key Takeaways:
LP lens: transparency, steady updates, and tackling...
2025-09-0948 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowInvestors Are Pivoting: Industrial’s Edge Over Multifamily with Joel FriedlandIndustrial 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 around 18 percent
Buy box: Chicago small-bay under 40k sf, 7 to 8 percent entry yield, triple-net, strong geometry, dock...
2025-09-0244 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowTokenized Real Estate for LPs: Liquidity, Lower Minimums & One K-1Can 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 interest on a blockchain
Access and diversification with lower minimums and...
2025-08-2654 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowPulse Check: 2025 Updates, Latest Trends & Real Talk on Bad DealsHow 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 separate tracks, how to post in the forums to actually get useful feedback (do t...
2025-08-1949 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowBob Fraser: This Is Where Billionaires Will Invest in the Next Market CycleWhat 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 diversification (and why it’s not about owning a little of everything), why certain private investments are favored over public markets, and how bill...
2025-08-1234 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLow Equity Splits, IO Loans, and Risky Returns | Dig In or DeleteWe’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 investors a candid look at how seasoned pros filter their deal...
2025-08-0535 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowDeal Review: Andy Weiner from Rockstep Capital & the Retail ReboundHow 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 breaks down the underwriting, loan structure, and business plan behind a recently acquired asset and why retail invest...
2025-07-291h 07
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowScott Trench on FIRE, Flow, and Why He Prefers Real Estate Over Stocks and SyndicationsWhat’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 mostly unlevered Denver real estate, plus a small allocation to syndications and debt funds.
Jim brings a counterpoint...
2025-07-2251 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowBrian Burke’s Bold Shift: From Multifamily to Assisted Living InvestingWhat 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 differs from traditional real estate, and what makes triple-net lease investments in...
2025-07-1543 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowThe Capital Stack Is Cracking: Eric Sussman on What LPs Need to KnowWhat 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 inflation data, rate policy, and lending trends are impacting both sponsors and investors and why understanding the real ri...
2025-07-0840 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowActive vs. Passive Real Estate: Chris Lopez’s Strategy in 2025Join 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 founder of the Active to Passive cohort, joins Passive Pockets to share why he pivoted away...
2025-07-0141 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowDig In or Delete | Are Sponsors Overpromising Again?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 ground lease next to a dying mall, Jim and Paul weigh in on mar...
2025-06-2442 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMobile Home Parks 2025: Value, Risk, and the End of Easy ReturnsInvesting 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. The conversation dives into the evolution of this sector, highlighting both increased lending opportunities and rising competition. Thinking of affordable ho...
2025-06-1742 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowTurn Taxes into Wealth: Roth Conversion Strategies for InvestorsWhat 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 planning tools for passive investors. John explains how real estate syndications, solo 401(k)s, and...
2025-06-1038 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowThe New Cycle Is Coming: Why Multifamily Is Poised to Rebound by 2027After 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 operator with a portfolio approaching 3,000 units. We explore the macroeconomic forces reshaping the market, from stabilizing interest rates to supply slowdown...
2025-05-2739 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowTriple Net Investing 101: How to Generate Steady Returns in Uncertain TimesWhat 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 upon Zane to stabilize their private equity fund, he spent months navigating an uncooperative handoff and...
2025-05-2035 min
The AAA Storage PodcastMultifamily and Self-Storage Market Outlook 2025 (plus PassivePockets Conference Reaction)In this episode of The AAA Storage Podcast, Paul Bennett unravels the current dynamics of the multifamily and self-storage markets. Fresh from the PassivePockets conference, Paul shares insights from thought leader Brian Burke on the real estate sector's trajectory through 2025. Explore the influence of the 2008 financial crisis patterns on today's market and discover why patience and strategic opportunities may define the real estate landscape for the coming years.Key Highlights:• Insights from Brian Burke's presentation at the PassivePockets conference.• Exploration of the multifamily and self-storage sectors' current conditions and future outlook.• Discussion on the differ...
2025-05-1824 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMarkets More Volatile Than Ever: Pascal Wagner’s LP Investing Guide for 2025Are 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 spans multiple major markets and a professional background in venture capital, Pascal is experienced in both the active and passiv...
2025-05-1335 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHow to Create a Passive Income “Engine” That Gives You Financial FreedomConventional 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 life insurance policies to fund businesses, insure operators, and generate long-term wealth. They pull...
2025-05-0647 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowDelete or Dig In: Would We Invest in Any of These Deals?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 apartment complexes to mobile home parks, shopping centers...
2025-04-2927 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing Show“Resilient” Multifamily Investments LPs Are Targeting as Recession Fears GrowThe multifamily market is shifting—again. Construction is slowing down after a historic wave of new delivery, and uncertainty surrounding the new administration, tariffs, and inflation is causing consumers to lose faith in the economy as a recession looms. Passive investors must recalibrate, but how? Stay tuned as we share our multifamily outlook for 2025!Things are changing rapidly, and to help unpack it all, we’re interviewing Greg Willett, a real estate economist turned tech-side strategist at LeaseLock. In this episode, Greg will pull back the curtain and point out the market trends that coul...
2025-04-2233 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowFinancial Strategist on the Major “Shift” Investors Should Prepare for in 2025The financial landscape is shifting, with rumblings of a global currency reset threatening to take down the US dollar. What does this mean for limited partners (LPs), syndicators, and other passive investors? How “safe” are your investments in the event of a collapse? We’ll discuss all of this and more in today’s episode.Financial strategist, investor, and founder of The Raising Capitalists Foundation Russell Gray returns to the show to talk about the future of fiat currency and what investors need to know amidst a potential reset. For decades, the US dollar has been...
2025-04-1548 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowJ Scott on New Sweeping Tariffs: Opportunity or Obstacle for Multifamily?Sweeping new tariffs are causing sharp economic ripple effects, with stock valuations dropping last week and Americans bracing for renewed inflation. This shift creates both new risks and opportunities for real estate investors—especially passive LPs evaluating upcoming deals. Amid this uncertainty, bond yields and mortgage rates are falling fast—a welcome shift for GPs grappling with bridge loans or variable-rate debt.The question LP investors must ask themselves now is: how do I protect my portfolio during downturns like this AND jump on opportunities coming down the pipeline?To h...
2025-04-0839 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowDeal Review: Industrial Real Estate UnpackedIn the latest episode of our Deal Review Series, Drew Wahlgren from MAG Capital Investments presents the MAG Capital Industrial Fund III Deal to our LP panel: Paul Shannon, Chris Lopez, and Mauricio Rauld.The LP Panel asks questions like:- How many industrial deals have you done, and what’s the performance to date?- Who handles acquisitions, asset management, and communications with investors?- How soon is the fund putting money to work, and how much has been raised so far?- How do cu...
2025-04-011h 04
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMultifamily Financing is Shifting: James Eng on Capital Markets in 2025Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon chat with James Eng of Old Capital Lending to unpack today’s multifamily financing landscape. A 20-year commercial lending veteran in both institutional and private markets, James explains how surging interest rates, higher scrutiny on sponsors, and renewed competition in bridge loans are reshaping apartment deals. He also shares why LPs should treat debt as a top priority – from understanding agency vs. bridge terms to watching out for “race-to-the-bottom” lending and tricky rate caps. If you’re looking for clearer insight on the capital stack and how lenders view multifamily risk in 2025, this conversation offers a v...
2025-03-2536 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowSyndication Gaps Alarm Investors: Aleksey Chernobelskiy Warns on Capital Calls & Missing AnalysesHost Jim Pfeifer chats with real estate advisor Aleksey Chernobelskiy, who spent years on an institutional investment team overseeing billions of dollars in properties before shifting his focus to helping limited partners. Aleksey discusses the key lessons he’s learned under “big REIT” systems and how they apply to everyday passive investors navigating the often “Wild West” of syndications. You’ll hear why standardized metrics (like address, fees, and exit cap assumptions!) are so critical yet frequently missing from pitch decks, and how to interpret the elusive “sensitivity analysis” that many operators forget to include.Aleksey also lays out common...
2025-03-1846 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMarket on Edge: 18-Year Cycle Hitting ‘Winner's Curse,’ Says Logan FreemanPaul Shannon sits down with Logan Freeman (a.k.a. “Mr. Kansas City”) for a deep dive into the 18-year real estate cycle and how it shapes today’s market. Drawing on the works of economists like Fred Harrison and Phil Anderson, Logan explains why land scarcity and speculative credit often drive real estate booms and busts. He also highlights how investors can prepare for what he calls a “winter’s curse,” using historical cycles to spot new opportunities and avoid pitfalls. If you’re looking to navigate the next few years in real estate with an eye on both history a...
2025-03-1141 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowBanks Are Pulling Back: Why Private Real Estate Debt Is Surging with Chris CarsleyPaul Shannon hosts an in-depth chat with Chris Carsley of Kirkland Capital Group to explore the growing world of private real estate debt. Chris explains how private lending is filling financing gaps left by traditional banks, why short-term “bridge” loans for smaller commercial deals can yield competitive returns, and what operational due diligence steps every LP should take before investing. From the basics of senior debt to navigating leverage, liquidity, and redemptions, Chris shares real-world insights into the risks and rewards of building private credit into a balanced portfolio—especially amid today’s market volatility.Today’...
2025-03-0436 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowSelf-Directed IRAs & Solo 401(k)s: Unlocking Real Estate Investing with John BowensJim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon sit down with John Bowens of Equity Trust to break down the power of self-directed retirement plans for real estate investors. From the basics of what “self-directed” really means to the nuances of IRAs, HSAs, and Solo 401(k)s, John explains how you can unlock more flexibility and control in building your portfolio. Whether you’re investing in syndications, private lending, or direct ownership, learn the steps for opening a self-directed account, how to navigate leverage with UBIT/UDFI, and why a Solo 401(k) might offer key advantages (when you qualify). Plus, John dispels the my...
2025-02-2542 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowBattle of the PPM: LP vs. GP Secrets RevealedWe dive into the “battle of the PPM” (Private Placement Memorandum) with two special guests from opposite sides of the table. On the GP side, securities attorney Mauricio Rauld (Platinum Legal) explains how these legal documents protect operators and outline deal structures. Representing the LP perspective, experienced investor Jeremy Roll highlights how to spot red flags, interpret complex provisions, and ensure you’re comfortable with all the “fine print” before signing on the dotted line. Learn why the Operating Agreement is the ultimate governing document, what to look for in capital call clauses, how indemnification can affect your returns, and why co...
2025-02-1854 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMaking Millions with Multi-Asset Conversions: Clint Harris Explains HowWe explore the world of asset class conversions with special guest Clint Harris, who specializes in turning empty big-box buildings (think old Kmarts and abandoned textile mills) into profitable self-storage facilities. Clint shares why changing consumer needs (especially among younger renters) is sparking new demand for creative reuse, and how savvy operators can use “cap rate arbitrage” to transform distressed properties at half the cost (and in a fraction of the time) compared to ground-up development. If you’re curious about office-to-multifamily flips, hotel conversions, or self-storage projects, this episode offers an inside look at the rewards and pitfalls of goi...
2025-02-1143 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowFrom Doom to BOOM? Dr. Doom’s Shocking Market OutlookWe sit down with John “Dr. Doom” Drachman for a revealing look at how the multifamily market has evolved since the turbulence of 2022 and what passive investors can do now. John unpacks the factors that led to trouble (“overheated” markets, aggressive loan structures, and short-term flips), why true distress hasn’t fully materialized, and how today’s environment calls for more “boring,” long-term investing strategies. Tune in to learn why survival in 2022 doesn’t necessarily mean smooth sailing ahead, and discover the indicators John is watching to guide his next move in multifamily.Today’s Episode Takeaways...
2025-02-0448 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowMultifamily Market Secrets and Trends: Jay Parsons ExplainsWe welcome rental housing economist Jay Parsons to dissect the current multifamily landscape and offer insights on what 2025 might bring. Jay unpacks why record new deliveries haven’t led to severe distress (yet), how interest rate surprises are reshaping capital markets, and whether policy risks could outweigh simple supply-and-demand fundamentals. Learn why he believes “steady eddy” Midwest markets are surging, why the Sunbelt could soon make a comeback, and what these trends mean for passive investors looking at longer-term holds.Today’s Episode Takeaways:- Why multifamily demand has remained surprisingly strong- W...
2025-01-2835 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowSponsor Vetting 101: 5 Steps to Safer Real Estate Investments with Spencer HilligossInvestment expert Spencer Hilligoss of Madison Investing joins host Paul Shannon to discuss the essentials of vetting real estate sponsors. From building your network to identifying financial red flags, Spencer shares his five-part framework for evaluating a sponsor’s track record, team, communication style, and more. Discover why the sponsor’s personal balance sheet matters, how to tell if they truly care about tenant experience, and when it’s time to walk away- no matter how good the deal appears on paper. If you’re looking to elevate your due diligence process and make more informed investing decisions, this conversa...
2025-01-2136 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowA Must Have Tool for Passive Investing with Litan YahavWe sit down with special guest Litan Yahav: the CEO and founder of Vyzer, an innovative virtual wealth management tool designed for passive investors. In this episode, Litan takes us behind the scenes of building a platform that helps you stay organized across multiple deals, GPs, and asset classes—while also giving us a sneak peek at how Vyzer uses aggregated (yet anonymous) data to identify top-performing operators. Get ready for game-changing insights on optimizing your time and improving your returns through smarter, simpler portfolio management.Today’s Episode Takeaways:- Litan’s jour...
2025-01-1434 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowBrian Burke Never Investing Again? | The Breakdown of Multi-Family Assets in 2025Join seasoned real estate experts Jim Pfeifer and Brian Burke as they unpack the landscape of multifamily investing in 2025. In this insightful discussion, they navigate the complexities of today's market, from construction delays to debt challenges, offering their seasoned perspectives on where opportunities lie.The conversation dives deep into why multifamily properties continue to attract investors, while honestly addressing the headwinds facing the industry - from operational challenges to the evolving dynamics between buyers and sellers. Burke and Pfeifer share their unvarnished take on realistic return expectations and offer a nuanced analysis of different...
2025-01-0839 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHow To Analyze Deals Like A Pro with Tyson MillerWe dive deep into everything you need to know about the essentials of analyzing a deal with our guest, Tyson Miller. the must-know strategies for mastering real estate investments. Discover Paul’s top tips for identifying red flags that could save your next deal and learn the secret strategy to uncovering the critical details that make or break your investments. Explore game-changing methods for deal analysis, and get a clear breakdown of how cap rates can impact your profitability. We also uncover the #1 deal-breaker you need to watch out for and tackle the debate of cost vs. risk to hi...
2024-12-3137 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowDeal Review | PIC Debt Fund Breakdown Featuring Whitney Elkins-Hutten🌟 Deal Review with Passive Investors | PIC Debt Fund Breakdown Featuring Whitney Elkins-Hutten 🌟In this episode of our Deal Review Series, we’re joined by Whitney Elkins-Hutten from Passive Investing.com, who’ll present the highlights of their PIC Debt Fund. Together with an expert panel of seasoned Limited Partners, including Paul Shannon (Co-Host of the PassivePockets podcast) and Litan Yahav (Founder of Vyzer), we’ll:✅ Analyze the Deal – What makes this fund worth considering?✅ Spot Red Flags – Learn how to identify potential risks.✅ Ask Tough Questions – Discover h...
2024-12-2445 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowWho Do YOU Invest In: Vetting Operators 101Every good syndication investment starts with investing in a good operator! Today we're breaking down how to vet an operator in Passive Investing featuring host Jim Pfeifer and co-host Paul Shannon with guest Chris Lopez. We’re back with an episode you can’t afford to miss! Our new co-host (and longtime friend!) Paul Shannon joins us to dig into the details, and we’re bringing in special guest Chris Lopez to share his insider experience vetting operators. In this episode, we’re covering:
Why an operator’s track record is key
Co...
2024-12-1736 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowLP Panel: Insider Deal Review Secrets for Passive Investors | AAA Storage InvestmentsIn our latest Deal Review episode, Paul Bennett from AAA Storage presents the AAA Storage Growth Fund I to our LP panel: Jim Pfeifer, Paul Shannon, Chris Lopez.You can expect a breakdown of the fund’s strategy, projected returns, and structure — and tough questions and candid insights from our LP Panel.The LP panel asks questions like:
Are we catching a falling knife by investing now, or is the market bottoming out?
How will cash flow be handled post-stabilization?
How do Delaware Statutory Trusts work in this deal?
Want...
2024-12-1045 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowYour Financial Advisor is WRONG: 4% Rule Debunked with Guest Chris MilesLearn more about PassivePockets: https://passivepockets.com/pricingMoney Ripples Show Notes link: https://bit.ly/48UqUl3In this episode, Jim Pfeifer and Chris Miles dive into the power of passive income as the cornerstone of financial independence. They challenge traditional financial strategies like the 4% rule, exposing their flaws and risks—such as sequence of return risk—and champion the benefits of investing in real assets over paper assets.Chris shares personal stories that illustrate the pitfalls of the "save and hope" approach, relying sole...
2024-12-0344 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHow Preferred Equity Minimizes Risk and Maximizes ROI in Real Estate With Jim Pfeifer and guest Paul Moore and Troy Zsofka🎙 Discover how preferred equity can help you maximize returns and minimize risk in real estate investing! In this video, host Jim Pfeifer, and guests Paul Moore, and Troy Zsofka break down the basics of preferred equity, how it works, and why it's a game-changer for savvy investors. Whether you're a seasoned real estate pro or just starting out, you'll learn actionable tips to make smarter investment decisions..👉 What you'll learn:
What is preferred equity in real estate?
How it reduces risk and secures returns.
Real-life exampl...
2024-11-2637 min
Pillars Of Wealth CreationPOWC # 744 - Why Join A Community Like PassivePockets? | Jim PfeiferJoining us today is Jim Pfeifer from PassivePockets, formerly Left Field Investors, who shares his journey from active real estate investing to building wealth through passive syndications. In this episode, Jim dives into key strategies for evaluating syndications, essential resources for success, and lessons learned to help you avoid costly mistakes. Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with actionable advice for passive investors!
Jim Pfeifer is a seasoned real estate investor and the founder of Like Minded Investors, a community dedicated to achieving financial freedom through passive real estate syndications. After discovering that syndications were a better alternative to ac...
2024-11-2643 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowPassive Investing: 9 Mistakes to Avoid & What I’d Change Next Time🎙Welcome to Passive Pockets! In this episode, Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon share 9 crucial mistakes to avoid when it comes to passive investing. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your strategy, these insights will help you make smarter investment decisions.⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction1:00 - #1: Not Asking The Right Questions4:05 - #2: Thinking Passive Investing is 100% Passive12:46 - #3: Thinking Preferred Return = Steady Cash Flow12:46 - #4: Thinking Preferred Return = Steady Cash Flow (Yes, it’s repeated!)15:55 - #5: Failing to Align Your Investment Strategy with Yo...
2024-11-1938 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowFrom Traditional Financial Advisor to Passive Investor: Jim Pfeifer and Mark Kelley Share Top StrategiesIn this episode, we dive into the world of passive investing with industry experts Jim Pfeifer and Mark Kelley. They discuss how they transitioned from traditional financial advisory roles to successful passive investors, sharing their top strategies for creating sustainable income and building wealth with less hands-on management.Listen in to learn:
Why passive investing is on the rise among financial professionals
The advantages and potential challenges of a passive investment approach
Proven strategies for diversifying and growing your portfolio
Tips for beginners to get started with passive income streams
2024-11-1238 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHow to Build Wealth Through Passive Real Estate Investing: Syndication 101 With Devon KennardAre you ready to unlock the secrets of passive income through real estate investing? In this episode of Passive Pockets, Jim Pfeifer and guest Devon Kennard dives into the basics of real estate syndication—the ultimate strategy for building wealth without the day-to-day management headaches. Whether you're new to real estate or an experienced investor, syndication offers a powerful way to earn passive income, diversify your portfolio, and invest in larger properties like apartment buildings and commercial real estate.Join us as we break down the syndication process, how to evaluate syndication deals, and th...
2024-11-0544 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHow to Identify Red Flags in a Syndication Deal as a Limited PartnerAre you thinking about investing in real estate syndication as a limited partner? In this episode, Jim Pfeifer and guest Stacey Stegenga dive deep into the red flags you need to watch for before committing to any syndication deal. From hidden fees and lack of transparency to syndicator track records, we’ll give you the tools to protect your investment and spot the warning signs early. Whether you're new to syndications or a seasoned investor, this episode will guide you through the key aspects to evaluate before you invest.🎙️ What You'll Learn in This Episode...
2024-10-2931 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowHow to Become a Passive Investor: Tips to Transition from Active InvestingIn this episode, Jim Pfeifer interviews Travis Henry, who shares his journey from active residential investing to becoming a successful passive commercial investor. Travis discusses how he leveraged his underwriting expertise to make smarter investment decisions and strategically transitioned from active management to a passive income-generating portfolio. He provides actionable tips on when to stay active and when it’s time to go passive, helping investors determine which path best suits their financial goals and lifestyle.Tune in to discover:
How Travis made the switch from residential to commercial real estate
When to re...
2024-10-2243 min
PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing ShowPassive Pockets Podcast: THE Podcast For Passive Investing Strategies TrailerWelcome to PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing Show, where we help you build and protect your wealth through smart, hands-off real estate investments. Hosted by Jim Pfeifer, each episode brings you expert interviews with experienced Limited and General Partners who share practical tips and strategies for growing your portfolio without the grind. Whether you're a seasoned investor or a busy professional, PassivePockets equips you with the insights, market trends, and risk management tactics needed to make informed decisions and achieve long-term financial success.
2024-09-1001 min