Red Flags in a Real Estate Sponsor and How to Spot Them w/ Brian Burke

Real estate sponsor decisions can make or break your entire investment. A good sponsor can navigate a bad situation. A bad sponsor can blow up a perfectly good deal.This episode is co-hosted by Ben Gray, partner and CEO at RSN Property Group. We’re joined by Brian Burke, founder and CEO of Praxis Capital and author of “The Hands-Off Investor”. With more than 30 years of experience, Brian has operated through multiple market cycles and acquired over a billion dollars in real estate. He’s seen the run-ups, the corrections, and exactly what happens when deals are built on shaky foundations.In this conversation, he shares what actually matters when evaluating a real estate sponsor in today’s environment.We break down the key things you need to look for when evaluating a sponsor and how to avoid the costly mistakes that many investors make. We talk about the right questions to ask, the sponsor’s track record you should focus on, and why a sponsor’s debt strategy and capital stack can shape the entire outcome of a deal.If you’re investing passively or thinking about it, this episode will give you a checklist to confidently vet a real estate sponsor and protect your capital.Let's dive in!Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 02:29 Chase sponsors, not deals 04:13 Market trends and making sense of demographics 08:35 How to properly vet a sponsor10:24 The harsh truth about ROI12:41 Sponsor due diligence and red flags 14:38 Three crucial questions to ask a sponsor 16:04 Fees, waterfalls, and underwriting 29:17 Debt and maturity dates 31:54 Advice for aspiring investors 32:58 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Check out Brian Burke: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/investorbrianburke/     • Website: https://praxcap.com/ ➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!

Is build-to-rent becoming one of the most powerful wealth-building strategies in US real estate?This week, we revisit the conversation with Jim Sheils of Southern Impression Homes to answer that question. Jim has been investing in real estate for over 25 years and now builds rental portfolios in Florida's high-growth markets for individual investors and institutional buyers. We explore the growing potential of the BTR niche and why infill lots in established neighborhoods offer greater long-term durability than traditional fixer-uppers. We also discuss common property management challenges, how Jim’s company survived the pandemic without bank financing, and the benefits of vertically integrated operations.  Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:07 Jim’s journey into real estate investing03:06 From rehabs to build-to-rent06:41 How his build-to-rent model works10:49 Florida rent growth before and after pandemic16:55 Supply constraints and bank lending pressure20:50 Five high-performance habits23:00 Jim’s vertical integration strategyAdditional resources: ➡️ ‘Passive Income Playbook’ by Jim & Jamie Sheils: https://jjplaybook.com/ ➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!

What does it really take to stay successful as a real estate investor over multiple market cycles?In this episode, host John Casmon sits down with Reed Goossens, founder of RSN Property Group, to unpack how his investing philosophy has evolved over the last decade, and why long-term winners focus less on timing the market and more on consistently placing capital with discipline.Reed shares hard-earned lessons from operating through rising rates, flat rents, and increasing expenses, and explains why today’s investors must think beyond “passive” multifamily investing. From underwriting realities and operational pressure to building complementary business verticals for sustainable cash flow, this conversation offers a grounded look at what it takes to survive, and win, when the easy years are gone.Whether you’re an active operator or a serious passive investor, this episode will help you think more clearly about risk, cycles, and long-term portfolio resilience.Key Takeaways: Intro (00:00)Understanding Market Cycles (05:14)Why Multifamily Isn’t Passive Anymore (14:10)Underwriting Reality Check (26:35)Building an Investing Ecosystem (37:00)Staying Active While Others Wait (45:49)Additional resources: ➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us —Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!

Is the multifamily market finally entering a new growth cycle after one of the most volatile economic periods in modern history? Distress is emerging, capital is loosening, and early signs of recovery are beginning to show. With this in mind, we invite you to our FREE State of the Market Q4 2025 webinar with the RSN team, where we break down where the market stands today, how we got here, and what the coming months could mean for multifamily investors. Join us as we discuss supply and rent trends, evolving debt and capital markets, and how we are positioning to capitalize on today’s opportunities. Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 05:18 How did our market predictions hold up?11:37 Evolving distress landscape and supply impact17:14 Rent growth and vacancy trends 22:04 Capital markets and institutional investments 31:35 Institutional groups are moving into the retail investor space 33:23 Our strategy and investment opportunities 37:20 Q&A session  56:44 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us —Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!

Want to recession-proof your portfolio? Today on the show, I have the pleasure of welcoming back an absolute legend in the world of alternative investing, Patrick Grimes. Patrick is the founder of Passive Investing Mastery, an Amazon best-selling author, Forbes Councils contributor, and a former robotics engineer turned investment guru. In this episode, Patrick shows us what it really means to diversify beyond the usual stocks and real estate. We dive deep into private credit, litigation funding, medical receivables, and commercial real estate. If you want to protect your portfolio before the next crash, this episode is for you. Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:32 Patrick’s background 02:46 Patrick’s investment journey and diversification strategy 05:47 The best alternative investment opportunities right now 07:49 Alternative investments and risk management 17:58 Biggest investing lesson Patrick learned 26:58 Future outlook and investing tips 30:19 Top 5 investing tips 33:15 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Learn more about Patrick Grimes:• Website: https://passiveinvestingmastery.com/ ➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us —Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!

Is multifamily finally back after the market crash?Today on the show, I have the pleasure of welcoming back a true mad scientist of multifamily, Neal Bawa. Neal is a technologist, data guru, process freak, outsourcing expert, and one of the most in-demand speakers in commercial real estate right now. He is widely known for his uncanny ability to spot trends before anyone else. In this episode, Neal breaks down the state of the syndication industry after the deep market corrections of the last few years, why 2025 marked the bottom of the multifamily market, and what to expect in 2026 as supply tightens and rents start to grow again. We also explore the crazy world of data center land banking, AI-driven investing, and how Neal is finding massive opportunities in this new era of investing. Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:51 The great correction in the syndication industry 07:29 Banks' role in market adjustments 14:41 Have we hit the bottom? 16:36 Future outlook, rent growth, and market trends 25:59 How to identify red flags in real estate deals 28:24 The AI power crisis and investment opportunities 42:16 Recap and outro Additional resources: ➡️ Learn more about Neal Bawa:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-bawa ➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us —Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!

What if you could pitch and fund your next real estate deal in as little as a day? Today on the show, I have the pleasure of welcoming back Richard Wilson. Richard is the founder of the world’s largest investor network, the Family Office Club, a platform connecting over 1,500 family offices, ultra-wealthy individuals, and institutional investors. Richard has built an unmatched ecosystem for capital raising, deal-making, and investor education. He also runs Billionaires.com, where he interviews top-tier billionaires and shares their insights.He’s here today to share his incredible knowledge on raising capital so that you can fund your deals faster and more efficiently. We also dive into the explosive growth of AI and how Richard’s suite of tools is helping investors analyze deals, generate one-liners, and pitch smarter.Tune in!Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 02:32 What happened in the last 10 years03:52 The evolution of the family office industry 05:50 Advice for raising capital07:43 Investing opportunities in AI 09:44 How the Family Office Club is utilizing AI 12:41 Family office investment strategies 17:28 AI and the growing power crisis 19:52 The end goal of the Family Office Club 23:24 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Learn more about Richard Wilson: • Website: https://familyoffices.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/singlefamilyoffice/ ➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us —Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!

Choosing the right real estate sponsor can be the difference between success and failure in your investments. But how do you know if a sponsor is truly worth your trust?In this episode, I sit down with the one and only Brian Burke, a veteran in the real estate space with over 30 years of experience. Brian is the founder and CEO of Praxis Capital, a vertically integrated real estate investment company he founded in 2001, and has acquired more than a billion dollars in real estate across multiple cycles. He’s also the author of The Hands-Off Investor, the go-to guide for passive investors.We break down the key things you need to look for when evaluating a sponsor and how to avoid the costly mistakes that many investors make. We talk about the right questions to ask, the sponsor’s track record you should focus on, and why their debt strategy could make or break your returns.Tune in to learn how to properly vet a real estate sponsor and make smarter investment decisions!Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 05:18 Chase sponsors, not deals 08:04 Market trends and making sense of demographics 13:49 How to properly vet a sponsor16:44 The harsh truth about ROI19:42 Sponsor due diligence and red flags 22:38 Three crucial questions to ask a sponsor 27:01 Fees, waterfalls, and underwriting 42:21 Debt and maturity dates 45:09 Advice for aspiring investors 46:34 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Check out Brian Burke: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/investorbrianburke/  • Website: https://praxcap.com/ ➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us —Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!

What if a market crash isn’t a setback… but your biggest opportunity yet?Today on the show, I have the pleasure of chatting with a good friend of mine, Bruce Fraser. Bruce serves as Managing Partner at Elkhorn Capital Partners, with over 20 years of experience and close to $1 billion in assets under management. He brings a fresh, disciplined, and macro-driven perspective to real estate investing that’s rare to come by these days. He shares his story of navigating the 2008 crash by getting out before things got ugly and reentering with a focus on distressed acquisitions and value-add multifamily strategies. He explains how the same macro principles are guiding his investment strategy today. We also talk about what’s really driving inflation, why government debt is pushing us toward long-term currency debasement, and how Bruce is staying ahead of the curve by focusing on distressed multifamily assets in Oklahoma. He’s got a seriously disciplined approach and breaks down why being well-capitalized and hyper-local can make or break you in a tight market.Curious how top investors are positioning themselves for what’s coming next and how to win big even when the market’s crashing? This episode is for you!Let’s jump right in.Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:53 Bruce’s background05:37 Similarities between the current market and 200809:23 Banks are in trouble12:54 Inflation and economic outlook 25:03 The future of multifamily real estate30:46 Top 5 investing tips 35:00 Recap and outroAdditional resources: ➡️ Learn more about Bruce Fraser: • Website: https://elkhornpartners.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-fraser-304120/➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us —Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!

What if a real estate downturn isn’t a threat... but your best shot at scaling?Today on the show, I have the pleasure of chatting with August Biniaz, co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of CPI Capital, a cross-border real estate investment firm that helps Canadian and US investors access multifamily and build-to-rent opportunities in the US. With more than $225 million in transactions under his belt, August shares how he not only kept the lights on through one of the toughest real estate markets in recent memory, but actually expanded CPI’s footprint.We dissect how CPI navigated rising interest rates, frozen deal flow, and inflation by pivoting to the build-to-rent model and launching a unique Mutual Fund Trust structure for Canadian investors to use their retirement funds (tax-free) in US real estate. August also opens up about CPI’s capital-raising engine, building lean operations, and the lessons he’s learned while growing a firm in uncertain times.If you're wondering how to grow a real estate business while everyone else is pulling back, this one’s for you.Let’s get into the show.Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:45 Update on August and CPI Capital market strategy 07:07 BTR, multifamily, and opportunities in the real estate market13:17 Raising capital in challenging markets21:26 Are Canadian investors still interested in the US market?24:41 Biggest lesson August learned in the last years27:23 Top 5 investing tips 34:07 Recap and outro Additional resources: ➡️ Learn more about August Biniaz: • Website: https://cpicapital.ca/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/august-biniaz-23291460 ➡️ Visit https://reedgoossens.com/ and:• Invest passively in multifamily real estate • Get FREE access to my 100% Passive Real Estate Investment Masterclass• Take a look at my portfolio• Get FREE multifamily real estate resources ➡️ Follow me on social media:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-goossens-b2a6a933/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedgoossens/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.goossens/ ➡️ Subscribe to my podcast: • YouTube: @ReedGoossensREI • Apple: https://apple.co/44MiDN7 • Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45fVIcR • Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3OHHJqJ • Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/investing-in-the-us —Investing in the U.S. is a podcast for real estate investors and entrepreneurs who want to break into the U.S. market and grow their wealth!Follow so you never miss an episode!