Economic Trends Real Estate Investors Need to Watch | MREIC 2026 Spotlight: Dr. Paul Isely

In this episode, Dr. Paul Isely joins the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference podcast for another MREIC 2026 Speaker Spotlight where he unpacks the market signals, economic trends, and bigger-picture forces that could shape investment decisions in the months ahead. Dr. Isely is Associate Dean and Professor of Economics at Grand Valley State University's Seidman College of Business and is widely respected for making economic insight practical, relevant, and actionable. His closing keynote session at MREIC 2026 will help attendees better understand where the market may be headed and what that could mean for real estate investors. Dr. Isely will speak at the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from 2:30–4:30 PM at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In this episode, you'll hear: The economic signals real estate investors should be watching How today's market conditions may influence tomorrow's opportunities Why understanding the broader economy can sharpen your investment decisions Join us at MREIC 2026 on April 27–28 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Learn More Get Tickets

Manufactured housing rarely gets attention until markets tighten. That's exactly why Matthias Gruenwald built a business around it. In this episode, Matthias, co-founder of WCG Investments, shares how he grew from a duplex in 2022 to overseeing roughly $45 million across 25 manufactured housing communities in less than three years. Before real estate, Matthias was a global manufacturing COO. He brought that same operational discipline into an asset class that rewards execution over hype. We break down why manufactured housing can be one of the most stable and misunderstood sectors in real estate. What We Cover How $60K–$80K homes solve the affordability gap The difference between park-owned homes and tenant-owned homes Why converting homes to tenant-owned dramatically lowers expense ratios How some parks run at 30–40% expense ratios Creative "handyman special" strategies to reduce CapEx Infill strategies that add new homes and boost NOI Why infrastructure matters more than curb appeal Sewer systems, lagoons, and what to avoid in due diligence Why tiny rural markets without job centers can stall growth Scaling from small parks to 280+ unit acquisitions Building in-house management for tighter operational control How AI is improving collections and reducing staffing overhead Matthias also shares how his automotive manufacturing background shaped his approach to reporting, metrics, and disciplined execution. If you want predictable cash flow, low operating volatility, and exposure to workforce housing demand, this episode lays out exactly how the model works. Connect with Matthias Gruenwald Website: https://wcginvestments.com Free Ebook on Manufactured Housing available on the website Instagram: Matthias Gruenwald Facebook: Matthias Gruenwald LinkedIn: Matthias Gruenwald Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. https://www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits. https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

Short-term rentals have matured fast. But many operators are still stuck paying rising distribution costs while losing control of the guest relationship. In this episode, Eric Goldreyer, hospitality entrepreneur and founder of BedandBreakfast.com, former co-founder of TurnKey Vacation Rentals, and creator of Savvy, joins Brian to unpack what's happening behind the scenes in vacation rental distribution. Eric has built, scaled, and sold companies in the space. He also owns and operates a 20-key boutique hotel outside Austin, giving him both strategic and ground-level insight into hospitality operations. This conversation focuses on one core issue: Who owns the guest relationship — and what does that cost you? What We Cover: Why vacation rental distribution costs have increased while hotel distribution costs have decreased The "Airbnb tax" and how it affects long-term profitability Why hosts don't truly own their customer data on major OTAs The difference between transaction fees and customer acquisition costs Why professional property management is separating from gig-economy hosting How book-direct marketplaces are changing the economics of short-term rentals What it takes to scale a property management company nationally Leveraging tech stacks, automation, and AI in modern vacation rental operations How Eric approaches hiring high-performance teams Why hospitality — not just technology — is the real differentiator Eric also shares how his company Savvy is building a book-direct marketplace designed to reduce fees for travelers while giving property managers ownership of their customer relationships. Key Themes Short-term rental profitability OTA dependency risk Distribution strategy Hospitality vs platform control Direct booking models AI in vacation rental tech stacks Resources Mentioned Savvy: https://savvy.com Eric Goldreyer on LinkedIn Sage Hill Inn (Boutique Hotel outside Austin) Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. https://www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits. https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

Nathan Biller is joining us at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference to break down what real estate investors need to know about ADU development in today's market. Nathan is a real estate investor, infill developer, ADU specialist, and Co-Founder of My Backyard Build. Based in Grand Rapids, he helps homeowners and real estate investors add housing through small-scale, zoning-aligned development. His work combines practical operator experience, a finance background, and active involvement in local housing policy and planning. In this conversation, Nathan explains what an accessory dwelling unit actually is, why ADUs are becoming more relevant, and how investors can think clearly about zoning, site design, financing, and project feasibility. He also talks about the policy changes that could make ADUs easier to pursue in Michigan and why the current moment matters for investors paying attention. Nathan Biller will speak on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In this episode, you will hear: What an ADU is and why it matters to real estate investors How to evaluate zoning, site design, financing, and pro forma analysis What investors should understand before deciding whether an ADU pencils Why policy changes at the city and state level could expand opportunity How ADUs can create new revenue opportunities on existing properties Why this session has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit Learn more about MREIC 2026. View ticket options.

Many Sunbelt markets that once dominated headlines are now facing oversupply, rising expenses, and compressed returns. Meanwhile, much of the Midwest is quietly doing the opposite — holding occupancy, stabilizing rents, and delivering durable cash flow. In this episode, Jeremy Yost, Navy veteran and CEO with over $244M developed across 56 properties and 2,000+ units, shares why his disciplined Midwest strategy continues to perform through volatile market cycles  Jeremy focuses on workforce housing, market-rate multifamily, Litech developments, assisted living, and hospitality — all built around one principle: Execution beats speculation. What We Cover: Why many Sunbelt multifamily deals are struggling today Oversupply, rent flattening, and over-leveraging in hot markets Why Midwest secondary and tertiary markets remain stable The case for "boring" workforce housing What disciplined underwriting actually looks like Why most real estate failures stem from poor execution Lessons from losing financing mid-construction during COVID How persistence secured funding after 302 lender rejections Why Class C Midwest assets still pencil in today's environment Insurance risk vs lending risk in current cycles How Litech (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) development works Misconceptions about affordable housing and workforce housing Why small-town developments often pre-lease 100% Key Insights Secondary Midwest markets can deliver 10–12%+ cash-on-cash returns Occupancy above 94% across stabilized Midwest assets Workforce housing demand is structural, not speculative Rural communities are often underserved and overlooked Capital protection matters more than chasing upside Jeremy also explains how his Navy background shaped his approach to real estate: No speculation. Only execution. Topics Covered Midwest multifamily investing Workforce housing development Litech tax credit investing Recession-resistant housing Class C multifamily strategy Secondary and tertiary market investing Insurance pressures in multifamily Hospitality development case study Connect with Jeremy Yost Instagram: Jeremy R. Yost Website: https://www.yms-rentals.com Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. https://www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits. https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

Zachary Beach is next up in our 2026 MREIC Speaker Spotlight series. Zachary breaks down why creative financing is becoming more important in today's market. As CEO and Partner of SmartRealEstateCoach.com, Zach shares how real estate investors can structure deals without relying solely on traditional bank loans, large down payments, or personally guaranteeing debt, and why those strategies are gaining momentum as interest rates remain elevated and more sellers need flexible solutions. Zachary previews what attendees will learn in his MREIC session, including how to buy and sell creatively, how to create multiple streams of income from a single deal, and why his federally trademarked 3 Paydays® system is built for the market ahead. He also shares his perspective on where opportunity is growing in 2026, why rent-to-own remains underused, and how relationship-building and virtual assistants can help real estate investors scale more consistently. Zachary Beach will speak at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 2:30 PM at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Learn more about MREIC 2026. View ticket options.

Most Airbnb failures don't come from bad luck. They come from bad assumptions made before the deal ever closes. In this episode, John Bianchi, founder of STR Search, breaks down how he evaluates short-term rental deals using data most investors either misunderstand or completely ignore. John has helped guide more than $100M+ into short-term rental properties and has reviewed 350+ deals nationwide, all using a strict data-first process designed to avoid downside risk. This conversation focuses on how to pressure-test Airbnb deals so they still work when demand softens, regulations tighten, or competition increases. What we cover: Why many Airbnbs fail within 1–2 years The biggest mistakes investors make when reading Airbnb data How to identify bad data vs. reliable data in AirDNA Why listings must show 270+ days of activity and consistent reviews How regulations can quietly kill otherwise "great" deals Why cash flow matters more for STRs than long-term rentals John's 20% price-to-revenue rule and how it compares to the 1% rule Why Class-A vacation markets often underperform How oversupply, foreign capital, and design arms races crush returns What data reveals about competition, saturation, and revenue durability Why management matters less than buying the right property How John reverse-engineers top-performing listings to find winners Where investors go wrong trying to "make" bad deals work John also explains why he never publicly shares specific markets, how he thinks about regulatory risk at the state and local level, and why not buying a bad deal is often the real win. Resources: STR Search: www.strsearch.com Free 7-Day Airbnb Data Course available on the site This episode is essential listening for anyone considering short-term rentals, especially investors who want clear downside protection, not hype. Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. https://www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits. https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

Anthony Chara joins the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference Speaker Spotlight to talk about why multifamily investing deserves serious attention in 2026. In this conversation, he breaks down what he sees happening in the apartment market, where opportunities may emerge, and why investors need to be ready to analyze deals with discipline. With more than 30 years in real estate, Anthony has owned, partnered in, or syndicated more than 2,000 multifamily units across the United States and internationally. He is known for a practical, numbers-driven approach to underwriting, cash flow, and portfolio growth. Anthony Chara will be speaking at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Monday, April 27 at 4:30 PM. In this episode, you'll hear: Why Anthony believes 2026 could be a key turning point for apartment investors How maturing low-interest loans may create pressure and opportunity in the multifamily market What investors should watch for when evaluating apartment deals this year Why multifamily offers more control over value than many single-family investments How Anthony is beginning to explore AI tools to analyze deals more effectively Learn more about MREIC 2026. View ticket options.

At some point, every real estate investor has to ask a hard question: Is this property still working for me, or am I just holding it out of habit? In this episode, Dan Ihara, a national real estate planner with more than 400 completed 1031 exchanges and over $110M in deferred capital gains, joins Brian Hamrick to talk about how investors should evaluate aging properties, declining returns, and next-stage portfolio decisions. Dan specializes in helping investors recognize when an asset has quietly stopped performing and how tools like Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) can be used to transition into truly passive, tax-efficient ownership—without emotional or rushed decisions. What we cover: How to tell when a property has become dead capital Why many long-held assets produce 0–2% cap rates without owners realizing it How rising taxes, insurance, and expenses quietly erode returns Why most investors don't actually know their current cap rate The difference between appreciation and real performance How DSTs work in practice as a 1031 replacement property Who DSTs are designed for—and who they are not Passive income vs active ownership late in an investor's career How step-up in basis can eliminate capital gains for heirs The role of 721 UPREIT conversions and long-term planning Why real estate causes family conflict after death How pre-inheritance planning can prevent disputes Why real estate planning is about clarity, not control This episode is especially relevant for investors who are: Over 50 and thinking about simplification Tired of active management but hesitant to sell Concerned about capital gains taxes Focused on wealth preservation and family harmony, not just growth Resources Mentioned: Book: Property Decisions: Avoiding Family Disputes and Painful Taxes to Create a Legacy That Lasts by Dan Ihara Available on Amazon (ebook and paperback) Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. https://www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits. https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

AI is no longer theoretical. It is already changing how real estate decisions get made in underwriting, leasing, operations, marketing, asset management, and communication. In this special episode, I sit down with Steve Brown, AI futurist, bestselling author, and former senior leader at Google DeepMind and Intel. Steve is the Opening Keynote Speaker at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference (MREIC), and his message is clear: this shift is happening faster than most people realize—and "wait and see" is not a strategy. Steve's lens is built for real-world operating environments with real assets, teams, capital, and risk. He breaks down what AI changes at the workflow level, where it creates real leverage, and what actually matters now versus what can wait, so you do not waste time, money, or focus chasing the wrong thing. Steve explains what's accelerating in AI right now, what's likely to change over the next few years, and how real estate entrepreneurs and business owners should think about AI as a capability shift, not a collection of tools. In This Episode, Steve Breaks Down: Why AI is moving faster than even experts expected Why buying AI licenses is not a strategy (and what is) How smaller teams can operate like they're 5x or 10x their size The shift from "people are the engine" to "AI becomes the engine" What it takes to rethink workflows, not just adopt tools The biggest fears, misconceptions, and early implementation mistakes leaders make We also dig into the real competitive risk ahead: you won't lose to AI, you'll lose to someone who uses AI better than you. That applies directly to real estate investors. If you own rental properties, manage assets, raise capital, or run a real estate business, this conversation will sharpen how you think about leverage, workflows, and long-term competitiveness. MREIC 2026: Opening Keynote Details Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference (MREIC) DeVos Place Conference Center | Grand Rapids, Michigan April 27–28, 2026 Steve Brown Opening Keynote: Monday, April 27 at 9:00 AM Keynote Title: Navigating What's Next: Practical AI Strategy for Real Estate Investors and Operators Steve will also host a VIP Luncheon at 12:30 PM for attendees who want to go deeper on practical AI strategy and real-world implementation. Learn more and get tickets: midwestreiconference.com About Steve Brown Steve Brown is an AI futurist and former executive at Google DeepMind and Intel. He spent decades helping Fortune 100 companies navigate digital transformation and now advises organizations on how to thrive in the AI era. He is the author of The AI Ultimatum, written specifically for business leaders who want to understand and implement AI strategically. Learn more at: stevebrown.ai Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area. www.livegreenlocal.com And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and Medicare benefits. www.rcbassociatesllc.com