JF 4240: The Importance of Operational Excellence and Owner Mindset ft. Doron Levi

Matt Faircloth interviews Justin Spillers and Brandon Virgallito, founders of Real Estate Alpha and winners of the Best Ever Conference 10 Pitch Slam. They share how they built their multifamily business over nearly a decade by focusing on disciplined acquisitions, in-house operations, standardized renovation systems, and scaling through repeatable processes rather than chasing trends. The conversation explores their approach to sourcing off-market opportunities, creating value through operational excellence, and launching a unique preferred equity fund structure designed around alignment and long-term portfolio growth. Justin and Brandon also preview how they plan to bring practical lessons on acquisitions, leasing, property management, renovations, and capital raising to their Best Ever podcast takeover. Justin Spillers Partner & Manager of Real Estate Alpha Based in: Minster, Ohio Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinspillers/ realestatealpha.io/ Brandon Virgallito Managing Member of Real Estate Alpha Based in: Dayton Metropolitan Area Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bvirgallito/ Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info.  Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard interviews Steven Loewer, a Canadian private mortgage lender with more than $400 million in transaction volume, to explore how private lending can create cash flow opportunities backed by real estate. Steven shares his transition from commercial mortgage training to private lending. He explains how Canadian mortgage markets differ from those in the U.S., including their stronger presence of residential private lending and unique foreclosure structures. The conversation breaks down how private mortgage investing works, what makes a deal attractive, and why capital preservation, security, and exit strategy matter more than chasing yield. They also discuss second-position lending, bridge financing, and how disciplined underwriting can create consistent returns while avoiding common investor mistakes. Steven Loewer Current role: Co-Founder of Creative Title Company Colorado Based in: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenloewer/ https://www.instagram.com/stevenloewer/ Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://malabarhillcapital.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Faircloth talks to Doron Levi as he shares how his unique background in development fuels his ability to spot off-market opportunities across the U.S., including multifamily, RV parks, and even historic venue spaces. Whether you're a passive investor, an operator, or an aspiring developer, you’ll learn how to build a portfolio that withstands market shifts and creates lasting value. This isn't just about real estate, it's about transforming your mindset, relationships, and operational approach to scale smarter and faster. Doron Levi Current role: Commercial Real Estate Development & Acquisition Based in: Greater Philadelphia Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doron-levi-67a4513b/ https://www.instagram.com/doronlevirei/ Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info.  Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda and Ash dives into real-world applications of AI, how a legal battle with a tenant was won using AI formatting, how property managers are leveraging chat features to streamline leasing, and how entrepreneurs are building AI-powered agents that outpace traditional apps. You'll learn about the cost benefits of AI tools like Claude Cowork and ChatGPT, including how to build skills and processes that live beyond individual employees, safeguarding your knowledge and operations. They also break down critical topics like AI's role in layoffs, why companies are using 'rescue capital' as an excuse to impose huge losses on investors, and how to spot overhyped investments in markets like Phoenix. Plus, get insider tips on how to ethically analyze real estate deals, defend against misrepresentations, and set up your own AI infrastructure to stay ahead. Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info.  Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard McGirr talks about how his firm crushed their previous fundraising record with $6.1 million, but the real secret lies in how they’re turning this momentum into a repeatable pipeline. He explains how a strategic cross-sell campaign, tapping into existing relationships, generated over a quarter-million dollars in commitments overnight, all by leveraging personalized Loom videos and exclusive tier-based perks. Discover the step-by-step behind the scenes, including how personalized outreach and complex concepts like "relationship balance" can unlock new capital without chasing cold leads. Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info.  Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Faircloth talks to Jake Heller as he reveals how experienced real estate professionals are building digital brains tailored to their unique models, saving time, reducing errors, and giving a competitive edge. You’ll learn practical strategies to incorporate AI into deal underwriting, asset management, and deal sourcing, plus the critical importance of prompt engineering using the RTCF framework to get the most accurate results. If you’re a real estate investor, broker, or developer tired of cookie-cutter solutions, this episode is your playbook for integrating AI to elevate your deals and decision-making. Stay ahead of the curve future-proof your business with insights on proprietary data, custom AI brains, and the next generation of automation that’s just around the corner. Jake Heller Current role: Co-Founder of AI for CRE Collective Based in: Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeheller1 aiforcrecollective.com Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info.  Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ash Patel and Amanda Cruise interview Chris Reece, who explains how he’s generating double-digit returns by lending into the cannabis real estate sector, where traditional banks won’t operate. He breaks down his strategy of issuing short-term, senior secured loans at 12–15% while underwriting properties at non-cannabis valuations to protect downside risk. Chris also shares why this opportunity is temporary, driven by limited capital access and regulatory barriers, and how future legalization could compress returns as more lenders enter the space. He highlights the importance of conservative underwriting, personal guarantees, and strong borrower vetting in a volatile but high-demand market. The episode emphasizes how scarcity of capital creates outsized returns today, while disciplined risk management is what sustains them long term. Chris Reece Current role: Founder & CEO of MJ REIT Based in: Greater Philadelphia Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-r-reece/ www.mj-reit.com Visit https://m1.com/ for more info.  Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard McGirr interviews George Salas, who breaks down how he’s scaled his capital raising by focusing on fund-of-funds relationships instead of relying on traditional retail investors. He explains how partnering with established capital raisers allowed him to bypass building a full marketing engine early on, accelerating growth and helping him raise over $4M. George shares how structuring deals around specific portfolios rather than blind pool funds made his offering more attractive to fund managers, especially when he lacked a long fund track record. He also dives into his process for building relationships through in-person events, refining follow-up systems, and leveraging CRM tools to stay organized. The episode wraps with actionable strategies around email marketing, investor nurturing, and scaling capital through both institutional partnerships and emerging retail channels. George Salas Current role: Chief Executive Officer of Empress Capital, Founder of Creative STR Wealth Based in: Houston, Texas Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgesalas360/ EmpressCapitalGroup.com Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info.  Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

J Scott interviews Anna Kelley in this Next Level CRE Takeover, who breaks down why multifamily has been hit by one of its worst downturns in history, driven by rising interest rates, higher treasury yields, and surging operating costs. She explains that cap rate expansion alone has pushed property values down by 30–40%, while inflation has simultaneously increased expenses such as insurance and taxes, creating a “double squeeze” on investors. They also dive into the broader economic picture, covering inflation risks, tariffs, global conflict, and the growing impact of liquidity constraints on real estate. Anna highlights why debt structure has become the biggest risk factor for investors and warns that a prolonged period of stagflation or recession could reshape the market. Despite the challenges, she emphasizes that disciplined underwriting, long-term debt, and strategic positioning in hard assets can create major opportunities for investors who are prepared. Anna Kelly Current role: President - Greater Purpose Capital LLC Based in: Palmyra, Pennsylvania Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-kelley-reimom/ https://www.facebook.com/annakelleyreimom/ J Scott Current role: General Partner of Bar Down Investments LLC, Partner / Co-Founder of ScottBuilt Based in: Sarasota, Florida Where to find them: https://linktr.ee/jscottinvestor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jscottinvestor/ Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info.  Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Leo Young, who shares how he scaled to 500+ mobile home park units while navigating increasing competition and regulatory pressure. He explains his strategy of improving communities, raising rents toward market, and shifting from quick exits to longer-term holds through refinancing to maximize investor returns. The conversation highlights how operators are being squeezed by both institutional capital and new investors entering the space, making deal flow harder to find. Leo also breaks down the realities of managing across multiple states, emphasizing geographic diversification to hedge against evolving regulations such as rent control. He discusses expanding into RV parks, the operational differences compared to mobile home parks, and why operator execution matters more than asset class. Throughout, he stresses disciplined underwriting, strong systems, and building the right team as the key to long-term success in a tightening market. Leo Young Current role: Managing Partner at Cornell Communities Based in: New York, New York Where to find them: https://www.youtube.com/c/LeoYoungRealEstate https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-young/ Visit ⁠trustetc.com/bestever⁠ for more info. Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info.  Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices