JF 4072: Authentic Branding, Investor Outreach and Growth Plans ft. Eric Burns

John Chang analyzes how perception and data often diverge in real estate investing. Drawing from fresh insights after speaking with investors in Dallas, he contrasts Texas Sunbelt markets with the Upper Midwest to reveal surprising five-year trends in rent growth, vacancies, and pricing. John breaks down why overdevelopment has dampened returns in high-growth metros like Austin and Dallas, while steady markets like Chicago and Cincinnati quietly outperformed. He closes by encouraging investors to look beyond the headlines, challenge herd mentality, and explore under-the-radar markets where fundamentals—not hype—drive performance. Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Casmon interviews Pete Schnepp. Pete shares how he went from running a contracting company to building a 150-door portfolio, including his “five years to freedom” cash-flow goal and the mindset shift from “keep it small, keep it all” to partnering through JVs. He explains why many high-net-worth partners prefer voting rights and alignment over passive LP checks, and how he supplements third-party management to beat market occupancy. You’ll hear practical tactics like speeding up turns, leveraging Facebook Marketplace for leasing, and using your “ikigai” to decide what to scale next. Pete SchneppCurrent role: Founder, Asset Stream Properties; creator of The Deal Room. Based in: Gilbert, Arizona. Say hi to them at: https://assetstreamproperties.com/ | https://peteschnepp.com/ | https://dealroomonline.com/ | LinkedIn | Instagram Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Faircloth interviews Vinney Chopra. Together they explore how Vinney transitioned from multifamily investing into senior housing and hospitality, detailing his use of diversified funds through the Avestor platform and his ability to pivot before the market peak. Vinney explains the “silver tsunami” driving massive demand for assisted living and memory care, the dual benefit of owning both the real estate and the operations, and why hotels are “apartments on steroids.” The conversation wraps with Vinney’s mindset lessons on manifestation, gratitude, and building positivity into every business challenge. Vinney ChopraCurrent role: Founder and CEO of Moneil Investment Group, Moneil Senior Living, and Moneil HospitalityBased in: Danville, CaliforniaSay hi to them at: http://vinneychopra.com/freebenefits Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pascal Wagner reveals his full due diligence process for evaluating private debt and credit funds. Drawing on his experience managing over $150 million as a venture capitalist and investing $3.3 million of his own capital across 23 private deals, Pascal shares the real questions professional investors ask before wiring money. He explains how to identify red flags in fund structures, analyze leverage and default rates, and evaluate manager credibility through a systematic, repeatable vetting process. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of Beyond Multifamily, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel dive into real numbers from recent deals and the systems that keep their operation moving even while traveling. Amanda breaks down a South Carolina mobile home park bought for 190k and sold for 735k, netting a little over 420k after paying back private lenders, plus a quick-turn plan on a rough 15-lot park and several land-home plays where undervalued existing homes create hidden upside. They unpack speed-to-close, encroachment fixes, broker selection, and why some manufactured homes aren’t worth relocating. Ash shares a clean investor waterfall that returns 100% of principal and pref, then splits 60-40 to GPs, highlighting alignment and when to hold versus exit. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of Capital Clinic, Richard McGirr interviews Eric Burns. Eric shares his journey from firefighter to capital raiser, explaining how his hands-on experience as a landlord led him to transition into passive investing and ultimately focus on fund-to-funds syndication. He and Richard discuss how personal storytelling can build trust in capital raising, how to identify ideal investor avatars, and why fund-to-funds offer both flexibility and compliance benefits. Eric also receives strategic advice on diversifying into debt funds to balance investor goals between income and growth, while learning to leverage his own background to connect authentically with prospects. Eric BurnsCurrent role: Founder and Capital Raiser, Burns CapitalBased in: Cincinnati, OhioSay hi to them at: https://burnscapitalgroup.com | Linkedin Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of Unlimited Capital, Richard McGirr interviews Brittany Barchalk. They present the findings from a joint research project exploring how lead sponsors can turn their existing LPs into fund-of-funds managers to scale capital raises more effectively. Brittany, Head of Marketing and a founding team member at Tribevest, explains how the company’s platform simplifies fund formation, entity setup, and back-office operations—making it easier for aspiring managers to launch and manage SPVs. Together, they discuss what separates successful fund-of-funds managers from those who struggle, the red flags to watch for, and how sponsors can identify and empower top-performing capital partners to build repeatable, scalable systems. Brittany BarchalkCurrent role: Head of Marketing, TribevestBased in: Columbus, OhioSay hi to them at: https://tribevest.com | LinkedIn Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of The Horizon Podcast, John Chang explores whether the U.S. economy is heading toward a mild recession, a period of slow growth, or a stronger-than-expected expansion in 2026. Drawing on conversations with top investors, economists, and market data, John weighs the indicators pointing both ways—such as unemployment, inflation, consumer sentiment, and the yield curve—and examines how the stock market’s performance has been propping up overall growth. He also breaks down key commercial real estate insights, from updated absorption and vacancy rates to rising cap rate opportunities, and shares why now may be the window for institutional capital to reenter the market. The episode concludes with John’s measured optimism about CRE’s long-term performance despite near-term volatility. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews Christopher Tiessen. They dig into how mechanical “puzzle parking” multiplies stall counts on tight sites, helping developers hit parking ratios, reclaim rentable square footage, and preserve project feasibility. Chris explains safety redundancies, EV-charging integrations, and where these systems pencil best—from New Jersey and California to student housing in Columbus and land-locked mountain markets. He also shares real-world outcomes, costs per space, and why educating municipalities is often the unlock for approvals. Christopher TiessenCurrent role: President & CEO, KLAUS Multiparking AmericaBased in: Hightstown, New Jersey Say hi to them at: https://us.multiparking.com/ | LinkedIn | YouTube Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Danielle Ash. Danielle, a partner at Adler & Stachenfeld LLP’s Real Estate Group, breaks down the fascinating world of ground leases—how they separate land ownership from building ownership, the financial advantages for both parties, and how modern structures avoid the pitfalls of older leases. She and Matt discuss how developers can use ground leases to unlock capital, manage risk, and even access new financing channels without selling their land. Danielle also shares insights into the evolving landscape of institutional capital, non-recourse lending, and why patient, long-term investors are shaping the future of commercial real estate. Danielle AshCurrent role: Partner, Adler & Stachenfeld LLP’s Real Estate GroupBased in: New York, New YorkSay hi to them at: https://adstach.com/ | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellealexandraash Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at ⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠ Podcast production done by ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices