• From Psychiatry to Real Estate: Building Wealth and Impact with Dr. Elaine Stageberg.
    Jun 29 2023

    In this episode, Dr. Elaine Stageberg, a psychiatrist and mother of four, shares her inspiring journey to financial independence through real estate investing. From converting her primary home into a rental property to establishing Black Swan Real Estate, she now manages a third of a billion in assets. Driven by an investor-focused approach and a commitment to transparency, she emphasizes continuous learning, leadership development, and maintaining grace and humor. Join us as we delve into her remarkable story, highlighting the power of determination and the vast potential of real estate investment. Tune in to gain insights and inspiration for your own financial journey.

    Links mentioned:

    The Rate Guy 

    The Real Estate Espresso

    meetblackswan.com


    Dr. Elaine Stageberg’s Bio:

    Elaine Stageberg, MD, MHA is a psychiatrist, mother of 4, & Owner of Black Swan Real Estate. She owns & manages a portfolio of over $300M in assets under management. Through real estate investing, she reached financial freedom in her 30s and now helps others to do the same; Black Swan has delivered exceptional returns to hundreds of passive investors through their unique investor-focused private equity funds which enjoy no sponsor fees whatsoever, 100% return of capital to investors before any splits, and long-term returns and tax advantages, all coupled with socially conscious investing and at least 5% of profits donated to charity. Connect with her at meetblackswan.com.


    Tweetables:

    “How can I learn from this pain and how can I structure my life such that I don't feel this pain anymore?” [00:08:48]

    “So if you’re feeling pain, like ask yourself, what is this pain trying to teach me?” [00:10:39]

    “You just show up and say, how can I get a foot closer to my, my ideal future vision every single day?” [00:14:50]

    “Live today like no one will so that later you can live like no one can.” [00:20:04]

    “But it’s really not that far if you just choose to have a little bit of short-term pain in exchange for the long-term pain.” [00:20;57]













    The main sponsor of our podcast is Rx Real Estate Investment. They make everything we do possible, and our conversations and interviews would not be available without their support. If you want to diversify your retirement portfolio and get into commercial real estate investing, working with Rx Real Estate Investment may be a great match for you. Check out the website at www.rxrei.com. 

    Connect with us!
    Jeff Stark
    Claude Condo
    Newsletter

    Show more Show less
    59 mins
  • Redefining Real Estate Investing: Insights from Nick Stageberg of Black Swan Real Estate
    Jun 21 2023

    In this episode, we sit down with Nick Stageberg, owner of Black Swan Real Estate, a thriving investment and property management firm. Nick shares his inspiring journey to financial independence in his 30s and his mission to help others achieve the same. With a portfolio of over a thousand doors and assets exceeding $300 million, Nick emphasizes the power of adding value to properties through renovations and attracting ideal tenants. Discover how Black Swan's investor-focused private equity funds have delivered exceptional returns while maintaining a commitment to social consciousness through charitable donations. Join us as Nick unveils the unique Vertical Integrated strategy, shares insights on tax advantages, and emphasizes the importance of trustworthy partnerships. 

     Learn how strategic real estate investing can pave the way to financial independence and success. Tune in now!


    Links Mentioned:

    meetblackswan.com


    Nick Stageberg’s Bio:

     Nick Stageberg is a career technologist, father to 4 children, and Owner of Black Swan Real Estate, a real estate investment and property management company. Along with his wife Elaine, Nick owns and manages a real estate portfolio of over 1,000 doors and more than $300M in assets under management. Through real estate investing, Nick reached financial freedom in his 30s and now helps others to do the same. Black Swan has delivered exceptional returns to hundreds of passive investors through their unique investor-focused private equity funds which enjoy no sponsor fees whatsoever, 100% return of capital to investors before any splits, and long-term returns and tax advantages, all coupled with socially conscious investing and at least 5% of profits donated to charity. Connect with Nick at meetblackswan.com.

     

    Tweetables:

    “I don't know why this is a revolutionary thought, but doing the right thing is actually the profitable thing to do.” (16:06)

    “If this was just about making money, this would not be interesting to us. This is about so much more than money.” (42:12)

    “If you take care of homeless people, the whole neighborhood does better. If you give homeless people a home, they're not homeless anymore.” (44:37)

    “If you lead with principle, if you lead with your heart, it's very easy to serve people.” (48:28)

    The main sponsor of our podcast is Rx Real Estate Investment. They make everything we do possible, and our conversations and interviews would not be available without their support. If you want to diversify your retirement portfolio and get into commercial real estate investing, working with Rx Real Estate Investment may be a great match for you. Check out the website at www.rxrei.com. 

    Connect with us!
    Jeff Stark
    Claude Condo
    Newsletter

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Tale of Transformation: From Federal Reserve Exec, to Self-Storage Investor, with Sergio Altomare
    Jun 6 2023

    In this episode, Sergio Altomare shares his journey from working at the Federal Reserve to becoming a successful real estate investor. He started as a file clerk and developed a passion for IT and technology. He transitioned into real estate investing with a focus on self-storage due to its recession resilience. He emphasizes the importance of cash flow and net worth in property investments and discusses the significance of strategic decision-making and building strong relationships. He also highlights the importance of stress tolerance, mindful habits, and eliminating ego to scale his business. His long-term vision includes building an elite company and launching a charitable organization focused on education.


    Links mentioned:
    Blinkist
    LinkedIn – Sergio Altomare
    hfirecapital.com
    investwithsergio.com


    Sergio Altomare’s Bio:
    After transitioning into real estate as a side business in 2012, Sergio partnered with his wife Corinn to start Healthfire Holdings, a boutique real estate investment and property management company. In just eight short years, Hearthfire Holdings has built a portfolio of more than $50M in assets under management and syndicated over $12M in assets, returning more than $2M in profit and 25% IRR to investors. Property types have spanned in small multi-family, commercial, retail, and self-storage properties. Sergio has also flipped houses and rehabbed properties and multi-family developments. 

    Tweetables:

    “I give 100% to every aspect of my life. And it starts with taking care of myself and my intentionality. My meditation, my faith, that goes into making sure that I am paying attention to what is most important.” (41:33)

    “Money is not most important. Most important is our purpose. Our biggest purpose in our household is to share impact, whether it be for our team, whether it be for our investors, to help people be exposed to investing, to building wealth for the entire life” (42:01)

    “We don't define wealth in terms of just net worth. It's about having a fulfilling, intentional life where you're able to have that purpose, follow your passions, be where you're at, where your heart is at.” (42:29)

    “but it's really about understanding your passions and what drive you.” (46:34)









    The main sponsor of our podcast is Rx Real Estate Investment. They make everything we do possible, and our conversations and interviews would not be available without their support. If you want to diversify your retirement portfolio and get into commercial real estate investing, working with Rx Real Estate Investment may be a great match for you. Check out the website at www.rxrei.com. 

    Connect with us!
    Jeff Stark
    Claude Condo
    Newsletter

    Show more Show less
    50 mins
  • Turning Dreams into Deals and Crafting an Extraordinary Vision of Life, with Pasha Esfandiary
    May 19 2023

    Join us as we delve into the extraordinary life and career of Pasha Esfandiary in this captivating episode. Pasha's journey encompasses diverse experiences in real estate and entrepreneurship, including a lucrative stint as a professional poker player. With his sharp strategic thinking and calculated risks, he achieved financial success that surpassed even top executives. He made a pivotal decision to transition into the world of real estate, which he considered his ultimate end game. Throughout the episode, Pasha generously shares invaluable insights from his entrepreneurial journey, reflecting on the lessons he gleaned from poker and offering firsthand experiences navigating the dynamic real estate market. 

    Prepare to be inspired by Pasha Esfandiary's remarkable story of charting an unconventional path and pursuing passions beyond the confines of convention. Don't miss out on this episode, where you'll gain exclusive insights from Pasha, a real estate flipper, investor, professional poker player, and the visionary founder of the Evoke Capital Fund.

     
    Links mentioned in today's episode:
    Evoke Capital
    Road to 100

    About Pasha Esfandiary

    Pasha Esfandiary started his real estate career in 2011, flipping auctioned homes. With over $250 million in transactions, he has worked on various property types, including residential homes, boutique motels, and large multifamily properties. In 2021, Pasha founded Evoke Capital to help others achieve financial freedom through real estate. With a focus on community development, Evoke Capital aims to provide more than just housing, fostering educational resources and empowering residents to thrive. Pasha's commitment to growth ensures that Evoke Capital is just beginning its real estate journey.


    Tweetables:

    “I get super like crystal freaking clear of my vision and who I want to be in my vision and I emotionally attach myself to that vision.” (15:06:0662)

    “Would I rather listen to my limiting belief or would I rather live in my vision?” (17:56:642)

    “Whatever you think about, you become.” (19:10:826)

    “And when there’s good communication and trust there, you can weather the storm.” ((33:43:922)

    “If I could teach any child the power of I can go accomplish this, just that one thought alone can change the trajectory of somebody’s life tremendously.” (46:56:618)

    “Environment is stronger than willpower until willpower is stronger than the environment.” (48:21:678)







    The main sponsor of our podcast is Rx Real Estate Investment. They make everything we do possible, and our conversations and interviews would not be available without their support. If you want to diversify your retirement portfolio and get into commercial real estate investing, working with Rx Real Estate Investment may be a great match for you. Check out the website at www.rxrei.com. 

    Connect with us!
    Jeff Stark
    Claude Condo
    Newsletter

    Show more Show less
    51 mins
  • Embracing Discomfort & Writing Your Own Story with Jessica Smith Dos Santos
    May 9 2023


    Welcome to our podcast featuring special guest Jessica Smith Dos Santos, a life coach who will challenge you to think differently about the choices you make in your life.

    In this episode, Jessica discusses the idea of making decisions and the importance of being willing to embrace discomfort in order to achieve your goals. She poses thought-provoking questions such as, "What are the things in your life that you are sick and tired of?" and "How willing are you to be uncomfortable?" Jessica encourages listeners to reflect on their own lives and to consider whether they are truly ready to let go of old patterns and habits that no longer serve them.

    Through her own personal experiences, 17 years of nursing, and insights gained from working with clients, Jessica highlights the fact that deciding to make a change means giving death to all other options. She reminds us that life is not going to get easier or more comfortable, and that we must be emotionally prepared to cope with the discomfort that comes with growth and change. Ultimately, she challenges us to ask ourselves, "Am I willing to be uncomfortable in order to create a new and better story for my life?"

    Tune in to this inspiring conversation to gain new perspectives and motivation to make the changes you want in your life.

    Links from today's episode:
    Jessica's Facebook
    Dr. Anderson Conscience Leadership Forum

    About Jessica Smith Dos Santos:
    Jessica Smith Dos Santos is a high-level business mentor who helps health coaches to successfully grow and scale their coaching businesses. Unlike traditional coaching programs that teach only the basics and leave you to build your business on your own, Jessica's 1:1 apprenticeship model teaches you how to grow and scale your business while maximizing income and impact from the very beginning.

    The focus of Jessica's coaching is on empowering clients in their physical, mental, and financial health by breaking the chains of poor lifestyle habits through habit retraining. Her ultimate goal is to help her clients learn the skills needed to love the lives they live.

    Jessica's background is in nursing, and after 17 years of frustration with serving people within the confines of a healthcare system that only reacts to illness, she decided to retire from her nursing career. Her experience has taught her that merely helping people to live with disease is not her calling, and that she wants to make a bigger impact on people's lives.

    If you're looking to take your health coaching business to the next level and maximize your impact and income, Jessica Smith Dos Santos is a mentor who can help you achieve your goals.

    Tweetables:
    To decide means to give death to all other options.

    How will are you to uncomfortable?

    What is one thing in your life you are sick and tired of?

    I am no longer willing for this to be my life story.





    The main sponsor of our podcast is Rx Real Estate Investment. They make everything we do possible, and our conversations and interviews would not be available without their support. If you want to diversify your retirement portfolio and get into commercial real estate investing, working with Rx Real Estate Investment may be a great match for you. Check out the website at www.rxrei.com. 

    Connect with us!
    Jeff Stark
    Claude Condo
    Newsletter

    Show more Show less
    53 mins
  • Diversify Your Skills and Investments to Prepare for Future Changes in the Industry with Kayla Smith
    Apr 25 2023

    Welcome to this episode of our podcast! Today, we have a special guest, Kalya Smith, a graduate student who will share her perspective on collecting skills and preparing for uncertainty.

    In a rapidly changing world, it's essential to equip ourselves with skills that will help us navigate uncertain times. Kalya has been collecting skills throughout her academic journey, and she'll discuss how she's been able to apply these skills in various aspects of her life.

    Kalya will also share her thoughts on how she's been preparing for uncertainty, not just in her career but also in her personal life. She'll offer practical tips and insights on how you can start building your skillset and preparing for whatever the future holds.

    So sit back, relax, and tune in to this exciting episode as we hear from Kalya Smith and gain valuable insights on collecting skills and preparing for uncertainty.

    WATCH EPISODE HERE

    Tweetables:
    “It takes a lifetime to build your name but a minute to destroy it.” [00:24:01]

    “You do have to protect your reputation and ensure you're doing right by everybody as much as you can even if it means passing on deals to do so.” [00:24:12]

    “Abundant caution is the rule of the day.”  [00:31:00]

    The main sponsor of our podcast is Rx Real Estate Investment. They make everything we do possible, and our conversations and interviews would not be available without their support. If you want to diversify your retirement portfolio and get into commercial real estate investing, working with Rx Real Estate Investment may be a great match for you. Check out the website at www.rxrei.com. 

    Connect with us!
    Jeff Stark
    Claude Condo
    Newsletter

    Show more Show less
    35 mins
  • From Flipper to Lender and Lessons Learned Along the Way with Yoav Gilad
    Apr 11 2023

    Being able to pivot in the real estate investing business is a valuable key to success. Our guest, Yoav Gilad, did that as he transitioned from flipper to lender. It hasn’t been an easy journey for him. He faced many challenges and made mistakes along the way that might have cost him much, but the lessons learned are valuable to him and everyone who hears and learns from his story. 


    Key Points from This Episode:

    • How did Yoav and his wife learn about house hacking and what were their initial steps?
    • What did they gain from enrolling in a $40,000 real estate course?
    • What challenges did they encounter in remotely buying houses through county tax auctions?
    • How did he discover lending? What path led him from being a flipper to a lender? 
    • Did they have to get another training to start their lending business? What was their first step?
    • How long have they been in the private lending business and how did they scale from their first deal to becoming full-time lenders in 44 states?
    • As private lenders, who do they like to partner with? Do they prefer a specific niche to help finance?
    • What are the kind of deals that they don’t like to fund?
    • The story of a deal that went wrong.
    • Given the current market trend and rising interest rates, what are his insights and advice as a private lender to other investors?


    Tweetables:

    “It takes a lifetime to build your name but a minute to destroy it.” [00:24:01]


    “You do have to protect your reputation and ensure you're doing right by everybody as much as you can even if it means passing on deals to do so.” [00:24:12]


    “Abundant caution is the rule of the day.”  [00:31:00]


    Links Mentioned:

    Green Block website

    Yoav Gilad on LinkedIn


    About Yoav Gilad

    Yoav began investing in real estate in 2007, just in time for his first rental purchase to lose half its value. Fortunately, he hadn’t quit his day job just yet. After the recovery, Yoav and his wife and partner, Marcia, flipped houses, wrote land-contract deals, and BRRR’d other homes. When someone coincidentally approached the Gilads for a loan, they incorporated Green Block and wrote their first loan. They are now full-time private lenders in 44 states, with investors across the country. Additionally, they have participated in multiple syndications and were key partners in their first deal, a 98-unit, last year. Yes, the rate is locked (at 4.25%) and the property is performing well.


    Connect with us!

    Claude Condo on LinkedIn

    Jeff Stark on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to our newsletter!



    The main sponsor of our podcast is Rx Real Estate Investment. They make everything we do possible, and our conversations and interviews would not be available without their support. If you want to diversify your retirement portfolio and get into commercial real estate investing, working with Rx Real Estate Investment may be a great match for you. Check out the website at www.rxrei.com. 

    Connect with us!
    Jeff Stark
    Claude Condo
    Newsletter

    Show more Show less
    38 mins
  • Keep Investing, but Always Calibrate Your Strategy! with Andrew Cushman
    Apr 4 2023

    Today, we sit with someone who has made it big in the multifamily industry, Andrew Cushman. We pick his brain on how to successfully invest in real estate even in the midst of rising interest rates and a lot of uncertainties in the market. 

    Learn how to vet a sponsor, get genuine referrals, and know when to do a deal. You’ll get tons of value and investing strategies in this episode so be sure to tune in!


    Key Points from This Episode:

    • Andrew’s background as a chemical engineer.
    • Andrew’s transition from leaving his job into full-time house flipping.
    • Andrew’s transition from house flipping into apartment units.
    • Andrew explains what a real estate syndication, limited partner, and general partner are.
    • How to vet a sponsor and get a genuine referral.
    • The value of detailed, complete and transparent communication with investors.
    • A good strategy for syndicators to know when to do a deal.
    • Andrew explains the big difference in the multifamily space from when the financial crisis hit in 2008 to the recession and financial crisis happening now.
    • What opportunities does Andrew see in the multifamily market in the midst of rising interest rates?
    • Andrew’s advice for people who are unsure if it’s a good time to invest because of the uncertainties in the market.
    • Andrew shares the lessons he learned from past mistakes as an investor.


    Tweetables:

    “You are investing more in that sponsor than you are in any particular deal.” [00:10:04]

    “You cannot time the market, you have to buy the right assets in the right place and structure them properly. And then make sure that you have plenty of flexibility on the exit.”  [00:22:13]

    “It's not, ‘Don't invest,’ it's ‘Change the strategy’ to fit the market that we're in so that you can still make successful investments.”  [00:33:02]


    Links Mentioned:

    Andrew Cushman on LinkedIn

    Vantage Point Acquisitions (VPACQ) website

    The Hands-Off Investor by Brian Burke

    Macro Voices Podcast

    Derivative Logic website

    Globe Street Bisnow


    About Andrew Cushman

    Andrew Cushman is a former chemical engineer who found his entrepreneurial calling in real estate. In 2007, Andrew left his corporate position to start a business in real estate investment, starting off flipping single-family properties in Southern California. Sensing a shift in the market, in 2011 Andrew transitioned to multifamily acquisitions and has successfully syndicated and repositioned over 2,600 multifamily units. He is a frequent guest and panelist on Real Estate podcasts and educational forums. Outside of the business world, Andrew has been a certified alpine ski instructor and when not working in real estate enjoys surfing, backcountry skiing, and trying to not be outwitted by his two young children.


    Connect with us!

    Claude Condo on LinkedIn

    The main sponsor of our podcast is Rx Real Estate Investment. They make everything we do possible, and our conversations and interviews would not be available without their support. If you want to diversify your retirement portfolio and get into commercial real estate investing, working with Rx Real Estate Investment may be a great match for you. Check out the website at www.rxrei.com. 

    Connect with us!
    Jeff Stark
    Claude Condo
    Newsletter

    Show more Show less
    59 mins