Episode 305. 5 Things I Got Completely Wrong About Multifamily
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
Release Date: 06/08/2026
Episode 305. 5 Things I Got Completely Wrong About Multifamily
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
When I first got started in multifamily investing, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of how the business worked. I was listening to podcasts, reading books, attending networking events, analyzing deals, and trying to learn as much as possible. Like many new investors, I had a lot of assumptions about what it would take to succeed. Some of those assumptions were right. A lot of them were wrong. In this episode, I share five things I got completely wrong about multifamily investing and the lessons I've learned after buying, operating, and selling 194 units and continuing to own and...
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Episode 304. If I Lost Everything, Here's Exactly How I'd Rebuild in Multifamily Real Estate
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
What if you lost everything tomorrow? No portfolio. No apartment buildings. No broker relationships. No track record. Just your knowledge, your work ethic, and a desire to build wealth through multifamily real estate. In this episode, I walk through the exact roadmap I would follow if I had to start over from scratch in today's market. Not during the low interest rate boom. Not when every deal seemed to work. Right now. I break down the difference between being a Limited Partner (LP) and a General Partner (GP), why most aspiring investors skip important steps, and how I would strategically...
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Episode 303: Refis, Rising Rates, and a 44 Unit Nobody Wants to Buy
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
What does multifamily investing actually look like in today's market? In this episode, I pull back the curtain on what's happening inside my own portfolio right now. I'm dealing with a refinance on a 6-unit property after a planned sale fell apart. Rates moved almost immediately, changing the economics of the deal. At the same time, we're working through a refinance on our 13-unit portfolio while trying to position a 44-unit property for sale in a market where buyers seem hesitant to pull the trigger. I also share conversations I've had with other operators who are feeling the pressure from...
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Episode 302. Stop Waiting to Feel Ready
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
A lot of people want to get into multifamily real estate. Very few ever actually take action. In this episode, I talk about my own journey from growing up without money, becoming a teacher, working side hustles for years, and slowly building my way into multifamily apartment investing. My mom was on Section 8 for much of my childhood. My dad was a waiter. Nobody around me was talking about apartment buildings, financial freedom, ownership, or investing. I had to completely rebuild my mindset over time while learning how to operate in an entirely different world. I share how I went from...
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Episode 301. Most Multifamily Deals Still Donât Work Right Now
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
In this episode, I talk about why most multifamily deals still do not work today even after prices have dropped from the peak market of 2021 and 2022. A lot of people hear that prices are down and assume everything suddenly became a good deal again. But debt is more expensive, insurance has exploded, taxes are rising, payroll and maintenance costs are up, and many sellers are still trying to sell based on unrealistic projections from years ago. I break down why I eliminate deals quickly, what I look for when underwriting, and why I would rather buy a conservative deal with fixed debt than...
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Episode 300. 300 Episodes Later â What This Business Has Taught Me
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
Episode 300 means a lot to meânot because of the number itself, but because of what it represents. Nearly six years of recording every week, continuing forward even when life was busy, stressful, or uncertain. In this episode, I take a step back and share what that consistency has taught me, not just about podcasting, but about multifamily investing and building something over time. I talk through how my expectations at the beginning didnât match reality, how my understanding of deals and risk has evolved, and how experience has shaped the way I make decisions today. I also get into the...
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Episode 299. Why Most People Quit Before Their First Deal
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
Most people donât quit multifamily because theyâre not capable. They quit because what they thought this would be⌠and what it actually is⌠are two very different things. In this episode, I walk through what really happens when you start trying to get your first deal. The early excitement, the confusion when deals donât make sense, the silence from brokers, and the long stretch where it feels like youâre putting in effort without seeing results. I also break down what it actually takes to stay in it long enough to get that first deal done. The patience, the repetition, the...
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Episode 298. Youâre Not âWaitingâ⌠Youâre Not in the Game (Why Youâll Never See the Best Deals)â
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
âIâm just waiting for the right deal.â Sounds smart. Sounds disciplined. But most of the time? Itâs not patience⌠itâs avoidance. In this episode, I break down whatâs really happening when you say youâre âwaitingâ and why that mindset is keeping you out of the game completely. Because the truth is⌠Youâre not missing deals you pass on. Youâre missing the ones you never even see. The off-market opportunities. The broker relationships. The deals that get tied up before they ever hit your inbox. If youâre not in the mix, you donât even know they exist. And thatâs...
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Episode 297. Your First Multifamily Deal Wonât Cash Flow (And Thatâs Why Youâre Still Broke)
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
Everyone wants their first multifamily deal to spit out cash flow from day one. Thatâs the dream theyâve been sold. Buy the deal. Collect rent. Quit your job. But in todayâs market? Thatâs not how this game works. In this episode, I break down the truth most people donât want to hear: Your first deal probably isnât going to cash flow the way you expect⌠and that doesnât mean itâs a bad deal. Iâm talking about whatâs actually happening right now in the market: higher debt, rising expenses, flat rents, and why deals feel âtightâ or donât pencil at all. More...
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Episode 296. Raising Capital for Multifamily in Todayâs Market (Itâs Not Easy)
Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires
In this episode, I talk about what itâs actually like to raise capital for multifamily deals in todayâs market. Itâs not easy. Iâm currently operating 90 units and actively working on deals, and I can tell you firsthandâraising money right now is very different than it was a few years ago. Investors are more cautious. Conversations are slower. Some people arenât investing at all. I break down: Why capital raising has become more difficult What investors have seen over the past few years How deals that looked strong didnât always perform Why transparency and honesty matter more...
info_outlineWhen I first got started in multifamily investing, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of how the business worked.
I was listening to podcasts, reading books, attending networking events, analyzing deals, and trying to learn as much as possible. Like many new investors, I had a lot of assumptions about what it would take to succeed.
Some of those assumptions were right.
A lot of them were wrong.
In this episode, I share five things I got completely wrong about multifamily investing and the lessons I've learned after buying, operating, and selling 194 units and continuing to own and manage a growing portfolio today.
We discuss:
- Why bigger isn't always better
- Why cash flow doesn't solve every problem
- The realities of partnerships
- Why raising capital never gets as easy as people think
- Why buying the deal is only the beginning
Whether you're looking for your first multifamily property or already own rental real estate, these lessons come from real-world experience, mistakes, successes, and everything in between.
If you're currently underwriting deals, talking to brokers, raising capital, or trying to grow your portfolio, I think you'll find something valuable in this conversation.
Interested in learning more about multifamily investing?
Get access to my resources, trainings, and community at:
stan.store/buybuildings
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