How to Buy Back Your Time through Real Estate with Jonathan Nichols, Ep. 701
Release Date: 04/04/2025
The #1 Cause of Water Damage in Multifamily (And How to Prevent It) with Phil DePaul, Ep. 777
Multifamily Insights
Phil DePaul is a home-services entrepreneur and the CEO of Boom Zell Enterprises, which includes United Water Restoration Group of Long Island and 1-Tom-Plumber Long Island. Raised in a blue-collar household with a father who was a plumber, Phil spent more than a decade helping scale a family-owned plumbing wholesale business before leaving to build companies of his own. Today, he focuses on restoration, plumbing, and related services, with a leadership philosophy centered on action, accountability, and restoring people before properties. Make sure to download our free guide, 7...
info_outline
How Investors Lose Money in Multifamily, Ep. 776
Multifamily Insights
In this solo episode, we break down the most common ways investors lose money in apartment investing. And, more importantly, how to avoid them. While multifamily is a powerful wealth-building vehicle, it’s not foolproof. We walk through real-world examples from my own portfolio to highlight where deals go wrong, from negative cash flow and over-leverage to bad partners and poor business planning. This episode is a practical guide for investors who want to protect capital, reduce risk, and build durable multifamily portfolios. Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions...
info_outline
How a First-Time Investor Achieved a 3X Return on His First Multifamily Deal with Yosef Lee, Ep. 775
Multifamily Insights
Yosef Lee is a full-time litigation attorney based in New York who pivoted into multifamily real estate investing to gain greater control over his time and legacy. Driven by his desire to be more present for his two daughters, Yosef began his investing journey in 2019, joining mastermind communities and building a network from scratch. Since then, he has become a general partner in 17 syndications, participated in 5+ joint ventures, and successfully exited multiple deals—including a 3X equity multiple from his first investment. He now shares his journey to help others take purposeful action,...
info_outline
Real-Time Risk Mitigation for Multifamily with Nadav Schnall, Ep. 774
Multifamily Insights
Nadav Schnall is the co-founder of , a proptech startup focused on real-time risk mitigation for multifamily and commercial buildings. With a decade of experience at First Service Residential as VP of Luxury Properties and New Development, Nadav saw firsthand the operational challenges that property managers face. His venture addresses those pain points through sensor-based monitoring that’s already helped prevent thousands of potential insurance claims. Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, . Key Takeaways ...
info_outline
Passive Investing as a Learning Strategy With Dr. Tudor Francu, Ep. 773
Multifamily Insights
Dr. Tudor Francu is a Romanian-born anesthesiologist and real estate investor with over 15 years of experience. After immigrating to the U.S. at age 28 and building a successful medical practice, Tudor began investing in real estate—starting with single-family homes before transitioning into multifamily syndications. He has managed 30+ properties, overseen operations on multifamily assets, and now serves as a general partner in large-scale apartment deals. Tudor is the founder of Stellar Multifamily and host of the Stellar Success Podcast. Make sure to download our free guide,...
info_outline
How Volatility Affects Lending Decisions with Sharon Karaffa, Ep. 772
Multifamily Insights
Sharon Karaffa is the President of Multifamily Debt and Structured Finance at Newmark. With over two decades of experience, she’s built her career advising on agency lending, capital markets strategy, and multifamily finance. From starting in corporate finance at Fannie Mae to shaping lending strategies during volatile market cycles, Sharon brings a rare lens on long-term trends and real-time insights. She has led teams through critical transitions, including Fannie Mae’s restatement period and the public launch of Newmark’s multifamily platform, giving her a comprehensive view from both...
info_outline
What I Learned About Raising Money for Real Estate with John Casmon, Ep. 771
Multifamily Insights
In this guest appearance on the Investor Fuel – Real Estate Mastermind podcast, John Casmon shares his journey from working in corporate advertising to building a $150M multifamily portfolio. He opens up about his employer filing bankruptcy during the 2008 financial crisis, house hacking in Chicago, and discovering the power of mentorship and raising capital. With clarity, honesty, and strategic insight, John lays out a realistic roadmap for transitioning from W-2 work to full-time real estate investing—and how mindset and mission can elevate your ability to serve others through...
info_outline
Steal This Process to Find the Best Real Estate Market with John Casmon, Ep. 770
Multifamily Insights
This episode features a solo session with John Casmon, where he draws on personal investing experience in markets like Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, and San Antonio to share a deep-dive framework for evaluating which markets to invest in, and how to spot the signs of long-term growth. From understanding economic indicators and infrastructure to aligning your personal investing style with neighborhood dynamics, this episode is packed with strategic guidance on identifying the right market — and the right moment — to make your move. Make sure to download our free guide, 7...
info_outline
How to Track and Cut Apartment Expenses with Chris Wise, Ep. 769
Multifamily Insights
Chris Wise is a Navy veteran, attorney, and founder of Wise Capital—a property technology company focused on upgrading Class C multifamily housing through in-house AI, IoT, and data systems. By combining real estate ownership with smart software development, he’s redefining operations and improving tenant experiences across older multifamily assets. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Chris brings a unique blend of military discipline, legal expertise, and tech innovation to the multifamily investing space. Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor...
info_outline
His $1.5M Apartment Renovation Blew Up to $3M — Here’s How He Survived It, with Joe Rinderknect, Ep. 768
Multifamily Insights
Joe Rinderknecht is the founder of Upgrade Partners Capital and Cowboy Capital, a real estate investment firm specializing in acquiring and operating value-add multifamily properties. With deep roots in ranching and a background in construction, Joe brings a hands-on approach to real estate, backed by years of entrepreneurial experience. His journey from working blue-collar jobs to managing complex multifamily assets reflects his drive to create generational wealth and live intentionally. In the past year alone, Joe and his partner Levi have closed on 419 units across several states—all...
info_outlineJonathan Nichols is a real estate investor and co-founder of Apogee Capital, based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Formerly an aerospace engineer, Jonathan transitioned into multifamily real estate in 2019 and has since acquired eight multifamily properties and one self-storage facility totaling 1,000 units. He brings an analytical, systems-based approach to acquisitions and asset management, leveraging his engineering background to scale strategically in Texas and Oklahoma.
Get ready for REWBCON 2025, happening from April 10th to 12th! Use my code JOHN at checkout for 10% off your ticket.
Key Takeaways:
-
Transitioning from aerospace engineering to full-time real estate investor was driven by a desire for entrepreneurship and dissatisfaction with corporate ceilings.
-
Strategic scaling includes focusing on one area of real estate—acquisitions, capital raising, or asset management—before trying to juggle all three.
-
Jonathan emphasizes using project-based virtual help and the “Buy Back Your Time” principle to grow the business efficiently.
-
His current investment focus is on B-class multifamily properties in both primary and tertiary Texas and Oklahoma markets.
-
Jonathan believes in leveraging partnerships, staying lean, and maximizing operational efficiency over aggressive expansion.
Topics:
From Aerospace to Real Estate
-
Passion for entrepreneurship and systems-thinking led Jonathan to real estate.
-
His corporate experience built a solid foundation for data-driven decision-making and risk management.
The Launch of Apogee Capital
-
Started with single-family investing before moving into multifamily.
-
Made the full-time leap after successfully completing two major deals and having a third under contract.
Making the Jump from W-2 to Full-Time Investing
-
Used a “point of no return” analogy to describe the moment he had to commit fully.
-
Recommended having proof of concept and income before making the transition.
-
Encourages consulting mentors and a trusted circle before leaving a day job.
Time Management and Scaling Up
-
Leveraging tools like the Buy Back Your Time method to maximize productivity.
-
Hiring project-based VAs for tasks like web design helped free up his bandwidth.
-
Delegating wisely and tracking what truly moves the needle is critical to long-term success.
Market Shifts and Strategy Adjustments
-
Previously focused on Oklahoma and other tertiary markets due to DFW competition.
-
Now sees Dallas as a market ready for reentry due to softening rents and increased vacancies.
-
Transitioning from C-class to B-class assets to reduce CapEx risk and improve asset quality.
Structure and Operations
-
Jonathan and his wife divide duties: he focuses on acquisitions; she handles asset management.
-
Portfolio ranges from 75 to 170 units, with a preference for properties large enough to support full on-site teams.
-
Long-term vision includes vertical integration but currently partners with third-party managers.
📢 Announcement: Learn about our Apartment Investing Mastermind here.
Round of Insights
-
Failure that led to success: An early live-in flip during COVID taught Jonathan the importance of budgeting to outsource renovation tasks and avoiding DIY overload.
-
Digital or mobile resource: For passive investors: a free masterclass on ApogeeMFC.com. For active investors: podcasts and mentorships for guided support.
-
Book recommendation: Buy Back Your Time – a game-changing book on reclaiming hours and structuring your schedule for maximum fulfillment.
-
Daily habit: Morning workouts, especially endurance training, help him start the day focused and energized.
-
#1 insight for scaling in multifamily: Treat real estate as three distinct businesses—acquisitions, capital raising, and asset management—and focus on the one where you excel.
-
Favorite restaurant in Dallas, TX: Tandoor.
Next Steps
-
Learn more about Jonathan and his work at ApogeeMFC.com
-
Explore Apogee’s masterclass for passive investors
-
Check out the book Buy Back Your Time if you’re serious about growth and time management
Thank you for joining us for another great episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please LEAVE A RATING OR REVIEW, and be sure to hit that subscribe button so you do not miss an episode.