Lessons from 34 Syndications with K Trevor Thompson, Ep. 748
Release Date: 09/16/2025
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This week, learn how to protect yourself from scams that quietly destroy returns and credibility in multifamily investing. You’ll explore real-world examples involving questionable wholesalers, unethical contractors, property management fraud, tenant scams, and misleading coaching programs, along with practical safeguards you can put in place. The core message is simple: the fastest way to lose money in multifamily isn’t market cycles, it’s trusting the wrong people. Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, . Key...
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Multifamily Insights
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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,...
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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 ...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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_outlineK Trevor Thompson is a real estate investor and active syndicator based in Austin, Texas. After a long career in attractions and entertainment—including Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Guinness World Records, and iFly Indoor Skydiving—he transitioned into multifamily real estate in 2018. Since then, Trevor has invested in 34 syndications (20 as a limited partner and 14 as a general partner) and is on a mission to help 100,000 people invest in commercial real estate to achieve financial independence.
Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.
Key Takeaways
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Why starting as a limited partner (LP) can provide invaluable perspective before becoming a general partner (GP).
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How transparency and communication from operators builds trust—and what happens when it doesn’t.
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Lessons Trevor learned from losing $75,000 on his first GP deal.
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The importance of vetting the “who” in syndications, not just the numbers.
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Why compounding is critical: leverage makes you money, but compounding makes you wealthy.
Topics
From Attractions to Real Estate
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Spent decades in the attractions industry before entering real estate.
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Always wanted to invest but mistakenly thought commercial real estate was only for millionaires.
Starting as a Passive Investor
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Began as an LP while working full-time and traveling extensively.
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Learned what investors value most: responsiveness, transparency, and consistent communication.
Lessons from Early Deals
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Experienced the downside of poor operator communication during a property fire.
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Gained conviction that the operator’s character and competence are more important than deal marketing.
Transition to GP
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Moved into the GP role after running out of personal capital.
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Lost $75,000 on his first GP deal, a setback that taught him discipline and risk awareness.
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Found traction by joining Massive Capital and leveraging the power of a strong, diverse team.
The Importance of the “Who”
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Syndications succeed or fail based on the people leading them.
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Trevor emphasizes building partnerships with operators who think long-term and act with integrity.
📢 Announcement: Learn about our Apartment Investing Mastermind here.
Round of Insights
Failure that set Trevor up for success: Losing $75,000 on his first GP deal forced him to double down on diligence and secure partnerships.
Digital or mobile resource: Social media platforms — his main tool for networking, learning, and sharing opportunities.
Book recommendation: 10X Rule and Be Obsessed or Be Average by Grant Cardone.
Daily habit: Morning fitness while listening to audiobooks to sharpen both body and mind.
#1 insight for multifamily investing: “People don’t care what you know until they know you care.”
Favorite restaurant in Austin, TX: North Italia.
Next Steps
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Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn to follow his investing journey.
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Explore opportunities with Massive Capital.
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Start as a passive investor to learn the ropes before transitioning to active syndication.
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.