Straight Up Chicago Investor

Latest Episodes:

Episode 214: Real Estate Post-Recession - Building Up From the Ground with Roger Luri Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Roger starts by discussing how he found a niche in New Construction and jumps into lessons learned throughout the years. Leaning on his decades of investing experience, he's able to provide insight on red flags leading up to the last housing crash and discuss the emergence of north side neighborhoods like Uptown, Edgewater, and Buena Park. Roger breaks down how he identifies areas where new construction is profitable and summarizes the key players of your real estate investing team. Roger closes by pulling out the crystal ball and sharing a bullish outlook on Chicago!

If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Roger Luri, LD2 Development

Link: Roger's LinkedIn

Link: Don't Buy Multi-Family! BUILD IT (Roger's Book)

Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and NEGC Remodeling

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Guest Questions

02:24 Housing Provider Tip: Leverage Google Earth as a due diligence tool when purchasing property!

04:19 Intro to our guest, Roger Luri!

07:41 Finding a niche in new construction!

11:28 What red flags did Roger notice leading up to the last housing crash?

14:39 Working with neighborhood groups when redeveloping property!

16:24 Seeing Development in Uptown, Edgewater, and other North Side Neighborhoods!

21:42 Determining locations where new construction is profitable.

25:46 Keys to building a solid real estate team!

32:00 Roger compares rehabs and new construction!

41:02 How to set up Joint Ventures?

43:25 Roger's outlook on Chicago!

46:45 What is Roger's competitive advantage?

47:44 One piece of advice for new investors.

48:31 What do you do for fun?

49:12 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend?

50:17 Local Network Recommendation?

51:02 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Episode 213: The Future of Rent Control in Illinois: Updates and Implications Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

What is the future of rent control in Illinois and what are the implications based on rent control from other cities?

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Mike Baker & Mike Hagensen | New Era Chicago | NBOAChicago

Link: Why Rent Control Doesn't Work - Freakonomics

Link: Vacant, Rent-Stabilized and Locked Up: NYC's Ghost Apartments

Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Episode 212: Everything You Need to Know About Back of the Yards with Ignacio Gonzalez Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

Ignacio Gonzalez joins us to explain everything you need to know about the neighborhood he was born and raised in, and currently invests in; Back of the Yards!

Ignacio jumps right in by explaining how he started investing in the neighborhood and defines its geographical borders. He shares lessons learned from his first (over budget and over schedule) rehab project and other large gut renovations that he's taken on. He provides insight on the explosive growth of property and rent values along with his forecast of Back of the Yards' trajectory. Throughout the show, Ignacio emphasizes the importance of knowing your community and the satisfaction that comes with being a contributing member to a community's growth!

If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Ignacio Gonzalez, Beyond Legacy Homes

Link: SUCI Ep 202 - Ben Sussman

Link: Living with the Monks (Book Recommendation)

Link: Beyond Legacy Website

Link: Beyond Legacy Instagram

Link: Dream Catcher Cafe Website

Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group

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Guest Questions

03:08 Housing Provider Tip: Be mindful of tenant notice requirements and plan accordingly!

05:28 Intro to our guest, Ignacio Gonzalez!

06:17 How did Ignacio get started in Back of the Yards?

08:17 What are the borders of the Back of the Yards neighborhood?

10:55 Ignacio discusses his return to Back of the Yards!

18:30 What motivated Ignacio to keep going after his rocky first project?

24:27 Ignacio discusses rent growth in Back of the Yards!

28:34 Lessons learned from large rehab jobs.

38:38 How is Ignacio influencing his peers to invest in Back of the Yards?

40:25 Ignacio discusses his upcoming coffee shop!

44:15 What is Ignacio's competitive advantage?

44:40 One piece of advice for new investors.

45:05 What do you do for fun?

45:32 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend?

46:24 Local Network Recommendation?

47:04 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Episode 211: Peeling Back The Onion on Student Housing In Chicago Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

Interested in investing near a Chicagoland University to provide student housing?! Harrison Cohen joins us to share how he's built his portfolio using this model!

Harrison explains why he decided to focus on student housing and the nuances of student housing near different universities, including University of Chicago, UIC, DePaul, and Loyola. Harrison dives deep on the leasing process and how it differs from leasing to market tenants. Lastly, he shares lessons learned from student housing investments including underwriting tips and advice on pivoting when things don't go as planned!

If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Harrison Cohen, Triton Realty Group

Link: SUCI Ep 22 - Matt Fritzshall

Link: Crushing It in Apartments and Commercial Real Estate (Book Recommendation)

Link: Chris Titcomb (Attorney)

Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group

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Guest Questions

04:07 Housing Provider Tip: Be mindful of incorrect tax exemptions being applied to your property!

06:25 Intro to our guest, Harrison Cohen!

07:07 Why focus on student housing?

09:38 How is student housing different from standard rentals?

11:38 Harrison discusses housing for University of Chicago students!

20:20 Harrison talks about student housing near UIC!

26:41 How to succeed with student housing near DePaul University?

29:13 Are there investment opportunities near Loyola University?

30:38 Harrison gets granular on the leasing process for student housing!

38:45 Does the Chicago RLTO apply to student housing?

48:00 What is Harrison's competitive advantage?

48:24 One piece of advice for new investors.

49:00 What do you do for fun?

49:40 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

51:25 Local Network Recommendation?

51:57 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Episode 210: What Investors Can Expect From Signed Contract to Finished Rehab Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

What should I expect when I hire a contractor for my first remodel?

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Matthew Nosal, NEGC Remodeling

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Episode 209: Building a Portfolio with New Construction Rentals, STRs, and MTRs with Chicago REIA's Andrew Holmes Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

Do short term, mid term, and new construction rentals interest you?! Andrew Holmes provides great insight on how he's been utilizing all of these investment vehicles to grow his portfolio!

Andrew kicks things off by discussing the differences between today's real estate market and the 2012 market when he got started in real estate. He transitions into the new construction development that he and his group have been working on in Florida. Andrew explains how he's been able to explode his cash-flow with short term and mid term rentals while remaining conservative in the underwriting of those investments. He closes with his thoughts on today's interest rate environment, the opportunities that those rates are providing, and provides a 5 year outlook for things he and his team will accomplish!

If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Andrew Holmes, Chicago REIA

Link: SUCI Ep 50 - Andrew's Last SUCI Episode

Link: SUCI Ep 62 - Farrah Ali

Link: Diaries of a Female Real Estate Investor (Book Recommendation)

Link: PetScreening.com

Sponsors: Midwest RE Networking Summit and Essex Realty Group

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Guest Questions

03:31 Housing Provider Tip: Utilize pet screening software to prevent scammers from getting away with false pet certificates!

06:07 Intro to our guest, Andrew Holmes!

08:45 Differences between the 2012 and 2023 real estate market!

11:25 What has Andrew been working on since he was last on the show in 2021?

17:19 Andrew discusses lessons learned from building new construction homes in Florida!

24:23 Andrew talks about investing in Short Term and Mid Term Rentals!

39:05 How can you tell if a market has strong demand for STRs or MTRs?

44:40 Andrew talks about interest rates in today's market!

47:19 What do the next 5 years look like for Andrew and his group?

50:54 What is Andrew's competitive advantage?

51:17 One piece of advice for new investors.

51:34 What do you do for fun?

51:42 Good book, podcast, or self-development activity that you would recommend?

53:07 Local Network Recommendation?

53:59 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Episode 208: Going Deep in Bucktown and Wicker Park with Jason Stratton Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Interested in investing in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, but wondering if you're too late to the party?! Jason Stratton joins us to provide his perspective as a seasoned realtor, investor, and resident of the neighborhood.

Jason starts by sharing what attracted him to Bucktown and his first deal. He defines the street borders of Bucktown, the amazing attributes of the neighborhood, and shares how he's finding deal flow in today's market. Adjacent neighborhood Wicker Park is discussed including the implications of owning a landmark property. Jason shares golden input on other emerging neighborhoods that he's bullish on and his rationale behind those beliefs. He closes with empowering words on the Chicago Real Estate market and on the mindset investors should cultivate to be successful!

If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Jason Stratton, The KlopasStratton Team

Link: Extreme Ownership (Book Recommendation)

Link: Seth Kaplan (Attorney)

Link: Jeff Swanberg (Inspector)

Link: KlopasStratton Podcast

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Guest Questions

03:00 Housing Provider Tip: Leverage keyless entry locks to make access easier!

05:12 Intro to our guest, Jason Stratton!

09:58 Jason discusses his first real estate deal!

17:30 What are the borders of Bucktown?

19:19 How is Jason finding deals in the small neighborhood of Bucktown?

23:25 Jason talks about Wicker Park!

30:21 Other North Side Neighborhoods with a ton of potential!

35:52 Jason gives his outlook on the Chicago Real Estate Market.

38:22 What is Jason's competitive advantage?

38:48 One piece of advice for new investors.

39:48 What do you do for fun?

41:57 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

43:43 Local Network Recommendation?

44:46 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Episode 207: The Steps to Estimating and Strategizing a Light Rehab or Turnover Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

What must an investor consider when planning to work with a contractor?

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Matthew Nosal, NEGC Remodeling

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Episode 206: Finding a Niche in Chicago New Construction Developments with Prashanth Mahakali and Fernando Lopez Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

Prashanth Mahakali returns to the SUCI Podcast (Episode 21) with his business partner Fernando Lopez to discuss all things related to New Construction Builds.

Prashanth and Fernando discuss the formation of their partnership and their complementary skill sets. They explain how they've made the new construction design and development business model profitable. They dive deep on the level of customization they offer and share challenges they've faced when dealing with buyers. The duo tells us what areas and neighborhoods they are bullish on and planning new developments in!

If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Prashanth Mahakali and Fernando Lopez, Real View Design & Development

Link: SUCI Ep 21 (Prashanth's Last Episode)

Link: Alex Hormozi AI Video

Link: Indistractable (Book Recommendation)

Link: Darpet (Doors and Trim Vendor)

Link: Hillside Lumber (Lumber Vendor)

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Guest Questions

02:12 Housing Provider Tip: Change door locks between turnovers!

05:25 Intro to our guests, Prashanth Mahakali and Fernando Lopez!

07:36 Prashanth and Fernando discuss the formation of their partnership and their first deal together!

19:38 How to be profitable building new construction homes.

27:44 How custom are these new construction homes?

33:53 Prashanth and Fernando share challenges they've faced!

43:24 Software and/or Practices for tracking buyer customization.

44:55 What neighborhoods are Prashanth and Fernando focusing on?

51:38 The impact of interest rates on new construction home pricing.

53:03 What is Prashanth's and Fernando's competitive advantage?

54:07 One piece of advice for new investors.

55:19 What do you do for fun?

56:57 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

57:41 Local Network Recommendation?

58:33 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Episode 205: Be Your Own Bank And Grow your Investment Portfolio with Nick Chaplain Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Nick Chaplain joins us to explain how real estate investors can leverage life insurance policies to "Be Your Own Bank". He jumps right into leveraging policies and building cash value as collateral for other investment opportunities. Nick explains how the wealthy take advantage of these strategies and their significant tax benefits. Mark also chimes in on how he has utilized this to help pay for his children's college! Tune in if you're interested in learning more about nuanced strategies to grow your net worth!

If you enjoy today's episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Nick Chaplain, Boston Cash Flow Financial

Link: The Power of Zero (Book Recommendation)

Link: Confessions of a CPA (Book Recommendation)

Link: The Snowball (Book Recommendation)

Link: Ash Wasilidas (Network Referral)

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Guest Questions

04:00 Housing Provider Tip: Listen to the first 50 SUCI episodes!

05:30 Intro to our guest, Nick Chaplain!