Property Profits Real Estate Podcast

Buying Real Estate vs. Businesses: an ROI Showdown with Sean Tagge

Is buying a business a better investment than real estate? In this episode, Sean Tagge breaks down his transition from flipping homes to multifamily syndications—and now—to buying businesses. This ROI showdown offers real-world insights from a serial entrepreneur and investor who knows how to scale both sides.
Expanded Description:Sean Tagge joins Dave Dubeau to talk about his incredible evolution as an investor—from flipping over 1,500 homes to acquiring multifamily properties and now expanding into buying businesses. With $135 million AUM in real estate and a new $5 million business under his belt, Sean shares his journey, motivations, and lessons learned.
Sean reveals the strategic reasons behind moving into business ownership, including the power of SBA loans, the inefficiencies in trades-based industries, and how his background in real estate gives him an edge. You'll hear how he’s already improving operations in his countertop and cabinet business using tech, marketing, and processes.
Whether you're a real estate pro curious about diversifying, or a new investor exploring options, Sean brings clarity to how real estate and business investing compare—and how he’s growing both.
Key Takeaways:
The pros and cons of flipping, multifamily syndications, and business acquisitions
How SBA loans enable business buying at attractive terms
Why Sean believes home services businesses offer untapped ROI
Systems and tech he’s implementing to scale his latest acquisition
How his team structure allows him to operate in both worlds
 
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/
 

Why IRR is Irrelevant with Joel Friedland

Joel Friedland has been in the industrial real estate game for over 40 years, and he’s built his business on three key principles: focus, patience, and simplicity. Based in Chicago, Joel syndicates industrial properties—favoring small manufacturing buildings—and buys them with all cash. That’s right: no debt. He explains how his low-risk, long-term approach has protected his investors and his mental health—especially after weathering the 2008 crash with $70 million in personal guarantees.
In this episode, Joel walks host Dave Dubeau through how his strategy has evolved, how he scouts and acquires new properties (spoiler: door-knocking and thousands of cold calls), and why he’s more interested in reliable returns than hyped-up numbers. He also shares the personal and professional transformation that led him to reject over-leveraged deals in favor of simplicity and sustainability.
Key Takeaways:
Why Joel completely avoids bank financing—and how it helps him sleep at night
How losing buildings in 2008 shaped his entire investment philosophy
What makes a good industrial property (hint: ceiling height and parking matter)
The math behind selling to neighboring businesses at a premium
How his team finds deals through relentless persistence and direct outreach
Why IRR stands for “Irrelevant Rate of Return” in his book
 
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/

Resilient Deals with Impact Investing featuring Michael McLean Jr

What happens when you mix deep community understanding with big real estate vision? Michael McLean Jr. from Condor Partners joins Dave Dubeau to unpack impact investing—not as a buzzword, but as a strategy that’s transforming neighborhoods.
Michael explains how Condor Partners approaches development differently. Rather than chasing trends, they spend years getting to know communities before starting projects. From revitalizing 120-year-old office buildings in Chicago to building luxury assisted living in Evanston, their projects are guided by purpose—and resilience.
Michael shares the behind-the-scenes story of turning a long-vacant lumber warehouse into a thriving office hub in Pilsen, and how their Evanston project not only houses seniors, but employs locals and uplifts the neighborhood.
Key Takeaways:
What “impact investing” means in the real estate world
How community-first planning leads to long-term success
Real-world examples of projects that thrive because they listen first
Why Michael’s sociology background gives him a unique edge in real estate
 
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/

Boutique Development Dilemmas with Iqbal (Ike) Mutabanna

In this insightful episode, Dave Dubeau chats with Iqbal (Ike) Mutabanna, a seasoned multifamily investor turned boutique developer, about the challenges and triumphs of a unique mixed-use commercial project in Rowlett, Texas. Ike walks us through the journey from acquisition and entitlements to near-completion, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when creativity meets bureaucracy.
Learn how Ike pivoted from traditional multifamily syndications to ground-up boutique developments and why his first full-scale development project became a masterclass in urban planning, community negotiation, and city council navigation. Hear how zoning codes, Main Street construction dilemmas, and even holiday plumbing mishaps shaped this ambitious three-floor mixed-use build.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How Ike transitioned from multifamily acquisitions to boutique developments
What makes a development “boutique” and why location matters
How city politics, community input, and infrastructure issues can complicate a deal
Strategies for working through city resistance and public hearing processes
Lessons from managing small-scale urban infill projects
Ike’s future development goals and how he’s planning his next move
 
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/

Creative Multifamily Development in the Midwest with Dusten Hendrickson

In this insightful episode, Dave Dubeau sits down with real estate developer Dusten Hendrickson to explore a unique model for workforce housing that's challenging traditional multifamily design. Broadcasting from Brookings, South Dakota, Dusten breaks down his proven approach to creating “modern workforce housing”—efficient, wellness-focused multifamily buildings that are attractive, affordable, and strategically located in suburban communities.
Dusten shares how his company, Mailbox Money RE, balances design aesthetics and financial performance by skipping high-cost amenities and focusing on features that actually improve tenant well-being—think floor-to-ceiling windows and in-unit laundry, not pools and elevators. He also outlines the full-cycle development process, from site selection and financing to lease-up and eventual sale.
With over 20 years of experience and $500M in transactions, Dusten reveals why this repeatable, scalable model is gaining traction across states like Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin—and why both investors and municipalities are taking notice.
What You’ll Learn:
The difference between “big-A” and “little-a” affordable housing
Why many renters value natural light and storage over pools and gyms
How his team delivers stylish suburban apartments at half the downtown price
The benefits of a repeatable, systemized development model
His timeline from land purchase to full lease-up—and eventual refinance or sale
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/

Getting Filled In on Family Offices with Andres Ospina

In this episode of The Property Profits Podcast, host Dave Dubeau sits down with Andres Ospina, a capital raising expert with deep experience in the world of family offices. Andres shares insights on how the landscape of raising private capital has evolved over the past 15 years—and how digital branding plays a critical role in success today.
As the man behind FamilyOffices.com and Family Office Club, Andres has built a vetted network of 8,000 active investors, including ultra-wealthy families and professionals transitioning into investment roles after major liquidity events. He explains how these families think, how they structure their legacy planning, and why trust and branding are just as vital as the numbers behind the deal.
You’ll learn about:
The true nature of family offices and how they operate
How Andres and his team support investors through education and due diligence
Why personal branding, podcasts, and video content matter more than ever in raising capital
Real-world examples of entrepreneurs who’ve successfully leveraged media and storytelling to attract investment
Why a video with just 300 views could be worth $200 million
 
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/

Renting Out Your Capital with Steven Loewer

Steven Loewer, founder of Lion’s Den Capital, joins Dave to share how he helps high-net-worth individuals and families invest in private mortgages that are backed by real estate. Learn how Steven carved out a niche in short-term, rural-market lending—where banks typically won’t go—and built his business by connecting ready capital with borrowers who need flexible solutions fast.
Steven explains why his firm works exclusively through mortgage brokers, the typical underwriting process they follow, and how his team evaluates risk and opportunity. He also dives into how Canadians can leverage self-directed RRSPs and TFSAs to grow wealth passively—without becoming a landlord.
Whether you’re a curious investor or a real estate pro looking for smarter financing options, Steven’s insights are practical, actionable, and eye-opening.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
How private mortgage investing works and who it's for
The difference between first and second mortgages in private lending
Why rural deals are a hidden opportunity
What happens when a deal goes sideways—and how Lion’s Den helps investors recover
How to use registered funds (RRSP, TFSA) to earn tax-free returns
 
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/

Navigating the Red Tape in Blue States with Aaron Fragnito

In this episode, Aaron Fragnito returns to The Property Profits Podcast to reveal how he's capitalizing on overlooked opportunities in New Jersey's competitive and regulation-heavy real estate market. With over a decade of experience and more than 300 transactions under his belt, Aaron shares why he’s bullish on Class A and C multifamily assets—even amid rising interest rates and increased cap rates.
Aaron discusses how bureaucratic inefficiencies can actually benefit long-term investors, and breaks down how cap rate fluctuations translate into millions in potential gains for savvy buyers. He also explains his firm's evolving approach to capital raising, highlighting how he's now attracting family offices and institutional capital, while still welcoming accredited investors into his deals.
Whether you're new to real estate or scaling into larger investments, Aaron offers no-nonsense advice for working with brokers, structuring fund-to-fund relationships, and getting started with smaller multifamily deals the right way.
Key Takeaways:
Why interest rate hikes have created new buying opportunities
The real-world impact of cap rate shifts on property valuations
How under-leased and mismanaged properties provide hidden value
Why Aaron is committed to the New Jersey market despite its “red tape”
Best ways to build broker relationships and get into bigger deals
 
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/

Going From Accredited Investors to Family Offices with Elijah Brown

In this episode, Dave Dubeau sits down with Elijah Brown, founder of Goldhawk, to talk about the evolution of raising capital in real estate—from friends and family, to accredited investors, all the way to family offices and institutional money. Elijah shares the nuts and bolts of how he transitioned from hands-on property operations to becoming a sophisticated capital raiser and deal vetter.
You’ll hear how Elijah uses tools like LinkedIn content and a detailed due diligence checklist to build trust and relationships with accredited investors. Then, he explains what it takes to connect with and earn the respect of family offices—people who don’t listen to podcasts and don’t take cold LinkedIn messages lightly.
What You’ll Learn:
How Elijah got his start with investor capital
The secrets behind his high-performing LinkedIn strategy
Why relationship-building with investors takes 2+ years
How to gain credibility with family offices and institutional investors
The key criteria Elijah uses to filter hundreds of deals a month
 
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/

Profitable Decarbonization with Robert Politzer

What if going green could mean more green in your wallet? In this episode, Dave chats with Robert Politzer from Green Street Global, who shares how real estate investors can boost profits by decarbonizing their properties.
Episode Summary:Robert Politzer joins Dave Dubeau to dive deep into his company’s mission: profitable decarbonization. As the founder of Green Street Global, Robert outlines a unique three-phase system that helps real estate owners turn outdated, carbon-heavy "brown buildings" into high-performing, eco-friendly assets.
From cost-saving window films to full-scale energy-efficient upgrades and clean power installations, Robert breaks down how each phase works—and how his team ties their compensation to real, measurable client savings. He also shares insights into their expansion into hotel ownership and explains why decarbonization is the new value-add in today’s market.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Why "brown buildings" are becoming stranded assets in today’s market
How regulatory and market forces are pushing investors toward decarbonization
What Green Street Global’s three-phase approach looks like
How hotel owners (and other commercial property owners) can benefit from shared-savings upgrades
Real-world examples of cost-saving tech in action
- Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/