Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

=============

Alex Diaz explains how he left his day job as a barber to successfully flip and wholesale real estate for a living at 24 years of age!

Alex starts by sharing how he made the jump from being a barber to wholesaling real estate. He explains how he acquired his first property; a househack sourced off-market! Alex provides tactical advice on marketing directly to sellers to create deal flow. He talks about lessons learned from flipping and gets granular on the real estate market in Aurora and the surrounding suburbs. This is another motivating show with an investor thriving at a young age!

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

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Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guests: Alex Diaz, Bluestone Property Solutions

Link: Alex Diaz's Instagram

Link: SUCI Ep 335 - Aram Ghazaryan

Link: The Art of the Deal (Book Recommendation)

Guest Questions

03:16 Housing Provider Tip - Maintain and understand misusage of water hose spigots!

05:09 Intro to our guest, Alex Diaz!

10:38 Alex’s first house hack sourced off-market!

14:24 Jumping into wholesaling and direct-to-seller marketing.

26:20 Marketing strategy and the 101 on Montgomery, IL.

29:11 Benefits of being around like-minded investors.

35:10 Lessons learned from flipping!

39:24 Alex’s geographic areas of focus.

44:06 What is your competitive advantage?

44:31 One piece of advice for new investors.

45:14 What do you do for fun?

45:31 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

46:04 Local Network Recommendation?

46:23 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.

Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

=============

Katie and Rob Hayes are investors and realtors with nearly 2 decades of experience acquiring and managing investment properties!

The duo starts by sharing their background including investing in Florida before transitioning to the Chicago Western Suburbs. They share lessons learned from investing in lower cost areas and why they pivoted to higher class assets. Rob and Katie share golden nuggets on marketing to owners for deal flow and on operating short-term rentals. They close out with a positive outlet on Downer’s Grove and why investors should be considering it!

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

Guests: Katie and Rob Hayes, Platinum Partners Realtors

Link: Team Hayes Realtors Facebook

Link: Rob's LinkedIn

Link: CAREIA Investor's Group

Guest Questions

03:03 Housing Provider Tip - Utilize Starbucks gift cards to easily express gratitude towards tenants and vendors!

04:33 Intro to our guests, Katie and Rob Hayes!

09:54 Jumping from Florida to local investments!

14:30 Considerations when investing in lower price point areas.

17:45 Investments leading up to the housing crash.

23:47 Getting a real estate license during the housing crash.

29:05 Creating deal flow in a low inventory market.

34:40 Representing and adding value to buyers in this market.

39:17 Dialing back acquisitions and strategizing for retirement!

44:35 Short-term rentals in Chicago suburbs.

54:40 Advice for couples who invest together!

57:15 What is your competitive advantage?

58:31 One piece of advice for new investors.

59:45 What do you do for fun?

60:34 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

61:42 Local Network Recommendation?

63:05 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

-----------------

Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.

Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

=============

As an investor, how do I handle receipt of a demand letter?

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: Bibek Das, Das Law

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.

Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

=============

Jake Clopton, President of Clopton Capital, has successfully been running his commercial lending business for over 17 years.

Jake shares how he grinded early in his career to get off the ground, and emphasizes the value of cold calling. He explains the different types of interest rates and provides the current state of rates. Jake speaks about macro-level economics including the stagflationary environment in today’s market. In typical SUCI fashion, he closes out with 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: Jake Clopton, Clopton Capital

Link: Jake Clopton's LinkedIn

Link: Jake Clopton's Instagram

Link: Never Split the Difference (Book Recommendation)

Link: Elevate Energy (Network Referral)

Guest Questions

02:07 Housing Provider Tip - Understand how to prioritize emergency work orders.

04:10 Intro to our guest, Jake Clopton!

12:20 Surviving as a lender during the real estate crash.

19:20 Jake’s “tipping point” deal!

20:21 The state of interest rates.

28:56 Rates on residential real estate.

34:04 Jake’s predictions on rates and the RE market!

41:53 The 101 on Stagflation.

43:50 Jake’s bullish remarks on Chicago!

48:05 What is your competitive advantage?

48:32 One piece of advice for new investors.

49:06 What do you do for fun?

49:17 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

50:06 Local Network Recommendation?

51:40 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

-----------------

Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.

Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

=============

What do I need to know to pursue built-to-rent opportunities in 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: Prashanth Mahakali, PMPC

Link: Episode 21: Leveraging an Architect for Chicago Permits, Building Violations, & Nonconforming and Illegal Units, with Prashanth Mahakali

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.

Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

=============

Kevin Werner, CEO of Renovo Financial, has over 20 years of experience building and scaling successful lending companies!

Kevin discusses his start in the lending business including his first company that did not survive the Great Financial Crisis. He shares lessons learned from lending through the Housing Crash and how those insights coupled with great relationships lead to the inception of Renovo Financial. Kevin gives the philosophy that has led to Renovo’s explosive growth the last decade including thriving through the uncertainty of COVID. Throughout the show, Kevin drops powerful outlooks on business, customer service, and relationships that you’ll want to remember and implement!

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: Kevin Werner, Renovo Financial

Link: Kevin's LinkedIn

Link: All-In Podcast

Link: King of Capital (Book Recommendation)

Guest Questions

01:51 Housing Provider Tip - Understand the power of being decisive and taking action!

03:18 Intro to our guest, Kevin Werner!

10:44 Getting a loan business off the ground in the 90s.

15:28 Lending through the Housing Crash!

34:21 The business model of lending business.

45:27 Renovo’s explosive growth through COVID into 2025!

60:18 Kevin’s parenting philosophy and outlook on Chicago!

63:24 What is your competitive advantage?

64:20 One piece of advice for new investors.

64:53 What do you do for fun?

66:04 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

66:53 Local Network Recommendation?

68:38 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

-----------------

Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.

Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

=============

Rory Rubin shows us first hand how S.I. Container Builds is bringing high quality, low maintenance steel dwellings to help solve the housing supply shortage!

Rory jumps right with a recap of modular housing and the advantages it brings over traditional brick and wood housing structures. She shares lessons learned after 7 successful years of leading S.I. Container Builds. Our video viewers get to see an awesome container building constructed for Navy Pier and Rory breaks down some complex projects. This episode showcases the innovation within modular housing and Rory makes it clear that container builds are quality housing stock that everyone should strongly consider!

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: Rory Rubin, S.I. Container Builds

Link: The Art of Happiness (Book Recommendation)

Link: Tim Swanson (Network Referral)

Link: SUCI Ep. 351 - Richard Koenig

Guest Questions

03:11 Housing Provider Tip - Communicate your move-out procedure and expectations to your tenants!

04:41 Intro to our guest, Rory Rubin from SI Container Builds!

06:46 Recapping the 101 on container builds!

09:45 Advantages of container builds.

17:30 Lessons learned from 7 years of modular building!

21:30 Complex container builds!

25:25 Navy Pier Container and Affordable Housing!

28:09 What is your competitive advantage?

28:33 One piece of advice for new investors.

29:21 What do you do for fun?

29:33 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

29:55 Local Network Recommendation?

30:21 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

-----------------

Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.