Welcome to the "Go Big! Live" podcast, where we explore the exciting world of commercial real estate investing through in-depth interviews with successful investors who have scaled up their portfolios. Hosted by experienced real estate investor Matt Drouin, our show delves into the nitty-gritty details of each guest's first big deal, their journey leading up to it, and the challenges and rewards they've encountered along the way. Each episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice to ...
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Welcome to Trial to Triumph!The show about leaning into life's constant testing on your way to learning your biggest blessings!
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📈 How to Get Off-Market Commercial Real Estate Deals (Even If You're Brand New) LoopNet and Crexi? 🚫 That’s where deals go to die. In this final episode of the Go Big Live Podcast, I’m exposing the truth about how commercial brokers really work — and exactly how to get access to off-market deal flow before the rest of the world even knows a propert…
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The 10 Essential Questions You Must Ask EVERY Commercial Lender You Speak With
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25:41Getting the bank to fund your commercial real estate deal isn’t about wearing a suit or having a slick pitch deck. It’s about knowing exactly how to play the game — and in this episode, I give you the entire playbook. If you’re making the leap from residential 1–4 unit investing to commercial multifamily or other income-producing assets, this is th…
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Capital Raising 101 - My Proven 11-Step Process For Raising Millions
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58:21🚨 You Don’t Need a Website, LLC, or Pitch Deck to Raise Millions for Real Estate — and in this podcaswt, I’ll prove it. 🚨 If you’ve been spinning your wheels trying to “get everything set up” before you start talking to investors... stop. That’s the fast track to missing deals and staying broke. In this training, I walk you through the exact step-b…
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🚨 Choosing A Market: The 5 Key Metrics That Could Make or Break Your Next Deal
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33:28Choosing the right market isn’t a gut decision. It’s not about where you think rents are high or where you heard investors are flocking. Most investors fail because they skip the data and jump straight to making offers. 🚨 Big mistake. Before I ever invest in a market, I analyze 5 critical metrics that instantly tell me whether there’s real opportun…
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How To Calculate Your RE Financial Freedom Number - Why Unit Count Doesn't Matter
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14:11Achieving Financial Freedom with Big Commercial Real Estate Deals In this episode, I break down how to stop wasting time with small deals and start crushing it with larger commercial real estate projects. I take you through my 19-year journey, showing how I went from chasing small multifamily properties to making life-changing commercial investment…
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I was born, now I'm here, what happened in between?
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25:25he Final Chapters: Scaling My $18M Real Estate Empire - Lessons, Struggles, and Success In this heartfelt episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors podcast, I announce the conclusion of the podcast after nearly two years of interviews and deep dives into real estate success stories. I share my personal journey from a financially struggling c…
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The Final Season: Ending the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast In this emotional episode, I announce the end of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors podcast after nearly two years and almost 100 episodes. I share the reasons behind this decision, including a personal and financial disaster stemming from an arson incident at a historic buil…
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From Contracts to Conversions: The Legal Side of Real Estate with Alvin Schein
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39:27In this episode of Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors podcast, host Matt Drouin welcomes Alvin Schein, a partner at Seiden & Schein, P.C. in New York City, with over 35 years of experience in real estate law. They discuss the critical role attorneys play in commercial real estate transactions, from land use to tax incentives. Alvin shares insights …
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Learning from Losses: Joe Downs Discusses Self-Storage and Value Creation
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52:41Host Matt Drouin, from the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, interviews Joe Downs, co-founder of the Belrose Group. Joe elaborates on his transformative journey from various entrepreneurial ventures to establishing a strong presence in the self-storage sector. This episode explores Joe's valuable lessons learned from his earliest mistakes…
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Persistence Pays: Gary Lipsky’s Million-Dollar Real Estate Strategy
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29:51In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Gary Lipsky, founder and CEO of Break of Day Capital. Gary shares his journey from owning small businesses in North Jersey to acquiring over 3,200 apartment units worth more than $300 million. He discusses his transition from the education industry to rea…
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Maximizing Market Presence: Bob Knakal on Real Estate Prospecting and Strategy
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42:25In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin welcomes Bob Knakal, a seasoned commercial real estate broker with over 22 billion dollars in transactions in the New York City area since 1984. Bob discusses the importance of building relationships with commercial brokers, leveraging social media for market presen…
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Meetup Magic and Multifamily Mastery: A Conversation with Colby Fryar
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35:07In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Colby Fryar, the principal of Mountain Bridge Capital. Colby shares his journey from a rural upbringing to becoming a multifamily investment expert with 240 units under management in Tucson and Phoenix. He discusses the importance of relationship-building…
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Maximize Your Capital: Harnessing Business Credit in Real Estate with Alejandro Bermudez
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22:02Join Matt Drouin, host of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors podcast, as he interviews Alejandro Bermudez, CEO of Cashflow Capital Consulting. Alejandro shares his journey from humble beginnings to helping business owners secure 50-150% capital to scale their ventures. They dive into the importance of 0% business credit cards, building business…
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Unleashing Potential: Joe Rinderknect on Real Estate, Resilience, and Customizable Funds
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43:40In this episode, Matt Drouin, host of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, introduces Joe Rinderknecht, the founder of Upgrade Partners Capital, a firm managing over $100 million in assets. Joe shares his journey from small-town ranching in Idaho to building a successful real estate empire. Despite facing personal tragedies, including a …
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Calculating Luck: Insights on Chance and Decision Making with Dr. Michael Orkin
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46:39Join host Matt Drouin on the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast as he dives into the world of statistics, luck, and game theory with Dr. Michael Orkin, a distinguished statistician and professor. Dr. Orkin shares his unique insights on the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies, the application of statistical principles in real estate inv…
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From Directionless to Dominance: Kevin Bupp's Real Estate Journey
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44:23Join Matt Drouin, host of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, as he interviews seasoned commercial real estate investor Kevin Bupp. With over $1 billion in real estate transactions under his belt, Kevin shares his journey from a directionless youth to owning a significant portfolio of mobile home parks and parking lots. Learn about Kevi…
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Unlocking Passive Income: Stephen Predmore's Real Estate Strategy
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33:03Join host Matt Drouin on the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast as he interviews Stephen Predmore from Talbott Investments. Stephen shares his journey from managing single-family assets to taking on larger commercial deals. Listen to his insights on investing in multifamily properties, dealing with the challenges of eviction laws in differe…
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From Cubicles to Apartment Mogul: Michael Blank's Journey to Financial Independence
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34:29In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Michael Blank, a leading authority on apartment investing and the CEO of Nighthawk Equity. Michael shares his journey from a corporate job at AOL and webMethods to becoming financially independent through real estate investing. He emphasizes the need for …
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From Side Hustle to Empire: Zach Lemaster on the Art of Real Estate Investment
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38:48In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Zach Lemaster, the CEO and founder of Rent to Retirement, the nation's leading turnkey investment company. Zach shares his journey from being an optometrist and a captain in the Air Force to becoming a successful real estate investor with a diverse portfo…
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The Maverick's Path: Dale Wills on Crafting Communities and Wealth
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35:04In this episode, Matt sits down with Dale Wills, an experienced real estate developer with over 25 years in the industry. Dale is the owner and founder of Centra Companies and Centra Capital Partners, overseeing the development of over 1,500 homes and $500 million in project value. Dale shares his journey from his early entrepreneurial days, throug…
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Transforming Passion Into Profit: The Brian Briscoe Story
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30:21In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Brian Briscoe, an accomplished real estate investor and founder of Streamline Capital Group. Brian shares his incredible journey from aspiring math professor to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, and ultimately a key player in the real estate ma…
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From Massapequa to Millions: Larry Curtis's Journey
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28:41In this episode of Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin welcomes Larry Curtis, President and Managing Partner of WinnDevelopment. Larry shares his journey from a young real estate aspirant in Massapequa, Long Island to leading a company with over 103,000 units under management. Larry discusses his early investments, passion …
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Broker Bonds and Real Estate Wins: A Conversation with Mike Margarella
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27:55In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin welcomes back Mike Margarella, founder and principal of Next Play Investments. They discuss Mike's strategies in navigating the commercial real estate market, the importance of building and maintaining relationships with brokers, and adapting to market changes like …
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The Value of Human Connection in the Digital Age with Erin Thomas
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35:38In this episode of the 'Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast,' host Matt Drouin welcomes Erin Thomas, a seasoned realtor from Ohio's KW EZ Sales Team, specializing in multifamily investments. Erin shares her journey from a background in musical theater and physical therapy to becoming an investor-focused realtor. She emphasizes the power of h…
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From House Flipper to Real Estate Mogul: A Conversation with Brian Burke
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31:44Join us in this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast as host Matt Drouin welcomes back Brian Burke, CEO and President of Praxis Capital. Together, they unpack Brian's incredible journey from house flipper to managing a portfolio worth over $800 million. This insightful discussion covers navigating commercial real estate, recent…
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Balancing Books and Buildings: Jason Malabute's Unique Real Estate Perspective
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28:48In this episode of 'Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast,' host Matt Drouin interviews Jason Malabute, a dedicated CPA and accomplished real estate investor. Jason opens up about his inspiring journey from an accounting career to successfully investing in single-family and multifamily properties, despite the challenges posed by cerebral palsy.…
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Investing with Heart: Julie Holly on the Importance of Community Impact
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44:55In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin is joined by special guest Julie Holly, a third-generation real estate syndicator known for her deep community impact. Known for her strategic investments and inspiring podcast, 'The Conscious Investor', Julie shares her journey from teaching to being a successful re…
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Mastering the Juggling Act: Dave Schreiber’s Real Estate Success
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38:02In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Dave Schreiber, a former fraternity brother with a remarkable journey in real estate investment. Dave shares his unique approach to balancing a full-time job, family responsibilities, and growing a real estate portfolio of 70 residential units and commerc…
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Finding Freedom: Erin Bradley on Entrepreneurship & Resilience
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47:15In this episode of the Go Big Live! Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Erin Bradley, a successful speaker, trainer, and host of the 'Pursuing Freedom' podcast. Erin shares her inspirational journey from personal tragedies and financial rock-bottom to achieving six-figure success and overcoming burnout. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, le…
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The Road to Syndication: Insights from Charles Carillo
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41:30In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Charles Carillo, founder and managing partner of Harborside Partners. Charles shares his extensive journey in real estate, from his early beginnings managing properties with his father to founding his own syndication firm. Charles discusses the vital steps…
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Turning Obstacles into Opportunities: Vlad Mirochnik’s Real Estate Adventure
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29:59In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Druin interviews Vlad Mirochnik, a Rochester-based real estate investor with a remarkable journey. Vlad shares his background, from moving to the US from Ukraine in 1995 to his evolution through multiple business ventures, and ultimately focusing on real estate. They discus…
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The Power of Clear Goals in Real Estate Investing: Mandy McAllister’s Story
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36:59In this episode, we dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey of Mandy McAllister, CEO of GoBundance Women and a full-time real estate investor with a diverse portfolio. Mandy shares invaluable insights on the importance of defining clear goals and criteria in real estate investing. From starting with small apartment buildings to conducting meticu…
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Gaurang Gala: The Reality of Real Estate Development and Capital Raising
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48:28Join host Matt Drouin on the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast as he interviews special guest Gaurang Gala of Gala Investments. With $40 million in assets under management, Gaurang shares his journey from his family's migration to the US, to managing gas stations, and eventually growing a significant real estate portfolio. Learn about his i…
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From Garage Sales to Real Estate Powerhouse: Axel Ragnarsson Shares His Path
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37:01In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Axel Ragnarsson, founder and managing partner of Aligned Real Estate Partners. Axel shares his inspiring journey from his humble beginnings flipping cars to managing a multifamily portfolio of over 450 units and raising millions in capital. They discuss th…
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Crafting a Lifestyle by Design: Melanie McDaniel's Investment Strategies
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40:41Join host Matt Drouin on the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast as he sits down with Melanie McDaniel, founder and CEO of Freestyle Capital Group. In this episode, Melanie shares her inspiring journey from park ranger and Navy veteran to successful real estate investor and private equity fund manager. Discover how Melanie leveraged her skill…
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Scaling Up: Michael Zaransky on Ground-Up Development & Multi-Generational Real Estate Investing
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43:30In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Michael Zaransky, founder and managing principal of MZ Capital Partners. Michael shares his extensive journey in real estate development, including key mistakes and lessons learned. With a background that includes a law degree from Northwestern University…
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Navigating Motherhood and Multifamily Investments with Rebekah Taylor
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39:44In this episode of the Go Big! Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Rebekah Taylor, co-founder of Taylored Investments. Rebekah shares her inspiring journey from growing up in a financially tight household to becoming a successful real estate investor. She discusses the challenges of balancing family life while pursuing i…
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In-Depth with Gino Barbaro: Real Estate Strategies for Every Market
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37:13Join host Matt Drouin on the 'Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast' as he welcomes back Gino Barbaro of Jake & Gino for an insightful discussion on scaling in commercial real estate. Gino shares his journey from the pizza business to owning over $350 million in multifamily assets, emphasizing the importance of the 'Buy Right, Manage Right, and…
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The $100,000 Bet: How Danté Belmonte Secured His First Big Deal
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45:23In this episode of the GoBigLive Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin talks with Danté Belmonte, managing partner of Victory Capital Group and real estate agent, about his impressive journey in real estate. Starting from a teenage hoverboard salesman to successfully syndicating large multifamily deals, Dante shares his experiences, insi…
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Scaling Real Estate Investments with Ethan Gao
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29:18In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Ethan Gao, a corporate and real estate attorney, life insurance salesman, and seasoned real estate investor. Ethan shares his journey from a small town in Texas, through an accelerated academic career at Cornell and Columbia, to working on Wall Street and …
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Rust Belt Riches: How Steven Speck Went Big in Real Estate
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40:43In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin sits down with Steven, Managing Partner of Rust Belt Capital. They delve into Steven's background, his shift from commodity trading to real estate, and his pursuit of building multigenerational wealth. The conversation covers the significance of due diligence, levera…
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Building Wealth Through Self Storage: A Conversation with Chris Lawrence
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42:49In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin sits down with Chris Lawrence, a successful real estate investor. Chris shares his journey from flipping houses and working a demanding sales job to becoming a managing partner at Stepping Stone Storage. He discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with like-m…
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The Mechanics of Mega-Projects: A Conversation with Patrick Dutton
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46:08In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin welcomes special guest Patrick Dutton, principal of Fortified Real Estate. Patrick shares his journey from working as an equity trader on Wall Street to becoming a successful real estate developer in Rochester. He details his strategic shift to acquiring and transfor…
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Military Precision Meets Entrepreneurial Vision: Sterling Seizert Shares His Path
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42:09In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews Sterling Seizert, a former Green Beret turned successful real estate investor. Sterling shares his experience from serving in the military to building a business empire in real estate. He talks about starting with an 18-unit apartment complex in Colorado S…
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Real Estate Evolution: A Deep Dive with Evan Polaski
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53:10In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors podcast, host Matt Drouin speaks with Evan Polaski of Axia Partners. Evan shares his journey from a fascination with real estate in his childhood to orchestrating over $1 billion in debt and equity acquisitions in commercial real estate. The conversation delves into his psychological transiti…
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Champions of Change: Brett McManus Discusses Growth and Grit in Real Estate
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43:37In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin talks with guest Brett McManus about his transition from a corporate career to becoming a successful real estate investor in the hospitality industry. Brett shares his early ventures in entrepreneurship, his experience working at Polaris, and his decision to invest i…
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Real Estate Revival: Alex Coffman's Tale from Turmoil to Triumph
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48:35This episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Alex Kaufman, a real estate investor with a remarkable story of personal transformation. Alex shares his journey from struggling with addiction and facing legal troubles to becoming a multimillionaire with a substantial real estate portfolio. Born a…
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Scaling to 7 Figures: Mike O'Connor's Journey from Corporate to Real Estate Mogul
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34:39In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin interviews entrepreneur Mike O'Connor, who shares his journey from leaving a six-figure corporate job to building a seven-figure real estate business. Mike talks about starting with real estate investments during a market opportunity in 2012, acquiring 180 units, and…
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Mastering Real Estate Investment with Brandon Gidicsin: Insights, Advice, and Success Strategies
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32:30In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Drouin shares an enlightening conversation with real estate investment expert Brandon Giddickson. They delve into the specifics of achieving an 8% preferred return on real estate investments, insights into sourcing, buying, and selling opportunities, and the nuances of mana…
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The Hero's Journey of Mike Ealy: Triumph Over Real Estate Trials
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31:23In this episode of the Go Big Live Real Estate Investors Podcast, host Matt Druin welcomes Mike Ely, CEO of Nassau Invests, a key development firm in Cincinnati. Mike shares his remarkable journey from starting off with small ventures in college to becoming homeless following a failed investment in a car wash. Despite these setbacks, Mike's relentl…
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