The Diversify Show with Eric Lindsey

Episode Summary Shams Merchant is a former BigLaw attorney focused on commercial real estate transactions, syndications, investment funds, and private offerings. He works with investors, developers, sponsors, and private equity firms on acquisitions, financing, development, fund formation, and securities compliance. In this episode, Shams discusses why transactions began returning as buyers and se...

Episode Summary Sean O’Dowd became interested in real estate after moving 22 times before college. While working a demanding W2 job, he spent 10–15 hours each week studying local housing markets, invested his own capital, and tested his strategy for roughly three years before accepting outside investor money. About four years after his first purchase, he moved into real estate full-time. In this e...

Episode Summary Ruben entered real estate as a teenager by helping his cousin find distressed properties in Queens. After leaving high school, he earned his GED, attended St. John’s University, completed law school, and continued acquiring, flipping, and developing properties while studying. Ruben explains how We Lend provides short-term financing for real estate investors and how States Capital g...

Episode Summary Niyi purchased his first triplex in 2016, lived in one unit, and rented the other two. He continued buying small multifamily properties while earning promotions in medical-device sales and directing much of his commission income into investments. Niyi explains how he transitioned into full-time real estate, built an investor-focused team, expanded into short- and mid-term rentals,...

Episode Summary Michella began investing around 2015–2016 while continuing her professional career. Before focusing on multifamily, she gained experience with smaller acquisitions, fix-and-flip projects, and private lending. In this episode, she explains how she balances real estate with her W2, works with partners whose skills and schedules complement hers, and evaluates opportunities during high...

Episode Summary Michella began investing around 2015–2016 while continuing her professional career. Before focusing on multifamily, she gained experience with smaller acquisitions, fix-and-flip projects, and private lending. In this episode, she explains how she balances real estate with her W2, works with partners whose skills and schedules complement hers, and evaluates opportunities during high...

Episode Summary Brian Alfaro began investing in real estate in 2017 while working in the restaurant industry and operating coffee shop businesses. He started with single-family rentals, flips, and wholesale deals before realizing that reaching his income goals through individual houses would require managing a large number of properties. That realization led him toward multifamily investing and ev...

Episode Summary Brian Alfaro began investing in real estate in 2017 while working in the restaurant industry and operating coffee shop businesses. He started with single-family rentals, flips, and wholesale deals before realizing that reaching his income goals through individual houses would require managing a large number of properties. That realization led him toward multifamily investing and ev...

Episode Summary Angelo Christian entered the mortgage industry after studying finance and economics and says he initially knew very little about mortgages. After learning the business through a friend, he built his career during the subprime era and remained in lending through the market crash, shifting into conventional, FHA, VA, and other financing programs as conditions changed. Over time, Ange...

Episode Summary Jasper Cool discovered real estate in 2018 while working as a restaurant server and looking for a way to create more income and freedom. With little money and no real estate experience, he learned wholesaling through YouTube, driving for dollars, and eventually real estate coaching. After his first contract fell through, Jasper closed his first successful deal for $4,700 and contin...

Episode Summary Joey Schneider built a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry while quietly building a real estate portfolio on the side. What started with a home build and fix-and-flips eventually grew into single-family rentals, multifamily investments, and a full-time real estate business. In this episode, Joey shares how he and his wife transitioned from demanding W-2 careers to real...

Episode Summary Joey Schneider built a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry while quietly building a real estate portfolio on the side. What started with a home build and fix-and-flips eventually grew into single-family rentals, multifamily investments, and a full-time real estate business. In this episode, Joey shares how he and his wife transitioned from demanding W-2 careers to real...

Episode Summary In this episode, we explore how turnkey real estate investing can help create passive income and provide an alternative path toward retirement. Our guest shares how RealEstateDone4u handles the heavy lifting — from finding and purchasing properties to rehabbing and managing rental homes — helping investors build income that isn't solely dependent on the stock market. Key Takeaw...

Episode Summary Zach Lemaster built financial independence while serving as a U.S. Air Force Captain and practicing as an optometrist. Instead of relying on his local market, he strategically invested in high-growth markets across the U.S., consistently acquiring rental properties that generated cash flow, appreciation, and equity. Within a few years, his portfolio replaced his active income, even...

No Bank, No Money Down: The Deal-by-Deal Playbook Part 1 was the leap. Part 2 is the system Damon actually runs - deal after deal, with no bank involved. The Problem With Today's Market High interest rates are freezing buyers out. Sellers who need to move are stuck holding payments they can't afford. Damon doesn't wait for rates to drop. He works around them. The Toolkit Lease options....

Damon Boudreaux started his real estate business with $13 out of pocket. Not $13,000. $13. That single deal changed the direction of his entire career. 🎙️ Damon Boudreaux | Creative Wholesaling Creative Financing Investor | 20+ Years in Real Estate Part 1 — The First Deal That Changed Everything Damon was working a W2 job when he found real estate. No savings. No connections. No experience. He sta...

In this episode, Cameron shares insights on real estate investing, focusing on niche strategies like small retail centers, market analysis, and partnership dynamics. Learn how to navigate market cycles, funding options, and build a successful real estate business. keywords Real estate investing, retail centers, market analysis, partnership, funding, syndications, property management key topics Nic...

From Architect to Real Estate Investor: Building a Side Hustle Beside a W-2 — Part 1 A strong career can provide stability. But it can also leave you dependent on one paycheck and one source of income. In Part 1, Cameron Hastings explains how he moved from architecture into real estate while still working a full-time job. After architecture school, Cameron worked on high-rise office projects in Ne...

A high income can create opportunity—but it can also leave you dependent on one job, one company, and one primary source of income. In Part 2, Michael Parks explains how he progressed from owning smaller multifamily properties to participating in larger real estate investments as both a general partner and limited partner. The biggest question is not simply: “What property should I buy?” It is: Wh...

A high income and successful career can provide security—but they can also leave you dependent on a single paycheck. Michael Parks experienced the real estate industry from the inside while working in technology for publicly traded real estate investment trusts managing roughly $30 billion in assets. That experience showed him real estate is a business built on systems, teams, and long-term strate...

Eric Broughton | Busy Bee Advisors Tax Strategist | Bookkeeping Expert The W-2 Tax Trap Most W-2 employees don't realize how rigged the system is against them. They can't write off their cell phone bill. They can't write off mileage. They can't write off a home office. Business owners and real estate investors can. That single distinction changes everything about how wealth compounds over time. Bu...

In this episode, Eric sits down with Ginger Faith, a real estate investor who has been in the game since 1994. Ginger has flipped over 52 properties, had two projects featured on HGTV, and built a career around discipline, strong relationships, and protecting capital. But the biggest lesson from this conversation was not about chasing returns. It was about protecting your downside. ## Ginger’s Rea...

Most investors won't touch Baltimore. Peter Neil sees 13,000 vacant homes and a massive opportunity. 🎙️ Peter Neil | GSP REI Workforce Housing Operator | Capital Raiser | Fund Manager Part 2 — Buy Box. BRRRR Discipline. Capital Strategy. Their model is precise. All in at $130,000 or less per property. ARV target of $185,000 minimum. Seventy percent loan-to-value refi. Cash recycled back into n...

Peter Neal watched his dad take calls at 2 and 3 in the morning. Managing properties for CBRE. And he thought to himself — I don't know if I want to do this. 🎙️ Peter Neal | GSP REI Affordable Housing Investor | Capital Raiser | Syndicator Part 1 — From Skeptic to Operator He went to Temple University. Studied media, business, and entrepreneurship. Thought he was headed to television or radio....

Vincent Lancy was steps from his front door when a drunk driver hit him. He woke up from a coma a week later. Did not know his name. Did not know his school. Had to relearn to walk, talk, and spell. He finished his finance degree. Earned his MBA. Got the dream job at Merrill Lynch and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Then walked away to build something that actually mattered. Vincent Lancy | Coming Alive P...