Straight Up Chicago Investor

What steps should I take to best prepare for my 2026 tax returns? ============= C onnect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Guest: Aaron Zimmerman, Brick House CPAs Link: SUCI Episode 52 Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Link: Build Your Team | Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoI...

Asher Motew and Quinn Keenan of Essex Capital Markets break down keys to their early career success in the Chicago Commercial Lending Market! Asher and Keenan start by explaining their background coming from real estate families and how they've been able to pave their own path in commercial lending. They share their service offerings including creative solutions they bring that traditional lenders...

Jason Wagner, Managing Broker of Greystone Realty, returns to discuss the state of the Chicago Real Estate market and the power of buy and hold investments. Jason starts by discussing buyer expectations and demand in today's market. He dives into the data behind Chicago property value appreciation and rent growth across different neighborhoods! Jason shares client success stories involving house h...

What do I need to be aware of when assigning a contract?  ============= C onnect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Guest: Chance Badertscher, Chance The Lawyer Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Link: Build Your Team | Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Have a v...

Duke Dennis and Bryan Sonn of GC Realty & Development join us to explain the ins and outs of Chicagoland Industrial Investments! Duke and Bryan explain how they got their start in industrial real estate. They dive deep on the differences between residential and industrial property investing. They discuss how they went from a property manager to an owner operator and share ways to add value to indu...

Igor Mike Kajpust, president of Evolved Property Group, shares his REI journey which started at 17 years of age and spans across multiple states! Igor breaks down his first few deals which includes an $800 land deal in Colorado and a distressed single family home in Indiana! He shares countless stories on auction properties, cold calling, and learning the process of wholesaling to create deal flow...

What do real estate investors need to know about the Big Beautiful Bill? ============= C onnect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Guest: Aaron Zimmerman, Brick House CPAs Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Link: Build Your Team | Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.c...

Alderman Bennett Lawson discusses historical developments in his 44th Ward and how that success can be applied across the City of Chicago! Alderman Lawson jumps right in by explaining the successful development in Wrigleyville including partnering with the Ricketts family! He breaks down successful developments including Advocate Masonic Hospital in Lakeview and across the 44th Ward. Alderman Laws...

Mike Scanlon of the Axon Group returns to share his personal real estate journey with several insights on how he has reached his success! Mike starts by discussing his background prior to real estate and then jumps into his first property acquisition which was a rent-by-the-room condo house hack! He shares how he got gritty and creative to finance and acquire a pair of distressed properties in Uni...

What are the main differences in the 8.0 CAR contract vs the previous 7.0? ============= C onnect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Guest: Chance Badertscher, Chance The Lawyer Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Link: Build Your Team | Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@g...

Dan Nelson is a real estate agent and investor with over 2 decades of experience flipping properties and buying rentals! Dan jumps right in by explaining his start in real estate and how success in poker helped fund his real estate business! He breaks down his first few flip projects including lessons learned and great tips on vetting contractors. Dan talks through the challenges of getting off th...

Brendan McElhaney, founder of Cash for Chicago Houses, is a real estate wholesaler and investor who specializes in sourcing off-market deals through direct-to-seller marketing! Brendan explains how he started in real estate with a house hack and how that helped him leave his corporate job to pursue real estate full time! He talks about renovation mistakes and leasing insights that he learned on hi...

How do I best prepare for an upcoming appraisal? ============= C onnect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Guest: Tom & Mark, Straight Up Chicago Investor Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Link: Build Your Team | Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Have a vacancy...

Ryan Bakke turns to discuss the power of smart business acquisitions and tax strategy to skyrocket returns and keep more money in your pocket! Ryan starts by reminding us the tax benefits of short-term rentals and real estate professional status. He explains the process of buying businesses including defining a buy box, identifying opportunities, and improving operations upon acquisition. He dives...

Adam Friedberg, CEO of Mavrek Development, joins us to discuss the ins and outs of large-scale developments in Chicago. Adam starts by explaining how he started in real estate and hustled early on to learn development and value-add construction. He breaks down pitching development deals to investors and various methods for raising money. Adam talks about projects during COVID and how his team pivo...

Adam Friedberg, CEO of Mavrek Development, joins us to discuss the ins and outs of large-scale developments in Chicago. Adam starts by explaining how he started in real estate and hustled early on to learn development and value-add construction. He breaks down pitching development deals to investors and various methods for raising money. Adam talks about projects during COVID and how his team pivo...

What is the process for assuming a VA or FHA loan?  ============= C onnect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Guest: Mike Scanlon, The Axon Group (EXP Realty) Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Link: Build Your Team | Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Have a vac...

Josh Bandoch is the Head of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute, TED Talk Speaker, and Author who joins to discuss his new book, How to Get What You Want! Josh jumps right in by explaining the concept of his book and the neuroscience of persuasion! He shares insights on how the brain works as it relates to persuasion and gives tactical negotiation tips. Josh describes the process of writing hi...

Josh Bandoch is the Head of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute, TED Talk Speaker, and Author who joins to discuss his new book, How to Get What You Want! Josh jumps right in by explaining the concept of his book and the neuroscience of persuasion! He shares insights on how the brain works as it relates to persuasion and gives tactical negotiation tips. Josh describes the process of writing hi...

Jay Patel and Tedi Nati of JP Acquisitions join us to explain how they've leveraged mentors and discipline to build a sizable multifamily portfolio on Chicago's West Side!  Jay and Tedi explain how they networked and built their team to set themselves up for success when starting in real estate! They break down raising money and setting up a syndication to acquire their first multifamily building...

What do investors need to be aware of when taking on a 203k or Homestyle Renovation loan? ============= C onnect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Guest: Jonathan Klemm , Quality Builders Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Link: Build Your Team | Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast Properties for Sale on the North Side?  We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicag...

Samuel Pavlovcik of the Pavlovcik Architecture returns to explain opportunities brought by the expanded city-wide Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance! Samuel jumps right in by explaining the process and expectations on obtaining a Zoning Change without leveraging the ADU ordinance! He dives deep on various Zoning and Building Code requirements when looking to build and/or legalize a basement...

Joe Konopacki, Founder and CEO of Insight Property Services, is a seasoned home inspector with various professional certifications on Building Performance and Efficiency! Joe starts with a story on acquiring a mixed-use building to establish his business and invest simultaneously! He breaks down his background of growing up in a real estate family and transitioning into the business. Joe gets gran...

What are the upcoming elections that every investor should be aware of, and what's this dinner with Rahm Emanuel I heard about? ============= C onnect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Guest: Mike Glasser & Aron Borstein, NBOA PAC | An Evening with Rahm Emanuel ⭐⭐Get your tickets today!⭐⭐ Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Link: Build Your Team | Straight Up Chi...

Gil Villegas is the alderperson of Chicago's 36th ward and has focused on generating opportunities for economic and business development to best serve the constituents of his ward! Alderman Villegas starts by discussing how zoning changes can be utilized to create win-win situations for investors and members of a community or ward! He talks about how he and his fellow members of City Counsel were...