Invest Smarter Podcast

Episode 247: Friday Look Back - Invest Confidently! Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Understanding fear is crucial for real estate investing success. Knowledge reduces fear and boosts confidence in decision-making. Smart investors manage, not eliminate, risk. Setbacks in investing can be valuable learning experiences....

Episode 246: Overcoming Analysis Paralysis and Taking Action  Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one episode as he reflects on:  Analysis Paralysis  Ready - aim aim aim aim aim – are you taking a shot?  Sometimes it takes a while to gain momentum  Be sure not to take advice from the wrong individuals  Your business doesn’t have to be perfect to start - you have to take...

Episode 245: Friday Look Back - Are You Ever Too Old To Invest In Real Estate? Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Age might bring different challenges, but it also offers some unique opportunities. Discipline; focus on the manageable and low risk deals that are aligned with your resources and your goal. Flexibility is on...

Episode 244: Remote Real Estate Investing Strategies with Jen & Stacy Conkey Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo with Jen & Stacy Conkey as they discuss on: “Real Estate is that thing that I want to do.”  What is a joint venture and how do you structure that project?  I lost $80,000 in one single day  Don’t go that fast, stay with your finger on the pulse of the business  We...

Episode 243: Friday Look Back - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  What exactly is imposter syndrome? Numbers and comparison are one of the unique challenges in real estate. Embracing the discomfort and using it as fuel to grow. Instead of trying to position yourself as the expert right away,...

Episode 242: What to Know About Cash Flow As An Investor Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one  episode as he reflects on:   Misconception about cash flow. How you can proactively protect your investment.  How you can optimize and protect your cash flow.  Maintaining cash flow and having a cash reserve are essential for a resilient and thriving real estate portfolio....

Episode 241: Friday Look Back - Is Flipping Properties The Right Strategy For You? Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Is flipping properties the right path for you? Flipping is most effective when several key factors are aligned. Flipping is more like running a manufacturing business.   Whether you are exploring flipping...

Episode 240: Top Real Estate Trends to Watch For in 2025 Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one  episode as he reflects on:   Emerging trends for real estate investors The Federal Reserve’s approach to interest rates is tied closely to inflation indicators, and while rate cuts may occur, they will depend on the inflation trajectory. The job market remains robust, but r...

Episode 239: Friday Look Back - Friday Look Back - Building a Vertically Integrated Real Estate Business Host: Simon Castillo  Guest: Mark Updegraff Join our host Simon Castillo with Mark Updegraff as they discuss:    How to know when to pivot in your career Building a business  Finding people that you resonate with and asking questions  Joining a mastermind and expanding your network Scaling your...

Episode 238: The Surprising Lucrative Real Estate Asset Class with Stewart Heath Host: Simon Castillo Guest: Stewart Heath Join our host Simon Castillo with Caleb Johnson as they discuss:    Real estate is a constant in our lives  Outlook for office real estate  The Debt Wall  Rate cuts  Multifamily Meltdown Opportunities in multifamily to come  The Tennessee Valley  We have open investment opport...

Episode 237: Friday Look Back - Looking back at 2024, Looking Forward to 2025 Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Starting doesn't mean you have to know everything or that you have to have all the answers, it means committing to the journey. Taking the first step no matter how small Every seasoned investor started so...

Episode 236: Friday Look Back - Friday Look Back - Strategies vs Tactics For Real Estate Investors Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  What it takes to understand the difference between having a strategy and a tactic. Strategy is your big-picture plan. Tactics behind the strategies are the methods and the tools that you u...

Episode 235: How Can The Busy W2 Professional Get Started In Real Estate? Host: Simon Castillo Guest: Dan Calonge Join our host Simon Castillo with Caleb Johnson as they discuss:    Multifamily is a team sport  Balancing a W2 with being an investor  Giving back  The importance of aligning values  We have open investment opportunities. Want to learn more? Check out www.sastexascapital.com Download...

Episode 234: Friday Look Back - Mailbag Episode: Should You Buy A Cheap Property? Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Knowing your market is crucial. Properties deemed “cheap” can lead to poor investment outcomes if they lack demand. Always analyze local trends. Investing in solid neighborhoods ensures stable rental deman...

Episode 232: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Taking Action to Achieve Your Goals Host: Simon Castillo Guest: Caleb Johnson Join our host Simon Castillo with Caleb Johnson as they discuss:    Family Hardships  House Hacking  Setting goals that stretch you, but are still realistic  Taking action  If you’re a passive investor, be okay with walking away from a deal  “It’s a lot easier to lose $1 milli...

Episode 232: Friday Look Back - Traits Successful Real Estate Investors Have In Common Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  The common traits that set successful real estate investors apart from the people that dabble. Overcoming analysis paralysis is crucial; taking the first step is often the hardest but necessary for bu...

Episode 231: From Being in Debt to Building Wealth with Tim Little Host: Simon Castillo  Guest: Tim Little Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one  episode as he reflects on:   Tenant experiences  Structuring the 1031 Exchange  Tax strategies  Overcoming student debt and growing financially as an investor  Building up a network and reputation as an operator  We have open investment opportuni...

Episode 230: Friday Look Back - Black Friday: Strategies That Can Help Grow Your Real Estate Portfolio Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Growing a real estate portfolio requires strategic planning and goal-setting, especially at the year’s end. Utilizing 1031 exchanges can help investors reinvest profits without incurri...

Episode 229: Beyond Borders: Jonathan Wei's Path to Real Estate Syndication Host: Simon Castillo  Guests: Jonathan Wei Join our host Simon Castillo with Jonathan Wei as they discuss:   Life is so much more than making money  What is life and why am I here?  Mindset and spirituality  Could you have made it without a mentor?  Self storage deals We have open investment opportunities. Want to lea...

Episode 228: Friday Look Back - The Compounding Effects of Small Wins In Real Estate Investing Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Small wins, while seemingly insignificant, compound over time, leading to greater motivation and confidence. The Importance of Actionable Goals Building a network can lead to unexpected opport...

Episode 227: Having a Coach or Mentor Alongside You Host: Simon Castillo  Guests: Brian Head & Chris Gordon Join our host Simon Castillo with Brian Head & Chris Gordon as they discuss on:   The value of education, coaching, and having the right mindset. What makes real estate investors successful. How do you overcome the sense of being overwhelmed and finding focus as a real estate investo...

Episode 226: Friday Look Back - Fix & Flips vs Passive Real Estate Investing: Which Is Right For You?  Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Regardless of which investment strategy you choose, the bottom line is - you have to take action   Time commitment and how actively involved you need to be between fix & flips...

Episode 225: Finding a Niche in Self Storage Host: Simon Castillo  Guest: Russell Nersesov Join our host Simon Castillo with Russell Nersesov as they discuss on:   It takes a village to work on a multifamily project  Is there a huge difference between the financials, economics, and returns that investors see in self storage compared to multifamily?  How to recognize a good investment deal?  We hav...

Episode 224: Friday Look Back - How Will Trump Influence Your Investments? Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  The potential tax benefits for real estate investors under Trump’s new term. Fewer regulatory hurdles and faster approval times for permits and zoning changes could expedite real estate development projects. What...

Episode 223: How Can The Busy W2 Professional Get Started In Real Estate? Host: Simon Castillo  Guest: Dan Calonge Join our host Simon Castillo with Dan Calonge as they discuss on:   Multifamily is a team sport  Balancing a W2 with being an investor  Giving back  The importance of aligning values  We have open investment opportunities. Want to learn more? Check out www.sastexascapital.com Download...