Invest Smarter Podcast

Episode 172: Friday Look Back - What's Best: Active or Passive Investing? Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  What is the best investing approach that suits you? There is a significant execution risk in finding and underwriting good deals. Knowing exactly when is the right time to decide whether they're doing a...

Episode 171: Fix & Flips 101 Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one  episode as he reflects on:  The fix and flips model is probably one of the more accessible entry points for most aspiring investors. There are still tremendous opportunities if you have the right frameworks and place. The key to success with the fix-and-flip model is understanding the math equatio...

Episode 170: Friday Look Back - Vetting General Contractor Budgets Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Understanding the numbers behind what the contractor is quoting you. What is your real long-term Return on Investment (ROI) by using that particular contractor?   Knowing and auditing every minute detail of a contractor&...

Episode 169: How to Navigate Your W2 and Grow Your Real Estate Portfolio Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one  episode as he reflects on:  Tips to navigate your W2 and grow your portfolio. Setting aside dedicated office hours for your side hustle. Focusing on real estate-related tasks. Leveraging automation and services to help streamline your workload. Time is proba...

Episode 168: Friday Look back - Unpacking the Latest Fed Interest Rate Decision Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  The Fed's decision to leave interest rate unchanged. Why interest rates are so important to real estate investors. Interest rates are basically your cost of money. Investing in real estate is a capital-...

Episode 167: Friday Look Back - Should You Raise Money from Friends and Family? Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Can you raise capital from your friends and family to get your real estate business off the ground? The two types of investors. The requirements to be a credited real estate investor. Some are non-credited r...

Episode 166: The Four Quadrants of Real Estate Investing Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  How will you use single-family properties to build tangible wealth? The 1% rental value ratio. If you are starting out, where should you invest? Pick a submarket within your city. When you sell your property, don't sell it th...

Episode 165: Friday Look Back - Should You Pay a Buyer's Agent? Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  A huge change in the real estate landscape. Should you pay or not for a buyer's agent when you're buying a home? Buyer agents provide valuable services to home buyers by helping them navigate the complexity o...

Episode 164: Single Family Versus Commercial Real Estate Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Single family vs commercial real estate, both provide you with traditional advantages in real estate investing in terms of cash flow, equity appreciation, and leverage depth, which can be risky if not structured properly. Commerci...

Episode 163: Friday Look Back - Should You Buy a Rental Property Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  When is the good time to buy a rental property? No matter what field you're in, real estate and its passive income capability and tax advantages are absolutely unmatched. Real estate is getting more valuable over time...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 162: Tips On Managing Your General Contractors Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one episode as he reflects on:  The challenges that real estate investors and even homeowners face when dealing with general contractors Tips on how to make sure you can manage your general contractor better in the future Communication is so important, a la...

Episode 161: Friday Look Back - Taking a Wrecking Ball to Realtor Fees in America Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  The issue about the landmark case involving NAR. Will it lead to lower housing prices? Competition will enter the market and a new business model will come in. It could be a decade before we really underst...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 160: Don't Fall For Bad Advice Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one episode as he reflects on:  Business advice that's out their on the internet that are just wrong. Thinking with your heart and not with your brain, your setting yourself up for failure Think with your brain and use logic Study the market for what it is Creati...

Episode 159: Friday Look Back - Keep it Simple Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Focusing on one thing and keeping it simple The easiest to do is to create one goal for yourself as an investor Having to define your criteria for your goal Not falling for the trap of complexity, keeping it simple and focus on the goal. We...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 158:  Flashback Episode: Invest Smarter Utilizing 1031 Exchanges with Justin Kiehne Host: Simon Castillo  Guest: Justin Kiehne Producer: April Munson Simon Castillo is joined by Justin Kiehne to discuss:  Coming to the realization that there are different pathways to growing financial stability aside from exchanging time for dollars  “If you’re open to opportunities...

I nvest Smarter Podcast  Episode 157: Friday Look Back - Should You Hire a Property Manager? Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Three reasons why it's important to have a property management company The property management company will handle a lot of day-to-day task on your behalf. You, as an owner, save time and e...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 156: Choosing the Best Real Estate Investing Strategy for You Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one episode as he reflects on:  The best way to start investing in real estate. How to personally determine the best path is on investing in real estate. What should you invest in. Young professionals recognize that real estate is a great way...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 155: Friday Look Back - Short Term Rental or Long Term Rentals?  Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Advantages and disadvantages of short term rentals  What is it that you’re looking to do?  With short term rentals, you’re competing in the world of hospitality Understand who your competiti...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 154: Anatomy of a Deal Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one episode as he reflects on:  What are the economics of a property? What is the anatomy of a deal?  A blueprint for things that you should consider when looking at deals We have open investment opportunities. Want to learn more? Check out www.sastexascapital.com Download our FRE...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 153: Friday Look Back - 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Renovating A Property Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  5 common mistakes people make when making renovations to a property  Keep up with quotes and invoices throughout renovation project Code compliance Keep organized and be sure of your r...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 152: The Path to Scaling Your Real Estate Business  Host: Simon Castillo  Guest: Chris Lento Simon Castillo is joined by Chris Lento to discuss:  When are you comfortable leaving your day job?  The path to scaling your business  You are going to have to learn how to raise capital  Partnering with others is key  The rates will come down, but when?  How do you get com...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 151: Friday Look Back - Overcoming Anxiety and Fear of Failure  Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  Overcoming anxiety and the fear of failure  Social media heightens our sense of failure  Fear of rejection  How do you manage the feelings of fear?  Ask yourself, “who am I seeking approval f...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 150: Beyond Borders: Jonathan Wei’s Path to Real Estate Syndication  Host: Simon Castillo  Guests: Jonathan Wei Simon Castillo is joined by Jonathan Wei to 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  Jonathan started his career as tax profes...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 149: Friday Look Back - Want to Get Started in Real Estate? Do This First!  Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one Friday Look Back episode as he reflects on:  How do you get started in real estate?  Begin to educate yourself  Position yourself to be around other investors  Your network is your net worth Attend meetups and webinars  Util...

Invest Smarter Podcast  Episode 148: Actionable Steps To Start Building Wealth Host: Simon Castillo  Join our host Simon Castillo for a one on one episode as he reflects on:  Start building generational wealth in 2024 Have your financial house in order Get clear on your spending  Create new habits  We have open investment opportunities. Want to learn more? Check out www.sastexascapital.com Downloa...