PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing Show

What’s better: FIRE or “flow”? Owning rentals or investing in syndications? Jim Pfeifer and Scott Trench (former CEO of BiggerPockets) go head-to-head in a friendly but fiery debate about cash flow, control, diversification, and what financial freedom really looks like. Scott explains why, even as a FIRE advocate, he can’t bring himself to follow the traditional 4% withdrawal rule—and why most ret...

What happens when a well-known multifamily operator shifts focus to a completely different asset class? In this episode, Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon are joined by real estate investor and Praxis Capital founder Brian Burke to explore his pivot into assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities. Brian shares why he's stepped away from multifamily, for now, and what signals led him t...

What do experienced real estate investors do when deals don’t pencil, the capital stack is shifting, and the data feels contradictory? In this episode, Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon are joined by real estate investor, CPA, and UCLA professor Eric Sussman to explore how sophisticated LPs should think about today's economic signals, capital markets, and sponsor behavior. Eric brings decades of experi...

Join the Active to Passive Cohort (Starts July 28): https://get.biggerpockets.com/active-to-passive-investing/ Passive Pockets members save $100! Find your promo code here: https://passivepockets.com/forums-listing/discussion/5-week-cohort-starts-7-28-active-to-passive-portfolio-transformation-cohort/ Contact Chris Lopez: chrislopez@biggerpockets.com Is your real estate portfolio truly aligned wit...

Real estate deal flow is back but is it better? With inboxes full of syndications boasting high returns and “rare” opportunities, passive investors are under more pressure than ever to separate substance from spin. In this episode of Dig In or Delete, Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon return to scrutinize real deals sent straight to their inboxes, highlighting red flags, potential gems, and everything...

Investing in mobile home parks can rebuild your real estate empire efficiently after economic setbacks. How do you navigate this sector to ensure sustainable growth and returns? Kevin Bupp, a seasoned investor with a wealth of experience in various real estate asset classes, shares his journey and insights into this unique investment space. In this episode, you’ll learn the intricacies of mobile h...

What if you could pay taxes on a smaller amount while investing in the same deals—and then watch your money grow tax-free for decades? In this episode, we explore a little-known strategy that allows investors to convert traditional retirement accounts to Roth at a discount, even when those funds are tied up in illiquid syndications. Today, we’re joined by John Bowens, a self-directed retirement ex...

AI integration in real estate investing allows savvy investors to make faster, smarter decisions and avoid costly mistakes. So, how can you leverage AI tools to evaluate deals and optimize your investment strategy? Leyla Kunimoto, a finance expert and limited partner, joins us to share her insights on using AI for real estate due diligence. In this episode, you’ll learn how real estate investors c...

After a wave of failed real estate syndications and several years of declining commercial real estate prices, passive investors are understandably hesitant to deploy their capital. But despite mixed LP sentiment and economic uncertainty, today’s guest believes there’s reason for optimism and that multifamily real estate is poised to rebound. Our conversation provides a data-driven perspective from...

What recourse do limited partners have when their fund is being mismanaged? Do triple net leases (NNN) offer safety in an uncertain economy? In this episode, we’re delving into a recent LP-led succession that underscores the latent power of passive investors and a low-risk investing strategy that delivers steady returns in volatile markets. Today, we’re joined by Zane Schartz, president of Freedom...

Are you eager to deploy capital but wary of making the wrong decision in this uncertain economic climate? Passive investing could help you capture the long-term gains of real estate—without the operational burdens of active management. Today’s guest provides low-risk, time-tested strategies for any stage of your investing journey. In this episode, we interview Pascal Wagner—seasoned limited partne...

Conventional financial advice keeps you tethered to Wall Street, locking up all your cash in retirement accounts and home equity. But what if there’s a smarter way for passive investors to build wealth? In this episode, we explore the strategies financial institutions adopt but don’t advertise—like using high cash value, whole life insurance to unlock capital and create real passive income. Today,...

Would you invest in any of these six syndication deals? In today’s episode, we’re trying something new, a “Delete or Dig In” segment, where we pull real deals from our inboxes and break them down on the show. We’ll review their returns, minimum investments, value-add strategies, and timelines—then choose to either “dig in” or “delete” and move on to the next opportunity. We’ve been sent a stream o...

The multifamily market is shifting—again. Construction is slowing down after a historic wave of new delivery, and uncertainty surrounding the new administration, tariffs, and inflation is causing consumers to lose faith in the economy as a recession looms. Passive investors must recalibrate, but how? Stay tuned as we share our multifamily outlook for 2025! Things are changing rapidly, and to help...

The financial landscape is shifting, with rumblings of a global currency reset threatening to take down the US dollar. What does this mean for limited partners (LPs), syndicators, and other passive investors? How “safe” are your investments in the event of a collapse? We’ll discuss all of this and more in today’s episode. Financial strategist, investor, and founder of The Raising Capitalists Found...

Sweeping new tariffs are causing sharp economic ripple effects, with stock valuations dropping last week and Americans bracing for renewed inflation. This shift creates both new risks and opportunities for real estate investors—especially passive LPs evaluating upcoming deals. Amid this uncertainty, bond yields and mortgage rates are falling fast—a welcome shift for GPs grappling with bridge loans...

In the latest episode of our Deal Review Series, Drew Wahlgren from MAG Capital Investments presents the MAG Capital Industrial Fund III Deal to our LP panel: Paul Shannon, Chris Lopez, and Mauricio Rauld. The LP Panel asks questions like: - How many industrial deals have you done, and what’s the performance to date? - Who handles acquisitions, asset management, and communications with investors?...

Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon chat with James Eng of Old Capital Lending to unpack today’s multifamily financing landscape. A 20-year commercial lending veteran in both institutional and private markets, James explains how surging interest rates, higher scrutiny on sponsors, and renewed competition in bridge loans are reshaping apartment deals. He also shares why LPs should treat debt as a top prio...

Host Jim Pfeifer chats with real estate advisor Aleksey Chernobelskiy, who spent years on an institutional investment team overseeing billions of dollars in properties before shifting his focus to helping limited partners. Aleksey discusses the key lessons he’s learned under “big REIT” systems and how they apply to everyday passive investors navigating the often “Wild West” of syndications. You’ll...

Paul Shannon sits down with Logan Freeman (a.k.a. “Mr. Kansas City”) for a deep dive into the 18-year real estate cycle and how it shapes today’s market. Drawing on the works of economists like Fred Harrison and Phil Anderson, Logan explains why land scarcity and speculative credit often drive real estate booms and busts. He also highlights how investors can prepare for what he calls a “winter’s c...

Paul Shannon hosts an in-depth chat with Chris Carsley of Kirkland Capital Group to explore the growing world of private real estate debt. Chris explains how private lending is filling financing gaps left by traditional banks, why short-term “bridge” loans for smaller commercial deals can yield competitive returns, and what operational due diligence steps every LP should take before investing. Fro...

Jim Pfeifer and Paul Shannon sit down with John Bowens of Equity Trust to break down the power of self-directed retirement plans for real estate investors. From the basics of what “self-directed” really means to the nuances of IRAs, HSAs, and Solo 401(k)s, John explains how you can unlock more flexibility and control in building your portfolio. Whether you’re investing in syndications, private len...

We dive into the “battle of the PPM” (Private Placement Memorandum) with two special guests from opposite sides of the table. On the GP side, securities attorney Mauricio Rauld (Platinum Legal) explains how these legal documents protect operators and outline deal structures. Representing the LP perspective, experienced investor Jeremy Roll highlights how to spot red flags, interpret complex provis...

We explore the world of asset class conversions with special guest Clint Harris, who specializes in turning empty big-box buildings (think old Kmarts and abandoned textile mills) into profitable self-storage facilities. Clint shares why changing consumer needs (especially among younger renters) is sparking new demand for creative reuse, and how savvy operators can use “cap rate arbitrage” to trans...

We sit down with John “Dr. Doom” Drachman for a revealing look at how the multifamily market has evolved since the turbulence of 2022 and what passive investors can do now. John unpacks the factors that led to trouble (“overheated” markets, aggressive loan structures, and short-term flips), why true distress hasn’t fully materialized, and how today’s environment calls for more “boring,” long-term...