Straight Up Chicago Investor

New development strategies, hot Chicago areas, derivative financing trading, long-term holds, and an Englishman! This episode is packed with nuggets across the board. With a background in finance and derivatives trading, Lawrence Dunning has shifted his analytical skills to real estate and is making a name for himself by linking developers to long-term investors before inventory hits the market.  ...

As a buyer, how can I find wholesalers, get them to work with me, and what should I expect throughout the process? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Blake McCreight of Express Property Solutions ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

On today's episode, our guest Tom Benedetto explains how the Chicagoland Apartment Association (CAA) is a strong voice in the fight for fair and lawful protection of Housing Providers across Chicagoland. Tom shares CAA's mission statement, the issues they are currently tackling, and the biggest challenges in the push for advocacy. Lastly, Tom closes with the goals that CAA has for the near future...

Wondering if it's time to jump into the Chicago Real Estate Market? Brie Schmidt provides a recap of the 2021 market and dives into the current trends and expectations for 2022.  Brie explains how low inventory has impacted the market and how buyers have had to readjust their expectations. She also discusses lending challenges on properties in her area of expertise, Chicago's North Side. Brie drop...

How are lenders handling ADU requests from investors looking to add a legal unit to an existing property? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Perry Farella of Prime Lending | Perry's Blog ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2022.

World Relief Organization (WRO) Chicagoland is a humanitarian organization whose focus is to aid refugees and immigrant families in finding housing and rebuilding their lives in Chicago. As a Chicagoland housing provider, there is not only good that you can do by partnering with WRO, but you can also benefit from a stream of applicants with specified subsidies.  Today WRO's own Susan Sperry and Na...

So what happened in the Chicago real estate market in 2021 and where are we headed in 2022? Our guests today, Casey Smagala and Steven Vance both of Chicago Cityscape, are here to share data you won't want to miss.  Casey and Steven explain how their data aggregation software allows them to efficiently analyze neighborhoods and identify paths of progress. They present which areas in Chicago with p...

What is a wholesaler and as an investor why should I care? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Blake McCreight of Express Property Solutions ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2021.

Regardless of which real estate assets you fancy, you are about to experience massive disruption in the upcoming years. That's according to the mad scientist of multifamily and returning guest Neal Bawa (previously on episode 26).  Neal drops a fascinating outlook on the retail sector, particularly shopping malls and their post-COVID recovery. He also shares why he believes cap rates will continue...

You know how you see larger developments on major intersections and wonder "who's doing that?" Well the answer is people like today's guest Matt Katsaros.  Matt started his real estate career as a top-performing commercial broker at Kise before transitioning to a director of acquisitions at Pangea. Those extraordinary experiences primed him for investing in Chicago and he has found his best return...

What closing costs and credits can I expect on my HUD statement? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Perry Farella of Prime Lending | Perry's Blog ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2021.

You may have already listened to our househacking from hell episode (Episode 89).  Today, we don't have tenants stealing cars or anyone overdosing, but we do have typical obstacles faced with a first-time househack; all compounded with the fact that this project included a gut rehab. Our guest today, Alex Martinez, dove in head first, encountered numerous challenges, and has not only lived to tell...

From toilets falling through ceilings, to gentrification, Gordy Payne has seen it all as a hands-on owner in Pilsen. Gordy took a chance on Pilsen due to its proximity to downtown and made a name for himself for his ability to restore beautiful vintage buildings. He fully committed to the community, and for this, the community has treated him well.    Gordy provides a summarized oral history of Pi...

What are tactical steps to follow when sending, responding, and tracking mailers? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Sharad Mehta of REsimpli ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2021.

Today, Tom and Mark have an excellent conversation with Judy Frydland, who served as the commissioner of buildings for the City of Chicago from 2015-2020. A lot happened under her leadership including the streamlining of the permit process to make it simpler and more efficient than ever to get work done. Listen in on her story for some excellent advice on life and business and where Chicago is goi...

MOLD! It's the scary four-letter word that investors never want to hear and it does not belong in a healthy property. However, a basic understanding of mold and its misconceptions in the marketplace will make you a better investor.  After having a bad experience with a mold company, investor Greg Bukowsi saw a need in the market and made it his mission to assist similar investors with mold issues....

How do I pull information and begin a direct mailing campaign? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Sharad Mehta of REsimpli ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2021.

Will County is one of the fastest growing counties in Illinois, and when compared to Cook County, it offers a faster growth rate and a lot more room for development and expansion. As a second generation property manager and investor, Jason Marcodes from Landmark Property Manager, not only grew up in Will County, but grew up in the business. Today he outlines the economic growth in the far south an...

In our first live recording, we celebrate 100 episodes by asking questions to the audience (see how many answers you know) and also answering multiple questions from attendees. We discuss our favorite parts of the podcast, lessons learned from interviewing multiple Chicago rockstars, whom we still want to interview, and the future of the Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast.  A sincere thank you t...

What are some tips on how to best screen workforce housing tenants? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Jared Kott of Marblestone Properties ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2021.

As this episode airs, several of the Chicago townships have already been reassessed, leaving many owners with an unpleasant increase in property taxes. Returning guest Tim Jacobs of KSN Law (appeal.tax), joins us to discuss what he's seen in the Chicago townships that have been reassessed, and what he feels will happen in several townships about to be reassessed. Tim walks through the basics of ho...

Samuel Pavlovcik is a distinguished self-certified architect who specializes in working with investors in Chicago and the surrounding villages and suburbs. Today Samuel walks us through the different permits in Chicago, the nuances of Chicago's permitting process, and also what to expect when applying for a zoning variance.  Samuel presents a candid overview consisting of expected wait times, gotc...

How can I successfully operate properties in C/D areas? Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com Guest: Jared Kott of Marblestone Properties ----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2021.

After being routinely recognized as a successful multifamily broker, Kyle Shoemaker set out to create a rare brokerage that focuses solely on affordable housing. Kyle is a true expert and walks us through the nuances of affordable housing and unique challenges and opportunities presented in this space. Affordable housing can be complicated, which is why so few people specialize in it, but it is a...

The Community Investment Corp, or the CIC, has been a stalwart in Chicago since the 1970s and has reinvented the way owners can create affordable housing units for their communities. Stacie Young was just recently appointed the new President and CEO and she has lots of plans in the works. Today she comes to us to discuss the various ways investors can interact with the CIC, what the preservation c...