In a recent episode of The Real Estate Investing Club Podcast interview, hosted by Gabe Petersen, EM Capital’s founder, Chris Lento, shared his journey from purchasing a four-unit property in Boston to building a real estate investment firm managing over $100 million in assets across the Southeast.
Key Highlights:
- Strategic Market Selection:
- Transitioned investments from Boston to high-growth markets like Raleigh, Charlotte, Columbia, and Atlanta.
- Utilized resources such as the Milken Institute’s Best Cities report to identify emerging markets with strong population and job growth.
- Scalable Investment Approach:
- Focused on properties with 100+ units, valued between $15M–$60M.
- Emphasized cash flow, long-term fixed-rate debt, and operational efficiency.
- Employed 1031 exchanges to scale tax-efficiently.
- Lean Operations with Strategic Partnerships:
- Operated with a lean team, leveraging third-party property management to maintain efficiency across multiple markets.
- Formed strategic partnerships with other firms to raise capital and source deals, allowing for flexibility and scalability.
- Future Growth Plans:
- Aimed to double assets under management to $200M within the next two years.
- Explored value-add opportunities, sustainability upgrades, and new amenities like EV chargers to enhance property value and tenant experience.
Chris Lento’s story serves as a blueprint for professionals seeking to transition into real estate investing, highlighting the importance of strategic market selection, scalable investment approaches, and the power of partnerships.
For more insights, visit our website.
Connect with Chris Lento: LinkedIn.
Listen to the Full Episode: Available on Apple and Spotify.
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