NWA Investing

Brian Wagers, Zach Stanley, & Brandon Still

Northwest Arkansas's go-to show for real estate agents, brokers, and investors looking to zoom in on the local market. Join us as we sit down with the leading voices in the area to hear how they're investing in NWA. Hosted by (in order from left to right) Brian Wagers, Zach Stanley, and Brandon Still.

  1. 2 days ago

    Ep. 92 - The NWA Investor Playbook: Pricing, Maintenance, & Tenant Retention with Joe Puggi & Kim Minnis of TCS Management

    We sat down with Joe Puggi and Kim Minnis of TCS Management (a Philadelphia-based property management company now operating across 16 states and nearly 5,500 doors) on-site at Parkside at Lowell in Northwest Arkansas to talk about what separates investors who build lasting portfolios from those who quietly bleed money on a property they thought was performing. → Protect your investment with TCS Property Management→ Keep the closing table stress-free with Advantage Title & Escrow In this episode, we dig into the questions every investor should be asking before hiring a property management company, why maintenance and vacancy are where most investors lose the most money, and what out-of-state investors consistently get wrong about NWA's sub-markets. We also cover TCS's unique agent-driven leasing model, the role of AI in modernizing operations, and why Joe says the minute you get off the plane in Northwest Arkansas, you can feel the difference from every other market they operate in. 00:00 – What separates investors who thrive from those who struggle04:00 – TCS: from Philadelphia to 16 states09:00 – Questions to ask when vetting a property management company13:00 – How TCS uses social media marketing to fill vacancies faster than competitors17:00 – Where investors lose the most money22:00 – What makes NWA tenants different from every other market26:00 – Breaking down NWA sub-markets30:00 – The agent-driven leasing model34:00 – Fire round: biggest investor mistakes37:00 – What excites TCS most about Northwest Arkansas Follow us on LinkedIn NWA Investing Follow us on Instagram NWA Investing Watch us on YouTube NWA Investing

  2. 22 Jul

    Ep. 91 - The Most Expensive Landscaping Mistakes Property Owners Make with Eric Hill of Fay-Ark Lawn Co.

    We sat down with Eric Hill, founder of Fay-Ark Lawn Co., at a property Eric's crew just finished (Zach's own home) to talk about what it actually takes to build one of the fastest-growing landscape companies in Northwest Arkansas from scratch. Eric started mowing lawns his junior year of high school in 2018, and today he's running 15 crews and 43 employees, nearly doubling year over year. → Protect your investment with TCS Property Management→ Keep the closing table stress-free with Advantage Title & Escrow We get into why cheap landscaping costs property owners far more in the long run, how Eric scaled a service business through delegation, software, and systems, and what developers and investors should be thinking about before they ever break ground. We also cover drainage mistakes that kill property values, the ROI of outdoor living space, and the branding move that made his company look twice its size overnight. 00:00 – How Eric won the job at Zach's house04:00 – Why cheap landscaping creates expensive problems down the road08:00 – Starting Fay-Ark Lawn Co. in high school13:00 – The software systems that gave Eric's team transparency and ownership17:00 – Scaling quality: sign-off sheets, crew leads, and communication21:00 – Vendors vs. true partners25:00 – Red flags to watch for when hiring landscapers31:00 – When to invest vs. maintain35:00 – Why developers should involve landscapers early39:00 – Landscaping ROI before a sale44:00 – Fire round Follow us on LinkedIn NWA Investing Follow us on Instagram NWA Investing Watch us on YouTube NWA Investing

  3. 8 Jul

    Ep. 90 - How to Know When to Pass on a Real Estate Deal with Tom Allen (Recorded at The Visionaries Building)

    We sat down with Tom Allen, executive vice president at Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners (and the man overseeing Hunt Ventures' entire commercial real estate portfolio across Northwest Arkansas) inside the brand-new The Visionaries building in Rogers, a 400,000-square-foot development in the Pinnacle area. → Protect your investment with TCS Property Management→ Keep the closing table stress-free with Advantage Title & Escrow We dig into what out-of-state investors consistently get wrong about the NWA market, how Tom filters deals on character before he ever looks at the numbers, and the underwriting principles that have kept Hunt Ventures ahead of every market cycle. We also cover the triple-net lease shift reshaping Class A office rents, Tom's step-by-step roadmap for young investors starting with limited capital, and why he believes the single best financial decision of his career was one he chose not to make. HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Inside The Visionaries building04:00 – The "love where you work" design philosophy09:00 – Tenant profile: Nestle13:00 – What out-of-state investors get wrong about Northwest Arkansas17:00 – Why relationships with tenants matter more than lease language22:00 – Humility, abundance mindset, and what keeps Tom calm on big deals27:00 – Patience as a deal filter31:00 – Risk vs. uncertainty in NWA35:00 – Training young investors39:00 – Rapid fire43:00 – The best financial decision Tom ever made Follow us on LinkedIn NWA Investing Follow us on Instagram NWA Investing Watch us on YouTube NWA Investing

  4. 18 Feb

    Ep. 88 - Selling Arkansas: Jobs, Growth, Opportunity With Clint O'Neal

    → Protect your investment with TCS Property Management The secret to landing high-impact jobs and investment isn’t golf outings anymore, it’s speed, trust, and a clear plan. We sit down with Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, to unpack how companies really choose locations and why Arkansas keeps showing up in final rounds against bigger states. From billion-dollar data centers to six-figure steel jobs, Clint shares candid insights you won’t hear in a press release.We break down the four gates every project must clear: real estate, workforce, cost and incentives, and energy. Expect specifics: how tax cuts and persistent budget surpluses signal long-term stability, why executive-to-executive conversations beat glossy brochures, and the truth about losing or winning deals based on site readiness. Clint explains the incentives toolbox, including the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund, Create Rebate, property tax abatements, and training grants that build portable skills for Arkansans. He also tackles perceptions head-on and shows how quality of life in Northwest Arkansas converts visitors into founders and long-term hires.Zooming in on NWA, we talk momentum in food and beverage, consumer goods, aerospace and defense, and retail tech. Clint makes a strong case for more spec industrial space, 300,000 square-foot shells with 30-foot clear heights, to capture tenant demand and speed to market. We also explore a proposed constitutional amendment enabling flexible economic development districts, giving local leaders Texas-like tools to finance infrastructure and catalyze complex projects. The throughline is simple: when communities, universities, utilities, and employers row in the same direction, growth compounds.If you care about site selection, industrial development, or investing in a market on the rise, this conversation is a field guide. Follow the show, share it with a builder or operator who needs real numbers, and leave a review with the one factor you think decides most projects. Your feedback helps us bring more candid conversations to your feed. Northwest Arkansas's go-to show for real estate agents, brokers, and investors looking to zoom in on the local market. Join us as we sit down with the leading voices in the area to hear how they're investing in NWA. Hosted by (in order from left to right) Brian Wagers, Zach Stanley, and Brandon Still.

    Ep. 88 - Selling Arkansas: Jobs, Growth, Opportunity With Clint O'Neal
  5. 4 Feb

    Ep. 87 - Blueprint to Buy: Start-to-Finish Real Estate Guide

    → Protect your investment with TCS Property Management Most “good” deals fall apart under real scrutiny, great deals survive it. We walk through a complete, real-world blueprint for finding, underwriting, financing, and operating investment properties in Northwest Arkansas, sharing the exact steps we use to source off-market opportunities, filter fast, and close with confidence. From direct-to-seller campaigns and broker relationships to the power of a clean reputation on social media, we show how serious investors build a steady pipeline by mastering one or two channels and broadcasting a clear buy box.The analysis section digs into the documents that matter, rent roll and T12, and how to verify them with bank statements, utility bills, and lease audits. We unpack expense benchmarks, property tax reassessment, and insurance volatility, then map out CapEx planning for roofs, HVACs, and mechanicals using real bids. You’ll hear how to model total return beyond cash-on-cash, when to prioritize IRR and equity multiple, and why rosy proformas without a renovation plan are a fast path to disappointment. We also share two-minute triage tips that help us kill weak deals on sight so we can go deep on winners.No deal closes without the right team. We highlight the lender’s role in creative terms, how to align with property managers on leasing and renewals, and the value of a strong title officer, attorney, insurance broker, CPA, and core trades. Then we break down the capital stack, clean JV splits, GP/LP roles, preferred returns, and when to avoid extra layers like mezz or pref equity. Finally, we share a practical closing checklist and the first 90-day plan for renovations, rent strategy, investor reporting, and course corrections.  Subscribe, share with a friend who’s deal-hunting in NWA, and leave a review telling us which part of the blueprint you’ll apply first. Northwest Arkansas's go-to show for real estate agents, brokers, and investors looking to zoom in on the local market. Join us as we sit down with the leading voices in the area to hear how they're investing in NWA. Hosted by (in order from left to right) Brian Wagers, Zach Stanley, and Brandon Still.

    Ep. 87 - Blueprint to Buy: Start-to-Finish Real Estate Guide
  6. 21 Jan

    Ep. 86 - Redefining Financial Freedom: Real Estate, Faith & Being Present

    → Protect your investment with TCS Property Management What if financial freedom isn’t a number on a screen, but the ability to be present, pick your hours, and say no without fear? We explore the real meaning behind “freedom” and why real estate, not luck, not hype, gives us the control to build it brick by brick in Northwest Arkansas.We start with personal definitions that go beyond cash flow: expenses covered, months of reserves, and a life you can live without checking your phone every five minutes. From there we break down why we favor real estate over stocks: control over operations, the power to add value, and durable demand for clean, affordable housing. Brandon shares how growing up around duplexes taught him to chase the resilient middle of the market, while Brian explains his pivot from high-earning sales and stressful stock watching to assets he can actively improve. We also talk strategy shifts, selling older units, holding more liquidity, and only redeploying when great deals surface.The conversation gets practical and personal. We reverse engineer a realistic freedom number by mapping lifestyle costs and backing into a portfolio and yield, often discovering the target is far lower than the mythical $20 million. We dig into time value, calculating your hourly worth, delegating low-value tasks, setting communication windows, and why boundaries are a freedom tool, not a luxury. Faith and discipline matter too: build real reserves, simplify your debts, and trust the process so slow months don’t rattle your mind or your family.Purpose ties it all together. Travel, family time, mentoring, and service aren’t rewards for later; they’re part of the design. We discuss generosity as strategy, why giving compounds trust and opportunity, and how to align work with what actually fills your soul. Stick around for a teaser on what’s next: a full blueprint on putting a real estate deal together from start to finish.If this speaks to you, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s chasing freedom, and leave a quick review to help more NWA investors find us. What’s your freedom number, and what will you do when you get there? Northwest Arkansas's go-to show for real estate agents, brokers, and investors looking to zoom in on the local market. Join us as we sit down with the leading voices in the area to hear how they're investing in NWA. Hosted by (in order from left to right) Brian Wagers, Zach Stanley, and Brandon Still.

    Ep. 86 - Redefining Financial Freedom: Real Estate, Faith & Being Present
  7. 7 Jan

    Ep. 85 - Invest Where It Matters: Fayetteville’s Game Plan

    → Protect your investment with TCS Property Management Ready to understand how a fast-growing city plans to add homes, boost infrastructure, and protect the character that makes people stay? We sit down with Fayetteville’s newly elected mayor, Molly Rawn, for a direct look at what’s changing, what’s working, and where the next wave of smart investment will land. From streamlining permitting to locking in water and sewer capacity through a 2026 bond, the roadmap is designed to reduce friction for builders while keeping neighborhoods livable and connected.We unpack why housing is the first level; attainable options at multiple price points, and how supply growth can lower pressure across the market. Mayor Rawn shares specific steps to improve timelines, push pre-application collaboration, and clarify expectations so developers can plan with confidence. We also dig into the city’s upcoming comprehensive land use plan and unified development code to simplify a crowded menu of zoning districts. The goal: fewer surprises, stronger predictability, and a clear picture of where density belongs.Place still matters. We explore a refreshed downtown master plan to connect the Square and Dickson Street, new walkable nodes across neighborhoods, and the mixed-use formats that make daily life work without a car. Expect more missing-middle housing and context-sensitive height in the right locations, plus a renewed focus on transit dignity, with covered bus stops, because details shape experience. We highlight target sectors like tech and small manufacturing, the University of Arkansas talent pipeline, and why corridors like College Avenue are primed for reinvention.If you care about real estate in Northwest Arkansas, developer, investor, or curious resident, this is a playbook for building well in a city that values both momentum and character.  Follow the show, share it with your team, and leave a review to help more builders and neighbors find conversations that move projects forward. Northwest Arkansas's go-to show for real estate agents, brokers, and investors looking to zoom in on the local market. Join us as we sit down with the leading voices in the area to hear how they're investing in NWA. Hosted by (in order from left to right) Brian Wagers, Zach Stanley, and Brandon Still.

    Ep. 85 - Invest Where It Matters: Fayetteville’s Game Plan

About

Northwest Arkansas's go-to show for real estate agents, brokers, and investors looking to zoom in on the local market. Join us as we sit down with the leading voices in the area to hear how they're investing in NWA. Hosted by (in order from left to right) Brian Wagers, Zach Stanley, and Brandon Still.

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