The Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles and Syndications Show

Eric Lindsey
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

We show working professionals and busy people how to invest in real estate as a side hustle or a full-time business. We interview guests who have successfully started real estate businesses part-time and have turned them into full-time enterprises, or have generated passive income for themselves. This show will also demonstrate how to invest in real estate with low or no money. You will learn how to achieve success in various niches within real estate, including wholesaling, fix and flip, BRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance), and syndicating commercial real estate.

  1. She Flipped 52 Homes and Learned One Rule That Changed Everything

    2d ago

    She Flipped 52 Homes and Learned One Rule That Changed Everything

    In this episode, Eric sits down with Ginger Faith, a real estate investor who has been in the game since 1994. Ginger has flipped over 52 properties, had two projects featured on HGTV, and built a career around discipline, strong relationships, and protecting capital. But the biggest lesson from this conversation was not about chasing returns. It was about protecting your downside. ## Ginger’s Real Estate Background Ginger started investing before today’s popular real estate acronyms existed. Before BRRRR became a strategy people talked about online, Ginger was already buying distressed properties, letting the rents carry the debt, and recycling equity into the next opportunity. One of her early deals was a distressed 6-unit Victorian property. Her original plan was simple: buy one house per year. But that deal opened her eyes to the power of real estate when purchased correctly. Her formula was straightforward: Buy cheap. Let the rents support the property. Preserve capital. Recycle equity. Keep moving forward. ## The Warning for Passive Investors One of the strongest parts of this conversation was Ginger’s warning to passive investors. The return is not the most important part of a deal. The operator is. Ginger shared stories about bad actors in the real estate space, including operators who pressured investors, removed bad reviews, dropped LLCs, and misrepresented themselves. She has even been to the DA’s office twice trying to help hold scammers accountable. Her advice to passive investors was clear: Run a real background check. Talk to people who actually know the operator. Pay attention when something feels off. Never sign documents under pressure. As Ginger put it: Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear. The major takeaway is that vetting the operator is part of the underwriting. A great-looking return means nothing if the person managing the money cannot be trusted. ## Lessons for W-2 Real Estate Builders Ginger also shared practical advice for people building real estate on the side of a W-2 job. You do not need a finance degree to get started. You need to understand your numbers. She described this through what she calls the “bathtub theory.” Money comes in. You plug the holes. Then you watch the water level rise. In other words, wealth is built by increasing income, controlling expenses, protecting capital, and staying disciplined. Ginger also emphasized the importance of relationships, especially with mortgage brokers. Every lender has a different box. The right broker knows where your deal fits. In one example, Ginger kept digging until she was able to reduce a rate from 10.99% to 5.9%. That was not luck. That was persistence. ## Key Takeaways Protect your downside before chasing upside. Vet the operator before investing passively. Never let pressure force you into a deal. Understand your numbers. Build relationships with lenders and brokers. Capital preservation matters just as much as returns. Real estate rewards discipline, patience, and persistence. ## Best Quote “Protect your downside. The upside takes care of itself.” ## Final Thought In real estate, people usually lose money in two major ways: They get scammed. They do not know what they are doing. Ginger’s message was simple but powerful: guard against both. Once you protect your capital and understand your numbers, the rest comes down to execution. Free e-book: ⁠⁠https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠https://moonlightcre.com/⁠⁠ Schedule a call: ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation⁠⁠ Learn more: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey⁠⁠ #RealEstateInvesting #PassiveInvesting #CapitalPreservation #OperatorVetting #WealthBuilding #RealEstateSideHustle #W2Investor

    43 min
  2. Raising private capital to acquire, renovate, and operate residential investment properties. Part 2

    Jun 18

    Raising private capital to acquire, renovate, and operate residential investment properties. Part 2

    Most investors won't touch Baltimore. Peter Neil sees 13,000 vacant homes and a massive opportunity. 🎙️ Peter Neil | GSP REI Workforce Housing Operator | Capital Raiser | Fund Manager Part 2 — Buy Box. BRRRR Discipline. Capital Strategy. Their model is precise. All in at $130,000 or less per property. ARV target of $185,000 minimum. Seventy percent loan-to-value refi. Cash recycled back into new acquisitions. Rinse. Repeat. This is not a hunch. This is a system. Why Baltimore Unemployment near historic lows. One of the fastest growing GDPs of any major metro in the country. Proximity to Washington, D.C. Anchor employers like Johns Hopkins, McCormick, and Under Armour. Over 13,000 vacant homes still waiting to be touched. While investors flooded the South, Baltimore stayed overlooked. That's the point. Value lives where attention doesn't. Their Secret Sauce GSP buys near hospitals. Not just any hospitals. Hospitals that make community investment. Institutions that have a vested interest in keeping their surrounding neighborhoods clean, safe, and stable. They also analyze: Charter school access Crime trend maps Workforce density Proximity to major employers This is location underwriting at a granular level. BRRRR Through Rate Volatility When rates spiked, GSP slowed the refi. They did not panic. Their highest refi rate locked was 6.35%. They underwrote all the way to 10% and the model still worked. Why? Because they build 30 to 40 percent equity into every single deal at acquisition. Seventy percent LTV has never been a problem. The fund costs approximately eleven percent. Even at six and a quarter on a thirty-year fixed, the refi pencils. Capital returns to the fund. New acquisitions begin. Raising Capital in a Crowded Market Peter built his investor base on one thing. Authenticity. Not polished pitch decks. Not scripted presentations. Just telling the story — honestly and consistently. "Fundraising has become the new fix and flip." There are more sponsors competing for passive capital right now than ever before. The operators who win are the ones who are real. Pleasantly persistent. Following up without apology. Staying in touch long after the first call. Capital is a timing game. The follow-up is where deals close. What Passive Investors Should Know Know yourself before you invest. Take a life assessment. What are your strengths? What gives you purpose? What do you actually want your capital doing? Then find operators whose strategy matches your answers. Workforce and affordable housing is not a sexy asset class. It is a durable one. Consistent demand. Supply-constrained markets. Recession-resistant performance. Peter's framework says it simply: Rebuilding essential homes for essential workers in essential communities. That is impact. That is also underwriting discipline. Both can exist in the same deal. Book Recommendation How to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie Relationships drive capital. Relationships drive acquisitions. Relationships drive everything. Whether you are active or passive — your ability to build rapport is non-negotiable. Connect with Peter Neil 🌐 gsprei.com Free e-book: ⁠⁠https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠https://moonlightcre.com/⁠⁠ Schedule a call: ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation⁠⁠ Learn more: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey⁠⁠ Financial security over job security — always. #WorkforceHousing #AffordableHousing #PassiveInvesting #RealEstateSyndication #BRRRRStrategy #CapitalRaising #MoonlightRealEstateShow

    37 min
  3. Raising private capital to acquire, renovate, and operate residential investment properties.

    Jun 11

    Raising private capital to acquire, renovate, and operate residential investment properties.

    Peter Neal watched his dad take calls at 2 and 3 in the morning. Managing properties for CBRE. And he thought to himself — I don't know if I want to do this. 🎙️ Peter Neal | GSP REI Affordable Housing Investor | Capital Raiser | Syndicator Part 1 — From Skeptic to Operator He went to Temple University. Studied media, business, and entrepreneurship. Thought he was headed to television or radio. Then the stars aligned. A sales and marketing job close to his house. Turned out to be a distressed mortgage investment company. Four years later — he never looked back. How Peter Built His Foundation He became right-hand man to a prolific investor. Learned alternative investing from the inside. Raised capital for funds acquiring distressed mortgages. That was not school. That was a masterclass. At 23 and 24 years old, investors twice his age told him: "You don't know how lucky you are." He heard them. He did not take it for granted. How GSP REI Was Built Peter did not build alone. He built with partners from day one. Each partner with their own lane. The fundraiser The construction expert The analytical operator Ron brought over 20 years of construction experience. Peter brought capital raising and investor relations. Together — they built a vertically integrated machine. What Passive Investors Need to Know Peter takes a commercial approach to single family. The business is not built around any one person. Systems. Processes. Culture. Cross-trained teams. When you back GSP REI you are not backing a person. You are backing a business. That is the difference between a hobby and an institution. Passive investors do not just back deals. They back operators who built the right way. Free e-book: ⁠https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/⁠Website: ⁠https://moonlightcre.com/⁠Schedule a call: ⁠https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation⁠Learn more: ⁠https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey⁠ Financial security over job security — always. #PassiveInvesting #AffordableHousing #RealEstateSyndication #SingleFamilyRental #AlternativeInvestments #CapitalPreservation #W2Investor

    18 min
  4. From Immigrant to Corporate America to Commercial Real Estate Investor Part 2

    May 29

    From Immigrant to Corporate America to Commercial Real Estate Investor Part 2

    131 people wired money into one deal. $33 million. 188 units. Atlanta. Off-market. And Claude Mouaffi still has a W-2. 🎙️ Claude Mouaffi | Chazek Investment Multifamily Syndicator | Corporate Finance Background Part 2 — Network. Execution. Mailbox Money. This deal did not come from a listing site. It came from a phone call. A trusted broker colleague reached out and said: “Let’s go after this together.” They moved. They raised. They closed. That is what years of relationship-building produces. How 131 LPs Said Yes No flashy pitch deck closed this raise. Trust did. Transparency did. A track record that spoke for itself did. When operators deliver, investors refer people. When deals close, brokers stop screening your calls. When you stay consistent, capital finds you. Minimum check: $100,000Syndication split: 70/30131 people chose this teamThat does not happen without credibility. What Passive Investors Are Actually Buying You are not buying real estate. You are hiring an operator. Vet how they communicate. Study how they have delivered. Understand how they protect the downside. If the operator is right, your capital works harder than you do. 8% preferred returnThe stock market might match thatA savings account never willYou collect checks. You focus on your career. Or your retirement. Or your family. That is the structure passive investing is built on. How Claude Runs the Day Early mornings belong to the business. The workday belongs to the employer. Evenings clean up whatever remains. No balance. Just boundaries. And a goal he refuses to negotiate on. Books Claude Recommends The Miracle Equation — Hal Elrod Wheelbarrow Profits — Jake & Gino Building a StoryBrand — Donald Miller The Compound Effect — Darren Hardy Connect with Claude directly on LinkedIn. linkedin.com/in/claude-mouaffi-99a44741 Listen to the full episode of the Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles and Syndication Show with Eric Lindsey. 👉 Mastermind Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/187opx1PyD/⁠👉 YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Realestatesidehustleoperations⁠ Free e-book: ⁠https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/⁠Website: ⁠https://moonlightcre.com/⁠Schedule a call: ⁠https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation⁠Learn more: ⁠https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey⁠ Financial security over job security — always. #MultifamilyInvesting #PassiveInvesting #RealEstateSyndication #W2Investor #CapitalPreservation #AlternativeInvestments #WealthBuilding

    21 min
  5. From Immigrant to Corporate America to Commercial Real Estate Investor

    May 26

    From Immigrant to Corporate America to Commercial Real Estate Investor

    Claude Mouaffi grew up in Cameroon. He still remembers the sound of his parents counting pennies at the kitchen table. Today he just closed a $33 million apartment deal. And he still has a W-2. 🎙️ Claude Mouaffi | Chazek Investment Multifamily Syndicator | Corporate Finance Professional Part 1 — Operator Credibility. Capital Discipline. Structure. This is the kind of operator passive investors should study. Claude did not come from money. He came from a corporate finance background. He knows how to read a deal. He knows how to protect capital. That combination is rare. From Analyst to Operator He watched COVID expose how fragile a single income stream really is. That awareness changed how he underwrites. That awareness changed how he allocates. He started in single family. Realized he was buying another job. Not building a capital vehicle. He pivoted fast. What Passive Investors Are Actually Backing Claude uses his analyst background to stress test assumptions. He focuses on capital structure before chasing returns. He vets deals that pencil out for his investors first. That discipline is the credential. • Corporate finance foundation • Multifamily underwriting discipline • Operator who protects the downside first He does not chase deals. He waits for the right ones. How He Built Operator Credibility Brokers would not return his calls at first. Now they call him. Investors passed early. Now they reach out. One closed deal changes everything. A $33 million close is not luck. It is pattern recognition built through discipline. What This Means for Capital Allocators Passive investors do not just back deals. They back operators. Find the operator who still shows up to a W-2 every day. Still underwrites after hours. Still protects your capital like it is their own. That is who you want managing your allocation. Listen to the full episode of the Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles and Syndication Show with Eric Lindsey. 👉 Mastermind Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/187opx1PyD/⁠👉 YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Realestatesidehustleoperations⁠ Free e-book: ⁠https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/⁠Website: ⁠https://moonlightcre.com/⁠Schedule a call: ⁠https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation⁠Learn more: ⁠https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey⁠ Financial security over job security — always.

    19 min
  6. How a PhD Psychologist Builds a Real Estate Portfolio on the Side of Her W2 — With Ebony Morris Part 2

    May 11

    How a PhD Psychologist Builds a Real Estate Portfolio on the Side of Her W2 — With Ebony Morris Part 2

    Ebony Morris is a licensed clinical psychologist with a PhD. She shows up to a demanding W2 job every single day. And she has quietly built a real estate portfolio across Michigan, Arizona, Alabama, and Illinois — while doing it. Ebony Morris | MEK Homes | Buy and Hold Investor | Fix and Flip Investor Why Passive Investors Should Pay Attention to This Operator Ebony did not stumble into real estate. Her father owned his first duplex at 21. She watched him interview tenants as a teenager. She consulted a wealth advisor before buying her first property. She created an LLC, transferred her properties properly, and consulted attorneys along the way. When you back an operator like Ebony you are backing someone who treats real estate like a business — not a hobby. Her Buy and Hold Strategy Ebony started buying in the Detroit metro area because she knew the market. She purchased a duplex for $118,000 with both tenants already in place. One tenant had been there six years. The other three years. She also owns properties in the suburbs of Michigan, Alabama, and Illinois. Her approach — buy low, charge market rents, hold long term, and leverage the portfolio to create additional lines of credit and financial strength. Her Fix and Flip Strategy in Arizona In Arizona Ebony pivots to fix and flip to generate capital quickly. With the right general contractor team she is seeing returns in four to six months. She uses her buy and hold portfolio for long term wealth and her fix and flip deals to generate cash. Two strategies. One portfolio. Working together. For W2 Professionals Building on the Side Ebony still works her W2 job in an environment where cell phones are not even allowed. She calls her realtor during her morning commute. She signs documents at midnight so her loan originator has them by morning. She scrolls listings during her daughter's gymnastics practice. She has built her entire portfolio around the margins of a demanding career — and she has not stopped. Listen to the full episode of the Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles and Syndication Show with Eric Lindsey. 👉 Mastermind Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/187opx1PyD/⁠👉 YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Realestatesidehustleoperations⁠ Free e-book: ⁠https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/⁠Website: ⁠https://moonlightcre.com/⁠Schedule a call: ⁠https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation⁠Learn more: ⁠https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey⁠ Financial security over job security — always. #RealEstateSideHustle #MoonlightRealEstate #PassiveIncome #PassiveInvesting #RealEstateSyndication #SideHustle #W2Investor #RealEstateInvesting #FinancialSecurity #WealthBuilding #RealEstatePodcast #ApartmentSyndication #RealEstateInvestor #FinancialFreedom #BuildingWealthOnTheSide

    20 min
  7. How a Mechanical Engineer Lost It All Then Built a $600M Portfolio — With Patrick Grimes Part 1

    May 4

    How a Mechanical Engineer Lost It All Then Built a $600M Portfolio — With Patrick Grimes Part 1

    Patrick Grimes lost everything in 2007. He went all in on a pre-development deal — highly leveraged, certain to double his money. Then 2008 happened. He lost it all. A mechanical engineer who had worked with Tesla, Google, Lockheed, and Johnson and Johnson had to start over completely. What he did next is the blueprint every W2 investor needs to hear. Patrick Grimes | Passive Investing Mastery | 5,000+ Units | $600M Portfolio Why LPs Should Pay Attention to This Operator Patrick did not stumble into syndication. He spent years moonlighting — buying single family homes in recession resilient Texas markets while working full time in California. He deployed every bonus and every extra dollar of his paycheck into those assets. He earned a master's in engineering and an MBA while doing it. He worked for free for seasoned operators — doing slide decks, underwriting, due diligence walks — without even knowing his partnership percentage on the first two deals. He was just focused on learning the right way to do things. That foundation is what built a $600 million portfolio. How He Balanced W2 and Real Estate Investing Patrick was running himself ragged moonlighting while working full time in San Francisco. He made a strategic shift — moved from W2 employee to contractor through his own S-Corp. That gave him more control over his time and allowed him to take calls with brokers, vendors, and partners during business hours instead of only nights and weekends. He credits that one decision as a turning point in his investing career. The Moment He Went Full Time Patrick did not rush the exit. He stayed in his automation career through COVID — during which his company had record years building automated assembly cells for COVID test kits. When things slowed down post COVID it made sense to make the jump. He now lives in Hawaii and manages a $600 million portfolio across real estate, energy, and litigation funding. The right exit at the right time built the right foundation. Listen to the full episode of the Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles and Syndication Show with Eric Lindsey. 👉 Mastermind Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/187opx1PyD/ 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Realestatesidehustleoperations Free e-book: https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/ Website: https://moonlightcre.com/ Schedule a call: https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation Learn more: https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey Financial security over job security — always. #RealEstateSideHustle #MoonlightRealEstate #PassiveIncome #PassiveInvesting #RealEstateSyndication #SideHustle #W2Investor #RealEstateInvesting #FinancialSecurity #WealthBuilding #RealEstatePodcast #ApartmentSyndication #RealEstateInvestor #FinancialFreedom #BuildingWealthOnTheSide

    14 min
  8. How a Mechanical Engineer Lost It All Then Built a $600M Portfolio — With Patrick Grimes Part 2

    May 4

    How a Mechanical Engineer Lost It All Then Built a $600M Portfolio — With Patrick Grimes Part 2

    Patrick Grimes lost everything in 2007. He went all in on a pre-development deal — highly leveraged, certain to double his money. Then 2008 happened. He lost it all. A mechanical engineer who had worked with Tesla, Google, Lockheed, and Johnson and Johnson had to start over completely. What he did next is the blueprint every W2 investor needs to hear. Patrick Grimes | Passive Investing Mastery | 5,000+ Units | $600M Portfolio Why LPs Should Pay Attention to This Operator Patrick did not stumble into syndication. He spent years moonlighting — buying single family homes in recession resilient Texas markets while working full time in California. He deployed every bonus and every extra dollar of his paycheck into those assets. He earned a master's in engineering and an MBA while doing it. He worked for free for seasoned operators — doing slide decks, underwriting, due diligence walks — without even knowing his partnership percentage on the first two deals. He was just focused on learning the right way to do things. That foundation is what built a $600 million portfolio. How He Balanced W2 and Real Estate Investing Patrick was running himself ragged moonlighting while working full time in San Francisco. He made a strategic shift — moved from W2 employee to contractor through his own S-Corp. That gave him more control over his time and allowed him to take calls with brokers, vendors, and partners during business hours instead of only nights and weekends. He credits that one decision as a turning point in his investing career. The Moment He Went Full Time Patrick did not rush the exit. He stayed in his automation career through COVID — during which his company had record years building automated assembly cells for COVID test kits. When things slowed down post COVID it made sense to make the jump. He now lives in Hawaii and manages a $600 million portfolio across real estate, energy, and litigation funding. The right exit at the right time built the right foundation. Listen to the full episode of the Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles and Syndication Show with Eric Lindsey. 👉 Mastermind Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/187opx1PyD/ 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Realestatesidehustleoperations Free e-book: https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/ Website: https://moonlightcre.com/ Schedule a call: https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation Learn more: https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey Financial security over job security — always. #RealEstateSideHustle #MoonlightRealEstate #PassiveIncome #PassiveInvesting #RealEstateSyndication #SideHustle #W2Investor #RealEstateInvesting #FinancialSecurity #WealthBuilding #RealEstatePodcast #ApartmentSyndication #RealEstateInvestor #FinancialFreedom #BuildingWealthOnTheSide

    38 min
See All (220)

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

We show working professionals and busy people how to invest in real estate as a side hustle or a full-time business. We interview guests who have successfully started real estate businesses part-time and have turned them into full-time enterprises, or have generated passive income for themselves. This show will also demonstrate how to invest in real estate with low or no money. You will learn how to achieve success in various niches within real estate, including wholesaling, fix and flip, BRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance), and syndicating commercial real estate.

Information