The Big Picture Blueprint: Navigating Land, Real Estate, and Business Success

Dan Haberkost & Mason McDonald
  • 4.7 (12)
  • INVESTING
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Join Mason McDonald and Dan Haberkost, two full-time real estate investors that have unlocked financial and geographical independence, as they break down specific tactics and strategies to help you grow your business & increase profitability. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, an employee eyeing passive investment, or simply trying to escape the rat race, you'll walk away with tactical tips and tricks that you can apply immediately. By interviewing top minds in a multitude of industries & niches, Mason and Dan will provide you a roadmap to wealth creation, business success, and an improved lifestyle. Tune in for your blueprint to success!

  1. The Keys to Success (And Failure) in New Construction

    5D AGO

    The Keys to Success (And Failure) in New Construction

    In this episode, Dan and Mason break down what really hurts new construction deals, and it is rarely one big mistake. It is usually a chain of small misses that pile up, loose financing, the wrong lot, unclear contractor timelines, outdated design choices, and weak listing execution. Dan walks through two spec homes that should have been solid wins, but instead turned into a lesson on how easy it is to lose margin when nobody fully owns the project from start to finish. They talk through the parts most people underestimate. Financing looked cheaper on paper, but a lender who could not move fast forced them into more expensive debt. A lot that seemed fine created extra dirt work and buyer hesitation. A contractor who stayed near budget still moved too slowly for the loan structure and the market window. Even the house plans became part of the problem, because what worked in past years did not match what buyers wanted now. On the sales side, they explain how the wrong realtor, weak photos, poor marketing, and unclear expectations can quietly drag down the final result. Dan and Mason make it clear that profitability comes from getting the basics right early, choosing the right financing, buying the right land, locking in clear timelines, building a product buyers actually want, and working with people who treat the deal like a priority. They also show that even when a project does not lose money, leaving margin on the table is still expensive when it could have been avoided with better planning and stronger ownership. Tune in if you want a more honest look at new construction, what can go wrong even for experienced investors, and how to tighten your process before small mistakes turn into expensive ones. === Key Topics: -Financing mistakes that quietly kill profit -Why the wrong lot can create bigger problems -Contractor timelines matter more than most think -Small design choices can turn buyers away -Realtor effort can make or break the sale -Every project needs one person fully owning it === If you’re selling land and still relying on Facebook messages, you’re making it harder than it needs to be. Acrefy helps land investors create clean, professional dispo websites where buyers can see everything in one place. It saves time, looks legit, and helps you close faster. 👉 Get your land dispo website with Acrefy here: https://acrefy.co/blueprint === 🚨 Ready to Learn How to Flip Land? 🚨 Hey there! Dan and Mason have something exciting for you: 🎉 Join our FREE Ground Up Land Community! 🎉 Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Expert tips on flipping land ✅ Connect with other land investors ✅ Ask questions & get real feedback ✅ Weekly calls with Dan & Mason – totally free! Don’t wait—take the first step toward land investing success. 👉 Join for FREE at https://www.skool.com/grounduplandcommunity === Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/thebigpictureblueprint

    42 min

  2. MAR 2

    Leading a Commercial GC Firm with Jake Grosswiler

    In this episode, we sit down with Jake Grosswiler of GC Legacy Construction, and he’s clear about one thing, they’d rather be “a little overpriced” than lower the standard. Jake shares how that mindset has kept them in rooms most contractors never get into, with national clients like Starbucks and U.S. Renal Care, and why quality is not just pride, it is the business model. We talk about what actually opens doors in commercial work. It is relationships, trust, and having real proof you can deliver. Jake explains why he will not touch a new niche unless he has an expert on the team, how events like ICSC help you meet the right people, and why word of mouth still beats almost every marketing tactic when your work speaks for itself. He also gets real about the messy side, regulation risk, dead deals, surprise inspections, and why contingencies save you when things change late. Then we go inside their culture, 90 day onboarding, daily team calls, high standards, and incentives that make everyone a salesperson. If you want a grounded look at scaling without losing control, this one will sharpen how you think about people, process, and staying steady when the market shifts. === Key Topics: -Protecting quality without cutting corners -Winning national clients through relationships -Reducing risk with expert led execution -Scaling with clear org structure and daily accountability -Staying profitable through vertical integration and contingency planning === If you’re selling land and still relying on Facebook messages, you’re making it harder than it needs to be. Acrefy helps land investors create clean, professional dispo websites where buyers can see everything in one place. It saves time, looks legit, and helps you close faster. 👉 Get your land dispo website with Acrefy here: https://acrefy.co/blueprint === 🚨 Ready to Learn How to Flip Land? 🚨 Hey there! Dan and Mason have something exciting for you: 🎉 Join our FREE Ground Up Land Community! 🎉 Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Expert tips on flipping land ✅ Connect with other land investors ✅ Ask questions & get real feedback ✅ Weekly calls with Dan & Mason – totally free! Don’t wait—take the first step toward land investing success. 👉 Join for FREE at https://www.skool.com/grounduplandcommunity === Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/thebigpictureblueprint Connect With Jake Grosswiler: Website: linkedin.com/in/jake-grosswiler-a7233491 gclegacyconstruction.com

    48 min
  3. Direct to Seller and Broker Land Negotiations

    FEB 23

    Direct to Seller and Broker Land Negotiations

    In this episode, Dan and Mason unpack the real mechanics of negotiating land acquisitions when you’re actively buying, not theorizing. With thousands of acres under contract across multiple states, they share what’s working right now, and why most “good deals” die in the messy middle, misread people, sloppy process, and zero credibility. They draw a sharp line between negotiating with a landowner versus a broker. Owners often bring emotion and history, brokers bring filters, ego, incentives, and a constant stream of tire kickers. Dan explains how his team earns trust on cold outreach by staying calm, being hyper-specific, and signaling real market experience without pretending. Mason lays out what gets traction with brokers on large listings, proof of funds, in-person property tours, and relationship depth that moves a buyer from “noise” to “serious.” The throughline is simple, legitimacy closes deals. They call out the fastest ways to get written off, sounding desperate, chasing profit out loud, submitting lowball offers without permission, and sending amateur contracts that don’t even include a proper legal description. They also get tactical on leverage, how to use “fair” language, when small concessions help the other side feel like they won, and why the best negotiators stay willing to walk away. Tune in if you want a clean, repeatable negotiation approach that protects the numbers, keeps trust intact, and gets offers taken seriously. === Key Topics: - Seller versus broker negotiation strategies - Cold outreach that builds trust fast - Proof of funds and on-site meetings as credibility signals - Why contract quality makes or breaks an offer - Ego, incentives, and “fair” framing - Walking away without killing future deals === If you’re selling land and still relying on Facebook messages, you’re making it harder than it needs to be. Acrefy helps land investors create clean, professional dispo websites where buyers can see everything in one place. It saves time, looks legit, and helps you close faster. 👉 Get your land dispo website with Acrefy here: https://acrefy.co/blueprint === 🚨 Ready to Learn How to Flip Land? 🚨 Hey there! Dan and Mason have something exciting for you: 🎉 Join our FREE Ground Up Land Community! 🎉 Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Expert tips on flipping land ✅ Connect with other land investors ✅ Ask questions & get real feedback ✅ Weekly calls with Dan & Mason – totally free! Don’t wait—take the first step toward land investing success. 👉 Join for FREE at https://www.skool.com/grounduplandcommunity === Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/thebigpictureblueprint

    36 min

  4. FEB 16

    Rural Land Development; Pitfalls and Tactics

    In this episode, Dan and Mason get real about what rural land development actually looks like when you’re doing it right now, not just talking about the upside. They share the problems showing up inside live deals, and why “one small detail” in due diligence can wipe out an otherwise perfect project. They walk through the big repeat offenders, access and roads. State highways, driveway permits, line of sight, drainage dips, and county rules can turn a great parcel into a dead deal fast. They also call out the stuff you only catch in person, easements that don’t match the actual road, neighbors who block or fight access, and why walking the property is still one of the highest ROI moves you can make. From there, they zoom out to the decisions that separate a clean project from a painful one. Lot count versus road cost, what buyers in that area actually want, and how demand shifts when you offer terms instead of relying on cash comps. They share simple ways to sanity-check demand, leaning on local experts, test marketing during due diligence, and even pulling county buyer data to see where the real buyers come from. They wrap with the other deal-killers they keep on a checklist, water reality versus “water rights hype,” electric that looks usable but isn’t, soils and septic limits, and title issues like conservation easements and leases. The takeaway is clear: rural development isn’t hard because it’s complicated, it’s hard because it punishes assumptions. Tune in if you want the honest version of land development, the one where the win goes to whoever verifies first. === Key Topics: -Rural land planning for exempt subdivisions -Road frontage, highway access permits, and driveway feasibility -Easements that don’t match the real-world access and neighbor conflicts -Buyer demand, lot size strategy, and selling with terms financing -Due diligence deal killers like water, electric, soils, title restrictions, and conservation easements === If you’re selling land and still relying on Facebook messages, you’re making it harder than it needs to be. Acrefy helps land investors create clean, professional dispo websites where buyers can see everything in one place. It saves time, looks legit, and helps you close faster. 👉 Get your land dispo website with Acrefy here: https://acrefy.co/blueprint === 🚨 Ready to Learn How to Flip Land? 🚨 Hey there! Dan and Mason have something exciting for you: 🎉 Join our FREE Ground Up Land Community! 🎉 Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Expert tips on flipping land ✅ Connect with other land investors ✅ Ask questions & get real feedback ✅ Weekly calls with Dan & Mason – totally free! Don’t wait—take the first step toward land investing success. 👉 Join for FREE at https://www.skool.com/grounduplandcommunity === Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/thebigpictureblueprint

    47 min
  5. A Day in the Life of a Land Investor

    FEB 9

    A Day in the Life of a Land Investor

    In this new episode, Dan and Mason walk through what a real “day in the life” looks like when you’re doing land full time, not the highlight reel. They share what they’re actively working on right now, what’s gone wrong inside live deals, and why the start of 2026 already feels different, with buyer sentiment picking up, more showings coming in, and more property moving across their pipeline. They break down how their days actually start, from checking on market listings early so they can be first to make offers, to staying in constant motion between larger tracts, team check ins, and deal specific punch lists. They also get practical about what drives revenue week to week, following up with buyer leads, staying responsive to Facebook inquiries, keeping seller leads organized without burning bridges, and treating CRM hygiene like a non-negotiable. You’ll hear how they manage the “hurry up and wait” parts of due diligence on big acreage, how they schedule the right experts early, and why watching price drops and tracking properties in a CRM can turn an on market listing into a real discount, especially on higher priced land. Tune in to hear how they balance deal flow, team leadership, and personal life, and why being intentional with your time, your follow up, and your offer process is what keeps everything moving. === Key Topics: -A real day in the life of a full time land investor -How on market deals still create major buying opportunities -Daily actions that directly drive revenue -Managing deals pipelines and long due diligence timelines -Protecting time and avoiding work that does not produce income === If you’re selling land and still relying on Facebook messages, you’re making it harder than it needs to be. Acrefy helps land investors create clean, professional dispo websites where buyers can see everything in one place. It saves time, looks legit, and helps you close faster. 👉 Get your land dispo website with Acrefy here: https://acrefy.co/blueprint === 🚨 Ready to Learn How to Flip Land? 🚨 Hey there! Dan and Mason have something exciting for you: 🎉 Join our FREE Ground Up Land Community! 🎉 Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Expert tips on flipping land ✅ Connect with other land investors ✅ Ask questions & get real feedback ✅ Weekly calls with Dan & Mason – totally free! Don’t wait—take the first step toward land investing success. 👉 Join for FREE at https://www.skool.com/grounduplandcommunity === Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/thebigpictureblueprint

    36 min
  6. The Hardest Part About Land Investing

    FEB 2

    The Hardest Part About Land Investing

    In this new episode, Mason and Dan dig into one of the hardest parts of land investing, making decisions when you don’t have perfect data. They talk about the uncertainty that shows up with bigger tracts and rural subdivides, where there aren’t clean comps, every parcel is unique, and even “great deals” can feel shaky at the moment. Instead of getting stuck in analysis paralysis, they break down how they aim for a “70 percent confident” decision point, enough to act, while still leaving room to verify the details during due diligence. They also share practical ways to build confidence when the market feels unclear. They discuss using demand signals like listing traction, watching how fast good properties move, checking county assessor sales records, leaning on strong local broker relationships, and doing simple demand tests through platforms like Facebook Marketplace or lightweight ad tests. They explain why you can’t just rely on spreadsheets, you have to look closely at why a comp sold low or high, like wetlands, bad access, easements, or even solar and data center factors that can distort prices. Tune in to hear why making offers is often the real unlock, how to set simple rules that keep you disciplined, and how “nice, usable land” can protect you when the numbers still feel uncertain. === Key Topics: -Why waiting for perfect data kills good deals -The 70 percent rule that gets deals moving -How overthinking silently costs you money -Simple ways to test demand before you buy -The real numbers every land investor must know === If you’re selling land and still relying on Facebook messages, you’re making it harder than it needs to be. Acrefy helps land investors create clean, professional dispo websites where buyers can see everything in one place. It saves time, looks legit, and helps you close faster.  👉 Get your land dispo website with Acrefy here: https://acrefy.co/blueprint === 🚨 Ready to Learn How to Flip Land? 🚨 Hey there! Dan and Mason have something exciting for you: 🎉 Join our FREE Ground Up Land Community! 🎉 Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Expert tips on flipping land ✅ Connect with other land investors ✅ Ask questions & get real feedback ✅ Weekly calls with Dan & Mason – totally free! Don’t wait—take the first step toward land investing success. 👉 Join for FREE at https://www.skool.com/grounduplandcommunity === Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/thebigpictureblueprint

    39 min
  7. How to Fail as a Fund Manager

    JAN 26

    How to Fail as a Fund Manager

    In this episode, Mason and Dan look back on why they started GroundUp Partners, what worked, what didn’t, and why they ultimately shut it down. They share how the idea came from a real gap in land investing, having more deals than capital, and why funding other people’s deals seemed like a natural next step. Early on, it worked. Deals got funded, returns were solid, and the model proved it could make money. They also get real about where things broke down. The fund was treated like a side project while they were running full time land businesses. They underestimated how much time investor relations, admin work, and structure would take. They talk about having the wrong investor base, unclear roles between them, added stress from regulation and legal costs, and bad market timing that slowed deal flow when it mattered most. Tune in to hear the biggest lessons they took away, why focus matters more than new ideas, what they would do differently next time, and why narrowing their scope is the smartest move going into 2026. === Key Topics: -Why the fund was created in the first place -What worked early and proved the model -Where time, roles, and focus broke down -The impact of investors, regulation, and market timing -Why narrowing focus matters more than starting something new === If you’re selling land and still relying on Facebook messages, you’re making it harder than it needs to be. Acrefy helps land investors create clean, professional dispo websites where buyers can see everything in one place. It saves time, looks legit, and helps you close faster. 👉 Get your land dispo website with Acrefy here: https://acrefy.co/blueprint === 🚨 Ready to Learn How to Flip Land? 🚨 Hey there! Dan and Mason have something exciting for you: 🎉 Join our FREE Ground Up Land Community! 🎉 Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Expert tips on flipping land ✅ Connect with other land investors ✅ Ask questions & get real feedback ✅ Weekly calls with Dan & Mason – totally free! Don’t wait—take the first step toward land investing success. 👉 Join for FREE at https://www.skool.com/grounduplandcommunity === Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/thebigpictureblueprint

    37 min
  8. The Simple Way to Build a $500k/Year Business with Chris Ramirez

    JAN 19

    The Simple Way to Build a $500k/Year Business with Chris Ramirez

    In this episode, we sit down with Chris Ramirez, a young land investor who went all in on real estate the moment college stopped making sense. He started in houses, tried a little bit of everything during the COVID years, then heard a land podcast and realized he could build something without tenants, repairs, or constant headaches. Three years later, he’s running a simple, repeatable land operation that’s doing real numbers, and he credits a lot of his early momentum to learning from Dan and staying locked in on the basics. We break down what actually drove his growth. He started with direct mail, spent about $1,500 on his first campaign, landed two infill lots, made around $15,000, and quit his warehouse job the next day because it proved the model worked. From there, he evolved from infill to recreational, then shifted into texting at scale because it let him control the conversation, tighten his offers, and follow up like a pro.  You’ll also hear the real side of land. Slower markets, deals that sit for months, the mistake of forcing tight spreads, and how local broker insight can save you from celebrating too early. Chris shares a recent deal that looked like a monster win until he learned the property had utility and build challenges, then had to renegotiate hard just to protect the downside. If you’re building a land business, this conversation will help you think more clearly about marketing volume, offer strategy, novations, team leverage, and how to stay steady when the market shifts and the emotions get loud. === Key Topics: -Starting young and choosing land over houses -Building momentum through direct mail and texting -Controlling inputs instead of chasing outcomes -Avoiding forced deals in slower markets -Scaling with simple systems and a small team === If you’re selling land and still relying on Facebook messages, you’re making it harder than it needs to be. Acrefy helps land investors create clean, professional dispo websites where buyers can see everything in one place. It saves time, looks legit, and helps you close faster.  👉 Get your land dispo website with Acrefy here: https://acrefy.co/blueprint === 🚨 Ready to Learn How to Flip Land? 🚨 Hey there! Dan and Mason have something exciting for you: 🎉 Join our FREE Ground Up Land Community! 🎉 Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Expert tips on flipping land ✅ Connect with other land investors ✅ Ask questions & get real feedback ✅ Weekly calls with Dan & Mason – totally free! Don’t wait—take the first step toward land investing success. 👉 Join for FREE at https://www.skool.com/grounduplandcommunity === Connect With Us: https://linktr.ee/thebigpictureblueprint Connect With Chris Ramirez: Website: https://landportal.com/chrisflipsland/ https://chrisflipsland.com/open

    33 min
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4.7
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Join Mason McDonald and Dan Haberkost, two full-time real estate investors that have unlocked financial and geographical independence, as they break down specific tactics and strategies to help you grow your business & increase profitability. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, an employee eyeing passive investment, or simply trying to escape the rat race, you'll walk away with tactical tips and tricks that you can apply immediately. By interviewing top minds in a multitude of industries & niches, Mason and Dan will provide you a roadmap to wealth creation, business success, and an improved lifestyle. Tune in for your blueprint to success!

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