The Leadway Wealth Builders Podcast

leadwaywealthbuilders
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Follow along as I document my journey in real estate and business while also bringing on high level investors who share how they've built wealth through business and real estate.

  1. 4d ago

    #228: Stop Building the Wrong Business — Patrick Menefee

    He quit his job 13 months after buying his first property, scaled to 21 units, completed 5 flips in his first year of full-time investing — and then walked away from all of it to build something that actually aligned with his life. In this episode, Chris sits down with Patrick Menefee — Army veteran, real estate investor, and founder of Charlotte Entrepreneurs, a community built around intentional relationships and meaningful business lives. Patrick's real estate journey is one of the most honest accounts of rapid scaling, strategic pivoting, and the moment an investor realizes the business they built isn't the life they wanted. Now he's channeling that same energy into building one of Charlotte's most intentional entrepreneurial communities. In this episode you'll learn: How Patrick went from Army to 21 rental units in 13 months after his 30th birthday Why his $10,000/month cash flow goal was wrong — and the number he actually needed to quit his job How he quit his consulting job using a combination of rental income and house flipping Why he shifted from cash flow focus to return on equity — and how that changed every decision How he completed 5 flips in his first year of full-time investing and out-earned his previous salary Why building systems and a team created overhead he didn't enjoy — and what that taught him How he 1031-exchanged into a duplex and eventually an 18-unit property Why he walked away from real estate investing to build Charlotte Entrepreneurs The importance of asking "why" behind every business goal before choosing your strategy What Charlotte Entrepreneurs offers: monthly networking events, a mastermind program, and the Charlotte Entrepreneurs Podcast This is what it looks like when someone builds the right business — and then has the courage to admit it's the wrong life. 🔗 Connect with Patrick Menefee: Instagram: @thepatrickmenefee Charlotte Entrepreneurs: @CharlotteEntrepreneurs_ Website: charlotteentrepreneurs.com Events: charlotteentrepreneurs.com/events Mastermind: charlotteentrepreneurs.com/join-us Podcast: Charlotte Entrepreneurs Podcast 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.reichenbach.2025/ #Entrepreneurship #CharlotteEntrepreneurs #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #RealEstateInvesting #CharlotteNC #MilitaryVeteran #FixAndFlip #MultifamilyInvesting #FinancialFreedom #EscapeThe9to5 #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #Networking #Mastermind #PurposeDriven #Entrepreneurship #ReturnOnEquity #1031Exchange

    #228: Stop Building the Wrong Business — Patrick Menefee

  2. Sep 2

    #227: Stop Chasing Deals That Don't Align With Your Life — Michael Miller

    He left corporate banking, bought $1 million in land that became undevelopable, and then invested $10 million in real estate his first year — without using a single dollar of his own money. In this episode, Chris sits down with Michael Miller — a former Bank of America executive turned full-time real estate investor, construction company owner, and commercial plumbing company owner who went from selling car stereos at Car Toys to building a portfolio spanning hundreds of rental properties across Michigan, Ohio, Texas, California, and Washington State. Michael's journey is one of the most honest accounts of rapid scaling, costly mistakes, and intentional realignment you'll hear in real estate. In this episode you'll learn: How Michael went from corporate banking to $10 million in real estate investments in his first year without using his own money Why buying $1 million in land during COVID was his most expensive lesson — and what it taught him Why scattering across multiple geographies and strategies cost him more than it made him How therapy and a leadership team meeting led him to discover his core mission: "building and restoring families" Why he's pivoting toward sober living facilities and larger commercial projects including a 48-unit facility and 97-unit motel conversion How he's implemented AI across email management, compliance, and property analysis Why passion alignment matters more than profit potential when choosing your real estate strategy The mentors who shaped different stages of his journey — Ryan Pineda, Pace Morby, and Brandon Turner His advice for beginners: start with fix and flips before pursuing large multifamily 🔗 Connect with Michael Miller: Instagram: @mainstreetmiller YouTube & Podcast (Dead Presidents Club): youtube.com/@mainstreetmiller First Deal: firstdeal.com 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.reichenbach.2025/ #RealEstateInvesting #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #SoberLiving #FixAndFlip #BuyAndHold #RealEstateStrategy #FinancialFreedom #Entrepreneurship #EscapeThe9to5 #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #MichaelMiller #DeadPresidentsClub #AIinBusiness #RealEstateMistakes #ScalingUp #MissionDriven #RealEstateTips

    #227: Stop Chasing Deals That Don't Align With Your Life — Michael Miller

  3. Aug 26

    #226: How To Actually Replace Your Income In One Purchase - Christian Blumetti

    What if buying an existing business was a better wealth-building vehicle than buying another rental property? In this episode, Chris sits down with Christian Blumetti — founder of Velocity Business Buyers and a former mortgage professional who spent years working with high net worth individuals before making the pivot to mergers and acquisitions six years ago. Christian has acquired a 20+ year old web development company for $2.8 million and is targeting $10 million in revenue — and he's breaking down exactly how the business acquisition model works, why it outperforms real estate for income replacement, and what it actually takes to buy a business with little money down. In this episode you'll learn: Why high-earning professionals and real estate investors are moving toward business ownership over rental properties How Christian bought a $2.8 million web development company with SBA financing — with as little as 10% equity injection Why business acquisitions offer more upside than real estate — and how increasing EBITDA and exit multiples creates outsized returns His exact underwriting metric: a DSCR of 1.75–1.8 and why the SBA's minimum of 1.25 isn't enough The two red flags that make him walk away from any deal immediately How to find off-market business deals and why they're always better than broker deals The full acquisition timeline: LOI, due diligence, and custom contract over 3–9 months What to look for in a target business: 10+ years in operation, 10+ employees, $1–2 million in revenue Why seller financing is a critical piece of every deal structure — even SBA deals Why buying an existing business beats starting from scratch every single time This is the conversation that will make every real estate investor rethink their wealth-building strategy. 🔗 Connect with Christian Blumetti: Instagram: @christian_blumetti_ Velocity Business Buyers: velocitybusinessbuyers.com 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.reichenbach.2025/ #BusinessAcquisition #MergersAndAcquisitions #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #SBALoans #BusinessBuying #RealEstateInvesting #FinancialFreedom #Entrepreneurship #EscapeThe9to5 #SmallBusinessAcquisition #SellerFinancing #BusinessOwnership #WealthPreservation #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #OffMarketDeals #VelocityBusinessBuyers #IncomeReplacement

    #226: How To Actually Replace Your Income In One Purchase - Christian Blumetti

  4. Aug 19

    #225: Why Short-Term Rental Investors Are Playing the Wrong Game — Bill Faeth

    Most short-term rental investors chase the same popular markets, list on Airbnb, and hope for the best. Bill Faeth built a completely different system — and it's generating results most STR investors never see. In this episode, Chris sits down with Bill Faeth — USA Today best-selling author, serial entrepreneur with 43 startups, and one of the most creative short-term rental investors in the country. Bill owns properties across 7 markets, has flipped 27 homes generating over $3 million in net profit, and built an AI-powered research system that identifies undervalued STR markets before the crowd arrives. His approach to short-term rentals is unlike anything you've heard on this show. In this episode you'll learn: Why Bill targets secondary and tertiary markets near major attractions instead of competing in saturated destinations How he identifies markets experiencing "pain" — and why that's exactly where the opportunity lives His AI-powered research system that goes beyond T12 metrics — examining economic development, zoning changes, and city council minutes His four-part investment framework: cash flow, appreciation rate, debt paydown, and tax benefits Why he negotiates with 10–12 banking options on every single deal How he turned a $1.6 million property in Banner Elk, NC into a high-producing super property without expensive amenities His repositioning strategy — moving a $400K property to $600K, then to $900K–$1M at sale Why he's targeting 70% direct bookings within 18–24 months and how he's getting there How he diversifies across 7 markets to ensure year-round revenue His 35,000-member Facebook community and two books: Two Extra Steps and Super Properties If you own or are thinking about short-term rentals — this episode will completely change how you look at the market. 🔗 Connect with Bill Faeth: Instagram: @billfaeth73 Facebook: Bill Faeth Facebook Group (35,000 members): https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DB4GDYbwk/ LinkedIn: Bill Faeth 📖 Two Extra Steps: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Extra-Steps-Unfair-Anyone/dp/1637749163/ 📖 Super Properties: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Properties-Step-Step-Investment/dp/B0FH31LQJR/ 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.reichenbach.2025/ #ShortTermRentals #RealEstateInvesting #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #AirbnbInvesting #SuperProperties #BillFaeth #RealEstateStrategy #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #Entrepreneurship #EscapeThe9to5 #AIRealEstate #DirectBookings #VacationRentals #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #STRInvesting #RealEstateTips

    #225: Why Short-Term Rental Investors Are Playing the Wrong Game — Bill Faeth

  5. Aug 12

    #224: The Real Math Behind Luxury Development: What Most Investors Never Account For - Michelle Stevenson

    She did 30 fix and flips, figured out the model was broken, and pivoted to building 7,000 square foot luxury homes from the ground up in Dallas. Now she's scaling to 15 simultaneous developments. In this episode, Chris sits down with Michelle Stevenson — a luxury real estate developer based in San Diego building in Dallas, Texas. Michelle started in real estate sales, completed approximately 30 fix and flip projects, and made the pivot most investors never make — ground-up luxury development in one of the fastest growing markets in the country. She's currently managing two active luxury builds in neighborhoods like Preston Hollow, University Park, and Highland Park, each around 7,000 square feet with features like saunas, media rooms, pools, and outdoor kitchens — and she's targeting 15 simultaneous developments through strategic partnerships. In this episode you'll learn: Why Michelle left San Diego development for Dallas — better timelines, lower construction costs, and explosive population growth How she analyzes ground-up development vs fix and flip — and why the numbers look completely different The real math behind a luxury build: $730K land, $1.3M construction, $250K in closing costs, and what the actual profit margin looks like after everything Why newer developers consistently underestimate true project costs — and the mistakes that kill margins The hidden risks in fix and flip that most investors never account for What luxury buyers actually want: multi-generational living spaces, saunas, workout rooms, and family-first layouts Her unique perspective as a woman builder designing homes for how families actually live Her mentorship platform — The Real Estate Connection — launching September 1st for women entering real estate investment and development Her long-term vision: 15 simultaneous developments and eventually health and wellness resort development This is what real estate looks like when you stop doing small deals and start thinking like a developer. 🔗 Connect with Michelle Stevenson: Instagram: @millionairemichelle_ The Real Estate Connection: millionairemichelle.co/rec 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.reichenbach.2025/ #RealEstateDevelopment #LuxuryRealEstate #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #GroundUpDevelopment #DallasRealEstate #WomenInRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #FinancialFreedom #Entrepreneurship #EscapeThe9to5 #LuxuryHomes #RealEstateDeveloper #BuildingWealth #FixAndFlip #RealEstateMentorship #TheRealEstateConnection #NewConstruction #RealEstateStrategy

    #224: The Real Math Behind Luxury Development: What Most Investors Never Account For - Michelle Stevenson

  6. Aug 5

    #223: Why Multifamily Collapsed & Building AI Property Management - Tim Bratz

    He started investing during the 2007 market collapse, scaled to 5,000 rental units, and is now building the property management software he wished existed the entire time. In this episode, Chris sits down with Tim Bratz — a multifamily real estate investor who built one of the largest apartment portfolios in the country, peaking at over 5,000 doors before strategically reducing to a focused 3,000-unit portfolio. Tim has seen every market cycle, survived the turbulence of 2021–2024, and is now channeling 17 years of operational experience into Smart Management — an AI-powered property management software built by an operator, for operators. In this episode you'll learn: How Tim started investing during the 2007 market collapse and found opportunity where others saw disaster His transition from single-family to multifamily and how he acquired thousands of units in 2017–2020 Why a $10 million apartment building from 2021 is worth $7.5 million today — and the four factors driving that decline How rising property taxes, insurance, utilities, and labor costs are crushing NOI even when rents stay flat Why poor property management has caused more value destruction than any external market factor The expense reduction strategies he uses — including property tax appeals and water bill reductions through valve installations Why the current housing shortage of 4 million units sets up rental real estate for a strong next five years How Smart Management combines CRM, workflow, and AI-powered property management into one integrated platform Why he's staying in his lane and holding long term while others are selling at fire-sale prices This is one of the most experienced multifamily minds in the country — and he's not sugarcoating what the market looks like right now. 🔗 Connect with Tim Bratz: Instagram: @timbratz Podcast: imrichpodcast.com Smart Management Software: smartmanagement.com 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach   #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #ApartmentInvesting #PropertyManagement #SmartManagement #RealEstateStrategy #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #Entrepreneurship #EscapeThe9to5 #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #TimBratz #PropTech #AIRealEstate #RealEstateTips #LongTermInvesting

    #223: Why Multifamily Collapsed & Building AI Property Management - Tim Bratz

  7. Jul 29

    #222: From Flipping to Sober Living: Finding Underrated Niches in Real Estate - Jared Galde

    What if your real estate portfolio could generate strong cash flow AND directly impact people's lives? In this episode, Chris sits down with Jared Galde — a faith-driven real estate investor who started in 2012 as an agent working with flippers, discovered sober living properties in 2019, and built a portfolio spanning 36 properties across 17 states before pivoting to focus exclusively on Phoenix where he currently has 25 units under construction. Jared's story is one of the most compelling combinations of mission and business model to ever come through the Leadway Podcast. In this episode you'll learn: How Jared went from wholesaling and flipping to building one of the most unique real estate portfolios in the country Why he got into sober living in 2019 — and the faith-driven mission behind it How Oxford House's master lease model works — and how a single lease generated $6,000 per month on a 5-year term The different licensing levels for sober living facilities and what they mean for landlords How he scaled from one property to 36 properties across 17 states The near-failure moment where he used his primary residence as collateral to close 6 properties simultaneously How he built and then closed a property management company managing 130 houses across 51 zip codes His new turnkey model — providing fully operational sober living properties to operators Why he's now 100% focused on Phoenix with 25 units under construction This is real estate with a purpose — and the numbers to back it up. 🔗 Connect with Jared Galde: Instagram: @jaredgalde Website: StewardHousing.com 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach TikTok: @chris.reichenbach #SoberLiving #RealEstateInvesting #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #RecoveryHousing #MissionDrivenBusiness #RealEstateStrategy #PassiveIncome #FaithAndBusiness #Entrepreneurship #EscapeThe9to5 #PhoenixRealEstate #AffordableHousing #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #GroupHomes #PropertyManagement #StewardHousing #RealEstateTips

    #222: From Flipping to Sober Living: Finding Underrated Niches in Real Estate - Jared Galde

  8. Jul 15

    #221: You Don't Own a Business — You Have a Job: Why Most Businesses Stall - Mark Evans

    He bought his first business at 18. Thirty years later he's running multiple companies, acquiring businesses with $1M+ EBITDA, and developing a longevity company — all without being involved in day-to-day operations. In this episode, Chris sits down with Mark Evans DM — a 30-year entrepreneur who started with a seamless gutter company at 18, discovered real estate, and never stopped building. Mark has owned construction companies, residential and commercial real estate, and multiple business ventures since 1996. Today his focus is on acquiring established businesses, solving big problems, and creating strategic partnerships that run without him. This is one of the most seasoned entrepreneurial perspectives to ever sit down on the Leadway Podcast. In this episode you'll learn: How Mark went from buying a gutter company at 18 to 30 years of entrepreneurship across multiple industries Why real estate is a business — not a job — and what the difference actually looks like His business acquisition criteria: $1M+ EBITDA, 15–20 employees, 10+ years of operation Why the $1–3 million revenue range is the hardest phase of any business — and how to get through it How traveling the world while running businesses forced him to learn delegation and trust Why he focuses on the $10 million path within 24 months when acquiring a business What most people get wrong about buying businesses with SBA loans Why learning business fundamentals matters more than learning real estate His current focus: Telegenix.com a longevity and wellness company If you're trying to build something that runs without you — this is the blueprint. 🔗 Connect with Mark Evans DM: Instagram: @markevansdm 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach TikTok: @chris.reichenbach #Entrepreneurship #BusinessAcquisition #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #MarkEvansDM #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #FinancialFreedom #EscapeThe9to5 #Delegation #BusinessStrategy #ScalingUp #PassiveIncome #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #SBALoans #BusinessMindset #Telogenics #LongevityWellness

    #221: You Don't Own a Business — You Have a Job: Why Most Businesses Stall - Mark Evans
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Follow along as I document my journey in real estate and business while also bringing on high level investors who share how they've built wealth through business and real estate.

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