Distressed to Success: Conversations with Community Transformation Leaders

Brian Seidensticker
  • 5.0 (6)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Distressed to Success is a podcast that discovers how savvy investors and entrepreneurs are profitably transforming underserved communities through strategic investment and innovative business models. Host Brian Seidensticker, Co-Founder of Last Best Partners, interviews local developers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investment professionals who have successfully brought private capital into distressed areas while generating sustainable returns. From Low Income Housing Tax Credits to creative financing solutions, each episode uncovers actionable strategies for identifying investment opportunities that deliver both financial returns and meaningful community revitalization. Learn from leaders who have transformed cities like Detroit, Cleveland, and Memphis through profitable ventures that create lasting community improvement. Whether you're a high-net-worth investor, local developer, or community development professional, discover how to turn distressed assets into thriving neighborhoods while building sustainable businesses that benefit both your portfolio and your community.

Episodes

  1. Prince Concepts’ Philip Kafka on Turning Undervalued Land into Thriving Communities

    3D AGO

    Prince Concepts’ Philip Kafka on Turning Undervalued Land into Thriving Communities

    In this episode of Distressed to Success, Brian speaks with Philip Kafka, president of Prince Concepts. Kafka takes us from his early days studying philosophy in Chicago and launching a billboard business in New York to discovering a greater calling in Detroit’s Core City.  He explains how he stopped viewing real estate as a mere asset and instead treats every building as a product to be improved, marketed, and loved. By deploying the money he saved on dirt into architecture, landscaping, and public parks, Philip has reshaped long-ignored blocks into a vibrant, walkable neighborhood where residents and business owners alike feel lucky to be.  Brian and Philip dive deep into the firm’s signature projects, from award-winning brick storefront renovations and restaurants to a groundbreaking duplex community designed with Edwin Chan. These 24 units are sold as “brown boxes,” giving owner-occupants the freedom to finish high-design spaces to their taste while collecting rent from the second unit.  Kafka lays out how accessible architecture, delivered at price points within reach of teachers, city workers, and entrepreneurs, can drive both social impact and profit. Listeners will come away with fresh strategies for using product-first thinking, generous land use, and adaptive reuse to turn distressed blocks into sustainable, profitable places people can’t wait to call home. Timestamps Product-First Mindset in Real Estate – 0:00  From Philosophy Student to Billboard Entrepreneur – 1:44  Detroit Strategy: Leveraging Undervalued Land & Reinvesting Savings – 6:29  Brown-Box Duplex Model for Accessible Architecture – 16:14  Adaptive Reuse & Core City Park Placemaking – 27:16 Get in Touch with Philip: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-kafka-644a0b23/ Website: https://www.princeconcepts.com/ Get in touch with Brian:  Last Best Partners' Website: https://www.lastbestpartners.com/ Brian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-seidensticker-90117021 Podcast LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/distressed-to-success-podcast Subscribe to follow the show! Chapters (00:00:00) - Real Estate Podcast(00:00:49) - Distress to Success(00:01:16) - Real Estate Development by Philip Feuer(00:05:17) - What took you to Detroit from New York?(00:06:16) - Detroit project under development by Prince(00:09:48) - Detroit's Core City development(00:11:14) - Philanthropy and Land Control(00:15:18) - Philip Cosentino on His Different Mindset(00:21:47) - The Arts Village Apartment(00:22:13) - Private Property: Starting a Brown Box Duplex(00:26:41) - Core City Homes, Phase 2 Sales(00:27:44) - Detroit's first African-American mayor activates historic buildings(00:32:42) - What's the Next Step for Real Estate Development?(00:35:49) - What Keeps You From Finishing a Project?(00:38:11) - Carve Out(00:41:19) - Saving Private Ryan

    43 min
  2. From Corporate Exit to CEO: Jason Hull on Entrepreneurship and Freedom

    FEB 4

    From Corporate Exit to CEO: Jason Hull on Entrepreneurship and Freedom

    Join Brian Seidensticker as he sits down with Jason Hull, CEO at DoorGrow – a growth and marketing agency that helps residential property management companies scale, systematize operations, and build healthier businesses. In this episode of Distressed to Success, Jason shares his entrepreneurial journey, from leaving a corporate role at HP to founding a company that has rebranded over 300 property management businesses and coached hundreds of owners through growth and operational challenges. The conversation explores the realities of entrepreneurship, servant leadership, and why CEOs carry ultimate responsibility when things break down. Jason also explains DoorGrow’s work with long-term residential property managers, how scaling challenges show up at different stages, and why setting “impossible goals” can unlock faster, more creative growth than realistic targets. What you’ll learn: Why the CEO role requires servant leadership and ownership of every problem The four core reasons people become entrepreneurs, and where most get stuck Common growth “sand traps” for property management businesses How strong property managers create leverage for real estate investors Why impossible goals can lead to faster, non-linear growth Key Timestamps: 00:02 – Jason Hull’s transition from corporate work to entrepreneurship 00:06 – Freedom, fulfillment, and the realities of business ownership 00:10 – Servant leadership and the true role of a CEO 00:15 – How DoorGrow helps property managers scale and systematize 00:26 – Impossible goals and collapsing time in business growth Resources Mentioned in the Episode Books The Motive by Patrick Lencioni (on servant leadership and the true role of a CEO) The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* by Mark Manson (on choosing meaningful problems) Who Not How by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy (on finding leverage through people) 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy (on impossible goals and nonlinear growth) Get in touch with Jason Website: https://doorgrow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kingjasonhull/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingjasonhull/?hl=en Get in touch with Brian Last Best Partners’ Website: https://www.lastbestpartners.com/ Brian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-seidensticker-90117021 Podcast LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/distressed-to-success-podcast Subscribe to follow the show! Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Manage an Impossible Goal(00:00:53) - Door Grow(00:01:30) - Why I Started a Business: The 4 Reasons(00:06:09) - Being an Entrepreneur: A Personal(00:11:11) - How to Get Out Of Burnout in Your Business(00:12:58) - Door Grow(00:15:35) - How to Find a Property Manager for Your Housing Project(00:19:09) - How to Grow a Property Management Business(00:24:21) - Carpenters: When to Strike a Deal?(00:25:31) - Ben Hardy: The Science of Scaling(00:31:35) - Bhag: The Entrepreneur Operating System

    36 min
  3. How Distressed Properties Create Win-Win Solutions for Communities with Jeremy Beland

    JAN 21

    How Distressed Properties Create Win-Win Solutions for Communities with Jeremy Beland

    Join Brian Seidensticker as he sits down with Jeremy Beland, Founder of REI Freedom – a real estate investing company focused on helping distressed homeowners while revitalizing communities. In this episode of Distressed to Success, Jeremy shares his journey from nearly losing everything during the Great Recession to becoming a successful real estate investor approaching his 500th off-market acquisition across multiple markets. Jeremy breaks down what “distress” really means in real estate, why many sellers simply need a reset button, and how creative acquisition strategies can provide ethical, win-win outcomes for both investors and homeowners. The conversation dives deep into wholesaling, buy-and-hold strategies, working with inherited and tenant-occupied properties, and the importance of leading with education and empathy. What you’ll learn: What truly defines a “distressed” property or seller How Jeremy built his business through wholesaling, flipping, and rentals Creative exit strategies including wholetails, BRRRR, and cash-for-keys Why education and consulting sellers creates better long-term outcomes Real-world deal examples, including navigating evictions and family disputes Key Timestamps: 00:00 – Jeremy’s personal experience with foreclosure and financial distress 02:30 – His real estate journey and markets he’s invested in 06:00 – Breakdown of wholesaling and multiple exit strategies 08:30 – Understanding different types of seller distress 17:30 – Educating sellers and empowering better decisions 20:30 – Real deal breakdowns and negotiation strategies 26:30 – Lessons learned from long, complex transactions 33:00 – Final advice and principles for success Get in touch with Jeremy REI Freedom: https://reifreedom.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremybeland_/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremybeland/ Jeremy’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rei-freedom/id1716246095 Get in touch with Brian Last Best Partners' Website: https://www.lastbestpartners.com/ Brian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-seidensticker-90117021 Podcast LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/distressed-to-success-podcast/ Subscribe to follow the show! Chapters (00:00:00) - Why Distressed Sellers Are Good People(00:00:50) - Distress to Success: Jeremy Beelin(00:02:28) - The Old Power Plant in Savannah(00:03:39) - How To Distress a Property: Jeremy Bean(00:07:49) - How to Help a Homeowner Get Out From Under the Debt(00:14:25) - Real Estate Network: Real Estate Agents Are Not the Only Option for(00:20:35) - You're inadvertently providing positive service in those scenarios, Brian(00:21:34) - How To Buy a Single Family Home(00:27:23) - How To Get Out of a Negotiating Contract(00:28:25) - REI Freedom(00:29:28) - Carve Outs(00:31:14) - Real Estate Talk: Best Books(00:33:03) - Jeremy Levine on His 3 Keys to Success

    34 min
  4. WRJ Developers' Jermaine Brooks: Turning Vacant Lots Into Container Communities

    JAN 7

    WRJ Developers' Jermaine Brooks: Turning Vacant Lots Into Container Communities

    Join Brian for an inspiring conversation with Jermaine Brooks, co-founder of WRJ Developers and pioneer of shipping container construction in Ohio. From his early real estate investing mistakes in 1999-2000 to developing what may be Ohio's first multi-family shipping container project, Jermaine shares his journey of transforming Cleveland's distressed East Side through innovative development strategies and a community-focused approach. What You'll Learn: How buying five houses with stated income loans in 2000 taught valuable lessons about real estate investing The formation of WRJ Developers and their focus on Opportunity Zones in Cleveland Why shipping container construction became their solution for affordable, scalable development The difference between infill development and comprehensive neighborhood transformation How to structure community-based fundraising with friends and family investors The manufacturing process behind modular container construction (70% warehouse, 30% on-site) Strategies for working with city officials and securing municipal funding The importance of having an overarching plan versus building one house at a time Key Timestamps: [02:30] - Jermaine's origin story: From Warrensville Heights to early real estate investing [06:15] - The formation of WRJ Developers in 2019 and Opportunity Zone strategy  [09:45] - The pivot from traditional development to shipping container construction  [14:20] - Discovery of the East 72nd Street location and "the sign from the universe."  [18:30] - Partnership with Three Square for container expertise  [22:10] - The philosophy behind multi-family development and community wealth building  [28:45] - Arcu Container on 72nd: The 64-unit apartment building project  [32:15] - Current project status: Stage 2 with five more duplexes (10 units)  [36:20] - Community fundraising strategy: $6,000-$12,000 investment shares  [40:30] - Manufacturing process: From Wisconsin warehouse to Cleveland installation  [44:15] - Future vision: Single-family concepts and scalable solutions Get in touch with Jermaine: Jermaine Brooks, Co-Founder, WRJ Developers  Phone: (216) 224-4326  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jermainenbrooks/ Website: https://www.wrjdevelopers.com/ Email: wj.developers@gmail.com Resources Mentioned Three Square - Detroit-based container construction company featured on HGTV First Federal Lakewood - Primary lending partner for the project Community Development Advisors - Pre-development funding source Cohen and Partners - CPA firm specializing in real estate and Opportunity Zone projects City of Cleveland ARPA Funds - $1.2 million in municipal funding secured through RFP process "The Color of Money" Podcast - Keller Williams real estate investing podcast ... Chapters (00:00:00) - Homeowners Underwater: How to Get Your Home Value Back(00:00:51) - Disaster to Success: Businesses Reclaim blighted communities(00:01:27) - Developers Jermaine Brooks and Willie Levy on Cleveland's East(00:08:16) - Developers on the Downtown Cleveland Infill(00:13:20) - Architectainer on 72nd and Infield Projects(00:17:24) - How To Get Your Multifamily Project Completion(00:24:23) - The Single Family Architectural Concept(00:26:14) - Carve Outs

    29 min
  5. From Teenage Entrepreneur to Leading Affordable Housing Developer with Kathy Makino-Leipsitz

    12/17/2025

    From Teenage Entrepreneur to Leading Affordable Housing Developer with Kathy Makino-Leipsitz

    Join Brian for an inspiring conversation with Kathy Makino-Leipsitz, a pioneering affordable housing developer who has spent over 30 years transforming distressed communities through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. From buying her first duplex at 19 with $2,500 down to completing 22 tax credit developments, Kathy shares her remarkable journey and the lessons learned along the way. What You'll Learn: How a father's disability at age 12 sparked an entrepreneurial spirit that led to real estate investing The fundamentals of LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits) explained in simple terms - why it's the "most magical tool" for affordable housing The difference between 9% and 4% tax credit programs and why one is significantly more competitive How LIHTC creates beautiful, dignified, affordable housing that doesn't look like "typical" affordable housing Why Section 8 housing can trap families in poverty while tax credits provide a pathway out The devastating impact of losing $5 million in historic tax credits on a $36 million development Key mistakes to avoid in affordable housing development and the importance of staying focused Key Timestamps: [02:15] - Kathy's origin story: How her father's heart attack changed everything when she was 12  [08:30] - The entrepreneurial beginnings: From selling candles door-to-door to buying her first duplex at 19  [12:45] - Discovery of the LIHTC program and her first 64-unit development in 1995  [18:20] - LIHTC fundamentals explained: How 9% credits work and why they're so powerful  [25:10] - The difference between LIHTC and Section 8 housing - and why one builds wealth while the other traps families  [32:45] - The Palmer Park project disaster: How losing historic tax credits cost $5 million  [45:20] - Current project: 54-unit veterans housing in Florida using 4% credits  [48:15] - Top lessons learned: Stay focused, avoid politics, and take calculated risks Get in touch with Kathy Kathy Makino-Leipsitz Website: https://www.shelbornedevelopment.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-makino-leipsitz-13bb796/ Email: kathy@shelbornedevelopment.net Resources Mentioned Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program - The federal tax credit program that has financed over 3 million affordable rental homes since 1986 Historic Tax Credit (HTC) Program - Federal program providing 20% tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings "Nothing Down" book - Real estate investing book Kathy read at 16 that started her journey Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) - State agency that allocates tax credits in Michigan Get in touch with Brian Last Best Partners' Website: https://www.lastbestpartners.com/ Brian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-seidensticker-90117021 Podcast LinkedIn Page: Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Start a Business When You're 16(00:00:55) - Developers: Distress to Success(00:09:59) - LIHTC Tax Credit(00:15:36) - Section 8: The Magic Tool for Affordable Housing(00:22:05) - Immigrant Homeownership Tax Credit(00:26:01) - On the 4% vs 9% Housing(00:32:14) - Detroit real estate: The bad experiences(00:37:47) - Local developer on historic tax credits(00:41:40) - Projects that keep you motivated(00:42:44) - Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on His Own Projects(00:48:51) - Carve Outs(00:51:04) - When Can I Get This Deal Closed?(00:51:46) - Detroit Builders Welcome First Women

    53 min
  6. Brad Westover's 30-Year Journey: From Tax Sale Novice to Industry Leader

    12/03/2025

    Brad Westover's 30-Year Journey: From Tax Sale Novice to Industry Leader

    Join Brian as he sits down with longtime industry colleague Brad Westover, Executive Director of the National Tax Lien Association (NTLA) - the only nonprofit organization working to improve the tax sale space. In this episode of Distressed to Success, Brad shares his remarkable 30-year journey from college graduate to industry leader, including his role in passing California tax lien legislation and managing $1.5 billion in investments across 22 states. What You'll Learn: How the tax lien industry was founded in 1996-1997 by two rival companies that couldn't even be in the same room together The basics of tax lien investing are explained in simple terms - what happens when property owners don't pay their taxes Why 29 states, plus Washington, DC, allow private investors to purchase tax liens The critical role tax lien sales play in helping local governments balance budgets and fund essential services Major challenges facing the industry, including a significant Supreme Court case coming in 2026 Why property tax abolition efforts in Ohio and Florida could be devastating for local communities Key Timestamps: [01:23] - Brad's origin story in the tax lien space [07:55] - Tax liens explained for beginners [36:46] - Discussion of Montana agriculture and working lands [38:08] - The inspiring story of Franz Wisner [42:26] - Industry challenges and the 2026 Supreme Court case Get in touch with Brad Executive Director, National Tax Lien Association  (NTLA) Email: BPWestover@NTLA.org  Website: NTLA.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-westover-realtor/ Resources Mentioned "The 16% Solution" by Joel Moskowitz - A foundational text in tax lien investing, written about 30 years ago, still considered essential reading for understanding the industry basics "Honeymoon with My Brother" by Franz Wisner - An inspiring story about turning life's setbacks into opportunities; movie rights sold to Sony Pictures for $1 million Get in touch with Brian Last Best Partners' Website: https://www.lastbestpartners.com/ Brian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-seidensticker-90117021 Podcast LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-seidensticker-90117021/  Subscribe to follow the show!

    42 min
  7. Building Communities, Building Wealth

    08/19/2025

    Building Communities, Building Wealth

    Welcome to Distressed to Success, a new podcast where we’ll discover how savvy investors and entrepreneurs are profitably transforming underserved communities through strategic investment and innovative business models. Host Brian Seidensticker, co-founder of Last Best Partners, brings his extensive experience in real estate investing and developing software that serves thousands of investors nationwide to explore the most profitable investment opportunities hiding in plain sight in communities that others have written off. In every episode, Brian will sit down with transformational leaders, developers, business owners, and investment professionals who've successfully brought private capital into areas that traditional investors overlook. From Detroit's forgotten neighborhoods to Cleveland, Memphis, and across the Rust Belt, these conversations will dive deep into real strategies that work, including low-income housing tax credits, creative financing solutions, and innovative approaches to community development. Whether you're a high-net-worth investor seeking impact opportunities, a local developer working to improve your community, or a professional in community development, you'll walk away with actionable strategies you can implement. This isn't about theory or feel-good stories, these are real people generating real returns while creating lasting community impact. Because here's what Brian has learned: the best investments don't just build wealth, they build communities.  Subscribe to Distressed to Success wherever you get your podcasts and join the journey to turn distressed assets into thriving neighborhoods while building businesses that benefit both your portfolio and your community.  We’ll see you soon. About Last Best Partners Last Best Partners is an innovative venture capital firm that provides forward-thinking real estate investors with the capital and technological tools necessary to navigate and excel in today's dynamic market landscape. Founded with a vision to transform the real estate investment industry, the firm has grown from its origins in tax sale data aggregation to become a comprehensive platform offering creative funding, advanced data solutions, and cutting-edge software.   About Brian Seidensticker Brian is the founding partner at Last Best Partners, as well as the founder and CEO of Tax Sale Resources and several other portfolio companies. With a strong background in systems engineering and an advanced understanding of the tax sale industry, Brian has been instrumental in transforming the way investors access tax lien and tax deed information, developing comprehensive online platforms that deliver accurate data while tracking investor needs and setting new standards in industry due diligence and efficiency.   Last Best Partners' Website: https://www.lastbestpartners.com/ Brian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-seidensticker-90117021 Podcast LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/distressed-to-success-podcast/

    2 min
  • 7 Episodes

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Distressed to Success is a podcast that discovers how savvy investors and entrepreneurs are profitably transforming underserved communities through strategic investment and innovative business models. Host Brian Seidensticker, Co-Founder of Last Best Partners, interviews local developers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investment professionals who have successfully brought private capital into distressed areas while generating sustainable returns. From Low Income Housing Tax Credits to creative financing solutions, each episode uncovers actionable strategies for identifying investment opportunities that deliver both financial returns and meaningful community revitalization. Learn from leaders who have transformed cities like Detroit, Cleveland, and Memphis through profitable ventures that create lasting community improvement. Whether you're a high-net-worth investor, local developer, or community development professional, discover how to turn distressed assets into thriving neighborhoods while building sustainable businesses that benefit both your portfolio and your community.

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