The Purpose-Driven Investor

Robert Howell
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The Purpose-Driven Investor is the podcast where profit meets purpose in real estate. Hosted by Robert Howell, South Carolina–based real estate investor and founder of De-fine Real Estate, each episode explores how to build wealth through affordable housing, land-home packages, and impact-driven investing that helps families find stable homes. You’ll discover how to create sustainable returns through partnerships, private lending, and joint-venture opportunities that make a lasting difference. Whether you’re a lender, land seller, or investor seeking purpose-aligned deals—or you’re ready to learn the education and systems behind purpose-driven real estate—this show is your blueprint. Robert shares transparent insights, inspiring stories, and practical strategies for investing in housing projects that matter. Learn how to connect your capital with causes that build community, create legacy wealth, and deliver both impact and income.

Episodes

  1. 2D AGO

    Building a Legacy: Faith-Driven Investing with Mike Donelson

    In episode 9 of The Purpose-Driven Investor, Robert Howell interviews Mike Donelson, the founder of Legacy Homes of the Upstate, as he shares his incredible journey from UPS management to ministry, and now to real estate investing.  Tune in to explore the intersection of purpose and profit in the world of real estate investing. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:40] Leadership lessons from UPS. [00:06:45] Business and ministry connection. [00:08:40] Starting a construction business. [00:12:42] Real estate as a stewardship decision. [00:18:11] Legacy and personal fulfillment. [00:19:21] Season of people. [00:25:02] Faith and finance alignment. [00:27:21] Legacy and personal impact. [00:31:17] Purpose-driven investing. QUOTES "People are not a means to an end. People are the end." -Mike Donelson"For me, it's not the legacy... What is my legacy? And really, I want to be known as a Christian, like in my intro there, a Christian who loves the Lord." -Mike Donelson"Success is not necessarily how much you accumulate. It's who you become and who you serve along the way." -Robert Howell CONTACT: Mike Donelson Mobile: 630-777-1619 WEBSITE: Howell and Sons: https://howellandsons.com/

    34 min

  2. JAN 12

    Consistency and Community: Key Ingredients for Success in Real Estate Investing

    In episode 8 of The Purpose-Driven Investor, Robert Howell interviews Sten Muchow, a real estate investor and entrepreneur, who shares his journey from computer science to land and mobile home investing—and how he aligns purpose with profit in real estate. Tune in to learn how purpose and profit can align in the realm of real estate investing. TIMESTAMPS [00:00:44] Community in real estate investing. [00:04:11] Real estate investment journey. [00:08:40] Evolving land flipping strategies. [00:12:12] Mobile home investment strategy. [00:15:42] Simplicity of mobile homes on land. [00:18:38] The importance of community. [00:23:09] Financial freedom definition. [00:26:46] Purpose-driven investing. QUOTES "Real estate is one of the best ways you can control your destiny." -Sten Muchow"When I talk about showing God's love through affordable housing, it's like, man, that's a special moment." -Robert Howell"Having that purpose of building something... definitely having that purpose in mind." -Sten Muchow SOCIAL MEDIA Sten Muchow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stenmuchow/  Mobile: 904-325-6275  WEBSITE: Howell and Sons: https://howellandsons.com/

    30 min

  3. JAN 5

    Building Communities and Wealth: A Conversation with Real Estate Innovator Jack Watson

    In episode 7 of The Purpose-Driven Investor, Robert Howell interviews Jack Watson, founder of Prime Property Partners, who shares his journey from aspiring doctor to multi-state real estate investor and insights into virtual real estate investing. Tune in to learn about virtual investing, building cross-state teams, and the importance of purpose-driven investment. TIMESTAMPS [00:00:34] Virtual investing strategies. [00:06:25] Investing in Eastern Tennessee. [00:08:37] Wholetail land deal success. [00:12:30] Virtual land deal systems. [00:15:30] Land home packages benefits. [00:19:47] Getting started in real estate. [00:24:13] Best virtual deal so far. [00:27:04] Purpose-driven investing. [00:29:14] Purpose-driven investing impact. QUOTES "With the right systems, partners, and mindset, you can build real assets in the best markets." - Jack Watson"Trying to remain grateful, you know, every single day, you know, writing down five or six things that we're grateful for." -Jack Watson SOCIAL MEDIA Jack Watson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwatsonrealestate/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackwatson21  WEBSITE: Howell and Sons: https://howellandsons.com/

    30 min

  4. 12/29/2025

    Maximizing Your Real Estate Investments: Insights from a CPA

    In episode 6 of The Purpose-Driven Investor, Robert Howell interviews Charles Tarantino, a Florida CPA specializing in tax planning for real estate investors and entrepreneurs, as they discuss the key differences between tax preparation and planning, common investor mistakes, and how to work effectively with a CPA to maximize wealth-building potential. Tune in for valuable insights that can help you keep more of what you earn and enhance your wealth-building strategies. TIMESTAMPS [00:02:00] Passion for accounting and problem-solving. [00:06:23] Tax prep vs. tax planning. [00:11:00] Responsive communication with CPA. [00:12:11] Importance of bookkeeping in investments. [00:16:14] Cost segregation in real estate. [00:20:22] Short-term rentals and taxation. [00:25:18] Purpose-driven wealth-building strategies. [00:28:33] Purpose-driven investing. QUOTES "I am just really driven by being able to help my clients build wealth and playing a key role in that from the tax side." -Charles Tarantino"Purpose-driven investing... is just being hyper-focused on what your goals are." -Charles Tarantino"Because when we invest with purpose, everyone wins." -Robert Howell SOCIAL MEDIA Charles Tarantino Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjthecpa/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charles.tarantino.2025/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlestarantino/  WEBSITE: Howell and Sons: https://howellandsons.com/

    31 min

  5. 12/22/2025

    Mastering Marketing in Real Estate: Lessons from a 200-Deal-a-Year Investor

    In episode 5 of The Purpose-Driven Investor, Robert Howell interviews Luke Winter, a real estate investor turned marketing powerhouse and founder of The Hello Pro, as he shares his incredible journey from being an accidental landlord to scaling a successful flipping and wholesaling business to over 200 deals a year. Tune in to gain valuable insights from Luke's unique perspective on scaling a real estate business while maintaining a focus on purpose-driven investing. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:53] Accidental landlord journey. [00:05:15] Scaling real estate business success. [00:09:26] Leadership and team communication. [00:12:10] Importance of marketing in scaling. [00:17:35] TV ads for real estate investors. [00:19:31] Effective TV marketing results. [00:24:06] Entrepreneurial mindset and family focus. [00:27:27] Work-life integration as an entrepreneur. [00:30:23] Health and productivity transformation. QUOTES "As a leader, you have to understand your team well enough to go and say, hey, this is how you like to receive information." -Luke Winter"If we can get that message out to the masses, effectively, then you can get really great results out of it." -Luke Winter"If you keep focused on what drives you and what you initially set off to do and to achieve, uh, I think fulfillment will almost certainly come after that." -Luke Winter SOCIAL MEDIA Luke Winter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukewinter_official/  WEBSITE: Howell and Sons: https://howellandsons.com/  The Hello Pro: https://thehellopro.com/about-us/

    33 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    Purpose-Driven Investing: How Ray is Transforming Affordable Housing

    In episode 4 of The Purpose-Driven Investor, Robert Howell interviews Ray Khan, the founder of True Prevail Ventures, as he emphasizes the importance of building wealth while uplifting communities and highlights how his personal experiences have shaped his mission to use business for social good. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about merging profit with purpose in the real estate industry. TIMESTAMPS [00:02:02] Early entrepreneurial experiences. [00:06:17] Business for social work. [00:08:13] First house flipping experience. [00:13:39] Purpose-driven success in business. [00:15:51] Balancing purpose and profit. [00:21:16] Affordable living opportunities. [00:25:21] First big win in real estate. [00:28:12] Investing with purpose. QUOTES "What matters is along the journey, how many people did we uplift and how much good we did in business and in the world." -Ray Khan"It's not always about the money; you can also be kind to people, you can show them respect, you know, and treat people good, and you know that works in your favor as well." -Ray Khan"Being emotional is the graveyard for investors." -Ray Khan  SOCIAL MEDIA Ray Khan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565360131978  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueprevailventures/  WEBSITE: Howell and Sons: https://howellandsons.com/

    30 min

  7. 12/01/2025

    "Unlocking Freedom: How Land Investing Transformed Brent Bowers' Life"

    In episode 3 of The Purpose-Driven Investor, Robert Howell interviews Brent Bowers, CEO of  ZechBuysHouses LLC & Co-Founder, Land Home League, as he shares his inspiring journey from being an army officer to discovering the transformative potential of land investing. Tune in to learn how purpose and profit can align in the world of real estate and impact-driven investing. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:49] Influence through helping others. [00:05:16] Discovering land investment strategies. [00:07:38] Property management challenges. QUOTES "We're sharing God's love through affordable housing." -Brent Bowers"I almost felt like I hit the lottery doing these, and I just kept doing them over and over and over and just perfecting the system." -Brent Bowers SOCIAL MEDIA Brent Bowers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent1/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentlbowers/?hl=en  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX4sxJwiz7ET7AKTXD9SA8A  WEBSITE: Howell and Sons: https://howellandsons.com/  The Land Sharks: https://www.thelandsharks.com/

    29 min

  8. 11/24/2025

    Inside Arn’s Transition to Purpose-Driven Real Estate

    In this second episode of The Purpose-Driven Investor, Robert Howell interviews Arn Cenedella,  a seasoned real estate investor with over 48 years of experience, as he shares his journey from a family business in California to becoming a prominent figure in the Greenville, South Carolina, real estate market. Tune in to learn how purpose and profit can align in the world of real estate investing. TIMESTAMPS [00:02:06] Accidental entry into real estate. [00:08:12] Greenville's emerging multifamily market. [00:12:08] Multifamily investment transition. [00:14:07] Affordable housing options in Greenville. [00:21:21] Portfolio overview and growth strategy. [00:27:28] Passive investing and time freedom. [00:28:15] Real estate investment opportunities. [00:33:03] Honesty and communication in business. QUOTES "Find good partners who have skills that you don't have, but who have high character." -Arn Cenedella"Learn to trust that because usually what it's saying is correct." -Arn Cenedella"I think the way you really get ahead is find your lane, find something you're good at that fits your skill set, and then just keep working that over, and just rinse and repeat that." -Arn Cenedella SOCIAL MEDIA Arn Cenedella Email: arn@investwithspark.com Phone: 650-575-6114 WEBSITE: Howell and Sons: https://howellandsons.com/  Invest with Spark: https://investwithspark.com/

    36 min

  9. 11/24/2025

    Exploring Purpose, Profit, and Real Estate Together

    In this first episode of The Purpose-Driven Investor, Robert Howell, a seasoned real estate investor and founder of Define Communities, explores the intersection of purpose and profit in the world of affordable housing and impact-driven investing. Tune in to explore how investment can be a force for good in communities. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:39] Affordable housing impact. [00:04:40] Impactful investing stories. QUOTES "I realized that, hey, I could make an impact on folks that live in mobile homes and really help to provide a better housing situation for them.""Because when we invest with purpose, everyone wins." WEBSITE: Howell and Sons: https://howellandsons.com/

    7 min

  10. 11/20/2025

    [PREVIEW] of The Purpose-Driven Investor

    What if your next investment could do more than build wealth? What if it could create homes, stability, and lasting impact?  I’m Robert Howell, host of The Purpose Driven Investor. A show built on the belief that profit and purpose can work together.  After years in real estate, I’ve seen how intentional investing creates real change. And how aligning your money with your mission leads to long-term returns that matter.  Here, we explore affordable housing, land-home developments, and partnerships shaped for impact. Whether you're funding projects, selling land, or learning the model, there's a place for you.  Because the best investments don’t just create ROI — they create defining moments. Subscribe now and join the movement of purpose-driven investors.

    1 min
  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

About

The Purpose-Driven Investor is the podcast where profit meets purpose in real estate. Hosted by Robert Howell, South Carolina–based real estate investor and founder of De-fine Real Estate, each episode explores how to build wealth through affordable housing, land-home packages, and impact-driven investing that helps families find stable homes. You’ll discover how to create sustainable returns through partnerships, private lending, and joint-venture opportunities that make a lasting difference. Whether you’re a lender, land seller, or investor seeking purpose-aligned deals—or you’re ready to learn the education and systems behind purpose-driven real estate—this show is your blueprint. Robert shares transparent insights, inspiring stories, and practical strategies for investing in housing projects that matter. Learn how to connect your capital with causes that build community, create legacy wealth, and deliver both impact and income.

Information

  • Creator
    Robert Howell
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Purpose-Driven Investor
  • Show Website
    The Purpose-Driven Investor