Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing Jonathan Greene

When COVID-19 hit, Zachary Gray’s career as a personal trainer tanked. That’s when he realized he needed a career that was less vulnerable to those kinds of economic factors.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Zachary Gray to the show. Zachary is a multifamily real estate investor who started his business about three years ago. He quickly scaled his business through partnerships and strategic investing. His focus is on stabilizing and refinancing multifamily buildings.
As their conversation begins, Jonathan and Zachary explore his early exposure to real estate, the impetus for starting his business, and how Zachary began educating himself about real estate. You’ll hear why meetups initially scared him, his first and second property purchases, and why Zachary prefers to add bedrooms over living space in nearly every building purchase. He shares why he looks for tenants with multiple adults in the home who have income streams, how building partnerships has been pivotal to scaling, and the need to use lines of credit and leverage strategically. Finally, Jonathan and Zachary uncover the formula Zachary uses for offers, why he advises building a contractor database, and the value of social media in helping build relationships and partnerships with other investors.
Despite his short tenure in real estate investing, Zachary Gray quickly discovered a success formula that continues to pay dividends.
In this episode, you will hear:
Zachary Gray’s early exposure to real estate The elements that were at play when he discovered Bigger Pockets and real estate investing The podcast episodes Zachary focused on as he started educating himself Why meetups scared him when he first began attending His first property purchase and the second property, which turned out to be a gem Zachary’s preference to add bedrooms over living space in nearly every building he buys Looking for tenants with multiple streams of income in the unit instead of just one income Building partnerships once your capital is dwindling to continue investing and realizing that investing is a team sport Strategically implementing lines of credit and leverage Optimizing each property before moving on to the next one The formula Zachary uses for what he’s willing to offer for a property Being prepared to make an offer once you walk a property Building a contractor database and creating relationships before you even get started Using social media to your advantage to build relationships and partnerships with other investors Follow and Review:
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If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/153/ to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Connect with Zachary Gray on Instagram - www.instagram.com/the1099mindset
Website - www.streamlined.properties
YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos
Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene
Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties
TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene
Zillow - https://www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal
Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene
Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties
Email - info@streamlined.properties
Episode Credits
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https

While today’s culture wants instant gratification, patience and the ability to wait can lead to rewarding dividends.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with his coach, Mike Schumm. Mike is a real estate investor and coach with over 35 years of experience. He is the co-founder of Profytz Coaching, an on-market coaching company. Mike has been Jonathan’s coach for more than five years.
As Jonathan and Mike start their conversation, they discuss real estate uncertainty, how it impacts buyers and sellers, and why waiting to purchase can harm investors. They also explain the competition between homebuyers and investors, how to evaluate deals, and the benefits of being a hyper-local expert. Jonathan and Mike delve into the vision great investors have, a strategy they’ve both used as investors, and how the lack of inventory is impacting the market. They explore the difficulties of taking breaks from your investing career, the one thing all successful investors have in common, and why you must remain emotionally detached from real estate purchases. You’ll also hear why offering sellers time and patience can avoid turning them off, Mike’s advice for when to seek out a mentor or coach, and what makes someone a great coach. Finally, Jonathan and Mike cover the importance of avoiding the “easy button,” being willing to try something new and fail, and the power knowledge can give you in a deal.
Patience can be a secret weapon for real estate investors, and Mike Schumm reveals some ways to use it to your advantage.
In this episode, you will hear:
The uncertainty surrounding real estate right now and how it impacts buyers and sellers Why waiting can be detrimental for an investor The competition between homebuyers and investors Mike Schumm’s advice to continuously evaluate deals The benefits of being a hyper-local expert Falling in love with the idea of identifying and continually evaluating to grab a deal when it pops up Great investors have incredible vision The strategy of living in a home for a while and then flipping it for profit while identifying what buyers are looking for How lack of inventory and investors are impacting the market as a whole, and why Mike doesn’t see inventory levels becoming a buyer’s market anytime soon The difficulties of taking breaks from real estate and staying on top of your market The one thing all successful investors have in common The importance of remaining emotionally detached from houses Why moving quickly can turn off potential sellers Some of Mike’s strategies for offering time to sellers while creating a great deal for himself When to seek out a mentor or coach Staying motivated when your life isn’t running on all cylinders What makes someone a great coach Why hitting the “easy button” doesn’t lead to success Having a willingness to try something new and fail Mike’s ability to use what he learns anywhere and apply it to real estate The power of knowledge in a deal Follow and Review:
We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/152/ to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Profytz Coaching website - profytz.com
Find Mike Schumm on Facebook - www.facebook.com/mike.schumm
Connect with Mike on Instagram - www.instagram.com/mikeschumm_
Website - www.streamlined.properties
YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos
Instagram - www.instagram.com/tru

While creating a profit is the ultimate goal of real estate investing, when you prioritize people, you can make positive ripple effects throughout the community.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Loren Jacobs, co-founder of Arrows Capital Group in Nashville, Tennessee. Arrows Capital Group is committed to putting people at the forefront of investments and has a strategy designed to impact the communities it engages with.
During Jonathan and Loren’s conversation, you’ll hear why there’s a stigma attached to real estate and the social impact it can have, why Loren prioritizes “paying it forward” before profit, and his early exposure to real estate through his family members who worked in the business. Loren explains how culture influences who a community attracts, how they switched from multifamily assets to assisted living facilities, and why people move out. Jonathan and Loren also cover the demographics and financials of investing in assisted living, overcoming the inefficiencies in a facility’s processes and systematizing operations, and what makes cash flow stronger in an assisted living facility versus traditional multifamily. You’ll also hear why the type of building used for assisted living doesn’t bode well for many other business plans, how to perform a supply-and-demand analysis on each property purchase, and where Loren purchases these properties. Finally, Loren shares why he keeps property management in-house for now, why you shouldn’t expect your first few deals to be monetary gains but educational, and how you can present yourself to successful investors to find a mentor.
Real estate isn’t always about monetary gains, especially when you’re helping vulnerable populations. By prioritizing the community, Loren Jacobs discovered that profit often follows.
In this episode, you will hear:
The stigma attached to real estate and the social impact it can have Why Loren Jacobs prioritizes “paying it forward” before profit His exposure to real estate through his family working in the business and why he resisted becoming an agent The most exciting part of real estate for Loren and his wife How culture plays into who a community attracts The catalyst behind switching from multifamily assets to assisted living facilities Providing peace of mind to the loved ones of seniors who need assisted living The three reasons people move out of assisted living centers Some key things to look for in demographics and financials if you’re considering investing in assisted living Overcoming inefficiencies in an assisted living’s processes and systematizing operations What makes cash flow stronger in an assisted living facility versus a traditional multifamily The value of the building outside of its intended purpose and why it doesn’t bode well for many other business plans Performing a supply-and-demand analysis on each property Loren purchases Where Loren is purchasing assisted living facilities Why he keeps property management in-house for now The founding of Arrows Capital Group Viewing your first few deals as a “learning season” and getting ROI on that education Some steps you can take to find a mentor from someone successful in the space you want to be in Follow and Review:
We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/151/ to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Arrows Capital Group -

Sometimes, the W-2 job isn’t an option, and you have to look for alternatives. When Megan Ahern’s husband was ready to exit the Marines, they knew they needed to look at alternate career paths.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Megan Ahern, a rebel turned real estate investor who’s been steadily investing in Lincoln, Nebraska, since 2018 with her husband. When Jeff, Megan’s husband, was medically released from the Marines, they went all in on real estate investing. Together, they’ve had more than 80 units in and around Lincoln. Megan also owns a staging company, and they have experience investing in sober living homes.
Jonathan and Megan open their conversation by exploring why Megan and her husband chose Lincoln, Nebraska, to invest and how she got her husband on the same page with investing. You’ll hear how they initially found properties, why using hard money eventually limited the size of the flips she could do, and how building relationships with local lenders helped expand the business. She shares the role of reputation and authenticity in her success, how they decide whether or not to keep a property, and what she loves about sober living properties. Megan explains why she’s looking for more mid-term rentals, her seven-plex nightmare property, and what drew her into the staging business. Finally, Jonathan and Megan cover why staging matters in flipping homes, her advice for new flippers, and how becoming a licensed agent helped their business.
Megan is a seasoned flipper whose advice you won’t want to miss if flipping is on your radar.
In this episode, you will hear:
Megan Ahern’s start in real estate with her husband when he left the military Why they chose Lincoln, Nebraska, to invest The appeal of being a little fish in a little pond in a market like Lincoln Being on the same page with your spouse in real estate and why you have to have the same end goals in mind How they initially located properties and the size of the renovations they took on Megan’s use of hard money to flip homes and why it limited the size of the flips she could do Building relationships with local lenders to grow the real estate business The decisions small, local banks can make versus national banks The importance of reputation and authenticity in finding more deals How Megan and her husband decide whether or not to keep a property Her involvement with sober living and why she loves it Why she’s looking for more mid-term rental properties A bad multifamily purchase and why it’s deterring her from purchasing more Who Megan’s mid-term renters are and what they’re looking for in a property The importance of staging and how the business has changed since Megan began staging Where Megan puts her focus in her staging business, how she avoids warehousing a lot of items, and why it’s a vital part of flipping homes Megan’s advice for new investors who want to flip homes How being a licensed agent has impacted Megan’s success in real estate Follow and Review:
We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/150/ to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Visit Megan Ahern’s website - tattyinvestor.com
Connect with The Tatty Investor on Facebook - facebook.com/thetattyinvestor
The Tatty Investor on Instagram - www.instagram.com/the_tatty_investor
Website - www.streamlined.properties
YouTube - www.youtube.co

Creating trust with clients is essential to operating syndications and commercial investment properties. Building that trust is a cornerstone of long-term investing relationships.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Nic DeAngelo, president of Saint Investment Group. Saint Investment Group looks into large-scale distressed asset purchases and innovative syndications. Nic has more than two decades of experience in real estate and is an expert in investing and capital raising, specializing in real estate and debt markets.
Jonathan and Nic explore Nic’s early exposure to real estate through books and a lifelong love of learning. You’ll hear Nic’s experiences with construction and banking, as well as how his family influenced where he decided to put his money. Nic explains what drew him to commercial real estate, why no particular personality type archives success in this industry, and the various jobs he tried before landing on his niche. Nic shares his perspective on residential versus commercial real estate, why scale determines your buy box, and offering clients transparency so that what you’re offering them is easy to understand. He reveals the two ways he decides whether to move forward with a deal, the influence baby boomers have on the market, and the impact of inflation, risk tolerance, and politics on investor timelines. Finally, Jonathan and Nic dig into not being afraid to invest with your “competition” in other asset classes, the value of providing education to your clients, and Nic’s advice for new investors.
In this episode, you will hear:
Nic DeAngelo’s exposure to real estate through books and lifelong learning, particularly Gary Keller’s book, “The Millionaire Real Estate Investor” His experiences in construction and banking and merging them to become an investor How Nic’s early experiences within his own family influenced where he put his money What drew him to commercial real estate The variation of personality types who achieve success in real estate in different niches Various jobs Nic tried before finding his niche Nic’s perspective on residential real estate versus commercial in the United States Why the scale of the operation determines the buy box The importance of transparency at such a level that clients can glance at a single page and grasp it Two ways Nic determines what deal to move toward and how the baby boomers are influencing the market How inflation, risk tolerance, and politics are impacting investors’ timelines Investing with your “competition” when they’re more versed in an asset class than you The two asset classes Nic specializes in Why education makes clients more likely to invest Nic DeAngelo’s advice for new investors Follow and Review:
We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/149/ to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Visit the Saint Investment Group website - https://saintinvestment.com/
Nic DeAngelo’s YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/channel/UC-3YDyPnB9qhIzkVfgOnjjg
Find Nic on Facebook - www.facebook.com/Nic.Deangelo1
Nic’s Instagram - www.instagram.com/nicdeangelo
Connect with Nic on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/nic-deangelo
Nic on Twitter/X - twitter.com/NicDeAngelo_
Nic DeAngelo on TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@nicdeangelo?lang=en
Website - www.streamlined.properties
YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos
I

Mindset could be your key to unlocking success in real estate investing.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes back Alyssa Holbrook, a master coach specializing in real estate investing, for a conversation on the power of mindset and strategic thinking. Alyssa shares her evolution from coaching small investors to high-net-worth individuals, highlighting the impact of personal growth. She stresses tailored coaching to navigate unique challenges and scale up investments, offering a perspective on how believing in bigger possibilities can open up greater opportunities.
Jonathan and Alyssa explore the downsides of overanalyzing properties, making lowball offers, and discuss the balance between high returns and risk management. Alyssa points out the importance of confidence and proactivity in making sound investment decisions. You’ll also hear how different personality traits influence investment strategies and why you must understand your strengths and weaknesses. Trust and mentorship are critical elements for success, and Alyssa shares some tips for finding the right mentor and building meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships.
Finally, Alyssa reveals some personal experiences and advice on combining detailed data analysis with firsthand property inspections. Learn how to navigate current market conditions, overcome emotions, and make informed choices.
Whether you're new to real estate or an experienced investor, Alyssa offers tips for maintaining confidence, consistency, and dedication for long-term success.
In this episode, you will hear:
The importance of personal transformation and strategic thinking for scaling investments Balancing returns and managing risks in real estate investment Overcoming the drawbacks of over-analyzing and lowball offers How different personality traits affect investment strategies Alyssa Holbrook’s advice for finding and building meaningful relationships with mentors Decisiveness and the adaptability to weather fluctuating markets Strategically using home equity lines of credit in high-interest environments Combining thorough research with firsthand property inspections Alyssa’s strategies for scaling portfolios and the importance of consistency Her advice on building partnerships and leveraging competitive advantages Effective mentor-mentee relationships and structured coaching benefits Avoiding emotional involvement and remaining focused on sound investment decisions Follow and Review:
We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/148/ to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Alyssa Holbrook’s Instagram account - www.instagram.com/alyssaholbrookcoach
Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-holbrook-a190072a
Schedule a free consultation with Alyssa - alyssaholbrook.as.me/schedule/6cf22db2/appointment/10386675/calendar/3025623?appointmentTypeIds%5B%5D=10386675
Website - www.streamlined.properties
YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos
Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene
Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties
TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene
Zillow - https://www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal
Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene
Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties
Email - info@streamlined.properties
Episode Credits
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your