PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing Show

Welcome to PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing Show presented by Equity Trust– your go-to podcast for building and protecting wealth through smart, passive real estate investments. Hosted by Jim Pfeifer, this podcast is designed for investors who want to grow without the grind. Each episode features expert interviews with seasoned LPs (Limited Partners) and GPs (General Partners) who share their insights, experiences, and practical advice.

  1. 2d ago

    DLP’s Preferred Credit Fund: 10-11% Target Returns, Loan Tape, and Risk Questions

    Episode #281 See what others have to say about the deal and join the conversation: https://passivepockets.com/forums-listing/discussion/new-deal-dlp-capital-preferred-credit-fund/ Check out the DLP Preferred Credit Fund for yourself: https://passivepockets.com/directory/deals/dlp-preferred-credit-fund/ This Episode In this special LP Deal Review episode, Chris Lopez is joined by Adam Cranmer and Pascal Wagner to evaluate DLP Capital’s Preferred Credit Fund with Don Wenner, founder and CEO of DLP Capital. Don walks through the fund’s strategy, target return profile, underwriting process, borrower standards, and how DLP approaches development, construction, bridge, mezzanine, and preferred equity lending in today’s market. The discussion digs into why DLP focuses on housing that is affordable for working families, how the firm thinks about lending in high-growth Sunbelt markets, and what separates its Preferred Credit Fund from a senior secured lending fund. Don also addresses several of the key diligence questions LPs should be asking right now, including geographic concentration risk in Florida and Texas, loan-to-value and loan-to-cost metrics, borrower concentration, third-party validation, fund administration, internal controls, and how rising interest rates could affect the fund’s risk profile. After Don leaves the conversation, Chris, Adam, and Pascal break down the fund from an LP perspective. They discuss what they like about DLP’s track record, reporting, borrower quality, and institutional infrastructure, while also highlighting the risks they are watching closely, including mezzanine exposure, state concentration, self-dealing concerns, fees, macro uncertainty, and whether the return spread is attractive enough compared to risk-free alternatives. The episode closes with a broader conversation about how LPs should think about risk, liquidity, debt versus equity, and portfolio construction in an uncertain investing environment. Key takeaways: How DLP’s Preferred Credit Fund targets monthly income through private real estate credit Why DLP focuses on housing affordability, experienced borrowers, and Sunbelt growth markets How Don compares mezzanine and preferred equity risk to senior secured lending fund risk What LPs should ask about loan-to-value, loan-to-cost, borrower concentration, and fund-level controls Why third-party audits, appraisals, loan tapes, and investor reporting matter in debt fund diligence How experienced LPs think about DLP’s strengths, yellow flags, fees, concentration risk, and macro exposure Why each investor needs a clear portfolio thesis before choosing between cash, Treasuries, debt funds, or equity deals Join a community of passive investors. Start your FREE 7-day trial: https://passivepockets.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Listen to the PassivePockets Podcast Anywhere: https://lnk.to/passivepockets Subscribe to the Passive Investing Newsletter: https://www.biggerpockets.com/email-subscribe?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Join BiggerPockets for free: https://www.biggerpockets.com/signup?utm_source=owned_media Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

    DLP’s Preferred Credit Fund: 10-11% Target Returns, Loan Tape, and Risk Questions
  2. Jul 7

    Pat Zingarella on Fraud, Sponsor Reputation, and Verified LP Feedback

    This Episode Pat Zingarella joins Chris Lopez to share the story behind Invest Clearly, a platform built to bring more transparency to the private real estate investing world. Pat’s journey started like many BiggerPockets listeners: learning through podcasts, buying his first small multifamily property, making painful mistakes, and slowly realizing how hard it can be for LPs to know who they can trust. Pat walks through the lessons from his first fourplex, including inherited tenants, COVID-era nonpayment, poor screening decisions, and the difference between blaming real estate versus recognizing where his own due diligence fell short. He also shares how a later experience working under a high-profile real estate figure exposed him to the darker side of the industry and helped shape his view that LPs need better tools, better transparency, and better ways to validate sponsors before wiring capital. Chris and Pat dig into how Invest Clearly works today: a directory of GPs, verified LP reviews, proof-of-investment requirements, and a growing database designed to help investors compare sponsor experiences in one place. They also discuss why reviews matter, what happens when operators try to suppress negative feedback, and why community-driven transparency can help separate strong sponsors from bad actors. Key takeaways: How Pat went from BiggerPockets listener to active investor to building Invest Clearly What his first fourplex taught him about screening, reserves, trust, and due diligence Why private real estate needs more transparency around GP track records and LP experiences How Invest Clearly verifies reviews and helps LPs research sponsors Why negative reviews, legal threats, and transparency are becoming bigger issues in the industry How communities like PassivePockets and tools like Invest Clearly can help LPs make better-informed decisions Join a community of passive investors. Start your FREE 7-day trial: https://passivepockets.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Listen to the PassivePockets Podcast Anywhere: https://lnk.to/passivepockets Subscribe to the Passive Investing Newsletter: https://www.biggerpockets.com/email-subscribe?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Join BiggerPockets for free: https://www.biggerpockets.com/signup?utm_source=owned_media Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

    Pat Zingarella on Fraud, Sponsor Reputation, and Verified LP Feedback
  3. Jun 30

    Both Sides of the Table: Paul Shannon’s Complete LP Playbook

    Get Paul Shannon's Book, Both Sides of the Table: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4W5D288?spcref=PUBLISHED_PREORDER_LIVE This Episode Paul returns to PassivePockets to discuss his new book, Both Sides of the Table, and the lessons he has learned as an LP, fund manager, and GP. He and Chris unpack the difference between being a “syndication consumer” and a true capital allocator, including why newer investors often get pulled in by polished decks, urgency-driven marketing, and projected IRRs without fully understanding the downside. Paul explains how he evaluates market cycles, why timing still matters even if you can’t perfectly call the bottom, and how he thinks about toggling between aggressive and defensive portfolio positioning. The conversation also gets into sponsor character, fraud risk, debt structure, and the hard lessons that come from deals where communication breaks down or capital is misused. Chris and Paul also dig into practical due diligence: what can disqualify a deal in the first five minutes, why metrics like yield on cost and IRR partitioning matter more than flashy projected returns, and why the debt stack can make or break an otherwise strong-looking deal. For LPs who want to get more serious about passive investing, this episode is a reminder that the default answer should be “no” until the deal, sponsor, structure, and market all earn your confidence. Key takeaways: How Paul’s experience as an LP, GP, and fund manager shaped Both Sides of the Table Why passive investors need to shift from consumer behavior to allocator behavior How market cycles influence when to lean in, pull back, or hold more cash What fraud, poor communication, and weak sponsor character can teach LPs Why debt structure, yield on cost, and downside protection matter more than projected IRR How Paul filters deals quickly and decides which ones deserve deeper diligence Join a community of passive investors. Start your FREE 7-day trial: https://passivepockets.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Listen to the PassivePockets Podcast Anywhere: https://lnk.to/passivepockets Subscribe to the Passive Investing Newsletter: https://www.biggerpockets.com/email-subscribe?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Join BiggerPockets for free: https://www.biggerpockets.com/signup?utm_source=owned_media Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

    Both Sides of the Table: Paul Shannon’s Complete LP Playbook
  4. Jun 23

    Christine Kwasny’s Risk Radar: A Framework for Smarter LP Deal Reviews

    Risk Radar: https://netzeroisawin.substack.com/p/introducing-the-risk-radar?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share In this episode, Chris Lopez welcomes Christine Kwasny back to the show to break down the Risk Radar, a visual due diligence tool she built to help LP investors better understand where risk shows up in a private real estate deal. The tool grew out of Christine’s Substack, Net Zero Is a Win, where she publishes retrospective deal analyses on what went right, what went wrong, and what investors may have been able to identify in the original offering materials. Christine walks through the Risk Radar’s three major categories: what is fixed at closing, what is sponsor driven, and what is market driven. Chris and Christine discuss how LPs can evaluate GP team history, “cockroach” risks, going-in cap rates, debt terms, reserves, expense assumptions, capital stack structure, waterfalls, exit cap rates, supply and demand, rent growth, absorption, and vacancy. They also explore why retrospective analysis is one of the best ways to test whether risk was visible up front, why market timing can dominate long-term outcomes, and how tools like AI may help investors gather better data without outsourcing their own judgment. Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

    Christine Kwasny’s Risk Radar: A Framework for Smarter LP Deal Reviews
  5. Jun 16

    Central Lending Fund Review: Fix-and-Flip Debt, Monthly Cash Flow, and Risk Controls

    In this LP Deal Review, Chris Lopez is joined by Adam Cranmer and Christy Burakovsky to evaluate CL Fund III from Central Lending, a private credit fund focused on short-term residential real estate loans for fix-and-flip, ground-up construction, and small-balance investor projects. Andrew Boccia and Heather Dreves walk through Central Lending’s lending model, portfolio composition, underwriting process, use of leverage, investor share classes, and how the fund sits between traditional fixed-income strategies and higher-upside real estate syndications. The conversation gets into why Central Lending focuses on smaller loan sizes, how it uses third-party valuations, what it tracks across borrower experience and credit quality, and why fraud detection has become a major part of private credit underwriting. The LP panel then digs into the questions passive investors should be asking before investing in a debt fund: how loans are valued, what happens when a borrower defaults, how draw management can reveal problems before maturity, whether loan tapes and audited financials are available, how leverage impacts returns and risk, and what investors should understand about redemptions. For LPs evaluating private credit, this episode offers a practical look at what sits behind headline yield: underwriting discipline, loan-level monitoring, loss mitigation, liquidity management, and alignment between the fund manager and investors. Key Takeaways How Central Lending underwrites private credit deals across current cost, collateral value, final cost, and after-repair value Why borrower experience, draw activity, and communication can be early indicators of loan performance How the fund uses third-party valuations, internal QC, and fraud detection to manage risk across multiple states The difference between equity members and note holders, including return structure, payout timing, and priority in the waterfall How origination fees, extension fees, leverage, and loan sales can contribute to fund-level returns Why redemption policies matter in debt funds and how managers balance investor liquidity with protecting the fund as a whole Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

    Central Lending Fund Review: Fix-and-Flip Debt, Monthly Cash Flow, and Risk Controls
  6. Jun 9

    Community Roundtable: Treasuries vs Debt Funds, Office “Bargains,” and How to Deploy Cash Now

    In this Community Roundtable, Chris Lopez sits down with PassivePockets members Pascal Wagner, Adam Cranmer, and Christy Burakovsky for a candid investor-to-investor conversation on how they’re allocating capital right now and what would make them change course. Pascal frames the dilemma many LPs are feeling: with risk-free rates near 5% and major macro signals flashing red (record debt loads, expensive public markets, and uncertainty around where rates settle), does it still make sense to allocate to interest-rate-sensitive commercial real estate? He shares how he’s thinking about portfolio construction with fresh liquidity and why he’s prioritizing stable income and downside protection before chasing upside. Adam and Christy offer counterweights: where fear can create opportunity, why liquidity matters, and how they’re approaching “safer” yield today (short-duration debt funds, notes, treasuries) while keeping dry powder for dislocated assets. The conversation also explores where each of them sees asymmetric opportunity: distressed commercial, non-performing loan strategies, medical office, assisted living tailwinds, and long-term fixed-rate debt structures that avoid the five-to-seven-year refinance trap. Key Takeaways Why some LPs are pausing syndication allocations and leaning into cash/T-bills and what would change their mind The “income-first” portfolio approach: build stable cash flow, then take higher-upside bets Where investors are hunting opportunity: distress, NPLs, office dislocation, medical office, and long-term fixed-rate debt plays Why HUD-style long-term amortizing debt can change the risk profile of a deal dramatically Mezz vs. leveraged first-lien funds: the real differentiator is control of the underlying collateral The underrated skill in 2026: staying liquid enough to act when the “no-brainer” window opens Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

    Community Roundtable: Treasuries vs Debt Funds, Office “Bargains,” and How to Deploy Cash Now
  7. Jun 2

    Capital Call Case Studies: Fund It or Walk Away?

    Unplanned capital calls are one of the most stressful moments in passive investing, and Chris breaks down exactly how he thinks through the decision to fund or walk away. In this solo episode, Chris shares two real examples from his own portfolio. First: a “diversified fund-of-funds” that raised $10.6M and deployed across 11 deals. After multiple capital calls tied to the same sponsor (including hurricane-related shortfalls and interest reserves), the fund ultimately saw several investments wipe out entirely and Chris explains why he chose not to participate in the follow-on capital call. Second: a single-asset 127-unit value-add multifamily deal acquired in late 2022. After distributions paused due to operational issues (including a major elevator problem and a commercial tenant failure), the sponsor presented a detailed, investor-aligned plan: fee reductions, sponsor loan subordination, and a clear path to stabilization and Chris decided to fund this one. The key framework he keeps coming back to: Will this capital call actually fix the problem? Chris shares the decision criteria, tradeoffs, and how he evaluates whether additional money is “good capital after bad” or a rational bridge to protect long-term equity. Key Takeaways The most important capital call question: Will it fix the problem or just delay the inevitable? How Chris evaluates sponsor behavior, transparency, and alignment before funding anything Why “where the capital call is coming from” matters (reserves, GP bridge loans, or robbing one tranche to fund another) The difference between capital calls tied to systemic issues versus solvable operational problems Real numbers and outcomes from both scenarios, including what happened when capital calls did not stabilize the underlying assets Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

    Capital Call Case Studies: Fund It or Walk Away?
  8. May 26

    How Operators Win When Rent Growth Stalls: Gary Lipski's Playbook

    This Episode Gary Lipsky joins the show for a real operator’s view of what it’s actually like to run B-class multifamily in Tucson right now; flat-to-negative rent growth, higher concessions, elevated delinquency, and the daily “whack-a-mole” of competing comps dropping rents to protect occupancy. Chris and Gary unpack how the Tucson market is absorbing new supply, what demand drivers still matter (job diversity, cost of living, defense/healthcare tailwinds), and where operational wins are being found when traditional rent growth isn’t available, renewal strategy, new income lines, and keeping property teams motivated when KPIs are harder to hit. Gary also breaks down a recent 300-unit acquisition: why the basis made sense, how the business plan leans more “operational optimization” than heavy renovation, and how the capital stack was structured in today’s rate environment (CMBS debt, paid-down rate, plus a pref layer). They close with a practical discussion on AI; where it’s already improving leasing and collections workflows, what tenant application fraud looks like today, and why Gary sees tech as a tool to sharpen operations rather than an existential threat to housing demand. Key Takeaways What Tucson’s multifamily “pain cycle” looks like on the ground: rent softness, concessions, delinquency, and occupancy pressure Why renewals matter more than ever and how operators are finding NOI growth through small, repeatable income levers Inside a recent 300-unit Tucson deal: location thesis, light value-add plan, and addressing aging systems (pipes/boilers) cost-effectively How rate volatility impacts execution: CMBS structure, buying down the rate, and layering pref to make the cash flow work How operators are using AI today (leasing, renewals, collections) and the emerging tenant fraud problem in applications Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.

    How Operators Win When Rent Growth Stalls: Gary Lipski's Playbook

Trailers

4.8
out of 5
133 Ratings

About

Welcome to PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing Show presented by Equity Trust– your go-to podcast for building and protecting wealth through smart, passive real estate investments. Hosted by Jim Pfeifer, this podcast is designed for investors who want to grow without the grind. Each episode features expert interviews with seasoned LPs (Limited Partners) and GPs (General Partners) who share their insights, experiences, and practical advice.

More From BiggerPockets

You Might Also Like