Brick by Brick - Wealth Building Conversations

Loren Wernette
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Join Loren Wernette, Founder and CEO of REI Transactional, as he shares his journey of building a thriving real estate and hard money lending business from the ground up. Each episode dives into the strategies, challenges, and lessons learned while growing wealth in the real estate industry. Whether you’re a seasoned investor, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just curious about private lending and real estate, this podcast delivers actionable insights, inspiring stories, and mindset tips to help you succeed—brick by brick. Tune in weekly to start building your path to financial freedom and busine

  1. 5d ago

    Turn Your Expertise Into Influence: The Strategic Power of a Business Book

    Most experts think writing a book means spending years alone, trying to produce 100,000 words and hoping people will read it. Henry DeVries says that’s the wrong way to think about it. In this episode of the podcast, Loren sits down with Henry DeVries, publisher, ghostwriter, and co-founder of Indie Books International, to explore how the right business book can do far more than establish you as an author. It can become a tool for building authority, credibility, trust, visibility, and new business opportunities. Henry has helped ghostwrite, edit, and co-author more than 200 business books, and his experience gives him a unique perspective on what makes a business book actually work. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Turn expertise into authority and credibility • Use a book to attract clients, speaking opportunities, and media attention • Choose the right format and niche for your audience • Turn your experience into ideas that create real business value And perhaps the biggest takeaway: You may already have the material for your book. Your years of experience, lessons learned, mistakes, successes, frameworks, and stories can become the foundation for an idea that positions you as an authority. The book isn’t necessarily the finish line. It can be the beginning of your next level of influence. Connect with Henry DeVries 🔗 LinkedIn: Henry DeVries on LinkedIn If you’re an entrepreneur, consultant, CEO, speaker, or expert who has ever thought, “I should write a book someday,” this episode may change how you think about that book. Your expertise already has value. The question is: how can you turn it into authority? #Podcast #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #ThoughtLeadership #PersonalBranding #BusinessBooks #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Author #Expertise #Storytelling

  2. Aug 21

    From Small to Scalable: Overcoming the Bottlenecks That Hold Businesses Back

    What truly prevents a business from scaling? In this episode of Brick by Brick, Loren sits down with Mark Lim, CEO and Founder of Magnetic Alliance, for an insightful discussion on the challenges businesses face as they move from early-stage growth to scalable operations. Mark shares his perspective on the critical bottlenecks that can limit growth, including financial visibility, underutilized CRM systems, sales infrastructure, siloed teams, leadership gaps, and founder capacity. The conversation also explores the role of company culture in successful acquisitions, why mindset can be just as important as expertise, and how smaller businesses can leverage their speed, adaptability, and existing strengths to compete more effectively. At the heart of the discussion is a simple but powerful principle: Don’t just do more. Do more with what you already do. 🎙️ Listen to the full episode of Brick by Brick to learn how business owners can identify growth barriers, strengthen their foundations, and build for sustainable scale. Connect with Mark Lim: 🔗 LinkedIn: Mark Lim

  3. Aug 14

    Using Debt to Build Wealth Without Losing Control with Phil Ganz

    How can real estate investors use debt to build wealth without letting leverage control the deal? 🎙️ In this episode of Brick by Brick, Loren Wernette sits down with Phil Ganz, President of Next Wave Mortgage, for a practical conversation about using financing strategically, managing risk, and building long-term wealth through real estate. Phil brings his experience in mortgage lending and real estate finance to the conversation, sharing insights into how investors can approach leverage with discipline rather than simply chasing bigger deals. Together, Loren and Phil discuss: 🏠 Using leverage wisely when purchasing rental and investment properties 📊 DSCR loans and financing — what they are and what lenders look for ⚠️ The risks of over-leveraging and why conservative financing can matter 💰 Building long-term wealth through discipline, experience, and strong partnerships 📈 Understanding the numbers before taking on debt or acquiring another property 🚀 Growing a scalable business through niche expertise and targeted domain marketing 🤝 Building the right partnerships and creating a financing strategy that supports long-term goals Phil also shares perspective from his work at Next Wave Mortgage, offering valuable insight for investors and borrowers who want to better understand how mortgage strategy can fit into their broader real estate plans. The key takeaway? Debt isn't inherently good or bad—it’s how you structure, manage, and use it that matters. Whether you're an experienced investor, a first-time borrower, a real estate entrepreneur, or simply curious about how financing can support wealth creation, this conversation offers practical lessons you can apply to your next deal. Connect with Phil Ganz🔗 LinkedIn: Phil Ganz 📸 Instagram: @askamortgageexpert 🌐 Next Wave Mortgage 📞 617-529-9317

  4. Aug 6

    Beyond the Property: What It Really Takes to Build a Profitable Sober Living Business

    In this episode, we sit down with Jim Boad, founder of Group Home Accelerator, to discuss the business, systems, and mindset behind successful recovery housing. With 10+ years in investing and entrepreneurship and more than 14 homes opened in the past two years, Jim shares practical insights on: • Why passive income requires active management • How regulation and market challenges can create opportunities • The systems needed to scale group homes successfully • The importance of location and community relationships • Why cold outreach can be more powerful than building a website • How investors can partner with experienced operators If you're interested in sober living, group homes, real estate investing, or building a business with meaningful impact, this episode is for you. Learn more about Jim and Group Home Accelerator: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16x6EKmA8U/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghaccelerator/ Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-boad-aba962b5/ X: https://x.com/JimBoadGHA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClk94EgvIUVlVUzdkA7BZoQ

  5. Jul 31

    Senior Living Real Estate: Demand, Trends & Opportunities

    Senior living is one of the fastest-evolving sectors in real estate—but many investors still don't fully understand its potential. In this episode of Brick by Brick, Loren Wernette sits down with Jerry Vinci, Founder & CEO of CCR Growth and host of the From Leads to Leases podcast, to explore why senior living is becoming an increasingly important real estate investment opportunity. Together, they discuss the demographic trends driving demand, what makes senior living a unique asset class, the importance of choosing the right operators, and why long-term success depends on more than simply acquiring the right property. Jerry also shares insights on leadership, operations, and the modern marketing systems helping senior living communities increase occupancy, strengthen retention, and drive long-term growth. Whether you're an experienced investor or exploring new opportunities, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on one of real estate's most compelling sectors. About Jerry Vinci Jerry Vinci is the Founder & CEO of CCR Growth, a leading demand generation agency serving the senior living industry. With nearly 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, and operations, Jerry helps senior living providers increase occupancy, retention, and profitability through modern, data-driven marketing strategies. He is also the host of the From Leads to Leases podcast, where he interviews industry leaders and innovators shaping the future of senior living. Connect with Jerry Vinci: • CCR Growth (Large Operators): https://ccrgrowth.com/ • Growthly Senior Living (Boutique Operators): https://growthlyseniorliving.com/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CCRGrowth/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerryvinci/

  6. May 4

    Brick by Brick - From the Flipping Trenches to Running a Fund

    Most real estate investors chase the deal. Will Harvey chased the lesson — and eventually followed it all the way out of operations and into running a fund.   In this episode of Brick by Brick, Loren sits down with Will Harvey III, founder of Harvey Capital Funding, a Richmond, VA-based hard money lending operation. Will’s path is anything but straight: a college dropout, a recovering mortgage originator, a house flipper, a syndication LP and GP, a short-term rental operator who took a $70-80k loss on a functionally obsolete Northern Virginia property, and ultimately a fund manager who now says the operating life just isn’t wired into him. The candor in that admission — and what he built on the other side of it — is what makes this episode worth your time.   In this episode, you’ll learn: •          How Will went from residential loan officer to founding a dedicated hard money fund — and why the 2022 STR deal was the turning point that clarified everything •          The LP/GP alignment question most limited partners never ask — and why proformas are largely baloney •          How Will underwrites borrowers beyond the asset: credit score philosophy, face-to-face meetings with every borrower, and the red flags that end a deal conversation •          How both Will and Loren are embedding AI into their lending workflows — from call transcription to title review to portfolio monitoring •          What “looking down, not up” actually means in practice — and why Will now stress-tests downside before he ever runs upside   Will Harvey III is the founder of Harvey Capital Funding, a Virginia-focused private lending operation offering fix-and-flip, rental bridge, and refinance loans to real estate investors. He also manages a separate fund investing in seller-financed notes. He is based in Richmond, VA.   Topics covered: •          Double college dropout to mortgage originator •          House flipping and building a personal RE portfolio •          LP investing in 100+ unit multifamily syndications •          Leading his own syndications and operating a wedding venue and boutique hotel •          The 2022 Northern Virginia STR loss — deal goggles, a functionally obsolete house, and $70–80k in combined losses •          Founding Harvey Capital Funding in 2023 and spinning out a dedicated hard money fund •          Borrower underwriting: credit score philosophy, face-to-face meetings, red flags •          AI in lending: call transcription, CRM integration, title review, portfolio monitoring •          The GP mindset: conservative assumptions, verified track record, “look down not up”   If you got value from this show share it with your friends   Connect with Will Harvey: Website: harveycapitalfunding.com   |   Email: will@harveycapitalfunding.com

  7. Mar 26

    Financial Freedom Formula with Joey Mure

    Are you tired of the relentless grind, sacrificing precious family time for fleeting wealth? Joey Mure reveals the bold truth about escaping the 9-5 trap, building genuine passive income streams, and redefining what retirement really means. This episode is your wake-up call to take control of your financial destiny and live with purpose and freedom. In this episode:Why active income doesn't equal freedom and Joey's personal transformation storyThe real meaning of financial freedom and the importance of passive income exceeding expensesWhy traditional retirement is a myth and how to embrace ongoing service and purposeThe formula for financial freedom and actionable steps to get there fastHow to identify your investor DNA and choose the right investment strategiesThe pitfalls of relying on IRAs and tax deferral vehicles and what to focus on insteadHow AI will revolutionize investing, lending, and business, reshaping margins and opportunitiesPractical approaches beyond real estate, including online businesses, lending, and media assetsOvercoming misconceptions and making confident investment decisionsResources & Links:Well Without Wall Street PodcastPassive Income LabJoey Mure on LinkedInBook: The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. ClasonConnect with Joey Mure:LinkedInWebsiteInstagramRemember:Your financial freedom depends on the choices you make today. Stop trading time for dollars and start building assets that serve your purpose. The time to act is now. Your future self will thank you!

  8. Mar 4

    From Cycles to Chaos: Ari Rastegar on Human Behavior, and Building for What's Next

    What if the real forces moving real estate had nothing to do with interest rates? In this episode, we sit down with Ari Rastegar — founder of Rastegar Capital, WSJ/USA Today bestselling author of The Gift of Failure, and one of the most contrarian voices in Texas real estate — for a conversation that cuts through the noise and gets to what actually drives markets: human behavior. Ari breaks down why old cyclical models no longer apply, how to read demographic and migration data as a lead indicator, and why the Sun Belt — particularly Texas — isn't a trend. It's a structural shift. From 3D-printed homes and zoning battles to the "J curve" of exponential change, this is a masterclass in thinking long while moving fast. What You'll Learn: Why human behavior — not interest rates — is the real engine of real estate marketsHow demographic shifts, remote work, and lifestyle changes are reshaping investment prioritiesThe Texas advantage: population growth, corporate relocations, and central geographyWhy traditional cyclical models are dead — and what the J curve means for your portfolioHow to use migration data as a lead indicator before headlines catch upMicro-market investing: why precise location and hyper-local data beats macro noiseHow 3D printing and construction innovation could solve the housing shortageActive vs. passive investing — and how to build wealth without the operational burdenWhy a down market may be the best time for disciplined investors to act Timestamps: 00:00 — Seismic shifts & why human behavior drives real estate 02:15 — COVID, rates, and geopolitics: stress and opportunity 05:28 — Demographic evolution: remote work and lifestyle shifts 07:50 — The Texas advantage: population growth and corporate relocations 10:45 — Why systematic growth is dead — enter the J curve 13:20 — Migration lead indicators: Austin, Dallas, Florida 16:00 — Micro-location investing: precise data over headlines 18:20 — Zoning, bureaucracy, and 3D printing shaping future supply 21:00 — Essential housing and building for affordability 23:45 — The myth of institutional dominance 26:00 — Policy and accelerating housing development 29:30 — Long-term thinking, local laws, and land banking 33:00 — Government policy, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, systemic rate shifts 36:00 — Why now is a perfect storm for disciplined investors 38:00 — Active vs. passive: investing smart without the hassle 41:00 — Education, partnerships, and time in the market About Ari Rastegar Ari Rastegar is the founder and CEO of Rastegar Capital, a vertically integrated real estate investment firm based in Austin, Texas. Known as "The Oracle of Austin," he has developed over 4.9M sq ft across 13 states and 38 cities. Featured in Forbes, GQ, WSJ, and The Real Deal. Connect with Ari: 🌐 rastegarcapital.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/arirastegar 📸 Instagram: @rastegar 📖 The Gift of Failure — available on Amazon

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Join Loren Wernette, Founder and CEO of REI Transactional, as he shares his journey of building a thriving real estate and hard money lending business from the ground up. Each episode dives into the strategies, challenges, and lessons learned while growing wealth in the real estate industry. Whether you’re a seasoned investor, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just curious about private lending and real estate, this podcast delivers actionable insights, inspiring stories, and mindset tips to help you succeed—brick by brick. Tune in weekly to start building your path to financial freedom and busine

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