Straight Up Chicago Investor Straight Up Chicago Investor

Chicago Native Dorian Bezanis is the president of ALPHA Adjusting and has nearly four decades of investing experience in Chicago’s Northside!
Dorian jumps right in by discussing the investing portfolio he’s built in Edgewater and Rogers Park over the last 37 years. He explains the role of a public adjuster, the immense value they bring to investors. Dorian gets granular by sharing how to handle fires and other losses at investment properties. He closes with a five year outlook on Chicago including a bullish take on rent growth!
If you enjoy today’s episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!
Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com
Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com
Guest: Dorian Bezanis, ALPHA Adjusting | Email Dorian (Dorian@AlphaAdjusting.com)

Link: The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel (Book Recommendation)
Link: Andy Dolliff (Network Referral)
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Guest Questions

01:16 Housing Provider Tip - Ensure you have a punch list for turnover to handle!
02:44 Intro to our guest, Dorian Bezanis!
06:57 Breaking down Dorian’s portfolio!
17:28 Advice to new investors from 37 years of experience!
25:17 Understanding the value of Public Adjusters.
37:15 Handling fires and other claims!
48:48 Dorian’s 5 year outlook on Chicago real estate.
54:02 What is your competitive advantage?
54:15 One piece of advice for new investors.
54:24 What do you do for fun?
54:41 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?
55:46 Local Network Recommendation?
57:14 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?
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Production House: Flint Stone Media
Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2024.

How does the draw process work when taking on a construction loan?
Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com
Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com
Guest: Eric Workman, Renovo Financial
Link: Workman Lending Team - Renovo Financial - Real Estate Investment Loans
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Production House: Flint Stone Media
Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2024.

Neena Vlamis is the President and Owner of A and N Mortgage. Born and raised in Chicago, she discusses building her mortgage company along with developing an impressive real estate investment portfolio in Chicago.
Neena starts by explaining how she scaled her mortgage company, building a culture, and behind the scenes challenges. She provides insights on how lending regulations vary across states and talks about what makes A and N unique. Neena gives her take on adapting to a higher interest rate market and the recent NAR settlement. She closes with a bullish outlook on the Chicago Real Estate market!
If you enjoy today’s episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!
Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com
Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com
Guest: Neena Vlamis, A and N Mortgage

Link: SUCI Ep 250 - Jonathan Klemm
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Guest Questions

01:10 Housing Provider Tip - Keep up with landscaping to avoid fines from the city!
03:01 Intro to our guest, Neena Vlamis!
07:01 Neena’s early lending and investing days!
13:47 Scaling the mortgage lending business.
16:18 Maintaining culture in a business.
20:19 Behind the scenes lending challenges.
24:16 Neena’s other investments!
32:24 Differences in lending across states.
35:08 What makes A and N Mortgage unique?
38:29 Adapting to higher interest rates.
41:44 Neena’s outlook on Chicago and the Real Estate Industry!
45:50 What is your competitive advantage?
46:04 One piece of advice for new investors.
46:13 What do you do for fun?
46:36 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?
47:03 Local Network Recommendation?
48:13  How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?
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Production House: Flint Stone Media
Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2024.

Andrew Dorazion is a former Army officer and accomplished real estate broker, investor, and property manager!
Andrew jumps right in with a cool story involving a funeral home turned short term rental! He shares tips on finding partners and structuring partnerships to help scale more quickly. Andrew drops valuable nuggets on pumping a building’s NOI through reconfigured floor plans and adding ADUs. He does a deep dive on the Zoning Change Process in Chicago! Throughout the show, Andrew emphasizes the importance of taking action to propel your growth in real estate and any other endeavor!
If you enjoy today’s episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!
Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com
Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com
Guest: Andrew Dorazio, Dorazio Real Estate

Link: BCG Real Estate Group
Link: Andrew's ADU Blog
Link: My First Million (Podcast Recommendation)
Link: Buy Then Build (Book Recommendation)
Link: SUCI Ep 245 - JD Modrak
Link: SUCI Ep 224 - Jason Wagner
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Guest Questions

02:00 Housing Provider Tip - Maintain AC units as the weather gets warmer!
03:15 Intro to our guest, Andrew Dorazio!
03:45 Andrew’s “killer” deal!
07:28 Andrew’s start in real estate.
12:11 How to find partners to scale faster?
17:00 Early mistakes on Short Term Rentals.
24:04 Ways to reposition an asset.
35:05 The Process of a Zoning Change!
44:56 Building Department for requirements for ADUs!
50:25 What’s next for Andrew and his team?
53:14 What is your competitive advantage?
54:03 One piece of advice for new investors.
55:34 What do you do for fun?
56:17 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?
57:48 Local Network Recommendation?
58:38 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?
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Production House: Flint Stone Media
Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2024.

Where Are Interest Rates Heading and What's Happening in The Capital Markets?
Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com
Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com
Guest: Eric Workman, Renovo Financial
Link: Build Your Team | Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast
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Production House: Flint Stone Media
Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2024.

Joey Coleman is a best selling author and founder of a branding firm that specializes in helping businesses retain customers and employees!
Joey jumps right in by explaining the difference between customer service and customer experience. He explains the best ways to handle routine tenant check ins and disagreements with tenants all through the lens of optimizing customer experience. Joey shares how the Eight Phases to “Never Lose a Customer Again” apply to prospective tenants. Joey closes with an amazing story of how a human-level connection and a small gift resulted in a tremendous business opportunity!
If you enjoy today’s episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!
Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com
Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com
Guest: Joey Coleman, Design Symphony

Link: Never Lose A Customer Again
Link: Never Lose An Employee Again
Link: Dan Gingiss (Network Referral)
Link: Careers | GC Realty & Development, LLC
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Guest Questions

03:23 Housing Provider Tip - Run your investment properties like a business and treat your residents like clients.
03:51 Intro to our guest, Joey Coleman!
07:04 Customer service vs customer experience!
14:00 To check in with the tenant or not?
16:29 Reassuring tenants after move-in.
23:47 Phases to Never Lose a Customer Again!
41:10 How to handle disagreements with tenants?
50:58 Gifts and the $35,000 golf ball!
56:56 Advice to 20 year old Joey Coleman.
59:16 What is your competitive advantage?
59:42 One piece of advice for new investors.
60:16 What do you do for fun?
60:57 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?
62:44 Local Network Recommendation?
64:00 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?
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Production House: Flint Stone Media
Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2024.