Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing Jonathan Greene

Self-storage is appealing as a passive investment opportunity. Most interactions are with your tenants’ belongings. And if you don’t have to construct the building from scratch, it can be an incredibly lucrative investment opportunity.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan’s guest is Clint Harris, a general partner and investor relations specialist with Nomad Capital. Like nearly everyone, Clint began his real estate investing with single-family properties. He pivoted to multifamily and Airbnbs and finally landed on self-storage syndications. Clint’s self-storage path has a unique twist because he and his partners convert retail facilities, such as old Kmart buildings, into self-storage buildings. Clint’s background also includes 15 years in medical device sales.
As Jonathan and Clint begin their conversation, Clint shares his two mistakes when he started real estate investing and the three ways he discovered to get to the independence of purpose. They explore what led him to self-storage, the fallacy of passive income, what you should consider before committing to any real estate project, and being slow to hire property managers and quick to fire them. Jonathan and Clint cover how he invested in his first self-storage conversion using vertical integrations, how long it takes for a conversion to cash flow, and why passive investment strategies should be a part of your portfolio. Finally, they explore the generational differences in using self-storage and Clint’s advice for new investors who don’t know what direction to take.
It can take a while to hit your stride as an investor, but Clint Harris makes a compelling case for investing in passive assets like self-storage.
In this episode, you will hear:
The two mistakes Clint Harris made as he began real estate investing Why appreciation makes more millionaires and billionaires than cash flow Two questions Clint asked himself to start moving toward independence of purpose and the three ways he discovered he could get there What led him to self-storage and why they’ve been lucrative investments Return of time and why most real estate investors eventually seek that out instead of equity or cash flow The fallacy of passive income Getting on the same page with your spouse or partner and aligning your goals to create a plan to achieve them What you should ask yourself before committing to any real estate project Hiring property managers and why you should be slow to hire and quick to fire them How Clint invested in his first conversion to self-storage, which was an old Kmart building, using vertical integrations The reason converting old retail buildings to self-storage works for Clint The length of time it takes to create cash flow in a self-storage conversion Why a passive investment strategy should be part of your investing portfolio Features Clint Harris looks for in a building as he considers it for self-storage The generational differences in the usage of self-storage units His advice for new investors who aren’t yet sure what direction they want to take 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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/132 to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Visit Nomad Capital’s website - nomadcapital.us/team
Truly Passive Income YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/channel/UCe0F1abrRXQX2KpSl5qEnoA
Connect with Clint Harris on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/clint-harris-5

Aside from the invention of the nail gun, technology has remained relatively unchanged in the last 75 years when it comes to constructing real estate. One company is trying to change that and make the industry more efficient and less wasteful.
On today’s episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan’s guest is Damion Lupo, the Chief Investment Officer of FrameTec. Over the last 30 years, Damion has owned more than 65 companies and personally purchased over 150 houses, apartment complexes, and condos in seven states. He has a long history in real estate, and with FrameTec, he’s modernizing manufacturing and disrupting the construction industry.
Jonathan and Damion begin their conversation by outlining how FrameTec is disrupting the construction business, the gap it’s filling, and why it’s causing both excitement and panic. You’ll hear what losing everything during the 2008 crash taught Damion, how a lack of patience can be detrimental in this business, and two things you can do to avoid making drastic investing mistakes. He also shares where to look for people you can trust and learn from, how to avoid FOMO, and why you should never be afraid to do the work. Finally, Damion outlines the scope of FrameTec, how it will revolutionize real estate, and the huge problem FrameTec is set to solve.
Disrupting construction is a big goal, but Damion Lupo is well on his way to changing the face of the industry.
In this episode, you will hear:
What FrameTec does and how the company is disrupting the construction business The gap FrameTec is filling in the construction industry and why it’s causing both panic and excitement How this new construction model is positively impacting local communities and helping to alleviate the housing shortage Damion Lupo’s introduction to real estate in the ‘90s and the mistakes he made during the 2008 crash Why it’s essential to have people you respect and trust to point out your blind spots and have a mission beyond money Remaining focused and not overleveraged yourself so that you become distracted The biggest mistakes people make when they have money but lack patience Two things you can do to avoid making drastic mistakes with your investing Where to find people you can eventually trust and learn from Avoiding FOMO, having a five- to ten-year plan, being patient, and putting in the work Why you should never take advice from people who make less money than you Asking the right questions to get an honest answer and a deeper understanding of the concept The overall scope of FrameTec, how it’s going to help real estate, and the huge problem FrameTec is set to solve Gaps in construction post-2008 and why big wealth isn’t in turnkey properties How you can be successful by just offering customer service Investing in yourself to move forward Damion’s many books and what drives him to write them 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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/131 to download it.
Supporting Resources:
FrameTec’s website - www.frametec.com
Damion Lupo on YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UC6qIIkh9nXpzeqF0TofSFGA
Find Damion on Facebook - www.facebook.com/damionlupo
Connect with Damion on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/damionlupo
Damion Lup on Twitter/X - twitter.com/damionlupo
TurnKey Retirement’s website - turnkeyretirement.com
Website - www.streamlined.properties
YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes guest James Hwang, who found his niche in mid-term rentals. James is well on his way to building a large medium-term rental portfolio after starting with nothing. By day, he is an oncology pharmacist. By night, he’s a real estate investor, renovating the projects he takes on.
Jonathan and James jump into his story, beginning with the troubles his parents experienced owning rentals when James was a child. They explore why James settled on a multifamily as his first rental, why he believes strongly in giving to others and building a community, and how he was introduced to mid-term rentals. You’ll hear the income differential between long- and mid-term rentals, the systems James put into place to manage his properties, and the questions to ask yourself before entering the mid-term rental market. James explains the importance of vetting prospective tenants carefully, mixing in long-term rentals with mid-terms, and the ability to offer those tenants other properties once you’ve built your portfolio. Finally, Jonathan and James explore why mid-terms don’t need to be flashy, what his properties offer that others don’t, and using arbitrage to get ahead in the real estate game.
James Hwang quickly figured out what would work for him as a new investor, and he’s eager to help others learn to do the same.
In this episode, you will hear:
When James Hwang realized real estate would be a part of his future His parents’ experiences with real estate, why it was initially off-putting, and how he changed their minds about it James’s first investment property and why he chose a multifamily The techniques he used to manage his stress as he began purchasing properties Giving to others, building a community, and why it ultimately will be reciprocated What drew him to the idea of mid-term rentals, and how he got started The income differential between long-term and mid-term rentals Putting systems into place to manage properties and matching those to your goals Questions to ask yourself before jumping into the mid-term rental game Vetting your tenants carefully and ensuring you’re acting as a good landlord Mixing in long-term rentals with mid-terms to maintain steady cashflow Humanizing the landlord-tenant relationship and remembering that when increasing rents Being able to offer potential tenants other properties once you’ve built an economy of scale How James bought a duplex with mid-term rental opportunities in mind Why mid-terms don’t need to be as flashy as short-term rentals What PPL is and why that matters when you’re offering mid-term rentals The arbitrage he’s created and how it’s benefitting his business and the owner’s Security deposits and rent while using arbitrage James’s overall goal with arbitrage at the apartment complex he’s 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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/130 to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Stellar Housing Solutions website - stellarhousingsolutions.com
Connect with James Hwang on Instagram - www.instagram.com/james_hwang
Find Stellar Housing Solutions on Instagram - www.instagram.com/stellarhousing
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
Z

On the surface, systems may sound like one of the boring details—something you only deal with if you have to. However, systems can make your life as a real estate investor much easier and maybe even save you money in the long run.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, former graphic designer Serena Norris outlines why she left the corporate world to build a thriving career flipping homes and building systems along the way. Serena is a house flipper, broker, and realtor at Heaton Dainard. She is the head of marketing at Limitless Financial Freedom Expo and founded Scale with Serena. She’s flipped or BRRRR’d more than 125 properties.
Jonathan and Serena’s conversation explores her exposure to real estate as a child in a family full of general contractors, her pivot from a career in graphic design to real estate flips, and how she transferred her love of organization and systems to a standardized process for flips. She shares why lower- and mid-range homes work best for property flips, where flippers go wrong organizationally and in design, and why a detailed punch list can avoid problems late in the flipping process. Serena also outlines the value of using a home inspector, why contractors are a part of your team, and how a cost-of-work budget template can help you accurately estimate costs for a project. Finally, she emphasizes creating friendships and relationships with other investors who can advise you along the way.
At first glance, flipping homes can feel like a lonely and tedious enterprise, but changing your perspective and putting systems in place can help you create a well-oiled operation that works for any project.
In this episode, you will hear:
Serena Norris’s exposure to real estate as a child in a family of general contractors and what drew her to the aesthetic of homes How her career as a graphic designer led her back to real estate and starting her own business Meeting her partner at her cousin’s wedding and why they work so well together Putting systems and organization in place out of necessity The decision to do eight or ten deals at a time, which became Serena’s sweet spot Using her training as a graphic designer to problem solve in real estate transactions The challenges of aligning buyer expectations with construction costs for higher-end homes and switching back to lower- to mid-range homes Where flippers go wrong the most organizationally and in terms of design Unfinished touches on a property and how detailed punch lists can avoid this problem Utilizing home inspector remarks to train contractors on what you want to be done on your properties Why your contractors are a part of your team as a home flipper, and you aren’t a one-person show The importance of purchasing only the materials you want to manage as you renovate Creating a cost-of-work budget template to accurately estimate costs for the next project Getting multiple bids and taking advantage of relationships to find good contractors Serena’s advice for someone flipping a home for the first time Having close friendships with other investors and why those relationships matter 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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/129 to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Get connected with Serena Norris - linktr.ee/serenanorris
Find Serena on Instagram - www.instagram.com/serena.claire
Connect with Serena on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/s

Becoming an accidental landlord happens a lot with long-term rentals, but the same cannot be said for short-term rentals. So what happens when it does?
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, short-term rental investor Zoey Berghoff sits down with Jonathan to talk about the successful short-term rental operation she and her husband are running in Colorado. Zoey is a visionary in the world of short-term rentals and is renowned for her unique approach to Airbnb and unique stays that offer unforgettable experiences to her guests.
To start their conversation, Zoey shares with Jonathan what she learned as she watched her mom manage vacation rental cabins in Michigan as a kid. From there, they discuss why simplicity is the secret to hospitality excellence, Airbnb’s role as a marketing tool, and why unique stays attract guests. You’ll hear why you don’t want to appeal to every guest, avoiding the Instant Book feature, how Zoey and her husband became accidental short-term hosts, and why you need professional photos of your listings. Zoey emphasizes setting boundaries and being willing to deny bookings, what her coaching business is teaching others about short-term rental properties, and using your properties to fund new short-term ventures. She also shares the one amenity you cannot put a price on.
If you’ve ever considered becoming an Airbnb host, you won’t want to miss all of the hard-earned lessons Zoey Berghoff shares in this episode.
In this episode, you will hear:
Zoey Berghoff’s introduction to real estate as a kid when her mom rented out cabins in Michigan Why simplicity is the secret to excellence in hospitality The changes in the hosting experience with the evolution of technology Airbnb’s role in short-term rentals as a marketing tool Taking advantage of every channel available to you as a short-term rental owner The unique qualities of short-term rentals that are driving consumer interest What Zoey learned to disclose about her properties on listings so that users’ expectations are set about the property they’re renting Why you don’t want to appeal to every guest who views your listing Choosing not to use the Instant Book feature and making everything else about the listing on point to compensate How Zoey and her husband became accidental short-term hosts Buying properties where you enjoy spending time and also running it like a business Knowing the demographics of your guests and accommodating them Getting professional photos and showcasing the seasons Using social media to market your properties and the impact an influencer can have Setting boundaries as a host and denying bookings Zoey’s coaching business and what she’s teaching her students Why all land is not created equal Holding short-term rentals for the long term and using the appreciation to fund new rentals The importance of having proximity to a town while guests still feel “away” from everything and the advantage of multiple properties at your disposal What you can expect from Zoey’s coaching program The one amenity you can’t put a price on 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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/128 to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Visit Zoey Berghoff’s website - www.zoeyberghoff.com
Connect with Zoey on Instagram - www.instagram.com/zoeyberghoff
Zoey’s TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@zoeyberghoff
Website - www.streamlined.properties
YouT

While you may start a career with high hopes of loving your chosen path, it doesn’t always work out. You may find yourself looking for alternative paths to create more time freedom, which is where real estate investing comes in.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan’s guest is Seena Ghetmiri, a former dentist turned real estate investor leaning into the short-term rental market after learning the ropes with long- and medium-term rentals. Seena and his wife began investing just two years ago, but in that time, they’ve learned a lot of lessons they’re using to continue growing their business. He spent a couple of years as a dentist before pivoting to real estate full-time, which he did with the support of his wife.
You’ll hear how Seena discovered real estate investing through a friend and mentor, which led him to buy his first investment property in Phoenix, Arizona. Disillusioned with dentistry as a career, Seena quit his job and went all in on real estate investing, attending meetups, making connections, and making mistakes. He quickly points out that his wife’s business enabled him to quit his full-time job and transition careers. Seena shares with Jonathan the role relationships have had in purchasing more assets, how he’s learning by doing, and why he switched from long-term to short-term rentals. He explains that catering to a particular type of avatar in his short-term rentals contributes to his success, what can help you remove yourself from analysis paralysis, and what he’s still figuring out about the business.
Seena Ghetmiri went all in on real estate investing after deciding dentistry would be a career slog, and his passion for real estate shines through in his conversation with Jonathan.
In this episode, you will hear:
Seena Ghetmiri’s realization that he wanted to leave dentistry and go full-time with real estate investing after losing his dad The time freedom that real estate investing has given Seena and his wife to spend more time together as a family What he would have done differently to leave dentistry knowing what he knows now Experiencing analysis paralysis and overcoming that to make his first investment His family and friends’ thoughts on his real estate business two years into it Seena’s first investment home in Phoenix, what made it a good first property, and what he learned from the purchasing process Getting comfortable with buying more properties and using the equity they earn to finance new investments The role of relationships in purchasing assets and gaining confidence as you stay on the investing path Finding trustworthy contacts at meetups, learning from them, and not feeling intimidated by those farther along on the journey Learning by doing What took Seena to the next level and switched his focus from long-term rentals to short-term Paying attention to details in the hospitality and short-term rental business and catering to a particular avatar The one thing that can help you get out of the analysis paralysis mindset Where Seena is going next with his investing, and what he still has to figure out His advice for someone who wants to get into real estate but isn’t sure how to start 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 http://www.trustgreene.com/podcast/zen/127 to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Connect with Seena Ghetmiri on Instagram - www.instagram.com/seena.ghetmiri
Website - www.streaml