Podcast

By Mark Ainley

Episode 435: 36th Ward: Future of Chicago with Alderman Gil Villegas

Gil Villegas is the alderperson of Chicago's 36th ward and has focused on generating opportunities for economic and business development to best serve the constituents of his ward!Alderman Villegas starts by discussing how zoning changes can be utilized to create win-win situ...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 434: Interesting Lease Renewal Statistics and Strategies with Mark Ainley

What are the common mistakes made when handling lease renewals?=============Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.comGuest: Mark Ainley, Straight Up Chicago Investor and GC RealtyEmail the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.comLink: Build Your Team | S...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 433: Chicago Building Code Violations with Zack Limbaugh

Zack Limbaugh of the Limbaugh Law Firm returns to dive deep on code violations including top pitfalls to avoid!Zack starts by explaining the 101 on buying properties with building code violations! He discusses top lending considerations when attempting to finance a property with ...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 432: Strategic Chicago House Hacking with Zach Posey

Zach Posey joins us to explain how he’s acquired various house hacks and grown a significant net worth all while having a demanding W2 career!Zach starts off by detailing the acquisition of his first house hack and the hurdles that came almost immediately after closing. He ...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 431: What You Need To Know About Real Estate Professional Status with Mike Procaccio

Mike Procaccio provides insights to real estate professional status What is real estate professional status and why is it important for investors? Guest Company: Pro Financial Services Group Inc Guest Name: Michael Procaccio Guest Link: https://www.pfsgi.com/team...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 430: From Flipping Neighborhood Warehouses to Multifamily Rentals: Rapid REI Growth with Ree...

Reed Meyer, founder and managing broker at Lease312, shares top tier leasing advice and how connecting with mentors has propelled his real estate journey’s growth at such a young age!Reed starts off by detailing the process of acquiring his first property; a 3-unit house ha...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 429: Opportunity Zones & Tax Credits For Chicago Investors with Darryl Jacobs

Darryl Jacobs Updates On Opportunity ZonesDarryl Jacobs, partner at Ginsberg Jacobs, has over 3 decades of experience in tax and corporate law with a focus on tax credit financing transactions.Darryl starts off with a high-level overview of the various tax credits available to in...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 428: Updates To The 2026 Lease and Other Recent Legal Changes With Mark Ainley

Updates To The 2026 Lease and Other Recent Legal Changes With Mark Ainley What are recent legal updates to the 2026 lease and new squatter laws?=============Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.comGuest: Mark Ainley, Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast and G...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 427: 2026 Chicago Real Estate Forecast: Trends, Risks, and Opportunities with Jake Fugman an...

Jake Fugman and Mike Scanlon of The Axon Group return to forecast Chicago’s Real Estate Market in 2026!Jake and Mike kick things off by reflecting on their 2025 predictions including office space leasing trends, downtown sales stats, and impacts of the Northwest Side Preser...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 426: Reshaping Suburban Woodstock with Jessica Erickson

Jessica Erickson Shares Woodstock Development Insights and How Investors Can ProfitJessica Erickson, Director of Economic Development for the City of Woodstock, joins us to discuss development news and opportunities in Woodstock, IL!Jessica starts with her backstory on moving fro...