Podcast

By Mark Ainley

Episode 380: Innovation in Modular Housing With Rory Rubin

Rory Rubin shows us first hand how S.I. Container Builds is bringing high quality, low maintenance steel dwellings to help solve the housing supply shortage!Rory jumps right with a recap of modular housing and the advantages it brings over traditional brick and wood housing struc...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 378: How Wonderful Togbey Built a 20-Unit Portfolio Against the Odds

Wonderful Togbey joins us to explain how he’s grinded to build a rental portfolio of 20 doors and is actively scaling!Wonderful shares his start in REI back in Omaha, Nebraska. He breaks down a deal in Bronzeville that closed right at the onset of COVID that came equipped w...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 377: This is How Grit Can Take You Further in Chicago Real Estate with Daniel Baker

Daniel Baker, owner of Teton Properties, explains how he’s built a portfolio with strategic house hacks and value-add renovations.Daniel discusses his move from Memphis to Chicago to get started in real estate. He shares some hilarious stories on househack value-add project...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 376: Buy Before You Sell; How To Write Offers Non-Contingent on The Sale of Your Existing Pr...

Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.comHave a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placementHas Property Mgmt become an ...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 375: Learn How To Build A Chicago Portfolio Without Quitting the W2 with Nate Fernandez

Real Estate Nate shares how he has accumulated 26-units with healthy cash flow all while having a demanding W2 job!Nate shares lessons learned from his first few deals and compares small vs large multifamily buildings. He explains how he and his wife leverage their high-income W2...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 374: Taking On Opportunity In Chicago’s Toughest Neighborhoods with Corey Oliver

Corey Oliver, CEO of Strength in Management, is back three years later to share additional insights on managing in C/D neighborhoods. Corey starts by discussing recent compression of cap rates and investment financials in Chicago C/D class neighborhoods. He gets granular on ...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 373: A New Option to Fund Renovations For Chicago 2-4 Properties

A New Option to Fund Renovations For Chicago 2-4 PropertiesProperties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.comHave a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCReal...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 372: Having Limited Capital and Scaling In Chicago Big Time with Kevin Schnell

Kevin Schnell of Concord Capital has amassed a portfolio of over 400 rental units and has vast experience repositioning multi-family and mixed-use real estate investments!Kevin hits the ground running with how he grinded early in his real estate career to learn his markets and ef...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 371: How To Break Into Chicago Real Estate Investing In Your 20s w/Michael Kaplan

Michael Kaplan is a real estate broker and investor who has grinded to become a top broker at 24 years of age!Michael starts by explaining how he realized that college was not for him and pivoted to an entrepreneurial route in real estate! He explains the mindset required to star...

By Mark Ainley

Episode 370: How The Current 2025 Lending Market Differs From Previous Year

What's Different in Today's Lending Environment and How do Chicago Investors Capitalize? =============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: StraightU...