The Allocator: A New Way to Finance Real Estate

My guest today is David Moret, founder and president of Highline Real Estate Capital. David brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective especially in the wake of the Federal Reserve's rate hikes.

His insights are particularly timely as we weave our way through a market that's shifting from its previous exuberance to a phase marked by strategic caution and adaptation.

David discusses the launch of Highline’s Real Estate Fund One, set up as a direct response to the current market dynamics. He talks about the fund's objectives and strategies, emphasizing the need for agility and foresight in today's economic climate, and discusses how the fund is positioning itself to capitalize on market dislocations.

You’ll learn about Highline’s take on the current significant decline in deal flow and transaction volumes and why owners are reluctant to sell at this point in the cycle. David discusses the 'extend and pretend' strategies adopted by banks, a trend that's creating a unique set of challenges and opportunities for investors.

David's approach to sourcing deals is a masterclass in strategic thinking and adaptability. He talks about leveraging a network of brokers, forming strategic partnerships, and using advanced search tools for targeted acquisitions.

In this episode, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the current commercial real estate market dynamics. David's expertise offers insights into managing investment portfolios, adapting strategies in a fluctuating economic environment, and the art of identifying and capitalizing on investment opportunities in a market that's constantly evolving. Join us for a deep dive into the world of real estate investment with one of the industry's most astute investors.

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In this brand new podcast series at GowerCrowd, The Real Estate Reality Show, we take a realistic view of commercial real estate investing, providing pragmatic insights for passive investors who are looking for sponsors they can trust and distressed opportunities they can invest in.

You’ll find no quick fixes or easy money ideas here, no sales pitches, big egos or hype.

You’ll learn how to build your wealth while protecting your capital investing as a limited partner in commercial real estate investments, even and especially during an economic downturn. Subscribe to our free newsletter here.

With the stock market in retreat in 2022, the concept of a bear market has been very much on the minds of investors. While a bear market in equities is well defined, the concept is not so clear for commercial real estate. In fact, the phrase ‘bear market’ is not typically used to describe a decrease in commercial real estate values. Investors more commonly refer to a ‘downturn’ in property values, or to the end of a real estate bubble.

In this podcast with Paul Fiorilla and the article on the podcast page here, learn more about rea estate bear markets.

Capital Raising and Deal Structure Amanda Larson, founder of AMA X Equity, has raised roughly $2 million in investor capital since going full-time as a real estate capital allocator a little over a year ago. She specializes in multifamily syndications, sourcing deals, conducting due diligence, and structuring investments. In one of her largest transactions, the $31M acquisition of The Darby at Steeplechase, she played a key role in securing the deal, structuring the business plan, and signing on the loan. The total equity raise was just under $20M, with multiple sponsors contributing capital. Role in Deal Execution Amanda’s process starts with sourcing deals through broker relationships, conducting due diligence, underwriting, and assembling a sponsor team. In the case of The Darby, she worked with Disrupt Equity, a Houston-based sponsor group, to close the acquisition. Although Disrupt Equity led the project, Amanda was part of the GP team, securing a share of the 20% GP split rather than participating in a fund-of-funds model where capital allocators typically take a cut of investor returns. Underwriting Rigor and Risk Management A key differentiator in Amanda’s approach is her engineering mindset, which she applies to underwriting. Unlike some capital allocators who simply rebrand and distribute sponsor pitch decks, she conducts independent underwriting and due diligence, verifying financial assumptions before bringing investors into a deal. She has learned to be particularly cautious about floating-rate debt, having seen firsthand how misplaced confidence in interest rate stability led to market turbulence. Raising Capital and Investor Relations Amanda primarily sources investors through LinkedIn and business networking events, leveraging her background in the oil and gas industry to connect with engineers and professionals seeking diversification. While she initially focused on operations and underwriting, she has recognized the importance of marketing and investor education, adapting her LinkedIn content to be more personal and engaging. Lessons Learned and Market Outlook Her biggest lesson? Don’t blindly trust the smartest person in the room. She observed many seasoned operators confidently taking on floating-rate debt, despite clear risks, because the consensus among experienced sponsors was that rates would stay low. Additionally, she remains skeptical about the fund-of-funds model, noting that while it provides flexibility, it may be flooding the market with underqualified capital allocators who lack real estate expertise. *** Explore the world of real estate capital allocators—a fresh approach to financing that’s reshaping the industry. In this series, I talk with allocators, investors, sponsors, and service providers to give you an inside look at this fast-growing space. PLUS, subscribe to my free newsletter for real estate investors and gain access to: * Introductions to sponsors, allocators, and investment opportunities. * Insights drawn from my 30+ years of experience in real estate investing. * Hacks and tactics for raising capital to help you scale your real estate portfolio. Visit GowerCrowd.com/subscribe

My YouTube show/podcast guest today is Andrew Cushman, founder and principal of Vantage Point Acquisitions, who shares his experience and insights on remote management of multifamily real estate assets from the other side of the country, discussing the challenges and strategies for successful long-distance investing.

We discuss the current state of the multifamily market and how rising interest rates have impacted prudent sponsors’ ability to acquire new properties. Andrew talks about the spread between what sellers are asking and what buyers are bidding, and discusses the various factors that may lead to a surge in properties coming to market in the near future.

Andrew also shares his philosophy on optimal deal sizes for efficient management, revealing the "sweet spots" at 120 and 220 units where fixed costs can be spread most effectively. He explains how his company has adapted to the changing market conditions and maintained strong performance despite challenges such as rising insurance costs.

As an active LinkedIn user, Andrew also provides insights into his content strategy and the types of posts that tend to generate the most engagement. From market analysis to the realities of property management, he aims to share valuable information and connect with his audience.

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In this brand new podcast series at GowerCrowd, The Real Estate Reality Show, we take a realistic view of commercial real estate investing, providing pragmatic insights for passive investors who are looking for sponsors they can trust and distressed opportunities they can invest in.

You’ll find no quick fixes or easy money ideas here, no sales pitches, big egos or hype.

You’ll learn how to build your wealth while protecting your capital investing as a limited partner in commercial real estate investments, even and especially during an economic downturn. Subscribe to our free newsletter here.

My guest today is Aleksey Chernobelskiy who is principal at Centrio Capital Partners. Aleksey helps Limited Partners (passive investors in real estate syndications – aka ‘LP’s’) with existing and future investments, writing tips, and advising or providing educational content to help them navigate the current market, as well as make decisions on how to act and what to look for as they consider investment opportunities going forward.

Aleksey is a prolific writer. His background includes having run a $10 billion commercial real estate portfolio and he has a quadruple major, (gasp), from the University of Arizona in finance, mathematics, economics and accounting.

The insights he shares in today’s show are largely based on conversations that he has been having with LP’s who are facing issues with some of the deals that they've invested with and who are seeking guidance. He also offers independent third party counsel on how investors should be thinking about the commercial real estate environment in 2024.

Aleksey and I explore the essential aspects of LP investments, focusing on both the opportunities they present and the pitfalls that uninformed investors might encounter. We discuss how LP’s’ lack of knowledge can lead to avoidable mistakes and heightened risks, plus we talk about capital calls dynamics, managing investment dilution, and making informed decisions during a capital call.

Our conversation today provides invaluable guidance for LP’s looking to successfully make their way through the often complex world of real estate syndication, particularly during a downturn, while also providing a roadmap for comprehending the terms and status of an investments before contributing additional money during a capital call.

Watch this episode to learn from Aleksey Chernobelskiy's extensive experience in LP investments. Learn about his approach to tackling the intricacies associated with these types of investments, his tips on risk management, insights on maintaining an informed perspective throughout your investment journey, and his advice on leveraging knowledge to make sound investment decisions.

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In this brand new podcast series at GowerCrowd, The Real Estate Reality Show, we take a realistic view of commercial real estate investing, providing pragmatic insights for passive investors who are looking for sponsors they can trust and distressed opportunities they can invest in.

You’ll find no quick fixes or easy money ideas here, no sales pitches, big egos or hype.

You’ll learn how to build your wealth while protecting your capital investing as a limited partner in commercial real estate investments, even and especially during an economic downturn. Subscribe to our free newsletter here.