
REady2Scale - Real Estate Investing
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Welcome to Season 7 of REady2Scale, the go-to podcast for real estate investors, with a special emphasis on multifamily investing. In this podcast, we explore the dynamic landscape of various investment strategies, from real estate to farmland and more, offering you insights, strategies, and stories to enhance your agility and foresight in the market.
Each episode is designed to empower you, whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out. From analyzing market shifts to uncovering investment opportunities, and from risk management to portfolio diversification, we cover a spectrum of topics that resonate with anyone keen on building wealth through smart...Show more
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Finding Value in Shifting Real Estate Markets
28 min 2 sec
In this episode of Ready2Scale, we explore the evolving landscape of real estate investing with Aaron Greeno, founder and managing partner at Arselle Investments. Join me as we discuss the unique opportunities emerging in shifting markets, especially in light of recent economic changes. Aaron shares insights from his extensive experience at Morgan Stanley and Dune Real Estate, shedding light on how investors can navigate current challenges and leverage market dynamics. We delve into the importance of execution and alignment in real estate investments, as well as the strategic advantages of targeting various asset classes. Tune in to discover how to identify value in today's real estate environment and prepare for future growth.Play episode
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Lessons from Alibaba, Meta, and PE Ops
28 min 10 sec
Can You Really Spot a Great Company Before Everyone Else Does? In this episode of REady2Scale, Jeannette Friedrich sits down with Lee McCabe, Partner at Claymore Partners and former executive at Meta, Alibaba, and Expedia. With deep experience in both technology and private equity, Lee shares how to uncover high-potential companies, particularly those hiding in “boring” sectors, by focusing on digital transformation, data-driven operations, and overlooked growth levers.
Whether you're an investor, operator, or advisor, you'll gain practical insights into how leading firms are building value not just through financial engineering but through smarter marketing, better tech stacks, and operational efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
- Why old-school industries hold untapped value:Digitally underserved sectors like B2B and consumer services are ripe for disruption and value creation.
- The power of a functional tech stack: Many businesses lack proper data infrastructure. Building a connected, insight-driven stack is step one to scaling sustainably.
- What digital value creation really looks like:Private equity must shift from passive ownership to active operational involvement, especially in marketing and data analytics.
- Lead generation is the real business: CEOs in services should view themselves as running lead generation engines. Conversion begins with optimised websites and media spend tracked to ROI.
- AI hype versus reality: AI is not yet the silver bullet for most companies. Without basic data systems in place, AI becomes a distraction rather than a solution.
- How to avoid data overload: Focus on the 10 to 15 KPIs that truly drive performance instead of drowning in dashboards and vanity metrics.
- The real role of marketing agencies: Good agencies tie marketing spend directly to revenue and profitability instead of reporting on clicks and impressions.
- Advising today’s private equity investors:
Future-leading firms will use defined operational playbooks focused on digital execution from day one rather than relying on traditional financial levers.
- The compound effect of small steps:
Lee shares his philosophy for building an extraordinary life: take consistent action every day, even when the direction is unclear.
Recommended Resources:
Book: The Predator’s Ball by Connie Bruck
Podcast: Pivot and All-In
Connect with Lee McCabe:
 Find him on LinkedIn
Are you REady2Scale Your Multifamily Investments?
Learn more about growing your wealth, strengthening your portfolio, and scaling to the next level at www.bluelake-capital.com.
Credits
Producer: Blue Lake Capital
Strategist: Syed Mahmood
Editor: Emma Walker
Opening music: Pomplamoose
*𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘊𝘗𝘈, 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥/𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶.Play episode
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Building Smarter: How AI Is Changing Real Estate Lending
26 min 14 sec
Can AI Really Transform Real Estate Lending?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way industries operate, and real estate is no exception. In this episode, host Jeannette Friedrich speaks with TJ Burns, Partner at Xiidra Lending and Founder of Burns Capital Partners, about how AI is beginning to reshape fix and flip lending, underwriting, and investor relations. TJ shares his remarkable “wallet story,” and explains how his background as an engineer at Amazon has influenced his approach to building scalable, tech-driven lending systems.
Key Takeaways:
- The unexpected event that launched TJ Burns’ real estate career.
- How AI is beginning to shape the future of lending and underwriting.
- Why adoption of AI tools in real estate remains slower than expected.
- The advantages of short-term lending in a changing market.
- How to design a career and life that align with your personal goals.
Listeners will gain insight into both the opportunities and current limitations of applying AI to real estate, as well as practical advice for entrepreneurs navigating this evolving landscape.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to AI in Real Estate
00:21 Meet TJ Burns: From Amazon to Real Estate
00:56 The Wallet Story: A Serendipitous Start
04:06 Xiidra and the AI Voice Agent
07:20 Challenges and Future of AI in Lending
18:10 Lightning Round and Final Thoughts
Are you REady2Scale Your Multifamily Investments?
Learn more about growing your wealth, strengthening your portfolio, and scaling to the next level at www.bluelake-capital.com.
Credits
Producer: Blue Lake Capital
Strategist: Syed Mahmood
Editor: Emma Walker
Opening music: Pomplamoose
*𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘊𝘗𝘈, 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥/𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
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The Surprising Data Points Impacting Housing Affordability
48 min 43 sec
In this episode of Ready2Scale, we dive deep into housing affordability with Dr. Richard Green, an expert in real estate economics. We explore surprising data points influencing the housing market, including the significant impact of interest rates and changing marriage trends on home ownership. Dr. Green reveals how these elements intertwine to shape the current landscape of affordability, particularly for younger generations. We also discuss the role of data in informing housing policy and innovative solutions from international markets, like Singapore's unique approach to housing. Join me as we uncover the complexities of the housing market and discover how these insights can help investors navigate this critical sector. Tune in for an engaging and enlightening conversation that challenges conventional thinking.Play episode
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From $50M Loss to Recovery: Lessons for Today’s Investors
33 min 55 sec
What happens when the real estate market turns against you? In this episode, Jeanette Friedrich sits down with veteran investor Rod Khleif to talk about the hard truths of multifamily investing, the risks that can wipe out even experienced operators, and the mindset needed to recover from major setbacks. Drawing from Rod’s personal story of losing $50 million in 2008 and rebuilding his career, this discussion shines a light on what it really takes to succeed through cycles and why today’s challenges could set the stage for one of the biggest wealth transfer opportunities in real estate.
Key takeaways from this episode:
- Why multifamily faces extraordinary pressure with nearly $1 trillion in commercial debt maturing and rates still elevated
- The critical mistakes that led to Rod’s 2008 collapse and how investors can avoid repeating them
- How mindset, focus, and decisive action play a bigger role in recovery than strategy alone
- What “irrational exuberance” looks like in real estate cycles and how to recognise it
- Why distressed assets and market resets create generational opportunities for investors
- The importance of confidence in yourself versus confidence in the market
- Why long-term fundamentals still make real estate a proven wealth-building vehicle
Are you REady2Scale Your Multifamily Investments?
Learn more about growing your wealth, strengthening your portfolio, and scaling to the next level at www.bluelake-capital.com.
Credits
Producer: Blue Lake Capital
Strategist: Syed Mahmood
Editor: Emma Walker
Opening music: Pomplamoose
*𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘊𝘗𝘈, 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥/𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶.Play episode
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