Kevin Brenner, ADPI Hero, Capt, USAF / @investorkev

The Subtle Art...

If you haven’t already, log into Amazon and order a copy of Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. This is a mindset book.  It has absolutely nothing to do with real estate.  So why is it one of the most highly recommended books out there for aspiring entrepreneurs and real estate investors?  Simple - because like Robert Kiyosaki in Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Manson uses a counterintuitive approach to establish extreme self awareness in a society that misinterprets true extraordinary behavior with what was once considered by many to be normal.  It’s one of those reads that very abruptly brings you down to Earth and lets you know that you aren’t that special.  You aren’t any more or less special than anyone else reading this blog right now.

So why am I blathering on about all of this, you may be asking yourself? It’s this book, combined with...

Options in Multifamily Investing

There are a lot of good strategies that work well for military families. VA house-hacking is on the top of most people’s lists – and was on mine too. For some people, hacking into a few investments is enough; but many active duty members are driven with a big, burning “why” that leads them into bigger and better investments. [Feel free to comment with your “why” below] In my case, I went from house-hacking to 55-units in Spartanburg, SC, and will soon have many more. Along the way, I hope to highlight some of the benefits of multifamily investments.

House Hacking into a Portfolio

I hacked into my first investment property before house-hacking was even a thing. While I was a young devil dog stationed in Okinawa, I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I know, cliché, right? I figured it would be difficult to invest from Japan (I now realize this is a limiting belief), so we decided to wait until we were back CONUS....

Buying International Properties

You’ve probably been there before: Lying on a beach daydreaming about what it would be like if you stayed and never went home. Maybe during your last overseas duty station you’ve walked through an old Italian village wishing you could live forever surrounded by olive groves under the Tuscan sun or you’ve stopped at the local brewery, dressed in your Oktoberfest finest, and dreamt of simply buying the apartment next door and making this your forever spot. Or, instead of living there yourself, you’ve contemplated dipping your toes into the international real estate market to diversify your investment portfolio. How different can real estate be in another country right?

No matter the reason, if your dream is to one day own an overseas beach house or Tuscan villa (or any other international property), these five considerations will help you come to the international market prepared.

• Explore the...

Carpe-ing the Diem

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” 
― Eleanor Roosevelt

I was sitting in the Engineering Control Center (Maneuvering) underwater onboard my submarine the USS Albany (SSN-753) when one of my sailors walked in. Maneuvering, while underway, is usually a boring place with little to do but stare at screens or dials that barely move. Time is spent talking about cars or women or, more often than not, video games. Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is also a popular game.

As a result, when the sailor walks in and tells us his story, we are all ears. He had recently checked his email (yes, we do get email underwater and sometimes even Facebook) and had received a message from his wife talking about their lives back on shore and providing updates on his 3-month-old baby. He paused in his story and I caught a glimpse of a tear in his eye....

I want to bust some myths about investing in a mobile home park!

 Misconceptions:

Control or Speed on the Path to Financial Freedom

As a real estate investor who is just getting started, it’s easy to be consumed by the idea of financial freedom.

The first deal you do is absolutely terrifying. The whole process is filled with fear, doubt, and anxiety. But, once you get proof of concept and start to receive the almighty cash flow all of that begins to subside.

Those emotions never disappear, they are always lapping against the shore of our mind like a gentle wave even in the best of times. Eventually, you will do whatever it takes to get that next deal under contract. There is a definitive psychological as well as physiological response from closing that deal and getting closer to the goals that you have set.  

Curating your life Path

Most people begin the journey for financial independence for the right reasons. They want to take back control of their time and experience life to the fullest with those they hold most dear....

5 Keys to Raising Private Capital

Kevin Brenner, ADPI Hero, Capt, USAF / @investorkev

The Dadism That Got Me Off My Butt

Everyone loves a blog to begin with the phrase, “My Daddy used to say, [insert cheesy life advice tagline here].” Well, strap in everyone, because this next cheesy tagline could be the anecdote that motivates you to get off the couch and into the real estate game.

My Daddy, a fantastic entrepreneur and business owner, used to (and still does) say, “You can hope in one hand and piss in the other, guess which one you’re going to have more of.” Before you run off to the lab to experimentally prove this Dadism (I don’t recommend it, but if you must, wear latex gloves), hear me out.  What I mean is that at some point in your investing career, whether you a newbie, or an experienced commercial real estate investor, you will hit a plateau.  For a lot of Buy and Hold investors out there, this plateau...

Welcome to the ADPI Saves One Life Blog Series

As part of our commitment to reaching veterans facing PTSD and addiction issues, we are hosting a blog series for vets during and after treatment to share their stories. Our hope is that these stories will help veterans express themselves in a therapeutic way, connect veterans within the community with others who are or have walked through the same experiences, and reach the greater public in a truthful and meaningful way.

Many of these stories will be anonymous. Many of these stories will be intense. They are truthful, they are gritty, and they are hard. They are a real reflection of life as an American soldier, for better or for worse. They are also a beacon of hope and a call to reach out to your fellow humans and create community. If you would like to contribute or connect please feel free to reach out to ADPI Helps HERE.  

We also support the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Join us!

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How To BRRRR Your Way to Financial Freedom

by Kevin Brenner, Capt, USAF

Bro, Do You Even BRRRR?

By now I’m sure most of you have heard the term BRRRR which stands for Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat.  Famously coined by BiggerPockets’ Brandon Turner a few years back, the strategy itself has been around forever.  Remember, buy low and sell high. It’s kind of like that, except in this case, the end buyer is actually the bank.  

Investors from all walks of life love to BRRRR because it offers a lot of flexibility, as opposed to standard fix and flip or buy and hold deals, and a significant marketplace competitive advantage (more on this in another blog).   Like most real estate investing (REI) strategies, a profitable BRRRR hinges on the After Repair Value (ARV) and your Estimated Rehab Costs (ERC). If you can master evaluating these figures, then you are one step ahead of your competition and well on your way to some solid...