PassivePockets: The Passive Real Estate Investing Show

Epizode

• Both Sides of the Table: Paul Shannon’s Complete LP Playbook 30.06.2026 40min

  Get Paul Shannon's Book, Both Sides of the Table: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4W5D288?spcref=PUBLISHED_PREORDER_LIVE This Episode Paul returns to PassivePockets to discuss his new book, Both Sides of the Table, and the lessons he has learned as an LP, fund manager, and GP. He and Chris unpack the difference between being a “syndication consumer” and a true capital allocator, including why newer investors often get pulled in by polished decks, urgency-driven marketing, and projected IRRs without fully understanding the downside. Paul explains how he evaluates market cycles, why timing still matters even if you can’t perfectly call the bottom, and how he thinks about toggling between aggressive and defensive portfolio positioning. The conversation also gets into sponsor character, fraud risk, debt structure, and the hard lessons that come from deals where communication breaks down or capital is misused. Chris and Paul also dig into practical due diligence: what can disqualify a deal in the first five minutes, why metrics like yield on cost and IRR partitioning matter more than flashy projected returns, and why the debt stack can make or break an otherwise strong-looking deal. For LPs who want to get more serious about passive investing, this episode is a reminder that the default answer should be “no” until the deal, sponsor, structure, and market all earn your confidence. Key takeaways: How Paul’s experience as an LP, GP, and fund manager shaped Both Sides of the Table Why passive investors need to shift from consumer behavior to allocator behavior How market cycles influence when to lean in, pull back, or hold more cash What fraud, poor communication, and weak sponsor character can teach LPs Why debt structure, yield on cost, and downside protection matter more than projected IRR How Paul filters deals quickly and decides which ones deserve deeper diligence Join a community of passive investors. Start your FREE 7-day trial: https://passivepockets.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Listen to the PassivePockets Podcast Anywhere: https://lnk.to/passivepockets Subscribe to the Passive Investing Newsletter: https://www.biggerpockets.com/email-subscribe?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=none Join BiggerPockets for free: https://www.biggerpockets.com/signup?utm_source=owned_media Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Christine Kwasny’s Risk Radar: A Framework for Smarter LP Deal Reviews 23.06.2026 44min

  Risk Radar: https://netzeroisawin.substack.com/p/introducing-the-risk-radar?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share In this episode, Chris Lopez welcomes Christine Kwasny back to the show to break down the Risk Radar, a visual due diligence tool she built to help LP investors better understand where risk shows up in a private real estate deal. The tool grew out of Christine’s Substack, Net Zero Is a Win, where she publishes retrospective deal analyses on what went right, what went wrong, and what investors may have been able to identify in the original offering materials. Christine walks through the Risk Radar’s three major categories: what is fixed at closing, what is sponsor driven, and what is market driven. Chris and Christine discuss how LPs can evaluate GP team history, “cockroach” risks, going-in cap rates, debt terms, reserves, expense assumptions, capital stack structure, waterfalls, exit cap rates, supply and demand, rent growth, absorption, and vacancy. They also explore why retrospective analysis is one of the best ways to test whether risk was visible up front, why market timing can dominate long-term outcomes, and how tools like AI may help investors gather better data without outsourcing their own judgment. Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Central Lending Fund Review: Fix-and-Flip Debt, Monthly Cash Flow, and Risk Controls 16.06.2026 1h 3min

  In this LP Deal Review, Chris Lopez is joined by Adam Cranmer and Christy Burakovsky to evaluate CL Fund III from Central Lending, a private credit fund focused on short-term residential real estate loans for fix-and-flip, ground-up construction, and small-balance investor projects. Andrew Boccia and Heather Dreves walk through Central Lending’s lending model, portfolio composition, underwriting process, use of leverage, investor share classes, and how the fund sits between traditional fixed-income strategies and higher-upside real estate syndications. The conversation gets into why Central Lending focuses on smaller loan sizes, how it uses third-party valuations, what it tracks across borrower experience and credit quality, and why fraud detection has become a major part of private credit underwriting. The LP panel then digs into the questions passive investors should be asking before investing in a debt fund: how loans are valued, what happens when a borrower defaults, how draw management can reveal problems before maturity, whether loan tapes and audited financials are available, how leverage impacts returns and risk, and what investors should understand about redemptions. For LPs evaluating private credit, this episode offers a practical look at what sits behind headline yield: underwriting discipline, loan-level monitoring, loss mitigation, liquidity management, and alignment between the fund manager and investors. Key Takeaways How Central Lending underwrites private credit deals across current cost, collateral value, final cost, and after-repair value Why borrower experience, draw activity, and communication can be early indicators of loan performance How the fund uses third-party valuations, internal QC, and fraud detection to manage risk across multiple states The difference between equity members and note holders, including return structure, payout timing, and priority in the waterfall How origination fees, extension fees, leverage, and loan sales can contribute to fund-level returns Why redemption policies matter in debt funds and how managers balance investor liquidity with protecting the fund as a whole Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Community Roundtable: Treasuries vs Debt Funds, Office “Bargains,” and How to Deploy Cash Now 09.06.2026 37min

  In this Community Roundtable, Chris Lopez sits down with PassivePockets members Pascal Wagner, Adam Cranmer, and Christy Burakovsky for a candid investor-to-investor conversation on how they’re allocating capital right now and what would make them change course. Pascal frames the dilemma many LPs are feeling: with risk-free rates near 5% and major macro signals flashing red (record debt loads, expensive public markets, and uncertainty around where rates settle), does it still make sense to allocate to interest-rate-sensitive commercial real estate? He shares how he’s thinking about portfolio construction with fresh liquidity and why he’s prioritizing stable income and downside protection before chasing upside. Adam and Christy offer counterweights: where fear can create opportunity, why liquidity matters, and how they’re approaching “safer” yield today (short-duration debt funds, notes, treasuries) while keeping dry powder for dislocated assets. The conversation also explores where each of them sees asymmetric opportunity: distressed commercial, non-performing loan strategies, medical office, assisted living tailwinds, and long-term fixed-rate debt structures that avoid the five-to-seven-year refinance trap. Key Takeaways Why some LPs are pausing syndication allocations and leaning into cash/T-bills and what would change their mind The “income-first” portfolio approach: build stable cash flow, then take higher-upside bets Where investors are hunting opportunity: distress, NPLs, office dislocation, medical office, and long-term fixed-rate debt plays Why HUD-style long-term amortizing debt can change the risk profile of a deal dramatically Mezz vs. leveraged first-lien funds: the real differentiator is control of the underlying collateral The underrated skill in 2026: staying liquid enough to act when the “no-brainer” window opens Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Capital Call Case Studies: Fund It or Walk Away? 02.06.2026 20min

  Unplanned capital calls are one of the most stressful moments in passive investing, and Chris breaks down exactly how he thinks through the decision to fund or walk away. In this solo episode, Chris shares two real examples from his own portfolio. First: a “diversified fund-of-funds” that raised $10.6M and deployed across 11 deals. After multiple capital calls tied to the same sponsor (including hurricane-related shortfalls and interest reserves), the fund ultimately saw several investments wipe out entirely and Chris explains why he chose not to participate in the follow-on capital call. Second: a single-asset 127-unit value-add multifamily deal acquired in late 2022. After distributions paused due to operational issues (including a major elevator problem and a commercial tenant failure), the sponsor presented a detailed, investor-aligned plan: fee reductions, sponsor loan subordination, and a clear path to stabilization and Chris decided to fund this one. The key framework he keeps coming back to: Will this capital call actually fix the problem? Chris shares the decision criteria, tradeoffs, and how he evaluates whether additional money is “good capital after bad” or a rational bridge to protect long-term equity. Key Takeaways The most important capital call question: Will it fix the problem or just delay the inevitable? How Chris evaluates sponsor behavior, transparency, and alignment before funding anything Why “where the capital call is coming from” matters (reserves, GP bridge loans, or robbing one tranche to fund another) The difference between capital calls tied to systemic issues versus solvable operational problems Real numbers and outcomes from both scenarios, including what happened when capital calls did not stabilize the underlying assets Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• How Operators Win When Rent Growth Stalls: Gary Lipski's Playbook 26.05.2026 33min

  This Episode Gary Lipsky joins the show for a real operator’s view of what it’s actually like to run B-class multifamily in Tucson right now; flat-to-negative rent growth, higher concessions, elevated delinquency, and the daily “whack-a-mole” of competing comps dropping rents to protect occupancy. Chris and Gary unpack how the Tucson market is absorbing new supply, what demand drivers still matter (job diversity, cost of living, defense/healthcare tailwinds), and where operational wins are being found when traditional rent growth isn’t available, renewal strategy, new income lines, and keeping property teams motivated when KPIs are harder to hit. Gary also breaks down a recent 300-unit acquisition: why the basis made sense, how the business plan leans more “operational optimization” than heavy renovation, and how the capital stack was structured in today’s rate environment (CMBS debt, paid-down rate, plus a pref layer). They close with a practical discussion on AI; where it’s already improving leasing and collections workflows, what tenant application fraud looks like today, and why Gary sees tech as a tool to sharpen operations rather than an existential threat to housing demand. Key Takeaways What Tucson’s multifamily “pain cycle” looks like on the ground: rent softness, concessions, delinquency, and occupancy pressure Why renewals matter more than ever and how operators are finding NOI growth through small, repeatable income levers Inside a recent 300-unit Tucson deal: location thesis, light value-add plan, and addressing aging systems (pipes/boilers) cost-effectively How rate volatility impacts execution: CMBS structure, buying down the rate, and layering pref to make the cash flow work How operators are using AI today (leasing, renewals, collections) and the emerging tenant fraud problem in applications Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Is Multifamily Bottoming? 3 Signals to Watch + Tax Moves (Dwight Dunton) 19.05.2026 38min

  This Episode Chris sits down with Dwight Dunton, Founder of Bonaventure (launched in 1999), to talk market cycles, risk resilience, and the real-world tax playbook that helps active landlords transition into passive investing without writing a giant check to the IRS on the way out. Dwight shares the origin story: how a family “mailbox money” apartment investment turned into Bonaventure, and how a 25-year-old with no formal real estate background convinced Fannie Mae to finance a $16M buyout and kickstart a vertically integrated multifamily platform. Today, Bonaventure manages roughly $3B in assets, focused entirely on multifamily (with a meaningful senior housing sleeve). Dwight breaks down we he refuses to anchor to a single market forecast, how Bonaventure evaluates “lift-off” in overheated Sunbelt markets, and why B/C assets in strong submarkets can outperform when rent growth is muted because you can create NOI instead of waiting for the market to hand it to you. If you’re sitting on a low-basis portfolio and want to go more passive without detonating your tax bill, this one is packed with frameworks and decision points. Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Post-Summit Pulse Check: How Our Thesis Changed + What We’re Buying Next 12.05.2026 40min

  This Episode The Pulse Check is back with the full crew. Chris Lopez, Jim Pfeifer, and Paul Shannon reconvene just days after the PassivePockets Summit to unpack what they learned, how their theses got challenged (sometimes in real time), and what they’re actually doing with their portfolios right now. They talk through why this conference hits differently: top-tier speakers in a small room where you can actually have real conversations and how those competing viewpoints are the whole point. From “sit in treasuries” caution to “this is the window to buy” optimism, the trio break down how to filter the noise, lean into uncertainty, and keep operator quality at the top of the decision stack. On the portfolio side: Jim shares his first two allocations of the year including a private credit interval fund and AAA Storage via the Open Tribe structure, while Paul discusses a new private money note, an industrial sidecar he’s watching, and a recent multifamily exit. Chris recaps a strong Q1 for “green shoots” across his equity positions (sales, contracts, and a complicated Denver lakefront development that’s finally moving toward resolution), plus why he’s still dollar-cost averaging into real estate even when headlines shift fast. They close with one of the most tactical takeaways from the Summit: how LPs are using AI to speed up diligence and catch inconsistencies across pitch decks, PPMs, and operating agreements and why that should raise the bar for sponsors going forward. Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Debt Fund Due Diligence: The “People, Process, Protections” Framework (Whitney Elkins-Hutten) 05.05.2026 38min

  Debt funds are having a moment but most LPs still don’t have a clean framework for where private credit fits inside a real estate portfolio, or how to diligence a fund beyond “it’s first lien” and a headline return. In this episode, Chris Lopez sits down with Whitney Elkins-Hutten to break down a simple (but powerful) portfolio exercise Whitney built for herself: categorize every asset by risk and liquidity, then work backward from a real cashflow target to build an “income sleeve” that can hold up when equity cashflow gets compressed. Whitney explains why she doesn’t start with percentages, how she thinks about taxable vs. retirement capital for early retirement timelines, and how she reinvests income to steadily grow both the debt and equity sides of the portfolio. Then they go deep on debt fund due diligence, Whitney’s “four-part” risk lens (capital position, asset type, development phase, and legal structure) and the three buckets she uses to evaluate a fund once you’re past the basics: People, Processes, and Protections. They also cover practical verification steps LPs can take (without needing a social security number), what she wants to see in reporting, when a missing loan tape is or isn’t a dealbreaker, how to think about third-party reviews vs. audited financials, and why leverage inside a debt fund can quietly flip your real position in the stack. Key Takeaways A portfolio exercise for building an “income sleeve” and working backward from your cashflow number (not arbitrary percentages) How to think about liquidity and reserves as your “oxygen mask” before chasing returns Debt fund risk framework: capital position + asset type + development phase + legal structure Debt DD simplified: underwriting the People, the Processes, and the Protections What Whitney wants to see in monitoring: monthly payments, draw cadence, early warning signals, and workout plans Loan tape reality: why some operators won’t share it, what they should provide instead, and when third-party verification matters most Leverage in debt funds: why a warehouse line can be fine at low levels and why high leverage can make you “behind the bank” Fraud and “messy middle” risks: cross-collateralization, self-dealing permissions, and what to confirm in the PPM How to validate third-party financials: trust-but-verify steps (including confirming directly with the auditor) Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on in
• Operators vs Allocators: A Cash-Flow Blueprint for CRE with Daniel Trevino 28.04.2026 38min

  Connect with Altruis Capital Partners: https://reports.alturascapitalpartners.com/quarterly-reports/2025-q4  https://alturascapital.com/  This Episode Alturas Capital Partners has built a vertically integrated platform across the Intermountain West—and in this episode, Chris Lopez sits down with Daniel Trevino (Director of Investor Relations) to unpack what that “operators first” philosophy looks like in practice. Daniel explains why Alturas focuses on markets they know firsthand (including Colorado), how they think about creating alpha through hands-on execution, and why the firm chose an evergreen fund structure designed for long-term compounding instead of a traditional closed-end raise. The conversation also dives into why Alturas leaned into “neighborhood” and experiential retail when the asset class was out of favor, how that thesis has evolved, and what they’re seeing today across office, retail, and other commercial segments. Chris presses on the core LP questions: how diversification works inside a multi-asset evergreen vehicle, how Alturas thinks about underwriting spreads in today’s rate environment, why location quality matters even more in office, and what a “poor performer” taught them about risk management. Daniel closes with where Alturas sees opportunity building over the next cycle—and why the right basis (and the right market) still matters most. Key Takeaways What “operators first” means and why Alturas verticalized acquisitions, management, leasing, and maintenance How Alturas defines the Intermountain West—and why local market knowledge is central to their strategy Why they built an evergreen vehicle for flexibility through cycles (buy when it’s right, sell when it’s frothy) The retail thesis: “experiential” and neighborhood retail vs. the parts of retail most exposed to e-commerce How Alturas approaches multi-asset diversification without losing operational discipline—and what skill sets translate across retail/industrial/flex/office A real example of a struggling office asset and the key lesson: location quality can make or break execution What they’re watching next: office supply dynamics, underbuilding, and where basis-driven opportunity may emerge Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• How to Get Better Deal Terms with SPVs | AAA Storage 21.04.2026 1h 9min

  PassivePockets members have asked for two things over and over: better terms and access to more deal options without writing huge checks. In this special webinar, Chris Lopez breaks down how “community capital” can do exactly that—by pooling investor commitments into an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) to unlock lower minimums, stronger economics, and cleaner access to sponsor funds. Chris is joined by Travis Smith (Founder & CEO of TribeVest) and Paul Bennett (President of AAA Storage). Travis explains what SPVs are, how Open Tribes work, and why modern tech has dramatically reduced the cost and complexity of running these structures compared to the “old school” SPV process. Then Paul walks through a real-world example: a PassivePockets Open Tribe built around AAA Storage Growth Fund II, complete with improved fee and waterfall terms for the community, plus a lower minimum that makes the fund accessible to more accredited investors. You’ll also get a practical, investor-focused overview of AAA’s strategy: a ground-up development portfolio spanning self-storage and small-bay industrial across four growth markets (Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Charlotte), why Paul believes self-storage is bottoming and setting up for a supply/demand tailwind into 2027–2031, and how AAA structures its fund to avoid land entitlement risk and eliminate additional capital calls. Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• How Aspen Funds Is Winning Industrial | Deal Review 14.04.2026 1h 6min

  Link to Deal: https://passivepockets.com/directory/deals/aspen-industrial-growth-fund/ This Episode Aspen Funds’ Ben Fraser and Ellis Hammond return to PassivePockets for an exclusive LP Deal Review on their Industrial Growth Fund—an industrial land + development strategy concentrated in Kansas City’s “Golden Triangle” submarket. Chris, along with LP panelists Pascal Wagner and Christy Burakovsky, breaks down the thesis behind the fund: why Kansas City is positioned as a major industrial “supernode,” how onshoring and supply chain reshoring supports long-term demand, and why Aspen is focusing on smaller-bay industrial where vacancy has remained structurally tight. The discussion digs into how value is created before a building ever goes vertical, buying raw land, pushing it through entitlements, securing meaningful tax abatements, and turning it into shovel-ready inventory in a supply-constrained corridor. From there, Aspen has multiple paths to realize gains: sell parcels to owner-users and developers at a premium, develop spec/build-to-suit projects themselves, and/or structure JV partnerships where the fund contributes land into projects. The LP panel also pushes hard on the questions that matter to passive investors: how timelines and exits actually work in a multi-asset land fund, what “lumpy” distributions look like vs steady yield, how the cumulative preferred return accrues, and what happens if market conditions delay sales. Finally, Aspen outlines special PassivePockets terms, lower minimums and improved economics if the community hits a group investment threshold. Key Takeaways Why Aspen is concentrating in Kansas City’s “Golden Triangle” and what makes the submarket supply-constrained How industrial tailwinds (onshoring/reshoring + logistics corridors) support long-term demand in KC The value creation stack: raw land → entitlements/tax abatements → shovel-ready uplift → land sales and/or vertical development Fund cash flow realities: event-driven distributions (land sales/refis/sales), not consistent monthly income PassivePockets community terms: lower minimum and improved pref/split if the group minimum is reached, plus a cumulative preferred return structure Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Michael Episcope’s Investing Playbook: Cycles, Credit, and Multifamily 07.04.2026 37min

  This Episode Michael returns to the show after a standout LP Deal Review Q&A, and Chris digs into the full backstory: how Michael went from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange—trading interest rate derivatives bell-to-bell—to building Origin Investments into a multifamily-focused platform built around downside protection and long-term compounding. They unpack how Michael thinks about “edge” as markets became more efficient, why risk management lives at both the deal level and the company level, and what LPs should pay attention to when evaluating a manager’s balance sheet and decision-making under pressure. The conversation also gets tactical on portfolio construction in today’s environment—why Michael believes credit is being “overcompensated” relative to equity, how Origin evolved from value-add to a build/buy/lend approach, and how cycle awareness influences where (and how) he’s willing to deploy capital. Chris also asks how current macro uncertainty impacts underwriting and positioning right now, and Michael closes with a set of simple, but hard-earned, LP principles: build a written plan, stay disciplined, keep liquidity, and remember that small performance deltas compound into life-changing outcomes over time. Key Takeaways Michael’s path from commodities/derivatives trading to launching Origin and why 2007-2009 was a formative real estate “training ground” How to think about “edge” in modern real estate when information is ubiquitous and why small advantages still matter Risk management at two levels: deal structure (leverage, markets, people) and firm structure (bench strength, balance sheet support) Why Michael would overweight credit today and keep equity exposure selective and how that creates flexibility to rebalance LP discipline lessons: write your strategy down, don’t fear saying “no,” protect liquidity, and let compounding do the heavy lifting Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Multifamily 2026 Pulse Check: Supply, Distress, and Where We’re Investing 31.03.2026 54min

  Chris Lopez is back with Paul Shannon for this month’s PassivePockets Pulse Check, catching up on why Paul stepped back from co-hosting, what he’s focused on now, and what both of them are actually doing with their own portfolios. They get into the real-life tradeoffs that don’t show up in an OM: liquidity vs. deployment, concentration risk vs. investing where you have an edge, and why relationships with operators matter more than ever coming out of the last cycle. From there, Paul drops a data-heavy market update across multifamily and beyond- where supply is still pressuring rents, which markets are already seeing rent growth again, and how the maturity wall is forcing distressed (and motivated) sellers into the market. Chris shares what he’s seeing in Denver and the Midwest, why he’s leaning toward cash flow and debt for diversification, and how both of them are thinking about positioning for the next 12–24 months without trying to “time” real estate. They wrap with a quick preview of the 2026 PassivePockets Summit in Denver (April 30–May 2), why the event is built for LPs, and what they’re most excited for- from the small, high-quality attendee base to hands-on learning opportunities like the hotel-to-multifamily conversion property tour. Key Takeaways Why Paul stepped back from co-hosting and what he’s prioritizing in business and family life right now Liquidity as a strategy: when “good deals” still aren’t the right move because cash matters Multifamily’s bifurcated market: rent growth winners vs. laggards, and why national headlines can mislead The maturity wall and distress: what refinances look like in a 6–7% rate world and what LPs should ask sponsors Summit preview: LP-focused networking, sponsor access, and the Denver hotel-to-multifamily conversion tour Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Hotel-to-Multifamily Conversions 101 with Alex Cartwright 24.03.2026 42min

  Hotel-to-multifamily conversions are one of the most interesting “free market” solutions to the affordable housing crunch, and Alex Cartwright is building his entire business around that niche. In this episode, Chris sits down with Alex to break down how (and when) these conversions actually pencil and why the opportunity exists in the gap between hotel cap rates and multifamily cap rates. They also talk about a real-time example: Alex has a conversion project happening about 15 minutes from the hotel where the 2026 PassivePockets Summit will be held in Denver. Alex will be at the Summit, and attendees will have the chance to tour the project and see what a conversion looks like up close (including what changes once you stop calling them “rooms” and start calling them “units”). Alex shares the full playbook: what types of hotels make sense, typical basis per “door,” what drives renovation costs (spoiler: electrical), how long zoning and entitlement really takes, how these deals get financed (including CPACE), what the refinance timeline looks like, and the biggest risks LPs should underwrite before wiring a dollar. Key Takeaways Why hotel-to-multifamily is a financial arbitrage as much as a physical conversion (hotel cap rates vs. multifamily cap rates) What makes office-to-multifamily so hard, and why hotels are often a better conversion candidate Typical acquisition basis and capex ranges (and why “adding kitchens” is the expensive part) The real timeline: 120–180 day DD/entitlement windows, construction sequencing, and refi timing (often 18–30 months) Downside risk and mitigation: managing cashflow during construction, experienced construction teams, and conservative terminal cap rates Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Boots-on-the-Ground Due Diligence with Adam Cranmer 17.03.2026 30min

  Track Record Assets Deal Page: https://passivepockets.com/directory/deals/morgan-bay-apartments/ A few weeks after an LP Deal Review with Track Record Assets, PassivePockets member Adam Cranmer realized he’d be in Houston, just minutes from the actual property. So he did what most LPs wish they could do: boots-on-the-ground due diligence, in-person operator time, and a full “does this actually feel real?” check. Adam walks through the deal at a high level (268-unit Class C value-add in north Houston acquired from a distressed seller, not a distressed property), then shares what he saw on-site and what he learned over lunch with the team—especially the operator’s “secret sauce” for stabilizing workforce housing. Most importantly, Adam breaks down the one major concern that still gave him pause (exit assumptions / value growth) and why, after ~20 hours of diligence, he ultimately decided to invest anyway—jockey-first, with a clear-eyed view of the risks and the fallback plan. Key Takeaways What “value-add” actually looks like on-site (and why this one felt real vs. cosmetic) How Adam pressure-tested rent comps and the plan after touring the area The operator edge: creating a tenant “flywheel” that improves safety, collections, and retention The biggest risk flag: exit price assumptions and how the debt structure reduces downside Why Adam invested anyway, even with diversification concerns in Houston Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk, so use your best judgment and consult with qualified advisors before investing. You should only risk capital you can afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may contain paid advertisements or other promotional materials for real estate investment advisers, investment funds, and investment opportunities, which should not be interpreted as a recommendation, endorsement, or testimonial by PassivePockets, LLC or any of its affiliates. Viewers must conduct their own due diligence and consider their own financial situations before engaging with any advertised offerings, products, or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising out of reliance on information and advertisements presented in this podcast.
• Scott Trench's 2026 Office Thesis with J Scott & Ash Patel 10.03.2026 56min

  Scott Trench brings a contrarian 2026 office thesis to the table, starting with the idea first, then stress-testing it with three expert investors: Ash Patel, J Scott, and host Chris Lopez. The group debates where office is truly mispriced, what “trophy” means post-COVID, and why “downtown vs. suburbs” might be the wrong framing without understanding tenant demand, floor plates, and lease-up realities. They dig into the mechanics of making office work (cash-flowing vs. vacant assets, tenant improvements, buildouts, leasing risk, and financing constraints), plus the biggest wild cards shaping demand going forward, from work-from-home to AI to local policy and migration trends. Ash also shares a real-world case study on buying fragmented suburban office at a deep discount and selling it off in smaller pieces. By the end, Scott refines his thesis from a binary bet into a spectrum: office may be a compelling buy if you’re surgical on asset selection, capitalization, and operator expertise and realistic about how long the grind to stabilization can take. Key Takeaways Downtown vs. suburban office: why pricing, tenant demand, and commute behavior can lead to very different risk profiles What actually wins in office now: smaller suites, turnkey space, parking, “soul”/amenities, and flexible layouts vs. big single-tenant floorplates Capital stack reality: why office financing is still tough, and why many plays require low leverage (or all-cash) plus significant TI reserves Operator selection: how to vet office sponsors when COVID disrupted track records—and why experience managing office matters more than ever One actionable strategy: buying multi-building suburban office portfolios at a discount and selling off smaller buildings to owner-users (with SBA tailwinds) Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk. Nothing here is investment, tax, legal, or financial advice; consult qualified professionals. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may include paid advertisements or promotional materials and should not be interpreted as a recommendation or endorsement by PassivePockets, LLC or affiliates. Conduct your own due diligence and consider your financial situation before engaging with any offering discussed. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for any actions taken based on the information presented.
• LP Deal Review: Origin Investments Select Asset Fund | Michael Episcope 03.03.2026 46min

  In this LP Deal Review, Chris Lopez and LP panelist Christy Burakovsky sit down with Michael Episcope, Co-CEO of Origin Investments, for a deep dive into Origin’s Select Asset Fund—an intentionally small, vintage-based multifamily development fund built to deploy in 2026. Michael walks through the macro thesis (supply peaking, concessions stabilizing, and starts slowing), the fund’s structure (targeting five shovel-ready ground-up deals, four-year duration, and an option to continue holding for long-term compounding), and the underwriting guardrails designed to protect downside in a still-volatile environment. The panel then presses into the details that matter most to LPs: entitlement risk, leverage and loan structure, how Origin avoids “rescue capital,” how the 2021 vintage fund is performing today, and how Origin’s co-invest program works—including potential pathways for group allocations and better terms. Key Takeaways Fund design: $100M, focused on 2026 ground-up multifamily development with a four-year duration and optional continuation for long-term hold Risk mitigation: shovel-ready entitlements, conservative leverage (~65% LTC), and a structure aimed at avoiding cross-collateralization and hidden fund-level risk Co-invest mechanics: $500K+ fund minimum with 1:1 co-invest eligibility (no fee/no carry), and discussion of potential pooled/group pathways Vintage reality check: how Origin’s 2021 development fund is performing today (single digits) and what that implies about underwriting discipline in tough vintages Sourcing + operations: Origin’s multi-office footprint, repeat development partners, and a highly active asset management playbook to drive performance post-delivery Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk. Nothing here is investment, tax, legal, or financial advice; consult qualified professionals. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may include paid advertisements or promotional materials and should not be interpreted as a recommendation or endorsement by PassivePockets, LLC or affiliates. Conduct your own due diligence and consider your financial situation before engaging with any offering discussed. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for any actions taken based on the information presented.
• Market’s “Rolling Recession”: 18-Year Cycle 2026 Update | Logan Freeman 24.02.2026 37min

  Logan Freeman is back for his 2026 update on the 18.6-year real estate cycle: breaking down where he believes we are right now (still in the “Winner’s Curse,” but with a messy, sector-by-sector twist) and what signals he’s watching to spot a true shift into contraction. We dig into the big contradictions investors are feeling: transaction volumes and pricing stabilization on one hand, and real pain in certain sectors (office distress, Sunbelt multifamily oversupply, looming debt maturities) on the other. Logan’s take: we’re in a “rolling recession by sector,” where top-quartile assets and defensive niches can behave like late expansion while over-levered commodity assets behave like early contraction. Finally, Logan shares how he’s positioning his own capital, why he’s focused on small-bay industrial with yard space, industrial outdoor storage economics, and the land/power/infrastructure race behind data centers, plus his predictions for 2026 transaction volume, rates, and pricing heading into 2027. Key Takeaways The 18.6-year cycle refresher: recovery → expansion → Winner’s Curse → contraction, and why psychology + credit matter Why 2025–early 2026 looks “bifurcated”: office vs. medical office, Sunbelt multifamily vs. Midwest stability, and defensive sectors The debt maturity wave (2024–2027) as the forcing mechanism that can create both distress and opportunity What Logan watches now: 10-year Treasury trend, CMBS spread tightening, distress volume, office vacancy, and multifamily rent growth Where he’s investing: small-bay industrial + yard space, iOS tailwinds, and the land/power path to data center development Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk. Nothing here is investment, tax, legal, or financial advice; consult qualified professionals. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may include paid advertisements or promotional materials for sponsors, funds, or offerings and should not be interpreted as a recommendation or endorsement by PassivePockets, LLC or affiliates. Conduct your own due diligence and consider your financial situation before engaging with any advertised products or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for any actions taken based on the information presented.
• The “Market Metronome” for Deal Stress Tests | Christine Kwasny 17.02.2026 37min

  Today’s show is part of our Community Spotlight Series, where we feature PassivePockets members who share hard-won lessons to help other LPs invest smarter. Christine Kwasny joins Chris Lopez to walk through a detailed retrospective on her syndication portfolio, what she thought she was buying, what actually happened, and what she’ll do differently going forward. Christine started investing actively in 2008, building a Portland-area rental portfolio (single-family renovations that eventually grew into fourplexes). After moving abroad in 2013, she shifted into syndications in 2019–2020 but like many investors, she later found that several 2021–2022 vintage deals didn’t play out the way pro formas suggested, which triggered a deep review of her entire process. In this conversation, Christine breaks down the biggest errors she sees investors make (including “set it and forget it”), how distributions can mask problems, how LPs can quietly fall down the capital stack, and how she used AI to analyze years of offering materials and quarterly reports across 30+ investments. She also shares her “Market Metronome” framework, a simple way to sanity-check underwriting assumptions against real historical ranges and market cycles. Key Takeaways “Passive is a tax and legal term, not a verb”: why syndications often require more scrutiny than owning your own rentals How distributions and quarterly reports can create false confidence—and what to look for in the core updates Capital stack drift: how mezz/preferred equity can change your risk even without a capital call Using AI to accelerate due diligence: summarizing OMs, tracking quarter-by-quarter changes, and stress-testing assumptions The “Market Metronome”: a practical way to pressure-test pro formas against historic highs/lows and cycle reality Connect with Christine: Substack: https://netzeroisawin.substack.com/ Email: ckwasny@gmail.com Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. All host and participant opinions are their own. Investment in any asset, real estate included, involves risk. Nothing here is investment, tax, legal, or financial advice; consult qualified professionals. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This podcast may include paid advertisements or promotional materials for sponsors, funds, or offerings and should not be interpreted as a recommendation or endorsement by PassivePockets, LLC or affiliates. Conduct your own due diligence and consider your financial situation before engaging with any advertised products or services. PassivePockets, LLC disclaims all liability for any actions taken based on the information presented.