Wonton Wealth: Insights into Commercial Real Estate Investing & Beyond

Dwan Twyford shares her inspiring journey from financial hardship to real estate success, including her innovative town revitalization project and tips for new investors in distressed properties.Key TopicsDwan’s background and early strugglesThe first foreclosure deal and lessons learnedBuilding a town from scratch through real estateStrategies for attracting tenants and visitors to small townsThe importance of mentorship and education in real estateLong-term vision and community involvement in revitalizationHandling challenges like politics and fundingDwan’s books, webinars, and coaching programsTakeawaysNaivete can be an asset in taking bold action.Paperwork and legal clarity are crucial in real estate deals.Building community and a clear vision attracts tenants and visitors.Long-term planning and patience are key in town revitalization.Mentorship accelerates learning and reduces costly mistakes.Chapters00:00 Introduction and guest background02:04 Early struggles and decision to pursue real estate04:11 First rehab house and initial lessons06:07 Success with first deals and scaling up07:40 Discovering wholesaling, rentals, and town projects09:04 Challenges of being a single mom and entrepreneur10:56 Key lessons from first foreclosure deal12:43 Trust and honesty in real estate transactions14:09 Starting from scratch today: advice for new investors17:52 Revitalizing a small town: the backstory20:11 Building community and attracting visitors27:44 Long-term vision and project timeline37:53 Impact of personal challenges on the project43:34 Dwan’s current projects, books, and coaching45:05 How to connect with Dwan TwyfordDwan's Links: Website: www.dwanderful.comIG: @dwanderfulLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwanbenttwyford/Here's the link to my book: https://www.amazon.com/Value-Over-Foundation-Commercial-Investing/dp/B0DNN14NLQWant to learn more about CRE? investbeyondmultifamily.com/courseUse Code for 10% off: tanhtruong 🔋 Support My Channel 🔋Bitcoin: bc1q2jnv9sn3efhfvc43q5cqe2leev3066cegpyyz5Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/tanhDollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tanhtDollars via Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/tanh-truong🌍 Website: https://www.wontonwealth.com✖️ X: http://www.x.com/tanhtruong📷 IG: http://www.instagram.com/pro_tanh🤓 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tanh-truong-30a18ab0/❗ DISCLAIMER: This show is for entertainment purposes only. Before making any decisions consult a professional. This show is copyrighted by Wonton Wealth. Written permission must be granted before syndication or rebroadcasting.

In Part 2, Alex Taylor, founder of Commercialize IQ, explains what it takes to turn scattered CRE data into something an owner can actually run a portfolio on.We get into who uses it (owners, third-party property managers and national retailers) and why Alex thinks the push for a "pristine data lake" is the wrong approach. We also cover what happened when an 80-property portfolio's data surfaced about 590 contradictions, and why general AI tools still leave you "arguing with AI."Alex also shares how he gets CRE professionals to adopt new software past the demo ("big button theory"), his hardest lesson as an entrepreneur, and his advice for anyone in CRE with an idea for a tech startup: find product-market fit before you have a product.What You'll LearnWhy waiting for clean data before using it is backwards, and why Alex argues for continuous auditingHow rent rolls, leases, amendments and property manager reports end up contradicting each otherWhere general-purpose AI tools fall short and why Alex built a CRE-specific model"Additive, not rip-and-replace": why switching accounting systems can be a nine-month projectHow to drive adoption: mirror the five things your users do every dayWhy no one will care as much as you do, and how Alex uses variable pay and equity for every roleHow to validate a CRE tech idea before building itChapters0:00 [20:50] Is it a CRM? Building a "single source of truth"0:38 [21:28] Who it's for: owners, third-party property managers and retailers3:58 [24:48] AI in CRE and the "pristine data lake" myth~7:10 [~28:00] 80 properties, about 590 contradictions8:41 [29:31] What improves first: accuracy and bandwidth~10:10 [~31:00] "I'm just arguing with AI": general vs. purpose-built models12:22 [33:12] Where the data comes from: additive, not rip-and-replace15:29 [36:19] Getting adoption past the demo: "big button theory"19:39 [40:29] The hardest entrepreneurship lesson22:00 [42:50] Have a CRE startup idea? Start with product-market fit24:06 [44:56] Where to find AlexQuotes: "Everyone has their own source of truth, but none of it is singular.""You'll never get anyone else to care as much as you care.""Do you have product market fit before you have a product?"Alex's Links: Website: https://commercializeiq.com/IG: @commercializeiqLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandertaylor86/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/commercializeiq/Here's the link to my book: https://www.amazon.com/Value-Over-Foundation-Commercial-Investing/dp/B0DNN14NLQWant to learn more about CRE? investbeyondmultifamily.com/courseUse Code for 10% off: tanhtruong 🔋 Support My Channel 🔋Bitcoin: bc1q2jnv9sn3efhfvc43q5cqe2leev3066cegpyyz5Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/tanhDollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tanhtDollars via Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/tanh-truong🌍 Website: https://www.wontonwealth.com✖️ X: http://www.x.com/tanhtruong📷 IG: http://www.instagram.com/pro_tanh🤓 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tanh-truong-30a18ab0/❗ DISCLAIMER: This show is for entertainment purposes only. Before making any decisions consult a professional. This show is copyrighted by Wonton Wealth. Written permission must be granted before syndication or rebroadcasting.

Alex Taylor has spent 18 years building commercial real estate technology. He's been a founder or co-founder of four CRE tech companies, with three exits. He's also on the other side of the table: he owns a couple hundred thousand square feet and is an LP in about 26 active deals.In Part 1, Alex walks through how he got into CRE through relationships rather than single-family flips. He covers his time as the first head of sales at Dotloop, building a tech-enabled footprint consultancy for Fortune 500 companies, and launching Oval Room to cut the cost of raising, entitling and marketing projects. He also tells the story of a zoning hearing that went somewhere nobody expected. We end with the question that started his current company and the one answer that kept coming back: data.What You'll Learn: How relationships, not residential deals, led Alex into CRE and to investing as an LPWhy he's become more passive as an investor as he's built more companiesThe three phases of a CRE project (raise capital, get approvals, go to market) and where money gets wasted redoing workHow long it took to build his early platforms (about 9 months each)The one question he asked CRE pros for 90 days before building his current companyChapters:00:00 Welcome and intro00:21 Alex's background: 18 years in proptech, 4 companies, and a CRE owner02:09 How Alex got into commercial real estate through relationships04:22 26 LP deals and why he's become more passive06:02 Three exits and a fourth company06:34 Dotloop and building a tech-enabled CRE footprint consultancy09:29 A mutual friend from the Dotloop days10:11 Oval Room: raise capital, get approvals, go to market13:17 How long it takes to build a platform from scratch~14:40 The psychic at the zoning board16:29 Ocucel and the move to Commercialize IQ17:09 A 90-day listening tour: "What do you do today that you hate?"~19:45 The number one answer: dataQuote: "Billion dollar plus portfolios being run on spreadsheets." (Alex Taylor)Next Week: Part 2: what Alex built to fix the problem, why chasing a "pristine data lake" is a trap, how to get teams to use new software past the demo, and his hardest lesson as a founder.Alex's Links: Website: https://commercializeiq.com/IG: @commercializeiqLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandertaylor86/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/commercializeiq/Here's the link to my book: https://www.amazon.com/Value-Over-Foundation-Commercial-Investing/dp/B0DNN14NLQWant to learn more about CRE? investbeyondmultifamily.com/courseUse Code for 10% off: tanhtruong 🔋 Support My Channel 🔋Bitcoin: bc1q2jnv9sn3efhfvc43q5cqe2leev3066cegpyyz5Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/tanhDollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tanhtDollars via Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/tanh-truong🌍 Website: https://www.wontonwealth.com✖️ X: http://www.x.com/tanhtruong📷 IG: http://www.instagram.com/pro_tanh🤓 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tanh-truong-30a18ab0/❗ DISCLAIMER: This show is for entertainment purposes only. Before making any decisions consult a professional. This show is copyrighted by Wonton Wealth. Written permission must be granted before syndication or rebroadcasting.

In this episode, John Brenard shares insights into timberland investing, covering property sizes, valuation, timber types, and risk management, making it accessible for new investors.TakeawaysMost land bought for timber is owned by families, not institutions.Timberland properties typically range from a few hundred to 2000 acres.Location and proximity to sawmills are critical for timber value.Timber types like southern yellow pine grow quickly and are highly valuable.Parcelization can significantly enhance land value and liquidity.Diversification across regions mitigates natural risks like wildfires.Timberland investments can yield 12-15% net returns with an opportunistic approach.Shorter fund durations (around 5 years) are possible with active management.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Timberland Investment01:54 John Brenard's Background and Entry into Timberland03:52 Size and Valuation of Timberland Properties07:06 Types of Timber and Growth Cycles09:01 Deal Sourcing and Off-Market Opportunities12:00 Due Diligence and Acquisition Process14:08 Value Creation Strategies: Parcelization and Timber Sales19:57 Market Drivers and Regional Growth21:51 Risks and Risk Management in Timberland25:57 Impact of Market Cycles and External Factors29:51 Returns, Fund Structure, and Investor Opportunities34:03 Tax Benefits and Exit Strategies38:00 Common Misconceptions and Future Outlook41:02 Final Thoughts and Contact InformationJohn’s Linkshttps://www.southviewtimber.com/abouthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbrenard/Here's the link to my book: https://www.amazon.com/Value-Over-Foundation-Commercial-Investing/dp/B0DNN14NLQWant to learn more about CRE? investbeyondmultifamily.com/courseUse Code for 10% off: tanhtruong🔋 Support My Channel 🔋Bitcoin: bc1q2jnv9sn3efhfvc43q5cqe2leev3066cegpyyz5Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/tanhDollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tanhtDollars via Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/tanh-truong🌍 Website: https://www.wontonwealth.com✖️ X: http://www.x.com/tanhtruong📷 IG: http://www.instagram.com/pro_tanh🤓 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tanh-truong-30a18ab0/❗ DISCLAIMER: This show is for entertainment purposes only. Before making any decisions consult a professional. This show is copyrighted by Wonton Wealth. Written permission must be granted before syndication or rebroadcasting.

In this episode, John Brenard shares insights into timberland investing, covering property sizes, valuation, timber types, and risk management, making it accessible for new investors.TakeawaysMost land bought for timber is owned by families, not institutions.Timberland properties typically range from a few hundred to 2000 acres.Location and proximity to sawmills are critical for timber value.Timber types like southern yellow pine grow quickly and are highly valuable.Parcelization can significantly enhance land value and liquidity.Diversification across regions mitigates natural risks like wildfires.Timberland investments can yield 12-15% net returns with an opportunistic approach.Shorter fund durations (around 5 years) are possible with active management.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Timberland Investment01:54 John Brenard's Background and Entry into Timberland03:52 Size and Valuation of Timberland Properties07:06 Types of Timber and Growth Cycles09:01 Deal Sourcing and Off-Market Opportunities12:00 Due Diligence and Acquisition Process14:08 Value Creation Strategies: Parcelization and Timber Sales19:57 Market Drivers and Regional Growth21:51 Risks and Risk Management in Timberland25:57 Impact of Market Cycles and External Factors29:51 Returns, Fund Structure, and Investor Opportunities34:03 Tax Benefits and Exit Strategies38:00 Common Misconceptions and Future Outlook41:02 Final Thoughts and Contact InformationJohn’s Linkshttps://www.southviewtimber.com/abouthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbrenard/Here's the link to my book: https://www.amazon.com/Value-Over-Foundation-Commercial-Investing/dp/B0DNN14NLQWant to learn more about CRE? investbeyondmultifamily.com/courseUse Code for 10% off: tanhtruong🔋 Support My Channel 🔋Bitcoin: bc1q2jnv9sn3efhfvc43q5cqe2leev3066cegpyyz5Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/tanhDollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tanhtDollars via Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/tanh-truong🌍 Website: https://www.wontonwealth.com✖️ X: http://www.x.com/tanhtruong📷 IG: http://www.instagram.com/pro_tanh🤓 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tanh-truong-30a18ab0/❗ DISCLAIMER: This show is for entertainment purposes only. Before making any decisions consult a professional. This show is copyrighted by Wonton Wealth. Written permission must be granted before syndication or rebroadcasting.