Brick by Brick - Wealth Building Conversations

What if an appraisal isn’t the whole story?Kelly Githens, a veteran appraiser and real estate investor, joins Loren Wernette to unpack what really drives property value, where appraisals can fall short, and how AI is changing the valuation process. Together, they explore why a property’s condition, comparable sales, buyer demand, and timing can all affect the number—and why an old appraisal may not reflect today’s market.Kelly also explains how appraisals differ from broker price opinions, comparative market analyses, automated valuation models, and tax assessments. He shares what investors and lenders should look for when reviewing comps, when it may make sense to request a reconsideration of value, and why unique or special-purpose properties can be especially difficult to price.The conversation also looks at AI’s potential in property valuation—and why human judgment still matters when data misses important details or the property doesn’t fit a standard model.If you’re a real estate investor, lender, realtor, or homeowner, this episode offers a practical way to look beyond the headline number and make more informed decisions about property value.What do you look at first when evaluating a property’s value?#BrickByBrick #RealEstateInvesting #PropertyValuation #RealEstateAppraisal #RealEstateAI

"I left Tesla and got into mobile home parks because I wanted cash flow that didn’t depend on me showing up every day."But here’s what most people miss: mobile home parks aren’t “easy money.” They’re a complex mix of operations, taxes, infill, financing, and tough decisions.Leo Young, founder of Cornell Communities, joins Brick by Brick to unpack the realities of mobile home park investing. From leaving Tesla and learning sales to building a portfolio of manufactured housing communities, Leo shares how he evaluates deals, finances acquisitions, manages risk, approaches responsible rent growth, and why tenant-owned homes are central to his strategy.They also dig into infill challenges, park-owned versus tenant-owned homes, navigating aging infrastructure, raising capital, and the key questions passive investors should ask before partnering with an operator.🎙️ Listen to the latest episode of Brick by Brick.Connect with Leo YoungWebsite: CornellCommunities.comLinkedIn: Leo YoungInstagram: @LeoYoungRealEstate#BrickByBrickPodcast #MobileHomeParkInvesting #ManufacturedHousing #RealEstateInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #PassiveIncome #Syndication #RealEstatePodcast #FinancialFreedom #InvestorEducation #AffordableHousing #CashFlow

He was a pharmacist. By 31, he'd retired. His strategy? Renting houses by the room.Dr. Ryan Chaw, PharmD, built a 14-property portfolio with student housing. In this episode he walks through exactly how he does it, and the early mistake he says cost him more than $30,000.We cover:🏠 Why renting by the room can change what one house earns🎓 How he picks college markets (and why hospitals and residencies count too)🔑 The "head tenant" setup that cuts down management headaches🔍 The building systems to inspect before you buy: sewer, HVAC, roof, foundation⚖️ Local rules that can sink the strategy before you start💰 Why lenders and appraisers see shared housing differentlyIf you've ever wondered whether one house can do the work of three, this one's for you.Connect with Ryan:YouTube: youtube.com/@ryanchaw1LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryan-chaw-pharmd-0a9995187Facebook: facebook.com/ryan.chawWebsite: newbierealestateinvesting.com#RealEstateInvesting #RentByTheRoom #StudentHousing #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #RealEstateInvestor #CashFlow #RentalProperty #BuyAndHold #HouseHacking #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #EarlyRetirement #FIRE #CoLiving #LandlordLife #PropertyManagement #RealEstateTips #InvestInRealEstate #BrickByBrick

What if you could turn underutilized land into recurring cash flow?Chris Long, founder and CEO of Long Yard Storage, joins Loren Wernette to unpack a niche real estate model built for contractors and businesses that need outdoor space for equipment, vehicles, and materials. He shares how a career in construction, a painful insolvency, and a need for more control led him to build a cash-flow-focused storage yard business from the ground up.This episode is especially useful if you want to understand industrial outdoor storage, land underwriting, or how to structure a business that generates recurring revenue from dirt, fencing, and logistics.Key topicsWhat Long Yard Storage is“Self-storage on steroids” for big equipment and materialsFenced land, access control, and month-to-month rental agreementsA solution between expensive long-term leases and unreliable informal storageChris’s construction backgroundStarting with his grandfather at age 14Becoming a licensed carpenter and taking over the family businessRecognizing the opportunity through his own need for secure equipment storageThe insolvency that reset everythingA large commercial project went unpaidChris went from managing 14 employees to rebuilding almost aloneThe experience taught him to focus, make faster decisions, and operate with disciplineInstead of quitting, he found a gap nobody was serving: storage for the big stuff.Not just boxes—contractors, trucks, equipment, and businesses that need secure outdoor space.This episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes a major setback can reveal a better business model.What would you build if you had to start over today?Connect with Chris:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-long-152b3988/#BrickByBrick #LongYardStorage #CommercialRealEstate #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth

The deals banks say no to are where Ryan Hermansky says yes.Most hard money lenders are built to say no. Ryan Hermansky built a business around saying yes to the deals banks won't touch, and he explains exactly how he keeps it conservative, liquid, and profitable.Ryan, president of Private Money Funding, reveals how his Arizona-based team funds commercial real estate loans, pays investors 9% with no fees, and keeps capital accessible even though it's tied to illiquid assets. If you've ever wondered how a liquid private lending fund actually works, this conversation pulls back the curtain.You'll discover:Why private money lenders thrive in the gap banks leave behindHow Ryan's team underwrites shopping centers, warehouses, raw land, and select residential-adjacent dealsThe role of loan-to-value, exit strategy, and worst-case foreclosure planning in protecting investor capitalHow a 506(c) fund changes the fundraising game for accredited investorsWhy no lockups, monthly compounding, and a line of credit make liquidity possibleHow IRA, 401(k), and even pension money can be moved into the fund through a custodianRyan also shares how his path from banking to medical device sales to cannabis dispensaries led to private lending, and why that unusual background shaped a far more conservative approach than most hard money shops. Loren adds hard-won perspective on fund structures, compliance, and the real-world friction investors hit when moving retirement money.If you're an operator sitting on idle cash, a real estate investor looking for a passive allocation, or someone trying to understand how private credit can fit inside a broader portfolio, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. It's especially valuable if you want yield without becoming a landlord, and if you want to understand the questions that separate a strong fund from a risky one.To hear how Ryan and his team structure deals, manage liquidity, and protect downside in commercial real estate lending, hit play.#PrivateLending #HardMoneyLender #CommercialRealEstate #PrivateCredit #RealEstateInvesting #AlternativeInvestments #CREInvesting #SelfDirectedIRA #AccreditedInvestors #PassiveInvesting #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding