In this episode of The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Mike Stohler—Navy veteran, former airline pilot, and now co-founder of Gateway Private Equity Group to talk about the highs, lows, and pivots that shaped his real estate journey.

 

Mike's story is a masterclass in perseverance and reinvention. He went from losing everything in his early 20s to owning and managing over 1,500 multifamily units and expanding into hotel investing across the U.S. and Spain.

 

We cover how he turned failure into fuel, built confidence through education and mentorship, and made the leap from W-2 employment to full-time investing. Mike also shares his transition from multifamily to hospitality and how partnering with experienced operators helped him scale internationally.

 

If you've ever struggled with fear, self-doubt, or analysis paralysis, this episode will show you what's possible when you commit to learning, surround yourself with the right people, and take calculated risks toward financial freedom.

 

Key Talking Points of the Episode

 

00:00 Introduction

01:06 Refocusing before the new year and setting goals for 2026

02:02 Meet Mike Stohler: Navy vet, former airline pilot, and real estate entrepreneur

04:01 Buying properties with no experience and losing everything

05:29 Learning resilience through military discipline and rebuilding after failure

07:27 The mindset shift from fear to action—"Just make the move"

09:28 The biggest fears holding investors back and how to overcome them

11:05 Why mentors and proximity are the ultimate accelerators for success

12:06 The power of partnership: how to shadow and learn from experienced investors

17:01 Balancing family, business, and burnout while making the transition from W-2

19:42 "Apartments are not hotels"—why hospitality is a completely different game

21:14 Building partnerships with experienced operators and profit-sharing structures

23:38 Why Spain? Expanding internationally through strong local networks

24:45 Managing hotel investments remotely: systems, teams, and automation

25:13 Turning travel into a business expense: living and investing internationally

26:21 How to get in touch with Mike and his team

 

Quotables

 

"All of the fears that are inside your head are real inside your head—but that's not the truth."

 

"Hotels aren't real estate. They're businesses that sit on real estate."

 

"I'm still learning every day. Warren Buffett's 90 and still reading 10 books a week."

 

Links

 

Mike Stohler

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstohler

 

Gateway Private Equity

https://gatewaype.com/

 

The Richer Geek Podcast

https://www.therichergeek.com/

 

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Apprentice Program

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Masterclass

https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast

 

Wicked Smart Books

https://wickedsmartbooks.com/podcast

 

Strategy Session

https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast

 

Partners

https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources