CHICAGO'S #1 REAL ESTATE INVESTING PODCAST

Michael Kaplan joins us to share his inspiring journey from a young broker struggling to make ends meet to scaling his real estate business and building a rental portfolio in the Chicago area. His story reflects grit, persistence, and strategic decision-making that any aspiring investor or broker can learn from.Michael opens up about his decision to leave college during the pandemic and dive into real estate full-time. He breaks down th...

Sabrina Wottreng Shares How To Leverage Public Relations To Grow Your Real Estate BusinessIn the latest episode of the Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast, Sabrina Wottreng, a seasoned Chicago-based publicist and "Friend of the Pod," shares her insights on how public relations (PR) can supercharge a real estate business. Sabrina’s company specializes in the real estate sector, assisting Chicago-area real estate teams in...

Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans are a type of commercial loan product that evaluates a property's cash flow to determine its ability to cover its debt obligations. Eric Workman breaks down the fundamentals of DSCR loans, explaining how they have evolved from a simple qualification point to a robust tool for real estate financing.Key Components of DSCR Loans:Calculation of DSCR: The DSCR is calculated by dividing the propert...

In a compelling episode of the Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast, hosts Mark Ainley and Tom Shallcross welcome back Jared Kott, a seasoned real estate investor, to reflect on his transformative 10-year journey from corporate America to full-time real estate. Jared shares invaluable insights, hard-earned lessons, and some thrilling adventures, making this episode a must-listen for anyone involved in or considering a career in real est...

In the latest episode of the Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast, hosts Mark Ainley and Tom Shallcross dive into the innovative world of container homes with special guest Rory Rubin, the founder of S.I. Container Builds. As housing affordability continues to be a pressing issue, Rory sheds light on how her company is providing a high-quality, cost-effective solution by repurposing shipping containers into livable homes.A Unique Backgr...

The final walkthrough is a vital step in any real estate transaction, serving as the buyer's last chance to inspect the property before closing. As emphasized by Chance Badertscher, this walkthrough is not just a formality; it’s an essential safeguard for buyers to confirm that the property is in the condition agreed upon in the contract. It's also an opportunity to ensure that all repairs negotiated during the attorney re...

In the latest episode of the Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast, hosts Mark Ainley and Tom Shallcross dive into the world of house hacking with guest Brendon Heneks of Team Facchini at Fairway Mortgage. Alongside his agent Sarita Scherpereel, Brendon shares his journey of purchasing his first multi-family property and offers invaluable insights for both new and seasoned investors.Jumping on the Right OpportunityBrendon begins by discu...

In a recent episode of the Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast, David Shifrin, also known as the "Doctor of Motor Row," returns alongside his real estate agent Rob Sikkel to discuss how David has expanded his multifamily portfolio over the past two years. Together, they break down David's acquisition of five multifamily buildings and share how a strong buyer-agent relationship has fueled this growth.One of the most exciti...

In a recent Tuesday Tip episode of the Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast, Tom Shallcross and Mark Ainley sit down with Karen Welch from Movers Chicago to discuss essential tips for a smooth tenant move-out.Karen stresses the importance of setting clear expectations with tenants well before move-out day. Landlords need to be proactive by advising tenants to hire licensed and insured movers—and to ask for a Certificate of Insuran...

Why are insurance rates so high right now?Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.comEmail the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.comGuests: Josh Steigelmann, State Farm Insurance