Coaching for multifamily?

Multi-Family and Apartment Investing
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Coaching for multifamily?

John Lasher
Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 30 posts · 13 votes

Hey everyone,

I've completed a few flips, but have always heard that larger multifamily deals is where most people gravitate towards. It does seem very interesting (and lucrative), but also overwhelming!

I'm exploring a few mentoring programs out there. Some are between $20k - $30k. Has anyone had experience with coaching? Was it worth it? 

Thanks! 

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Stuart UdisPro Member
Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
1y

@John Lasher If you are still looking to spend $20k-$30K for a coach, I would be happy to take you up on that offer :) For full disclosure,  I will share with you precisely what you can learn online/ perhaps even entirely through these BiggerPockets Forums but that doesn't address the reason why most are still unable to purchase larger assets: creditworthiness and capital relationships. But don't let that discourage you. I will gladly assign you some remedial tasks associated with my projects and for your efforts and generosity I will assign you Co-GP title and send you out into the world to misrepresent your capabilities and track record to raise capital from others. If you fail, you can raise capital for my projects and will give you another Co-GP title. 

.......Or you can organically grow your real estate portfolio and credit worthiness &  keep the $30K. 

[email protected]
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  • Charles Seaman
    Apartment Syndicator · Charleston, SC · Member since 2017 · 519 posts · 631 votes
    1y

    @John Lasher There are many good multifamily coaching programs out there, but coaching isn't the right fit for every person.  What are you hoping to obtain from coaching?

    1Reply
  • John Lasher
    OP
    Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 30 posts · 13 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Charles Seaman:

    @John Lasher There are many good multifamily coaching programs out there, but coaching isn't the right fit for every person.  What are you hoping to obtain from coaching?


     I just want guidance to get into my first deal. I would rather work with a coach vs. spending the next 3 years trying to figure it out on my own. 

    1Reply
  • Charles Seaman
    Apartment Syndicator · Charleston, SC · Member since 2017 · 519 posts · 631 votes
    1y

    @John Lasher  That makes sense.  I sent you a message.  If you want to discuss it further, let me know and I'm glad to do so.

    2Reply
  • John Lasher
    OP
    Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 30 posts · 13 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Sarah Rilling:

    If you are looking for guidance on how to get into your first deal then a multifamily mentorship is the way to go. Most people like to figure it out themselves but lack the support or knowledge in all parts of multifamily investing. I am the program manager at Apartment Addicts and its a great multifamily mentorship program. 


     Thanks for the info! I'll look up the group you mentioned.

    1Reply
  • John Lasher
    OP
    Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 30 posts · 13 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Charles Seaman:

    @John Lasher  That makes sense.  I sent you a message.  If you want to discuss it further, let me know and I'm glad to do so.


    Thanks! Did you start in single family? Why does it seem like most people start in SFH but then eventually go into commercial multi?

    0Reply
  • Charles Seaman
    Apartment Syndicator · Charleston, SC · Member since 2017 · 519 posts · 631 votes
    1y

    @John Lasher I didn't, but you're right that it is a common path.  I did work for a commercial real estate investor prior to jumping into syndication, so that gave me a strong knowledge base to start with.

    0Reply
  • Stuart UdisPro Member
    Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y

    @John Lasher If you are still looking to spend $20k-$30K for a coach, I would be happy to take you up on that offer :) For full disclosure,  I will share with you precisely what you can learn online/ perhaps even entirely through these BiggerPockets Forums but that doesn't address the reason why most are still unable to purchase larger assets: creditworthiness and capital relationships. But don't let that discourage you. I will gladly assign you some remedial tasks associated with my projects and for your efforts and generosity I will assign you Co-GP title and send you out into the world to misrepresent your capabilities and track record to raise capital from others. If you fail, you can raise capital for my projects and will give you another Co-GP title. 

    .......Or you can organically grow your real estate portfolio and credit worthiness &  keep the $30K. 

    [email protected]
    3Reply
  • John Lasher
    OP
    Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 30 posts · 13 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Stuart Udis:

    @John Lasher If you are still looking to spend $20k-$30K for a coach, I would be happy to take you up on that offer :) For full disclosure,  I will share with you precisely what you can learn online/ perhaps even entirely through these BiggerPockets Forums but that doesn't address the reason why most are still unable to purchase larger assets: creditworthiness and capital relationships. But don't let that discourage you. I will gladly assign you some remedial tasks associated with my projects and for your efforts and generosity I will assign you Co-GP title and send you out into the world to misrepresent your capabilities and track record to raise capital from others. If you fail, you can raise capital for my projects and will give you another Co-GP title. 

    .......Or you can organically grow your real estate portfolio and credit worthiness &  keep the $30K. 


    I don't think this aligns with what I'm looking for. I realize not everyone believes in paying for a coach and sometimes they get a bad rep, but ultimately, some people want to do it. Thanks for the feedback!

    0Reply
  • Nicholas L.Pro Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Pittsburgh · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    1y

    @John Lasher

    just curious what specifically you're looking to do - GP or LP?  5-20 units, 100+ units?

    And, I don't know if it's true that "most" investors jump to multifamily.  There are so many fewer properties of that size.

    A couple of investors who have been tremendously successful with SFH and small multi - Chad Carson, Michael Zuber.

    0Reply
  • John Lasher
    OP
    Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 30 posts · 13 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Nicholas L.:

    @John Lasher

    just curious what specifically you're looking to do - GP or LP?  5-20 units, 100+ units?

    And, I don't know if it's true that "most" investors jump to multifamily.  There are so many fewer properties of that size.

    A couple of investors who have been tremendously successful with SFH and small multi - Chad Carson, Michael Zuber.


     I think it's unrealistic that I would buy a 100+ unit property for my first GP position. I don't want to have 1% of the GP. I want to take down a deal between 40-80 units and have 3-4 GPs on the team. I would like to look in Jacksonville, FL where I live. 

    0Reply
  • Stuart UdisPro Member
    Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y

    @John Lasher What is holding you back? Access to deals? Plenty of good brokers out there to network with.  Don't know how to analyze a deal effectively? Plenty of free resources to assist with this. Credit worthiness? No coach is going to offer a magic pill and bolster your balance sheet. Need to raise capital in order to buy properties? Why can't you raise money with your current track record and experience? Again, no magic pill is offered through coaching  that will suddenly change your track record or experience. 

    [email protected]
    1Reply
  • Nicholas L.Pro Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Pittsburgh · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    1y

    @John Lasher

    i agree with you, you'd be surprised at how many people listen to Grant Cardone though, and decide that they're going to go buy a 100 unit with 'OPM' as their first deal and quit their job.

    i think buying something of that size with a few partners is a perfectly good goal.  you probably just need to find a few other John Lashers and work on it together.  I don't know if coaching will help or not.  I know that's what you started this thread for.  I'm just dialoguing / thinking out loud here.

    0Reply
  • Chris K.
    Attorney · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    @John Lasher

    I don't know your exact situation. But in my opinion, the biggest issue I see with folks jumping into their first "big" multifamily deal is the quality of the pro forma. Assuming you want to aim for syndication, you sort of need to learn how to develop a pro forma that ties the return to an IRR/XIRR.

    I cannot say I ever did a mentoring/coaching program. But it might make sense to work with folks who can offer more focused guidance on filling the knowledge gap you have.

    If you shoot me a DM, I can also ask around for more of 1:1 coaching opportunities. 

    Disclaimer: While I’m a licensed attorney, I’m not your attorney. What I wrote above does not create an attorney/client relationship between us. I wrote the above for informational purposes. Do not rely on it for legal advice. Always consult with your attorney before you rely on the above information.

    0Reply
  • Michael Powell
    Member since 2024 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    1y

    @John Lasher I'm in Multifamily Wealth Nation and it's really solid.  Josh Roosen runs it and he happens to be in Jacksonville FL.  It's worth meeting with them and talking thru what they offer and how you benefit.

    I disagree with the above comments. I've been in real estate forever and learning in the forums, and by comparison his platform has been amazing.  

    0Reply
  • Todd Dexheimer
    Rental Property Investor · St. Paul, MN · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y
    Quote from @John Lasher:

    Hey everyone,

    I've completed a few flips, but have always heard that larger multifamily deals is where most people gravitate towards. It does seem very interesting (and lucrative), but also overwhelming!

    I'm exploring a few mentoring programs out there. Some are between $20k - $30k. Has anyone had experience with coaching? Was it worth it? 

    Thanks! 


    Coaching is a great option if you're looking to take action quickly. Only enroll in coaching if you've read a handful of multifamily investing books that has given you a baseline. Make sure you are highly dedicated and motivated to take action. A coach won't do it for you, so you need to be sure you fully understand what you're looking to achieve and have the time and energy to get the results. I'd be happy to discuss our mentorship or point you in the right direction. 

    1Reply
  • John Lasher
    OP
    Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 30 posts · 13 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Nicholas L.:

    @John Lasher

    i agree with you, you'd be surprised at how many people listen to Grant Cardone though, and decide that they're going to go buy a 100 unit with 'OPM' as their first deal and quit their job.

    i think buying something of that size with a few partners is a perfectly good goal.  you probably just need to find a few other John Lashers and work on it together.  I don't know if coaching will help or not.  I know that's what you started this thread for.  I'm just dialoguing / thinking out loud here.


     Thank you!

    0Reply
  • Evan Polaski
    Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2020 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y

    @John Lasher, admittedly I tend to align a bit more with Stuart, but try to give some valid advice.

    Some questions I would ask any guru I was considering investing in:

    Will you invest my deals by being a client of yours?  If so, how much are you investing in my first deal?

    Will you introduce me to LPs in your network and help vouch for me to raise the equity I need?

    Will you act as KP in my deals, offering your balance sheet and liquidity to help me secure a deal?

    How many deals have you done in Jacksonville?  What relationships do you have in this market with Brokers and PMs to help me see more deals and assist on underwriting assumptions?

    How many clients do you have at any given time?  Do I get access to you or will I be farmed out to "your team"?

    How many deals have your clients done?  How many are you co-GP on?  

    What are you going to try to "upsell" me once I sign up? (For a lot of gurus, the education is just a top of funnel entry point for them to then have you find deals for them, invest in their deals, etc)

    If they are active in real estate themselves, I would ask how much they are making from their RE versus their courses?  If they are syndicating deals, how much of their OPM equity came from their students?

    And then, there is the true catch-22 with gurus, which is: the people that I would want to teach me are very likely too busy and too successful in real estate to be spending time educating competitors.  So, my standard thought is they are either not as successful as they put out in the world (and need $20-30k), or they are charging you to sell you something more.

    0Reply
  • Lauren CutchenBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · The Woodlands, TX · Member since 2019 · 188 posts · 79 votes
    1y

    Maybe a mom & pop owned small multi-family can owner finance or sell to you with some guidance for the transition. This has happened with a client of mine. A small fourplex and a 2-3 month transition of getting clients used to the new owner, handyman contacts, and such. 

    Start mailing and skip tracing some small multi-family properties and keep at it. Plenty of free resources to know how to find people and sell to you. Strategize and plan. 

    [email protected]832-406-4239
    Lauren Cutchen 513 Reviews
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    0Reply
  • Brandon VukelichBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Tacoma, WA: 🏢 27 LTRs 🏡 3 STRs · Member since 2018 · 549 posts · 458 votes
    1y

    @John Lasher if you want to focus on MF, especially in the North Florida markets, I highly recommend you speak to Beau Beery. He's not a coach for investors but he's my coach as a commercial multifamily broker. He KNOWS multifamily and even wrote a book on how to be a solid MF investor. Speak to him before you hire a guru.

    Also, I went through the Michael Blank mentor program a few years ago for $30,000. Like you, I wanted accelerated learning and a network. It taught me high level knowledge of syndication and a lot of the legal aspects, which I found very valuable in order to speak to a higher level of investors, beyond mom & pops. I also got the deal analyzer, which was handy and a free t-shirt. LOL!

    Best wishes on your journey!

    Broker at Multifamily Properties519 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • John Lasher
    OP
    Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 30 posts · 13 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Brandon Vukelich:

    @John Lasher if you want to focus on MF, especially in the North Florida markets, I highly recommend you speak to Beau Beery. He's not a coach for investors but he's my coach as a commercial multifamily broker. He KNOWS multifamily and even wrote a book on how to be a solid MF investor. Speak to him before you hire a guru.

    Also, I went through the Michael Blank mentor program a few years ago for $30,000. Like you, I wanted accelerated learning and a network. It taught me high level knowledge of syndication and a lot of the legal aspects, which I found very valuable in order to speak to a higher level of investors, beyond mom & pops. I also got the deal analyzer, which was handy and a free t-shirt. LOL!

    Best wishes on your journey!


    Thanks for sharing. How much ROI have you had from spending $30k on a program like that?

    0Reply
  • Brandon VukelichBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Tacoma, WA: 🏢 27 LTRs 🏡 3 STRs · Member since 2018 · 549 posts · 458 votes
    1y

    @John Lasher I considered it education, like a certification or minor degree. I have not started, completed or participated in a syndication so tough to assess an ROI at this time. I was pretty naive going in and the legal components I learned may have prevented me from expensive legal issues at some point. (aka how to raise money legally) So that was immensely valuable. You could absolutely save the money and over time, learn everything I learned by listening to podcasts, reading books and watching youtube videos (except having the regular check ins with a mentor). So some may say $30k is not worth it but I know others that launched successful syndication businesses from it. To each their own.

    Also, this was 2020-2021 when the market was nuts and every syndicator was looking like a rockstar beating expectations on their deals. I was not comfortable with the market and interest rate conditions, so I elected to hold off. I will likely do one in the future so the knowledge is still there when I need it.

    Broker at Multifamily Properties519 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • Robert Rixer
    Investor · Miami, FL · Member since 2015 · 355 posts · 268 votes
    1y

    Personally I'm against these types of programs, especially 5-figure ones. But I think it's about expectations. A lot of people go in expecting these programs to completely change their lives. If you're just going in to learn, you could probably gain some value.

    0Reply
  • Leo Gregoire
    Real Estate Agent · Worcester county · Member since 2024 · 33 posts · 24 votes
    1y

    i am unfamiliar with your local market but up in the North East, New England in particular, my brokerage hosts a lot of REI meet ups every month. That's actually how i found my brokerage and then later joined. There's an "events and meet ups" section on BP; i would suggest starting there. I find it hard to believe there won't be access to some kind of REI meet up somewhere around most anyone these days.

    I would suggest going to as many REI meet ups as possible. Meet fellow investors in your area and build relationships with them. My team lead is a mentor of mine so to speak but in general, the people i have met through REI meet ups have considerably changed my trajectory and are real world, local examples that have helped me along the way and for free. You can learn from someone one step ahead of you and then do business together.

    I'm sure there are plenty of mentors you could pay substantial money to to gain knowledge and know how but i doubt it could replace actual relationships that are pertinent to your market and current business.

    0Reply
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