Commercial real estate mentor. Is 50% until $500k a normal cost?

Commercial real estate mentor. Is 50% until $500k a normal cost?

Investor · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2017 · 26 posts · 13 votes

Hi there,

I am persuing cashflow through multifamily real estate investing. After a lot of study I believe that having a mentor is my best option to get started.

At the moment I have found a mentor that charges 50% split on all net Cashflow until $500k is reached ($250k each). 

I believe that this mentor is very qualified due to his decades of experience and the books that he's authored and also books that he's co-authored with other well know real estate Moguls.

This is a big commitment into partnership and just wondering what the general populus thinks about this agreement.

Also, if anyone has suggestions for specifically apartment investing mentors I would appreciate it.

God bless

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Joel OwensBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
9y

Only you can determine the value of a relationship. People that are successful average thousands to tens of thousands per hour for their time or more.

If they are spending time with you for instance and not closing deals it is costing them money. It is an investment in a person that may or may not pan out. People tend to have a hard time with this concept. I used to have residential brokers and agents approach me to learn commercial real estate. They wanted to join my company. I spent sometimes 1 week to 2 weeks and then the people petered out and took corners trying to succeed and it doesn't work out that way.

Now I tell them usually 25,000 non-refundable deposit upfront and 50/50 split. When you close your first deal then you have already paid 25k.

So if first deal 50k was the commission for example they would keep it all as they have already paid the 25,000 (50% split).

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  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    9y

    Only you can determine the value of a relationship. People that are successful average thousands to tens of thousands per hour for their time or more.

    If they are spending time with you for instance and not closing deals it is costing them money. It is an investment in a person that may or may not pan out. People tend to have a hard time with this concept. I used to have residential brokers and agents approach me to learn commercial real estate. They wanted to join my company. I spent sometimes 1 week to 2 weeks and then the people petered out and took corners trying to succeed and it doesn't work out that way.

    Now I tell them usually 25,000 non-refundable deposit upfront and 50/50 split. When you close your first deal then you have already paid 25k.

    So if first deal 50k was the commission for example they would keep it all as they have already paid the 25,000 (50% split).

  • DFW, TX · Member since 2016 · 58 posts · 68 votes
    9y

    The split sounds more than reasonable. He's actually taking the bigger risk than you are because if you turn out to be a terrible "mentee" he's actually upside on his RoT (Return on Time). He's only making money if you make money. I would take him up on it since you have absolutely no risk.

    Unless you sign some sort of non-compete and are not allowed to do deals outside the partnership until he recoups $500k then that would be a large potential issue.

    Good luck!

  • Investor · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2017 · 26 posts · 13 votes
    9y

    @Joel Owens & @Abel Sng, Thanks so much for taking the time to respond.


    I have felt that for the experience that is being offered that this is a reasonable agreement. There have been a lot of people saying that paying $250 for a mentor is an exorbitant amount but I see it as me receiving 250k (my split) that I possibly wouldn't have made on my own.

    Abel, that is a great point about the non-compete agreement. I will check into that before pulling the trigger.

    Once again, thanks for taking the time to sow back into the community!

    God bless!
     

  • Appraiser · Carlsbad, CA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 1 vote
    9y
    know anyone is San Diego with that kind of a deal? haha
  • Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y

    I had someone offer me something like that.  I told them I'd rather just help them for free via email with the occasional questions.

    That was 1000 emails ago.  I should have just taken a cut with the amount of time I've given up  :)

  • Investor · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2017 · 26 posts · 13 votes
    9y

    @Cody L. I'm sure its a ton of working getting someone started in this field. 

    Hopefully that good heart intention and time spent will come back at you! And at the least, you may have stumbled onto another way to create income! 

    All the best in your future deals (and coaching experiences ;0)

  • Rental Property Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2017 · 44 posts · 17 votes
    6y

    @Stephen Kleyn

    Did you proceed with the mentorship program? I'm curious to know about your experience with commercial real estate.

    I'm also exploring mentorship options for commercial real estate. I'm ready for the next step in my investing. Currently buying and holding single family rentals. Thanks

  • Real Estate Broker · Portland, OR · Member since 2019 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    "At the moment I have found a mentor that charges 50% split on all net Cashflow until $500k is reached ($250k each)."

    Just so I get this right, this guy with experience is willing to split 50-50 with you who have no experience?

    Sounds pretty good to me.

  • Rental Property Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2017 · 44 posts · 17 votes
    6y

    @Steve Morris

    I interpreted that line as:

    I have found a mentor, but I have yet to agree to his/her terms. I'm here to get other people's opinions on the terms, so I can take an informed decision.

    That's why I am following up.

  • Real Estate Broker · Portland, OR · Member since 2019 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Juan Pablo Murillo:

    @Steve Morris

    I interpreted that line as:

    I have found a mentor, but I have yet to agree to his/her terms. I'm here to get other people's opinions on the terms, so I can take an informed decision.

    That's why I am following up.

    What do you want to learn personally?

    I just thought those terms he proposed for someone with no experience were pretty good.  There's nothing to say he can't change them in the future once he gets some game.

  • Rental Property Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2017 · 44 posts · 17 votes
    6y

    @Steve Morris I want to know if he went for it or not. If he did, I want to know what was his experience in the coaching program and if he recommends it to others.

  • Investor · Fort Worth, TX · Member since 2019 · 120 posts · 147 votes
    6y

    @Juan Pablo Murillo looks like I’m late to the party here but I can offer my two cents on mentorship. I’ve invested close to $100k in various mentors until I found the right one that fit my values and goals. The mentor I’m with now charges a flat annual membership and coaches you through your large multifamily deals (100+ units). If you want to partner with him you can and there are certainly advantages to doing that – but he charges much less than 50% for partnership. I haven’t ever heard of such a high split at 50%. It seems like it does not leave much equity and profits for the remainder of the general partnership team and all the various roles you need to fill.

  • Real Estate Broker · Portland, OR · Member since 2019 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    I haven't ever heard of such a high split at 50%.

    Well, if you get a job with a national brokerage that is serious about apartment brokerage, that's usually their slice.

    How'd your mentorship work out?  Close any 100+ unit deals?

  • Member since 2020 · 12 posts · 2 votes
    5y

    Welcome to bigger pockets, the largest market place to sell bridges.

    I hope some BP readers realize that a huge part of frequent posters on this forum are not genuine deal makers, but phonies with no track record only in the business to sell mentorship programs, seminars, books and bad investments to gullible newbies.

    Do you really think real successful deal makers waste their time posting thousands of times on a forum essentially catering to first time investors?

    Do you think successful RE entrepreneurs need to chase small time investors money, mentor newbies and write books about their winning strategies in an already over competitive / saturated market?

    Real estate is plain simple and there is absolutely nothing you can’t learn reading

    Good luck

  • Member since 2023 · 8 posts · 1 vote
    2y

    Would you mind introducing me? I am looking for a mentor.

  • Member since 2022 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    2y

    While I think that having a mentor is invaluable, I do think a 50% split on all net cashflow is really high if it is just traditional mentorship without them being very hands on. You could always utilize a bunch of BiggerPockets resources and network with other real estate investors locally/virtually for much less.

  • Member since 2024 · 10 posts · 2 votes
    2y

    The mentoring would cost $250k with no investment on his side except his mentoring? 

  • Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 756 votes
    2y

    Sometimes I can’t tell if we are in the commercial multifamily industry or the commercial coaching industry 😅

  • Investor · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2017 · 26 posts · 13 votes
    2y

    Sorry for the late reply. I ended up not going for the mentorship program I talked about in my initial post. I found a group called "success classes" by Anthony Chara, mainly becuase they were in my town and I could meet personally with them and network.

    I spent a total of $20k for the classes, got a coach for life, and got a pretty decent size group of investors to email proposed deals to.

    it has worked out quite well. I bought a 16 unit, 32 unit, 20 unit and a 12 unit, all in a 2 year period. I sold the first 3 at top of the market and personally made $520k in a 4 year period, plus distributions. I made my investors an average of 48% annual average rate of return so they are ecstatic.

    Ive been busy with single family for the last 4 years but I'm getting ready to look for a larger multi deal.

    All that said, the mentorship program I went with was a life changer, and only cost $20k. Made that back in my first syndication fee 🙌

    weekly

  • Matt McCurdyBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Cedar Rapids, IA · Member since 2019 · 143 posts · 56 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Vassilios Kovanis:

    Welcome to bigger pockets, the largest market place to sell bridges.

    I hope some BP readers realize that a huge part of frequent posters on this forum are not genuine deal makers, but phonies with no track record only in the business to sell mentorship programs, seminars, books and bad investments to gullible newbies.

    Do you really think real successful deal makers waste their time posting thousands of times on a forum essentially catering to first time investors?

    Do you think successful RE entrepreneurs need to chase small time investors money, mentor newbies and write books about their winning strategies in an already over competitive / saturated market?

    Real estate is plain simple and there is absolutely nothing you can’t learn reading

    Good luck


     Sure, anyone can learn anything with the many outlets of real estate books, facebook groups, youtube channels, etc. However, many new investors' heads start spinning with the amount of information and struggle to know where to begin and who to believe.  A great coach will help investors cut through the analysis paralysis and help investors take actionable steps to making cashflow vs. sitting on the sidelines and wondering what step to take next.  Did I describe your coaching experience @Stephen Kleyn?

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