Grant Cardone / Cardone Capital

Grant Cardone / Cardone Capital

Developer · New York City, NY · Member since 2015 · 812 posts · 718 votes

My office received a call from one of his reps today. I thought the pitch was a pie in the sky type of deal.  Anyone hear of this guy on Youtube,  Grant Cardone?  He boasts a half a billion dollar real estate empire in Florida and Texas.  I believe he get's around 90% financing, plus he also takes in money from investors.  Something doesn't seem 100%.   He also does these seminars and other marketing stuff.  He seems all over the place and also trying to raise capital from others.  Just some basic math, if he's financing 90%, paying out at least 6% to investors, and locking in a 3.5% mortgage from Fannie Mae; because he's a preferred client, there doesn't seem much leeway for him to make money.  I understand the cash flow portion of it, as that is what we do.  We just do not raise capital or borrow money that much anymore.  However, my concern is that when the recession hits and the evictions start, that cash flow will dry up.  He seems to be working on extremely thin margins.  He's also in very lofty areas of Miami; which were the first to go in the last recession.  He reminds me of the Polka King (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Lewan).

Am I reading into the numbers incorrectly?

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JD MartinBusiness Member
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Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
8y
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
GC is legit. He was a guest on the Bigger Pockets podcast 3 years ago.

Originally posted by @Calvin Thomas:

My office received a call from one of his reps today. I thought the pitch was a pie in the sky type of deal.  Anyone hear of this guy on Youtube,  Grant Cardone?  He boasts a half a billion dollar real estate empire in Florida and Texas.  I believe he get's around 90% financing, plus he also takes in money from investors.  Something doesn't seem 100%.   He also does these seminars and other marketing stuff.  He seems all over the place and also trying to raise capital from others.  Just some basic math, if he's financing 90%, paying out at least 6% to investors, and locking in a 3.5% mortgage from Fannie Mae; because he's a preferred client, there doesn't seem much leeway for him to make money.  I understand the cash flow portion of it, as that is what we do.  We just do not raise capital or borrow money that much anymore.  However, my concern is that when the recession hits and the evictions start, that cash flow will dry up.  He seems to be working on extremely thin margins.  He's also in very lofty areas of Miami; which were the first to go in the last recession.  He reminds me of the Polka King (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Lewan).

Am I reading into the numbers incorrectly?

 I don't want to comment on Cardone one way or the other but I wanted to note this post - everyone always needs to make sure they do their own research and due diligence. BP works hard to have good podcast guests but one should never assume that just because someone was on the radio they're real or worthwhile. Question everything - make no assumptions. Cardone is famous, but Bernie Madoff was famous too. 

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  • Rental Property Investor · Trussville, AL · Member since 2019 · 13 posts · 4 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Jonathon Weber:

    Putting money into funds like Cardone Capital is just about a place to grow money a few percentages a year. When you watch his videos the majority of the checks are under $100 or a few hundred. Rarely does he mention a check going out that is over $1k. 

    Grant is a small player when it comes to syndication. There are funds out there by the big players that are in the billion dollar level. 

    You can get better returns by investing in other funds but at the end of the day Cardone Capital exists to make Grant money and he does well at it. 


    What other funds would you recommend taking a look at?  Thanks

  • Investor · Spring City, PA · Member since 2019 · 56 posts · 41 votes
    6y

    @Joe Splitrock you hit it exactly right. Too many are awed by Cardone’s flash and haven’t followed him long enough to see how full of it he is. I listened to him a few years back and was inspired because I was already into apartments but now if he comes across my radar he just seems so fake. His numbers are always escalating and he’s getting rich off of suckers handing over capital and credit card numbers. He even sued a guy for making truthful videos about him just to shut him up but it didn’t work.

  • Investor · Spring City, PA · Member since 2019 · 56 posts · 41 votes
    6y

    @Nigel Ford I hope you didn't listen to Grants BS and started anyway. He's not the all knowing God of REI. He's the God of sales and marketing and he's selling people on himself everyday.

  • Rental Property Investor · RVA · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Pankaj Sharma:

    @Joe Splitrock you hit it exactly right. Too many are awed by Cardone’s flash and haven’t followed him long enough to see how full of it he is. I listened to him a few years back and was inspired because I was already into apartments but now if he comes across my radar he just seems so fake. His numbers are always escalating and he’s getting rich off of suckers handing over capital and credit card numbers. He even sued a guy for making truthful videos about him just to shut him up but it didn’t work.

     Interesting, can you share a link to those videos? 

  • Investor · Spring City, PA · Member since 2019 · 56 posts · 41 votes
    6y

    @Calvin T. Correct. He’s def a danger to those that are naive. Thx for your post.

  • Investor · Spring City, PA · Member since 2019 · 56 posts · 41 votes
    6y

    @Jonathon Weber spot on !

  • Investor · Spring City, PA · Member since 2019 · 56 posts · 41 votes
    6y
  • Investor · Spring City, PA · Member since 2019 · 56 posts · 41 votes
    6y
  • Investor · Oxford, MI · Member since 2016 · 110 posts · 41 votes
    6y

    @Tal Simpson

    I was thinking same thing!

  • Real Estate Agent · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2019 · 448 posts · 320 votes
    6y

    I personally enjoy Cardone's books.  10X rule is in my top 10 of all time real estate sales books.  The podcasts aren't as much my cup of tea but the guy is a fantastic motivator and sales trainer.  You either love him or hate his guts.  

  • Rental Property Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 33 posts · 14 votes
    6y

    @JD Martin

    I agree with you that just because someone is on the BP Podcast, doesn’t make them trustworthy. Everybody should always remember that Clayton Morris was on the BiggerPockets podcast too! So everybody should always do their own due diligence in analyzing any investment.

    Personally i have never invested with GC but i believe he is legit. But i think he is still a big promoter and talker as anybody that big probably is. That is why we’re talking about him.

  • Real Estate Agent · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2015 · 149 posts · 75 votes
    6y

    Word on the street is Grant Cardone laid off 80 of his 180 employees

    https://twitter.com/HealThysel...

  • Rental Property Investor · San Francisco Bay Area · Member since 2018 · 87 posts · 87 votes
    6y
  • Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 17 posts · 11 votes
    6y

    @Calvin T. It doesn’t look good for everyone who just tried to defend him in this thread over the last year

  • Developer · New York City, NY · Member since 2015 · 812 posts · 718 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Nelson Lin:

    @Calvin T. It doesn’t look good for everyone who just tried to defend him in this thread over the last year

     Mr. Cardone is the present day P.T. Barnum. It's quite easy doing business and making $$$ when times are good. However, true leaders and business operators are one's who can weather the good times and the bad times. Mr. Cardone is a showman and loved to fluff his ego, and that is fine.

    Let's see how it unfolds. I wish no one pain and hope he is able to navigate around his possible missteps and over-extension of credit.

  • Rental Property Investor · Escondido, CA · Member since 2017 · 679 posts · 550 votes
    6y

    In the next 10 days it will become obvious that he will not be able to meet his obligations for all his non-federally secured financing while his tenants aren't paying. It's only a matter of a few months until that house of cards will collapse. As several people have said here and on other threads about syndication: "Its easy to make money and look like a magician when the markets keep going up. When they crash, its a totally different story. INvestors at Cardone Capital don't have a right to ask for their money back before the 10 years are done and if the market is trash at the sales point who knows what will happen. I predict the current funds will not make it to 2021. I feel really sorry for all the unaccredited investors Cardone took money from.

  • Specialist · Honolulu, HI · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Axel Meierhoefer:

    In the next 10 days it will become obvious that he will not be able to meet his obligations for all his non-federally secured financing while his tenants aren't paying. It's only a matter of a few months until that house of cards will collapse. As several people have said here and on other threads about syndication: "Its easy to make money and look like a magician when the markets keep going up. When they crash, its a totally different story. INvestors at Cardone Capital don't have a right to ask for their money back before the 10 years are done and if the market is trash at the sales point who knows what will happen. I predict the current funds will not make it to 2021. I feel really sorry for all the unaccredited investors Cardone took money from.

    Do you feel sorry for the accredited investors Cardone took money from?

  • Real Estate Agent · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2019 · 448 posts · 320 votes
    6y

    Lot of schadenfreude on this thread.  Whether the vitriol being directed at Cardone is justified or not I don't see how it helps anyone.  I do agree that the way he let his employees go was harsh and it will come back to haunt him.  I still enjoy his books.  Never was a fan of his podcast.  For my taste it is far too Wall Street/Boiler Room.  I have found that his books are useful for self motivating.  Never invested with him and wouldn't have anyways because I'm way too hands on for that.  Sincerely hope that anyone who has lost money with him finds some recourse.  Also hope that anyone who worked for him and was let go lands on their feet quickly.   

  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Andrey Y.:
    Originally posted by @Axel Meierhoefer:

    In the next 10 days it will become obvious that he will not be able to meet his obligations for all his non-federally secured financing while his tenants aren't paying. It's only a matter of a few months until that house of cards will collapse. As several people have said here and on other threads about syndication: "Its easy to make money and look like a magician when the markets keep going up. When they crash, its a totally different story. INvestors at Cardone Capital don't have a right to ask for their money back before the 10 years are done and if the market is trash at the sales point who knows what will happen. I predict the current funds will not make it to 2021. I feel really sorry for all the unaccredited investors Cardone took money from.

    Do you feel sorry for the accredited investors Cardone took money from?

    because of my love of everything about airplanes the only Cardone u tube i have watched was when he was taking ownership of his NEW Gulfstream 550 in 2018  those are 30 to 40 million dollar birds.. his wife ( assume it was his wife) was just giddy.. its a beautiful machine.

    wonder if he can keep it or will need to down size .. ?? those machines cost about 30k an hour to operate or so.. I know my little bug smasher cost me 600 an hour all in and it was only a 450k machine..

    On another note if his company suffers dramatically you know its going to be all over the news and social media and that wont be good for others in the industry either. 

  • Specialist · Honolulu, HI · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Jay Hinrichs:
    Originally posted by @Andrey Y.:
    Originally posted by @Axel Meierhoefer:

    In the next 10 days it will become obvious that he will not be able to meet his obligations for all his non-federally secured financing while his tenants aren't paying. It's only a matter of a few months until that house of cards will collapse. As several people have said here and on other threads about syndication: "Its easy to make money and look like a magician when the markets keep going up. When they crash, its a totally different story. INvestors at Cardone Capital don't have a right to ask for their money back before the 10 years are done and if the market is trash at the sales point who knows what will happen. I predict the current funds will not make it to 2021. I feel really sorry for all the unaccredited investors Cardone took money from.

    Do you feel sorry for the accredited investors Cardone took money from?

    because of my love of everything about airplanes the only Cardone u tube i have watched was when he was taking ownership of his NEW Gulfstream 550 in 2018  those are 30 to 40 million dollar birds.. his wife ( assume it was his wife) was just giddy.. its a beautiful machine.

    wonder if he can keep it or will need to down size .. ?? those machines cost about 30k an hour to operate or so.. I know my little bug smasher cost me 600 an hour all in and it was only a 450k machine..

    On another note if his company suffers dramatically you know its going to be all over the news and social media and that wont be good for others in the industry either. 

     Yup, I know the video.

    I will be following the coming aftermath very closely indeed.

  • Sunnyvale , CA · Member since 2017 · 373 posts · 362 votes
    6y

    I am not a fan on Grant Cardone but I know he has a big following.

    If he did not flash his lifestyle, talk loud, show off, talk big, ******** like there is no tomorrow he would not have that following.

    But to his credit he had found a huge niche where all that stuff sells like hot cakes. So Id give him credit for that. Will I take investment advice or go into any business deal with him, for sure no.

    So I guess it’s a catch-22 for the guy. He has to be flashy to get that following. Of course, the following might get smaller if as rumored he files for bankruptcy.

  • Member since 2020 · 117 posts · 84 votes
    6y

    Grant Cardon is winning even if its just because of how much people are talking about him. everyone is making Youtube videos about him and how they hope he fails. i honestly hopes he is success full just for that reason. and if he does he will file bankruptcy and go back to making millions as a sales trainer. 

  • Developer · New York City, NY · Member since 2015 · 812 posts · 718 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Steven Lowe:

    Lot of schadenfreude on this thread.  Whether the vitriol being directed at Cardone is justified or not I don't see how it helps anyone.  I do agree that the way he let his employees go was harsh and it will come back to haunt him.  I still enjoy his books.  Never was a fan of his podcast.  For my taste it is far too Wall Street/Boiler Room.  I have found that his books are useful for self motivating.  Never invested with him and wouldn't have anyways because I'm way too hands on for that.  Sincerely hope that anyone who has lost money with him finds some recourse.  Also hope that anyone who worked for him and was let go lands on their feet quickly.   

    No one appreciates or wants those investors to feel pain or hurt. However, anyone who's logical would know from the prospectus this offer isn't worth the paper it is printed on. I posted to warn people here about it. I hope I saved some people from the hurt and financial misery that they could (or would) be experiencing right now. Mr. Cardone may have started out with good intentions, but his ego got ahead of himself and the market. He doesn't take care of his employees; heaven only knows how he takes care of his tenants. He fired near a 100 or so employees I hear. Yet, the PPP would had covered them from Feb. 15th - June 30th (I believe).  Mr. Cardone didn't have enough cash in reserves to hold him and his companies over for a bit?  I am willing to bet that his banks called his credit lines and he got scared (anyone would). He had to cut expenses, and the first and prob. largest were the employees.  There's no pleasure in that.

  • Developer · New York City, NY · Member since 2015 · 812 posts · 718 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Jay Hinrichs:
    Originally posted by @Andrey Y.:
    Originally posted by @Axel Meierhoefer:

    In the next 10 days it will become obvious that he will not be able to meet his obligations for all his non-federally secured financing while his tenants aren't paying. It's only a matter of a few months until that house of cards will collapse. As several people have said here and on other threads about syndication: "Its easy to make money and look like a magician when the markets keep going up. When they crash, its a totally different story. INvestors at Cardone Capital don't have a right to ask for their money back before the 10 years are done and if the market is trash at the sales point who knows what will happen. I predict the current funds will not make it to 2021. I feel really sorry for all the unaccredited investors Cardone took money from.

    Do you feel sorry for the accredited investors Cardone took money from?

    because of my love of everything about airplanes the only Cardone u tube i have watched was when he was taking ownership of his NEW Gulfstream 550 in 2018  those are 30 to 40 million dollar birds.. his wife ( assume it was his wife) was just giddy.. its a beautiful machine.

    wonder if he can keep it or will need to down size .. ?? those machines cost about 30k an hour to operate or so.. I know my little bug smasher cost me 600 an hour all in and it was only a 450k machine..

    On another note if his company suffers dramatically you know its going to be all over the news and social media and that wont be good for others in the industry either. 

     Prob. more importantly to see if he's able to keep his wife when the money train pauses or dries up for a bit. They seem very materialistic, so I have a feeling leaving the lux lifestyle would be a problem for both of them to adapt too.

  • Developer · New York City, NY · Member since 2015 · 812 posts · 718 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Robert Beardsley:

    Grant Cardon is winning even if its just because of how much people are talking about him. everyone is making Youtube videos about him and how they hope he fails. i honestly hopes he is success full just for that reason. and if he does he will file bankruptcy and go back to making millions as a sales trainer. 

    Yes, he's winning..  He's winning all the way to bankruptcy court.  He said he didn't PG any of his loans, so it may just be a corp bankruptcy.  The man is now worth less than zero in terms of finances.  Assets are only assets when they produce money.  If one has 500 million in real estate, I am sure they are all mortgaged to 80% - 90% and maybe even have a credit line on the additional 10% - 20% in equity. Several private lenders will take over the additional equity for a 10% - 15% interest rate.  So, if even 50% of his rents are not coming in, what's he going to do?  One can only downsize and cut costs so much.  It should be an interesting experience seeing how he navigates through all this debt and unknowing.

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