My Rental Portfolio and Deals I Work

[David Litt]

Investment Info:

Other other investment.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to build a portfolio of 250+ residential units across several markets, ranging from single-family homes to small multifamily properties. This growth hasn’t come overnight — it’s been the result of consistent effort, creative financing, and working with homeowners to find solutions that benefit everyone involved.

Many of these properties were acquired through pre-foreclosure or distressed situations, where we were able to create win-win outcomes for both families and investors. Beyond the numbers, I focus on improving the homes, stabilizing neighborhoods, and ensuring long-term value for tenants and communities.

While I’m proud of what’s been built so far, I’m still very much a student of real estate and enjoy connecting with others who share a passion for learning, innovating, and growing together.

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

What first drew me to investing in pre-foreclosure and distressed properties was the chance to solve real problems for real people. Early on, I met homeowners who were about to lose everything — not because they were bad with money, but because life had hit them hard with medical bills, job loss, or unexpected expenses. Traditional banks and agents often didn’t have solutions for them, and that’s where I realized I could step in.

By creating flexible, legal, and ethical deals, I found I could h

How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

Most of the opportunities I’ve pursued have come from working with homeowners in pre-foreclosure or distressed situations. Instead of waiting for properties to hit the open market, I focused on connecting directly with people who needed real solutions. Over time, this meant building referral networks, tracking foreclosure filings, and creating outreach strategies that were professional, respectful, and compliant with the law.

Negotiations were rarely about “beating the other side.” They were ab

How did you finance this deal?

Financing has always been about creativity and adaptability. Early on, I relied on a mix of personal capital and partnerships, which gave me the flexibility to take on smaller distressed properties and build momentum. As the portfolio grew, I leaned more on creative finance strategies — subject-to arrangements, seller financing, leasebacks, and private lending relationships.

Over time, I developed strong connections with private investors and lenders who valued the consistency of my approach an

How did you add value to the deal?

My approach has always been to look beyond the numbers and ask, “How can this property — and this situation — be improved?”

On the physical side, that often meant rehabbing and repositioning distressed homes: addressing deferred maintenance, modernizing interiors, and improving curb appeal. These upgrades didn’t just increase property value; they helped stabilize neighborhoods and attract quality tenants.

On the financial side, I added value by solving problems others overlooked — restructurin

What was the outcome?

The outcomes of these deals have gone far beyond simply building a portfolio of 250+ units. Each transaction represented a chance to create stability — for homeowners, tenants, lenders, and neighborhoods.

For homeowners, many were able to avoid the devastating impact of foreclosure. Some were able to stay in their homes under new terms; others walked away with dignity and a fresh start, instead of an auction notice on their record.

For communities, formerly distressed and neglected properties

Lessons learned? Challenges?

Looking back, the biggest lessons didn’t come from the easy wins — they came from the deals that tested me.

One challenge was realizing that not every distressed property is a good deal. Early on, I underestimated repair costs and overestimated timelines, which taught me the value of thorough due diligence and building a reliable contractor network.

Another lesson came from the human side. Working with homeowners in pre-foreclosure means dealing with people under extreme stress. I had to learn

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Real estate is absolutely a team sport, and I’ve been fortunate to work with some outstanding professionals over the years. The ones I’d recommend to others are those who combine competence with integrity — people who don’t just get deals done, but do them the right way.

Attorneys who understand creative financing and foreclosure work, and who keep compliance airtight.

Title and escrow professionals who move quickly without cutting corners (my own company, Ten Day Title, was built to solve tha