All Forum Posts by: Stephanie Pappas

DIG's Monthly Main Meeting

House Hacking, Earning Income from Your Home

Panelists: Todd Bentley, Cindy Wollman, Matt Wahl
Moderator: Todd Hesbacher

House hacking is a great beginner real estate strategy where you buy a property, live in one part of it, and rent out the rest to generate income. The goal is to significantly reduce or potentially eliminate your housing expenses, allowing you to build equity and potentially create a foundation for further real estate investments.

Cindy Wollman, Real Estate Professional

Cindy Wollman is a seasoned real estate agent and investor with nearly four decades of hands-on experience. Shepurchased her first property in 1986—a house-hack triplex in Allentown, PA—using an FHA loan and a $2,500 loan from her parents. By living in one unit and renting out the others, she launched a real estate inve sting journey that has continued ever since.
Over the years, Cindy has built a portfolio of rental properties ranging from condos to multifamily homes, with both short- and long-term rentals. Her primary investing strategy has been buy-and-hold, and she successfully used her rental income and appreciation growth to fund her children’s college education. Today, she manages five doors and continues to grow her portfolio.
Licensed as a Realtor since 2015, Cindy serves Montgomery, Bucks, and Philadelphia counties. Her deep market knowledge, investor mindset, and client-first approach make her a trusted advisor to buyers, sellers, and fellow investors.
Outside of real estate, Cindy is an active community volunteer and enjoys exploring local trails, parks, and skiing in the Pocono Mountains.

Matt Wahl, School Teacher

Matt has been investing in real estate since 2011. In December of 2014 he joined DIG and watched his investing increase exponentially soon afterwards. He started volunteering his first year and joined the board in the Spring of 2020.
For more than the first half of his investing career, Matt invested in single family properties in Philadelphia. Over the past five years, he has been switching to multifamily investing and selling off his single family properties in Philadelphia. Currently, he is investing in multifamily and mixed use properties in Montco, the Lehigh Valley, and Rutland, VT.
For fun he enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, and surfing as well as coaching and chasing his kids.

Todd Bentley, Rocket Scientist

Todd Bentley is a proud graduate of Penn State University, where he earned a degree in aerospace engineering. His journey into real estate began when a co-worker introduced him to the Bigger Pockets podcast. Intrigued, Todd dedicated the next six months to immersing himself in the world of real estate, listening to two podcasts a day during his commutes and reading dozens of books to build his knowledge.
In December 2021, at 24 years old, Todd took the plunge and purchased his first fixer-upper: a duplex house hack in Willow Grove. He devoted his nights and weekends to renovating the property, which required a cosmetic overhaul, including new bathrooms, kitchens, flooring, and paint. Despite the challenges, including dealing with cigarette smokers on both sides, Todd transformed the duplex into a welcoming property.
Since that first investment, Todd has continued to house hack, moving once a year to expand his portfolio. In four years, he has acquired seven rental units and an eight-bay garage that serves as a self-storage facility. Todd plans to keep house hacking until he and his fiancée, Lauren, decide to start a family, with hopes of completing 2-3 more house hacks in the near future.

Outside of real estate, Todd is passionate about personal fitness, is an avid supporter of all Philadelphia sports teams, and enjoys spending time at the beach with friends and family.”

DIG's Main Meetings take place every third Thursday of the month at the Whitemarsh Valley Event Center, located at 493 S Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, PA. Doors open at 6:00 PM, kicking off with a networking hour where attendees can connect and engage with fellow members and industry professionals. Be sure to visit and support our DIG Vendors showcasing valuable resources and services. DIG Members attend for free, and if you're not a member yet, you can JOIN today for just $19.99 per month to gain access to these valuable events and more.
Networking starts at 6:00 PM

MEMBERS & FIRST TIME GUESTS ATTEND FREE

Visit digonline.org for more details!

Main Monthly Meeting: Inside Secrets of Better Bank Loans

with Robert Mohon

September 18th, 2025

A Meeting for All You Wealth-Builders (Who Also Have Jobs to Deal With)

Here at DIG, our mission is to meet you where you are, and give you the resources to take you where you want to go.

For many members, "where you are" is trying to build enough passive income to retire (maybe even early?) while dealing with the demands of a full-time job.

So at this meeting, we're getting advice from an "ender" who has already built that wealth, WHILE working, and who has a lot of really relevant tips and experience to share with the rest of us.

Here's the agenda:

How to Borrow All the Money You Want from Banks (and Have Them Begging You to Take More) with Robert Mohon

If you're serious about building wealth in real estate, here’s a truth you need to embrace: Banks are still the best source of long-term, low-interest, fixed-rate money.

The trick is... you have to know how to make them say yes.

That’s why we’ve recruited long-time landlord and “Professional Bank Customer” Robert Mohon to teach you how to make banks not just say yes—but fight to lend to you.

Robert built his entire portfolio using only traditional bank loans. No partners. No private money. No creative financing. Just smart strategies and a deep understanding of how banks work.

Robert will share all this:

- The five traits of borrowers that make lenders say yes

- How to get lines of credit—and why they’re the most powerful financing tool you’re probably not using

- The “other” credit score banks use (and how to boost it fast)

- What a “trash account” is, and why every serious borrower needs one

- What bankers won’t tell you about protecting yourself in loan deals

- The posture, language, and mindset that make banks trust—and fund—you

- How the inner workings of banks give you unexpected leverage

This isn’t theory—it’s real, step-by-step insight from someone who did it, and wants to help you do it too.

Whether you're brand-new or already own 20 doors, if you’re not using banks to their fullest—this is your wake-up call.

Register Now to make Check-in Easy! Bring a guest, this meeting is FREE to the Public!

THE DIG COMMUNITY!

Connect with local Investors in the Greater Philadelphia, PA area

DIG's Main Meetings are every THIRD Thursday of the Month

DIG Members attend FREE

Join Today for just $19.99

DIG's Main Monthly Meeting

Best Networking event of the year!!

Join us for an extraordinary networking experience! Here you’ll meet the All-Stars of DIG, Attorneys, Wholesalers, Note Investors, Flippers, Creative Financers, and more! This event features a topic at each table for everything you need to know about Real Estate Investing plus the expert there to answer your questions! You’ll have time to ask the expert until the time runs out. Move to the next table when you hear the bell ring. And don't forget to take notes! Make the most of this opportunity to learn and connect with the best in the field!

Check-in starts at 6:00 PM
6:30 PM Networking Begins!

Our Tables will cover a variety of Real Estate Topics:

Ask the Real Estate Attorney
How to Find Money
How to Get Started in Real Estate
Insurance & Public Adjusting
Landlording 101
Member Benefits
Partnering
Property Management
Subject To & Seller Financing
Rehabbing
Wholesaling
Mentoring

Join us how our Round Table Speed-Networking Night with the experts!
Bring your business cards and take LOTS of notes!!! A notepad and pen is a must!

THE DIG COMMUNITY!
Connect with local Investors in the Greater Philadelphia, PA area

DIG's Main Meetings are every THIRD Thursday of the Month

FIRST TIME GUESTS ATTEND FREE (Non-members returning guests $19.99)

Doors Open at 6:00pm
Networking hour begins!
Meet our DIG Vendors

@ The Whitemarsh Valley Event Center
493 S Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington PA

DIG Members attend FREE
Join Today for just

DIG's Main Monthly Meeting

DIG is excited to bring you something truly special for our July Main Meeting. In line with our mission to uncover investment opportunities in unexpected places, this month we’re diving into a part of the market that’s typically out of reach for most individual investors—commercial real estate.

We’re thrilled to welcome Kevin Maloney, Managing Director of Broker Services at JLL, the second-largest commercial brokerage firm in the world. With over 20 years of experience, Kevin is a seasoned expert in the commercial real estate space. He’ll be joined by Emily Friedman, JLL’s Research Manager, who brings deep insights into market trends and data.

Together, Kevin and Emily will walk us through the process of investing in commercial properties—from understanding the key differences between residential and commercial markets to identifying viable deals, even as a beginner. They’ll share real-world transaction examples and show us why commercial investing isn’t just for the big players.

Don’t miss this eye-opening session—it might just change the way you think about your investment strategy!

Read about the Speakers:

--> Emily Friedman

Emily Friedman is the head of market research for the Greater Philadelphia region with JLL, contributing to day-to-day production of research materials focused on the office, life sciences and multifamily sectors. She plays a crucial role in the production and review of standardized and custom pieces including media interviews, quarterly insights and statistics, and analysis to assist brokers and clients in achieving their leasing, sales, and development ambitions. Emily is adept at creating and presenting market overviews for internal and external use, highlighting the demographic and economic demand drivers contributing to local real estate dynamics in all 5 area markets.

--> Kevin Maloney

Kevin M. Maloney is Managing Director of Brokerage Services with JLL. Based in their Philadelphia-PA office, JLL is a Fortune 500, global leader in real estate services. Regarded as one of Philadelphia’s most respected real estate experts within the office asset class, Kevin’s extensive experience provides him with a deep knowledge of the industry—and he is often recognized for his creative and market-defining advice, which has been instrumental in shaping the Downtown Office market.

What happens at the DIG Meetings?

Each month we meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month with local investors for a night of networking and education!

Evening Schedule:

6:00 PM – Doors Open & Networking - Meet our DIG !

6:15 PM – The Numbers Group in the bar: Real rehabs, real numbers

6:45 PM – New Member Orientation with Board Members: Al Moffa & Igor Zabrodin

7:00 PM – Announcements & Main Event with Guest Speaker

THE DIG COMMUNITY!

Connect with local Investors in the Greater Philadelphia, PA area

DIG's Main Meetings are every THIRD Thursday of the Month

DIG Members attend FREE

Join Today for just $19.99

I Wanna Be An Investor But What Do I Do To Get Going? Feeling like you just don’t know what to do to get started with your investing?

Yes, the market is the toughest we have ever seen, inventory is low, deals are hard to find, there’s lots of competition for the few deals out there, what’s a new investor to do?

Want some help navigating the real estate landscape?

Do yourself a favor, come to DIG’s one day workshop on October 19th where Deborah Nye will teach you the A B C’s of getting started.

Our speaker Deborah Nye is a long time member of DIG, speaker, sub-group leader, renovator, landlord, Co-Author, and cheerleader to others success. She will take you through the basics as well as more involved ideas to help you walk out of the class ready to invest!

Interacting with the group, Deb will show you what is working, what isn’t, how to spot opportunities, and why it’s important to have many tools in the tool belt. This meeting will be full of information and even a bit of humor, and plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

Come to this workshop and find out why this will be your wisest investment of your time and education in Rea Estate Investing!


$19.99
Limited Seating!

COME JOIN US for a fun Girls' Night Out with your fellow female investors!

Diversified Investor Girls' Night Out meets Quarterly throughout the year

Join us October 10th hosted in Kitchen Search's showroom!

Get together with women with similar mindsets. Talk about everyday life with your real estate business. All investors welcome! From brand new, who haven't done their first deal yet to investors running their properties. Come and receive the support you may need from the super women of DIG.

PLUS - We have a Special Treat - "Basic Kitchen Design Principles Workshop" hosted by Kitchen Search Designs!

DIG Members FREE
Please Invite Friend, Guests welcome!
Hope to see you there!!!

Class Size LIMITED to First 30 to Register!

With more than 45 years of landlording experience, Don Beck will be sharing his cruise control landlording techniques. He's taught thousands of investors from all over the country. During this all day seminar he will combine his teaching background with practical landlording knowledge, mix it with a sense of humor that will keep us entertained while educating us at the same time.

Don was President of DIG for nine years and served on the DIG board for over three decades, many as education chair. He has served on the Board of National REIA and was instrumental in starting National REIA's "education with a vacation" cruises and was their cruise chairman for 13 years.

Students have taken his class multiple times as there is just SO MUCH to learn from Don every time they attend. 

Since 2020, Samantha Smith has completed over 100 transactions including 200,000+ SF of land and development sites, translating to hundreds of new and renovated units delivered to the market.

Samantha is the Managing Partner of Select Commercial Advisors. She is a Philadelphia native and an investor with deep knowledge and expertise in the local market. She specializes in the transaction of development sites and opportunistic investment deals, particularly land, multifamily and mixed use projects.

As a trusted advisor for her clients, Samantha brings a thorough and professional approach to each transaction from site identification, analysis of property value, market analysis, underwriting, preliminary design and investment strategy. She stays actively involved in the local real estate investor community through numerous clubs and organizations, which allows her to keep a finger on the pulse of the local development landscape and frequently bring new opportunities to her clients.

Samantha is a Member of the Board for WWIRE (Wellness for Women in Real Estate), The Freckled Strawberry – a non-profit for female entrepreneurs, and The Way Club – a non-profit social club for teenagers in Philadelphia. Samantha graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Temple University.

DIG Members Attend FREE
Guests - Print Your FREE First Time Guest Pass below!
See More Membership Options Here

https://www.digonline.org/Events.aspx?ID=Land-Investing-How-...

Become a DIG member today: https://www.digonline.org/MembershipInfo.aspx

Recession-Resistant Cash Flow With Powerful Returns, Less Expenses & Hassle Free Management !

Learn about The Most Practical, Profitable and Predictable Investment Available. Our featured speakers at the main DIG meeting on April 18th will be Tom Dunkel and Joe Downs from Belrose Storage Group. They will show you how investing in Self-Storage outperforms all other real estate asset classes. It is interest rate, inflation and recession resistant. It is a fragmented industry that is becoming more and more in demand.

Build recession resistant cash flow using a step-by-step system to:
+ Find & evaluate opportunities
+ Secure funding
+ Manage your business
+ Scale your portfolio

Who is Self Storage Investing For?
- Real Estate Investors tired of tenants, toilets and trash
- People with little or no investing experience who can follow a process
- Investors who are stuck due to current market conditions
- Anyone looking to diversify their portfolio and add recession resistant cash flow


If you’re tired of tenants, trash & toilets, and would like to learn about a more passive type of investing, be sure to join us on April 18th as Tom & Joe from Belrose Storage Group teach you all the Ins & outs of investing in Self-Storage!

DIG Members: FREE
Join Today 19.99

Register here: https://www.digonline.org/Events.aspx?ID=Main-Monthly-Meetin...

DIG is a local chapter of the national REIA. To learn more about DIG: https://www.digonline.org/MembershipInfo.aspx

Whether it's using a Conventional Mortgage Lender, a Small Bank, or Hard Money Lender, we'll go over the different advantages of each one and discuss the best deals for different types of funding. Getting your Financing down can be tricky, but its so important for investing!

This month, we have an exceptional panel lined up for you to learn the different ways to Financing Your Deals Conventionally

For more info on the panelists or to register, visit: 
https://www.digonline.org/Events.aspx?ID=Main-Monthly-Meetin...

This meeting is sponsored by DIG, a National REAI member

Mark your Calender: DIG's Main Meetings are changing to every THIRD Thursday of the Month
Doors Open at 6:00pm - Networking hour begins!

DIG Members & First-time guests are FREE
Guests can join: $19.99
https://www.digonline.org/Events.aspx?ID=Main-Monthly-Meetin...
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JOIN THE DIG COMMUNITY!