Many high-income professionals want to invest in real estate but feel stuck due to demanding jobs and long hours. In this episode of the Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles & Syndication Show, Leslie Awasom shares how he began investing while working long hospital shifts as a CRNA—and how he used his W-2 income as leverage, not a limitation. His story shows how to build real estate on the side without rushing or quitting too early.

💼 How He Bought Real Estate While Working as a CRNA

Leslie worked 12-hour hospital shifts, often 60 hours a week. Instead of waiting for free time, he used breaks, night shifts, and weekends to learn. While others watched Netflix, he studied underwriting and deal structures. Those small efforts compounded over time.

Key actions he took:
• Studied during hospital breaks
• Learned underwriting on slow night shifts
• Attended events on weekends
• Focused on consistency over perfection

🏢 Starting with Single-Family, Then Scaling to Multifamily

Leslie started in 2017 with single-family homes using the BRRR strategy to learn the basics. As he gained experience, he shifted to multifamily for better scale and efficiency—ideal for busy professionals.

This move allowed him and his partners to focus on apartment buildings and create passive income.

🤝 Why Multifamily Makes Sense for Busy Professionals

In Part 1, Leslie explains how multifamily allows investors to pool capital, hire professional management, and stay focused on their careers.

Why this works for W-2 earners:
• Less day-to-day involvement
• Professional management
• Faster scaling
• Side-hustle friendly

📊 Using a W-2 as a Strategic Advantage

Leslie kept his CRNA income while growing his real estate business. When the market slowed in 2022, he stayed employed and later moved to per-diem work. He fully exited his W-2 in 2024, once timing and income aligned.

This approach helped him grow without financial pressure.

🎯 Rules of Thumb for Balancing Business and Life

Leslie didn’t follow a strict schedule—he worked whenever time allowed. Over time, this created two to three hours daily for real estate without sacrificing job performance.

Practical takeaways:
• Use small gaps wisely
• Don’t rush quitting
• Let your income support growth
• Reduce hours gradually

🔑 Key Takeaways for High-Income Earners Investing on the Side

This episode highlights patience, discipline, and using your job as leverage. Leslie’s journey proves real estate success comes from consistency and smart transitions—not hype.

If you’re a W-2 professional or business owner, this episode offers a realistic path to investing in real estate on the side.

Click On This Link For Our Free E-Book "An Introduction Into Apartment Syndication: https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/
Website: Moonlightcre.com
Click On The Link Below To Schedule A Call With Eric:https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation
Click On The Link Below For More Information About Eric Lindsey:
https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey

Many high-income professionals believe real estate success requires speed — fast deals and quick exits. In this episode, Kevin Kennon explains why his approach is different. While running a full-time architecture, development, and consulting business, Kevin focuses on long-term ownership, lifestyle alignment, and lasting value.

Instead of separating work, life, and investing, Kevin believes they should support each other. He builds real estate that still makes sense when timelines stretch — assets you’d want to live in, work in, or proudly share with your community. This conversation is ideal for professionals who want real estate to strengthen, not disrupt, their lives.

💼 How Kevin Is Buying and Developing Real Estate While Running a Full-Time Business

Kevin’s career began in architecture in the late 1980s. Before investing, he already owned and operated his own firm in New York City. His first real estate deal was a syndicated development in Tribeca, where he was both investor and architect.

That project — the original American Express building in Tribeca — took years to stabilize and survived the 2008 financial crisis. This experience shaped Kevin’s long-term mindset: real estate rarely moves on your timeline, so choose assets you believe in even when plans change.

🏨 Luxury Boutique Resort Development as Lifestyle Investing

This episode focuses on high-end boutique hotel and resort development — not flipping or short-term speculation.

Kevin shared a key consulting experience in Saudi Arabia, where he reviewed a proposal for a 500-room resort in a remote desert location. After feasibility studies, he advised against building at that scale.

That experience led to his current focus:

Smaller, ultra-high-end luxury resorts
Remote or wilderness-adjacent locations
Long-term ownership horizons
Projects investors would actually want to visit

For Kevin, real estate must offer intrinsic value beyond projected returns.

📊 How These Developments Are Structured and Timed

Developments are structured through a holding company, with each resort placed in its own LLC. Holding company investors receive rights of first refusal on future projects.

Key details:
• Mostly self-funded deals
• 5+ year development timelines
• High-20% to low-30% IRR targets
• 10–15 year exit horizons

Kevin emphasized that deals must justify the time, complexity, and risk involved.

🎯 Rules of Thumb for Balancing Business and Life

• Integrate business and life
• Invest in what you truly believe in
• Plan for challenges and downside risk
• Avoid speculation and think long-term
• Use patience as a competitive advantage

🧭 Coaching Advice for Active and Passive Investors

New Investors: Understand your personal risk tolerance.
Busy Professionals: Align investments with your lifestyle.
Limited Time or Capital: Stay curious and keep learning.
Passive Investing: Real estate is tangible — you still own something real.

🚀 Final Takeaway for High-Income Earners

Real estate isn’t about moving fast.
It’s about patience, alignment, and ownership.

Many high-income professionals and business owners want to invest in real estate but struggle to see how it fits alongside a demanding job or an operating business. In this episode of the Moonlight Real Estate Syndication Show, Kevin Kennon explains how real estate ownership became a natural extension of his career—not a replacement for it. His journey shows how long-term wealth can be built while staying fully committed to your primary profession.

How to Invest in Real Estate While Working a Demanding Career

Kevin’s background is in architecture, with his career beginning in the late 1980s and based primarily in New York City. By the time he became involved in real estate ownership, he already owned and operated his own architecture firm. His entry into real estate came through a colleague—also an architect—who transitioned into development and syndicated a deal to convert a large historic building in Tribeca.

Kevin joined the project as both an investor and the architect, which allowed him to remain focused on his core business while participating in ownership. His experience shows that real estate does not have to compete with your career when your skills and opportunities align.

What He Did: Entered Real Estate Through His Existing Skill Set

Rather than pursuing deals outside his expertise, Kevin invested in a project where he was already providing value. The building was large, complex, and historically significant—the original American Express building in New York City.

This approach allowed Kevin to learn real estate ownership while continuing to operate his firm. It also reduced risk by protecting his primary income and maintaining professional focus.

How You Can Apply It: Use Your Career as Leverage, Not a Distraction

Kevin emphasizes the importance of protecting your main income source. Payroll, client obligations, and business stability always came first. With a firm of roughly 25 people at its peak, cash flow discipline was critical.

For professionals with demanding jobs or businesses, real estate should fit into defined time blocks without interfering with performance or responsibilities.

Rules of Thumb for Balancing Business and Life

Kevin explains that business and life are not separate lanes. Over time, he focused on integrating them rather than treating them as competing priorities. Consistency and discipline mattered more than speed.

This mindset is especially relevant for part-time investors building long-term wealth.

Understanding Real Estate in Highly Regulated Markets

Much of Kevin’s experience comes from New York City, where zoning, environmental rules, and high costs shape investment strategy. In these markets, conversions are often more viable than ground-up construction.

Success requires patience, regulatory knowledge, and conservative expectations.

Coaching Advice for Active and Passive Investors Buying Part-Time

Kevin’s story shows you don’t need to quit your job to build real estate wealth. Ownership can grow alongside a demanding career when investments align with your skills and risk tolerance.

For passive investors, his experience highlights the importance of understanding project complexity and operator capability.

Books Recommended for Active and Passive Investors

Rather than naming a single book, Kevin stresses staying informed about your local market. He recommends following newsletters and publications that track development, pricing, and trends.

Click On This Link For Our Free E-Book "An Introduction Into Apartment Syndication: https://moonlightcre.com/ebook_download/
Website: Moonlightcre.com
Click On The Link Below To Schedule A Call With Eric:https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversation
Click On The Link Below For More Information About Eric Lindsey:
https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey