In this episode of Uncontested Investing, Suzanne and I break down one of the biggest unlocks for scaling your real estate portfolio: building a repeatable process that drives consistent growth. We walk through the full lifecycle of a deal, from deal sourcing, underwriting, financing, operations, property management, to exit strategy and show you how to turn each step into a system you can run again and again, in any market. 

We talk about practical tools like CRMs, project management platforms, cost-estimation software, virtual assistants, and outbound call partners, plus the habits and mindset you need to stick to your buy box, remove emotion from decisions, and constantly refine your process.

If you're looking to scale from "doing deals" to running a real real estate investing business, this episode will help you tighten up your systems, build a better team, and create the kind of predictability every investor wants in an unpredictable market.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:41 Dealing with reliability in an unpredictable industry

02:15 Boundaries, buy box & taking emotion out of deals

03:30 Why it's important to document your processes

04:32 Pillar 1: Deal sourcing & building a pipeline

06:24 Leveraging networks to your advantage

07:05 Pillar 2: Due diligence & underwriting

08:01 Checklists and automations

09:10 Pillar 3: Financing strategy & lender relationships

10:21 How to establish credibility with lenders

11:01 Pillar 4: Operations & property management

12:21 Tenant screening tips to keep your properties full

13:28 Vacancy, renewals, reviews & tenant referrals

15:30 Pillar 5: Exit strategy (know it before you enter)

17:29 Tools and technology that support repeatability

18:16 Virtual assistant support for scaling companies

19:33 The impact of nurturing relationships

20:15 Project management tools: Asana & Trello

22:01 Automation for lead generation and follow ups

23:03 Process over outcome: the athlete mindset

23:53 The importance of being intentional

24:12 KPIs, self-review, and the right approach to your mistakes

25:50 Building a team that supports scale

27:06 Culture, communication & continuous training

28:17 Audit your process & start small

29:42 Collaboration over isolation

Quotables

"The market can bounce off the walls… if you can have that tunnel vision on what works for you and block out the rest of the noise, that's where you're going to find success and consistent growth."

"Without numerous properties, you can't build a repeatable process."

"One month of vacancy, you could easily say, is a hundred dollars off the rental rate that you want to get just to not have it vacant."

Links

RCN Capital

https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/

info@rcncapital.com

REI INK

https://rei-ink.com/

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we hit pause on deals and dive into something every real estate investor needs to do at least once a year: reflect, reassess, and reset your plan for the new year. We talk through how to review your wins, losses, systems, market strategy, portfolio performance, team, and mindset so you're not just repeating the same year over and over. 

We cover how to celebrate business highlights, identify what actually moved the needle, and cut the processes, platforms, and partnerships that didn't. We also dig into market insights, changing interest rates, new legislation, tenant screening, BRRRR, non-core dispositions, portfolio optimization, alternative capital (IRAs, 1031 exchanges), new markets, hiring, culture, personal habits, and community.

If you're serious about leveling up your real estate investing business in 2026 and beyond, this episode will give you a practical framework to turn this past year's lessons into a better plan, better systems, and better results

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:16 Why investors should start with the wins before anything else

02:10 Did you stay flexible when the plan broke?

03:13 Owning the good and the bad

04:11 Leading by example and being in the trenches with your team

06:03 Operational lessons: systems that scaled vs. systems that broke

07:25 Deal-level lessons: best vs. worst deals

08:38 The importance of learning from your mistakes

09:11 Team & partnership lessons: hiring, firing, and fit

10:37 Firing is painful… but not firing can be worse

12:00 Mindset lessons: did you actually become the CEO?

13:44 Leveraging market insights for planning for the year

14:15 Interest rates, scarcity & competitiveness

15:22 New legislation & unlawful occupancy (squatting)

16:50 Improving tenant screening processes

18:17 Predictions vs. reality: did you pivot quickly enough?

19:41 Reviewing your portfolio to choose properties to keep, fix, or sell

20:45 Non-core strategy & using BRRRR to recycle equity

21:36 Get your documentation and data ready before you need capital

22:08 Goal-setting that actually sticks

23:07 Strategic focus: new markets, assets, and models

25:26 Team growth, onboarding & culture by design

27:19 Professional & personal development

28:31 Tracking results & embracing automation

29:32 Community: one of the most underused levers

30:03 Competition vs. collaboration

Quotables

"You need to personally acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses… being ready to relinquish control… that's a huge hurdle when you transition from employee to owner."

"Every successful investor that we've had on the show… they've all learned lessons the hard way. But it's about taking those lessons and then turning them into success."

"One of the most important lessons that we hope investors learn throughout the course of any year is that they can't do this by themselves."

Links

RCN Capital

https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/

info@rcncapital.com

REI INK

https://rei-ink.com/

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we sit down with Bruce McNeilage, co-founder of Kinlock Partners, to break down what it really takes to scale a real estate portfolio across multiple markets and asset classes. With nearly two decades of experience building and operating thousands of units, Bruce shares hard-earned lessons from single-family rentals and build-to-rent communities to large multifamily developments and self-storage projects.

We explore how Bruce identifies high-growth real estate markets like Nashville, Atlanta, and Columbia, why job drivers and industry concentration matter more than hype, and how investors can successfully transition from single-family investing into multifamily ownership.

Whether you're a newer investor looking to scale responsibly or an experienced operator refining your strategy, this episode delivers a practical, no-nonsense roadmap to building durable cash-flowing assets, reducing risk, and growing long-term wealth through real estate investing.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:10 Who is Bruce Mcneilage?

03:16 Bootstrapping growth without institutional capital

04:28 Navigating niche communities and neighborhoods

06:06 Scaling from SFR and build-to-rent to condo and multifamily development

07:08 On-site maintenance, resident experience, and controlling operating costs

10:14 Deal Breaker / Deal Maker: due diligence failures and early wins

11:43 Financing challenges when moving from single-family to multifamily

12:30 Operational risks: scale magnifies maintenance and management issues

13:37 Market selection metrics: jobs, automotive plants, and economic drivers

14:20 How to handle the complexities of multifamily property management

16:35 The "collector" approach: managing multiple small properties efficiently

18:53 "Empty houses make me no money" - vacancy, tenants, and cash flow philosophy

20:26 Dealing with tenants: trespassing, squatters, and evictions

21:53 Tenant screening: background checks, credit checks, and fraud prevention

23:20 Tools and systems for tenant screening

24:00 Starting small, bootstrapping portfolios, and long-term wealth building

25:58 Hard work, sacrifice, and the realities behind long-term success

27:17 Partnerships, complementary skill sets, and team building

27:40 New projects: large-scale self-storage development

Quotables

"Empty houses make me no money."

"Ninety-two percent of this business is choosing the right tenant."

"People see the success, but they don't see the 90% below the surface."

Links

RCN Capital

https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/

info@rcncapital.com

REI INK

https://rei-ink.com/

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we keep our tax and legal strategy series rolling with a topic every real estate investor needs to get right: how to structure your portfolio with LLCs, partnerships, and trusts. We break down how the right entity structure protects your personal assets, improves tax efficiency, and sets up clean estate and succession planning as you scale from one rental to a full portfolio. 

We walk through when to form an LLC, how to use partnerships to access capital and expertise, and where revocable and irrevocable trusts fit into long-term legacy planning. Then we hit the big stuff investors often overlook—state law compliance, partnership agreements, tax implications, and keeping documentation current—plus some practical action steps you can take this week with your attorney and CPA.

If you're serious about building a real estate investing business that actually protects you and your family, this one's a must-listen.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:51 What is an LLC?

02:40 LLCs, partners and ease of transferring ownership

03:33 When should you set up an LLC?

04:25 How LLCs limit liability between personal and business life

05:05 How partnerships relate to LLCs

06:00 General vs. Limited Partnerships in LLCs

07:52 Shared risk, shared responsibility and quality of life

08:31 Navigating partnership agreements: No handshake deals!

10:21 What is a trust?

11:48 Trusts for generational wealth and avoiding probate

12:33 Gift and estate tax advantages and divorce protection

14:53 Key considerations when choosing LLCs, partnerships or trusts

15:22 Compliance is key: Always consult professionals for your LLC

16:28 Common mistakes to avoid when setting up your LLC

17:33 Start with the end in mind

18:23 Action steps for investors in setting up LLCs

Quotables

"As a real estate investor, your portfolio can become your identity. So you need to take ownership of it and structure it exactly how you want."

"There's no such thing as too early. You can even set up an LLC before you start investing in real estate."

"Partnership agreements are not a handshake deal…these agreements have to be in writing."

Links

RCN Capital

https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/

info@rcncapital.com

REI INK

https://rei-ink.com/

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we are wrapping up our tax and legal strategy series with a deep dive into cost segregation studies and how they can supercharge your depreciation, tax savings, and cash flow. Most investors focus on appreciation – but if you're not using depreciation the right way, especially on larger commercial and multifamily assets, you're probably leaving money on the table. 

We break down what a cost segregation study actually is, which property types it makes sense for, and how engineers and specialized firms reclassify parts of your building into 5, 7, and 15-year property instead of 27.5 or 39 years. We talk through when to order a study, how it fits into your overall tax strategy, the real costs (often $10K–$30K), and the key risks like IRS scrutiny, recapture, and documentation.

If you're holding commercial, multifamily, industrial, or larger rental properties and you want every legal advantage to reduce taxable income and improve ROI, this conversation will give you a clear, practical framework to talk to your CPA, attorney, and a qualified cost seg firm about your next move.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:04 What is Cost Segregation?

02:21 The importance of cost segregation for investors

03:29 ROI mindset: this is about increasing returns

04:07 How cost segregation works: understanding depreciation

05:01 Planning around depreciation schedules

06:20 When is the best time to do a cost segregation study?

07:37 The costs of a cost segregation study you need to know

08:18 Balancing cost vs. benefit with a qualified firm

09:43 Understanding the risks and considerations of a cost segregation study

10:42 Why not all properties benefit from a cost segregation study

Quotables

"At the end of the day, the ROI is something that every investor's looking for. They want the biggest ROI possible. So why not uncover every stone, and the cost segregation study is no different."

"You're not in this as a charity. You're in this as a business. And let's find the best way to get there."

"Not all properties benefit equally… it's not a one-to-one transaction where just because you made a certain amount of money on one that you're going to make that every time you do a study."

Links

RCN Capital

https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/

info@rcncapital.com

REI INK

https://rei-ink.com/

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we stay on our tax and legal strategies theme and break down one of the most powerful tools in real estate investing: the 1031 exchange. We walk through what a 1031 actually is, how it lets you defer capital gains taxes when you swap one investment property for another, and why it's such a big lever for portfolio growth, net worth, and long-term scaling. 

We talk about the 45-day identification and 180-day closing rules, the role of a qualified intermediary, and how to move from a duplex into a four-family, commercial building, or even build-to-rent projects without triggering immediate tax. We also dig into estate planning, step-up in basis for your heirs, and advanced strategies like reverse exchanges, Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs), and combining multiple exchanges to diversify.

Of course, we cover the other side too—strict timelines, zoning and legal pitfalls, choosing the wrong intermediary, and why you never want to "test" the IRS on this stuff.

If you've ever wondered how investors use 1031s to climb the ladder from small rentals to bigger assets while deferring taxes along the way, this episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap to get started.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

00:41 What is the 1031 Exchange?

01:31 How does a 1031 Exchange work?

02:16 Using a Qualified Intermediary to facilitate the exchange

03:05 Benefits of a 1031: Tax deferral and portfolio growth

04:05 The impact of a 1031 Exchange on your purchasing power

05:02 Eligible properties: What qualifies and what doesn't

06:40 The core rules of a 1031 Exchange

07:38 Following the timelines and deadlines of a 1031 Exchange

09:14 Top strategies to maximize 1031 Exchange benefits

10:39 Planning your 1031 Exchanges with estate and succession in mind

11:25 The risks and pitfalls of a 1031 Exchange

14:48 How to get started with a 1031 Exchange

15:55 Why documentation and audit readiness is important for a 1031 Exchange

Quotables

"The one person you never really want to challenge is the IRS."

"This investment strategy is one that there's no gray area. It's very cut and dry."

"You can expedite your success in real estate investing, but you have to go about it the right way."

LInks

RCN Capital

https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/

info@rcncapital.com

REI INK

https://rei-ink.com/

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we break down one of the most misunderstood tools in real estate tax strategy: Opportunity Zones. We unpack what a Qualified Opportunity Zone actually is, how the program was created under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and why it matters for investors looking to defer capital gains, reduce tax liability, and potentially eliminate gains entirely on long-term projects.

We walk through a real-world example from the Brunswick Naval Air Station in Maine, talk about converting old mills and strip malls into housing, and outline the three big tax incentives: deferral, step-up in basis, and full exclusion after a 10-year hold. Then we flip to the other side of the coin—market risk in distressed areas, zoning and code upgrades, long-term commitment, and why due diligence and local planning insight are non-negotiable.

If you've been hearing about Opportunity Zones but aren't sure how they work or whether they fit your strategy, this episode will give you a clear framework for spotting good OZ deals, avoiding landmines, and partnering with the right fund managers and tax pros. 

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:25 What are opportunity zones and how were they created?

02:24 Not all opportunity zones are created equal

03:20 Key tax benefits: deferral, reduction, and elimination

04:25 Impact investing: breathing life into distressed communities

05:02 Tax terms explained: Deferral of capital gains, step-up in basis, and more

06:36 Housing shortage, mills, and adaptive reuse

07:32 Qualified Opportunity Funds & 180-day rule

09:24 Residential developments in opportunity zones

10:28 Commercial and mixed-use opportunities

11:27 Redevelopment & infrastructure improvement

12:16 Build-to-rent on raw land in opportunity zones

13:01 The market risks in a distressed area

14:11 Planning board meetings and understanding regulatory and compliance risk

15:39 Long-term commitment and exit strategy

16:05 Do opportunity zones fit your investment goals?

17:01 Partnering with experienced Opportunity Fund managers

18:05 The importance of understanding property taxes when investing in opportunity zones

19:16 Opportunity zones in broader economic development

20:33 Scaling from residential to commercial

Quotables

"Not all opportunity zones are created equal, not all are going to be tailor made like the one that you found, but they still are a great investment opportunity."

"What doesn't look like a pretty picture on the onset can actually going to be one of the most fruitful investments that an investor can make."

"Do they align with your investment goals. Don't just do it because it's trendy or because you heard about it on a podcast."

Links

RCN Capital

https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/

info@rcncapital.com

REI INK

https://rei-ink.com/

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we dive deep into one of the most powerful (and ignored) ways to increase cash flow and boost NOI: property tax appeals. I'm joined by Alison Tulio, President of Incenter Tax Solutions and a seasoned real estate attorney who specializes in helping investors reduce over-assessed property taxes on both residential and commercial real estate.

Whether you own single-family rentals, multifamily, office, industrial, or manage multi-state real estate portfolios, this episode will show you how your property tax bill is quietly eating into your returns and what you can do to fix it. Alison explains why assessments are climbing nationwide, how COVID reshaped office and industrial values, and why distressed commercial properties are some of the best candidates for aggressive tax appeals right now.

We break down practical, zero-risk steps you can take to:

• Get your property taxes reviewed annually
  
  

• Spot when you're over-assessed and leaving money on the table
  
  

• Avoid common mistakes investors make when they appeal property taxes on their own
  
  

• Protect yourself from triggering a tax increase by misunderstanding local rules

Alison also shares a real-world case study where a skeptical client saw a 63% reduction on a single property and saved $180,000 in property taxes without taking on additional risk.

If you care about net operating income (NOI), commercial property values, and keeping more cash in every deal, this conversation is a masterclass on how to lower your property taxes, increase cash flow, and improve returns on your real estate investments. Tune in, take notes, and start treating property tax strategy like the profit lever it really is.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Who is Alison Tulio?

01:24 Reinventing in down cycles (2008 & COVID)

02:01 Who Incenter Tax Solutions serves

03:15 The Incenter Tax Solutions mission: Education first

04:25 Helping investors understand and leverage property taxes

05:20 Nationwide coverage & portfolio streamlining

06:30 Alison's time as outside counsel to lenders & servicers

07:38 Deal Maker/Deal Breaker: The turning point in Alison's career

09:06 Why you should have your property taxes reviewed

10:07 How to get started with Incenter Tax Solutions

11:20 Why tax strategy education is important for real estate investors

12:07 Most common mistakes investors make regarding property taxes

13:57 What's the Word? Work hard, play hard

15:24 Opportunity zones and planning for abatements

16:48 Tools & proprietary software for property tax assessment

17:45 Case Study: From skeptic to $180K in savings

18:50 How Incenter Tax Solutions educates investors

19:46 Market strategy and COVID-hit cities

20:24 Alison's life outside of real estate: Family, salt life, working out

21:12 How to get in touch with Alison

Quotables

"We're saving, I mean, we're slashing those property taxes in half and commercials are big ticket items."

"You should 100% have someone look at your property taxes every year."

"Trust the process. You'll see that it's really not too good to be true, and it actually works."

Links

Incenter Tax Solutions

https://incentertaxsolutions.com

Alison Tulio

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-tulio-esq-70229519a

RCN Capital

https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast

https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/

info@rcncapital.com

REI INK

https://rei-ink.com/