The Leadway Wealth Builders Podcast

He left corporate banking, bought $1 million in land that became undevelopable, and then invested $10 million in real estate his first year — without using a single dollar of his own money. In this episode, Chris sits down with Michael Miller — a former Bank of America executive turned full-time real estate investor, construction company owner, and commercial plumbing company owner who went from selling car stereos at Car Toys to building a portfolio spanning hundreds of rental properties across Michigan, Ohio, Texas, California, and Washington State. Michael's journey is one of the most honest accounts of rapid scaling, costly mistakes, and intentional realignment you'll hear in real estate. In this episode you'll learn: How Michael went from corporate banking to $10 million in real estate investments in his first year without using his own money Why buying $1 million in land during COVID was his most expensive lesson — and what it taught him Why scattering across multiple geographies and strategies cost him more than it made him How therapy and a leadership team meeting led him to discover his core mission: "building and restoring families" Why he's pivoting toward sober living facilities and larger commercial projects including a 48-unit facility and 97-unit motel conversion How he's implemented AI across email management, compliance, and property analysis Why passion alignment matters more than profit potential when choosing your real estate strategy The mentors who shaped different stages of his journey — Ryan Pineda, Pace Morby, and Brandon Turner His advice for beginners: start with fix and flips before pursuing large multifamily 🔗 Connect with Michael Miller: Instagram: @mainstreetmiller YouTube & Podcast (Dead Presidents Club): youtube.com/@mainstreetmiller First Deal: firstdeal.com 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.reichenbach.2025/ #RealEstateInvesting #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #SoberLiving #FixAndFlip #BuyAndHold #RealEstateStrategy #FinancialFreedom #Entrepreneurship #EscapeThe9to5 #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #MichaelMiller #DeadPresidentsClub #AIinBusiness #RealEstateMistakes #ScalingUp #MissionDriven #RealEstateTips

Most short-term rental investors chase the same popular markets, list on Airbnb, and hope for the best. Bill Faeth built a completely different system — and it's generating results most STR investors never see. In this episode, Chris sits down with Bill Faeth — USA Today best-selling author, serial entrepreneur with 43 startups, and one of the most creative short-term rental investors in the country. Bill owns properties across 7 markets, has flipped 27 homes generating over $3 million in net profit, and built an AI-powered research system that identifies undervalued STR markets before the crowd arrives. His approach to short-term rentals is unlike anything you've heard on this show. In this episode you'll learn: Why Bill targets secondary and tertiary markets near major attractions instead of competing in saturated destinations How he identifies markets experiencing "pain" — and why that's exactly where the opportunity lives His AI-powered research system that goes beyond T12 metrics — examining economic development, zoning changes, and city council minutes His four-part investment framework: cash flow, appreciation rate, debt paydown, and tax benefits Why he negotiates with 10–12 banking options on every single deal How he turned a $1.6 million property in Banner Elk, NC into a high-producing super property without expensive amenities His repositioning strategy — moving a $400K property to $600K, then to $900K–$1M at sale Why he's targeting 70% direct bookings within 18–24 months and how he's getting there How he diversifies across 7 markets to ensure year-round revenue His 35,000-member Facebook community and two books: Two Extra Steps and Super Properties If you own or are thinking about short-term rentals — this episode will completely change how you look at the market. 🔗 Connect with Bill Faeth: Instagram: @billfaeth73 Facebook: Bill Faeth Facebook Group (35,000 members): https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DB4GDYbwk/ LinkedIn: Bill Faeth 📖 Two Extra Steps: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Extra-Steps-Unfair-Anyone/dp/1637749163/ 📖 Super Properties: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Properties-Step-Step-Investment/dp/B0FH31LQJR/ 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.reichenbach.2025/ #ShortTermRentals #RealEstateInvesting #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #AirbnbInvesting #SuperProperties #BillFaeth #RealEstateStrategy #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #Entrepreneurship #EscapeThe9to5 #AIRealEstate #DirectBookings #VacationRentals #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #STRInvesting #RealEstateTips

He started investing during the 2007 market collapse, scaled to 5,000 rental units, and is now building the property management software he wished existed the entire time. In this episode, Chris sits down with Tim Bratz — a multifamily real estate investor who built one of the largest apartment portfolios in the country, peaking at over 5,000 doors before strategically reducing to a focused 3,000-unit portfolio. Tim has seen every market cycle, survived the turbulence of 2021–2024, and is now channeling 17 years of operational experience into Smart Management — an AI-powered property management software built by an operator, for operators. In this episode you'll learn: How Tim started investing during the 2007 market collapse and found opportunity where others saw disaster His transition from single-family to multifamily and how he acquired thousands of units in 2017–2020 Why a $10 million apartment building from 2021 is worth $7.5 million today — and the four factors driving that decline How rising property taxes, insurance, utilities, and labor costs are crushing NOI even when rents stay flat Why poor property management has caused more value destruction than any external market factor The expense reduction strategies he uses — including property tax appeals and water bill reductions through valve installations Why the current housing shortage of 4 million units sets up rental real estate for a strong next five years How Smart Management combines CRM, workflow, and AI-powered property management into one integrated platform Why he's staying in his lane and holding long term while others are selling at fire-sale prices This is one of the most experienced multifamily minds in the country — and he's not sugarcoating what the market looks like right now. 🔗 Connect with Tim Bratz: Instagram: @timbratz Podcast: imrichpodcast.com Smart Management Software: smartmanagement.com 🎙️ Follow Chris: Instagram: @chris.reichenbach #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #LeadwayPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding #ApartmentInvesting #PropertyManagement #SmartManagement #RealEstateStrategy #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #Entrepreneurship #EscapeThe9to5 #RealEstateInvestor #BuildingWealth #TimBratz #PropTech #AIRealEstate #RealEstateTips #LongTermInvesting