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Why Passive Real Estate Investing Doesn't Exist w/ John McNellis
Description
Developer John McNellis says passive real estate investing doesn't exist, and he explains why.
Summary:
John McNellis has developed close to 100 properties over more than 45 years, shifting from a corporate lawyer to a shopping center developer to, today, a specialist in small quick-serve restaurant ground leases with tenants like Chick-fil-A. In this conversation he walks through the two mistakes that wipe out most beginning developers, the deal that nearly cost him everything, and why he thinks the phrase "passive real estate investment" is one of the biggest lies in the business. He also breaks down why commercial real estate is a weaker inflation hedge than most investors assume, and lays out a simple path for landing a first deal.
Key topics:
- The two mistakes that wipe out beginning developers: overpaying and overleveraging
- Why commercial real estate underperforms as an inflation hedge (3% inflation versus 1.37% appreciation)
- The shift from ground-up shopping centers to small Chick-fil-A ground leases
- Why "passive real estate investing" is a myth, and what daily ownership actually requires
- The get rich slow approach: less debt, more equity, patience over scale
About John McNellis:
John McNellis is a real estate developer and the author of Making It in Real Estate: Thriving as a Developer, now in its third edition. He has led close to 100 development deals across Northern California over more than 45 years.
Links:
🔗 Making It in Real Estate: Thriving as a Developer https://amzn.to/4i8SFgb
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