033. Adaptive Reuse and Renovations with Mike Sowers

Adaptive Reuse and Renovations with Mike Sowers

Mikes mission is to humbly and gratefully find pathways to creatively unlock potential in people, places, and ideas. He is the Founder and CEO of Commercial Investors Group whose core business is repositioning commercial real estate assets in the Midwest. Mike is the author of the book "Commercial Real Estate Investing: A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding & Funding Your First Deal" being released Q2 2021. Mike heads the commercial investing mastery program where he coaches implementers of his 7 step system across the country. This proven system helps investors transition from residential investing to commercial and structure real estate partnerships using equity partners. Mike hosts the "CREative Commercial Real Estate" Podcast and the "This Old Building" TV Show. He is also an acclaimed keynote speaker. His passions outside of work are traveling the world with his wife Lisa and children Andi and Brody, playing guitar at Creative Church, volleyball, kiteboarding, snowmobiling, boating, and writing.

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329. What Bigger Pockets Won't Tell You About Real Estate Investing
329. What Bigger Pockets Won't Tell You About Real Estate Investing

I’ve got nothing against BiggerPockets. They helped me get started! But they’ve also convinced thousands of investors that residential real estate is the only path to freedom—when in reality, it’s just another job. 👉 Midnight tenant texts 👉 $200/month cash flow (if you're lucky) 👉 “Passive” income that’s anything but Meanwhile, commercial real estate investors are building scalable portfolios, creating real cash flow, and forcing appreciation—without the stress.

328. Bribery and Corruption in Real Estate | Office Hours
328. Bribery and Corruption in Real Estate | Office Hours

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the shady side of commercial real estate. Bribery, corruption, backdoor deals—it all happens more than you’d think.

I’m sharing stories straight from my own experience and from other brokers and investors who’ve seen it firsthand. Everything from brokers getting offered cash under the table to steer deals, to politicians mysteriously “changing their minds” after a developer cuts a check, to contractors inflating bills mid-project hoping you’ll just pay up to avoid a fight. And yeah—I’m in the middle of a $102,000 roofing debacle myself that’ll make you shake your head.

327. What the Rich Buy That You Don't
327. What the Rich Buy That You Don't

Everyone knows what the wealthy drive and wear — but few know what they buy to build true wealth: Triple Net (and absolute net) properties.

These “boring” commercial real estate deals quietly deliver predictable, passive cash flow month after month, with tenants like CVS, Dollar General, and 7-Eleven paying not just rent but also taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

No clogged toilets. No late-night calls. Just checks in the mail.

326. First 1.5 years in Commercial Real Estate Brokerage with Jake Clark
326. First 1.5 years in Commercial Real Estate Brokerage with Jake Clark

On this episode, Logan Freeman and I sit down with Jake Clark, one of Nashville’s fastest-rising commercial brokers — and a guy whose story is all about grit and getting after it.

Jake shares how he went from getting laid off in private equity to becoming a successful multifamily broker in just 18 months. It’s a wild ride, and one any broker or investor can learn from.

325. Why This Investor Gave Up Residential Real Estate (And What He Did Instead)
325. Why This Investor Gave Up Residential Real Estate (And What He Did Instead)

What does it take to go from knocking on doors… to owning a $50 million commercial real estate portfolio? In this episode, I sit down with Jess Read—an agent-turned-investor who walked away from chasing commissions to build true financial freedom through commercial real estate.

Whether you're a high-producing agent or just getting started in real estate, this conversation will show you what’s possible—and what mistakes to avoid—when you stop selling and start owning.

324. We Stopped Buying Apartments Because of Deals Like THIS
324. We Stopped Buying Apartments Because of Deals Like THIS

In this episode, I’m taking you inside our latest deal—a 100,000-square-foot flex space property at Friars Crossing in Chattanooga, TN—and sharing why we’ve stopped chasing multifamily altogether.

I’m joined by Dave Codre from Greenleaf out of Atlanta as we break down why flex industrial has become our top target for 2025. From smaller tenant suites that keep vacancy low, to flexible layouts that let us reposition space fast, we’re seeing real advantages over apartments.

323. Don't Buy Apartments, Buy THIS Instead
323. Don't Buy Apartments, Buy THIS Instead

In this episode, I break down why multifamily real estate might be the worst place to invest in 2025—and what asset classes are actually delivering results right now. From self-storage to flex space developments to NNN triple net leases, I’ll show you the real deals I’m buying, how we’re operating them, and why they’re outperforming apartments in cash flow, stability, and scalability.

322. When to Quit Your W2 for Real Estate | Office Hours
322. When to Quit Your W2 for Real Estate | Office Hours

In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Investor Podcast, we’re tackling one of the biggest questions I get: When should you quit your W2 to go full-time in real estate?

It’s a conversation packed with lessons from the front lines—because let’s face it, syndication sounds sexy… until you realize those fees don’t cover the mortgage, much less your rent. I’ll walk you through how I approached this decision, why I’m only now closing my first solo deal after a decade in CRE, and what most gurus won’t tell you about raising capital and replacing your paycheck.

321. Why He Chose Flex Space for His First Development
321. Why He Chose Flex Space for His First Development

Alec McElhinny is an industrial owner, operator, and developer based in Texas. He was one of the earliest members of my CRE Accelerator mastermind and today, we're diving into why he decided that developing flex space from the ground up was the right move for him.

320. Riding Out a Recession in Commercial Real Estate
320. Riding Out a Recession in Commercial Real Estate

In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Investor Podcast, I’m sharing some hard-earned insights on navigating commercial real estate in uncertain times. Whether we’re heading into a full-blown recession or just riding out economic headwinds, one thing’s clear: success in CRE isn’t about predicting the market—it’s about how you position yourself when things get tough.

This past week’s been a whirlwind—jumping straight out of meetings, dealing with a contractor dispute that ballooned to a $100,000 overage on a $166,000 job, and preparing for our upcoming CRE Accelerator Mastermind event right here in Nashville. We’re talking full-scale underwriting workshops, deal pitches over cocktails, and a deep dive into live property analysis with the mastermind community.