Should You Use Debt to Buy Commercial Real Estate?
“Debt is bad.” Most of us grow up learning and believing that statement (or something close to it) to be true. And, for the most part, it is. But like everything else in life, context is, well … everything. For example, if you came to me and told me you were unemployed, going to max out four credit cards, and ask grandpa for a loan to buy a brand new F150, I’d tell you that’s a straight up bad idea. And the “debt is bad” advice is mostly talking about just those sorts of transactions, consumer debt. But what about using debt in a different context? What if you’ve spent hours and hours researching a particular investment, a proven investment that you thought had a reasonable chance of return? What if you came to me asking whether that might be a good use of debt? Well, I always refrain from giving advice like that, but for the sake of this analogy, I might be convinced it’s a good idea. Here’s the thing… debt isn’t always bad. You have to be smart and careful in your use of it, but it can be a powerful weapon when it comes to investing in commercial real estate.
Most investors buy for cash flow first—and that’s exactly why they get stuck. I used a different approach: one active deal, a 1031 exchange, and a smart pivot into passive income. In this video, I break down the exact strategy I used to turn a 1.58-acre land entitlement deal into a self storage facility that pays me $15,000 a month—for life.
Every deal you look at feels overpriced, under contract, or just plain impossible. Sound familiar?
If you’re a new (or even experienced) commercial real estate investor who’s constantly striking out on LoopNet or waiting on brokers to call you back — this video will change how you approach deal flow forever. In this episode, I break down why good CRE deals do exist — you’re just not seeing them… yet. And more importantly, I’ll walk you through a repeatable framework for finding deals before anyone else even knows they exist.
Every deal you look at feels overpriced, under contract, or just plain impossible. Sound familiar?
If you’re a new (or even experienced) commercial real estate investor who’s constantly striking out on LoopNet or waiting on brokers to call you back — this video will change how you approach deal flow forever. In this episode, I break down why good CRE deals do exist — you’re just not seeing them… yet. And more importantly, I’ll walk you through a repeatable framework for finding deals before anyone else even knows they exist.
Too many new investors are skipping the most important step in commercial real estate: defining your Buy Box.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through my Accelerator Buybox Framework—the same system I use with students in my program to bring total clarity to what you should (and shouldn't) be buying. If you're browsing listings, meeting with brokers, or analyzing deals without clear criteria, you're not investing—you're gambling.
In this episode of Lessons Learned, I sit down with Brandon Thornberry—Founder of UrbanGate Capital and a former tour manager turned real estate investor. Brandon shares how he went from house hacking in East Nashville to building a multimillion-dollar portfolio of commercial and multifamily properties. We cover everything from seller financing and creative deal structuring to managing hairy value-add properties and designing a business around your ideal lifestyle. Brandon doesn’t hold back—he shares his biggest mistakes, wildest property management stories (including one with a dead possum), and the framework he uses to de-risk deals with huge upside. Whether you're just getting started or scaling your real estate portfolio, this conversation is packed with real-world insights you won’t find anywhere else.
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.
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.
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.
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.
About Your Host:
Tyler Cauble, Founder & President of The Cauble Group, is a commercial real estate broker and investor based in East Nashville. He’s the best selling author of Open for Business: The Insider’s Guide to Leasing Commercial Real Estate and has focused his career on serving commercial real estate investors as a board member for the Real Estate Investors of Nashville.
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.