Episodes

  • The Hidden Wealth Engine Inside Mobile Home Parks: Stability, Scale & Serious Tax Advantages with Jack Martin
    Dec 8 2025

    In this powerhouse episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Jack Martin — co-founder and CIO of 52TEN, one of the top mobile home park operators in the United States. Jack brings decades of experience across development, acquisitions, capital formation, and operations, having overseen over $1B in real estate projects and more than 2,000 lots nationwide.


    Jack breaks down why mobile home parks sit at the lowest end of the real-estate risk spectrum, how they deliver unusually stable cash flow, and why investors from high-net-worth individuals to family offices chase the asset class for its superior tax advantages. He explains the core difference between mobile home parks and RV parks, why land improvements are the real engine of bonus depreciation, and how lot-rent economics create both affordability for residents and reliable income for operators.


    Throughout the conversation, Jack unpacks key levers for value creation — sub-metering, operational discipline, expense reduction, proper sizing for scale, and what separates truly institutional-quality parks from everything else. He also reveals how his team evaluates 150 deals a year and buys only three, why scarcity drives long-term upside, and how EOS, belief, and people have shaped 52TEN’s rise into a market leader.


    This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the real math behind mobile home park investing, see how large operators think, and learn why this niche remains one of the most tax-efficient, recession-resistant strategies in the country. Tune in now to discover why Jack calls mobile home parks “the most stable real estate in America.”


    Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint


    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

    08:02 Jack talks about why MHPs are lowest on the risk spectrum

    25:56 Jack talks about applying cost segregation

    KEEPING IT REAL:

    06:00 – Mobile home park model

    08:06 – Why investors choose MHPs

    10:36 – Bonus depreciation power

    12:57 – Tax buckets clarified

    14:49 – Investor profiles shift

    21:17 – Land improvements explained

    24:53 – Cost-seg advantage

    28:10 – Evaluating properties

    33:03 – Renting land, not homes

    37:56 – Tenant stability factor

    45:28 – Why new parks aren’t built

    49:04 – Expense leaks & fixes

    53:05 – Affordability for residents

    57:22 – Yield expectations

    1:04:12 – Belief, EOS, people

    Episode Hashtags: #MobileHomeParks #RealEstateInvesting #AffordableHousing #WealthStrategy #PassiveIncome #TaxStrategy #LandImprovements #MHPInvesting #FinancialFreedom #ScaleWithStability


    CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

    Website: https://52ten.com/

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-martin-52ten/

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • The Power of the Room: Why Proximity, Mentorship, and Alignment Accelerates Success with Ruben Kanya - Episode #348
    Dec 1 2025

    Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint


    In this reflective episode of In The Lab, Ruben unpacks one of the most overlooked success variables in entrepreneurship and temporary housing: your environment. After attending a high-level BookThinkers event hosted by his friend Nick Hutchinson of episode #99 and reconnecting with mentors and peers, Ruben breaks down how proximity, intention, and the rooms you choose to enter shape your growth more than tactics ever will.


    He shares the deeper meaning behind the “white lab coat vs. the suit” rebrand—why beginner operators need experimentation, and why seasoned operators need depth, systems, and specialization. Ruben walks through how he discovered his tribe across short-term rentals, mid-term rentals, insurance housing, and beyond, with pivotal moments sparked by guests like Michael Sjogren (Episode 91), Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh (Episodes 81 & 263), and Will Dotson. Each connection created a bridge, a business model, or a breakthrough reminder.


    This episode zooms in on the power of alignment, integration, and why deeper rooms lead to bigger opportunities, why Q4 is advantage season, and how vertically aligning your mission, business, and contribution creates momentum that lasts beyond a single market cycle.


    If you’ve ever felt stuck between where you are and the room you know you should be in, this episode is your invitation.


    Tune in now to learn how to choose environments that elevate you, adopt belief systems that accelerate you, and build a business that serves something bigger than yourself.


    #EntrepreneurMindset #RelationshipEquity #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #Networking #ExperimentNation

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    27 mins
  • The Tax Playbook for Wealth: Helping Business Owners Keep More of What They Earn with Michael Uadiale - Episode #347
    Nov 24 2025

    Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint


    In this detailed episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with tax strategist and CPA, Michael Uadiale Michael brings the type of clarity most entrepreneurs wish their CPA would give them, breaking down the real tax game in a way that feels simple, concrete, and practical.


    Michael shares why the tax code is built for business owners and investors, not W2 earners — and how most people are losing money simply because they’re operating in the wrong category. He explains the difference between tax preparation, tax planning, and tax strategy, why bonus depreciation is so misunderstood, and how entrepreneurs can position themselves before Q4 ends.


    Throughout the conversation, Michael outlines the real KPIs that matter for understanding your tax position, the most common blind spots he sees in operators, and how AI is reshaping the accounting industry. More importantly, he gives a blueprint for building a tax-optimized business structure — from entity setup, to bookkeeping hygiene, to capturing deductions the right way.


    This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to stop guessing, stop overpaying, and finally understand how to use the tax code as a tool for building wealth. Tune in now to learn how Michael’s strategic approach can help you keep more of your money, protect your business, and plan for long-term freedom.


    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

    11:50 Michaeil talks about the tax code and real estate success.

    17:40 Michael talks about getting proactive on managing taxes

    KEEPING IT REAL:

    04:20 – What CPAs do

    07:58 – Compliance vs. strategy

    11:15 – Why books matter

    14:42 – Cash flow leaks

    17:10 – Business owner mindset

    20:55 – W2 vs. 1099

    23:41 – Entity structure basics

    26:12 – LLC vs. S-Corp

    29:09 – Audit red flags

    32:44 – Deduction vs. credit

    36:01 – Mileage & receipts

    40:28 – Real estate benefits

    44:12 – Depreciation explained

    48:00 – Cost segregation use

    52:18 – Passive vs. active

    55:44 – Short-term rental rules

    58:59 – Material participation tests

    1:02:10 – Tax strategy stacking

    1:05:08 – Mid-term rental angle

    1:08:30 – Investor documentation

    1:12:44 – AI and accounting

    1:16:10 – Scaling financial ops

    1:20:55 – Final takeaways


    CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smeedcpa/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael_uadiale/?hl=en


    #TaxStrategy #BusinessFinances #RealEstateInvesting #CashFlow #EntrepreneurMindset #FinancialLiteracy #SREI #BusinessOwnerLife #CPAInsights #WealthBuilding

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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • The Math Behind Freedom: How Giang Nguyen Turned her W2 into Seed Money for her Real Estate Investments - Episode #346
    Nov 11 2025

    Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: ⁠https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint


    In this insightful episode of In The Lab, Ruben welcomes Giang Nguyen, founder of One River Capital, a former scientist turned real estate investor and syndicator. Giang shares her remarkable journey from working in gene therapy at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to achieving financial freedom through multifamily real estate. Her story unfolds with precision and strategy—from buying her first $30,000 foreclosure property in cash to scaling into duplexes, five-units, and eventually syndications.


    Giang breaks down the financial and emotional blueprint behind leaving a W2 job the right way—by doing the math, living below her means, and mastering capital allocation. She reveals how she bought, renovated, and refinanced early properties, often paying in cash before leveraging them to scale. As a mortgage broker and syndicator, Giang dives deep into the mindset and numbers that drive wealth building—covering how to calculate key performance indicators (KPIs), why cash flow matters more than NOI, and how investors can prepare to transition from single-family homes to multifamily investments.


    This episode is a playbook for anyone looking to build wealth strategically, without hype—only math, milestones, and mastery. Tune in now to learn how Giang's methodical approach can help you engineer your exit from a W2 and design a business that funds your freedom.


    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

    07:35 Giang talks about the push that made her need to grow in multifamily

    22:21 Giang talks about how syndication performance is measured.

    KEEPING IT REAL:

    00:05 – Offense vs. defense

    01:09 – Scientist to investor

    06:23 – Choosing freedom over medicine

    08:58 – First $30K property

    10:35 – Learning by doing

    14:04 – Living below one’s means

    15:57 – Employer match strategy

    17:00 – No car philosophy

    18:35 – Comfort in numbers

    21:01 – Financial blind spots

    23:33 – Tracking key KPIs

    25:01 – Distribution vs. NOI

    30:55 – Cash flow clarity

    33:37 – Proof of concept

    35:04 – Multifamily cash flow

    36:09 – Zoning strategy explained

    37:26 – Buying “by right”

    38:05 – Highest and best use

    40:06 – Transition to 5+ units

    42:00 – Immigrant lending limits

    43:40 – Lender risk factors

    1:41:13 – Power of community


    CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com/

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatsalsainvestor/


    #RealEstateInvesting #FinancialFreedom #Syndication #Multifamily #W2ToWealth #CashFlow #ImmigrantEntrepreneur #WomenInRealEstate #MortgageBroker #OneRiverCapital #InvestSmart #BuildWealth#CapitalRaising #FinancialStrategy

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    1 hr and 45 mins
  • Builder to Fund Manager: Syndications, Funds, and the Road to REITs with August Biniaz - Episode #345
    Oct 18 2025

    Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint


    In this powerful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with August Biniaz, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at CPI Capital, to unpack how he went from building homes in Canada to managing large-scale U.S. multifamily funds. August shares his journey from being a general contractor and developer to launching CPI Capital, a cross-border real estate private equity firm that bridges Canadian capital with U.S. opportunities.


    He breaks down the real roadmap for scaling in real estate—starting from joint ventures, to syndications, closed-end and open-ended funds with the road to ultimately launching a REIT. August also highlights why CPI shifted focus to U.S. markets like Tampa Bay and San Antonio, where rent control, entitlement speed, and yields outperform Canadian markets.


    Listeners will gain deep insights into capital raising, fund structuring, investor relations, and how credibility and reputation equity become key leverage points when scaling to institutional investors. Tune in now to learn how August’s strategic evolution from builder to fund manager can help you structure smarter, scale faster, and raise with confidence.


    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

    16:12 August talks about syndication

    21:48 August talks about progression from joint ventures to syndications


    KEEPING IT REAL:

    09:01 – Private equity structure explained

    17:12 – Syndications vs. funds overview

    20:45 – Managing investor expectations

    28:08 – The pivotal land assembly deal

    31:04 – Structuring partnerships and equity

    35:01 – Why U.S. over Canada

    45:01 – Launching CPI Capital

    51:03 – Navigating cross-border challenges

    55:21 – Entitlement timelines and delays

    59:09 – Partnering with experienced operators

    1:01:02 – Market focus: Tampa and San Antonio

    1:02:09 – Build-to-rent explained

    1:05:17 – Duplex strategy and investor returns

    1:07:01 – Raising from retail to institutions

    1:08:01 – The 30,000-door vision

    1:13:18 – From syndication to REITs

    1:16:02 – Final thoughts


    CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

    Website: https://cpicapital.ca/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augustbiniaz/


    #RealEstateInvesting #Syndication #REIT #PrivateEquity #Multifamily #BuildToRent #CommercialRealEstate #InstitutionalCapital #FundManagement #WealthBuilding #CrossBorderInvesting #CapitalRaising #FinancialStrategy

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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Building Relationship Equity: Givers & Takers with Ruben Kanya - Episode #344
    Oct 13 2025

    Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprintIn this reflective episode of In The Lab, Ruben unpacks the concept of “relationship equity”—the unseen deposits we make when we give value first without expectation in return—and how this principle has created full-circle moments in his real estate and entrepreneurial journey. Drawing from his own experiences and those of past podcast guests, Ruben highlights how relationships built on giving often return dividends in the form of opportunities, mentorship, and growth.


    He recalls pivotal lessons from Michael Elefante (Episode 161), whose transparency and content-driven brand inspired collaboration and mutual support, and Michael Shogren (Episode 91), whose Airbnb strategy shifted Ruben’s path entirely. Ruben also shares how contributions to Dr. Rachel Gainsbourg (Episode 263) and Will Dodtson ( Episode 265) later came full circle into opportunities that opened new doors.


    This reflective conversation breaks down why “relationship equity” matters more than transactions, how small acts of service compound over time, and why long-term giving creates reputational capital that no market crash or downturn can erase.


    If you’ve ever wondered how to turn networking into true opportunity, this episode will shift your perspective. Tune in now to learn how to build a relationship equity bank that compounds into partnerships, contracts, and doors you never knew existed.


    #EntrepreneurMindset #RelationshipEquity #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #Networking #ExperimentNation

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    27 mins
  • The Finance Guy’s Playbook: Creative Financing, Deals, SBA Loans, and Strategically Unlocking Capital with George Otel - Episode #343
    Sep 23 2025

    Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint


    In this powerful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with George Otel, a finance expert, entrepreneur, and investor who has carved a unique path from trucking fleets to becoming “the finance guy” for business and real estate deals. George immigrated to the U.S. in 2011, built a trucking fleet, then pivoted into real estate, business loans, and funding strategies after realizing the leverage and creativity that come from finance. Today, he’s the go-to resource for SBA loans, equipment financing, commercial real estate, private lending, and complex deal structuring.


    George reveals how he helps entrepreneurs and investors unlock capital, stack funding sources, and position themselves for growth—whether it’s acquiring businesses, scaling commercial assets, or tapping into the $10 trillion wave of baby boomer business exits. With a deep belief in buying back your time and focusing on one core skill, George shares how discipline, mentorship, and deal structuring literacy shaped his journey.


    If you’re looking for a roadmap to financing smarter, leveraging hidden equity, and positioning yourself for the coming wealth transfer, this episode is packed with practical strategies and actionable insights. Tune in now to learn how George’s “finance-first” approach can change how you play the game.


    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

    21:38 George talks about creative financing.

    43:45 George talks about the $10 trillion baby boomer wealth transfer.


    KEEPING IT REAL:

    09:10 – Redefining financing

    12:40 – Structuring deals with multiple funding stages

    17:18 – Equity in equipment as collateral

    19:13 – Commercial brokers vs. finance brokers

    22:28 – Seller financing and tax advantages in acquisitions

    26:05 – Bridge loans, DSCR loans, and refinancing strategies

    31:12 – From trucking fleets to real estate and finance

    37:45 – Adding value when networking with mentors

    44:00 – The $10 trillion baby boomer wealth transfer opportunity

    51:50 – The sweet spot for acquisitions

    55:30 – Buying back your time and building teams using Dan Martell’s frameworks

    1:02:25 – Business owners should own their buildings

    1:09:00 – Where capital is flowing next

    1:27:04 – How to connect with George


    CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

    Website:https://www.usbizfunding.net/

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeotel/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgeotel/?hl=en

    X: https://x.com/george_otel


    #BusinessFunding #RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship #WealthTransfer #PrivateLending #CommercialRealEstate #BusinessAcquisition #FinancialLiteracy #IndustrialRealEstate #DealStructuring

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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • The 3 C’s of Fulfillment: Create, Connect, Contribute with Ruben Kanya - Episode #342
    Sep 15 2025

    Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connectGet the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint In this episode, Ruben shares a simple but powerful framework from his mentor, Myron Golden —the three C’s of fulfillment—and shows how it applies to business, real estate, and life. If something feels “off,” it’s usually because one (or more) buckets is empty: Create (projects, content, opportunities), Connect (community, proximity, masterminds), and Contribute (impact beyond self). When all three are present, work becomes meaningful and momentum compounds.


    Ruben maps the 3 C’s onto the temporary housing / mid-term rental niche: creating listings and deal flow, curating rooms and meetups that foster connection, and building brands and businesses that contribute to something bigger. You’ll hear practical ways to fill each bucket—hosting or co-hosting meetups, joining rooms outside your niche to expand surface area for luck, creating content because “if they don’t know you, they can’t flow you,” and designing purpose-driven business systems that reward contribution across your team and partners.


    If you’ve ever grown your numbers but still felt underwhelmed, this episode is a reset: fill the three buckets and fulfillment will follow.

    Tune in now to learn how to use the Create–Connect–Contribute framework to realign your business, energize your week, and build a portfolio (and life) that actually feels good to run.


    #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateStrategy #MidtermRentals #Leadership #CommunityBuilding #PersonalDevelopment #ExperimentNation

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    27 mins