On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Jennifer Ruelens, a longtime property manager and unapologetic truth-teller in the real estate industry. With more than two decades of hands-on experience, Jennifer shares what buy-and-hold investors often misunderstand about property management, tenant relationships, and the real work required to make rentals perform over time.

The conversation explores why real estate investing is rarely passive, how deferred maintenance and avoidance cost investors far more than management fees, and why many landlords struggle when they underestimate the human side of housing. Jennifer explains how professional property management reduces risk, stabilizes assets, and helps investors focus on long-term wealth rather than short-term cash flow.

Listeners will also hear a candid discussion about ego, DIY investing, family dynamics, and why many investors fail not because of bad deals, but because they avoid hard conversations and responsibility. This episode offers a grounded, experience-driven perspective on what it really takes to succeed with buy-and-hold real estate.

• Why buy-and-hold real estate is a business, not a passive investment

• How poor property management decisions erode long-term returns

• The true cost of deferred maintenance and conflict avoidance

• Why professional management often increases NOI despite added fees

• How stabilizing properties protects both tenants and investors

• The role of expectations, transparency, and service in tenant retention

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Jen:

Website: https://holditwithpmjen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@holditwithpmjen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoldItwithPMJen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holditwithpmjen/

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jenniferruelens

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holditwithpmjen

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

Jonathan Greene is joined by August Biniaz, co-founder and CIO of CPI Capital, to explore how early exposure to real estate shaped August's investing philosophy and led him from single-family investing into large-scale multifamily and build-to-rent strategies. August shares how his family's experience with real estate as a hedge against inflation influenced his long-term view on housing and capital preservation.

The conversation dives into the realities of syndication, from learning the GP/LP structure through trial and error to building investor trust, infrastructure, and discipline over time. August explains why CPI focuses on U.S. markets like Tampa and San Antonio, how oversupply cycles create both risk and opportunity, and why patience and underwriting discipline matter more than deal volume.

Jonathan and August also discuss the value of passive investing, especially for professionals who want real estate exposure without taking on a second job. August outlines how investors can think clearly about asset classes, sponsors, and alignment before committing capital, emphasizing that trust and communication are just as important as returns.

• How early family exposure to real estate can shape long-term investing instincts

• Why August transitioned from development into real estate private equity

• The differences between Canadian and U.S. multifamily investing environments

• How CPI evaluates Tampa and San Antonio amid oversupply and shifting demand

• Why being a limited partner can be the best education for future operators

• What passive investors should consider when choosing asset classes and sponsors

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with August:

Website: https://cpicapital.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@realestateinvestingdemystified

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soheil.biniaz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/augustbiniaz/

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

Twitter: https://x.com/CPI_Capital

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Bob Fraser, bestselling author of Invest Like a Billionaire and CFO and Chief Macro Strategist at Aspen Funds. Bob shares how billionaire investors moved away from traditional 60/40 portfolios toward alternative investments—and why everyday investors can adopt the same mindset without billionaire-level wealth.

Throughout the conversation, Bob explains why professionally managed real estate is often the most approachable entry point into alternatives, especially for investors who want exposure without taking on a second full-time job. He and Jonathan explore the differences between active and passive investing, the importance of aligned partnerships, and why many investors underestimate the operational demands of being a landlord.

The discussion then dives deep into macro-driven investing, with Bob outlining why industrial real estate stands out today due to reshoring trends, logistics demand, and lower construction and operational complexity compared to multifamily. Bob also explains why fund structures can be more efficient than single-asset syndications, offering better capital deployment, diversification, and investor control—especially around taxes and liquidity.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why billionaires shifted away from traditional portfolios toward alternatives

• How everyday investors can think like billionaires without massive capital

• The difference between active real estate and truly passive investing

• Why industrial real estate is outperforming multifamily in the current cycle

• How fund structures can improve diversification, tax efficiency, and liquidity

• What macro trends Bob looks for when evaluating alternative investments

Follow and Review
If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Bob:

Website: http://aspenfunds.us/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspenfunds

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobfraser10/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.