2026
3 years of productivity tech (October 2026 edition)
Saul cut Manus, ChatGPT, Notion and more for a Mac Mini server connected to Claude, plus his full stack: Instinct, Plaud, Superhuman and Wispr Flow.
Buying for a Higher-Rate Cycle: What the 1970s Taught Me
I don't usually take a firm position on rates. This September I did. Here are the signals, what I found in the 1970s, and the acquisition strategy I think fits.
How Many Deals Do You Need to Look At to Get One Accepted Offer?
There are no deals, nothing pencils. I used to say it too. Here are my own numbers from six months of screening, and how many at bats one accepted offer takes.
How I Stopped Retraining AI on Every Deal
Index, Reference, Skills, Outputs. The folder framework I use to run acquisitions in Claude Cowork, so the training compounds instead of starting from scratch.
How We Doubled a Property's Value Without Touching the Building
No new roof, no repaving, almost no capex. Clearing up the environmental and zoning questions on a Milwaukee yard, and leasing it early, roughly doubled its value.
Let's Build A House and Give It Away
Every year - right around Thanksgiving, my team, my family, and I fly into San…
Due Diligence Checklist: The Checklist I Run On Every Deal
Two years ago I wrote about my due diligence checklist. It's had a small update…
From an Hour to 45 Seconds: How I Generate LOIs From My Phone While Driving
I want to give you something tactical this week. Not a mind-bender. A tool I've…
The Rising Tide of Defaults: CRE Distress Report 2024 - 2026
The commercial real estate (CRE) sector is currently navigating a period of significant distress, driven…
A Due Diligence Strategy That Closes Deals
One of our readers asked me something this week that deserves a full answer: "How…
My 2026 Tech Stack
Of the 5 million apps out there, only a rare few will actually make you…
The 3-Step Leasing Framework That Actually Works
The year is 2022. Shea and I just closed on our first self-storage deal. We…
What I'd Tell My Younger Self: What I'd Do Differently
Yesterday morning, I was scrolling through reader questions and one from Paul caught my eye:…
The 20-Year Partnership Test
Every week, I ask readers the same question: "What's your biggest challenge in CRE right…
Why You Should Stop Setting Goals and Start Removing Obstacles
I've been setting goals for almost two decades. Tried every framework , tweaked it every…
2025
Turning A Year Older
This week, a reader asked me: "How do you find deals?" It's a great question.…
My 2025 Tech Stack
Of the 5 million apps out there, only a rare few will take your productivity…
Fixing Small Bay Investing with Industrial IQ
As an operator in the small bay industrial space , I've spent countless hours digging…
Beyond the Brochure: The Newport Bootcamp Recap
When we first announced our Newport Beach Bootcamp , we made a bold promise: to…
Industrial IQ Bootcamp: $20M Oceanfront Masterpiece
Our first Industrial IQ Bootcamp was an experiment. We threw out the conventional sales playbook…
Italy 2025
For entrepreneurs, "vacation" is a loaded word. It usually means one of two things: either…
Our Bootcamp Sold Out Without a "Buy Now" Button
We hosted our first-ever Industrial IQ Bootcamp . Twenty real estate operators flew in from…
20 of the Best Wisdom Nuggets
I attended an awesome 3-day mastermind earlier this year; here are 20 of the best…
My Thoughts on the Shifting Office Market
The commercial office real estate sector has undergone a seismic shift in recent years, and…
How Sho Kabani Built Wealth Through Small-Bay Industrial Properties
In a world filled with get-rich-quick schemes and flashy investment trends, some entrepreneurs find lasting…
Mountain Adventures: Peak Moments with Saul
There's something magical about standing on top of the world, where the air is thin…
How We Turned $1.07M into $2.125M with Self-Storage
We bought two self-storage facilities for $1.07M. We Sold one for $2.125M. Here's a full…
From Residential to Commercial Real Estate: My Strategy in Chicago
In 2020, I sold off my residential portfolio and pivoted into commercial real estate .…
How We Made $338K Profit on an Unexpected Property Deal
We turned a non-ideal property into a $338K profit over just 2.5 years. Located at…
Transforming an Innovation Center
In November 2023, we paid $4.5M for the innovation center. If this were an office…
4 Value-Add Deals That Can Level Up Your Real Estate Game
Value-add investments follow the same principles, whether you’re turning around a 200,000 sq. ft. industrial…
The Reality of Real Estate
There's a cold, hard truth in real estate . It's a risky game. Now, that's…
5 Years of Proforma Lessons in 1 Email
This past Friday, we got about two inches of snow here in Chicago , and…
Advice to My Younger Self
What's one piece of advice you wish you could give your younger self in your…
Our Commercial Property Rescue Mission
Here's the story of how we turned a money-draining property into a success that had…
From Communist Dorms to a 9-Digit CRE Portfolio
I own a growing 9-digit CRE portfolio. I have purchased many great deals. I have…
3 Marketing Channels Crushing it for Off-Market Deals Right Now
When I started this newsletter seven months ago, I set out to find the best…
2024
Breakdown of 165K Sq Ft Industrial Redevelopment
I don't know much about wine or cars... ...but I'm a collector and (dare I…
Small Bay Industrial is My Favorite Asset Class of All Time
This is the 21st issue of Value Builder (damn, time flies, it seems I just…
I Feared for 72 Hours: Hurricane Milton
They say you should prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I failed…
Is Self-Storage Losing Its Shine?
Before we jump in: Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:…
Value Builder
Each week, I share insights and real-life case studies in my weekly Value Builder newsletter.