Masters of Real Estate

Hosted by Mathew Owens

Business Entrepreneurship Education

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Episodes

120

Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

Our goal is to teach you how to be a Real Estate investor and create financial freedom for yourself through Real Estate. We will share tips and tricks we use on a daily basis that have helped us become a company that specializes in value add cash flowing residential and multifamily real estate investments. We have purchased, renovated, and sold (or held) over 1000+ single-family properties and multiple values adds multifamily properties. We work with investors in multiple ways to acquire real estate in high cash flow markets around the country and helps investors develop various cash flow streams through syndications run by professional operators, promissory notes, and other real estate-related assets. We hope this podcast helps you find success in the real estate investing space.

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60 recent

April 15, 20266 min

Buying a Rental Property Doesn't Mean You're Building Wealth

Most investors assume that buying a rental property automatically puts them on the path to wealth. In this episode, Matt Owens breaks down why that assumption gets a lot of investors into trouble, and what actually separates the landlords who build long-term cash flowing portfolios from the ones who end up stuck managing a liability. What you'll learn: Why rental properties fail to cash flow and the three most common mistakes investors make before a tenant ever moves in How to dial in your numbers correctly — vacancy allowance, repairs, CAPEX — so your property works long term Why property management quality is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a landlord How to use conservative leverage ratios to take advantage of inflation and compound wealth over time The CAPEX reserve strategy that keeps your cash flow consistent when major systems need replacing How to front-load tax benefits in year one through cost segregation and bonus depreciation How OCG handles asset management for investors so they don't have to Our goal is to teach you how to be a real estate investor and create financial freedom for yourself through real estate. Building assets that create passive cash flow is the only way to truly be free and stop trading your time for money. It's time to take action and control your future. GET IN TOUCH ✅ www.mathewowens.com ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewowens/ ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathew_owens1/ #realestateinvesting #passiveincome #financialeducation

April 8, 20268 min

How to Earn Real Estate Income Without Owning a Single Property

Grab our FREE 200-Point Due Diligence Checklist HERE: https://mathewowens.com/due-diligence-checklist/ Most investors assume real estate income requires owning property. In this episode, Matt Owens breaks down why that assumption leads a lot of investors toward strategies that are far less passive than they expected — and introduces a completely different approach to generating income backed by real assets without the headaches of property ownership. What you'll learn: ✔️ Why most passive income strategies require more active management than investors realize ✔️ How real estate can be approached from the lending side, not just the ownership side ✔️ What promissory notes are and how the income structure actually works ✔️ The key documents and protections that secure a note investor's capital ✔️ How underwriting works and why it's the most critical part of the process ✔️ Why the loan-to-value ratio is your most important downside protection ✔️ How to structure notes so you're completely removed from borrower communication and day-to-day management Our goal is to teach you how to be a real estate investor and create financial freedom for yourself through real estate. Building assets that create passive cash flow is the only way to truly be free and stop trading your time for money. It's time to take action and control your future. GET IN TOUCH ✅ www.mathewowens.com ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewowens/ ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathew_owens1/ #realestateinvesting #passiveincome #wealthbuilding #financialeducation

April 2, 202611 min

Why Most Short Term Rentals Barely Break Even (And What Changes That)

Grab our FREE 200-Point Due Diligence Checklist that we use to analyze each of our deals here: https://mathewowens.com/due-diligence-checklist/ Most investors approach short term rentals with the wrong mental model from the start. They find a nice property, run basic numbers, and assume demand will follow. In this episode, Matt Owens breaks down why that approach leads to underperformance — and what the investors who actually win are doing differently. What you'll learn: Why the property type you choose determines your revenue ceiling before you ever take a booking How designing for large group stays changes the entire pricing and cash flow model What most investors underestimate about the operational workload — and how to structure around it The difference between average property management and a system that runs without you How short term rentals unlock a unique tax loophole that long term rentals can't access How Matt's joint venture program lets investors participate passively without qualifying for financing or managing the asset Our goal is to teach you how to be a real estate investor and create financial freedom for yourself through real estate. Building assets that create passive cash flow is the only way to truly be free and stop trading your time for money. It's time to take action and control your future. GET IN TOUCH ✅ www.mathewowens.com ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewowens/ ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathew_owens1/ #realestateinvesting #passiveincome #wealthbuilding #financialeducation

March 25, 202610 min

The Real Reason Your Rehab Is Losing Money

Grab our FREE 200-Point Due Diligence Checklist that we use to analyze each of our deals here: https://mathewowens.com/due-diligence-checklist/ Most investors think bad contractors are the reason their deals go sideways. In reality, the bigger problem is a lack of structure. In this episode, Matt breaks down why contractor issues are rarely about the person and almost always about the system behind the hire. He walks through the exact mistakes that lead to blown budgets, delayed timelines, and stressful rehabs, then shows you how to fix them before your next project starts. You'll learn how to properly vet contractors, structure your scope of work, and control how money is deployed so your project stays on track from day one. This is about building a system that protects your capital, not hoping you found the right person. Our goal is to teach you how to be a real estate investor and create financial freedom for yourself through real estate. Building assets that create passive cash flow is the only way to truly be free and stop trading your time for money. It's time to take action and control your future. GET IN TOUCH ✅ www.mathewowens.com ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewowens/ ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathew_owens1/ #realestateinvesting #passiveincome #wealthbuilding #financialeducation

February 25, 20266 min

How I Find Distressed Deals Before They Ever Hit the Market

Most investors compete for deals after they hit the market. By then, margins are thin and competition is high. In this episode, Matt breaks down the pattern behind every undervalued property and shows you how to spot distress long before it turns into a public listing. You will learn how to identify early warning signs, where to find the data, how to build outreach systems that convert, and how to underwrite deals so your profit is built in from day one. What You'll Learn: • The early signals of seller distress most investors ignore • Where distress data actually lives and how to access it • How to turn lists and signals into consistent inbound leads • The difference between driving for dollars and systemized outreach • How to evaluate distressed properties quickly and safely • How to back into your purchase price to protect your profit • When flipping makes sense and when passive investing may be smarter If you want predictable deal flow instead of hoping something hits the MLS, this episode gives you the framework to stay ahead of the market and source better opportunities before the competition even knows they exist. Our goal is to teach you how to be a real estate investor and create financial freedom for yourself through real estate. Building assets that create passive cash flow is the only way to truly be free and stop trading your time for money. It's time to take action and control your future. GET IN TOUCH ✅ www.mathewowens.com ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewowens/ ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathew_owens1/ #realestateinvesting #passiveincome #wealthbuilding #financialeducation 0:00 - Identifying Undervalued Deals 0:35 - Types of Seller Distress 1:21 - Locating Distress Signals 1:59 - Outreach Strategies 2:44 - Turning Signals Into Conversions 3:44 - Evaluating Opportunities Quickly 3:53 - Calculating Purchase Price 4:37 - Active Versus Passive Investing

February 11, 20268 min

Wealth Comes From Decisions. Not Deals.

Grab our FREE 200-Point Due Diligence Checklist that we use to vet EVERY single one of our deals: https://mathewowens.com/due-diligence-checklist/ Matt breaks down the hardest lessons from his early investing years and explains how those losses reshaped the way he thinks about real estate. He talks about buying a negative cash flow property right before the crash and learning too late that appreciation alone is not a strategy. That mistake forced him to understand cash flow, operations, and risk in a new way. The episode focuses on why hustle without solid numbers fails. Matt explains that grinding to buy more properties means nothing if contracts, partners, and systems are weak. He shares how poor due diligence, loose agreements with contractors, and bad team incentives cost him real money and how he rebuilt his approach around protection first. Matt also describes the emotional side of investing. Taking a financial hit can feel physical, but solutions come faster when you write out options and act instead of panic. He walks through practical steps for mitigating risk, building a network before you need it, and using other people's resources to grow without your own capital. Our goal is to teach you how to be a real estate investor and create financial freedom for yourself through real estate. Building assets that create passive cash flow is the only way to truly be free and stop trading your time for money. It's time to take action and control your future. GET IN TOUCH ✅ www.mathewowens.com ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewowens/ ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathew_owens1/ #realestateinvesting #cashflow #riskmanagement #wealthbuilding #passiveincome #dealstructure #investormindset #assetmanagement #timefreedom #realestateeducation 0:00 - Learning from Mistakes 0:40 - First Real Estate Deal and Mistake 1:09 - Misconception about Investing 1:44 - Grinding vs. Systems and Numbers 2:21 - Quitting or Building a New System 2:43 - Mindset Shift 3:17 - Mitigating Risk 4:14 - Accepting Financial Hits 5:17 - Building Network and Net Worth 5:35 - Setting Investment Goals 6:00 - Developing Resources and Team 6:41 - Finding Solutions and Advice 7:16 - Goal of Time Freedom

February 4, 202610 min

Raising Capital Without Begging, Chasing, or Stress

Most conversations about raising capital focus only on investor benefits. This episode flips the lens and explains why raising capital the right way creates long term upside for the operator too. Matt breaks down why capital raising is not a last minute activity tied to a deal, but a long horizon system built on trust, education, and operational discipline. When done correctly, capital raising becomes a predictable engine that attracts better deals, stronger partners, and higher quality investors. This episode walks through the systems, mindset, and infrastructure required to raise capital ethically, reduce risk, and build a business that compounds over time. Topics covered in this episode: The biggest mistake most capital raisers make before their first deal Why trust must be built months or years before capital is needed Educating investors versus selling them How predictable capital reduces stress and improves deal quality Legal, tax, and risk preparation before launching a raise Building a clear risk narrative investors can understand Why social impact investments attract stronger investor alignment Creating nurture systems that educate and warm investors over time The role of operations in successful capital raising Why poor backend systems kill investor confidence How capital raisers gain leverage, deal flow, and time freedom Performance based incentives and investor first structures Why capital raising can outperform direct operations on time ROI How raising capital builds long term wealth without large personal capital This episode is for operators, syndicators, and aspiring capital raisers who want to build durable systems instead of scrambling deal to deal. Our goal is to teach you how to be a real estate investor and create financial freedom for yourself through real estate. Building assets that create passive cash flow is the only way to truly be free and stop trading your time for money. It's time to take action and control your future. GET IN TOUCH ✅ www.mathewowens.com ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewowens/ ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathew_owens1/

January 28, 202610 min

The Strategy Behind Making Money in Down Markets

In this episode of Masters of Real Estate, Matt breaks down how to think clearly when markets feel unstable. Most investors lose money during volatility for one reason. They react instead of analyze. Matt explains why volatility itself is not the enemy, and how poor decisions during uncertain markets destroy portfolios. You will hear how to evaluate risk using data instead of headlines. How to assess asset classes, operators, and market trajectories before making a move. Why capital protection means cash flow, conservative leverage, and stress testing, not sitting on the sidelines. Matt also shares real examples from past cycles, including Covid and rising interest rate environments. He walks through how lending strategies, seller financing, distressed acquisitions, and diversification created opportunity when others froze. This episode is about building a plan that works in both up markets and down markets. A plan based on cash flow, reserves, and long term thinking. If your strategy only works when conditions are perfect, Matt explains why that is not a strategy at all. ABOUT OUR CHANNEL Our goal is to teach you how to be a real estate investor and create financial freedom for yourself through real estate. Building assets that create passive cash flow is the only way to truly be free and stop trading your time for money. It's time to take action and control your future. GRAB OUR FREE 200-POINT DUE DILIGENCE CHECKLIST WE USE TO VET EVERY DEAL! https://mathewowens.com/due-diligence-checklist/ 00:00 The Strategy Behind Making Money in Down Markets 00:40 What Most Investors Get Wrong 02:06 Psychology of the Market 02:34 It's Important to Protect Capital 03:08 Assess The Risk 03:50 Evaluating Risk: Down vs. Up Markets 04:33 Best Risk-Mitigation Technique 05:34 Don't Hide from Volatility, Understand It 05:44 Ways to Take Advantage of Market Changes 07:47 Keep Proper Diversification 08:40 Even the Best Strategies Can Fail 09:30 When Things Go Wrong, Don't Panic 09:31 2008 Crash Market 10:19 A Plan That Only Works When Perfect Isn't a Plan #MastersOfRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #MarketVolatility #WealthBuilding #CashFlow #CapitalPreservation #PassiveInvesting #InvestorEducation #AlternativeInvestments #FinancialStrategy

August 13, 202529 min

Real Estate Didn't Make Me Rich, THIS Did with Deborah Razo

In this episode of Masters of Real Estate, Matt Owens and Deborah Razo share some of their most valuable and hard-earned lessons from their careers moving from small flips to multi-million dollar multifamily and lending deals. From overcoming the fear of bigger numbers, to protecting yourself from contractor fraud, to building a network that's as emotionally supportive as it is resource-rich, Matt lays out what it really takes to scale in this business. What you'll learn in this episode: Why fear and lack of confidence keep investors stuck in small deals—and how to break through. The role of networking events in building not just skills, but the mindset and energy needed to succeed. Why flipping keeps the lights on, but long-term wealth comes from appreciation. How to structure your team so you're not doing it all yourself, and the real risks of relying on the wrong partners. The contractor theft story that changed Matt's entire verification process. Background checks, private investigators, and other must-have due diligence tools to protect your business. Why creating financial freedom is about more than money, it's about reclaiming your time for what matters most. Want more resources from Mathew? Grab his free due diligence checklist and other tools at www.mathewowens.com!

July 30, 202541 min

The Syndication Risk No One Talks About with Kyle Swafford

Most investors focus on the returns. But few read the docs. In this episode, Mathew Owens and Kyle Swafford break down what actually protects you in a deal, and what doesn't. From key PPM clauses to the real role of an attorney, this episode is a wake-up call for operators and investors alike. Whether you're raising capital or writing checks, you'll want to understand the legal risks you're taking on, and how to avoid getting burned. What You'll Learn: Why understanding your legal docs is just as important as underwriting the deal What the PPM really protects, and who it's written for The operator's legal risks (and how the SEC can hold you personally liable) How to structure investor returns and fees to align incentives What to document from day one to protect yourself years later Why most accredited investors aren't ready to prove it—and what that means for your raise The danger of passive investing without reading the fine print How interest rate shifts have wrecked recent deals, and what to watch for moving forward