🎙️ Introduction
In this episode of the Real Estate Investing Foundation Podcast, host Jason Yarusi welcomes Neal Bawa, technologist-turned-multifamily syndicator, CEO of Grocapitus Investments, and founder of MultifamilyU. Neal shares his unconventional journey from building campuses for a tech company to creating one of the largest multifamily Meetups in the U.S., and ultimately scaling a $1B+ real estate portfolio. Known as the “Mad Scientist of Multifamily,” Neal offers listeners a masterclass on market selection, the power of Meetups, and how to leverage data-driven insights to build credibility and attract investors.
📌 Key Takeaways
✅ Trial by Fire – Neal’s real estate career began when he was tasked with building a 27,000 sq. ft. campus from scratch with zero experience.
✅ Syndication Before He Knew It – Selling office condos to doctors for long-term tenancy was Neal’s first taste of syndication—before he even knew the term.
✅ Scalability Lessons – From single-family homes to triplexes to large multifamily, Neal discovered that only multifamily offers true efficiency and scalability.
✅ Data-Driven Investing – Using city metrics like population, income, housing values, and job growth, Neal built repeatable systems for picking winning markets.
✅ Meetup Power – Hosting pitch-free Meetups positioned Neal as a trusted authority, rapidly growing his network and investor base.
✅ Market Cycles – There’s no single U.S. real estate cycle—there are 2,300+ local cycles. Smart investors chase markets at the right stage of growth.
✅ Risk Management – Neal favors 10-year fixed loans in late-cycle markets like Atlanta to ride through downturns without forced refinances.
⏱️ Chapters
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00:00 – Introduction – Jason introduces Neal Bawa, CEO of Grocapitus and MultifamilyU.
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04:00 – Trial by Fire – Neal’s first project: converting a shell building into a campus.
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10:00 – Office Condo Syndication – Learning the power of raising capital through “forever tenants.”
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15:00 – Single Family & Triplex Phase – Buying 10 homes in California and 10 triplexes in Chicago post-2008.
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20:00 – Discovering Multifamily – Transition to syndications and passive investing.
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28:00 – Learning from Syndicators – Attending 100+ sponsor meetings to absorb best practices.
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35:00 – Data-Driven City Selection – Neal’s metrics for population, income, jobs, and affordability.
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42:00 – Market Cycles Explained – Why there are 2,300 local cycles, not one national cycle.
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50:00 – Why Meetups Matter – Building trust, branding, and investor relationships through education.
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58:00 – Building a Database – Using sign-ins, forms, and nurturing campaigns to segment and engage investors.
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1:05:00 – Current Strategy – Why Neal is buying in Atlanta with long-term fixed-rate loans.
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1:12:00 – Final Advice – Educate yourself, track trends, and leverage resources like MultifamilyU.com.
