Commercial real estate has changed dramatically over the last few years but is today’s market really like 2008?

In this episode of When Real Estate Gets Real, Stephen Lee Thomas sits down with Jacob Clopton, founder and president of Clopton Capital, to unpack what’s happening in commercial real estate financing, debt markets, insurance, solar, capital raising, and multifamily syndication.

Jacob shares why today’s challenges are less about a lack of liquidity and more about leverage, interest rates, and cost of capital. He also explains what early-stage syndicators should understand about raising capital, building a team, and avoiding the trap of trying to do everything alone.

What You’ll Learn:

• How today’s market compares to 2008
• Why many multifamily deals are struggling despite strong occupancy
• What commercial real estate debt looks like right now
• How Clopton Capital supports investors across financing, insurance, sourcing, solar, and 1031 services
• Why first-time syndicators should focus on direct investor relationships
• The importance of delegation when scaling a real estate business

Connect with Jacob:

Website: https://cloptoncapital.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeclopton1

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@cloptoncapital3417

Connect with Us:

• Skool Community
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Support the Show: Enjoy our content? Share with your family and friends and anyone who will benefit with the insight we shared today. Leave us a review on your preferred platform to help us grow or any suggestion.

Join Our Community: Become a part of our exclusive Skool community, Capital Raising Mastery Hub. Get valuable resources, engage in discussions, and receive support for real estate entrepreneurs. Join Now! We are live!

Contact Us: For inquiries, guest appearances, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at info@raisegenius.ai.

Most real estate investors start the same way solo, figuring it out, and trying to scale on their own.

But what happens when that model stops working?

In this episode, Stephen sits down with Jared Mickley, a Marine Corps helicopter pilot and multifamily asset manager, to break down his journey from house hacking and short-term rentals to stepping into multifamily investing.

This conversation goes beyond tactics it dives into the real shift that happens when you stop treating real estate like a side hustle and start running it like a business.

• Why single-family investing hits a scaling ceiling
• The real reason multifamily is a team sport
• The 4 key roles in a multifamily deal
• What makes capital raising actually work
• The difference between investor interest and commitment
• Why consistency beats speed in real estate

• Transitioning from VA loan house hack to STR and midterm rentals
• Lessons learned managing rentals remotely during deployment
• How military teamwork translates into real estate success
• Inside a real multifamily team structure
• The mindset shift that changes everything

Connect with Jared:

Website: https://www.glidepathinvestments.com/team/jared-mickley

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jared-mickley-b4008114a

Email: jared@glidepathinvestments.com

Connect with Us:

• Skool Community
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Support the Show: Enjoy our content? Share with your family and friends and anyone who will benefit with the insight we shared today. Leave us a review on your preferred platform to help us grow or any suggestion.

Join Our Community: Become a part of our exclusive Skool community, Capital Raising Mastery Hub. Get valuable resources, engage in discussions, and receive support for real estate entrepreneurs. Join Now! We are live!

Contact Us: For inquiries, guest appearances, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at info@raisegenius.ai.

What happens when corporate “security” disappears overnight?

In this episode, Stephen Lee Thomas sits down with Mike Deaton, co-founder of Flipping Dirt, to break down his journey from being laid off at Microsoft to building a land flipping business with over 700 deals completed.

Mike shares how he and his wife pivoted into entrepreneurship, why land investing became their focus, and the lessons they learned the hard way through partnerships.

What You’ll Learn:

• How land flipping works as a business model
• Why your first deal is about confidence—not income
• The hidden risks of real estate partnerships
• How to think about failure as an entrepreneur
• Why deal flow matters more than perfection

Key Highlights:

• From dual layoffs to full-time entrepreneurship
• First land deal: $3K → $10K flip
• Why land offers more control than multifamily
• Lessons from deals that went underwater during COVID
• Building a business that fits your lifestyle

Connect with Mike: Website: https://flippingdirt.us/freedom

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flipping-dirt

Connect with Us:

• Skool Community
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Support the Show: Enjoy our content? Share with your family and friends and anyone who will benefit with the insight we shared today. Leave us a review on your preferred platform to help us grow or any suggestion.

Join Our Community: Become a part of our exclusive Skool community, Capital Raising Mastery Hub. Get valuable resources, engage in discussions, and receive support for real estate entrepreneurs. Join Now! We are live!

Contact Us: For inquiries, guest appearances, or sponsorship opportunities, contact us at info@raisegenius.ai.