The Deal & the Dirt Academy
Short, practical lessons to invest in or raise capital for real estate development. Free for the community.
The Deal & the Dirt
Conversations with investors, developers and experts about how real estate projects actually get done: the capital, the construction and the mistakes that teach.
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Deal Academy
The essentials to evaluate a real estate development project before you invest.
- How investing in development worksFree6 min
- How to read a pro forma7 min
- Risks and how they are mitigated6 min
- Structures and documents7 min
- What to ask the sponsor5 min
Dirt Academy
How to prepare and present your project to raise capital from investors.
- What investors look forFree5 min
- Your pro forma and documents7 min
- How to present at a demo day6 min
- Reporting construction progress5 min
Latest episodes
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Episode 28 · Oct 20, 2026 · 25 minWhy 60/40 Portfolios Break Down for Real Estate Investors
Real estate investors and entrepreneurs are leaving money and flexibility on the table if they still rely on generic 60/40 planning. Tom Watts breaks down what works when your wealth is tied up in illiquid assets,…
Episode 27 · Oct 8, 2026 · 27 minHow LinkedIn Became Their Biggest Source of Real Estate Investors - Zane Schartz
LinkedIn can do more than build a brand - it can fill a real estate fund. Zane Schartz explains how Freedom Commercial Real Estate has used content, credibility, and a clearly defined niche to attract investors,…
Episode 26 · Oct 3, 2026 · 25 minTokenization Does Not Create Liquidity - It Creates Access - Edwin Mata
Tokenization was supposed to unlock instant liquidity. Instead, Edwin Mata argues the real breakthrough is something more powerful: access, compliance, and smarter capital formation. Edwin, CEO and co-founder of…
Episode 25 · Sep 24, 2026 · 29 minWhy Seniors Need a Plan Before the House Gets Sold - Rose Rugama Inocente
If you work with seniors, adult children, inherited homes, or aging parents who are sitting on equity but stuck in place, this conversation changes how you think about the entire process. Rose, founder and CEO of…
Episode 23 · Sep 23, 2026 · 26 minFear, Not Money, Is the Biggest Obstacle for New Investors - Ornella Jimenez
Fear is the real obstacle in real estate, not money. Ornella Jimenez Caseres reveals how she went from accidental investor to full-time developer, building a business in flips, multifamily, commercial structures, and…
Episode 22 · Sep 22, 2026 · 31 minThe Real Estate Skill Most Investors Ignore - Managing Tenants Well
Most real estate investors miss the biggest opportunity because they chase shiny deals instead of mastering risk, systems, and operations. John Todderud of Cardinal Oak Investments explains how a software and IT…
Guests' opinions are their own and are not investment advice.
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General educational content. Not investment, legal or tax advice.