MB277: Why Focus on Multifamily Operations? – With Ashley Wilson

In the short term, multifamily investors can have success simply playing the appreciation game. But if you want to build a multifamily portfolio that survives and thrives for the long term, you have to make operations a priority. 

Ashley Wilson is the cofounder of Bar Down Investments and the bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room: Knowledge and Inspiration from 20 Women Real Estate Investors. Ashley has been involved in $60M-plus in real estate transactions in the last 12 years, and she leads asset and construction management for her own multifamily investments. 

On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Ashley joins cohost Garrett Lynch and me to explain why it’s essential for syndicators to focus on operations. Ashley shares her take on the lack of women in real estate, offering advice on how to increase the number of women investors and influencers in the space. Listen in for Ashley’s insight on the #1 skill you need to be a successful investor and find out how to marry asset and construction management to maximize the value of YOUR multifamily portfolio!

Key Takeaways 

What lights Ashley up about multifamily real estate

• Finding best way to maximize value of property
• Operations (how tenants think, market shifts, etc.)

How Ashley’s real estate strategy has evolved over time

• Hands-off house hacking, STRs while working full-time
• Shift to high-end flips after retired from pharmaceuticals 
• Desire to work smarter not harder led to multifamily

Why multifamily is the holy grail for Ashley’s needs

• Obvious tax advantages, hedge against inflation
• Market demand (need due to housing shortage)

Why syndicators need to focus on operations

• Can’t succeed long-term by way of appreciation alone
• Learn through management of difficult properties
• 100% collections on all properties throughout COVID

The benefit of marrying asset and construction management

• Exploit market demands, minimize loss-to-lease
• Build up right tenants = easier to operate long term

What inspired Ashley to write The Only Woman in the Room

• Just 14 women out of 450 investors at MidAtlantic Summit
• Highlight stories, provide role models for next generation

Ashley’s take on the lack of women in the real estate business

• Women not encouraged to pursue STEM fields until now
• Math and finance necessary foundation for investing

Why determination is the #1 skill of a successful investor

• Overrides fear of asking questions and taking risks
• Seek out knowledge, push through self-doubt

How to increase the number of women investors and influencers

• Provide opportunities to speak at events based on merit
• Best way to be introduced = have someone introduce you

Ashley’s advice to aspiring women real estate investors

• Start building relationships (net worth = network)
• Exploit free platforms to learn fundamentals

Connect with Ashley Wilson

Bar Down Investments

Ashley on Instagram

Ashley on BiggerPockets

Resources

Access the Recordings from Deal Maker Live

Register for Michael’s Platform Builders Masterclass

Join the Nighthawk Equity Investor Club

The Only Woman in the Room: Knowledge and Inspiration from 20 Women Real Estate Investors compiled by Ashley Wilson

MidAtlantic Summit

The Real Estate InvestHER Community

Investor Girl Britt

Podcast Show Notes

Michael’s Website 

Michael on Facebook 

Michael on Instagram 

Michael on YouTube 

Apartment Investor Network Facebook Group