Carson's Corner: Entrepreneurship & Investing

Turning Raw Land Into Returns: Without the 5-Year Wait | Brandon Cobb

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/fan_mail/new] Most investors think you have to be a national homebuilder to profit from America's housing shortage. Brandon Cobb built a business proving otherwise. In this episode of Carson's Corner, Carson sits down with Brandon Cobb — founder of HBG Capital and creator of the Land Development Accelerator — to break down what he calls the fastest-growing secret in real estate: American land development. The opportunity is hard to ignore. More than 33% of homebuyers are searching for their first home, yet fewer than 10% of new homes being built are actually affordable to them. Brandon's playbook is to take raw land, move it through development, and deliver finished, build-ready lots to national homebuilders — often pre-sold before a shovel ever hits the dirt. Brandon walks through the three phases of development that drive value: entitlement (getting raw land approved for a new community), infrastructure (grading and installing utilities to create a ready-to-build neighborhood), and vertical construction (building the homes). He explains his "reverse engineering" strategy — identifying where national homebuilders are already buying and targeting larger parcels nearby to create forced appreciation before he ever purchases the asset. In this conversation, Carson and Brandon get into: → How land development creates value in a corner of real estate most investors never look at → Why entry-level housing is one of the most recession-resistant assets in the country → The three phases that move raw land from dirt to a finished community → How pre-selling to a national homebuilder mitigates risk before you close → The due diligence that protects beginners — geotech, phase one environmental, and endangered species reports → Why Brandon prefers private lenders over banks for flexible terms and fewer called loans → How AI agents are now automating bookkeeping, due diligence, and admin work in his deals → Who the Land Development Accelerator is really built for — and who it isn't Whether you're a builder looking to scale, a land flipper hunting bigger deals, or an entrepreneur searching for a real asset play, this conversation lays out the model from the ground up. Resources: → Free course — Land Development 101: https://learnlanddevelopment.com [https://learnlanddevelopment.com/] → Passive investment opportunities: https://hbgcap.net/waitlist [https://hbgcap.net/waitlist] → HBG Capital: https://www.hbgcapital.net [https://www.hbgcapital.net/] Connect with Brandon Cobb at HBG Capital. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/support] For business or property evaluations you can reach me at 615-212-5524 Or  Carson@passive.investments [Carson@passive.investments] Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/] Other Episodes: https://carsonscorner.media/ [https://carsonscorner.media/] https://passive.investments/podcast/ [https://passive.investments/podcast/] Watch all episodes with no commercials on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178 [https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178] https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner [https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner] Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Always consult your attorney, CPA, or financial advisor before making any financial decisions. All investments and property ownership carry risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Bought an HVAC Business, Almost Lost It All, Then Did 9 More | Nathan Lindley

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/fan_mail/new] What does it look like to buy a business with zero industry experience, nearly go broke twice, and still build a 10-company HVAC roll-up out of McKinney, TX? Nathan Lindley lived it. In February 2020 — just weeks before COVID shut down the world — Nathan closed on his first HVAC acquisition using his own equity, his dad's retirement, and an inheritance loan from a friend. The business came with exactly one technician who held all the leverage, an owner-dependent customer base, and a model that almost ended Nathan's entrepreneurial career before it started. After 15 years running a book publishing company, Nathan wanted something more consistent. What he got instead was a crash course in why buying a $250K mom-and-pop with no operational experience is one of the most dangerous moves in small business acquisition. In this episode, Carson and Nathan break down: * Why his first acquisition almost killed the entire vision * The straight-commission overhaul that turned the business around and unlocked scale * His "buying at-bats" framework — why he ignores current profitability and targets call volume instead * How he competes against private equity-backed HVAC giants without paying their Google ad prices * The roll-up playbook he'd use if he had to start over today * What he'd buy instead of HVAC — and whether he has any regrets * Why he believes most PE firms in the trades can't actually operate the businesses they acquire Now working on acquisition number 11 and eyeing a potential exit within the next year, Nathan shares the hard-won lessons that only come from almost losing it all — twice. Whether you're an aspiring acquirer, a roll-up operator, or an investor looking at the home services space, this conversation is a playbook in survival, incentive alignment, and building real enterprise value in a fragmented industry. Connect with Nathan Lindley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanlindley/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanlindley/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/support] For business or property evaluations you can reach me at 615-212-5524 Or  Carson@passive.investments [Carson@passive.investments] Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/] Other Episodes: https://carsonscorner.media/ [https://carsonscorner.media/] https://passive.investments/podcast/ [https://passive.investments/podcast/] Watch all episodes with no commercials on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178 [https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178] https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner [https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner] Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Always consult your attorney, CPA, or financial advisor before making any financial decisions. All investments and property ownership carry risk, including the potential loss of principal.

The Future of Live Music Monetization: Band Buddy Founder Gregg Trosper

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/fan_mail/new] A bucket on a fishing pole. That's how Gregg Trosper first watched a Nashville band collect tips, and that's the moment Band Buddy was born. In this episode of Carson's Corner, I sit down with Gregg Trosper, founder of Band Buddy, the mobile platform turning live performances into interactive, cashless, revenue-generating experiences for artists and venues. After a five-month beta across 295 live shows, artists using Band Buddy saw an average 42% lift in tips. Now Gregg is scaling the platform to power everything from neighborhood bars to stadium crowds. We get into: * Why traditional tipping feels like "begging" and how digital changes the artist-fan dynamic * The gamification mechanic that lets fans bid up song requests and drives total tips higher * Building "stage mode" vs. "crowd mode" — designing one platform for bars, theaters, and festivals * Reducing friction with QR-code and text-based access instead of app store downloads * Why 60% of venue patrons stay longer and return when interactivity is higher (and what that means for bar owners) * The power of surrounding yourself with mentors, advisors with prior exits, and the right development partner * Building a startup inside Nashville's music ecosystem This conversation is bigger than live music. It's a case study in spotting a real-world problem, validating it with data, and building technology that aligns the incentives of artists, fans, and venues all at once. If you're an entrepreneur, investor, or anyone curious about where fan engagement and creator monetization are headed, this one is for you. Learn more or get Band Buddy at your venue: https://bandbuddylive.com [https://bandbuddylive.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/support] For business or property evaluations you can reach me at 615-212-5524 Or  Carson@passive.investments [Carson@passive.investments] Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/] Other Episodes: https://carsonscorner.media/ [https://carsonscorner.media/] https://passive.investments/podcast/ [https://passive.investments/podcast/] Watch all episodes with no commercials on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178 [https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178] https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner [https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner] Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Always consult your attorney, CPA, or financial advisor before making any financial decisions. All investments and property ownership carry risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Extend & Pretend Is Over: Negotiating Distressed CRE Debt from Strength with Shlomo Chopp

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/fan_mail/new] The era of "extend and pretend" is winding down — and for borrowers staring at distressed multifamily and office loans, the next move could define the next decade of their portfolio. In this episode, Carson sits down with Shlomo Chopp, Managing Partner of CASE and one of the most respected voices in distressed commercial real estate, to break down exactly how borrowers can negotiate from a position of strength when the loan starts going sideways. With over 20 years in the trenches and nearly $5 billion in CRE deals invested, structured, or advised on, Shlomo has seen every flavor of workout — from CMBS nightmares to family-office repositions. He's also the inventor behind four CRE-related patents and the retailOS™ platform, and has been named a "Top Retail Expert" by RETHINK RETAIL five years running. In other words: when Shlomo talks distressed debt, lenders, borrowers, and operators listen. Inside this conversation, you'll learn: * Why relationships only carry you so far — and what actually moves a lender to grant relief * The single biggest mistake borrowers make with their cash before walking into a workout (and why it kills their leverage) * How to "re-underwrite" your own asset like a new acquisition so you can have an honest conversation with the lender * What lenders actually want (hint: it's almost never the keys to your building) * The negotiation tactics that work in high-stakes restructures — and the ultimatums that blow deals up * When to fix it at the property level vs. when it's time to bring the lender to the table * The early warning signs that your business plan has shifted from a real plan to "hope" Whether you own a single value-add deal or a portfolio of 70+ properties, this episode is a masterclass in protecting your equity, your guarantees, and your reputation when the market turns against you. If you're an entrepreneur, investor, or operator in commercial real estate, this is the conversation you need to hear before you make your next call to your lender. 🎧 Tune in to Carson's Corner: Entrepreneurship & Investing — and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with someone navigating a tough deal right now. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/support] For business or property evaluations you can reach me at 615-212-5524 Or  Carson@passive.investments [Carson@passive.investments] Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/] Other Episodes: https://carsonscorner.media/ [https://carsonscorner.media/] https://passive.investments/podcast/ [https://passive.investments/podcast/] Watch all episodes with no commercials on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178 [https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178] https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner [https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner] Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Always consult your attorney, CPA, or financial advisor before making any financial decisions. All investments and property ownership carry risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Dave Seymour: From A&E Flipping Boston to Impact Investing

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/fan_mail/new] Impact investing isn’t just about returns—it’s about changing lives while building real cash flow. In this episode, Dave Seymour shares how he went from firefighter and paramedic to starring on Flipping Boston—and ultimately into one of the most compelling impact investment models in real estate today: sober living facilities. Now 36 years sober, Dave is combining purpose and profit by acquiring multifamily properties and converting them into recovery housing—creating strong returns through a “rent-by-the-bed” model while building environments that genuinely change lives. We break down: * How impact investing can outperform traditional real estate * The sober living model (and why it works financially) * The role of the Dover Amendment in scaling * How insurance-backed outpatient programs boost revenue * Structuring deals targeting ~14% returns over 24 months This isn’t theory—this is a model where mission and margins align. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/support] For business or property evaluations you can reach me at 615-212-5524 Or  Carson@passive.investments [Carson@passive.investments] Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/] Other Episodes: https://carsonscorner.media/ [https://carsonscorner.media/] https://passive.investments/podcast/ [https://passive.investments/podcast/] Watch all episodes with no commercials on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178 [https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178] https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner [https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner] Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Always consult your attorney, CPA, or financial advisor before making any financial decisions. All investments and property ownership carry risk, including the potential loss of principal.