Path of Progress

How Joel Friedland Built Wealth With a Debt-Free Real Estate Strategy | Ep 73 Path of Progress

In this episode of Path of Progress, Alex Kononov sits down with Joel Friedland, CEO of Brit Properties, a veteran industrial real estate investor with more than four decades of experience navigating multiple market cycles. Unlike most syndicators, Joel built his business around a simple philosophy: avoid debt whenever possible. But that wasn't always the case. During the 2008 financial crisis, Joel found himself personally guaranteeing over $70 million in loans across multiple banks, forcing him into one of the most difficult periods of his career. The experience changed everything. Today, Joel operates a debt-free investment model focused on industrial real estate in Chicago, acquiring properties in the "Path of Progress" and patiently waiting for long-term appreciation while generating steady cash flow. From door-knocking industrial buildings to identifying future development corridors, Joel shares lessons learned from 45 years in the business, why relationships matter more than spreadsheets, and how one cold call helped create a multi-million-dollar opportunity. Whether you're a new investor, an experienced operator, or someone interested in building wealth while reducing risk, this episode delivers a masterclass in patience, discipline, and long-term thinking. 📌 Key Takeaways: ✅ How $70M in personal guarantees nearly destroyed his business ✅ The painful lessons Joel learned during the 2008 financial crisis ✅ Why he now buys industrial real estate with little to no debt ✅ The "Path of Progress" strategy for finding future appreciation ✅ How a single cold call created a $3.3M opportunity ✅ Why industrial real estate remains one of the strongest asset classes ✅ The power of staying focused on one market for decades ✅ Building wealth through patience instead of leverage ✅ How relationships became his greatest business advantage ✅ Why most investors underestimate the value of door-knocking 📚 Book Recommendation: – The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz 🌐 Connect with Joel Friedland: 🌍 Website → https://www.britproperties.com/ [https://britproperties.com/]💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-friedland/ 🎧 Listen & Watch the Full Episode: 📺 YouTube → https://youtu.be/vDolxPoUALg 🎧 Spotify 🎧 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/path-of-progress/id1782550599 🙌 Stay Connected 📲 Follow us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pathofpro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathofpro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pathofpro/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/pathofpro YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pathofpro TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pathofpro #PathOfProgress #JoelFriedland #AlexKononov #IndustrialRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #DebtFreeInvesting #PassiveIncome #WealthBuilding #ChicagoRealEstate #IndustrialProperties #RealEstateSyndication #PathOfProgressInvesting #ColdCalling #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #CashFlow #LongTermInvesting #FinancialFreedom #CommercialInvesting

How Nicholas Delmonico Built a $34M Real Estate Portfolio Before 30 | Ep 72 Path of Progress

In this episode of Path of Progress, Alex Kononov sits down with Nicholas Delmonico, Founder and CEO of Iron Focus Investments, a multifamily investment firm with 387 units and over $34 million in assets under management. Nicholas's journey didn't start in real estate. After working long hours in finance at firms like, he realized the traditional career path wasn't giving him the freedom or impact he wanted. That realization led him into multifamily syndication, where he eventually left his corporate job to pursue real estate full-time. In this conversation, Nicholas shares how he landed his first 106-unit apartment deal, navigated a devastating property fire, acquired a cash-flowing 126-unit value-add asset in Texas, and expanded into assisted living facilities in Florida. He also reveals how the discipline required to complete five Ironman races has shaped his investing mindset and business philosophy. Whether you're an aspiring investor, entrepreneur, or someone looking to build wealth through commercial real estate, this episode is packed with practical lessons on scaling, resilience, underwriting, partnerships, and long-term thinking. 📌 Key Takeaways: ✅ How Nicholas transitioned from finance to multifamily investing ✅ Why he skipped duplexes and went straight into large apartment syndications ✅ The power of networking and masterminds in finding deals and partners ✅ Lessons learned from a 106-unit property that suffered a major fire ✅ How loan assumptions created opportunities in a high-rate environment ✅ The strategy behind a successful 126-unit value-add acquisition ✅ Why assisted living offers unique upside for investors ✅ How Nicholas evaluates distressed real estate opportunities ✅ Building investor relationships and raising capital ✅ The Ironman mindset for business growth and resilience 📚 Book Recommendations: – Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki – Brandon Turner Real Estate Books 🌐 Connect with Nicholas Delmonico: 🌍 Website → https://ironfocusinvestments.com [https://ironfocusinvestments.com] 💼 LinkedIn → http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasdelmonico/ 🎧 Listen & Watch the Full Episode: 📺 YouTube → https://youtu.be/yTLUhiIPRlY 🎧 Spotify 🎧 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/path-of-progress/id1782550599 🙌 Stay Connected 👍 Like, subscribe & turn on notifications 🔔 so you never miss an episode of Path of Progress! 📲 Follow us:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pathofproInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathofproLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pathofpro/X (Twitter): https://x.com/pathofproYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pathofproTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pathofpro #PathOfProgress #NickDelmonico #AlexKononov #IronFocusInvestments #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #ApartmentInvesting #Syndication #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #AssistedLiving #MemoryCare #DistressedAssets #CapitalRaising #RealEstatePodcast #Ironman #Entrepreneurship #Investing #CashFlow

From The 2008 Crash To Real Estate Success | Brad Weber’s Story | Ep 71 Path of Progress

In this episode of Path of Progress, Alex Kononov sits down with Brad Weber, a Cleveland-based real estate investor who transformed from a young college student studying to become a teacher into a full-time investor involved in 900+ real estate transactions. Brad shares the raw reality of surviving the 2008 market crash, working 90-hour weeks as a realtor, and discovering wholesaling before most agents even knew it existed. After making $30,000 on his very first wholesale deal, Brad realized there was a completely different side of real estate built around investors, systems, and scalable business operations. This episode dives deep into wholesaling, building a buyers list, scaling with low overhead, creating systems through franchising, balancing family life while growing a business, and how to think like a true long-term investor. Whether you're just getting started in real estate or trying to scale your investing business, this episode is packed with practical strategies, mindset shifts, and honest lessons from someone who has survived multiple market cycles. 📌 Key Takeaways: ✅ How Brad made $30K on his first wholesale deal ✅ Why he left traditional real estate behind ✅ The reality of surviving the 2008 market crash ✅ How wholesaling actually works (simple explanation) ✅ Using bandit signs & handwritten letters to generate deals ✅ Scaling from solo wholesaler to 40–50 deals per year ✅ Why systems and branding matter in real estate ✅ Building work-life balance without quitting investing ✅ How he evaluates flips vs rentals vs wholesale exits ✅ The mindset shift from salesperson to investor📚 Book Recommendation: – You Can’t Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike at a Seminar by David Sandler 🌐 Connect with Brad Weber: 💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-weber-64062a19/ 💼 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/brad.weber.re 🎧 Listen & Watch the Full Episode: 📺 YouTube → https://youtu.be/aO3UpgxBqpE 🎧 Spotify 🎧 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-2008-crash-to-real-estate-success-brad/id1782550599?i=1000766813960 🙌 Stay Connected 👍 Like, subscribe & turn on notifications 🔔 so you never miss an episode of Path of Progress! 📲 Follow us:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pathofproInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathofproLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pathofpro/X (Twitter): https://x.com/pathofproYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pathofproTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pathofpro #PathOfProgress #BradWeber #AlexKononov #RealEstateInvesting #Wholesaling #WholesaleRealEstate #HomeVestors #RealEstateInvestor #PassiveIncome #RentalProperties #HouseFlipping #RealEstateBusiness #ClevelandRealEstate #FinancialFreedom #RealEstatePodcast #Entrepreneurship #RealEstateStrategy #InvestorMindset #BuyAndHold #WholesalingRealEstate

Inside the Mind of a Developer: How Deals Are Really Evaluated | Ep 70 Path of Progress

In this episode of Path of Progress, Alex Kononov sits down with Justin Goodin — a real estate developer who made the jump from analyzing deals at a bank to building multimillion-dollar projects from the ground up. After years of underwriting multifamily deals, Justin noticed a pattern: most of them didn’t actually make sense. Instead of forcing bad acquisitions, he pivoted. Today, he’s developing $30M+ multifamily and mixed-use projects—and sharing exactly how those deals are structured, where the real risks are, and why development may offer better opportunities in today’s market. This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice. You’ll learn how developers think, how risk is actually managed in construction, and what separates smart operators from the rest. If you're serious about real estate—or trying to understand where the market is heading—this episode is a must-watch. 📌 Key Takeaways: ✅ Why most multifamily deals stopped penciling ✅ The real difference between value-add and development ✅ How Justin went from underwriting to building $30M+ projects ✅ What a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract actually does ✅ How developers reduce risk in construction deals ✅ Why location and supply constraints matter more than ever ✅ How future rents are projected in development ✅ The biggest mistakes new investors make ✅ Why “who you invest with” matters more than strategy ✅ The mindset shift required to scale in real estate 📚 Book Recommendation: – Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing by Michael Blank 🌐 Connect with Justin Goodin: 🌍 Website → https://goodindevelopment.com/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/justingoodin/ 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/justin.goodin.16 📺 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@JustinGoodin 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justin.goodin/ 🐦 X (Twitter) → https://x.com/JustinGoodin_ 🎧 Listen & Watch the Full Episode: 📺 YouTube → https://youtu.be/W-BYep-AFDY 🎧 Spotify 🎧 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/path-of-progress/id1782550599 🙌 Stay Connected 📲 Follow us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pathofpro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathofpro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pathofpro/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/pathofpro YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pathofpro TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pathofpro #PathOfProgress #JustinGoodin #AlexKononov #RealEstateDevelopment #MultifamilyInvesting #GroundUpDevelopment #CommercialRealEstate #PassiveIncome #RealEstateInvesting #CRE #DevelopmentDeals #InvestorMindset #CapitalRaising #BuildToSell #DealAnalysis #RealEstateStrategy #Entrepreneurship #WealthBuilding #FinancialFreedom

From 30 to 305 Units: The $18M Deal That Almost Failed | Ep 69 Path of Progress

In this episode of Path of Progress, Alex Kononov sits down with Dan Costantino, an operator who scaled from flipping houses on the side to acquiring a 305-unit, $18M multifamily portfolio. Dan didn’t start in real estate full-time. While working a W2 in logistics and sales, he began flipping houses and slowly building a rental portfolio on the side. Over time, he transitioned into larger deals, eventually taking a massive leap into multifamily. But this deal didn’t go as planned. After closing, Dan uncovered serious issues—occupancy wasn’t what it seemed, tenant quality was poor, and income projections quickly fell apart. Within the first year, the property faced a $600K+ deficit, forcing him to pause investor distributions and navigate one of the toughest periods of his career. This episode is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what really happens when scaling goes wrong—and what it takes to recover. From raising millions in capital to rebuilding operations and restoring investor trust, Dan shares lessons that most investors only learn the hard way. Whether you're just starting out or scaling into larger deals, this episode is packed with real-world insights, hard truths, and valuable strategies. 📌 Key Takeaways: ✅ How Dan scaled from flips to 300+ units ✅ The real story behind the $18M deal ✅ What went wrong after closing the property ✅ The risks of inaccurate occupancy and projections ✅ Losing $600K+ and handling financial pressure ✅ Why he paused investor payments ✅ How he stabilized and turned the deal around ✅ Raising $5M in capital for large deals ✅ The importance of due diligence at scale ✅ Why scaling too fast can backfire 📚 Book Recommendation: – Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki 🌐 Connect with Dan Costantino: 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/dancostantino_/ 🌍 Website → https://www.412ah.com/ 🌍 Website → https://www.achievecapitalpartners.com/🌍 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/dancostantino💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-costantino/ 🎧 Listen & Watch the Full Episode: 📺 YouTube → https://youtu.be/Ild36b0g0Nw 🎧 Spotify 🎧 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-30-to-305-units-the-%2418m-deal-that-almost-failed/id1782550599?i=1000763457218 🙌 Stay Connected #PathOfProgress #DanCostantino #AlexKononov #RealEstateInvesting #Multifamily #ApartmentInvesting #CapitalRaising #RealEstateMistakes #Entrepreneurship #PassiveIncome #RealEstateLessons #ScalingBusiness #PropertyInvesting #FinancialFreedom #RealEstateJourney #InvestorMindset #DealBreakdown #MultifamilyInvesting #Cashflow #WealthBuilding