Zach Betters: Why Due Diligence is Where New Construction Succeeds or Fails

Turn a 3X ROAS Into a 6X Without More Marketing featuring Brad Bone

Brad Bone is a longtime Collective Genius member who, alongside his twin brother Justin, has been investing in real estate since 2015 and built a wholesaling operation in Jacksonville, Florida while running it remotely from California. He's also the founder of River X, an AI platform that helps real estate investors automate follow up and appointment setting through their CRM. This episode covers how Brad scaled a flipping and wholesaling business three time zones away, why he eventually paired his team down to run leaner, and how he turned an in-house AI follow up solution into a second company. If you're a real estate investor who wants to tighten your ROAS, fix your follow up, and understand when a side opportunity is worth building into a real business, this one is required listening. Timeline Summary [1:30] – Host Leon Barnes introduces longtime CG member Brad Bone and his two businesses in real estate and AI [3:00] – Brad shares how he and his twin brother started investing in 2015 after buying at the courthouse steps [4:30] – Growing up on a Kansas pistachio and cotton farm and where his work ethic came from [8:34] – Watching the 2006 real estate run up plant the seed while selling advertising to mortgage brokers [11:38] – Why direct mail replaced the courthouse steps and what it took to be a player in 2015 [15:18] – How attending IMN conferences pushed the brothers to leave Bakersfield for the Southeast [16:01] – Picking Jacksonville almost at random and sending a cousin to run acquisitions on the ground [18:42] – The real secret to operating remotely: building culture and core values over Zoom [19:36] – Why pairing the team down to 10 to 12 people beat chasing growth for growth's sake [22:04] – The 2026 theme of more marketing and headcount lifting gross revenue but not net [23:42] – Lessons from 2021 rate hikes and why he stopped buying off inspection reports alone [24:14] – Knowing your exact return on every marketing dollar and every employee [26:46] – Where the AI idea started and hearing about ChatGPT from his barber [31:42] – Launching the Rainmaker platform with real AI texting, emailing, and voice calls [34:51] – His philosophy of letting AI set appointments and humans build rapport and trust [36:58] – Treating AI follow up as a ROAS enhancer that takes you from 3X toward 6X or 10X [39:32] – Narrowing the buying business to pure wholesaling for a simpler, cleaner operation [42:35] – What his farmer parents think of two sons running real estate and tech companies 5 Key Takeaways 1. Pair Down to Scale Net — Bigger teams and more marketing can lift gross revenue without moving the net. Brad found his sweet spot at 10 to 12 people and treats leaning up as its own form of success. 2. Culture Has to Be Built On Purpose Remotely — When your team is three time zones away, culture and core values don't happen by accident. You have to make a deliberate effort to create them over Zoom. 3. Know Your Return On Everything — Track your return on every marketing dollar and every employee. In a tighter market, you can't blindly throw money at channels and hope they work. 4. Let AI Do Follow Up, Let Humans Close — AI is best at reengaging dead leads and setting appointments. Keep humans focused on rapport, trust, and solving problems, and you've got a winning split. 5. When You Solve Your Own Problem, You Build a Business — River X started as an internal fix for follow up. The opportunities worth chasing fit naturally into what you already do; the rest are just shiny objects. Links & Resources * River X — riverhub.ai * Prime Buyers (Jacksonville home buying business) — primebuyers.com * River X on Instagram — search River X AI * Brad Bone on Facebook — connect directly * Collective Genius Community — explorecg.com Enjoyed This Episode? If you've ever felt your follow up slipping or watched good leads go cold in your CRM, Brad's take on treating AI as a ROAS enhancer is worth a second listen. Share this one with an investor friend who's still trying to figure out whether their next big idea is an opportunity or a distraction. To hear more conversations with members who've grown through real trial and error, head to ExploreCG.com to learn more and apply.

Tim Bratz: The One Number That Unlocks 98% of All Real Estate Deals in America

In this CG Live episode recorded at the Q2 event in Oceanside, California, Tim Bratz joins host Leon Barnes to announce the merger of his Legacy Family commercial real estate mastermind with Collective Genius, creating a new division called CG Legacy. Tim built Legacy Family into one of the most respected commercial and multifamily masterminds in the country while simultaneously scaling his own portfolio to 5,000 doors and building a property management software company now operating at an enterprise level. The conversation covers the business logic behind the merger, what CG Legacy will look like on a quarterly basis, and how Tim thinks about the tension between transactional income and long-term wealth in commercial real estate. He also breaks down how he and his team navigated rising insurance costs, property tax reassessments, and market headwinds by controlling what they could, including cutting $1.5 million from their annual insurance bill through a master policy. If you're a commercial operator sitting at 20 doors or a $10 million portfolio and wondering what it would take to scale to 100 units and beyond, this one is required listening. Timeline Summary [0:23] – Leon announces Tim Bratz and the big news dropped at the Oceanside Q2 event [0:59] – Tim's background: nearly 20 years in real estate, peak portfolio of 5,000 doors, current holdings around 3,000 [1:36] – How demand from his audience led Tim to launch Legacy Family as a commercial real estate mastermind [2:26] – Why Tim started feeling pulled in too many directions between software, Legacy, and his portfolio [3:27] – The 90-day process that led to merging Legacy Family with Collective Genius to create CG Legacy [5:37] – What the merger frees up for Tim, and why he's still fully present as facilitator at all four annual events [6:31] – The case for doing both: transactional income now and long-term portfolio building simultaneously [7:06] – Why living off multifamily cash flow is harder than people think, and when it actually starts to pay off [9:22] – What a CG Legacy quarterly event looks like: blitz market updates, keynote speakers, and roundtable hot seats [11:23] – How Tim used mastermind rooms to grow from zero to 5,000 doors and build a nine-figure business [13:53] – How to pivot your existing single-family team members into multifamily roles without starting from scratch [15:33] – Why the $1M to $3M revenue range is the "hell zone" for hiring, and how commercial scale solves it [17:31] – How a master insurance policy cut $1.5M from Tim's annual insurance expense and added $20M in enterprise value [19:09] – What separates operators who survived the post-2021 market from those who handed properties back to the bank [20:26] – Who belongs in CG Legacy: accredited investors, 20-plus doors minimum, aiming for 100 units in 12 to 24 months 5 Key Takeaways 1. Do Both or Fall Short — Running a transactional business while building a long-term rental portfolio is not optional if you want real wealth. Cash flow alone won't sustain you in the short run, but a decade of compounding rents and principal paydown will. 2. Your Single Family Team Is Already Your Multifamily Team — You don't need to hire from scratch to get into commercial. Tim pivoted his acquisitions rep, project manager, and dispositions person into multifamily roles without replacing anyone, showing the transition is more of a redirect than a rebuild. 3. Control the Controllables When Markets Get Hard — Tim's team reduced insurance costs by 30% through a master policy, saved $1.5 million annually, and added roughly $20 million in portfolio enterprise value, none of which would have happened if markets hadn't forced the discipline. 4. One Problem Per Quarter Drives Quantum Leaps — The CG Legacy hot seat format is built around solving one high-leverage problem every 90 days. Tim credits this approach, not volume of advice, for taking him from zero to 5,000 doors. 5. 100 Doors Unlocks 98% of All Deals — Once you reach a $10 million rental portfolio, you qualify from a financing, experience, and net worth standpoint for 98% of all commercial real estate transactions in the country. That number is the threshold, and Legacy's curriculum is designed to get members there inside 12 to 24 months. Links & Resources * Collective Genius — explorecg.com Tim has built and sold what most people spend a career chasing, and watching him put that experience into CG Legacy is a genuine differentiator for commercial operators at any level. If the idea of a room full of multifamily, self-storage, industrial, and commercial investors solving real problems together every 90 days sounds like what's been missing from your growth, head to ExploreCG.com to learn more and apply.

The Reason More Leads Won't Fix Your Business featuring Aaron Gaunt

Aaron Gaunt is a Navy veteran turned firefighter turned full-time real estate investor who runs a wholesale operation in Southern California's Inland Empire — one of the most competitive markets in the country. He went from a $22,000 assignment fee on his first deal in 2019 to building a laser-focused wholesaling business that pushes more direct-to-seller inventory than almost anyone in his local market, all while raising three kids and treating recruitment like a lead generation engine. In this episode, host Leon Barnes sits down with Aaron to trace the journey from his time aboard the USS Carl Vinson to quitting his firefighter job on the day a $55,000 deal hit his account, to the leadership and culture breakthroughs that unlocked his business growth. Aaron lays out his full hiring process, the interview questions that reveal character before you ever make an offer, and why getting smart, culture-fit people in the right seats has been the real driver of growth in a brutal market. If you're an investor hitting a ceiling and wondering whether the answer is more leads or better people, this one is required listening. Timeline Summary [1:30] – Leon introduces Aaron Gaunt from Southern California's Inland Empire and what his business looks like today [3:25] – Aaron describes his wholesaling focus: a pure sales and marketing company that does nothing but transactions in a high-price-point market [4:43] – Leon on why the most successful operators post-2022 are the ones who stayed laser focused on a single asset class or exit strategy [5:26] – Aaron's Navy background: eight years, tours in Asia and Europe, stationed in Sicily, and being on the USS Carl Vinson when Osama bin Laden was buried at sea [8:39] – From crash crewman to firefighter: why Aaron left the military to start a family and how he ended up in San Diego chasing a dream job [9:02] – The real reason Aaron got into real estate: needing attorney fees to fight for custody of his daughter, picking up Rich Dad Poor Dad again, and Googling "how to get into real estate with no money" [10:48] – Going $5,000 into credit card debt to hire a coach, closing a $22,000 wholesale deal two months later, and putting half toward his attorney [12:50] – Cold calling out of his car trunk with the radio in his ear at the fire department — until the chief called him in and said it had to stop [13:36] – The $55,000 deal that closed while he sat in an ambulance refreshing his bank account, and walking into the chief's office to give his two weeks notice [17:45] – Why most investors hit their ceiling between $1M and $2M, and what Leon has watched happen at years 1–3, 3–5, and beyond [19:03] – The leadership shift that changed everything: deciding "I need A players, but I need to be an A leader" and spending years studying leadership [21:58] – Whether balance actually exists for a competitive investor and family man — and Aaron's answer on prioritizing fitness, time-blocking, and 4am wake-ups [27:01] – Aaron's full hiring process: funneling candidates like leads, VA pre-screens, in-office skills tests, role play rounds to test coachability, and one question that reveals character fast [30:22] – The interview question Aaron uses to spot toxic hires before they get in the door: "Name three people who inspire you — and they must know you" [34:11] – Why CG score minimums matter in acquisitions, and why Leon would take a smart team of five over an average team of ten every time [37:29] – What Aaron is most focused on in 2026: becoming the go-to source for local buyers by pushing more direct-to-seller inventory than anyone else in the Inland Empire 5 Key Takeaways 1. Focus Beats Diversification in Hard Markets — The operators who have thrived post-2022 are the ones who stayed in their lane. Aaron runs a pure wholesale business in one of the most competitive markets in the country, and that single-mindedness is what's allowed him to go deep enough to dominate. 2. Leadership Unlocks the Ceiling — Most investors stall between $1M and $2M because they're grinding without culture or team infrastructure. Aaron's breakthrough came when he stopped trying to get better people and started trying to become a better leader — the people followed. 3. Hiring Is a Lead Generation System — Aaron treats recruiting the same way he treats deal flow: a constant funnel with a defined multi-stage process. Candidates go through VA pre-screens, video reviews, in-office shadow days, skills tests, and multiple role plays before an offer is ever made. 4. You Can't Coach Character, So Screen for It Early — The interview question Aaron uses isn't about sales skills — it's "name three people who inspire you, and they must know you." What candidates say reveals who they are or who they want to become, which matters far more than their pitch ability coming in the door. 5. Balance Isn't Real, But Center Is Achievable — Aaron doesn't pretend balance exists when you're building a business and raising kids. Instead, he time-blocks ruthlessly: 4am workouts, protected family time in the evenings, and deliberate seasons of sacrifice so the things that matter most don't fall through the cracks. Links & Resources * Aaron Gaunt on Instagram — @algaunt88 * Collective Genius Community — https://www.explorecg.com If Aaron's story hit home — going from firefighter to $55K deal to building a team that runs without him in the room — share this episode with someone in your network who's trying to figure out what the next level actually looks like. And if you want to be in the room with operators like Aaron, head to ExploreCG.com to learn more and apply.

Zach Betters: Why Due Diligence is Where New Construction Succeeds or Fails

In this CG Live episode recorded at the CG Select and Elevate event in Clearwater Beach, Florida, Zach Betters joins the host for a deep conversation on new construction investing. Zach and his wife Stephanie have built their Charlotte, North Carolina business through multiple iterations — from rentals to flipping to wholesaling — before making a deliberate shift into new build construction around 2018 and 2019. This episode covers how to get started in new construction using third-party GCs, how to approach lot due diligence, and how the shifting buyer pool is forcing experienced operators to rethink their price point strategy. If you're a real estate investor who keeps hearing buzz about new construction and wants a practical, no-fluff entry point, this one is required listening. Timeline Summary [0:22] – Host sets the scene at the CG Select and Elevate event in Clearwater Beach, Florida [0:45] – The member feedback that made new construction the focus of this event's master class [1:32] – Zach Betters is introduced; he just wrapped a packed two-session master class on new construction [2:17] – Zach describes the three types of attendees: active builders, those just starting, and the curious [3:22] – Zach traces his business evolution from rentals to flipping to wholesaling to new build construction [4:29] – How and why Zach made the transition to new construction starting in 2018 and 2019 [4:51] – The case for using third-party GCs: what they protect you from matters more than what they cost [7:05] – Why "who not how" applies to new construction and how to vet a builder relationship before committing [7:37] – The due diligence framework: why most problems show up before a shovel hits the ground [10:15] – The most common early mistake: taking on too much variability in lot conditions and project scope [11:09] – The shifting buyer pool and why Zach is moving from affordable housing to the $600K–$1.2M range [14:39] – The long feedback loop in new construction and why Zach is using a "bullets before cannonballs" strategy [16:00] – The biggest self-limiting belief holding investors back from getting started in new construction [18:33] – What Zach is most excited about in 2026, including expanding the wholesale operation across the Carolinas 5 Key Takeaways 1. Hold Tightly to Purpose, Loosely to Plan — Zach's business has gone through multiple evolutions because he stayed committed to the mission of bringing homes to market and improving lives while adjusting the strategy to match the market. Knowing when to evolve versus when to double down is a skill in itself. 2. Third-Party GCs Are a Protection Play, Not Just a Cost — Most investors get stuck on the percentage a GC takes. Zach flips the question: what are they going to save you from? Their expertise protects your project from the costly mistakes you don't even know to look for yet. 3. Minimize Variability Before You Build — Starting on lots with city sewer and city water gives you fixed, knowable costs. The moment you introduce wells, septic systems, or complex site prep, you're padding an unknowable number. In competitive markets, those pads will price you out. 4. New Construction Has a Long Feedback Loop — Decisions made today won't produce results for months. Zach intentionally slowed his pipeline and started running smaller test projects so he can read the market before committing full gunpowder to a new price point or product type. 5. You Don't Need All the Answers to Start — The biggest self-limiting belief in new construction is thinking you have to know everything about codes, utilities, and site prep before taking your first step. Every county is different. Use your network, lean on your GC partner, and commit to learning as you go. Links & Resources * Collective Genius Community — explorecg.com If Zach's breakdown of new construction got your wheels turning, send this episode to someone in your network who keeps saying they want to get into new builds but hasn't taken that first step yet. The clarity he brings to the due diligence process and the GC relationship alone is worth a listen twice. For everything you need to go and grow your real estate business, head to ExploreCG.com to learn more and apply.

How He Built a Renovation Team That Operates in 25 Markets featuring Bobby Triplett

In this episode, host Leon welcomes back Bobby Triplett, Senior Vice President of Renovations at Offerpad, for a deep dive into what it actually takes to scale construction operations across multiple real estate markets. Bobby leads a renovation team spanning 25 markets nationwide, backed by 1,300 to 1,400 licensed, bonded, and vetted trades and suppliers, and has helped 64 different investors complete over 1,900 flips in a single year. The conversation covers everything from market-specific renovation quirks to the right way to vet and keep great contractors, and why having boots on the ground is the only thing that actually protects your budget and your timeline. If you're a fix-and-flip investor struggling to scale past a few deals a month, or you've ever thought about expanding into new markets without blowing up your overhead, this one is required listening. Timeline Summary [1:30] – Leon introduces Bobby Triplett and his role leading renovations across Offerpad's national portfolio [3:35] – Bobby breaks down what Offerpad does as a publicly traded iBuyer and how his team renovates thousands of homes a year [5:09] – How Offerpad Renovate works as a service for outside investors, and the sports car analogy that explains the value proposition [7:20] – Bobby's ten-year tenure at Offerpad, the 25 markets they operate in, and why Detroit just opened as market number 25 [9:03] – The full list of active markets and who should be calling Bobby right now [11:33] – How renovation challenges vary market to market, from Texas foundation issues to Denver radon mitigation to Midwest permitting nightmares [14:03] – The Saint Louis story: what it took to learn 91 different municipalities and why that knowledge protects investors expanding into new markets [16:37] – What Bobby is seeing right now that matters most on the rehab side: insurability, electrical panels, and why spending money twice is the real budget killer [18:07] – Crawl spaces, vapor barriers, and why fixing the invisible stuff before listing protects your days on market [20:33] – How Bobby's team acts as a pressure relief valve for investors already doing deals who want to scale without adding headcount [26:10] – The exact conversation to have with a contractor to lock in volume-based commitment and reliable pricing [30:45] – Why inspecting what you expect is the only way to stay on budget, and the Safety Harbor tile story that cost a full gut rehab rework [34:58] – Red flags when onboarding a new contractor crew, and why the automatic yes is a warning sign, not a green light [39:12] – How to reach Bobby and where Offerpad Renovate has the most capacity right now 5 Key Takeaways 1. Boots on the Ground Is Non-Negotiable — Whether you're flipping locally or expanding into new markets, W-2 people with real accountability are what separate successful renovations from expensive disasters. Remote management without local representation is how investors lose their shirt. 2. Fix the Uninsurable Stuff First — Cosmetic upgrades mean nothing if the home can't clear an inspection. Electrical panels, vapor barriers, and permitting issues will come up at the worst time. Handle them while walls are open and avoid paying for the same work twice. 3. Volume Commitment Unlocks Better Contractors — The investors who attract and keep great trades are the ones who communicate consistent deal flow upfront. Promise volume, pay fast, and spell out the win before the job starts. That's the conversation that earns contractor loyalty. 4. Renovations Aren't One-Size-Fits-All — A flip and a rental require completely different decisions on what to replace, what to roll the dice on, and what to prioritize. Make sure your contractor knows the end goal of every project before a single wall gets opened. 5. Start Small With New Crews — Giving a new contractor too much volume too fast is how you cripple their operation and your own timeline. Start with one or two projects, let them earn the equity, then scale. Misses are cheaper when the exposure is limited. Links & Resources * Offerpad Renovate — offerpadrenovate.com * Email Bobby's team — renovate@offerpad.com * Collective Genius Community — explorecg.com Bobby has been in 25 markets, managed nearly 5,000 renovations in a single year, and built a team that investors across the country now rely on as their secret weapon for scaling without adding overhead. If the idea of expanding your flip volume, entering a new market, or simply getting a pressure relief valve for your existing operation sounds interesting, the conversation with Bobby costs you nothing and might change how you think about construction entirely. Head to offerpadrenovate.com to connect with Bobby's team, and if you want to be in the same room with operators like him, head to explorecg.com to learn more and apply.