Episode 29 - The Design Philosophy Most Investors Completely Miss

Episode 29 - The Design Philosophy Most Investors Completely Miss

Episode 29 of The Circle Investor Podcast features Aseel Yerunkar, Indianapolis-based flipper, wholesaler, and real estate entrepreneur who has completed over 200 deals since starting in 2019. He shares how he left a cushy government tech job in California, moved to Indianapolis without ever seeing his house first, and built one of the most intentional fix-and-flip operations in the city. Aseel opens up about growing up in India with an entrepreneurial father who left everything behind for a green card and a shot at America, how that family DNA of risk-taking eventually pushed him to leave sunny California for Indiana's real estate market, and why locking in on flipping has been the key to building real scale. He also pulls back the curtain on how he builds and vets his own crews, why he pays for labor only and controls all the materials himself, and the specific design philosophy that has led to his properties selling faster and appraising higher than comparable flips down the street. This conversation goes deep on the craft of flipping. It goes from the psychology of first impressions and why doorknobs matter more than most investors think, to the right way to structure contractor agreements, how to find great crews by showing up to job sites at 7am, and why the gentrification conversation around Indianapolis is missing the point entirely. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: * How Aseel grew up in India, moved to California, and eventually bet everything on Indianapolis real estate. * Why he walked away from a stable government tech job to go all in on flipping. * Moving to Indianapolis without ever seeing the house he bought (and why he'd do it again). * Why he stopped holding rentals and went all in on active income through flipping. * The design philosophy behind 200+ flips and why intentionality is the most underrated competitive advantage. * Why doorknobs, entryways, and first impressions matter more than most flippers realize. * Building your own crews vs. working with GCs. * How to find great labor by showing up to job sites and Home Depot before 7am. * Why contractor agreements matter and what most people are signing that isn't actually a contract. * Controlling your materials and why letting a GC choose finishes is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make. * Why Indianapolis is one word: underestimated (and why that's exactly what makes it a great place to invest). Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next. The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) discuss what’s happening in the world of Real Estate Investing, Property Management, and running a small business based in Indianapolis. The show focuses on the Central Indiana real estate market, but also explores beyond the Hoosier state to gain intriguing insights in the world of business and real estate investing. We interview our favorite influential people from across Central Indiana (and beyond) to learn from the people having the biggest impact on our market. Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address: Gmail = circleinvestorpod@gmail.com [circleinvestorpod@gmail.com]    Follow us on all of our socials: Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/]     Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/]     You can also check our our website for more information: Website = www.intriguepm.com [http://www.intriguepm.com]   Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy#rsvp [http://www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy#rsvp]

Course 11 - Financial Literacy For Beginner Real Estate Investors

If you can't read the numbers correctly, you're gambling. Not investing. This course covers the financial fundamentals every beginner real estate investor needs to understand before buying their first rental property. From the four ways real estate builds wealth, to basic deal math, to the key metrics that separate good deals from bad ones, you'll walk away with a clear framework for evaluating properties with confidence and consistency. This isn't about becoming a CPA or a financial expert. It's about building the financial literacy to make informed, repeatable decisions so you can avoid the common mistakes that cost beginner investors the most. COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: * The four pillars of real estate wealth: cash flow, appreciation, loan paydown, and tax advantages. * Why cash flow is your staying power and how over-relying on it can stall your growth. * The difference between operating expenses, capital expenditures, and why it matters at tax time. * How to calculate net operating income, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return. * What break-even occupancy is and how to use it to stress test a deal. * The most common beginner mistakes: underestimating expenses, overestimating rent, and ignoring vacancy. * Why buying on appreciation hopes alone is a recipe for disaster. * How to build a repeatable deal scorecard so you can compare opportunities apples to apples. Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next. The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) delivers practical, structured, and experience-driven insights designed to help aspiring or seasoned investors and other real estate participants to thrive in this industry. This series of training courses focuses on real estate investing, property management, and small business operations. While grounded in the Central Indiana real estate market, the principles shared extend beyond the Hoosier state, staying true to the goal of equipping listeners and learners with actionable guidance and real-world insights they can apply immediately. Indianapolis Investor Map: https://earth.google.com/web/@39.82822064,-86.23642807,244.55852422a,143828.53126734d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=CgRCAggBMikKJwolCiExMXo0Um9JalJtZk5IOHVYd0dvTXpDZ1hlNDZJbDRIU20gAjoDCgEwQgIIAEoICNqbm6sBEAE?_pxl=djoxLGM6YmZjZGJhMzg2MTY0MzAsYTox&authuser=0 [https://earth.google.com/web/@39.82822064,-86.23642807,244.55852422a,143828.53126734d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=CgRCAggBMikKJwolCiExMXo0Um9JalJtZk5IOHVYd0dvTXpDZ1hlNDZJbDRIU20gAjoDCgEwQgIIAEoICNqbm6sBEAE?_pxl=djoxLGM6YmZjZGJhMzg2MTY0MzAsYTox&authuser=0]   Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address: Gmail = circleinvestorpod@gmail.com [circleinvestorpod@gmail.com]  Follow us on all of our socials: Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/]  Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/]  You can also check our our website for more information: Website = www.intriguepm.com [http://www.intriguepm.com]  Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy [http://www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy]

Episode 28 - Zander Elston: How I Built My Real Estate Business From Instagram (And Almost Lost Everything From My First Rental)

Episode 28 of The Circle Investor Podcast features Zander Elston, Indianapolis real estate agent and social media personality known as Commander Xander on Instagram. He shares how he built a thriving investor-focused real estate business almost entirely through social media. Zander opens up about the trial and error of starting his career at Century 21 with no mentorship, how he eventually found his niche working with real estate investors, and why he credits 90% of his business (including meeting his wife) to Instagram. He also gets into the current state of the Indianapolis market, why it feels stuck right now, and what buyers and sellers are actually navigating in a high-rate, low-movement environment. This conversation is equal parts real estate insight and genuinely entertaining that covered everything from stolen cars and stolen lockboxes. It also discusses the state of the Indianapolis social media real estate scene, why the market's best days may not be behind us, and what it actually means to build a career around showing up consistently and being real with people. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: * How Zander's first rental in 2020 turned into a horror story involving bullets through walls, squatters, and a property manager who was nowhere to be found. * Why he credits Instagram with 90% of his business, including meeting his wife through a DM. * Starting at Century 21 with no team, no mentorship, and figuring it all out the hard way. * How he carved out a niche working with investors while also showcasing what's cool about Indianapolis. * Why the Indianapolis real estate market feels stuck right now and what's keeping buyers and sellers on the sidelines. * The social media debate: is Instagram about education or entertainment and which platform actually wins. * Getting his car stolen in the middle of spring market season along with lockboxes, signs, and all of it gone overnight. * The state of the Indianapolis real estate social media scene and the agents building real audiences. * What it takes to build a real estate career without a big team behind you — and what he'd do differently. * Why joining a team earlier in your career is one of the most underrated moves a new agent can make. * The hidden gem Indy spot he won't stop recommending. * Why it's not a golden age of real estate right now and what the market actually needs to get moving again. Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next. The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) discuss what’s happening in the world of Real Estate Investing, Property Management, and running a small business based in Indianapolis. The show focuses on the Central Indiana real estate market, but also explores beyond the Hoosier state to gain intriguing insights in the world of business and real estate investing. We interview our favorite influential people from across Central Indiana (and beyond) to learn from the people having the biggest impact on our market. Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address: Gmail = circleinvestorpod@gmail.com [circleinvestorpod@gmail.com]    Follow us on all of our socials: Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/]     Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/]     You can also check our our website for more information: Website = www.intriguepm.com [http://www.intriguepm.com]   Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy#rsvp [http://www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy#rsvp]

Course 10 - A Quick Guide to Growing Your Investment Portfolio

Getting your first investment property is one milestone. Building a portfolio is a completely different game. This course tackles one of the most common places investors get stuck which is scaling. From one property to five, ten, or twenty-plus units, the path forward isn't just about finding more deals. It's about building the right systems, managing your capital strategically, and shifting your mindset from landlord to business operator. You'll learn the three things that hold most investors back when trying to scale (time, money, and fear), how to keep your capital working through methods like the BRRRR strategy and joint ventures, and what it actually takes to build a team that lets you grow without burning out. COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: * Why owning one property can be harder than owning ten (and what changes when you scale right). * The three things that hold most investors back from scaling (and how to push through them). * How to recycle capital using the BRRRR method to keep your money working across multiple deals. * When and how to raise capital, ranging from private money to joint ventures. * What it means to operate your portfolio like a business, not a side project. * The core team you need as you scale: property manager, agent, contractors, and lender. * Common scaling mistakes and how rushing decisions early costs you far more down the road. * A realistic roadmap for going from one deal to five or more units over time. Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next. The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) delivers practical, structured, and experience-driven insights designed to help aspiring or seasoned investors and other real estate participants to thrive in this industry. This series of training courses focuses on real estate investing, property management, and small business operations. While grounded in the Central Indiana real estate market, the principles shared extend beyond the Hoosier state, staying true to the goal of equipping listeners and learners with actionable guidance and real-world insights they can apply immediately. Indianapolis Investor Map: https://earth.google.com/web/@39.82822064,-86.23642807,244.55852422a,143828.53126734d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=CgRCAggBMikKJwolCiExMXo0Um9JalJtZk5IOHVYd0dvTXpDZ1hlNDZJbDRIU20gAjoDCgEwQgIIAEoICNqbm6sBEAE?_pxl=djoxLGM6YmZjZGJhMzg2MTY0MzAsYTox&authuser=0 [https://earth.google.com/web/@39.82822064,-86.23642807,244.55852422a,143828.53126734d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=CgRCAggBMikKJwolCiExMXo0Um9JalJtZk5IOHVYd0dvTXpDZ1hlNDZJbDRIU20gAjoDCgEwQgIIAEoICNqbm6sBEAE?_pxl=djoxLGM6YmZjZGJhMzg2MTY0MzAsYTox&authuser=0]   Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address: Gmail = circleinvestorpod@gmail.com [circleinvestorpod@gmail.com]  Follow us on all of our socials: Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/]  Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/]  You can also check our our website for more information: Website = www.intriguepm.com [http://www.intriguepm.com]  Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy [http://www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy]

Episode 27 - Steve Lehman: The Unfiltered Truth From The Grumpy Real Estate Investor

Episode 27 of The Circle Investor Podcast features Steve Lehman, known as the Grumpy Real Estate Investor on Instagram, a Chicago-area transplant who moved to Indianapolis for love in 2010 and spent the next 15 years learning the city's neighborhoods from the inside-out.  Steve shares how he got his start flipping, wholesaling, and buying distressed properties alongside his former business partners, how he developed an encyclopedic knowledge of Indianapolis neighborhoods street by street, and why he eventually stepped away from traditional investing to focus on what he does best. This conversation is raw, real, and unlike most real estate podcast episodes, covers the psychology of squatters, the ethics of wholesaling, what property managers actually deal with, and why the investors and locals who stick around and do the work are always the ones left standing when the grand schemers leave town. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: * How Steve moved from Chicago to Indianapolis for love (and ultimately discovered a city 10 years behind the times with massive opportunity).  * Buying surplus tax sale properties at $25 to $600 during the post-2008 crash and learning the neighborhoods firsthand. * Why knowing the street (not just the zip code) is the only real competitive advantage in Indianapolis. * The origin of the Grumpy Real Estate Investor and why brutal honesty built him a following. * Real-life stories of rehabs gone bad (what they look like, why they happen, and why they're more disappointing than a fully distressed property). * The ethics of wholesaling and who he respects, and why virtual wholesalers are a special kind of problem.  * What property managers actually deal with and why Steve thinks it's one of the most thankless jobs in real estate. * Steve recalls squatter stories over his years of being a real estate authority in the state.  * Why treating people in distressed situations like human beings is the most effective strategy.  * The out-of-state investors and Ponzi schemers Steve watched come through Indianapolis and why the locals are always left holding the city together. * Why the day you think you know everything is the day you should walk away from real estate. Make sure you’re locked in for next week’s episode! We’re keeping the momentum going with more insights, real stories, and strategies to help you build your real estate business. Hit subscribe, tap the notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming next. The Circle's Founder (Ryan Rominger) and Director of Operations (Stuart Smith) discuss what’s happening in the world of Real Estate Investing, Property Management, and running a small business based in Indianapolis. The show focuses on the Central Indiana real estate market, but also explores beyond the Hoosier state to gain intriguing insights in the world of business and real estate investing. We interview our favorite influential people from across Central Indiana (and beyond) to learn from the people having the biggest impact on our market. Do you have any questions, suggestions, or simply want to reach out? Contact us through this email address: Gmail = circleinvestorpod@gmail.com [circleinvestorpod@gmail.com]    Follow us on all of our socials: Facebook = www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.facebook.com/thecircleinvestor/]     Instagram = www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/ [http://www.instagram.com/thecircleinvestor/]      You can also check our our website for more information: Website = www.intriguepm.com   Upcoming Investor Meetups = www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy#rsvp [http://www.intriguepm.com/thecircleindy#rsvp]