Hey everyone, Shawn here from Portland, Oregon. Today, I’m diving into some killer insights from a recent Bigger Pockets email featuring Brian Burke – a real estate powerhouse who’s been in the game for 36 years. He’s flipped 750 houses, owned 4,000 apartment units, and managed over a billion dollars in properties, all while never losing a dime of investor money. Brian’s navigated tough cycles like the 2008 financial crisis and the 2022 downturn by selling assets at peaks. The best part? These strategies aren’t just for big-time investors; they’re applicable whether you’re a small-time player, buying your primary residence, or eyeing your first investment property.
Brian Burke’s Track RecordBrian started with single-family flips and scaled up to multifamily investments. His secret? Smart navigation through market cycles without losses. In the current residential market, he describes it as a “standoff”: Sellers are locked into low mortgage rates and reluctant to move, while buyers wait for lower rates or prices to drop. It feels flat and neutral, reminiscent of the stagnation in 1993-97. Without major catalysts like unemployment spikes or bond market shifts (though employment is shifting somewhat now), it’s not as dire as 2008-09. I was laid off in 2005 myself, right before the crash, so I know how bad that was.Opportunities in Residential InvestingThis is where the real value lies. Focus on properties needing work, like 1970s-1990s homes requiring remodels, roofs, landscaping, or updates to HVAC and water heaters (which are often at the end of their life cycle). These can come at discounts. When advising buyers on similar-era homes, I always highlight these issues and suggest workarounds.Use old-school tactics: Contact brokers for off-market deals, or add value through renovations or accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Adjust expectations – there are no easy tailwinds like recent appreciation booms. Instead, work for profits via efficiency, prime locations, and cash flow stabilization. As a realtor, I lean on knowledge of good neighborhoods, schools, HOAs, and properties with improvement potential. Fully renovated homes might not offer immediate gains, so you’d need to hold longer.Mindset Shift for InvestorsIn past years, deals were hard to find, but results came easy thanks to appreciation covering even poor buys. Now, acquisitions are easier, but quick gains are tougher. Be patient – this is why iBuyers like Zillow failed and shut down. Walk away from marginal deals and target solid cash-on-cash returns, which are better than since 2019.View flat or slightly declining prices as a chance to accumulate assets cheaply for future upside. Avoid quick flips that require lowballing sellers (wholesalers do this, but it’s not my style). Instead, buy with a long-term hold plan or invest in improvements to boost value. Real estate is a “get rich slow” retirement strategy: Build an asset base, hold long-term, and pay down debt. Brian’s properties fund his Maui vacation home and generate $11,000 monthly in passive income. Accumulate now for inevitable future value pops. Don’t time the market – be in it. This echoes stock market advice: Avoid the sidelines. It’s boring and slow (monthly mortgages and taxes add up), but compounding pays off big.Multifamily Market UpdateDistressed pricing is down 50% in some cases since the 2022 peak – great for small multifamily (5-40 units), especially Class C 1960s-70s workforce housing. Brian sees 40 units as “small,” but in Portland, that’s midsize (we have plenty of 15-20 unit complexes, alongside 100+ ones).Avoid large syndications (400+ units) due to short 3-5 year holds and unlikely quick recoveries – they’re more business than investment. Target small multis from tired, retiring owners using creative financing like seller financing, 1031 exchanges, or low down payments.Example: Brian bought a 16-unit with a seller note, leading to his Maui condo. Another: An 11-unit in Buffalo for $300,000 (about $27,000 per door), seller-financed, now mortgage-free and worth 3-4 times more (around $1 million). Deals like this happen, but sellers should beware – that Buffalo owner might have gotten $650,000 with minor fixes and realtor advice, netting $300K more. As a seller, play smart: Consult realtors before accepting investor offers to avoid leaving money on the table. Investors like Brian might pass at higher prices, but smaller buyers could see the upside potential post-renovation.General AdviceDon’t get discouraged by the lack of quick wins – 2025 is prime accumulation time. Shop loans patiently, focus on value-add, and exercise patience, especially for younger, ambitious investors. Target “hairy” properties that older investors avoid if you have the time and energy for big renovations.This is some of the best real estate advice I’ve seen in ages, straight from Bigger Pockets (a top investor resource for podcasts, coaching, and data). Whether you’re a homeowner, small investor, or buying your first (or tenth) property, use this in the current market. Brian calls it prime accumulation time – if he thinks so, why not you? I’ve been preaching this, and those who act win big.Thanks for reading! If you’re in Portland, Oregon, and need help, advice, or a consult, call or text me at 503-515-4499. Have a great week – catch you next time.
Shawn Realty 