#345: A BS-Free Conversation With Zach Hoereth About Direct-To-Seller Fundamentals, Why Unit Count Is Irrelevant, and The Limits of AI

In this episode, Axel sits down with Zach Hoereth — real estate investor, operator of Midwest Storage, and one of the more entertaining (and polarizing) voices on real estate Instagram — for a genuinely unfiltered conversation about what actually works in this business.He brings a uniquely blunt, been-there perspective on direct-to-seller acquisitions, the limits of AI and technology in a relationship-driven business, and why chasing unit count and AUM is one of the most overrated status games in real estate investing.This episode is essential listening for any investor who wants a no-BS look at what it actually takes to source deals, build a lean operation, and avoid the traps that sideline so many people who get into this business.Join us as we dive into:Zach's path from a college leasing hustle to buying his first $20–30K house in Indianapolis in 2018, and how that snowballed into today's business.How Zach's operation is structured: direct-to-seller mail feeding wholesaling and flipping, which funds acquisitions of small multifamily, single-family rentals, and self-storage — all without outside equity to date.Why "just buying rentals" isn't a wealth strategy — cash flow keeps you in the game, but equity and capital events are what actually move the needle.Why AI and chatbots can't fix a bad reputation or replace the human-to-human trust that wins deals, retains tenants, and keeps LPs engaged.The "70 dudes who partnered on a fourplex" problem — why unit count and AUM get wildly overrated as status symbols, and why doing a few deals solo teaches more than riding shotgun on a syndication.The three things you actually need to start doing direct-to-seller deals: a CRM, a targeted list (tools like PropStream and Reonomy), and a mail houseHow to make aggressive offers respectfully, and why "running toward the confrontation" beats avoiding it.The three Ds of distress — death, divorce, and drama — and how to quickly identify which sellers are actually motivated versus wasting your time.Why a seller's real pain point is often bigger (and weirder) than investors assume, and why being present when they decide to sell matters more than trying to convince them.Connect with Zach Hoereth:Follow him on InstagramAre you looking to invest in real estate, but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners provides investment opportunities to passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits multifamily real estate offers, but without the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinSubscribe to our YouTube channelLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners