How Investors Are Cashing In on New Zoning Laws

Welcome back to Radical Wealth Plan, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and brought to you by Entrepreneur Media. In this episode, I sit down with developer and contractor Adam O’Neill to uncover the untapped opportunities hiding in plain sight for real estate investors—opportunities most people overlook because they fear the complexity of entitlements, zoning, and development approvals. Adam reveals how recent policy shifts in California have transformed the playing field, creating new “by-right” development paths that strip away many of the political and bureaucratic roadblocks that used to stall projects. We explore how to identify progressive cities with high housing demand, spot parcels with hidden potential, and use strategic relationships to turn local knowledge into extraordinary value. You’ll also hear how creativity, curiosity, and calculated risk can open doors to projects with outsized returns, even for those who aren’t seasoned developers. If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate high-barrier markets or turn regulatory changes into profitable advantages, this conversation will change how you think about growth in real estate. Connect with Paul: https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/ Connect with Adam: https://pacificaurbanbuilders.com/ Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:54 Building trust in partnerships 00:03:26 Adam’s background in real estate development 00:05:37 Paul’s multifamily investment approach 00:08:08 Why investors fear entitlements 00:11:12 California’s zoning shift 00:15:05 “Brain damage” and barriers to entry 00:18:37 CEQA changes and NIMBY vs. YIMBY 00:20:34 ADUs and state housing policy 00:22:47 Applying California lessons nationally 00:24:15 Entitlements as a business model 00:25:27 Creative deal-making examples 00:33:36 Starting as an LAPD officer 00:36:27 Curiosity, tenacity, and focus 00:44:49 Largest projects and scaling up 00:52:28 Small lot subdivisions and density 01:15:14 Buy-right development strategies 01:23:28 Ordinance SB 1123 and other opportunities 01:28:07 Lightning Round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices