MB523: You Don’t Have a Knowledge Problem. You Have a Deal Flow Problem (How to Finally Close Your First Deal) - With Lee Fjord

In this episode, Michael Blank sits down with Lee Fjord, a real estate investor who has built an $80M+ portfolio and owns over 1,200 units—all starting from a single duplex. But the real focus of this conversation is capital raising in today’s shifting environment. As online funnels and paid ads become increasingly ineffective, Lee shares how he’s built a powerful, scalable system for raising capital locally through in-person events, curated meetups, and relationship-driven strategies. From hosting monthly property tours to creating a repeatable investor “flywheel,” Lee breaks down exactly how he’s raised nearly $2M from his network—and how you can do the same by prioritizing trust, consistency, and community.Key TakeawaysLocal Capital Raising Is Back—and It WorksAs online ads and webinars lose effectiveness, in-person events and local networking are proving to be far more reliable for building investor trust and raising capital.Consistency Creates a Compounding “Flywheel” EffectHosting recurring monthly events builds familiarity, credibility, and momentum—turning casual attendees into long-term investors over time.Start Small, Then Scale StrategicallyLee began with simple meetups and evolved them into curated experiences, proving you don’t need perfection—just consistency and iteration.Curated Experiences Attract Higher-Quality InvestorsTargeting accredited investors, asking the right questions, and filtering attendees helps ensure you’re building relationships with serious capital partners.In-Person Connection Builds Trust Faster Than FunnelsFace-to-face interactions dramatically shorten the trust cycle compared to cold online leads, making it easier to convert relationships into investments.Layered Engagement (Events + Webinars) Maximizes ReachCombining live events with ongoing touchpoints like webinars and follow-ups creates a powerful ecosystem for nurturing investor relationships.Connect with our Deal Maker PartnersCheck out all Partners hereAttorney - Swafford Law LLC Asset Manager - Cyndee Harding, High Caliber MultifamilyCPA - James Bohan, Stonehan AccountancyMentor - Deal Maker MentoringResourcesConnect with Michael BlankTheFreedomPodcast.com Join the Deal Maker MastermindExplore Michael’s Mentoring ProgramReview the Podcast on Apple PodcastsGet the Syndicated Deal AnalyzerGet the Book, Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing by Michael Blank For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session523/