The Benefits of Having a W-2 While Investing in Real Estate with Michael Stohler (Part 2)

Michael is a Navy veteran and former airline pilot ✈️ who pivoted from 1,300+ multifamily units to diving deep into the dynamic world of hotel ownership and syndications 🏨. Early on, he read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” tried (and sometimes failed) landlord strategies, and even lost his own home before bouncing back stronger than ever.Key Lessons from His JourneyEarly Struggles: Michael admits he learned by trial and error—sometimes literally knocking on doors and asking for seller financing.Creative Financing: Banks often turned him down, so he leveraged seller financing and partnerships to grab undervalued deals.Scaling Up: Post-2008, he purchased properties aggressively, later selling them at compressed cap rates.Transition to Hotels: With hotel profits tied to business operations, Michael used SBA and USDA loans—tools not common in multifamily—to grow faster.COVID Curveballs: He got inventive, renting out rooms as work-from-home offices and catering to traveling sports teams.Why Hotels?Michael highlights the flexibility of daily pricing, multiple revenue streams (rooms, restaurants, events), and the potential for higher returns. He also believes in following the “smart money” worldwide, including expansion into European markets.Final TakeawayThrough resilience, mentorship, and out-of-the-box thinking, Michael proves you can pivot from a demanding day job into real estate success without sacrificing work-life balance. 🌟✨Time Stamps ⏰00:00 Introduction to Michael’s Journey01:34 Early Real Estate Challenges04:09 Overcoming Adversity and Gaining Traction06:54 Strategies for Real Estate Success15:05 Transition to the Hotel Industry17:46 Navigating the Hotel Business During COVID21:06 Current Hotel Operations and Future Plans24:38 Underwriting and Financing Hotels29:57 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsWebsite: https://ericlindseyml.com/Click On The Link Below To Schedule A Call With Eric:https://calendly.com/moonlightequitiesgroup/scheduled-conversationClick On The Link Below For More Information About Eric Lindsey:https://linktr.ee/ericlindsey