Skip to content
Real Estate Geniuses podcast artwork

PODCAST · business

Real Estate Geniuses

by Franklin Cruz

Real Estate Geniuses is for real investors and developers who are in the trenches, making deals happen. No fluff—just real strategies from people actually doing the work. Hosted by Franklin Cruz, a U.S. Army veteran and 22+ year real estate investor, this podcast delivers straight-to-the-point insights on investing, development, and negotiating deals face-to-face. Each episode covers practical lessons, strategies, and real experiences—whether from expert guests or Franklin himself. A True Investor or True Developer is someone who takes action, closes deals, keeps growing with No Excuses!

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Apr 20, 2025 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Section 6 - The Creative Plays

    Section 6 - The Creative Plays

  2. Section 5 - The Money & The People

    Section 5 - The Money & The People

  3. Section 4 - Big Infrastructure Moves

    Section 4 - Big Infrastructure Moves

  4. Section 3 - Hidden landmines

    Section 3 - Hidden landmines

  5. Section 2 - First Green Lights

    Section 2 - First Green Lights

  6. Section 1 - Real Estate Development Dictionary

    Intro + Section 1 - Real Estate Development Dictionary

  7. Part 8 | How I Turned 1 House Into 41 Lots and Sold For $1.25M

    Answering the most common questions from new and aspiring real estate developers. What it takes, how to work with me, and how to know if you’re ready to become a TrueInvestor.

  8. Part 7 | How I Turned 1 House Into 41 Lots and Sold For $1.25M

    This is the full 2-hour breakdown of my real estate development journey—from one house on 9 acres to a 41-lot subdivision deal with KB Homes. Watch this if you’re ready to level up as a developer, investor, or land buyer.

  9. Part 6 | How I Turned 1 House Into 41 Lots and Sold For $1.25M

    This is how the final deal came together with KB Homes. The pitch, the negotiation, and the terms that sealed it.

  10. Part 5 | How I Turned 1 House Into 41 Lots and Sold For $1.25M

    Want to develop land? Here are the micro milestones that can make or break your timeline. Zoning, permits, engineering, and what to never overlook.

  11. Part 4 | How I Turned 1 House Into 41 Lots and Sold For $1.25M

    I had a $2.5M offer for this project. I took $1.25M instead—and made more. Here’s the breakdown of why the lower offer was actually the better play.

  12. Part 3 | How I Turned 1 House Into 41 Lots and Sold For $1.25M

    Learn how I got my private lender to say yes—without hard selling or pressure. This is how you build trust and close big-money deals.

  13. Part 2 | How I Turned 1 House Into 41 Lots and Sold For $1.25M

    In this episode, I break down exactly how I structured a creative seller-financed deal on a 9-acre parcel that I turned into 41 lots and sold for $1.25 million. I walk you through how I negotiated the terms, raised capital, and used seller financing to reduce risk while staying in control of the...

  14. Part 1 | How I Turned 1 House Into 41 Lots and Sold For $1.25M

    In this episode, I break down exactly how I went from buying a single house on 9 acres to converting it into 41 buildable lots and selling it to a national homebuilder for $1.25M. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just the raw play-by-play from the first text to the closing table.Introduction to the…

    more
  15. Before You Buy Land, Watch This | Hidden Costs in Land Development

    In this episode, I break down real-life examples of costly mistakes, the right way to research land, and how to avoid the hidden expenses that wipe out profits. If you’re serious about real estate investing and development, this is a must-watch.

  16. Why Most Investors Fail | The Brutal Truth About Scaling in Real Estate Development

    Most real estate investors stay broke because they fall for the biggest lie in business—playing it safe. If you’re stuck, frustrated, or afraid to take the next step, this episode is your ultimate reality check.

  17. Why Most “Alpha Males” Are Failing in Business and Life

    In this episode, I break down the real traits of successful men in business, the biggest mistakes investors make, and why most people don’t understand true leadership. Plus, I explain how to transition from real estate investor to developer and why meeting sellers alone can be a huge risk.

  18. Time Hacks for High-Level Real Estate Investors & Developers

    Most people think they’re being productive, but the truth is they’re wasting hours every day on things that don’t move the needle. I break down 10 battle-tested productivity hacks from military, business, and life that will help you track your time, eliminate distractions, and maximize results....

  19. Grant Cardone vs. Elon Musk: Who Has the Better Business Model?

    Raising capital is one of the most powerful skills in business, but not all strategies are created equal. I break down how Grant Cardone and Elon Musk raise money, their key differences, and what real estate investors can learn from them.0:00:00 - Introduction 0:00:22 - The real difference…

    more
  20. The Truth About Boxabl and the Housing Crisis

    Fast home construction sounds like the solution to the housing crisis, but the real issue isn’t speed—it’s land. I break down why land entitlements, zoning laws, and infrastructure are the real bottlenecks that stop new developments. Boxabl and other prefab home companies claim to revolutionize...

  21. The History & Future of Lakeland | Real Estate & Development

    Lakeland is one of Florida’s fastest-growing cities, with major businesses, low cost of living, and prime real estate opportunities. Franklin Cruz breaks down Lakeland’s history, future growth, and the best areas to invest in right now. If you're in real estate, don’t miss this.

  22. How to Achieve a Modern Look on a Budget

    Modern home design doesn’t have to break the bank. In this video, I explain how to balance smart design with budget-friendly strategies, reduce material costs, and maximize your investment. If you're a homeowner, investor, or developer, these insights will save you money and increase property value.

  23. How Open Spaces and Smart Design Sell Homes Faster

    Open spaces and smart design make homes more valuable and desirable. In this video, I walk through key layout changes that maximize space, improve flow, and increase buyer interest. If you're renovating or selling, this is what you need to know.

  24. Manufactured Homes: Smart Investment or Financial Nightmare?

    Most investors get it wrong. They think buying a manufactured home is a smart move—until they realize they don’t own the land beneath it. That’s when the costs start creeping up, and they lose control.In this episode, I break down why owning the land is the smartest real estate move you can make...

  25. Rehab Site Walkthrough | How to Avoid Permit Delays & Maximize Value

    Thinking about flipping a property, rehabbing a home, or selling your property for maximum value? In this real-time rehab site walkthrough of the Sherwood Project, I break down the key steps, mistakes to avoid, and what home sellers, investors, and developers MUST know when dealing with permits,...

  26. Why Smart Real Estate Investors Are Buying Teslas in 2025

    I break down why buying a Tesla is the smartest investment for real estate investors, developers, and property sellers looking to save time, cut costs, and maximize tax benefits. From slashing 40+ hours of wasted time per month to the 100% tax write-off (Section 179) that can save you thousands,...

  27. Selling Your Home? Ask These 25 Questions or Lose Thousands (PT.2)

    Most home sellers lose money because they don’t ask the right questions. In this episode, I break down the 25 biggest questions sellers should be asking before it’s too late. From dealing with mortgages, repairs, and investors to spotting scams and negotiating smarter deals, this is the inside...

  28. The 25 Questions Every Home Seller Fails to Ask (Until It’s Too Late)

    Most home sellers lose thousands by trusting the wrong people and making costly mistakes—but not on my watch. With 100+ face-to-face deals and millions in transactions, I’m breaking down the 25 critical questions you need to ask before selling. Want to know how investors really calculate offers?...

  29. Why Real Estate Development Is So Damn Hard | A Civil Engineer’s Take

    Most real estate investors think they want to get into development until they realize how brutal it really is.In this episode, I sit down with civil engineer Ricardo Jimenez, who has 15 years of experience in the field, to break down the exact reasons why most developers lose money, waste time…

    more
  30. 22 Hard Truths That Make or Break Real Estate Investors (Part 2)

    I’ve been through the grind, divorce, setbacks, and million-dollar deals, all to bring you these hard-earned real estate lessons. This is Part 2 of my 44 hard truths that can make or break you as an investor. From high-stakes networking to crushing your ego daily, these are the raw insights they...

  31. 22 Hard Truths That Make or Break Real Estate Investors

    I’ve spent years in the trenches learning these brutal real estate lessons—so you don’t have to. Whether you’re flipping houses or developing entire neighborhoods, these 22 hard truths will either make you a powerhouse or leave you broke. No fluff, just real, battle-tested wisdom that separates...

  32. Inside a Real Fix & Flip Project | Full Walkthrough & Strategy

    In episode 2 of The Real Estate Geniuses podcast, I take you behind the scenes of a real flip in Lakeland, Florida. This isn’t just talk—I walk through an active rehab project, breaking down the work that goes into turning a manufactured home into a solid investment. I cover what’s being done…

    more
  33. How a 9-Acre Deal Changed My Life | Real Estate, Divorce, and Starting Over

    In this first episode of Real Estate Geniuses, I share my journey as a military veteran navigating real estate, personal challenges, and a life-changing $1.25 million development deal. I open up about the struggles of going through a tough divorce, rebuilding after setbacks, and transitioning…

    more

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

Real Estate Geniuses is for real investors and developers who are in the trenches, making deals happen. No fluff—just real strategies from people actually doing the work. Hosted by Franklin Cruz, a U.S. Army veteran and 22+ year real estate investor, this podcast delivers straight-to-the-point insights on investing, development, and negotiating deals face-to-face. Each episode covers practical lessons, strategies, and real experiences—whether from expert guests or Franklin himself. A True Investor or True Developer is someone who takes action, closes deals, keeps growing with No Excuses!

HOSTED BY

Franklin Cruz

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Real Estate Geniuses have?

Real Estate Geniuses currently has 33 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Real Estate Geniuses about?

Real Estate Geniuses is for real investors and developers who are in the trenches, making deals happen. No fluff—just real strategies from people actually doing the work. Hosted by Franklin Cruz, a U.S. Army veteran and 22+ year real estate investor, this podcast delivers straight-to-the-point...

How often does Real Estate Geniuses release new episodes?

Real Estate Geniuses has 33 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Real Estate Geniuses?

You can listen to Real Estate Geniuses on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Real Estate Geniuses?

Real Estate Geniuses is created and hosted by Franklin Cruz.
URL copied to clipboard!