Jesse Futia

Fin Ghost

Helping Real Estate Professionals build $1M brands on LinkedIn.

Co-Founder and Ghostwriter

Executive Equity Investing 

Helping busy professionals build generational wealth and retire comfortably through passively investing in real estate.

Chief Executive Officer

Wealth Science Podcast 

Interviewing the top real estate and financial experts in the World.

Host

Writer and Co-Founder @ CRE Digital | Copywriting & social media management for the world's most innovative real estate companies

Creating content on social media is digital leverage for real estate professionals. 

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲. 

You now have two choices:

1. Create content

2. Be passed by those that do 

My story 👇

Broke college kid turned 7-figure real estate investor and writer. 

I help 7-figure real estate professionals grow their brands and drive qualified leads on LinkedIn. 

--

Hit the 🔔 and follow along each day for free tips.

Ready to grow your brand on LinkedIn to drive more qualified leads?

𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲.

My last day in uniform was December 2025.

And I still don’t know how to put 9 years into a single post.

I joined the Army because of 9/11.

I’m born and raised in upstate New York, and I was a kid watching the world change in real time. 

I didn’t fully understand everything that day…

But I understood enough to know I wanted to serve.

Fast forward:
-> 50+ countries.
-> 9 years in uniform.
-> More early mornings than I can count.
-> More lessons than any classroom could ever teach.

I learned a lot in that time. A lot.

One of the biggest lessons:

Murphy’s Law is real.

Things will break. 
Plans will change. 
The unexpected shows up right on time.

And there are thousands of things in this world we can’t control.

But our preparation and our attitude are not two of them.

The reps. 
The discipline. 
The standard.

The ability to stay steady when everything gets chaotic.

People will ask what I’m doing next.
And yes—I’m excited about what’s ahead.

But I want to say this first:

The biggest blessing of my career isn’t a rank, a title, a deployment, or a bullet point on a résumé.

It’s getting to walk away with the respect and honor of the men and women I served with.

That’s the only “retirement package” that actually matters.

To every leader who bet on me.
To every soldier who carried the weight with me.
To every teammate who showed up when it was hard, and exhausting…

Thank you.

I’m proud of what we did.

And I’m even more proud of who I got to do it with.

I'll look for you on the next objective. 

---

I'm Jesse Futia - I help CRE professionals build digital brands online to drive more leads and revenue. Send me a DM to connect.

Co-Founder, CRE Digital | Capital Raising Engine for Commercial Real Estate Investors | $50M Raised with Digital Systems | DM me to learn more

Matthew McConaughey made $18,000,000 in a single year…

…and still chose the harder path.

Not because he needed more money.

Because he wanted more meaning.

At the peak of his rom-com run, Hollywood kept offering him the same role with a different script.

Same character.
Same story.
Same safe paycheck.

He could’ve stayed in that lane forever and nobody would’ve blamed him.
Instead, he said “no” — over and over — until the industry stopped calling.

He intentionally walked into a dry season.
Not because he was lost.

Because he was refusing to be used up.

And then the pivot happened.

The roles shifted.
The respect shifted.
The legacy shifted.

Here’s the part people miss:

That wasn’t luck.
That was identity.

He wasn’t chasing attention.
He was building alignment.

And I think that’s the real lesson for the rest of us:

If you keep saying yes to the version of you that pays well…

you eventually lose the version of you that’s meant to lead.

Sometimes the most profitable decision is the one that looks like a setback from the outside:
→ saying no to the “safe” path
→ taking the uncomfortable turn
→ betting on the work that actually feels like you

Because comfort doesn’t build legends.

Commitment does.

If you’re in a season where you’re being pulled to level up, but it’s scary…
Good.

That usually means you’re close.

What’s one “safe yes” you need to turn into a “hard no” this year?

The median American has just $8,000 in the bank.

Not $80,000.

Eight.

And this is why “the economy is fine” and “people are struggling” can both be true at the same time.

Because the average balance is way higher (it’s pulled up by high earners)… but the median is the reality for most households.

Now zoom out:

→ A meaningful chunk of Americans have zero emergency savings
→ Less than half can cover 3 months of expenses with savings
→ One surprise expense turns into credit cards missed payments

Here’s why I care about this as someone watching Commercial Real Estate:

When households are thin, rent collections become fragile.

Spending shifts fast. Tenants trade down. Delinquencies creep. Turnover rises.

So the CRE winners in 2026 won’t be the “sexiest” deals.

They’ll be the deals tied to durable demand:

→ workforce / attainable housing
→ necessity-based retail
→ medical / essential services
→ anything that people keep paying for even when life gets tight

If you’re underwriting deals right now, this is a reminder:

Don’t just underwrite the property.

Underwrite the consumer.

Curious what you’re seeing: are tenants getting tighter… or holding steady in your market?

$1,000,000,000,000 is sitting on the sidelines… 

watching Commercial Real Estate.

And most people are missing what that means.

The CRE narrative has been:

“Office is dead.”
“Rates killed deals.”
“Nothing pencils.”

Reality is more nuanced.

Here’s what I’m seeing heading into 2026:

1) CRE is splitting into winners and losers faster than ever
Not “CRE” vs “no CRE.”

It’s good deals vs bad sponsors + bad basis.

2) Capital is still available… but it’s pickier

The bar is higher:
→ cleaner rent rolls
→ real demand drivers
→ stronger operators
→ realistic exit assumptions

3) Distress isn’t everywhere — it’s concentrated

Some owners need liquidity.
Some need time.
Some need a partner.

That creates opportunity… if you can move fast and underwrite clean.

4) The “boring” stuff is winning

Every cycle rewards durability:
→ essential services
→ sticky tenants
→ functional layouts
→ demand you can actually explain in one sentence

The next 12–24 months will create more wealth in CRE than the last 3 years…

…but only for the people who stop chasing headlines and start tracking fundamentals.

If you’re in the trenches right now — what are you seeing?

Where do you think the best opportunities show up first in 2026?

You can work 70 hours a week…

And still fall behind someone who owns cash-flowing assets.

For years, I believed hustle was the answer:

→ Wake up earlier
→ Grind harder
→ Outwork everyone

But here’s the truth no one tells you:

Time-based income has a ceiling.
Asset-based income doesn’t.

I’ve shifted my entire focus from active hustle → to passive systems:

✅ Land that pays me every month through long-term leases
✅ Real estate that compounds in value while tenants pay down debt
✅ AI-driven outreach that brings in opportunities while I sleep

The goal isn’t to work harder.

It’s to build leverage.

Because if your income depends on you showing up every day…

You don’t own a business — you own a job.

Want real freedom?

Start buying back your time.

99% of entrepreneurs never make it past year 3.

Not because they aren’t smart.
But because they can’t take the silence.

→ The silence when no one clicks your offer. 
→ The silence when your big launch flops. 
→ The silence when you're building something great — and no one notices.

That silence? It kills more dreams than failure ever will.

Here’s the truth no one tells you: 

Your first 1,000 days are supposed to suck.

→ No revenue. 
→ No recognition. 
→ No validation.

Just relentless iteration. 
Just stubborn belief. Just proof of work stacking in silence.

Because real entrepreneurs don’t wait for signs they’re winning. 

They keep going until it’s undeniable.

The ones who break through? They all share this:

→ Proof of work. 
→ Clarity through consistency. 
→ A message that scales without them.

They build. They share. They outlast.

That’s how you go from overlooked to unavoidable.

Keep going.

Your breakthrough is waiting.

In 2026, AI will replace 80% of what most capital raisers do all day…

Not the relationship part.
The busywork part that kills momentum.

Most capital raising still looks like this:

-> A thousand tabs open.
-> A half-written follow-up email.
-> A spreadsheet nobody trusts.
-> A CRM that’s “mostly up to date.”

And a founder wondering why “warm” leads keep going cold.

That’s not a capital raising problem.
That’s a systems problem.

Here’s the shift happening right now:

The best operators are building AI-powered capital raising systems that run whether they’re “feeling motivated” or not.

Meaning:

AI becomes the machine.

You become the signal.

Here’s what that actually looks like in 2026:

→ Every inbound lead is instantly tagged, scored, and routed
→ Follow-ups go out based on behavior (opens, clicks, replies, site visits)
→ Investors automatically receive the right info at the right time (case studies, decks, webinars, FAQs)

→ Meetings are booked without you chasing anyone
→ Your pipeline stays clean without you touching it every day
→ Your updates get drafted for you, with your voice, from your deal data

And the biggest one:

You stop “raising capital.”
You start running an investor acquisition engine.

Because capital raising is not a personality contest.

It’s a throughput game.

The winners in 2026 won’t be the loudest on LinkedIn.

They’ll be the ones with:
→ the cleanest data
→ the fastest follow-up
→ the clearest narrative
→ and the strongest trust flywheel

AI doesn’t make you authentic.
It makes you consistent.

And consistency is what builds belief.

If you’re still doing capital raising manually in 2026…

you’re not behind on “tools.”

You’re behind on leverage.

What part of your capital raising process do you still do manually that you know should be automated?

$10M in CRE capital commitments came from just 16% of our investor database.

Most sponsors think more contacts = more capital.

Wrong.

The sponsors closing 8-figure raises aren't the ones with the biggest lists. 

They're the ones with the tightest systems.

After analyzing what actually moved investors from "interested" to "wired funds," here's what the data showed:

1. The drip campaign architecture

Your investors don't wake up ready to wire $100K. They need 7-12 touch points before they trust you with their money.

2. The CRM you actually use

I've seen sponsors with 500+ "investor relationships" in a spreadsheet they haven't opened in 6 months.

If you can't tell me which 20 investors to call for your next deal in under 60 seconds, your system is broken.

3. The content flywheel

-> One market update email becomes:
-> A LinkedIn post
-> A video for your investor portal
-> Content for 3 drip emails
-> Material for investor calls

Create once. Deploy everywhere.

The reality nobody talks about:

That 16% of their database? 

They received 3x more touchpoints than everyone else.

Not because we spammed them. Because we had a system that identified who was ready and kept them warm.

Trust compounds.
Systems compound. 
Relationships compound. 

Most sponsors are out here hunting. The best ones built farms.

What's your capital-raising system look like?

P.S. - If you're still manually tracking investor follow-ups in your notes app, we need to talk.

A kid starting college this month will spend $100,000+…

…training for a job that might not exist by the time they graduate.

That sounds dramatic.

But it’s already happening.

AI isn’t “coming.”
It’s here.

And it’s eating the middle of the workforce first:
→ entry-level analysts
→ basic marketing execution
→ customer support reps
→ paralegal/admin-heavy legal work
→ junior accountants/bookkeeping
→ simple coding / QA
→ recruiters doing manual sourcing

Not because those people aren’t smart.

Because those jobs are built on repeatable tasks.

And repeatable tasks get automated.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

College isn’t the problem.

Blindly picking a major without a leverage plan is.

If you’re 18 right now, the goal isn’t “get a degree.”
The goal is: build a stack that makes you hard to replace.

My simple rule for 2026:

Don’t become the person who does the task.
Become the person who owns the outcome.

That means:
→ learn how to use AI tools like a power user
→ build real-world proof (projects, offers, results)
→ practice communication + persuasion
→ learn basic business economics (how money moves)
→ get close to revenue (sales, partnerships, deal flow)
→ specialize in a domain AI can’t “understand” without you (industry context, relationships, judgment)

AI will replace skills.

It won’t replace agency.

It won’t replace a person who can:

see the problem → make a plan → execute → communicate → lead.

That’s the new degree.

What’s one job you think is getting automated faster than people realize?

23% of people quit their New Year’s goal this week.

And by the end of January, it’s closer to 48%.

So if you’re still in the fight right now…

You’re already ahead of most people.

Week 1 is where motivation dies.

Not because the goal was wrong.
Because the process wasn’t built.

Most people rely on a feeling.
Winners rely on a system.

A system looks like:

-> same time, same place, same trigger
-> smaller daily targets (so you can actually win)
-> a scoreboard (so progress is visible)
-> a reset plan for the days you fall off

Because falling off isn’t the problem.

Staying off is.

So yeah—congrats if you’re still here.

Now tighten the screws and stack another week.

Drop a comment with what you’re still committed to in 2026. I’ll reply to every one.

After driving over 100,000,000 impressions on LinkedIn 

Here's what every client wants to know:

Who you are.

Stop talking about returns.

I've watched 100s of sponsor pitches get ignored.

The ones that landed? 

They answered the questions LPs are actually asking:

"Can I trust you with my money for the next 5-7 years?"

Your 18% projected returns don't answer that.

Here's what does:

→ How you handled your worst deal 
→ Whether you return calls when things go sideways 
→ If you've ever taken less so your investors could take more 
→ What your previous investors say when you're not in the room

The best sponsors I know don't lead with their track record.

They lead with their values.

Because here's the truth most won't tell you:

LPs can find deals anywhere. 

They can find returns anywhere.

The sponsors crushing it right now are sharing:

-Stories about deals they walked away from 
-The mentor who shaped their investment philosophy 
-How they built their team and why culture matters 
-What they learned from their failures 

This isn't about being vulnerable for likes.
It's about being known.

What's the most important thing an LP should know about you that has nothing to do with your returns?

We will double your Airbnb income in 90 days or we will work for free until we do

www.StayLevelUp.com

Short term rental property management with an income guarantee 

www.StayAdelante.com 
(see how we took this home, renovated in 49 days and tripled the income)

As the Founder of DLRJ Holdings and LevelUp Stays, I am proud to lead a company that is driven by data to provide exceptional short-term rental experiences. Our commitment to excellence in management helps other Airbnb owners double their income by focusing on two areas: Customer experience and Revenue management. 

Here are some of my past accomplishments:

→ Key role in the Sunpro acquisition by ADT Security for $825 million
→ 11 years of sales and management experience with a strong focus on sales leadership since 2014
→ Personally sold over $5 million in solar over the past three years and oversaw a team of 10 territory sales managers and 120 sales representatives in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois for ADT Solar.
→ Generated revenues of $200+ million/year in the solar sales region consisting of 100 sales representatives in six states. 
→ Achieved the distinction of being the #1 branch manager at Enterprise Holdings in San Antonio, TX.

These experiences have taught me valuable lessons in leadership, management, and sales that have helped me build and grow DLRJ Holdings into the thriving business it is today. At DLRJ Holdings, we are dedicated to delivering unparalleled service, comfort, and convenience to all of our guests, and we aim to exceed their expectations with every stay. 

Our passion for focusing on guest experience, innovation, and collaboration continues to elevate the short-term rental industry, and we strive to be the go-to destination for those seeking a truly exceptional experience.

If you have an opportunity, or feel you can leverage my assets in your organization, feel free to contact him directly at:

Email: derek@dlrjholdings.com
Phone: 361-205-7359

Derek R. Gisriel

Skipping this leaves money on the table. 
​
Now we stack the profit drivers. Amenities that increase ADR and RevPAR without bloating cleaning time.
​
Hot tubs are the single biggest revenue lift we see. Strong photos alone drive massive conversion.
​
In leisure markets, you’re looking at roughly a 38% RevPAR lift and about a 4% occupancy bump. 
​
It’s a weekend demand magnet and a romance anchor. Few upgrades move numbers this cleanly.
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Top rated property management in Florida and Texas. We help Airbnb owners double their income in 90 days or we will work for free until we do

Want to know what amenities earn best?
​
Most hosts guess when it comes to amenities and waste cash. That approach gets punished this 2026.
​
The smart move is installing what guests actually search for and pay premiums for. Not trends. 
​
This is based on consolidated research, booking behavior, and outcomes across our 70+ homes. 
​
You don’t just get more bookings when amenities align with guest demand, you get better ones at higher rates. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Different guests book for different reasons. 
​
Here’s the simple market fit matrix:
​
Families want pools, full kitchens, parking, washers and dryers, blackout curtains, and safety. They stay longer and cook more.
​
Couples want hot tubs, fire pits, robes, soft lighting, and privacy.
​
Remote workers need fast Wi-Fi, a real workspace, quiet HVAC, and serious coffee. 
​
Add long-stay discounts and they’ll fill midweeks and shoulder seasons.
​
Design for your guest. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Occupancy doesn’t tell the full story. 
​
You need to place yourself on the revenue curve first. Most people miss this before they launch their listing. 
​
Start with your market’s average daily rate and expected occupancy. That gives you RevPAR, revenue per available night.
​
For example: $180 ADR at 50% occupancy equals $90 RevPAR. Multiply that by 365 and you’re at roughly $32,850 gross potential before fees and taxes. RevPAR is king.
​
Know your RevPAR before you list. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Wi-Fi isn’t your most important amenity. 
​
Guests rank comfort above even Wi-Fi. Why? Because climate control affects how they feel every hour of the stay across every season.
​
Reliable coverage is what matters. List HVAC or heat accurately and specify which rooms are included.
​
Use a smart thermostat that’s simple, or explain it clearly in your guidebook. 
​
Schedule seasonal maintenance so nothing fails mid-stay. 
​
Protect comfort first if you care about reviews. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Profit starts with protection, not upgrades. 
​
Before stacking profit drivers, you need baseline essentials. These protect reviews and keep occupancy high.
​
High-speed Wi-Fi is non-negotiable. Guests expect it the same way they expect running water.
​
It’s especially critical for work-from-home travelers, extended stays, and midweek bookings. 
​
Miss this, and no amount of fancy decor saves the review. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Does your direct site feel harder to book? 
​
The thing most hosts miss is pricing parity. If your Airbnb price is cheaper than your direct site, guests will feel punished booking direct.
​
Parity builds trust. Then you win conversions with small, high-value perks that don’t crush margins.
​
Think late checkout, early check-in when available, or a simple welcome snack.
​
You can even layer in logic-based incentives like seven nights direct for 15% off. Same price. Better experience. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Why does pricing feel harder in some months? 
​
One of the biggest pricing mistakes is using the same revenue goal year-round. 
​
In peak season, you want higher ADRs and minimal discounting. In shoulder season, flexible pricing with strong weekend spreads.
​
And for the off-season? 
​
✅Lower base rates.
✅Shorter minimum stays.
✅Less friction.
✅More upsells. 
​
Different seasons demand different targets. When your pricing matches demand cycles, revenue stabilizes instead of swinging wildly. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Passive hosting wont turn into passive income. 
​
How much can a first-year Airbnb really make? And why do some win while others stall?
​
If your manager is running a “sit-it-and-forget-it” plan, you’re bleeding revenue. 
​
This breakdown uses fresh 2025 market context, real cost ranges, and proven ramp-up tactics.
​
Strong launches don’t rely on luck. They rely on intentional pricing, smart upgrades, and active revenue management from day one. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Five-star reviews start in the bedroom.
​
Sleep quality is your biggest review lever. Guests forgive small misses when they sleep well but not when they don't. ​ 
​
What matters most?
​
✅A premium mattress.
✅Blackout curtains.
✅Both firm and soft pillow options.
​
In noisy areas, a white noise machine can be the difference between four stars and five. 
​
Flashy upgrades don’t save bad sleep.
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Is it actually too late to start? 
​
Is 2026 still a good time to start an Airbnb? Yes, if you stop relying on hype.
​
If you’re stuck with a manager and underperforming, you’re leaving money on the table. 
​
That’s why we built a beginner-friendly, numbers-first system you can actually run yourself.
​
We’re Superhosts, Premier partners, and operators who scaled from 1 to 70+ properties in three years. 
​
No course. No pitch. Just systems. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

Miss this 4-week boost and you fall behind. 
​
New listings get a visibility boost for about four weeks if your pricing is correct. Done right, your first booking should land within 24–48 hours.
​
Reviews are the currency that locks in rank and conversion, but guests have 14 days to leave them. 
​
If you let your calendar spread out, hitting 10–15 reviews can take months.
​
That’s why we compress the timeline. Faster bookings. Faster reviews. Faster ranking. 
​
💬 LevelUp Stays helps hosts scale smarter with systems built for 5-star success. 
​
#LevelUpStays #TexasAirbnb #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #TravelTexas

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The Battle

Jesse Futia

Derek R. Gisriel

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taplio

The Battle

Jesse Futia

Derek R. Gisriel

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jesse Futia's LinkedIn Performance

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