Helping Changemakers Build Wealth Like They Build Solutions: With Purpose | Ex-Apple Engineer

I'm the real estate sponsor who's actually built a building. A lot of them. 

So I don't outsource my due diligence. I am the due diligence.

For 20 years my engineering ensured buildings didn't fail, they thrived.

And 9 of those years I was Apple's most trusted building engineer leading the design of their global retail store portfolio. 300+ stores. 20+ countries. Award-winning buildings that millions of people visit daily. Before Apple, New York City skyscrapers and large scale renewable energy. In all, $10B+ in projects where failure wasn't an option.

Then I burned out building someone else's empire.

In 2023, I walked away from Apple stock options I could've retired on to build a future I controlled for people that trust me, not people who own me.

Type 1 diabetic for 30+ years. Father of 2 young kids. I know what it means when every day counts—and I build for people who want their time back—not another job disguised as passive income.

You won't hear me pitch forced appreciation through rent increases you can't control. That's not engineering. That's gambling.

I obsess over operations and building systems. That's where buildings make and lose money—and after 20 years of engineering for companies that refused to accept failure, I know where to look.

With global economic uncertainty, my thesis is double edged. I keep my capital close with private lending—short duration, high yield, high velocity. Capital ready to move for when the next downturn hits. Because cashflow pays the bills and capital is power.

But wealth isn't built short term. Real assets with long horizons should be the foundation you build to last generations. And resilience isn't "green," it's the only smart business that will protect your investment.

I invest for what matters: people. If you care about where your money goes and not just how much it makes then follow along.

Ready to build your real estate wealth? 
DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio together.

Weekly insights: dropsofchange.substack.com

Jon Weiskopf, P.E.

My dad died when I was 13.
I've counted time ever since.

He was 51.
Type 1 diabetic.
Same disease I've managed since age 11.

Watching him go taught me something
no business school ever could:

Time isn't renewable.

You don't get days back.
You don't get hours back.
You don't get moments with your kids back.

That's why I left Apple.

Not because the money was bad.
The money was great.
The stock options were life-changing.

But I was trading time for money.
And time was the thing I couldn't replace.

Now I build differently.

Private lending for cash flow—money that works without me.
Real assets for legacy—wealth that outlasts me.

Cashflow pays the bills.
Appreciation builds what I leave behind.

I need both.
Because I'm not just building a portfolio.
I'm building a life I actually get to live.

>> What would you build if you knew your time was limited?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

Build wealth before doubt builds nothing.

From the outside, Apple looks flawless.
Inside?

Apple wrestles with the same trade-offs every large operator does.

Reactive maintenance looks cheaper.
Until you measure the real cost.

Apple Retail had a policy to minimize capex.
Instead of proactively replacing HVAC systems,
The directive was to run equipment until failure.

That policy wasn’t driven by Facilities.
It was governed by Finance.

On a spreadsheet, it made sense.
Deferred spend looks like savings.

But here’s what never made the calculation:
The cost of avoidance.

When HVAC failed, stores closed.
Customer experience suffered.
Revenue disappeared — quietly and instantly.

Those costs never showed up in the capex model.

I see the exact same mistake in multifamily.

Owners say,
“I’ll just wait until it breaks.”

But when systems fail:
Maintenance tickets pile up.

Residents get frustrated.

Move-outs increase.

(And maintenance is the #1 reason residents leave.)

Yes, proactive upgrades cost money.
But reactive maintenance costs trust, stability, and NOI.

The real lesson:
If Finance optimizes in isolation, operations pay the price.

Great operators don’t just ask:
“What does this cost today?”

They ask:
“What does avoiding this cost us tomorrow?”

Because in real estate —
The most expensive problems are the ones you pretend don’t exist.

>> Are you modeling maintenance as an expense… or as a risk multiplier?

========
I’m Jon — Engineering passive income for you like I engineered Apple’s global retail store portfolio.

Find my Featured section to connect.

Short-duration debt + GP shares = aligned incentives.


We closed a loan and a multifamily acquisition at the same time.

That’s not an accident.
That’s structure.

The deal was a 152-unit Class C property in Kansas City — one of my favorite markets.
Off-market.
Strong value-add.
Targeting a ~40% valuation lift after capex.
Projected 10% cash-on-cash with a 3-year hold.

Here’s how we structured it:

We provided an EMD loan to an up-and-coming operator.
Short duration.
Clear execution plan.
And because alignment matters, we didn’t stop at the loan.

We received GP shares in the deal.

Why?
Because when capital participates on both sides of the stack, incentives change.

To further de-risk the loan, we also helped raise equity —
giving our investors exposure to both:
The acquisition upside, and
The ownership economics.

The results:
- Loan duration: 2.5 months
- Loan return: ~30% ARR
- Equity position: long-term upside through ownership

That’s how we support emerging operators and protect investor capital.

We don’t just wire money.
We help close deals.
We help structure wins.

Because the best capital isn’t passive.
It’s partnered.

>>> Are your investments structured for alignment — or just yield?

========
I’m Jon — Engineering passive income for you like I engineered Apple’s global retail store portfolio.

Find my Featured section to connect.

Apple demanded details no one sees.
That obsession stayed.

In Cupertino,
we would debate the radius of a corner.
The exact hue of an employee t-shirt.
The gap between wall panels measured in millimeters (3mm to be exact)

Details that 99% of customers never notice.

But Apple believed something:

Excellence isn't what people see.
It's about what you know is there.

That obsession 

Cost time.
It cost money.
It frustrated vendors who wanted "good enough."

But it built something:

Stores that feel different—
even if you can't explain why.

I brought that to real estate.

I notice the deferred caulking around windows.
The drainage slope that's 1% instead of 2%.
The HVAC duct that's undersized.

Details most sponsors never see.
Details that become expensive problems later.

Is it worth it?

Only if you believe the details compound.
I do.

Most investors underwrite the spreadsheet.
I underwrite the building—down to the millimeter.

>> What details are hiding in your investments?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

Two loans funded and returned in under 2 weeks each.
Velocity by design.

When we launched the private debt fund,
I had one question:

How fast can capital cycle
Without sacrificing discipline?

The answer came quickly.

Loan 2: Closed in 2 days.
Loan 3: Closed in 13 days.

Not because we rushed.
Because we systematized.

Here's what made it possible:

→ Pre-defined underwriting criteria
→ Legal docs templated and ready
→ Borrower requirements non-negotiable
→ Decision authority clear

Most funds take 30-60 days to close.
We take 7-14.

That's not recklessness.
That's engineering applied to capital deployment.

Every day a loan sits in underwriting,
returns erode.
Every week of delay,
velocity dies.

Cashflow buys time.
Velocity multiplies it.

4 loans initiated in 60 days.
2 already repaid and recycled.

The system works.

>> How much return are you losing to slow deployment?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

My average loan lasts 4.3 months.
The average RE deal lasts 5 years. Which do you prefer?

Most investors still think wealth is built in years, not quarters.

That belief comes from traditional real estate thinking.
Buy.
Hold.
Wait.

Private credit works on a different clock.

Short duration reduces exposure.
Faster repayment increases control.
Capital velocity quietly compounds.

When capital returns in months instead of years, risk becomes measurable instead of theoretical.

You don’t need to predict markets.
You need to manage timelines.

This is why we obsess over structure.
Clear exits.
Defined milestones.
Borrowers with something to lose.

Quarterly cycles don’t feel exciting.
But they outperform quietly.

>>> Is your capital waiting—or working right now?

========
I’m Jon — Engineering passive income for you like I engineered Apple’s global retail store portfolio.

Find my Featured section to connect.

Recession fears are rising.
Is your portfolio stress-tested?

Headlines are getting louder:
"Economic uncertainty ahead."
"Prepare for downturn."
"Markets brace for impact."

Most investors read these headlines
and freeze.

Analysis paralysis sets in.
Capital sits on the sidelines.
Opportunities pass.

I take a different approach.

I stress-test.

→ What happens if vacancy hits 15%?
→ What happens if rates stay elevated?
→ What happens if rent growth goes flat?
→ Can this building survive 24 months of pressure?

If the answer is no,
I don't invest.

If the answer is yes,
I move—while others wait.

Recessions expose weakness.
They don't create it.

The weakness was always there.
Hidden by strong markets.
Masked by easy money.

Resilience isn't green.
It's risk management.

And risk management starts before you write the check—
not after the downturn hits.

>> Have you stress-tested your portfolio for what's coming?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

Zero investor losses on private loans.
Engineering, not luck.

14 loans.
$3.1M deployed.
0 losses.

Some people would call that lucky.

I call it engineered.

Here's what we do that most lenders don't:

→ LTV caps at 65-70% (room for error)
→ Borrower exit strategy verified (not assumed)
→ Collateral personally inspected (not outsourced)
→ Loan duration kept short (reduced exposure)

Luck is hoping the deal works.
Engineering is structuring so it doesn't have to be perfect.

Every loan assumes something will go wrong.
Then we build protection for it.

The borrower struggles? Collateral covers us.
The market softens? Short duration limits exposure.
The property has issues? We found them before funding.

Most investors underwrite the spreadsheet.
I underwrite the downside.

Because zero losses isn't about avoiding risk.
It's about pricing it correctly.

>> Is your portfolio built on luck—or on engineering?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

3 loans in 60 days.
2 closed. $0 losses.

Here’s how…

That's not luck.
That's velocity by design.

Most private lenders take 30, 60 even 90 days to close a loan.
They screen for months.
Deploy for years.

We engineered a different system.

→ Strict underwriting criteria (before we ever see a deal)
→ Collateral requirements that protect downside

→ 48-hour decision timeline

The result?

Capital that moves.
Risk that's contained.

Returns that compound.

3 loans in our first 60 days of Our Debt Fund operating.
Not because we lowered standards.
Because we systematized them.

When your criteria are clear,
decisions get fast.
When decisions are fast,
capital works harder.

Most investors underwrite the spreadsheet.
I underwrite the building—and the borrower's exit.

That's why we can move quickly
without moving recklessly.

>> Are your returns built on hope—or on engineered velocity?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

20 countries. 20 ways to build.
Same physics.

Tokyo contractors frame differently than London crews.
Dubai specifications look nothing like São Paulo standards.
Every culture has its own construction DNA.

But here's what I learned in 9 years engineering Apple's global retail:

The building doesn't care about culture.
It cares about water management.
It cares about thermal movement.
It cares about load paths.

Physics is the great equalizer.

I've watched brilliant teams in Munich, Chongqing, and Kyoto
solve the same problems
with completely different approaches.

Both worked.
Because both respected the fundamentals.

That's what I bring to real estate investing now.

Not opinions about markets.
Not theories about appreciation.

Just 20 years of understanding
what makes buildings stand—
and what makes them fail.

Different markets. Different deals.
Same engineering discipline.

>> What would change if you could see what the building sees?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

The dollar is weakening. Beware.
But land doesn't disappear.

Stock prices swing.

Currency fluctuates.
Bond yields shift with every Fed meeting.

But the units in my portfolio?
Still standing.
Still housing residents.
Still generating rent.

Real assets have a quality
that paper assets don't:

They exist.

When inflation erodes purchasing power,
real estate adjusts.
Rents move with the market.
Replacement costs rise.
The asset becomes worth more in nominal terms.

That's not speculation.
That's physics meeting economics.

I'm not predicting a recession.
I'm not betting on dollar collapse.

I'm positioning for resilience.

Private lending for short-term velocity.
Real assets for long-term wealth preservation.

Because when uncertainty rises,
I want to own things—
not promises about things.

Resilience isn't green.
It's risk management.

>> If the dollar drops 20% tomorrow, what happens to your portfolio?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

An investor asked why no promises.
I showed track record.

"What returns can you guarantee?"

I get this question a lot.
And I understand why.

People want certainty.
They want someone to tell them it's going to be okay.
They want promises.

I don't make promises.
I show data.

→ 11 private loans
→ $2.3M deployed
→ 0 losses
→ 50.3% average annualized return

That's not a guarantee.
That's a track record.

Guarantees are marketing.
Track records are evidence.

Any sponsor can promise you 15% returns.
Few can show you 15 deals with 0 losses.

I'd rather under-promise and over-deliver
than make commitments I can't control.

Because real estate has variables.
Markets shift.
Tenants leave.
Things break.

What I can control:
→ How I underwrite
→ How I manage risk
→ How I communicate

Most investors underwrite the spreadsheet.
I underwrite the building—and my own track record.

>> Would you rather have promises or proof?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

We initiated 4 loans before most funds close one.


Traditional private lending works like this:

→ Source a deal (2-4 weeks)
→ Underwrite (4-6 weeks)
→ Legal review (1-2 weeks)
→ Close (1 week)

8-10 weeks for a single loan.
Then start over.

We built a different system:

→ Pre-qualified borrower network
→ Standardized underwriting criteria
→ Templated legal documents
→ 48-hour decision authority

The result?

4 loans initiated in 60 days.
While other funds were still closing their first.

This isn't about cutting corners.
It's about eliminating friction.

Every day of delay is return erosion.
Every week of process is velocity lost.

Cashflow buys time.
Velocity multiplies it.

When capital moves faster,
it works harder.
When it works harder,
returns compound.

Most investors are patient.
I'm impatient—by design.

>> How fast does your capital actually move?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

The horror of underestimated rehab costs…


Early in my days,
I budgeted my house rehab based on the contractor's estimate.

$157,000 rehab budget.
Seemed reasonable.
Numbers worked.

90 days in, we were at $196,000.
And not done.

Final cost: $213,000.

36% over budget.
Stress, anger.
Lesson learned.

Here's what I missed:

→ I underestimated hidden conditions
→ I assumed the contractor's timeline was realistic

Now every deal includes:

→ 20% contingency minimum
→ Timeline buffers that seem crazy

Mistakes are tuition.
But only if you change the system.

That deal taught me more about risk
than any spreadsheet ever could.

Because risk isn't in the numbers.
It's in the assumptions behind them.

>> What's the most expensive lesson you've learned in real estate?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

I don't buy inspection reports. 
I write them.

Most investors get a 40-page inspection report.
Skim the summary.
Check the "major concerns" section.
Move on.

They miss everything that matters.

Because inspection reports are written for liability—
not for investment decisions.

Here's what I do differently:

I walk the roof myself.
I check the HVAC units myself.
I look for water staining patterns myself.
I calculate remaining useful life myself.

Not because I don't trust inspectors.
Because I know what they're trained to see—
and what they're not.

20 years of engineering taught me:

The building speaks.
Most people just don't know the language.

A hairline crack in a foundation wall?
Could be settlement (normal).
Could be structural movement (expensive).

The difference is in the pattern.
And patterns take experience to read.

Most investors underwrite the spreadsheet.
I underwrite the building.

>> Who's reading the buildings in your portfolio?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

Recessions expose deferred maintenance.
Here's how to spot it.

When markets are strong,
buildings hide their problems.

High occupancy masks deferred repairs.
Strong rent rolls cover up capital needs.
Cash flow papers over cracks—literally.

Then the downturn hits.

Suddenly that "stable" asset
Needs a new roof you didn't budget for.

The HVAC that was "fine" fails in July.
The foundation issue becomes a foundation crisis.

Here's what I look for before I invest $1:

→ Roof age and condition (the actual membrane)
→ Water intrusion patterns (staining tells stories)
→ Repeated repairs to the same unit (can kicked down the road)

→ HVAC remaining useful life (and replacement cost at today's prices)

Most investors read the pro forma.
I read the building.

Because the building tells you
what the spreadsheet is hiding.

20 years of engineering taught me:
Deferred maintenance doesn't disappear.
It compounds.

And recessions collect the bill.

>> Before your next investment, ask: What is this building hiding?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

Before I invest $1, I walk the roof.
Not everyone does.

Here's what most investors do:

Read the inspection report.
Check the "roof" section.
See "5-7 years remaining useful life."
Move on.

Here's what I do:

I go up there.

And I look for what the report doesn't say:

→ Ponding water patterns (drainage issues)
→ Soft spots reveal water beneath (future leak sources)
→ Flashing details at walls and curbs (water entry points)
→ HVAC unit placement and condition (roof loading and leaks)

→ Thermal imaging camera shows the hidden water damage below.

A roof replacement is $8-15/sq ft.
On a 50,000 sq ft building, that's $400,000-$750,000.

One missed assessment.
Returns destroyed.

20 years of engineering taught me:

The roof is the building's first defense.
And it's the first thing most investors ignore.

Most investors underwrite the spreadsheet.
I underwrite the building—starting from the top.

>> When's the last time you actually walked a roof before investing?

========
I'm Jon — Engineer. Builder. Now investor. I know where risk hides.

DM me "BUILD" and let's engineer your real estate portfolio.

Senior Construction Project Manager @ VareCo

I am the Founder &amp; CEO of Investor Acquisitions. In short, I help real estate executives be known. What I've found is the best operators in real estate often neglect marketing. Marketing is important enough to wish you were better but not important enough to take it on on your own. Put another way: If operations fall apart? You don't have a business to market. If marketing falls apart? You've survived this long without it. However, there's a catch 22 to this approach to marketing. The modern real estate sponsor, broker &amp; lender needs marketing. They need to be known. Social media expedites 2 key aspects of deal making: 1. Building awareness of you. 2. Building trust in you. My business is taking the hard work of figuring social media out off your hands, &amp; replacing it with all the benefits. 1. Being trusted and known. 2. Generating quality leads. 3. Raising capital/Closing deals. The fun stuff that comes from being known. Whether you're the CEO, an executive team, or a broker, our team at Investor Acquisitions can level up your brand &amp; content on LinkedIn. Our business is telling your story.

Cole Baker

Emmitt Smith earned $61,300,000 during his NFL career. 

He's quietly turned that into $100,000,000 in real estate. 

Here's how he did it: 

1) He LEARNED from the BEST. 

• Emmitt played 15 years for the Dallas Cowboys. 
• He leveraged the notoriety to get an internship. 
• Followed Roger Staubach around for 2 years. 
• (Roger has transacted on $26,000,000,000+ in CRE)
• This was the foundation of his knowledge. 

2) He TOOK ACTION. 

• Leveraging the experience with Staubach, 
• He started a JV with Staubach's company. 
• He started his own firm in Baltimore. 

Most of us don't have $63mm to start investing with. 

But, anyone can learn from the best: 

• Podcasts. 
• YouTube. 
• Books. 

& anyone can take action. 

P.S. The real question everyone wants to know? 

Will the Cowboys ever win a Super Bowl Again?

Founder + CEO of Investor Acquisitions | I help real estate executives build their brand & attract investors | Trusted by 44 Firms | DM “Intro” to schedule a meeting with Investor Acquisitions

I left my W-2 to start my business 14 months ago.

• I have had days I didn't think I'd make it.
• I have had weeks no money came in.
• I have had moments I messed up. 

• I have messed up with clients. 
• I have messed up sales calls. 
• I have messed up on hiring. 

I have lived a lot of the fears that held me back from starting sooner. 

But, I can say this:

I am filled with more purpose than I have felt in a very long time. 

& something about that makes the pain worth it. 

So here's to you taking the leap in 2026! 

The year you finally do it. 

Whatever it is!

P.S. If this was the year, what would you do?

I spoke to an RIA who’s helped his clients sell $14,000,000 worth of businesses to private equity.

I asked him what owners should look out for in the terms of their purchase agreements. 

Here’s what he told me: 

1) If you are presented with a dual share class structure within your agreement, it’s standard for the controlling investor to hold the senior class. What’s not standard? When Class-B shares have no participation rights to maintain their percentage of ownership. 

2) Ensure your "earn out" is tied to performance metrics that are higher up the income statement (i.e. gross revenue or recurring revenue). The higher up the income statement you go, the more the "earn out" is in your control.

3) If a buyer defers payment on your acquisition, lock in interest on top of you’re deferred payment. Otherwise the buyer is using your cash flow to pay you with no compensation for your additional risk. 

4) Ensure the waterfall structure in the purchase agreement defines the hurdle rate. The RIA has seen multiple agreements where the hurdle rate is left undefined at the point of sale. 

5) If you have buyout terms within your purchase agreement, define the “fair market value” of the business at the point of sale. & ensure that definition is defined at your full discretion. 

6) If your sale price is formulaic, ensure you define what’s being multiplied. If the buyer is paying a multiple on “adjusted EBITDA,” you set the definition for adjusted EBITDA.

7) Rolling equity into a deal doesn’t = money in your pocket in the future. Do you’re diligence on the buyer as well. It could be the difference in millions of dollars.

P.S. Was this helpful? Comment below what stuck out the most ⬇️

I spoke to an investor with $300,000,000 in AUM. 
His first deal he bought for $560,000 debt free. 
Here's the breakdown of how he did it: 

1) He started as a leasing agent for a family office. 
• The family office owned a few dozen deals. 
• He was there "Swiss army knife."
• Managing existing tenants. 
• Leasing units. 
• Even identifying new properties to acquire. 
• However, one thing stuck out to him: 
• He knew unless he owned real estate himself, 
• He'd never build true wealth. 

LESSON: 

• Build experience in the asset class you chose. 
• Only once you've built up a knowledge base, 
• Should you take the leap to ownership. 

2) He identified a property. 
• In his work with the family office, he identified a deal. 
• It was outside the buy box of the family office. 
• So he decided to take a shot at it. 
• He brought ~5 investors together, & acquired it. 

LESSON: 

• Be prepared. 
• Only once you've aligned your operations, 
• Should you begin identifying deals. 

P.S. Which lesson resonated with you the most?

My wife & I started a "sugar cleanse" this week. 

No processed carbohydrates. 
No processed sugars. 
No rice...
Starting off the first 4 weeks of the year right.

However... 
We celebrated my brother-in-laws birthday last night. 

They served Korean beef, green beans, and rice. 
(& cake...)
I've never wanted rice more in my life. 

I held strong, but...

I didn't realize how strong my cravings for carbs & sugar were until this week. 

This week's been brutal. But grateful for the reset. 
(& grateful I'm not taking on the cleanse alone)
How's your new year's resolutions going?

I asked an investor who owns a $750,000 6-unit portfolio debt free in Indiana why he didn't sell his properties to get a higher ROE. 

Here's what he told me: 

• He & his wife collect ~ $2,000 a month net. 
• He & his wife are retired. He self-manages.
• It's busy enough to keep him occupied. 
• But not too busy he's overwhelmed. 
• They're content. 

They set out for a specific number to bring home each month, & they achieved it. 

They're debt-free. Living off their hard work over the years, & don't need more. 

They've made it. 

LESSON: 

• There is always more to chase if you want to. 
• But, if you're looking for financial freedom? 
• Pick the number you're looking for. 
• Then fight hard to achieve it. 
• & once you reach it? 
• Either revaluate, 
• or reap the benefits of your hard work. 

P.S. What would you do with a $750,000 debt-free portfolio? 

Sell it & buy a bigger property? Or hold it?

I asked a developer/owner (who's built $300,000,000 of real estate) how he got started. His first deal ever? 
A $60,000 land flip. Here's the breakdown: 

1) The developer started his career at 19-years old. 
• He sourced a raw piece of land in his hometown. 
• He raised $30,000 from his family & friends. 
• His original intention? 
• Build a duplex. 

2) The seller called him back with more land to sell.  
• He raised another $30,000 from family & friends. 
• Now that he was sitting on 2 adjacent lots, 
• He started planning to build. 

3) A local builder identified the land he'd bought. 
• That builder offered $120,000 for the land. 
• What he'd just bought for $60,000? 
• He sold for $120,000...

A 50% return of equity to his investors & a $30,000 pay day for a 19 year old kid!

LESSON: 

• Action pays. No matter your age, get after it. 

P.S. If you had $30K pay day at 19...
What would you have bought?

My client raised $250,000 from 4 posts. 
(And the deal still has 12 days to close)
Here's the exact strategy we used:  

My client has managed $300,000,000 in AUM. 
He posted on LinkedIn & Facebook for years.
But hadn't had any luck raising capital. 
So he hired me. 

• Day 1; We collected stories + track record.
↳ We identified his Ideal Investor Profile. 
↳ Then curated content to this profile. 
• Week 1: Began posting 3-Days a week. 
↳ Every week. 
• Week 16: Posted first promotional post. 
• Week 20: Collected $250K in capital.
↳ & counting. 

3 takeaways you can steal today

1. Before you ask for business, build up trust. 
• I learned this concept from Alex Hormozi. 
• & it works beautifully. 
• Post valuable content for your ICP everyday you can
• Then, wait to make an ask for as long as possible. 

2. Write content using these 6 content pillars. 
• I developed this working with 40 + CRE firms.
• Write about deals you've bought or underwritten.
• Write about your personal life (not work related).
• Write about the daily conversations you have.
• Write about the lessons you have learned.
• Write about problems your ICP faces.
• Write about the news.

3. Quality content is better than lots of content. 
• My client had posted content for years. 
• Only after we refined his message, 
• Did he raise capital. 

OPPORTUNITY for 2026: 

When you figure out how to tell your story?  

It can change your business forever. 

P.S. I help sponsors, brokers & lenders build their brands on LinkedIn, if this post resonated with you, DM "Story" to schedule an introduction call.

Here's the 9 steps I took to raise my first $90,000 for a real estate investment without raising capital from friends & family. 

1. Committed to posting on LinkedIn on May 15, 2023. 
2. Posted 484 times before getting my first lead. 
3. Had 25+ conversations with investors. 
4. Identified a trusted fund manager to work with. 
5. Identified a trusted sponsor & property to invest in. 
6. Flew to FL to tour and walk the 230-unit property. 
• I toured the different unit mixes available. 
• I took over 200 photos of the property. 
• I took extensive notes of the property. 
• Then returned home the same day. 
7. Sent out an email to investors. 
8. Booked 3 calls. 2 invested. 
9. Each lead from LinkedIn. 

Admittedly, my first capital raise wasn't much. 
& I could have done better with the raise.
Namely, 
1. More consistent follow-up with investors. 
• During the diligence of the deal. 
2. More consistent follow-up with investors.
• Prior to finding a deal.  

However, it taught me 2 meaningful lessons: 
1. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for business. 
2. I could build trust with investors. 

This deal led me to start Investor Acquisitions.
& now? 18 months later. 
My clients have raised $10,000,000+ of equity. 
My clients have generated $100K+ in revenue. 
My clients have generated 1,200+ ideal leads. 
All from LinkedIn. 

Are you looking to raise capital in 2026? 
We can help. 
DM "capital" to schedule an intro call. 
Or click my calendar link below: 
https://lnkd.in/g92Wj2WT

I submitted an offer for $950,000 on a 9-unit portfolio. 
The asking price was $1,400,000. 
Here's why I sent an offer $450,000 < asking price: 

I posted about this deal a few weeks back, & lots of people were curious about the specific numbers of the deal. 

The portfolio was made up of 6 properties: 
• A 4-unit multifamily property. 
• 5 single family homes. 

The income of the portfolio was as follows: 
• The 4-unit property: 
• The 4-unit was 100% occupied all of 2024. 
• The 4-unit produced $39K of rent in 2024. 
• The 4-unit produced $15.6K in expenses. 
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟰-𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 $𝟮𝟯𝗞 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗢𝗜. 
• The 5 SFRs combined: 
• The 5-SFRs were ~ 60%  occupied in 2024. 
• The 5-SFRs produced $41K of rent in 2024. 
• The 5-SFRs produced $56K in expenses. 
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟱-𝗦𝗙𝗥𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 ~ $𝟭𝟰𝗞 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. 
• After paying their debt payments. 
• All-in, they netted 4K in 2024. 
• (No 2025 P&L either)

With the SFRs producing negative cashflow, my intent was to sell the SFRs as single family homes, & keep the 4-unit. 

• Local cap rates for this vintage of asset is 7-10%. 
• Here's how I priced the 4-unit apartment: 
• [(NOI: $23,418)/(cap rate: 8.3%)] 
• = value of asset: $284,200
• The Zillow estimate for the SFRs was: 
• $734,000. 
• Combined: $1,018,200. 

The sellers offered seller financing for 50% LTV @ 6% interest. 

Curious to hear your thoughts on my approach.  

Comment below with your thoughts.

I asked a developer who's built $300,000,000 worth of real estate about what capital structure he's raising capital with in 2026. Here's what he told me: 

His "equity" investors invest as a 2nd position loan. 

• He secures a construction loan from a local bank.
• He provides the equity to close the development. 
• His investors come in to fund a subordinate loan.
• His investors receive a fixed 12% on their capital.
• (The 2nd-position loan is secured by the land).

Rather than participate in the upside of the deal. 
Many investors he spoke with wanted certainty. 
So he created a product to fulfill that desire. 

P.S. Do you like the capital structure? 
Or 
Would you have another in mind?

If you're starting a "solo-preneur" business in 2026, you'll beat 99% of the competition doing this: 

1. Pick a niche market to sell to. 
2. Sell to people who can afford to grow with you. 
3. Sell a product you believe in. 
↳Do free work until you believe in it. 
4. Choose a social media platform your clients are on. 
5. Post content every day that solves their problems. 
6. Sell by identifying problems & selling the solution. 
7. REMEMBER: 
↳You haven't won yet, so you have nothing to lose. 

P.S. What's your goal for 2026?

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The Battle

Jon Weiskopf, P.E.

Cole Baker

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taplio

The Battle

Jon Weiskopf, P.E.

Cole Baker

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);}Jon Weiskopf, P.E.'s LinkedIn Performance

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