ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What if you bought the house, renovated it, sold it to an investor, and then managed it for the next decade? Chris Clothier's family has done that since 2002. REI Nation now manages about 8,000 homes across 11 Southeast cities, and they've never marketed for third-party clients.
We discuss:
- (00:00:00) - Intro
- (00:00:54) - Introducing Chris
- (00:01:57) - Wholesaling
- (00:06:03) - The hardest part of what Chris does
- (00:08:36) - The temptation to leave your buy-box
- (00:15:36) - Sponsor - Appfolio
- (00:16:48) - Post-buy maintenance
- (00:18:03) - Data practices
- (00:20:56) - The reality of dealing with over 3,000 owners
- (00:22:24) - Why more people aren’t following Chris’ business model
- (00:29:57) - Sponsor - Haven AI
- (00:31:26) - Selling homes vs. property management profits
- (00:36:20) - Clients as intentional investors
- (00:39:04) - Institutional clientele
- (00:42:53) - Customer expectations and requirements
- (00:51:44) - Chris’ acquisition strategy
- (00:58:34) - How to contact Chris
We get into why they only buy median-priced homes (and turn away investors who want $100K houses), the one-year warranty that comes with every sale, and the team whose only job is calling each of their 3,000+ owners every month. Chris also explains how profits shifted from flipping to management as they scaled, how two-year leases keep turnover low, and why a company that never took third-party clients is now open to them, plus buying PM companies outright.
How you can reach Chris:
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Resources for Property Managers & Real Estate Entrepreneurs:
- Crane – Private PM Owner Community → Join a private network of property management owners and operators: https://joincrane.co/
- Free Weekly Newsletter → Property management insights, strategies, and industry updates direct to your inbox: https://peter.beehiiv.com/subscribe
- RL Property Management → Learn more about Peter's company and services in Columbus, Ohio: https://rlpmg.com/
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Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this podcast (more info here: https://www.peterlohmann.com/financial-interest-disclosure). Additionally, some of the links included may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.
