Recently I had the opportunity to interview Brian Burke, a real estate investor who has acquired over $800 million in real estate including over 4,000 multifamily units and more than 700 single-family homes, with proprietary software that he wrote himself. 

In our interview (click here to watch on YouTube), he told me how he scaled his real estate from zero to an $800+ million portfolio over 30 years and I want to relay that information to you in this article. 

The first thing he told me, which I’ll use as the starting point for this article, is that real estate is a team sport. Scaling a business is challenging, and many investors struggle with this because they don't understand how crucial a good team is. 

Without the right people, scaling becomes almost impossible. If you try to do everything yourself, you'll hit a ceiling very quickly. You won't grow, and you might even burn out.

Here are some key things I’ve learned and Brian agrees with to scale successfully: 

1. Start Small, Then Grow

You don't have to begin with a massive deal. 

My first apartment deal was 12 units in D.C. Brian’s was a small property with no money down, which was tough but possible when he was 20 years old. He used creative financing methods – credit cards, personal lines of credit, even convincing sellers to carry back loans – to purchase more properties. 

The biggest thing is to start building your track record in the field that you’re interested in. In our case, we’re talking about multifamily real estate. If you want to do your first apartment deal, you wouldn’t start by buying a single-family home. 

Investors will trust you more if you've done several successful smaller deals than if you have no track record and want millions for your first big deal.

2. Build the Right Team

You simply can't scale without a team. Real estate investing needs different skills and expertise:

• Contractors: You need reliable people who can fix up properties efficiently.
• Brokers and agents: They help you find great deals and understand the local market.
• Property managers: Essential for managing larger properties effectively.
• Lenders and insurance agents: Key to financing deals and protecting your investments.

A team isn't just about hiring people. It's about partnering with those who have different strengths and experiences than you do. 

If everyone thinks and acts like you, your team won't grow stronger—it'll just be more of the same. Partner with people who complement your weaknesses, and you'll scale faster.

3. Leverage Your Network

When entering a new market, start by asking brokers who the top property managers are. Then, ask property managers about the best contractors and insurance providers. Each person you talk to can lead you to another valuable team member. Your network grows your network – leverage it. 

This approach helps you quickly establish yourself even in unfamiliar markets, saving time and reducing risks.

4. Use Technology 

When Brian started investing, there was barely an internet – just dial-up connections. Today you have access to tools like Google Maps, online investor forums, online listings, podcasts, virtual meetups, and even AI. 

You can use all of those things and more to: 

• Analyze neighborhoods remotely using online tools.
• Connect with investors around the world instantly.
• Learn from successful investors through podcasts and forums.
• Use AI for property management and deal analysis.

Leveraging these tools means you can scale faster than I ever could. Don't underestimate the power of technology.

5. Embrace Failure as Learning

Success isn’t final and failure isn’t fatal. I've learned more from my failures than my successes. Lots of my students say the moments they learned the most were during a setback. 

Each misstep taught me something valuable about investing and business. If you're afraid of failing, you might never start or scale effectively.

Understand this clearly: failure is part of the journey. Don't fear it; learn from it. Every successful investor has made mistakes. The key is using them as stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks.

Your Next Steps

So, how do you start scaling your business today?

• Build your team early: Don't wait until you're overwhelmed.
• Start with smaller deals: Prove your skills and reliability.
• Network proactively: Leverage your contacts to find trustworthy team members.
• Embrace technology: Use digital tools to boost your efficiency.
• Learn from mistakes: Treat failures as opportunities to improve.

If you're serious about scaling your real estate business and want more practical insights, watch the full interview with Brian Burke where we dive deeper into each one of these steps. 

[Click here to watch the full video on YouTube now.]

To your success, 

Michael Blank