Some real estate investments are riskier than others, especially in an economic downturn. Class A multifamily developers, for example, are likely to lose their tenant base in a recession. So, what can developers do to forecast what the world will look like at the end of a build cycle and make decisions accordingly? And what can we ALL learn from this approach that will help us prosper through multiple market cycles?   

Scott Choppin is the Founder of Urban Pacific, a real estate development company out of Long Beach, California. With 35-plus years of experience in the business, Scott has led the development of nearly 1,700 units throughout the Western United States. He is also responsible for a recent innovation known as Urban Town House, a middle-income, multigenerational housing product that serves urban families in California. Scott’s work has been featured in Forbes, The Los Angeles Times and Builder Magazine, among many other media publications.

On this episode of Apartment Building Investing, Scott joins me to explain how he got his start working for a large development firm, describing the wide range of skills and knowledge he picked up before striking out on his own. He discusses how he leveraged joint venture partnerships in the early days of Urban Pacific, what the company is doing to mitigate risk in a recession, and why he is optimistic about the current circumstances. Listen in for Scott’s insight on transitioning from a W-2 to real estate development and find out what YOU can do to survive and thrive in an economic downturn.

Key Takeaways

How Scott got into real estate development

Why Scott chose another firm over the family business

What Scott learned in working for a big developer

How Scott transitioned into entrepreneurship

The structure of Scott’s early joint venture partnerships

Scott’s advice for shifting out of a salaried position

The challenges around doing development as a side hustle

What kinds of deals Urban Pacific has done

How Scott thinks about mitigating risk in a recession

Why Scott is optimistic about the current circumstances

Connect with Scott Choppin

Urban Pacific

Scott on LinkedIn

Resources

Join Michael’s Mentoring Program

Register for Deal Maker Live

Download Michael’s Free Report—What’s the Best Investment: The Stock Market or Real Estate?

Join the Nighthawk Equity Investor Club

‘6 Ways to Build a Career in the Real Estate Development Business’ by Scott Choppin

Podcast Show Notes

Michael’s Website

Michael on Facebook

Michael on Instagram

Michael on YouTube

Apartment Investor Network Facebook Group

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