
Episode #161
He Lost $50 Million in Real Estate, Then Rebuilt | "Inspired To Invest" Ep161 with Rod Klheif
What happens when you build a real estate fortune… and then lose approximately $50 MILLION? For Rod Khleif, the answer was to rebuild—but this time with some very different rules. Welcome back to another episode of Inspired To Invest! This week, Rod Khleif is here for Episode 161. To watch rather than listen, click here . In this episode of Inspired To Invest, I'm joined by longtime real estate investor, entrepreneur, best-selling author, mentor and podcast host Rod Khleif to unpack more than four decades of lessons about real estate investing, multifamily properties, mindset, resilience and building sustainable wealth. Rod's story began when his family immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands when he was six. Money was tight. His mother babysat children to help make ends meet, and Rod remembers drinking powdered milk and wearing second-hand clothing. Then his mother bought a house. When she later told 17-year-old Rod she'd made $20,000 while she slept because the property appreciated, something clicked. Real estate became his path forward. Rod went on to own thousands of properties and build tremendous wealth. In 2006 alone, he says his net worth increased by approximately $17 million. Then came 2008. Rod ultimately lost approximately $50 million. In this candid conversation, he explains WHY his portfolio collapsed despite having relatively low leverage—and why his apartment properties actually performed considerably better than his single-family portfolio. We get into: Why Rod ultimately chose multifamily over single-family real estate How he lost approximately $50 million during the financial crisis Why he believes mindset and psychology drive the majority of success The investment decisions he would never repeat today Why owning 800 houses created enormous operational challenges ⚠️ The dangers of cross-collateralizing real estate assets Why cash reserves and capitalization matter more than many investors realize How dramatically operating expenses have changed in multifamily Why adjustable-rate bridge debt created problems for investors as interest rates climbed Why Rod believes real estate investing is a "team sport" Why education and proximity to successful investors can shorten your learning curve Why learning to raise capital can open opportunities far beyond real estate How distressed multifamily properties may be creating opportunities for today's investors Rod also shares some incredible examples of what's happening in the market—including a 300-unit apartment property that sold for $43 million in 2021 before eventually going back to the bank and returning to market at a dramatically lower valuation. His message is particularly relevant for investors navigating today's uncertainty: Crisis and opportunity can exist at exactly the same time. The goal isn't simply to accumulate properties. It's to understand debt, operations, risk, people and your own psychology well enough to build something capable of surviving when the market inevitably changes. ️ Subscribe to Inspired To Invest for more conversations with investors and entrepreneurs sharing the strategies, mistakes and lessons behind building lasting wealth. Thank you to Fixonto and User Interview for bringing us this month's episodes of Inspired To Invest. FixOnto helps homeowners find reputable service providers in seconds! For more, download the FixOnto app! Get paid for your opinion with User Interviews! To find a range of studies available in 34 countries, go to https://userinterviews.com ➕ Follow Serena Holmes for expert insights on business, branding, real estate, investing, wealth (and more!). I'm on a mission to help others create wealth because "when you invest in yourself, the sky's the limit" #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #InvestorMindset #FinancialFreedom ➕ Follow Serena Holmes for all things related to business, entrepreneurship, real estate, investing, wealth (and more!). I'm on a mission to help others create wealth because "when you invest in yourself, the sky's the limit" __________________ Attention Real Estate Investors! Raise your first (or next) $1-3 million in the next 90 days without relying on the bank, joint ventures, private lenders or cold calls. Learn more about this proven system! __________________ Want to invest in real estate with all of the security and cash flow of ownership, but none of the landlord headaches? Learn more about SHARE, one of the largest asset management companies in the United States, with a turnkey "done for you" ownership program for investors. Find out more! __________________ Financial Advisors! Let me introduce you to your new secret weapon to help you land new clients, and maintain them for many years to come. Advisor Innovation Lab provides AI powered client intelligence for modern financial advisors to help them become trusted partners through life’s most important transitions. __________________ How would you like to get paid for your opinion?! Sign up with User Interviews & start earning! __________________ Sign Up For My Monthly ROI Report on LinkedIn! It's loaded with valuable content for buyers, sellers, investors, and homeowners. __________________ Turn content into connection! At Executive Lens , we curate compelling content to help busy business owners, executives, and investors build powerful personal brands on LinkedIn and beyond. After all, attraction is the ultimate flex! Download our FREE EBOOK - The Ultimate Guide To Building Your Personal Brand On Linked __________________ ️Want To Be Featured On Podcasts Ranking In The Top 5%? Find Out How You Can Get Featured To Build Your Personal Brand. Find out more about That1 __________________ CHECK OUT MORE INCREDIBLE CONTENT ON ‘INSPIRED TO INVEST” YouTube & Instagram __________________ LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA → Instagram → LinkedIn → TikTok → Online Serena Holmes is a licensed REALTOR® , real estate investor, real estate investing coach, podcast host, published author and chief content officer of Executive Lens. She is also the former CEO of Tigris Events, a multi award winning brand experience agency. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.






