I’ve been in real estate since 2009, and let me tell you—what started as a few rental properties quickly turned into a full-blown passion and career. Over the years, I’ve owned and managed over 100 rental properties, completed countless single-family flips, and learned a ton about what it really takes to succeed in this business.
Now, I’m taking that experience to the next level with the launch of Titan Atlas Capital, a real estate investment fund focused on private student housing throughout the Midwest. Looking back, the journey from flipping houses to running a fund has been full of lessons, challenges, and opportunities that I want to share—because scaling your real estate portfolio isn’t just about buying more properties; it’s about thinking bigger, smarter, and more strategically.
Starting Small: The Power of Flips and Rentals
Like a lot of real estate investors, I got my start with single-family homes. Flipping houses taught me so much about attention to detail, budgeting, and timing. Every renovation is a puzzle, and every completed flip felt like a small victory. At the same time, I was building a rental portfolio. Managing over 100 properties taught me lessons that no book could ever cover: how to build solid relationships with tenants, anticipate maintenance issues before they become disasters, and make financial decisions that keep your investments profitable long-term.
Starting small was crucial. It allowed me to make mistakes in a controlled way, learn from them, and gradually refine my approach. If I had tried to launch a large fund right out of the gate, I wouldn’t have had the foundation to do it successfully. The flips and rentals were my training ground.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
After years of managing properties individually, I realized that scaling isn’t just about owning more houses—it’s about creating a system that works for you. That’s when the idea of an investment fund started to make sense. Instead of buying one property at a time, pooling resources with investors allows for larger acquisitions, more strategic deals, and a bigger overall impact.
With Titan Atlas Capital, my goal is to take the lessons I learned from flipping and managing properties and apply them on a larger scale. By focusing on private student housing, we’re targeting a sector that has consistent demand, especially in Midwest college towns. Students need quality housing, and by providing it, we’re not just investing in properties—we’re improving communities and creating steady returns for our investors.
Building Systems That Work
One of the key differences between managing a few rentals and running a fund is systems. When you’re managing 100 properties, you quickly realize that you can’t do everything manually. You need processes, software, and a reliable team. The same principle applies to a fund.
Titan Atlas Capital isn’t just about buying properties—it’s about managing them efficiently, making smart financial decisions, and keeping investors informed and confident. That means developing clear processes for acquisitions, property management, reporting, and growth. Scaling without a system is a recipe for stress and mistakes.
Learning From Every Step
Every stage of my real estate journey taught me something new. Flipping homes taught me about timing, budgeting, and value creation. Managing rentals taught me about people, problem-solving, and long-term planning. And now, launching Titan Atlas Capital is teaching me about collaboration, investor relations, and strategic growth.
One thing I’ve learned is that mistakes are inevitable—but they’re also invaluable. Every challenge has pushed me to adapt, improve, and think differently about real estate and investments. The key is to learn fast and implement changes so you don’t repeat the same mistakes. That mindset has been crucial in scaling my portfolio and preparing for the launch of the fund.
Why Student Housing Makes Sense
Private student housing might seem like a niche market, but it’s one with tremendous potential. College towns have a steady influx of students, and there’s always demand for well-managed, high-quality housing. By focusing on this sector, Titan Atlas Capital can deliver consistent returns while providing a tangible benefit to the communities we serve.
Investing in student housing is also a great way to diversify and stabilize a portfolio. Students may come and go, but the demand never disappears, and careful management ensures that properties remain profitable year after year. It’s about combining smart strategy with a clear understanding of the market.
Scaling from flips to a fund isn’t easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Titan Atlas Capital represents the culmination of years of hands-on experience, lessons learned, and a vision for growth. It’s about more than just investing in real estate—it’s about creating opportunities, building communities, and providing a platform for investors to access high-quality, profitable properties.
If there’s one piece of advice I can give to anyone looking to grow their real estate portfolio, it’s this: start small, learn everything you can, and then think bigger. Flips and rentals teach you the foundation, but scaling strategically—through funds or larger investments—is how you maximize impact and build long-term wealth.
For me, Titan Atlas Capital is just the beginning of the next chapter in my journey. And I can’t wait to see where it goes.