How the Urban Pioneer Can Make You a Real Estate Millionaire

By Seth “Seti” Gershberg

“Buying real estate is not only the best way, the quickest way, the safest way, but the only way to become wealthy.” – Marshall Field

Once a neighborhood was filled with dilapidated buildings and empty storefronts. You return a couple of years later and see restaurants, boutiques, beautiful green spaces, and lovely homes and apartments. You probably think to yourself, “I wish I were smart enough to invest in this community.”

So, how do you know where that next smart investment lies?

From Manhattan’s Upper West City to Ohio City in Cleveland to Bucktown/Wicker Park in Chicago, communities within and outside Opportunity Zones are being transformed by visionary developers who know how to spot trends.

Investors are making millions by focusing on the Urban Pioneer — those people and companies that buy real estate in areas that are on the fast-track to a renaissance. Transit systems, the influx of big brands like Starbucks and Costco, and the presence of technology and financial services companies (and their employees) accelerate development speed.

These neighborhoods “Urban Frontiers” — whether in Opportunity Zones or not — are a win-win for homeowners, renters, businesses, and investors. Many investors are using funds from IRAs and 401K plans, as a means of growing tax-deferred and tax-free income. Recent graduates, young families, and future-looking professionals can find affordable real estate. Investors can see huge returns because they are able to get in on the ground floor and often enjoy tax benefits as well.

Unlike some other real estate investments, this trend is time-tested and somewhat predictable. We have been studying communities that have thrived as businesses and homeowners settle into high-potential areas throughout the country and have a predictive data-driven model for determining where the best investments lie. Check out our insights [infographic] about the stages a region follows along the “Urban Pioneer Path.”

To get started investing in the Urban Pioneer, follow these steps:

• Select the right investment partner. Work with people who know the market and can back-up their strategies with facts and data. Download our Guide to the 21 regions that are poised for rapid and long-term growth.
• Seek a turnkey solution. Choose an investment company that handles all aspects of purchasing, renovating, and selling or renting investment properties. Although we use the term Urban Pioneer, some suburban areas are ripe for redevelopment and investment as well. The suburbs as we knew them have been evolving, along with population, demographic, and lifestyle shifts.
• Be patient. Many areas where Urban Pioneers settle take a while to reach their full potential. For example, median rents in Queens, New York have increased about 40 percent over the past decade but the growth has been a consistent steady climb.
• Enjoy the multiple benefits of investing in the urban pioneer — passive income, capital appreciation, and tax incentives.

As Louis Glickman, real estate investor and philanthropist said, “The best investment on earth is earth.” By knowing which areas of our earth are about to flourish, you can find new sources of prosperity and stability.

Get started in Urban Pioneer investing today. Download our guide to “The Hot 21.” Even if you choose to manage your own investment property portfolio, this research-based study will help steer you to those areas that are on the verge of Urban Pioneer growth.

Jay Tenenbaum

Jay Tenenbaum, is a co-founder and President, Capital Development of Scottsdale Rei, LLC, a real estate investment firm, specializing in acquiring assets nationwide. He is a certified keynote speaker and speaks nationally on note investing and related real estate topics.

In his career, Jay has acquired over 325 distressed mortgage notes and properties in 26 states. Jay attributes his success and expertise to his ability to effectively integrate his 20 years of experience as a former debt collection professional. Jay’s legal know-how and achievement in resolution in turning non-performing assets into positive cash flow give him an unmatched perspective in the field, as he is often sought-after for his proficiency.

In addition to his loss mitigation experience, Jay often speaks to investors at real estate investment seminars nationally and locally. Through this, he has raised and deployed over several million dollars enabling investors to achieve passive cash flow.

An avid baseball and sports fan, Jay coached his three sons in baseball but has since retired to the role of supporter of arts and music, especially as it relates to watching his 11-year-old twin daughters dance ballet. Jay relocated from California to Arizona in March 2017. He loves the weather and is grateful by how he has been embraced by the local real estate investment and entrepreneurial community. Jay is an author, loves music, and enjoys opportunities to network.

Seth “Seti” Gershberg

Seti Gershberg, is a co-founder and President of Investment Management of Scottsdale REI, LLC.

Seti is an Economist and earned his MBA at the #1 ranked international business program at the prestigious Thunderbird School of Global Management. Seti’s background is in securities trading and management. He was key part of the trading team that managed over $500 Million in foreign debt and currency options and futures for SJO a hedge fund from Chicago. Seti also managed a growth stock equities fund for the investment bank William Blair & Company. In his role he helped distribute IPO’s of well known company’s such as Starbucks, Home Depot, Berkshire Hathaway B shares, Winn Casinos, Carnival Cruise Lines, Costco and many others.

Seti now focuses exclusively on real estate. Is portfolio consists of 75 notes and rental properties purchased over the last year. His specializes on the acquisition of discounted properties, creative financing and disposition of assets. Seti is a leader in his local real estate community of over 200 investors where he mentors, trains and teaches finance, capital raising and real estate investment.

Seti’s has one daughter who is studying to be an Oral Surgeon at Harvard. Seti loves to ski, travel and is a filmmaker who produced two documentary films. Seti is also actively engaged in charitable causes and works to raise funds for impoverished Peruvians. Seti earned a Black Belt in Kung Fu when he was 30 and is fluent in Spanish as a second language.