Episode 72: An Intro to Due Diligence Process in Real Estate for New Investors with Hans Box

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Connect with Hans Box

https://boxwilson.com/

In this episode of Tech Equity and Money Talk, host Christopher Nelson welcomes Hans Box, founder and owner of Box Wilson Equity Group, which manages $90 million in assets. Hans discusses the critical importance of due diligence in investment decisions.

The conversation touches on the potential pitfalls of neglecting due diligence, highlighting real-life examples of bad investments stemming from inadequate research.

Hans Box is Co-Founder of Box Wilson Equity, a firm that focuses on cash flow and value-add investments. Box Wilson has invested $90MM+ in equity across various asset classes, including multifamily, self-storage, mobile home parks, distressed debt, office, and preferred equity.

He attended Texas A&M University, graduating cum laude with a B.S. degree in Accounting and magna cum laude with an M.S. degree in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of Texas.

Hans has personally been directly involved in the acquisition, investment, and management of over $350MM in multifamily and self-storage assets, has asset managed ~3,700 multifamily units and has been the GP in ~4,300 multifamily units and ~2,000 units of self-storage.

Prior to Box Wilson Equity, he spent 5 years with a DFW-based multifamily owner-operator, where he oversaw the acquisition and asset management functions. Hans began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he worked in tax and strategy consulting with Fortune 500 companies.

Host: Christopher Nelson

Guest: Hans Box

Highlights:

• The Importance of Due Diligence - Hans emphasizes the need for thorough due diligence when investing in real estate. He contrasts the extensive time people spend researching consumer goods like TVs and cars with the often minimal time spent on significant investment decisions. Proper due diligence is crucial for becoming a successful passive investor and achieving financial freedom.
• Vetting the Sponsor - Hans highlights that the most critical aspect of due diligence is vetting the sponsor. He uses the analogy of the jockey and the horse to stress that a good sponsor can turn a mediocre deal into a success, while a bad sponsor can ruin a great deal. Key red flags include lack of transparency and overly sales presentations.
• Understanding the Business Plan - Hans advises that a clear value-add strategy should be evident in any business plan. Investors should be able to understand how the sponsor plans to add value to the property, whether through rent increases, property improvements, or other means. He also stresses the importance of a sensitivity analysis to understand how different variables can impact the deal's returns.
• Fees and Compensation - The discussion also covers the importance of understanding the fee structure. Hans points out that while fees are standard, they should be reasonable and aligned with the investor's interests. He warns against deals with excessive fees that can dilute returns.
• Practical Advice for Investors - Hans provides practical advice for investors, including the importance of learning to read a P&L statement and understanding key assumptions in the business plan. He also recommends being patient and not succumbing to FOMO (fear of missing out), as there will always be more deals.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:00:45] Due diligence in investing.
• [00:05:14] Vetting the operator's transparency.
• [00:08:32] Salesy business presentations.
• [00:12:24] Evaluating sponsor experience in investing.
• [00:15:32] Value-add strategy in investments.
• [00:21:20] Cash flow in commercial real estate.
• [00:22:04] Cash flow vs. value add.
• [00:25:11] Understanding assumptions in investments.
• [00:29:09] Rent increase justification process.
• [00:33:07] Sensitivity analysis in investing.
• [00:35:Due diligence in real estate.
• [00:40:51] Preferred return in investments.
• [00:44:01] Patience in real estate investing.
• [00:48:45] Due diligence in investing.
• [00:50:25] Risk adjusted return in investments.

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at https://www.techequityandmoneynews.com/!

In this episode of Tech Equity and Money Talk, your host Christopher Nelson is dropping some wisdom! He’s sharing five big lessons he picked up during his first two years of financial independence.

Spoiler alert: It's not all about kicking back and sipping cocktails! 🌴 You’ll hear why having crystal-clear goals, a solid plan, and some serious discipline is key to keeping that financial engine humming. Tune in and get ready to level up your money game! 💰🚀

Connect with Christopher

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophercnelson/

Highlights:

• Having a Purpose: Financial independence isn't just about having free time; it's about having a clear purpose that drives you. For me, it started with wanting to spend more time with my sons and has evolved into helping technology employees understand and manage tech equity as a wealth-building strategy.
• A Roadmap is Non-Negotiable: Two essential roadmaps guided my journey—a life plan and a financial plan. The life plan helped me focus on family goals and personal growth, while the financial plan provided a clear strategy for building and managing my portfolio.
• Transition from Money Maker to Money Manager: This shift can be challenging as it involves changing your identity from someone who earns money to someone who manages it. However, it also opens up opportunities for investing in startups, philanthropy, and building a multi-generational family business.
• Self-Discipline is Essential: Without the structure of a traditional job, maintaining discipline is crucial. I follow a structured daily routine that includes early mornings, creative time, exercise, and family activities. This discipline extends to continuously challenging myself and staying uncomfortable to ensure growth.
• Run Your Portfolio as a Business: Managing your portfolio like a business involves having a clear legacy statement, a portfolio thesis, and a structured management cadence. This approach ensures that your investments are aligned with your long-term goals and can support multiple generations.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:02:49] Finding Purpose in Financial Independence.
• [00:04:24] Finding purpose in journaling.
• [00:08:55] Building a lifestyle business.
• [00:13:21] Transition to money manager.
• [00:18:15] Getting uncomfortable for growth.
• [00:22:42] Managing your portfolio like a business.
• [00:24:08] Lessons for financial independence.

Ready to explore the latest in tech careers and financial insights? Click here now for an eye-opening journey at https://www.techequityandmoneynews.com/

In this episode of Tech Equity and Money Talk, we're turning the tables! Our good friend Fred DeWorken takes over the mic and puts Christopher in the hot seat. Christopher spills the beans on his wild ride into the tech world, including that time it took him 14 years to finally grab that college diploma.

From his high-flying days as an Accenture consultant to riding the IPO wave with big names like Splunk, GitLab, and Yext, Christopher doesn’t hold back. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the journey that led him here!

Frederick DeWorken previously appeared as a guest on episodes 55 and 56, and now, the roles have reversed—he's interviewing our host, Christopher Nelson.

Connect with Frederick

https://www.linkedin.com/in/data-cloud/

Host: Fred DeWorken

Guest: Christopher Nelson

Highlights:

• Unconventional Path: Christopher took 14 years to complete his college degree, initially working in the restaurant industry.
• Tech Spark: His interest in technology was ignited while working on a virtual menu project for a high-end sushi restaurant in San Diego.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Know Your Value: Christopher advises tech employees to understand and articulate their value, using tools like levels.fyi to benchmark their worth.
• Negotiate Wisely: He shares insights on negotiating not just the quantity of equity but also the vesting schedules and other terms.
• Education and Support: He stresses the importance of continuous education and surrounding oneself with a supportive community to navigate the complexities of tech equity.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:02:30] Journey into tech through food.
• [00:04:33] Persistence in advanced calculus.
• [00:08:19] Realizing Your Value in Tech.
• [00:12:30] Undervaluing skills for equity.
• [00:18:27] Due diligence for success.
• [00:22:22] Due diligence process in investing.
• [00:24:38] Maximizing Your Value as an Employee.
• [00:29:52] Negotiation strategies and growth.
• [00:31:06] Negotiating vesting schedules.
• [00:36:31] Managing stock value after IPO.
• [00:40:31] Sudden Wealth Syndrome.
• [00:42:53] Support groups and accountability.
• [00:46:33] Investing in AI companies.
• [00:51:14] Managing emotions while being choosy.
• [00:55:15] Trading time for equity.