First, Worst, Best, & Next
First, Worst, Best, and Next Podcast is the ultimate real estate investing podcast where top investors share their most eye-opening deals—their first investment, their worst failure, their biggest success, and what’s next on their horizon. Hosted by industry experts, this show uncovers hard-earned lessons from seasoned professionals, giving listeners a front-row seat to the strategies, missteps, and triumphs that shaped their careers. Whether you’re an experienced investor or just starting out, you’ll gain invaluable insights into multifamily and apartment investing, along with other asset classes. Learn what works, what doesn’t, and how to scale your portfolio by avoiding costly mistakes and capitalizing on proven strategies. If you’re looking to grow in the real estate investing space, First, Worst, Best, and Next Podcast is your go-to resource for expert wisdom and real-world experience.
Episodes

3 hours ago
3 hours ago
In this episode, host Brad Weaver talks with entrepreneur, investor relations manager, and founder of She Is Her, Jazmin Salinas. Jazmin shares her inspiring journey from immigrating to the U.S. at 19 to becoming a successful real estate investor with over 100 land transactions and 1,300 multifamily units. She dives into lessons from her early deals, her pivot into multifamily, and her exciting plans for expanded land investing and mixed-use developments. Jazmin also shares how she’s empowering women through financial education and community building.
Key Topics:Starting over in the U.S. and rebuilding a careerLessons from her first land deal (and why it mattered)Scaling through 100+ land transactionsSeller financing strategies for passive incomeTransitioning into multifamily investmentsDeveloping retail centers tied to master-planned communitiesLaunching "She Is Her" to empower women in finance and investing
Memorable Quotes:"You are one connection away from a completely different life.""Leaving a legacy isn’t just about money—it's about educating the next generation to sustain and grow it."
Connect with Jazmin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazmin-salinas-1448021a3/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialjazminsalinasWebsite: https://massive.capital/
Connect with Brad:Risk Strategies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/risk-strategies-company/posts/?feedView=allBrad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-weaver-bb29035/Book an intro appt with Brad: https://zcal.co/fwbn/introcallBrad’s Direct Cell: (845) 779-2044

Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
This episode features Mac Shelton from Sweet Bay Capital discussing his experiences in multifamily real estate investing. Mac shares insights into his firm's investment strategies, detailing both successes and challenges. He dives into specific deals, including his "best" and most challenging, offering valuable lessons on underwriting, market selection, and property management. The conversation explores the nuances of student housing and the potential of investing in tertiary markets.
Key Takeaways:• Importance of Underwriting: Thorough underwriting is crucial to mitigate risks, especially with older properties.• Market Selection: Tertiary markets can offer strong rent growth and less competition compared to primary markets.• Student Housing Nuances: Student rentals can be profitable but require careful management and consideration of location and market dynamics.• Value-Add Strategies: Implementing value-add strategies, such as renovations and rent optimization, can significantly increase property value and returns.• Managing Challenges: Real estate investing involves challenges; effective management and conservative budgeting are essential for navigating them.
About Mac Shelton:Mac Shelton is a founding partner of Sweet Bay Capital, a multifamily investment firm focused on value-add properties in Virginia and the Carolinas. His real estate career began with underwriting debt and equity deals and raising capital. Mac's firm targets 20% deal-level Irrs and focuses on improving property efficiency and profitability through renovations. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Mac is also a 1st Lieutenant in the North Carolina National Guard.
How to contact Mac:• Sweet Bay Capital Website: https://www.sweetbay-capital.com/• Mac Shelton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mac-shelton/
How to contact Brad:• Risk Strategies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/risk-strategies-company/posts/?feedView=all• Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-weaver-bb29035/• Book an intro appt with Brad: https://zcal.co/fwbn/introcall• Brad’s Direct Cell: (845) 779-2044

Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
In this episode, Will Matheson of Matheson Capital shares how he went from brokering deals to building a $100M+ multifamily portfolio across the Southeast. He walks us through his first debt deal, the challenges of navigating COVID-era operations, and the keys to scaling profitably while protecting investor capital.
Will also discusses lessons from early mistakes, how his team achieved an average 47% IRR across 16 acquisitions, and what’s next as Matheson Capital pursues new opportunities in build-to-rent communities and beyond.
Key Takeaways:• From Brokers to Buyers: Will and his twin brother Evan started as brokers, but quickly shifted gears and raised capital themselves for a $1M hard money loan—kickstarting their investing journey.• First Investment Win: A quick flip on a Los Angeles duplex netted them $185K in profit, building confidence and momentum.• Lessons from the Worst Deal: Greenwood Village Townhomes faced COVID-related rent collection issues and crime. Despite the hurdles, the team still returned investor capital with a small gain.• Best Deal Breakdown: Timberstone Townhomes delivered an 80% return on equity thanks to strong operations, solid debt, and zero prepayment penalties.• Smart Scaling Strategies: Matheson Capital now focuses on larger, more standardized multifamily assets with third-party management, prioritizing cash flow and operational efficiency.• What’s Next: Will shares details about their latest BTR acquisition in Tuscaloosa and what they’re targeting next in the Southeast.
How to contact Will:• Matheson Capital: mathcap.com• Will Matheson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-matheson/
How to contact Brad:• Risk Strategies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/risk-strategies-company/posts/?feedView=all• Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-weaver-bb29035/• Book an intro appt with Brad: https://zcal.co/fwbn/introcall• Brad’s Direct Cell: (845) 779-2044

Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
In this episode, Jason Yarusi shares his journey from starting in real estate by flipping houses to scaling his business to managing multifamily properties across multiple states. He discusses the importance of strategic planning, setting clear expectations with investors, and lessons learned from both successful and challenging deals.
Key Takeaways:• Strategic Planning for Investors: Jason emphasizes the importance of preparing your investor network ahead of time, even before you have a deal in hand. By educating investors and setting expectations upfront, you can raise capital faster when an opportunity arises.• Refinancing and Infinite Returns: Jason explains how refinancing works to pull capital off the table after improving the property, which can provide tax-free returns to investors and help reinvest capital.• Streamlining Renovations: By standardizing renovations (like using the same materials and fixtures across properties), Jason has been able to minimize costs and turnaround times. This efficiency reduces vacancy loss, which is crucial for maximizing cash flow on multifamily properties.• The Importance of Communication: Reflecting on past failures, Jason talks about how lack of clear communication with a business partner led to the breakdown of a friendship. The takeaway? Clear, upfront communication and role definition are essential in partnerships.• Upcoming Deal in Chattanooga: Jason reveals that Yarusi Holdings is closing on two properties in Chattanooga, with plans for significant renovations and improvements. The properties present a mix of light and heavy lifting, but Jason is confident in their ability to add value and improve operations.
How to contact Jason:• Yarusi Holdings: yarusiholdings.com• Jason Yarusi on Instagram: @JasonYarusi• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonyarusi/• 7 Figure Multifamily Mastermind: https://7fm.7figuremultifamily.com/join7fm• Podcasts: Live 100 Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-100-podcast-with-jason-yarusi/id1699229023)
How to contact Brad:• Risk Strategies on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/risk-strategies-company/posts/?feedView=all• Brad on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-weaver-bb29035/• Book an intro appt with Brad - https://zcal.co/fwbn/introcall• Brad’s Direct Cell: (845) 779-2044