From the Tech Industry to Huge Success in Real Estate with Victor Menasce

For this episode, I welcome Victor Menasce, the author of Magnetic Capital and the host of the daily Real Estate Espresso Podcast. He specializes in the development of new construction multi-family apartments, assisted living, industrial, and workforce housing in several markets across North America. Before moving into real estate development, Victor held roles as Vice President of Engineering at Wavesat, a developer of chips for wireless networks, and Chief Technical Officer at Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (AMCC), a Silicon Valley-based public company that develops microprocessors for numerous consumer products including televisions and gaming. Victor lives in Ottawa, Canada with his family.

 

Victor first shares his background story as a microprocessor developer which eventually got tedious and he had to retire. He made a hard turn into the real estate world and is now doing almost all new construction development. We move on to talk about his shift from the tech industry to real estate. Thereā€™s no one single dominant player in real estate anywhere in the world and people will invest at a level they wouldnā€™t in the tech industry. Victor explains how real estate doesnā€™t require much for people to start investing as compared to tech businesses that require deep pockets to get people to invest.

 

Together we dive into the real estate business approach that Victor took when he joined the industry. He saw a need in his city of Ottawa and strategized a way to serve a targeted market. He started by buying one-bedroom condos within a four-block radius of parliament and marketed them as fully furnished executive suites. He later sold that portfolio to focus on the US market when he saw an opportunity presented by the financial crisis in 2008.

 

We talk about the distress in commercial real estate following the pandemic, which included hotels. Victor explains how wealth is going to be transferred and some good assets will come into the market within a short period. Businesses are especially vulnerable now due to their outstanding debts.

 

We talk about the concept of new builds with Victor explaining his beliefs concerning demand and supply. Victor explains how he and his team learn from their developments in the US on the ā€˜good side of the lineā€™ and the ā€˜bad side of the lineā€™ as is defined by various zoning codes.

 

We move on to the power of developing relationships with the best people in the world. Victor explains how he opened his eyes to opportunities after becoming aware of what is possible. He then talks about his book Magnetic Capital which is about the five principles to help you raise capital for any venture. Thereā€™s a difference between asking for money and offering an investor an opportunity to collaborate on a project. Victor gives us the reason why he offers compelling and interesting projects that serve a need in the marketplace to potential investors rather than directly asking them for money.

 

We discuss what Victor means when he talks about ā€˜good charitable cause, bad foundation.ā€™ He believes that raising money for a charitable cause is no different from raising money for investment. The foundation of a worthy cause should be set to have an outcome just like an investment does and it is important to look for these qualities when you are looking to invest in one. 

 

Lastly, we discuss how to invest like a billionaire by looking for and investing in safe deals. Donā€™t miss this powerful episode of Just Start Real Estate with tons of applicable tips and advice from uber-successful entrepreneur, Victor Menasce!






Notable Quotes:

 

ā€œEvery single project is a little different, even the ones you design in architecture to look identical to the next.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œPeople will invest with you. They will give you capital on a level that they wouldnā€™t in the tech industry.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œYou need to be challenged and pushed out of that comfort zone.ā€

  •  Mike Simmons

 

ā€œEven today, Iā€™m not a real estate guy per seā€¦I really took a business approach.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œWhenever you have a business model thatā€™s based on the assumption that youā€™re going to be able to feed the debt based on the revenue, and the assumption is the revenue is going to stay uniform to service that debt, you have some level of vulnerability.ā€

  •  Victor Menasce

 

ā€œIt really comes down to developing relationships with the very best people in the world.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œJust becoming aware of whatā€™s possible opened my eyes to seeing those opportunities.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œWhen I saw a void in the marketplace, I just wanted to address that, so that is why I wrote my book.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œWhen trust is there, decisions happen faster.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œIf the goals for the money and the goals for the project donā€™t match, donā€™t take the money, because itā€™s not going to work.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œMore sophisticated investors are very clear on what theyā€™re looking for.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œYou cannot go into a situation where youā€™re raising funds and appear to need that person more than they need you.ā€

  • Mike Simmons

 

ā€œRaise funds, donā€™t ask for money.ā€

  •  Mike Simmons

 

ā€œRaising money for a charitable cause is no different than raising money for an investment.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 

ā€œIf you want to be a billionaire do what billionaires do. If you want to be broke do what broke people do.ā€

  • Victor Menasce

 






Links: 

Rich Dad Poor Dad

Magnetic Capital: Raise All the Money for Any Worthy Venture by Victor J. Menasce

Victor's Website

Real Estate Espresso Podcast

Victor's LinkedIn

7 Figure Flipping

Return on Investments

Just Start Real Estate

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Mike on Facebook

Mike on Instagram

Mike on LinkedIn

Mike on Twitter

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