{"id":5950,"date":"2024-07-23T17:14:14","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T21:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/?p=5950"},"modified":"2024-07-23T17:14:15","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T21:14:15","slug":"interview-with-the-king-of-exits-eddie-wilson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/interview-with-the-king-of-exits-eddie-wilson\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with the \u201cKing of Exits\u201d: Eddie Wilson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>After seeing serial entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/officialew.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Eddie Wilson<\/a>&nbsp;speak at a recent Aspire Convention, we reached out to him to get his perspective on real estate investing, leadership, and philanthropy\u2014all areas where he\u2019s thrived over his career.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-4.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5952\" srcset=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-4.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-4-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-4-345x230.jpeg 345w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-4-370x247.jpeg 370w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-4-440x294.jpeg 440w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-4-570x380.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-4-170x113.jpeg 170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I would constantly go through the [tax deed investing] process just because it was a lower barrier to entry.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In this Article:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/interview-with-the-king-of-exits-eddie-wilson\/#Building_a_Rental_Portfolio_of_Over_4000_Units\" >Building a Rental Portfolio of Over 4,000 Units<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/interview-with-the-king-of-exits-eddie-wilson\/#Starting_With_Tax_Deed_and_Foreclosure_Properties\" >Starting With Tax Deed and Foreclosure Properties<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/interview-with-the-king-of-exits-eddie-wilson\/#Wilsons_Top_Picks_for_Up-and-Coming_Housing_Markets\" >Wilson\u2019s Top Picks for Up-and-Coming Housing Markets&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/interview-with-the-king-of-exits-eddie-wilson\/#The_Three_Levels_to_Becoming_an_Effective_Leader\" >The Three Levels to Becoming an Effective Leader<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/interview-with-the-king-of-exits-eddie-wilson\/#Giving_Back_and_Impacting_Others\" >Giving Back and Impacting Others<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/interview-with-the-king-of-exits-eddie-wilson\/#Wilsons_Top_Advice_for_First-Time_Real_Estate_Investors\" >Wilson\u2019s Top Advice for First-Time Real Estate Investors<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Building_a_Rental_Portfolio_of_Over_4000_Units\"><\/span><a><\/a>Building a Rental Portfolio of Over 4,000 Units<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wilson has been around real estate and business his whole life. His father and grandfather were both real estate investors, and his parents were both entrepreneurs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI grew up around it, so it was a natural path,\u201d Wilson told us. At age 23, he bought his first investment property before even purchasing a primary residence. Now, he\u2019s invested in over 4,000 rental units and has flipped nearly 300 properties.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, he\u2019s moved from investing in single-family to small multifamily to mostly large multifamily assets. Meanwhile, he\u2019s owned and exited over 100 companies, the capital from which he pours into real estate. \u201cThat\u2019s how I\u2019ve gotten over 4,000 doors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While some of Wilson\u2019s deals are structured as syndications (e.g. he\u2019s currently heavily invested in one that\u2019s building 350 multifamily Class A units), others are parts of funds he manages (e.g. he has one for mobile homes on land, one for multifamily properties, and another general fund).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor the most part, I\u2019m a buy-and-hold guy,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cI believe in the long-term value of real estate and really exercise the appreciation and tax benefits of real estate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Starting_With_Tax_Deed_and_Foreclosure_Properties\"><\/span><a><\/a>Starting With Tax Deed and Foreclosure Properties<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, Wilson started his real estate investing journey with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/how-to-start-investing-in-county-foreclosure-tax-deed-auctions-wholesalers\/\" target=\"_blank\">tax&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/how-to-start-investing-in-county-foreclosure-tax-deed-auctions-wholesalers\/\" target=\"_blank\">deed<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/how-to-start-investing-in-county-foreclosure-tax-deed-auctions-wholesalers\/\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp;and foreclosure properties<\/a>&nbsp;in Indiana and Illinois.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI would constantly go through the [<a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/look-to-tax-deed-sales-for-opportunities-in-a-sellers-market\/\" target=\"_blank\">tax deed investing<\/a>] process just because it was a lower barrier to entry,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cI bought a ton of tax deeds and let them season and ended up either foreclosing on them or turning them into performing notes.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, Wilson flipped nearly 200 <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/tax-deed-vs-foreclosure-auctions-whats-the-difference\/\" target=\"_blank\">foreclosure and tax deed properties<\/a> from 2010 to 2014. More recently, Wilson does fewer flips and lends to flip investors instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou naturally start off in a very active role in real estate, and then you graduate to a more passive role,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just in more of a passive role in just about everything I do in real estate anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-5.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5955\" srcset=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-5.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-5-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-5-370x555.jpeg 370w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-5-440x660.jpeg 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wilsons_Top_Picks_for_Up-and-Coming_Housing_Markets\"><\/span><a><\/a>Wilson\u2019s Top Picks for Up-and-Coming Housing Markets&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When choosing a market to invest in, Wilson has two strategies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the one hand, he invests in what he calls \u201cworkhorse\u201d markets. These are long-term, tenant-friendly markets with consistent rates of return, such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/ohio-is-a-nationwide-hot-market-now-the-top-10-places-to-invest-in-ohio\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ohio<\/a>, Indiana, and other Rust Belt areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, Wilson invests in speculative markets where he anticipates population growth. This was the strategy behind Wilson\u2019s successful market timings in Tampa from 2010 to 2013 and later in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, Wilson is betting on <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/understanding-foreclosure-laws-in-florida-for-real-estate-investors\/\" target=\"_blank\">Jacksonville, Florida<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s still very underdeveloped from a housing perspective. But from an infrastructure [perspective], it\u2019s overdeveloped,\u201d Wilson explained. \u201cSo, you have plenty of options for growth there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, \u201con the short-term rental side, you can still find beachfront property in Jacksonville for a third of the price of the rest of Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other markets that Wilson is bullish on include San Antonia, Texas; Lubbock, Texas; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; and Louisville, Kentucky.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>As a leader, I have to not just be good at something. I have to dissect why I\u2019m good at something and be able to teach someone else.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Three_Levels_to_Becoming_an_Effective_Leader\"><\/span><a><\/a>The Three Levels to Becoming an Effective Leader<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a regular speaker and boss to hundreds of employees, Wilson also knows a thing or two about becoming an effective leader.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For him, <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/managing-your-own-rental-properties-as-an-investor\/\" target=\"_blank\">effective leadership<\/a> starts with emotional intelligence, i.e. understanding yourself at a high level. \u201cPeople who are socially or emotionally unaware are not a very good canvas to then add leadership traits to,\u201d Wilson explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From there, leaders must develop self-governance, out of which flows productivity that can inspire others. That\u2019s why \u201cpeople with high levels of self-governance attract the most followers,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, effective leaders must routinely inspire others toward a common goal. \u201cIt\u2019s not about me saying something profound to my employees one time,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cIt\u2019s about me saying the same thing in different ways consistently over six months to a year that actually incites change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you follow these leadership principles, you\u2019ll go from leading yourself (level one) to leading followers (level two) to ultimately leading other leaders (level three).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, such leadership requires building replicable processes you can delegate. \u201cThere\u2019s a massive difference between someone who\u2019s competent and someone who\u2019s consciously competent,\u201d Wilson said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs a leader, I have to not just be good at something. I have to dissect why I\u2019m good at something and be able to teach someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I believe in making a profit, but I believe in making a profit so that I can turn around and take that profit and create an impact on someone else\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-3-683x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5954\" srcset=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-3-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-3-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-3-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-3-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-3-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-3-370x555.jpeg 370w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-3-440x660.jpeg 440w, https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/photo-3-scaled.jpeg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Giving_Back_and_Impacting_Others\"><\/span><a><\/a>Giving Back and Impacting Others<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of real estate investing, Wilson gives back through humanitarian work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve had a billion-dollar exit in the past,\u201d Wilson explained. \u201cAt some point, another car, another house, another vacation doesn\u2019t do much for you. And really, when you pursue those things, you lack fulfillment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consequently, Wilson uses profits from his businesses and real estate to help fund&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/impactothers.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Impact Others<\/a>, a non-profit that helps underprivileged children across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, the organization feeds and educates over 4,000 children per day, has orphanages in over 16 countries, and helps communities build sustainable businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAll of my businesses, I would call \u2018cause-capitalism\u2019 businesses,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cI believe in making a profit, but I believe in making a profit so that I can turn around and take that profit and create an impact on someone else\u2019s life.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wilsons_Top_Advice_for_First-Time_Real_Estate_Investors\"><\/span><a><\/a>Wilson\u2019s Top Advice for First-Time Real Estate Investors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked for his advice to <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/7-real-estate-investing-tips-for-beginner-investors\/\" target=\"_blank\">beginner real estate investors<\/a>, Wilson said, \u201cI rarely give the advice of doing something with a partner, but I think in real estate, it\u2019s very applicable,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cLimit your liability by adding knowledge to the equation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, if you have limited capital, partner with someone who can bring money to the table. This could be another investor you meet at a local networking event or online. Alternatively, it could be a private lender, \u201csomebody that\u2019s willing to look at the asset and lend on the asset, not your bankability,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen you both have something to gain and something to lose by the asset itself, it aligns you with that partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, Wilson recommended investing in something that\u2019s hard to lose. \u201cI love the model of <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/11-questions-newbies-have-about-starting-in-foreclosure-auctions\/\" target=\"_blank\">foreclosures<\/a> and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/tax-deed-sales-in-florida-a-basic-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\">tax deeds<\/a>&nbsp;because it has a lot less liability than a lot of other real estate ventures,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, invest as early as you can to maximize the appreciation benefits. \u201cMy greatest assets that I still have today are the ones that I bought 20 years ago,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After seeing serial entrepreneur&nbsp;Eddie Wilson&nbsp;speak at a recent Aspire Convention, we reached out to him to get his perspective on real estate investing, leadership, and philanthropy\u2014all areas where he\u2019s thrived over his career. I would&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":5957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[809,906,905,907,419,11,506,467,828,436,35],"class_list":["post-5950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate-investing-articles","tag-2024-housing-market","tag-aspire-convention","tag-eddie-wilson","tag-effective-leadership","tag-florida-real-estate","tag-foreclosure","tag-ohio-real-estate","tag-passive-income","tag-real-estate-investing","tag-rental-market","tag-tax-deed"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5950"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5956,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5950\/revisions\/5956"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}