JF2810: Failing Forward: From Losing $200K to Closing 79 Value-Add Deals ft. Sean Katona

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before becoming a full-time commercial investor, Sean Katona worked at Microsoft and EA Sports selling X-Box ads to automotive manufacturers and Hollywood studios. In 2013, he turned his side hustle into a full-time career, and as he says, he’s been “failing forward ever since.” Today, Sean spends his time seeking out fixer-upper commercial deals in the Greater Phoenix area. In this episode, Sean discusses the ins and outs of value-add commercial real estate and the toughest lessons he’s learned in his career so far.</span></p> <p><strong>Sean Katona | Real Estate Background</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Founder of Simplified Properties, which invests in value-add retail/shopping centers in Phoenix, AZ.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Portfolio: GP of retail/shopping centers, multifamily, storage, and mobile home parks, having closed 79 deals</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">First episode on the show:</span> <a href= "https://www.notion.so/blog/podcast/jf316-how-to-solve-a-real-estate-problem-on-the-internet"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">JF316: How to Solve A Real Estate Problem On the INTERNET</span></a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Based in: Huntington Beach, CA</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Say hi to him at:</span></li> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><a href= "https://www.simplifiedproperties.com/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">simplifiedproperties.com</span></a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><a href= "http://facebook.com/katona"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Facebook</span></a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><a href= "https://www.instagram.com/seankatona/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Instagram</span></a><span styl