Multifamily Podcast Network

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you could take control of your own time? How would you spend it? What impact could you have on the world? Well, real estate investing has afforded the answers to those very questions to so many who dared to veer off the beaten path.

Our guest today is Linying Zou, founding partner at Akras Capital. As an immigrant who came to the U.S. at the age of ten, she broke boundaries by finding success as a trader in the male-dominated world of Wall Street.

 Linying was a former Wall Street trader in the Northeast—executing $300 million of trades on a daily basis—a chartered financial analyst, and a member of the CFA Institute. She bought her first multifamily investment two years out of college in 2010. Linying became a full-time real estate investor when she founded Akras Capital, a primarily female-owned investment firm that syndicates apartment complexes nationwide.

 To Linying, the opportunity to invest in real estate was always a huge factor toward fulfilling the American Dream for her. Determined to start early, she began house hacking right out of college, starting with a triplex. She lived in one unit and rented the other two out for a few years before buying a condo later on down the line. Her opportunities continued to snowball from there.

 Linying made the transition from fixed-income trader to full-time real estate investor simply because her skillset as a trader was very transferable. Doing spreadsheets, negotiating, finding deals, and factoring in exit strategies were already second nature to her. She only had two main challenges upon making the transition. The first was around mindset, as she had to make the adjustment from working for someone in the corporate world to working for herself as an entrepreneur. Secondly, she practically had to rebuild her network and reputation from scratch when she moved out of one industry and into an entirely new one.

Tune in as Linying goes on to describe how COVID-19 should serve as a grim reminder that employment alone can never make you financially secure as well as her preferred investment strategy at Akras Capital, how to invest in properties across different states, the advantages of using the apartment syndication model, and how to find the right business partners.

 Final Four Questions:

1. What are some things that you are doing for your continued education as an investor?

Linying: "I mostly get my education through books. I read a lot of books, not only on real estate, but also on negotiation, mindset, and meditation. Having the right mindset is super important as an entrepreneur. You have a lot of challenges that pop up day-to-day and always have to work on separating your personal life from your business life. Having the right mental fitness is key."

 2. What are some of those lasting lessons that you have learned along your journey?

Linying: "Invest in real estate early, and really vet your potential partners and sponsors." 

3. What advice would you give to the listeners to help them grow their businesses? 

Linying: "If you’re getting started in real estate syndication, being a passive investor is a great way to get involved. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. In this industry, everyone is very willing to help each other."

4. How can the listeners learn more about and connect with you?

Linying:

Visit www.akrascapital.com

[email protected]

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