The Fastest Way to Grow Your Real Estate Business

Oil isn’t just about the price you pay at the pump. It’s the backbone of the global economy. Nearly every product we buy is manufactured, transported, or delivered using petroleum. When oil prices rise, the cost of construction materials, transportation, manufacturing, and everyday goods rises with them. That inflation eventually works its way into housing and the broader economy.

One area I monitor closely is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil. Any disruption there has the potential to create supply concerns and significant price volatility. While no one can predict exactly what will happen, investors should understand how geopolitical events can influence economic conditions.

If oil prices were to rise sharply, the effects would be widespread. Higher transportation costs increase the price of groceries, building materials, and consumer goods. Businesses face higher operating expenses, inflation accelerates, and affordability declines. Those pressures can slow economic growth and place additional stress on both consumers and real estate markets.

Market Disruptions Create Opportunity

Economic uncertainty creates challenges, but it also creates opportunities for investors who are prepared.

Throughout history, market corrections have produced some of the best buying opportunities in real estate. Investors with strong systems, available capital, and the discipline to act have consistently been able to acquire assets at substantial discounts while others were forced to sit on the sidelines.

Preparation always beats prediction.

Why I’m Paying Attention to Multifamily

One area that has my attention is small multifamily properties.

During the low-interest-rate years, apartment investing became extremely popular. Many investors paid premium prices assuming rents would continue climbing and inexpensive financing would always be available. Today, many of those assumptions have changed.

In several markets, rents have softened while property values have declined. At the same time, loans originated during the boom years are beginning to mature, forcing some owners into difficult financial positions. That combination could create attractive buying opportunities for investors focused on smaller apartment buildings.

Rather than chasing large institutional properties, I believe many investors should learn how to evaluate six- to twenty-four-unit buildings where competition is often lower and financing options remain accessible.

One Simple Habit That Can Transform Your Business

The biggest lesson I learned recently had nothing to do with the economy.

I spent about an hour personally calling several of our top cash buyers. Not texting. Not emailing. Just picking up the phone.

Those conversations completely changed my perspective.

In just a few minutes with each buyer, I learned:

• What types of properties they wanted most.
• Which neighborhoods they were actively targeting.
• Their biggest business challenges.
• How many projects they planned to complete over the next year.
• Whether financing was limiting their ability to buy more deals.

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Several buyers also told me they had no idea additional financing options were available, even though those opportunities had previously been shared by email. That reinforced an important lesson: people ignore emails far more often than they ignore a personal phone call.

Talk to People

Today’s investors rely heavily on text messages and email.

Those communication methods certainly have their place, but neither replaces a real conversation.

A five- to seven-minute phone call provides more market intelligence than dozens of emails. It builds relationships, uncovers buyer demand, and often reveals opportunities you would never discover otherwise.

If you know what your buyers want before you put a property under contract, you’ll become a much more effective investor and wholesaler.

Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back

Many investors avoid phone calls because they’re afraid they’ll say the wrong thing.

I understand that feeling because I was there once too.

The reality is simple: nobody expects you to be perfect.

Every experienced investor was once making awkward phone calls and learning through experience. The only difference is they kept making them until it became natural.

Confidence comes from repetition, not preparation.

If you’re nervous, practice in another market first. Make ten conversations where the outcome doesn’t matter. By the time you start calling buyers in your own market, you’ll be far more comfortable.

The Questions I Ask Every Buyer

My conversations are simple.

I want to know:

• How many projects are you planning over the next year?
• What’s your biggest bottleneck right now?
• What neighborhoods are you actively buying?
• Are you interested in small multifamily properties?
• What would help you buy more deals?

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Those five questions tell me almost everything I need to know.

Relationships Are Still Your Greatest Competitive Advantage

Technology has changed the way we communicate, but relationships still win.

The investors who consistently close the most deals understand their buyers, solve problems, and stay in regular contact. They don’t wait until they have a property to reach out.

If you spend just twenty minutes each day calling buyers, your understanding of the market will improve dramatically. You’ll know where demand is increasing, where financing is becoming difficult, and which opportunities deserve your attention.

That knowledge becomes a competitive advantage.

Final Thoughts

Nobody knows exactly what the economy will do next. Markets will continue to change, interest rates will move, and geopolitical events will create uncertainty.

Instead of trying to predict every headline, focus on controlling what you can control.

Study the market. Build relationships. Understand your buyers. Watch for opportunities others overlook. Most importantly, take action while everyone else is waiting.

The investors who thrive during changing markets aren’t necessarily the smartest. They’re the ones who stay informed, stay prepared, and keep having conversations when everyone else stops.