What Most Investors Get Wrong About Value-Add with Jon Weiskopf, Ep. 759

Jon Weiskopf is the Founder and CEO of Blue Eyed Capital, a purpose-driven investment firm focused on helping people of color invest in high-performing real estate that delivers both financial returns and meaningful impact. After a successful engineering career that included designing Apple’s flagship retail stores around the world, Jon left corporate life to pursue a more meaningful mission—one grounded in sustainability, social responsibility, and leaving a better world for his children. His impact-focused approach to multifamily investing prioritizes operational efficiency, environmental upgrades, and tenant well-being as pathways to long-term success.

Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.

Key Takeaways

• Real estate impact investing is not charity—it’s smart, sustainable business

• Operational efficiency matters more than rent growth for long-term value

• Utility cost trends are critical indicators of property performance risk

• Personal alignment with your investing mission prevents burnout and increases longevity

• Finding properties close to home can reduce risk and improve responsiveness

• Capital access and relationship-building are essential for resilience in tough markets

Topics

From Apple to Apartment Investing

• Jon’s career began in engineering, including 10 years leading Apple’s retail development globally

• A burnout and desire to spend more time with family pushed him to rethink his priorities

• After attending a real estate event, he realized his background in construction and systems was an untapped advantage

Finding Purpose in Real Estate

• Named after his wife and children, Blue Eyed Capital was born from a desire to create legacy and impact

• Jon’s “why” includes modeling values for his kids and using his skills to improve the world

• Leaving Apple and taking a three-month leave of absence gave him clarity and relief from corporate stress

Why Impact Investing Is Smart Business

• Jon focuses on improving underperforming Class C properties with outdated systems

• Instead of relying on rent increases, he drives returns through sustainability upgrades and energy efficiency

• Better-performing systems (HVAC, lighting, etc.) lead to tenant stability, lower expenses, and long-term ROI

What Most Investors Get Wrong

• Many operators don’t understand the compounding effects of rising utility costs

• Passing on utility bills to tenants only works until affordability breaks down

• Energy-efficient upgrades generate increasing savings year over year—unlike cosmetic renovations

Choosing the Right Properties

• Looks for good bones: buildings that are structurally sound but need systems updates

• Willing to walk away from deals if fundamentals (e.g., plumbing) don’t check out

• Proximity to home has become increasingly important for asset management responsiveness

Capital Raising and Private Lending

• Jon warns new operators not to underestimate the difficulty of raising capital

• Missed investor commitments and slow funding timelines require backup plans

• He’s built a parallel business in private lending to create consistent cash flow between deals

📢 Announcement: Learn about our Apartment Investing Mastermind here.

Round of Insights

Failure that set Jon up for success: A high-stakes Apple project in San Francisco failed publicly at launch—but it taught Jon the value of resilience, preparation, and systems under pressure.

Digital or mobile resource: FRED – the Federal Reserve’s data portal. Jon uses it to track trends like auto loan defaults and consumer credit that signal housing demand and risk.

Book recommendation: It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad.

Daily habit: Wakes up at 3:30 a.m. every day to work out—starting with physical discipline to focus and own his day.

#1 insight for investing in impact properties: Purpose matters. If your plan is aligned with serving a community’s needs—not just maximizing rent—you’ll build a more stable, lasting business.

Next Steps

• Follow Jon on LinkedIn

• Check out Blue Eyed Capital‘s website.

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