From Unemployed to a 4,000 Unit Portfolio with Moshe Popack, Ep. 704

Moshe Popack is a real estate investor, entrepreneur, attorney, and philanthropist. He is the co-founder and chairman of YMP Real Estate Management, which oversees a diverse portfolio of 4,000 multifamily units and 2 million square feet of commercial space. After losing his job in 2009, Moshe pivoted to real estate, building an integrated organization with 400 employees and vertical operations spanning multifamily, office, and assisted living investments.

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Key Takeaways

• Moshe began his real estate journey after losing his job during the Great Recession, investing his last funds into a distressed property.

• He scaled his business by focusing on underappreciated opportunities, analyzing deals line-by-line, and maintaining strong discipline in execution.

• Believes success starts with mindset—resilience, grit, and faith were key to pushing through early rejection.

• Today, he leads a vertically integrated firm with in-house legal, property management, and construction teams.

• Moshe and his wife run Neighborhood Farms USA, a nonprofit that teaches children to grow fresh produce in affordable housing communities.

Topics

From Rock Bottom to Real Estate Renaissance

• Lost job in 2009 with three kids to support—chose real estate over retreat.

• Faced 30 investor rejections before landing funding for his first 400-unit acquisition.

• Relied on line-by-line financial analysis and tenacity to stabilize the asset.

Mindset Over Mechanics

• Operates on a core principle: “If your why is deep enough, the how doesn’t matter.”

• Encourages entrepreneurs to expect resistance from others and stay focused on their path.

• Cautions investors to “assume brokers are lying” and do their own due diligence.

Analyzing Deals with Precision

• Understands every income and expense line item and underwrites conservatively.

• Warns against blindly assuming future rent growth or tax projections without validation.

• Stresses that the deal’s net income is the key to sustainability and value.

Distressed Opportunities and Contrarian Plays

• Invests in overlooked or feared asset classes—currently buying office space at deep discounts.

• Believes in Florida’s long-term growth story and the cyclical nature of real estate.

• Focuses on holding power and conservative leverage to weather downturns.

Neighborhood Farms USA

• Nonprofit initiative transforming landscaping at workforce housing properties into edible gardens.

• Educates children on gardening, nutrition, and personal fulfillment through nature.

• Offers after-school programs and community engagement with a focus on well-being.

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Round of Insights

Failure that set you up for success: Bought a building with an unrealistic business plan. Three years later, the hospital next door leased it. The lesson: patience and availability can turn perceived failures into wins.

Digital or mobile resource: RealPage – management software he finds versatile and reliable for multifamily operations.

Book recommendation: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl – a powerful reflection on mindset, resilience, and choosing your response to life’s challenges.

Daily habit: Meditation – helps him build inner clarity, mental resilience, and strength to navigate daily decisions.

#1 insight for finding distressed opportunities: Don’t even hear the word “no.” Stay consistent, be polite, and follow through on your word—opportunities come when others give up.

Favorite restaurant in South Beach, Miami: Milos.

Next Steps

• Learn more about Moshe’s ventures and philanthropic work at MoshePopack.com

• Explore Neighborhood Farms USA and their mission to promote community health through gardening

• Reframe challenges as gateways to growth—and never stop pushing forward

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