John Carlson is the CEO of Mark-Taylor Residential and a multifamily veteran with over 20 years of experience in real estate operations and leadership. He began his journey as a resident in one of the company’s properties and rose through the ranks with a deep commitment to service, people-first culture, and long-term investment strategy. Today, he oversees a $10+ billion portfolio and is known for championing data-driven decision-making and organizational growth through purpose-driven leadership.
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Key Takeaways
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John’s career began with a part-time leasing job at a Mark-Taylor property where he once lived as a resident.
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A strong personal mission and aligning with a company’s purpose have been core to his long-term success.
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Working with institutional investors taught him the discipline of sticking to a defined investment thesis.
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Real estate is a long-term game—those who try to time the market often face avoidable risks.
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Culture, transparency, and uncomfortable growth moments are key to personal and organizational evolution.
Topics
From Resident to CEO
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John started as an unemployed engineer living in a Mark-Taylor apartment.
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After being offered a leasing role, he discovered a passion for multifamily and transitioned his career.
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Over time, he grew within the company while gaining exposure to asset management and institutional clients.
Why Purpose-Driven Culture Matters
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Meets with every new hire to discuss their personal mission and how it can align with the company vision.
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Encourages clarity and long-term thinking rather than reactive career decisions.
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Believes true employee retention starts with shared purpose.
Lessons from Institutional Investors
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Institutional groups adhere rigidly to investment criteria, which protects them from emotional decisions.
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Many individual investors fall into traps by abandoning their buy box just to close a deal.
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Stick to your investment thesis to avoid overextending in high-risk cycles.
Timing the Market vs. Building for the Long Game
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Markets like Phoenix saw huge growth, but rapid supply expansion exposed weaknesses.
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Fix-and-flip mindsets can backfire without flexible exit strategies.
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Disciplined, data-backed investing with a long-term outlook consistently outperforms speculation.
What Makes an Operator Stand Out
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Developers and owners who understand submarket data, upcoming supply, and cost dynamics build better partnerships.
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Transparency, market knowledge, and staying coachable are key to successful collaboration.
Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.
Round of Insights
Failure that set John up for success: Losing 26 employees in a surprise asset management transition in 2006 taught John the importance of growth planning and protecting people. Since then, no employee has lost a position in a similar transaction under his leadership.
Digital or mobile resource: ChatGPT 4.5 – Used daily as a CEO profile to streamline decisions, write, and think through strategy.
Book recommendation:
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The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
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12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
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7 Powers by Jeffrey Pfeffer
Daily habit: Three daily gratitudes with his wife every morning to start the day with presence and positivity. Reviews personal and professional goals monthly.
#1 insight for growth: Be uncomfortable. Growth only happens when you step into challenge—and sustain it. Delayed gratification leads to stronger long-term success.
Favorite restaurant in Phoenix, AZ: Steak 44 — one of the top steakhouses in the country, known for world-class food and consistently exceptional service.
Next Steps
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Learn more about John’s work and services at www.mark-taylor.com
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Revisit your personal mission and ensure it aligns with your professional path
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Adopt the mindset of long-term stewardship over short-term gain—whether you’re managing 10 units or 10,000
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