How to Start Investing in Apartments with Jason Kenney, Ep. 740

Jason Kenney is a real estate investor and founder of Novo Capital Management. After a career in financial services and multiple corporate relocations, he launched his investing company in 2019 and left corporate in 2023 to focus exclusively on real estate. Jason now invests primarily in multifamily syndications and creates education for aspiring passive investors on YouTube.

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Key Takeaways

• “Passive” single‑family rentals often become a second job without systems and scale.

• Start with market fundamentals first—job growth, supply and demand, and barriers to homeownership—before evaluating a property.

• Vet the operator as thoroughly as the deal; team quality is the biggest risk lever for LPs.

• Clarify your goals and your “why” so investments match the life you want, not just returns.

• Education and community help shorten the learning curve and avoid costly mistakes.

Topics

From Corporate Careers to Real Estate

• Launched a real estate investment company in 2019 and exited corporate in 2023.

• Early single‑family approach created “passive” income that still demanded nights and weekends.

• Shifted to multifamily syndications for scale, professional management, and true passivity.

How Jason Underwrites Markets

• Looks first at macro drivers: jobs, quality of life, and cost of living.

• Studies submarket supply pipelines and rent/occupancy trends to avoid oversupplied pockets.

• Prefers markets with high barriers to homeownership and a strong rent‑vs‑buy spread.

Choosing Operators and Deals

• Prioritizes track record, communication, and alignment of interests.

• Evaluates assumptions, downside plans, and capital preservation before upside.

• Diversifies across sponsors and markets to manage risk.

Education and Content

• Shares passive‑investing fundamentals and case studies on his YouTube channel “Hassle Free Wealth.”

• Encourages new investors to define outcomes first, then pick strategies that fit.

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

Round of Insights

Failure that set Jason up for success: Withdrawing from college and starting again taught him discipline and grit that now guide his investing journey.

Digital or mobile resource: CREXI — for market comps, property records, and demographic insights.

Book recommendation: Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi — a playbook for building authentic relationships.

Daily habit: Starts each day by revisiting his “why,” using it to stay focused and navigate setbacks.

#1 insight for passive investors: Know the team behind the deal and how they manage risk—operator quality drives outcomes.

Favorite restaurant in Murfreesboro/Franklin, TN: Herban Market.

Next Steps

• Check out Jason’s educational videos on YouTube.

• Clarify your investment goals and risk tolerance before evaluating opportunities.

• When reviewing a deal, start with the market and the operator’s track record, then dig into assumptions.

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