Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

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Kevin Werner, CEO of Renovo Financial, has over 20 years of experience building and scaling successful lending companies!

Kevin discusses his start in the lending business including his first company that did not survive the Great Financial Crisis. He shares lessons learned from lending through the Housing Crash and how those insights coupled with great relationships lead to the inception of Renovo Financial. Kevin gives the philosophy that has led to Renovo’s explosive growth the last decade including thriving through the uncertainty of COVID. Throughout the show, Kevin drops powerful outlooks on business, customer service, and relationships that you’ll want to remember and implement!

If you enjoy today’s episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

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Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Kevin Werner, Renovo Financial

Link: Kevin's LinkedIn

Link: All-In Podcast

Link: King of Capital (Book Recommendation)

Guest Questions

01:51 Housing Provider Tip - Understand the power of being decisive and taking action!

03:18 Intro to our guest, Kevin Werner!

10:44 Getting a loan business off the ground in the 90s.

15:28 Lending through the Housing Crash!

34:21 The business model of lending business.

45:27 Renovo’s explosive growth through COVID into 2025!

60:18 Kevin’s parenting philosophy and outlook on Chicago!

63:24 What is your competitive advantage?

64:20 One piece of advice for new investors.

64:53 What do you do for fun?

66:04 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

66:53 Local Network Recommendation?

68:38 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.

Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

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Rory Rubin shows us first hand how S.I. Container Builds is bringing high quality, low maintenance steel dwellings to help solve the housing supply shortage!

Rory jumps right with a recap of modular housing and the advantages it brings over traditional brick and wood housing structures. She shares lessons learned after 7 successful years of leading S.I. Container Builds. Our video viewers get to see an awesome container building constructed for Navy Pier and Rory breaks down some complex projects. This episode showcases the innovation within modular housing and Rory makes it clear that container builds are quality housing stock that everyone should strongly consider!

If you enjoy today’s episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

=============

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Rory Rubin, S.I. Container Builds

Link: The Art of Happiness (Book Recommendation)

Link: Tim Swanson (Network Referral)

Link: SUCI Ep. 351 - Richard Koenig

Guest Questions

03:11 Housing Provider Tip - Communicate your move-out procedure and expectations to your tenants!

04:41 Intro to our guest, Rory Rubin from SI Container Builds!

06:46 Recapping the 101 on container builds!

09:45 Advantages of container builds.

17:30 Lessons learned from 7 years of modular building!

21:30 Complex container builds!

25:25 Navy Pier Container and Affordable Housing!

28:09 What is your competitive advantage?

28:33 One piece of advice for new investors.

29:21 What do you do for fun?

29:33 Good book, podcast, or self development activity that you would recommend?

29:55 Local Network Recommendation?

30:21 How can the listeners learn more about you and provide value to you?

-----------------

Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.

Properties for Sale on the North Side? We want to buy them. Email: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Have a vacancy? We can place your next tenant and give you back 30-40 hours of your time. Learn more: GCRealtyInc.com/tenant-placement

Has Property Mgmt become an opportunity cost for you? Let us lower your risk and give you your time back to grow. Learn more: GCRealtyinc.com

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How can I prepare my existing property to add an ADU?

If you enjoy today’s episode, please leave us a review and share with someone who may also find value in this content!

=============

Connect with Mark and Tom: StraightUpChicagoInvestor.com

Email the Show: StraightUpChicagoInvestor@gmail.com

Guest: Prashanth Mahakali, PMPC

Link: Episode 21: Leveraging an Architect for Chicago Permits, Building Violations, & Nonconforming and Illegal Units, with Prashanth Mahakali

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Production House: Flint Stone Media

Copyright of Straight Up Chicago Investor 2025.