Think you can flip houses and reel in the cash like a pro from day one? Think again. Jose Berlanga, a real estate veteran with 40 years under his belt, joins us to spill the beans on the gritty reality of the real estate game. This ain't your typical glam TV show; we're getting down to the nuts and bolts of the hustle.

Jose Berlanga, seasoned real estate mogul and author, has been shaping the industry for nearly three decades. From pioneering inner-city rebuilds in Houston Heights to penning books like "Dirt Rich," Jose knows the ins and outs of making it big in real estate—without losing your shirt.

**Key Takeaways:** -

**Start Small and Learn Big:

** Don’t dive into the deep end right away.

Test the waters with smaller projects to build your knowledge and avoid costly mistakes. -

**Respect the Grind:**

Real estate isn’t just about big payouts and easy flips. Be prepared for long hours, setbacks, and learning on the job. -

**Play the Long Game:**

Reinvest your wins back into your business.

Real estate is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep your eye on sustainable growth. -

**Know Your Land:** Before you buy land, understand its potential. Ask the right questions about zoning, utilities, and market demand. - **Market Dictates Price:

** Don’t decide what a property should sell for based on your costs. Let the comps guide your pricing. - **Prepare for Surprises:** Expect the unexpected. From shifting markets to walkaway contractors, flexibility and quick thinking are your best tools. - **Failures Are Lessons:** Even the pros have deals that tank. Learn from them and use those lessons to fuel your next success. **Resources Mentioned:** - Books by Jose Berlanga: *Dirt Rich* and *The Business of Homebuilding* available on Amazon. - Jose Berlanga's website: http://joseberlanga.com

Listen, folks, real estate isn’t all roses and rainbows, but if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, Jose’s wisdom will set you on the right path. Keep grinding, stay humble, and remember: every flop is just a stepping stone to your next big win. Catch you on the next one!

👉 Free notes, resources, and breakdowns from each episode:
https://wintheclose.com/notes

If you’re serious about improving your sales conversations, this is where everything lives — frameworks, examples, and tools we reference on the show.

Ask better questions. Close smarter.

From Wall Street to Ground Zero: Uncle Tom’s 9/11 Story

In this special episode, Chris sits down with his uncle and godfather, Tom McGeady, for a raw and gripping account of the day that changed America forever—9/11. Forget the sanitized stories you see on TV; this is boots-on-the-ground stuff from someone who was there. From Wall Street chaos to the emotional aftermath, prepare for a deep dive into a pivotal moment in history.

Tom McGeady is Chris's uncle and a former Wall Street veteran who lived through the harrowing events of September 11, 2001. He also hosts his own podcast, The Gritty Hour, where he shares stories and insights on a variety of topics.

**Key Takeaways:** -

**The Reality of 9/11:** Get a first-hand account of what it was like to be on Wall Street during the attacks, as Tom describes the confusion, fear, and chaos of that fateful day. -

**Evacuation Experience:** Learn about the nerve-wracking decision to evacuate and the surreal journey from the heart of the financial district to safety. -

**Unsung Heroes:** Hear about the ordinary people who turned into heroes, from boat operators ferrying people to safety to strangers offering water and masks. -

**Life Before and After:** Understand how 9/11 became a dividing line in American life, altering everything from airport security to the cultural landscape. -

**The Personal Impact:** Find out how the events of 9/11 affected not just Tom, but also Chris and their family, adding a deeply personal layer to the story. -

**Business Resilience:** Get insights into how Wall Street firms adapted in the aftermath, including regulatory changes and emergency preparedness. -

**The Power of Community:** Discover the importance of community and human connection in times of crisis, as demonstrated by the outpouring of support on and after 9/11.

**Tom's Podcast:** The Gritty Hour

👉 Free notes, resources, and breakdowns from each episode:
https://wintheclose.com/notes

If you’re serious about improving your sales conversations, this is where everything lives — frameworks, examples, and tools we reference on the show.

Ask better questions. Close smarter.

Don Costa has 23 years in real estate investing and a
track record that speaks for itself. In this episode,
Chris sits down with Don to talk about what actually
builds a sustainable, profitable real estate business —
and why most investors are making it harder than it needs
to be.

What we cover:
- Starting with the end in mind
- Balancing technology with the human side of sales
- Using data and lead scoring to market smarter
with First Pulse
- Why follow-up is the difference between a deal
and a dead lead
- How to scale without overextending

Connect with Don Costa:
🌐 www.fliptalk.com
📧 don@fliptalk.com
Flip Talk Podcast: https://fliptalk.com/
First Pulse: https://firstpulse.ai/
FlipDoc: https://flipdoc.com/

——————————————————————
Ready to close more deals?
Visit learn.wintheclose.com
——————————————————————

👉 Free notes, resources, and breakdowns from each episode:
https://wintheclose.com/notes

If you’re serious about improving your sales conversations, this is where everything lives — frameworks, examples, and tools we reference on the show.

Ask better questions. Close smarter.

In this episode, Keith Gillispie shares his inspiring journey from Marine to successful real estate investor and entrepreneur. Discover how his innovative approach to automation, community building, and education is transforming the real estate investing space.

Key Topics

• Keith's military background and transition to real estate
• The importance of automation in real estate investing
• Building community and support systems
• The three pillars of REI success: education, software, coaching
• Innovative deal analysis and lead generation tools
• Overcoming fear and mindset challenges in real estate
• The role of mentorship and continuous learning

👉 Free notes, resources, and breakdowns from each episode:
https://wintheclose.com/notes

If you’re serious about improving your sales conversations, this is where everything lives — frameworks, examples, and tools we reference on the show.

Ask better questions. Close smarter.

Probate is one of the most consistent lead sources in real estate — and one of the most ignored.

In this episode, Chris McGeady sits down with Andrew Becker of Probate Engineers to break down everything investors need to know about the probate niche: from understanding the legal process to building a full probate department in as little as four weeks.

Andrew shares why most investors overlook probate, how to effectively market to probate leads using direct mail and cold calling, and why building relationships with probate attorneys is one of the highest-leverage moves you can make in your business.

If you've been chasing the same leads as everyone else, this episode will open your eyes to a pipeline that's hiding in plain sight.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Probate leads are generated every single day — and most investors ignore them
• Education and systematization are the keys to building a successful probate department
• Direct mail and cold calling are the most effective marketing strategies for probate
• Working with probate attorneys can help you navigate legal complexities
• You can build a functional probate department in as little as 4 weeks

CONNECT WITH ANDREW BECKER:
Probate Engineers: https://www.facebook.com/probateengineers

CONNECT WITH CHRIS McGEADY:
Website: https://www.wintheclose.com
Free Sales Training: https://fix.wintheclose.com
Book a Free Strategy Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/freecallbreakdown

👉 Free notes, resources, and breakdowns from each episode:
https://wintheclose.com/notes

If you’re serious about improving your sales conversations, this is where everything lives — frameworks, examples, and tools we reference on the show.

Ask better questions. Close smarter.

Cold calling is not dead.

Weak operators just stopped doing it.

In this episode of The Bored Room, Chris McGeady sits down with Nicholas Nick, founder of Lead Mining Pros, to break down how cold calling still drives real estate lead generation at scale.

Nick shares his journey from restaurant management to building one of the most respected cold calling operations in the real estate space. We unpack:

• Why cold calling still outperforms most marketing channels
• The real cost difference between in-house callers and outsourcing
• Why leadership determines call team performance
• Cold calling vs direct mail
• How to build fast trust with sellers
• The art of selling without being pushy
• How to turn outbound into inbound

If you are a wholesaler, investor, or operator trying to fix lead flow, this is tactical.

No fluff. Real execution.

Get episode notes and breakdowns here:
wintheclose.com/notes

Resources for Operators

Cold Calling & Lead Generation
Lead Mining Pros
https://leadminingpros.com/services?am_id=chris4799

CRM – 3 Month Free Trial
https://leadminingpros.com/touchpoint-2559-5394?am_id=chris2777

Transaction Coordination
EZ REI Closings
https://ezreiclosings.com/closesmarter

Transactional Funding
Velocity Advantage Capital
https://velocityadvantagecapital.com/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=closer_smarter_academy

If you are serious about building predictable pipeline and closing more deals, subscribe and share the show with another operator.

👉 Free notes, resources, and breakdowns from each episode:
https://wintheclose.com/notes

If you’re serious about improving your sales conversations, this is where everything lives — frameworks, examples, and tools we reference on the show.

Ask better questions. Close smarter.

AI is not the future of construction.

It’s already here.

In this episode of The Bored Room, Chris McGeady sits down with Ryan Garcilazo, founder of Rotty AI, to talk about how artificial intelligence is transforming construction, project management, and real estate investing.

Ryan shares his journey from traditional construction into building an AI-driven platform designed to educate, streamline operations, and help investors avoid costly mistakes.

They break down:

• How AI is being used inside real construction projects
• Why project management is where most investors lose money
• The importance of paying yourself properly on every deal
• How budgeting discipline determines profitability
• Why adapting to technology is no longer optional

This conversation is not about hype.

It is about execution, systems, and creating a competitive advantage in an increasingly tight market.

If you are flipping houses, managing rehabs, or scaling a real estate business, this episode will shift how you think about operations.

🎙 The Bored Room
Conversations on business, sales, leadership, and life.

Want to be a guest on the show?
Book here: https://shorturl.at/SsYjP

👉 Free notes, resources, and breakdowns from each episode:
https://wintheclose.com/notes

If you’re serious about improving your sales conversations, this is where everything lives — frameworks, examples, and tools we reference on the show.

Ask better questions. Close smarter.

In this episode of The Bored Room, Chris McGeady sits down with Thomas O’Brien to talk through his transition from first responder to full-time real estate investor and entrepreneur.

Thomas shares what the shift really looks like behind the scenes, from learning sales and direct-to-seller marketing to building efficient systems that support both business growth and family life. The conversation dives into the emotional side of sales, why efficiency matters more than deal volume, and how defining success goes far beyond just money.

This episode is honest, practical, and especially relevant for anyone coming from a demanding career who wants to build something sustainable without burning out.

In this episode, we cover:

Making the leap from first responder to real estate investor

The emotional side of sales and decision-making

Why efficiency beats scale in real estate businesses

Balancing family, work, and long-term goals

Using automation and systems to reduce overwhelm

Redefining success beyond financial metrics

🎯 Free resources, scripts, and notes:
👉 https://wintheclose.com/notes

🎙️ Interested in being a guest on The Bored Room?
👉 https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/the-bored-room-podcast

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

👉 Free notes, resources, and breakdowns from each episode:
https://wintheclose.com/notes

If you’re serious about improving your sales conversations, this is where everything lives — frameworks, examples, and tools we reference on the show.

Ask better questions. Close smarter.