In this episode, Ron LeGrand sits down with Adel Kayati for a rare, personal conversation about his life, his journey, and the experiences that shaped the way he thinks about money, risk, and real estate.

Rather than breaking down tactics or deals, Ron reflects on where he started, the challenges and setbacks he faced along the way, and the lessons that only come from decades of real-world experience. The conversation explores mindset, decision-making, and how those experiences influenced the way Ron evaluates opportunities, navigates uncertainty, and builds long-term success.

This conversation is less about strategy and more about perspective—an honest look at the thinking behind the career, the mistakes that shaped the philosophy, and the principles Ron still relies on today.

Topics covered in this episode

• Introduction of Adel and his role in acquisitions, mentoring, and team operations
• Behind-the-scenes look at mentorship and working with students
• Thoughts on social media and modern business messaging
• The importance of real-world experience versus online hype
• Leadership and decision-making in business
• Learning from mistakes and adapting over time
• Communication and collaboration within a business team
• Personal insights into growth, mindset, and accountability
• Honest perspectives on entrepreneurship and success

Resources

• RonLeGrand.com — Additional training, tools, and information.
• Get Ron's $599 Wholesaling course for FREE when you join his Gold Club for ONLY $99 a month! – www.TheMentorPodcast.com/GC184
• Our NEW Closers Club membership with Gold Club, DREAMS (CRM), Group Coaching, and more - Ron LeGrand's Closer's Club

Brandon Cobb is a former medical device sales pro turned land developer who scaled from flipping 30–40 houses a year into building and developing entire communities, primarily around Nashville, Tennessee. In this episode, Brandon pulls back the curtain on what really makes land development work (and what can destroy you), including the entitlement process, dealing with cities, structuring deals with national builders, and how he obsessively builds downside protection into every project.

What you'll learn about in this episode

• How Brandon went from getting fired from his "dream job" to becoming a full-time real estate entrepreneur
• The million-dollar mistake Brandon made in land development and the "golden rule" that would've prevented it
• Why you should never buy land before approvals are in place (and the one exception where it can make sense)
• A real example of a $1.4M win: getting approvals first, installing infrastructure, and selling developed lots to a national builder
• Why timelines vary wildly by county and why you should plan for delays (Murphy always shows up)
• The role of attorneys, engineers, and a reliable development team and how referrals create "continuity" that speeds approvals
• How to determine the best use of land before you start analyzing a deal
• The due diligence checklist difference between houses vs. raw land (and why exit strategies matter more on land)
• Current ballpark development costs per lot (excluding land cost), and what makes costs jump fast (rock, topography, dirt, trees)
• What "entry-level housing" looks like in today's market and why demand is so strong (affordable monthly payment target)
• Why Brandon prefers selling to national home builders (capital strength, volume pricing, speed, and predictability)
• How builder deposits can fund development and reduce interest costs—plus how Brandon targets downside protection in his numbers
• The concept of "force appreciation" in three phases: entitlement, horizontal development, and building/renting as a backstop
• Why Ron says: avoid personally guaranteeing debt and stay out of banks whenever possible

Resources

• RonLeGrand.com — Additional training, tools, and information.
• Get Ron's $599 Wholesaling course for FREE when you join his Gold Club for ONLY $99 a month! –www.TheMentorPodcast.com/GC183
• https://LearnLandDevelopment.com
• https://hbgcapital.net/waitlist
• https://RonLeGrand.com/Plan to complete your planning session application online
• https://RonLeGrand.com/Brandon

In this episode of The Mentor Podcast, Ron sits down with Adel Kayati — Ron's partner, lead acquisitionist, and a mentor with Global Publishing. Adel is hands-on with students (including live seller calls) and actively buying deals alongside Ron. In this episode, Ron and Adel lay out a practical, no-nonsense framework to eliminate the biggest risks in real estate while still doing profitable deals right now.

What you'll learn about in this episode

• Why you should never personally guarantee debt—and how that single decision protects your credit, assets, and sanity.
• The title-holding structure Ron uses on every deal: one property per land trust, owned by an LLC (which is owned by Ron and his wife)—and why taking title in your personal name is a bad idea.
• Land trusts 101: simple deed + trust agreement, privacy benefits, and where to find the forms and training.
• No-recourse terms deals: buying with wraps, "subject-to," or lease-purchase—the trust signs, not you; the house is the only collateral; nothing hits your credit.
• The MAO ("mayo") rule for junkers:
• • MAO = ARV × 0.70 − repairs (use 0.80 if ARV > $300k) — and never pay MAO.
• Ron's rehab rule of thumb: only touch rehabs when ARV ≥ purchase + repairs + ~$100k (≈ $50k profit + $50k carrying/transaction costs).
• Why wholesaling is Ron's favorite "no-risk" strategy (e.g., $10 earnest money to $20k–$50k checks) — and why it's a perfect fit for Roth IRA profits.
• FSBO focus vs. MLS grind: why most MLS deals won't pencil and how Ron filters them fast.
• A simple private-money safety check: don't borrow more than 65% of ARV on junkers.
• Market-timed tactics: in a sliding market, get conservative on ARV, avoid most rehabs, and prioritize wholesales and terms.
• Terms-deal cash-flow safety:
• • Make sure non-refundable option deposit > your total cash out of pocket (down + closing).
  • Target ≥5% of price for the deposit; delay first payment until the 3rd month after closing or vacancy, whichever is later.
  • Expect near-breakeven or slight negatives on some recent high-rate loans; reserve part of the deposit to cover a year of any shortfall and big items (e.g., A/C).
• Easy lead targets right now: expired listings and low-equity, newer homes (many recent VA loans) in great neighborhoods—often "sell for what you owe" situations.
• Perspective from 44 years in the business: deals exist in every market—boom or crash—if you follow the rules above.

Resources:

• RonsQuickStart.com — Details and dates for Ron's 4-Day Quick Start event.
• RonLeGrand.com — Additional trainings, tools, and information.
• RonsGoldClub.com — Land Trust training and form libraries (search "land trust") and the "4 LLCs" lesson (mentioned in the episode).
• Sign up for a Free Mentor Panning Session: https://www.RonLeGrand.com/Plan
• Free Training: www.TheMentorPodcast.com/Terms182
• Get Ron's $599 Wholesaling course for FREE when you join his Gold Club for ONLY $99 a month! – www.TheMentorPodcast.com/GC182