MB 271: Start with Belief & Build a Multifamily Business – With Timothy Lyons

What does a multifamily investor look like? If you grew up in a working-class family that didn’t talk about money, let alone investing, you may have a hard time seeing yourself as a successful syndicator. But you don’t have to be a Wall Street guy to build a multifamily real estate business. You can raise millions of dollars for deals no matter where you come from… But you’ve got to BELIEVE you can.

Timothy Lyons is a 15-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department and Principal and Managing Partner at Cityside Capital. He invested in his first 3-family property at the end of 2019, and today, he has been involved in 5 syndications worth over $100M. Tim is also a contributor to Bringing Value, Solving Problems and Leaving a Legacy, a collection of powerful stories of transformation from thought leaders, entrepreneurs and real estate investors.

On this episode of Apartment Building Investing, Tim joins cohost Garrett Lynch and me to discuss the power of belief, explaining how he overcame imposter syndrome to build a portfolio of 720-plus units in 12 months. Tim shares why he was skeptical about investing in a coach and how he realized the value of aligning with a network of people who are successful at what you want to do. Listen in for Tim’s amazing story of going all-in on multifamily at the start of the pandemic and learn to push through YOUR limiting beliefs and achieve financial freedom with real estate!

Key Takeaways 

Why Tim got into real estate investing

  • Working 90 hours/week as firefighter and ER nurse
  • Missing out on time with wife and 3 kids

Tim’s first 3-family property

  • Financed with own money for proof of concept
  • Rehabbed units, achieved cashflow soon after

The next steps Tim took to go bigger, faster

  • Invest in education and mentoring
  • Learn as much as possible about money, taxes

 How Tim overcame his resistance to investing in a coach

  • Talked to students in different programs
  • Realized value of aligning with network

The timeline around Tim’s multifamily education

  • Separated from family (first 7 weeks of pandemic)
  • Crush through material in coaching program

How Tim realized the power of multifamily syndication

  • Invited to join coach’s deal, follow process
  • Raised $200K from personal network

How Tim overcame limiting beliefs re: raising money

  • Identity shift to see self as investor
  • Share power of investing with network

How Tim is raising $2.5M for his fifth syndication

  • Talk about what he’s doing with everyone
  • Build online thought leadership platform

Tim’s advice for aspiring multifamily investors

  • Education = antidote to fear
  • Surround self with right people and take action

What Tim did to overcome imposter syndrome

  • Develop willingness to fail forward
  • Connect with fantastic coaches

Connect with Timothy Lyons

Cityside Capital

Bringing Value, Solving Problems and Leaving a Legacy by Tim Lyons et al.

Resources

Invest in Michael’s Deal Maker Certification Training

Register for Deal Maker Live

Learn More About Michael’s Mentoring Program

Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing: The Blueprint to Quitting Your Job with Real Estate Investing—Even Without Experience or Cash by Michael Blank

Download Michael’s Free eBook: The Secret to Raising Money for Your First Apartment Building

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Jim Rohn

Zig Ziglar

BiggerPockets

ActiveCampaign

Real Estate Guys Radio

Podcast Show Notes

Michael’s Website 

Michael on Facebook 

Michael on Instagram 

Michael on YouTube 

Apartment Investor Network Facebook Group 

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