“Better returns, affordable housing prices, and numerous data points.” Those are the core reasons to build a portfolio in the United States according to someone who’s been doing exactly that–Avi from Israel. He’s been able to tap into multiple exit strategies, benefiting from the variety that different U.S. markets offer. “Some markets work for one investor, while others present different opportunities. It’s about finding what fits your strategy,” Avi noted. His journey began as a flipper in Atlanta, Georgia, where he learned the ins-and-outs of real estate investing. Over time, he incorporated rental properties into his portfolio and strategy, leading him to shift his focus towards St. Louis, Missouri. Today, Avi is scaling his investments rapidly by working with Waltz to recycle capital through cash-out refinances.
Retirement doesn’t always mean sitting on a beach and fading into the sunset.
In Avi’s case, retirement presented him with an opportunity to try something new. After stepping away from a long career as an electrical engineer in Israel, Avi wasn’t ready to slow down. That’s when he decided to pursue real estate investing full-time.
Avi decided to start his new career by learning everything he could about real estate investing at Project X. He dove in headfirst, joining the real estate education and mastermind community for Israeli investors. The more he learned, the more he found himself drawn to the endless opportunities for problem-solving, just like in engineering.
Since starting his full-time endeavours in 2019, Avi has been building a real estate empire in the United States with the help of cash-out refinances.
Avi’s words of wisdom to any beginner real estate investor are to “stay patient, and be consistent. If you do that, plus build a good deal, and buy deep enough below market value – you will have it.” Putting his own advice into action, Avi focuses on buying undervalued properties and increasing their value through strategic renovations.
Drive down a certain street in St. Louis, Missouri, and you’ll pass five of Avi’s multi-family buildings. Each one purchased below market price and thoughtfully renovated.
Here’s where the magic happens.
Avi follows the BRRRR strategy, which stands for “buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat.” After the rehab is complete, he finds renters and then refinances to pull out equity—this is where Waltz comes in. So far, three of Avi’s properties on a single street in St. Louis have been successfully refinanced with Waltz. A fourth is currently in progress, and once renovations are complete on the fifth, that one will also be refinanced through Waltz.
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There are many advantages to investing in U.S. real estate. For Avi, it’s also come with its fair share of challenges. As an international investor, he’s had to be especially resilient when navigating obstacles that don’t affect local buyers as heavily. Two areas, in particular, have been persistent pain points: property management and lending.
Avi first came across Waltz at a Project X event where Founder and CEO Yuval Golan was scheduled to speak. Although he missed the presentation, the Waltz booth caught his eye—thanks to a giant inflatable Puffin (the company’s mascot) and a welcoming team that made a point to say hello.
That brief, friendly encounter was enough to spark his interest. The very next day, Avi sent over a few deals to refinance. He’s been working with Waltz ever since, mentioning these as his top reasons why:
With each additional refinance, Avi’s positive experience has been reinforced. He’s already in the process of his fourth refinance with Waltz and has another lined up shortly thereafter. Needless to say, Waltz is his preferred lender.
