In this episode of The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Mike Stohler—Navy veteran, former airline pilot, and now co-founder of Gateway Private Equity Group to talk about the highs, lows, and pivots that shaped his real estate journey.
Mike's story is a masterclass in perseverance and reinvention. He went from losing everything in his early 20s to owning and managing over 1,500 multifamily units and expanding into hotel investing across the U.S. and Spain.
We cover how he turned failure into fuel, built confidence through education and mentorship, and made the leap from W-2 employment to full-time investing. Mike also shares his transition from multifamily to hospitality and how partnering with experienced operators helped him scale internationally.
If you've ever struggled with fear, self-doubt, or analysis paralysis, this episode will show you what's possible when you commit to learning, surround yourself with the right people, and take calculated risks toward financial freedom.
Key Talking Points of the Episode
00:00 Introduction
01:06 Refocusing before the new year and setting goals for 2026
02:02 Meet Mike Stohler: Navy vet, former airline pilot, and real estate entrepreneur
04:01 Buying properties with no experience and losing everything
05:29 Learning resilience through military discipline and rebuilding after failure
07:27 The mindset shift from fear to action—"Just make the move"
09:28 The biggest fears holding investors back and how to overcome them
11:05 Why mentors and proximity are the ultimate accelerators for success
12:06 The power of partnership: how to shadow and learn from experienced investors
17:01 Balancing family, business, and burnout while making the transition from W-2
19:42 "Apartments are not hotels"—why hospitality is a completely different game
21:14 Building partnerships with experienced operators and profit-sharing structures
23:38 Why Spain? Expanding internationally through strong local networks
24:45 Managing hotel investments remotely: systems, teams, and automation
25:13 Turning travel into a business expense: living and investing internationally
26:21 How to get in touch with Mike and his team
Quotables
"All of the fears that are inside your head are real inside your head—but that's not the truth."
"Hotels aren't real estate. They're businesses that sit on real estate."
"I'm still learning every day. Warren Buffett's 90 and still reading 10 books a week."
Links
Mike Stohler
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstohler
Gateway Private Equity
The Richer Geek Podcast
https://www.therichergeek.com/
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Apprentice Program
https://3paydaysapprentice.com
Coupon code: Podcast
Masterclass
https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast
Wicked Smart Books
https://wickedsmartbooks.com/podcast
Strategy Session
https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast
Partners
https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources
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