The Lone Star Capital Podcast

In this episode, Craig McGrouther sits down with Sawyer Zimmerman from our asset management team to discuss what really drives property performance in today's challenging market. Sawyer manages over 2,000 units across our portfolio and shares how we've revolutionized our hiring process using Culture Index assessments to find the right talent for each role.

We dive into why curb appeal and maintenance teams are c...

In this episode, Craig McGrouther is joined by Dasha Beardsley, Director of Investor Relations at Lone Star Capital, and Brandon Claisse from Tribevest, to walk through exactly how fund managers and capital allocators can raise capital alongside Lone Star through our fund-to-fund program.

This episode is specifically for capital allocators and fund managers looking to raise $500K+ for our deals. We walk through the entire ...

In this episode, Craig McGrouther sits down with Ellis Hammond, VP of Capital at Aspen Funds, fresh off our co-hosted mastermind in Austin. Ellis shares his unconventional journey from college pastor to raising $250M+ in equity and reveals why Aspen's oil and gas fund raised $60M in just 60 days while their industrial fund struggles at $4M.

His key insight for fund managers: "The lifeblood of your business is 100...

In this episode of the Lone Star Capital podcast, Craig McGrouther and I sit down with Sam Morris to discuss the significant positive shifts happening in the multifamily market after three challenging years.

We reveal how our property insurance costs just dropped 32% at renewal, potentially adding millions in property value and increasing investor distributions by nearly 1%. We share exciting success stories from our port...

In this episode of the Fund Friday podcast, hosts Craig McGrouther and Joe Pistorius dive into the critical role of asset management in multifamily. Joe shares insights from managing over 2,500 units across 11 properties, revealing how different property vintages require different levels of care and why having the right on-site teams can make or break a property's performance.

The conversation explores innovative app...

In this episode of the Lone Star Capital podcast, Craig McGrouther and I sit down with Sam Morris, Partner at Lone Star Capital to discuss the impact of Texas HB21 on property tax exemptions and affordable housing deals. We explore how this new law eliminates "traveling HFC" tax exemptions by 2027 without grandfather clauses, potentially devastating many operators who relied on these structures.

The conversation...

In this episode of the Fund Friday, Craig McGrouther and Sam Morris outline what it really takes to raise capital consistently in today's market. They break down the exact system that helped close over $100 million in equity, including how they build trust, set expectations, and stay committed to investor relationships for the long haul. This isn’t about flashy pitches — it’s about clear communication, repeatability, and long-...

In this episode of the Lone Star Capital Podcast, Craig McGrouther and I dive into what’s really happening in the Austin multifamily market and why investors shouldn’t be scared off by the headlines.

We break down how recent pressure from tech layoffs and new development is creating pricing dislocation and why that could mean opportunity for long-term buyers. Drawing from what we’ve seen in other post-correction markets li...

In this Fund Friday episode, Craig McGrouther interviews Dasha Beardsley, Director of Investor Relations at Lone Star Capital and now author of Maximizing Wealth through Syndicated 1031 Exchanges. They dive into how passive investors can use 1031 exchanges to defer taxes, scale into larger deals, and preserve wealth across generations.

Dasha shares why many experienced real estate investors still don’t know they can 1031 i...

In this episode of the Lone Star Capital Podcast, Craig McGrouther and I dive into one of the most powerful tools in real estate investing: bonus depreciation.

With talk of 100% bonus depreciation returning in 2025, Rob breaks down what that could mean for investors — from maximizing early-year tax advantages to how it directly impacts capital raising, deal competitiveness, and after-tax returns. They explore the impact fo...

In this episode, Craig McGrouther sits down with Gil Murillo, co-founder and CEO of KUDO Funding, to talk about his journey from managing billions in hotel assets to launching a platform that provides fast, short-term loans to small businesses.

They break down how KUDO sources deals, protects downside risk, and delivers short-duration income for investors looking to diversify. Gil also shares how his background at Columbia...

Is real estate still the best investment vehicle in today’s market? Rob Beardsley and Craig McGrouther break it all down in this data-driven episode.

In this episode of the Lone Star Capital Podcast, Rob Beardsley and Craig McGrouther go deep into real estate fundamentals, compare the risk-adjusted performance of multifamily investing to the S&P 500, and explain why overleveraging can turn a good deal into a bad one.

In this episode of Fund Friday, Craig McGrouther interviews Igor Shaltanov, founder of Avista Fund, who shares his unique journey from Russia to the United States and his evolution into real estate investing. Igor discusses his early experiences with real estate in Russia, the challenges he faced upon moving to America, and the lessons learned in property management and alternative investing. The conversation highlights the importa...

In this episode of the Lone Star Capital podcast, Todd Beardsley joins us to dive into the importance of procurement, networking, and strategic purchasing. We discuss how adopting the right mindset for effective procurement can make a significant impact, as well as the value of leveraging scale in purchasing decisions.

The conversation also covers managing contractor relationships and the role of inventory management in ma...

In this episode, Chris Davis, founder of Davis Capital Partners, shares his journey from the mortgage industry to multifamily real estate investing. He discusses the evolution of the mortgage industry, the impact of the Great Recession, and the lessons learned from his experiences in real estate. Chris emphasizes the importance of cash flow in investments, the appeal of multifamily properties, and the growth potential in Northwest ...

Thank you to everyone who joined us at LSC Summit West! It was great to have you there, and we truly appreciate the time you spent with us.

In this video, I share Lone Star Capital’s long-term vision. I know long-term planning can feel abstract when there are so many immediate concerns—quarterly reports, near-term acquisitions, year-end goals but I think it’s important to understand the direction we're moving in. 

In this episode of the Lone Star Capital podcast, hosts Rob Beardsley and Craig McGrother discuss the intricacies of 1031 exchanges with Dasha Beardsley, author of Maximizing Wealth through Synidcated 1031 Exchanges. We explore the benefits of 1031 exchanges, the mechanics involved, and the various structures available for investors. The conversation highlights the importance of planning, the role of qualified intermediaries, and t...

In this episode, Craig McGrouther interviews Gerrit Van Maanen, co-founder of Playground and a key figure in the self-storage industry. He discusses the importance of retail capital in real estate, the challenges and opportunities in self-storage, and introduces his new venture focusing on garage condos. The conversation highlights the evolution of the self-storage market and the innovative approach Gerrit is taking with Playground...

We’re excited to officially launch Maximizing Wealth Through Syndicated 1031 Exchanges, the new book authored by Dasha Beardsley!

At Lone Star Capital, 1031 exchanges are a significant part of our business. To date, we have facilitated over $60 million in 1031 exchange transactions, helping investors successfully roll their equity into multifamily real estate deals. In the book, Dasha outlines how Lone Star Capital struct...