June 5, 2025 • 23 mins
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with entrepreneur and visionary Tim Dowling to explore his journey of building meaningful businesses rooted in the heart of Buda. Tim shares how perseverance and purpose have shaped his approach to business, from staying close to the communities he serves to fostering inclusive, creative spaces that uplift lives.
We dive into what it really takes to grow something with heart. Why subject matter expertise matters, how creativity fuels progress, and why proximity is more than just geography. Tim opens up about the challenges, the wins, and the deeper “why” behind building businesses that don't just generate income but also spark belonging and connection.
If you're passionate about leadership, creativity, and creating businesses that matter, this conversation will leave you motivated and grounded in what truly drives sustainable success.
Tune in and get inspired to build boldly, lead with intention, and stay rooted in community.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Heather Ewing (00:01):
Welcome to Heather Ewing, the CRE Rundown.
I have a true treat for youtoday.
I have none other than TimDowling.
He is an amazing person,developer, that you are going to
want to meet.
He hails from the edge ofBoston, texas, tim welcome.
Tim Dowling (00:19):
Thank you so much, heather.
I'm so excited that, for thosethat don't know, I've already
been talking to Heather for sometime and I could go on and on
and on.
As you know, heather's quiteamazing at what she does
building community and becomingreally the resource to the
resources in the area, and so,yeah, having an opportunity to
(00:39):
have a discussion with someonelike this is pretty fantastic.
So the edge of Butte or theedge of Austin, the easy way to
describe that one is I'm in alittle town called Buda.
No one pronounces it right, soI just said yeah, exactly.
(01:00):
So we are literally justtouching the south edge of
Austin.
I've lived here in thecommunity now it's closing in on
23 years, but then, even beforethat, I've been within a whole
12 miles of here for about 35.
It's kind of ridiculous.
I can relate.
So anyway, heather, where wouldyou like to start?
(01:28):
I know we were just having adiscussion on your post today on
linkedin, which I foundabsolutely time sensitive,
perfect, uh, and it had to dowith it's.
It's well you describe whatyour post is about, because it's
about persistence and focuswhich you know, I think really
applies beautifully toeverything that you're doing.
Heather Ewing (01:48):
In its Buda Buda, you nailed it All right Because
you know, being an entrepreneur, being in commercial real
estate and a developer such asyourself, it requires you to
wear so many different hats andthere's so many different things
that are happeningsimultaneously that when people
are not familiar with commercial, it really throws them for a
(02:10):
loop.
And I had noticed on your postthis morning on LinkedIn about
the roundabout and also pullingin the community one to gather
ideas for collaboration and toreally enrich the community.
And I love that approach thatyou took, tim, because what
happens and you see it isdevelopers will.
(02:30):
I mean, obviously that's homefor you, but developers will
come into areas and want toforce through everything, and
especially in smaller towns suchas yours and ours here in
Madison, that it's really goingto turn people off and, if
anything, they're going to digtheir heels in.
Oh yes, getting what you want.
So tell us more about yourdevelopment of the project,
(02:52):
maybe kind of a little furtherout vantage point, and then
let's break it down, let's hearmore about this roundabout and
what you have going on.
Tim Dowling (02:59):
You bet Well.
So I'll start it off with whatyou just nailed, it is,
listening and talking to thecommunity.
Three years ago and itliterally is three years ago I
started a meetup because I havemy 36th one this next Tuesday in
the Austin or the Buda area,and what it was is I didn't
(03:22):
really have a plan of what I wasdoing.
And what it was is I didn'treally have a plan of what I was
doing.
All I knew is I wanted to talkabout commercial development in
Hayes County and my goal was hey, I wonder if I can get city
leaders, different people in thearea, to all come out and say
this is what we need.
And you know, I had no ideawhat I was going to do with it.
(03:43):
I didn't know if it was goingto work, but I said heck with it
, I'm playing it forward.
And I started the meetup in myvery first speaker I contacted
the county commissioner that wasfor up for election, so he
loved to talk and I said hey,you want to come tell us what
you think the area needs.
And it just it was asteamroller effect because it
(04:08):
happened to be the city managerfor Buda.
There wasn't, he wasn't, hedidn't have the position yet.
He just was transferred into atemporary position, was given
the task of outreach, and so hehe happens to be there.
So I asked him would you cometo my next meetup and tell me
what you think the city of Budaneeds?
And then it was the developmentteam, then it was the EDC and it
(04:32):
was just this overwhelming,compelling piece that there was
this huge void in our marketwhich was retail.
They had a study done.
It was something like a couplehundred million dollars.
A study done, it was somethinglike a couple hundred million
dollars.
We're leaving our area, goingjust up the road to austin,
because we're 15 minutes to getto downtown austin.
And then we have another town,just, uh, just on the south edge
(04:54):
of us that are that touches,touches us, and they're 200
million dollars, but it's a towncalled kyle, running away.
We didn't have any retail.
So it just happened to be.
My partners own a bunch ofrestaurant bars.
They're in the hospitalityindustry, yeah, and I was like,
wait, what if we build?
We just want and selfishly wewere like, hey, we could just
(05:17):
buy some land and build arestaurant.
There's there's not a spot forfamily run type places where
kids can run.
So anyway, we locked in on thisone little three acre spot that
had been on the market for likea year and we played forward
with it.
And then we were staring atthis second lot next to us.
It was 15 acres but it was in afloodplain.
(05:39):
We didn't at the time.
We thought 11 of the acres werein the floodplain, four usable
acres.
But they were pricing it as youknow this as a commercial
broker, sellers price it not atwhat the reality sometimes is.
Heather Ewing (05:55):
Yes, that can happen, oddly.
Tim Dowling (05:58):
Yes, but they were very stubborn on the numbers and
so we came up with an idea.
Have you read, heather, any ofthose Rich Dad, poor Dad books?
I haven't.
No, wow man.
See, in my world, I don't knowwhy from my side, on the
investment side, everyone withinmy group, it's like we all see
(06:19):
it as kind of like that firstinitial step off of the Bible.
Like that first initial stepoff of the Bible.
And there was a story in thebook that talked about how
Kiyosaki had seen this land andhe bought some.
He wanted ranch land or a farm,and then he sat back and said
man, I'm paying a lot for this.
What if I cut this thing inhalf and then I end up selling
(06:41):
it off and then I have my stufffor free?
That's what he did, and I satthere looking at this land.
I wonder if the city willpartner with us on this project
and actually provide us taxincentives and to make this
thing work, because we can'tafford this.
But at the same time, there'sthis huge void and they are
(07:02):
seeking sales tax dollars and itworked.
Heather Ewing (07:07):
Definitely Well, and I think that's the
interesting thing, right, andI've definitely heard of the
book, right, you hear a lotabout it.
I end up with a lot ofconversations within the CCIM
community, commercial investmentmembers throughout the nation,
and I'm on the board and firstRVP for the region, so I'm
(07:27):
definitely engaged in that.
But what you share with that,that's also where I see the
creativity of commercial realestate.
Right, you have a canvas, youhave a desire.
How do you layer on?
And what process, people andentities do you need to bring in
right through collaboration tocreate what you're envisioning
(07:50):
in your mind?
Right, and I think that's theuseful part of the retail
restaurants you really do bringpeople together.
It also, I think, it createsexperiences and that's what
people are desiring.
It also creates monetary gain.
Right for a tenant, for alandlord.
Um, the community is enriched.
(08:12):
Right, it has differentexperiences.
It has people from differentareas or maybe different menus
that haven't been there,different outdoor layouts and
experiences.
So you really can layer it onand I think what happens is the
more creative the investor orthe broker.
Right, it's a kit and caboodlethat you're going to have that
(08:34):
elevated experience and that'swhere I think it's also really
important for travels.
As you travel to differentcommunities, like yourself, you
can live in a space for a longtime and that does not mean
you're narrow minded, becauseyou're out, out and about,
you're expanding, you're reading, you're visiting different
states, countries, things ofthat nature.
So a global perspective locally, and to me that's a true.
(08:58):
I love how your brain rolls ohyeah, it's like like we were
saying before we startedrecording, my mind is always
going like yours, which isanother reason for all the miles
.
Tim Dowling (09:10):
That's fantastic.
No, it is because you knowthere's nothing that I'm sure
you have the same belief becauseof all your involvement with
your, with Madison, is, you know, whenever you hit here that
thing, Well, that that's not theway we do it.
It's like you just want toshrivel up and cry.
And you know, like you said toois a lot of times I mean there's
(09:31):
been some other investmentgroups that are coming in.
They have this one idea of whatthey're going to do, and this is
what they do, and they stamp iteverywhere they go, because
you're working in that downtowndistrict, is creating a place
that draws all types so thatthey can, you know, spend the
(09:54):
time, have an experience, and itis once you come up with those
realizations it's not like foryou know, for me, in retail, you
can drop a box, you can put atenant in there, and and there's
a town just south of me I won'tname it on here just because I
don't want to say anythingnegative but they've created
these boxes and all people do isthey drive in, they stop, walk
(10:15):
into their box, they to be ableto, and I haven't really broken
it down yet, but you know our,our concept, and if anyone's
curious, you can go online.
It's roundaboutinbutacom.
(10:37):
It's long.
I know it was shorter, but wewere told we needed to change
the name or or or have someconsequences.
But anyway, that's a differentstory.
But what we've done right.
We have an 18 and a half acresite.
We have 1760 square foot orfoot of street frontage.
(10:59):
It's incredible.
I cannot believe no one evergrabbed hold of it.
You know, in the past, when youtalk about visions, everyone
was trying to buy it to eitherput a gas station.
They wanted to put a funeralhome, goodwill wanted to drop a
30,000 square foot right in themiddle of all these
neighborhoods with a medianhousehold income of almost
(11:20):
$110,000.
But one thing that was notthere.
Or actually, let me give theother one the taboo for my area
multifamily, and I'm amultifamily guy.
I have another project.
We're building a large one justjust a little bit north of buta
in austin, but it's a big 431unit.
(11:43):
But it's a taboo.
No one looked at it and saidwhat could I?
I do that the area needs.
No one asked those questions.
So now you know we're buildinga 64,000 square foot retail
space.
I'm going to actually operatetwo of the restaurants in the
space because of my partnersthat are in hospitality.
They own, I don't know, let'ssay, six or seven different
(12:05):
restaurant bar concepts, allreal, unique, authentic,
experience type pieces.
Are they interested in Madisonno.
Heather Ewing (12:16):
We are so focused right here, let it germinate.
I'll be here when they're ready.
Tim Dowling (12:24):
Funny enough, you'll like this one.
My investment rule is I nowwill only invest within 12 miles
of my house.
Heather Ewing (12:32):
No, I get it.
I mean, it's one of those.
There is no replica for bootson the ground.
Yes, and you cannot.
You know, co -star, all thedifferent MLSs, they're great,
but it's not the same, andthat's where too, especially for
leases none of us report leaserates.
(12:53):
None of us, I mean in the 11years, not once.
And that's where, too, it's.
You know it's nice in the senseof if you've been in the
industry for a while and you'veaccumulated a lot of, you know
good clients, deals, things ofthat nature, and you really know
what will be given in deals,what won't be.
(13:14):
All those little nuances.
Tim Dowling (13:18):
Yes, subject matter expertise is so insanely
important and I was investing300 miles from my house.
What a nightmare it was If Iwanted to go visit the property
instead of jumping in the carand just tooling down on my way
to the grocery store.
I was having to make weeks inadvance planning when I was
(13:38):
going to make my distance.
Covid was my big uh, I guessyou'd say education.
Covid taught me that.
Why am I wasting my life withthese outside influence pieces?
Why am I not playing with whatI know and what I understand and
you know same thing?
I can guarantee with youeverything you've learned,
(14:00):
everything you've done, and evenwith the sports aspect that
we've talked about prior.
It's all building blocks onwhat you are today and it's a
never ending learningopportunity of what makes sense
and just keeping your ears openand listening to the people
around you.
Heather Ewing (14:19):
Well, and I think that's where, too, we have a
parallel of genuine curiosityand also an interest in up
leveling people's lives and ourown, and I think as we up level
ours, we're better able to helpothers do that.
And that's also where I lovethe tie in of your Ironman and
you think of my marathoning isthat you know marathoning,
(14:39):
that's an understatement.
You're too kind, but it's one ofthose of.
It allows you to have a goal,the big picture, and you break
it down and you also build themuscle of when you really don't
feel like going out and training.
That you acknowledge it andthen you override it.
The same applies to investing,developing, you know, brokering
(15:03):
different transactions is thatthere is inevitably going to be
some unique wrench and it'sknowing that it's going to
happen of you know,appropriately dealing with it,
communicating, gettingresourceful and moving beyond.
Tim Dowling (15:22):
So tell us more about it.
There was a piece I was justthinking about as you're talking
, so this quote I saw the otherday by John D Rockefeller and I
might have even shared it withyou, I don't know.
I do not think that there isany other quality so essential
to success of any kind as thequality of perseverance.
It overcomes almost everything,even nature.
I mean that.
It says it all.
Heather Ewing (15:44):
And, if you think about it, resourcefulness is an
element of that right, and Ithink what happens, too is as we
utilize different lifeexperiences across all of the
chapters right, I've always saidthat your life experiences can
either bury you or they can giveyou wings, and to me,
resourcefulness, perseverance,wings, and to me,
(16:07):
resourcefulness, perseverancethose are game changers which
has gotten you to where you'reat, and that's what I love.
Tim Dowling (16:11):
Yeah, as I already shared today, I was retooling my
entire offering memorandum lastnight because I realized it was
off base and so, yeah, we'renot normal Heather.
Heather Ewing (16:20):
And I appreciate that Life would be boring Tim.
Tim Dowling (16:24):
Yeah.
Heather Ewing (16:24):
Yeah.
So how does someone getinvolved?
You've got this great project.
You're bringing in the retail.
You've got solid operators thathave several, six or seven plus
units.
How does someone get involvedmore?
How do they learn more?
Tim Dowling (16:44):
You know, we're actually going out for what we
call our construction phasefinancing.
We're doing the 506 or notfinancing money raise.
We're doing a 506C, so it's foraccredited investors.
So, honestly, if there'sanybody looking at an
opportunity right now, we havegot one that I think is
absolutely stellar.
It's because it's not just yourtraditional hey, here's our
(17:08):
internal, here's our exit.
Our actual plan with it is, ifit's even possible, we would
love to create a legacy.
Well, we know we're going tocreate a legacy for generations,
but the real truth is, ifthere's a way to tool it in
three years, once we have theproject stabilized, we would
love the opportunity.
If we, if our investment groupfeels the same way and
(17:30):
everything it plays out like weexpect to actually refinance and
hold it long term.
And those that want to takebecause some folks are in that
theory state I will three tofive years, I want to take my
money and run and do my next.
Well, I'm the guy that I lovemy goose and I'd rather keep my
goose alive and happy and justtake those eggs and enjoy what
(17:52):
it's, what it's producing,because, as you know, within
real estate you not only get allthe benefits of appreciation,
you know just the marketchanging overall and you know I
live kind of Madison, austin,texas is booming and going right
now with a little bit of aslowdown, but it's we're the
first to kind of drop off andwe're the first back into the
(18:14):
game.
The second, the market makesits change, you know.
So you know you got all thedepreciation, everything else,
but back to it.
You know you got all thedepreciation, everything else,
but back to it.
I'm doing that.
506 C.
If anybody is interested, theycan find me through the website,
the roundabout in budacom, orfind me on LinkedIn, tim Dowling
, d O, w, l, I, n, g, and, andplease reach out, I can.
(18:36):
I'd happy to get you our deck.
As I said, I'm retooling it offlast night.
So right now I can't tell youthat.
It's how.
It might be completely crazylooking because I didn't sleep
enough.
But we, we, yeah, the returnsare really exciting.
We're, we're really looking forpeople that want to be part of
something absolutely cool andthen when they come into town
(18:58):
I'll buy them a nice Guinness,cause we are one of the places
we're opening up as an Irish pub.
Uh, they have an Irish pub inSouth Austin and it's just
phenomenally successful.
So my partners have done thatone.
So we're just going to redo itwith a different name and bigger
and better, and that's perfect.
Heather Ewing (19:17):
All right.
So here's my last question foryou, tim, and this one is always
the.
This is the tough one, allright, oh boy, living fully mean
to you.
Tim Dowling (19:27):
Do you know it's given it your all, it's coming
up with a goal and not lettinganything stop you or getting in
your way Cause I know I'm canguarantee you along the way
you've had people tell you,heather, you can't do this, you
can't do that.
Um, it's it.
Living fully is seeing goalsand then playing through, no
(19:51):
matter what the path, even withfdr.
I just, you know, went throughhis quote perseverance, playing
it out at the same point.
It's making sure to have thattime to spend with family or
friends, that it's stoppingthose moments along the way and
actually enjoying what you'redoing.
I there was actually one of thethings I remember I think it
(20:11):
was last week is, you know,celebrate your wins.
And uh, you know, I just got apermit on phase one.
Now we're just tooling out withour bank and we're going to
move the dirt.
But you know it's there's somany things going on in our
businesses and everything ismoving so fast You've got to
stop and say, woohoo, we won,and then you get back to work.
Heather Ewing (20:36):
Exactly, and I think it's so easy.
You know, like you said, we'reboth driven people and it's like
well, well, of course, that'swhat you do, right?
So I think it's interestingbecause yourself, myself and
I've noticed kind of a trendthis year of people really
bringing the attention tocelebrating the small things
(20:58):
instead of just always go, go,go, go go, and I think that's
that's really an enlightening,and it's sometimes the simple
things that are the mostchallenging, right?
Can I throw it back at?
Tim Dowling (21:10):
you, what is yours?
Heather Ewing (21:13):
My celebration.
Or lift, or the.
Tim Dowling (21:17):
What do you see as being like being successful?
What do you picture issomething that you know you're
striving to be or to do oroverall Right.
Heather Ewing (21:29):
So to me, living fully is alignment.
It's really understanding thoseinnermost depths of oneself of
what you require financially,physically, socially,
emotionally require financially,physically, socially,
emotionally.
And I think it's in lining allof those up right and it's a
curated life, because otherwisethe days, months and years go so
(21:51):
quickly that you can be blazingdown a path and realize years
later that wasn't even the paththat you wanted to be on right.
You get caught up in differentthings.
So for me it is having thatfullness of heart, a spiritual
connection running, having thephysicality and loved ones and
(22:12):
family and, of course, travelwith creative expressions, so
melding all of those and that'swhat I really focused on doing
with Abstract.
Tim Dowling (22:22):
When are you going to become the mayor of?
Heather Ewing (22:23):
Madison, that's funny.
I've I've heard that statementand a couple others, but like
I'm honored, I'm honored.
But, tim, it was truly great toconnect with you.
And one last time.
How can people connect with you?
Tim Dowling (22:42):
Probably the easy.
Well, I don't know what's theeasiest way to share.
Would it be my email, a phonenumber, just the website?
Heather Ewing (22:48):
Whatever you prefer.
Tim Dowling (22:50):
I'm open.
So let's just say the LinkedInpage is probably the easiest.
It's T-I-M Dowling,d-o-w-l-i-n-g, and I believe I
either have Austin or Buda inthere or, if you can't find it,
roundaboutinbudacom.
All emails and phone numbers godirectly to me.
Heather Ewing (23:10):
Perfect Tim.
Thanks so much.
No thank you, Heather?
Tim Dowling (23:14):
Yeah, I really look forward to this discussion.
Heather Ewing (23:17):
Me too.
We'll have many more.
Tim Dowling (23:20):
Awesome, enjoy your day.
Heather Ewing (23:24):
Thank you, you too.
Welcome to Heather Ewing, the CRE Rundown.
I have a true treat for youtoday.
I have none other than TimDowling.
He is an amazing person,developer, that you are going to
want to meet.
He hails from the edge ofBoston, texas, tim welcome.
Tim Dowling (00:19):
Thank you so much, heather.
I'm so excited that, for thosethat don't know, I've already
been talking to Heather for sometime and I could go on and on
and on.
As you know, heather's quiteamazing at what she does
building community and becomingreally the resource to the
resources in the area, and so,yeah, having an opportunity to
(00:39):
have a discussion with someonelike this is pretty fantastic.
So the edge of Butte or theedge of Austin, the easy way to
describe that one is I'm in alittle town called Buda.
No one pronounces it right, soI just said yeah, exactly.
(01:00):
So we are literally justtouching the south edge of
Austin.
I've lived here in thecommunity now it's closing in on
23 years, but then, even beforethat, I've been within a whole
12 miles of here for about 35.
It's kind of ridiculous.
I can relate.
So anyway, heather, where wouldyou like to start?
(01:28):
I know we were just having adiscussion on your post today on
linkedin, which I foundabsolutely time sensitive,
perfect, uh, and it had to dowith it's.
It's well you describe whatyour post is about, because it's
about persistence and focuswhich you know, I think really
applies beautifully toeverything that you're doing.
Heather Ewing (01:48):
In its Buda Buda, you nailed it All right Because
you know, being an entrepreneur, being in commercial real
estate and a developer such asyourself, it requires you to
wear so many different hats andthere's so many different things
that are happeningsimultaneously that when people
are not familiar with commercial, it really throws them for a
(02:10):
loop.
And I had noticed on your postthis morning on LinkedIn about
the roundabout and also pullingin the community one to gather
ideas for collaboration and toreally enrich the community.
And I love that approach thatyou took, tim, because what
happens and you see it isdevelopers will.
(02:30):
I mean, obviously that's homefor you, but developers will
come into areas and want toforce through everything, and
especially in smaller towns suchas yours and ours here in
Madison, that it's really goingto turn people off and, if
anything, they're going to digtheir heels in.
Oh yes, getting what you want.
So tell us more about yourdevelopment of the project,
(02:52):
maybe kind of a little furtherout vantage point, and then
let's break it down, let's hearmore about this roundabout and
what you have going on.
Tim Dowling (02:59):
You bet Well.
So I'll start it off with whatyou just nailed, it is,
listening and talking to thecommunity.
Three years ago and itliterally is three years ago I
started a meetup because I havemy 36th one this next Tuesday in
the Austin or the Buda area,and what it was is I didn't
(03:22):
really have a plan of what I wasdoing.
And what it was is I didn'treally have a plan of what I was
doing.
All I knew is I wanted to talkabout commercial development in
Hayes County and my goal was hey, I wonder if I can get city
leaders, different people in thearea, to all come out and say
this is what we need.
And you know, I had no ideawhat I was going to do with it.
(03:43):
I didn't know if it was goingto work, but I said heck with it
, I'm playing it forward.
And I started the meetup in myvery first speaker I contacted
the county commissioner that wasfor up for election, so he
loved to talk and I said hey,you want to come tell us what
you think the area needs.
And it just it was asteamroller effect because it
(04:08):
happened to be the city managerfor Buda.
There wasn't, he wasn't, hedidn't have the position yet.
He just was transferred into atemporary position, was given
the task of outreach, and so hehe happens to be there.
So I asked him would you cometo my next meetup and tell me
what you think the city of Budaneeds?
And then it was the developmentteam, then it was the EDC and it
(04:32):
was just this overwhelming,compelling piece that there was
this huge void in our marketwhich was retail.
They had a study done.
It was something like a couplehundred million dollars.
A study done, it was somethinglike a couple hundred million
dollars.
We're leaving our area, goingjust up the road to austin,
because we're 15 minutes to getto downtown austin.
And then we have another town,just, uh, just on the south edge
(04:54):
of us that are that touches,touches us, and they're 200
million dollars, but it's a towncalled kyle, running away.
We didn't have any retail.
So it just happened to be.
My partners own a bunch ofrestaurant bars.
They're in the hospitalityindustry, yeah, and I was like,
wait, what if we build?
We just want and selfishly wewere like, hey, we could just
(05:17):
buy some land and build arestaurant.
There's there's not a spot forfamily run type places where
kids can run.
So anyway, we locked in on thisone little three acre spot that
had been on the market for likea year and we played forward
with it.
And then we were staring atthis second lot next to us.
It was 15 acres but it was in afloodplain.
(05:39):
We didn't at the time.
We thought 11 of the acres werein the floodplain, four usable
acres.
But they were pricing it as youknow this as a commercial
broker, sellers price it not atwhat the reality sometimes is.
Heather Ewing (05:55):
Yes, that can happen, oddly.
Tim Dowling (05:58):
Yes, but they were very stubborn on the numbers and
so we came up with an idea.
Have you read, heather, any ofthose Rich Dad, poor Dad books?
I haven't.
No, wow man.
See, in my world, I don't knowwhy from my side, on the
investment side, everyone withinmy group, it's like we all see
(06:19):
it as kind of like that firstinitial step off of the Bible.
Like that first initial stepoff of the Bible.
And there was a story in thebook that talked about how
Kiyosaki had seen this land andhe bought some.
He wanted ranch land or a farm,and then he sat back and said
man, I'm paying a lot for this.
What if I cut this thing inhalf and then I end up selling
(06:41):
it off and then I have my stufffor free?
That's what he did, and I satthere looking at this land.
I wonder if the city willpartner with us on this project
and actually provide us taxincentives and to make this
thing work, because we can'tafford this.
But at the same time, there'sthis huge void and they are
(07:02):
seeking sales tax dollars and itworked.
Heather Ewing (07:07):
Definitely Well, and I think that's the
interesting thing, right, andI've definitely heard of the
book, right, you hear a lotabout it.
I end up with a lot ofconversations within the CCIM
community, commercial investmentmembers throughout the nation,
and I'm on the board and firstRVP for the region, so I'm
(07:27):
definitely engaged in that.
But what you share with that,that's also where I see the
creativity of commercial realestate.
Right, you have a canvas, youhave a desire.
How do you layer on?
And what process, people andentities do you need to bring in
right through collaboration tocreate what you're envisioning
(07:50):
in your mind?
Right, and I think that's theuseful part of the retail
restaurants you really do bringpeople together.
It also, I think, it createsexperiences and that's what
people are desiring.
It also creates monetary gain.
Right for a tenant, for alandlord.
Um, the community is enriched.
(08:12):
Right, it has differentexperiences.
It has people from differentareas or maybe different menus
that haven't been there,different outdoor layouts and
experiences.
So you really can layer it onand I think what happens is the
more creative the investor orthe broker.
Right, it's a kit and caboodlethat you're going to have that
(08:34):
elevated experience and that'swhere I think it's also really
important for travels.
As you travel to differentcommunities, like yourself, you
can live in a space for a longtime and that does not mean
you're narrow minded, becauseyou're out, out and about,
you're expanding, you're reading, you're visiting different
states, countries, things ofthat nature.
So a global perspective locally, and to me that's a true.
(08:58):
I love how your brain rolls ohyeah, it's like like we were
saying before we startedrecording, my mind is always
going like yours, which isanother reason for all the miles
.
Tim Dowling (09:10):
That's fantastic.
No, it is because you knowthere's nothing that I'm sure
you have the same belief becauseof all your involvement with
your, with Madison, is, you know, whenever you hit here that
thing, Well, that that's not theway we do it.
It's like you just want toshrivel up and cry.
And you know, like you said toois a lot of times I mean there's
(09:31):
been some other investmentgroups that are coming in.
They have this one idea of whatthey're going to do, and this is
what they do, and they stamp iteverywhere they go, because
you're working in that downtowndistrict, is creating a place
that draws all types so thatthey can, you know, spend the
(09:54):
time, have an experience, and itis once you come up with those
realizations it's not like foryou know, for me, in retail, you
can drop a box, you can put atenant in there, and and there's
a town just south of me I won'tname it on here just because I
don't want to say anythingnegative but they've created
these boxes and all people do isthey drive in, they stop, walk
(10:15):
into their box, they to be ableto, and I haven't really broken
it down yet, but you know our,our concept, and if anyone's
curious, you can go online.
It's roundaboutinbutacom.
(10:37):
It's long.
I know it was shorter, but wewere told we needed to change
the name or or or have someconsequences.
But anyway, that's a differentstory.
But what we've done right.
We have an 18 and a half acresite.
We have 1760 square foot orfoot of street frontage.
(10:59):
It's incredible.
I cannot believe no one evergrabbed hold of it.
You know, in the past, when youtalk about visions, everyone
was trying to buy it to eitherput a gas station.
They wanted to put a funeralhome, goodwill wanted to drop a
30,000 square foot right in themiddle of all these
neighborhoods with a medianhousehold income of almost
(11:20):
$110,000.
But one thing that was notthere.
Or actually, let me give theother one the taboo for my area
multifamily, and I'm amultifamily guy.
I have another project.
We're building a large one justjust a little bit north of buta
in austin, but it's a big 431unit.
(11:43):
But it's a taboo.
No one looked at it and saidwhat could I?
I do that the area needs.
No one asked those questions.
So now you know we're buildinga 64,000 square foot retail
space.
I'm going to actually operatetwo of the restaurants in the
space because of my partnersthat are in hospitality.
They own, I don't know, let'ssay, six or seven different
(12:05):
restaurant bar concepts, allreal, unique, authentic,
experience type pieces.
Are they interested in Madisonno.
Heather Ewing (12:16):
We are so focused right here, let it germinate.
I'll be here when they're ready.
Tim Dowling (12:24):
Funny enough, you'll like this one.
My investment rule is I nowwill only invest within 12 miles
of my house.
Heather Ewing (12:32):
No, I get it.
I mean, it's one of those.
There is no replica for bootson the ground.
Yes, and you cannot.
You know, co -star, all thedifferent MLSs, they're great,
but it's not the same, andthat's where too, especially for
leases none of us report leaserates.
(12:53):
None of us, I mean in the 11years, not once.
And that's where, too, it's.
You know it's nice in the senseof if you've been in the
industry for a while and you'veaccumulated a lot of, you know
good clients, deals, things ofthat nature, and you really know
what will be given in deals,what won't be.
(13:14):
All those little nuances.
Tim Dowling (13:18):
Yes, subject matter expertise is so insanely
important and I was investing300 miles from my house.
What a nightmare it was If Iwanted to go visit the property
instead of jumping in the carand just tooling down on my way
to the grocery store.
I was having to make weeks inadvance planning when I was
(13:38):
going to make my distance.
Covid was my big uh, I guessyou'd say education.
Covid taught me that.
Why am I wasting my life withthese outside influence pieces?
Why am I not playing with whatI know and what I understand and
you know same thing?
I can guarantee with youeverything you've learned,
(14:00):
everything you've done, and evenwith the sports aspect that
we've talked about prior.
It's all building blocks onwhat you are today and it's a
never ending learningopportunity of what makes sense
and just keeping your ears openand listening to the people
around you.
Heather Ewing (14:19):
Well, and I think that's where, too, we have a
parallel of genuine curiosityand also an interest in up
leveling people's lives and ourown, and I think as we up level
ours, we're better able to helpothers do that.
And that's also where I lovethe tie in of your Ironman and
you think of my marathoning isthat you know marathoning,
(14:39):
that's an understatement.
You're too kind, but it's one ofthose of.
It allows you to have a goal,the big picture, and you break
it down and you also build themuscle of when you really don't
feel like going out and training.
That you acknowledge it andthen you override it.
The same applies to investing,developing, you know, brokering
(15:03):
different transactions is thatthere is inevitably going to be
some unique wrench and it'sknowing that it's going to
happen of you know,appropriately dealing with it,
communicating, gettingresourceful and moving beyond.
Tim Dowling (15:22):
So tell us more about it.
There was a piece I was justthinking about as you're talking
, so this quote I saw the otherday by John D Rockefeller and I
might have even shared it withyou, I don't know.
I do not think that there isany other quality so essential
to success of any kind as thequality of perseverance.
It overcomes almost everything,even nature.
I mean that.
It says it all.
Heather Ewing (15:44):
And, if you think about it, resourcefulness is an
element of that right, and Ithink what happens, too is as we
utilize different lifeexperiences across all of the
chapters right, I've always saidthat your life experiences can
either bury you or they can giveyou wings, and to me,
resourcefulness, perseverance,wings, and to me,
(16:07):
resourcefulness, perseverancethose are game changers which
has gotten you to where you'reat, and that's what I love.
Tim Dowling (16:11):
Yeah, as I already shared today, I was retooling my
entire offering memorandum lastnight because I realized it was
off base and so, yeah, we'renot normal Heather.
Heather Ewing (16:20):
And I appreciate that Life would be boring Tim.
Tim Dowling (16:24):
Yeah.
Heather Ewing (16:24):
Yeah.
So how does someone getinvolved?
You've got this great project.
You're bringing in the retail.
You've got solid operators thathave several, six or seven plus
units.
How does someone get involvedmore?
How do they learn more?
Tim Dowling (16:44):
You know, we're actually going out for what we
call our construction phasefinancing.
We're doing the 506 or notfinancing money raise.
We're doing a 506C, so it's foraccredited investors.
So, honestly, if there'sanybody looking at an
opportunity right now, we havegot one that I think is
absolutely stellar.
It's because it's not just yourtraditional hey, here's our
(17:08):
internal, here's our exit.
Our actual plan with it is, ifit's even possible, we would
love to create a legacy.
Well, we know we're going tocreate a legacy for generations,
but the real truth is, ifthere's a way to tool it in
three years, once we have theproject stabilized, we would
love the opportunity.
If we, if our investment groupfeels the same way and
(17:30):
everything it plays out like weexpect to actually refinance and
hold it long term.
And those that want to takebecause some folks are in that
theory state I will three tofive years, I want to take my
money and run and do my next.
Well, I'm the guy that I lovemy goose and I'd rather keep my
goose alive and happy and justtake those eggs and enjoy what
(17:52):
it's, what it's producing,because, as you know, within
real estate you not only get allthe benefits of appreciation,
you know just the marketchanging overall and you know I
live kind of Madison, austin,texas is booming and going right
now with a little bit of aslowdown, but it's we're the
first to kind of drop off andwe're the first back into the
(18:14):
game.
The second, the market makesits change, you know.
So you know you got all thedepreciation, everything else,
but back to it.
You know you got all thedepreciation, everything else,
but back to it.
I'm doing that.
506 C.
If anybody is interested, theycan find me through the website,
the roundabout in budacom, orfind me on LinkedIn, tim Dowling
, d O, w, l, I, n, g, and, andplease reach out, I can.
(18:36):
I'd happy to get you our deck.
As I said, I'm retooling it offlast night.
So right now I can't tell youthat.
It's how.
It might be completely crazylooking because I didn't sleep
enough.
But we, we, yeah, the returnsare really exciting.
We're, we're really looking forpeople that want to be part of
something absolutely cool andthen when they come into town
(18:58):
I'll buy them a nice Guinness,cause we are one of the places
we're opening up as an Irish pub.
Uh, they have an Irish pub inSouth Austin and it's just
phenomenally successful.
So my partners have done thatone.
So we're just going to redo itwith a different name and bigger
and better, and that's perfect.
Heather Ewing (19:17):
All right.
So here's my last question foryou, tim, and this one is always
the.
This is the tough one, allright, oh boy, living fully mean
to you.
Tim Dowling (19:27):
Do you know it's given it your all, it's coming
up with a goal and not lettinganything stop you or getting in
your way Cause I know I'm canguarantee you along the way
you've had people tell you,heather, you can't do this, you
can't do that.
Um, it's it.
Living fully is seeing goalsand then playing through, no
(19:51):
matter what the path, even withfdr.
I just, you know, went throughhis quote perseverance, playing
it out at the same point.
It's making sure to have thattime to spend with family or
friends, that it's stoppingthose moments along the way and
actually enjoying what you'redoing.
I there was actually one of thethings I remember I think it
(20:11):
was last week is, you know,celebrate your wins.
And uh, you know, I just got apermit on phase one.
Now we're just tooling out withour bank and we're going to
move the dirt.
But you know it's there's somany things going on in our
businesses and everything ismoving so fast You've got to
stop and say, woohoo, we won,and then you get back to work.
Heather Ewing (20:36):
Exactly, and I think it's so easy.
You know, like you said, we'reboth driven people and it's like
well, well, of course, that'swhat you do, right?
So I think it's interestingbecause yourself, myself and
I've noticed kind of a trendthis year of people really
bringing the attention tocelebrating the small things
(20:58):
instead of just always go, go,go, go go, and I think that's
that's really an enlightening,and it's sometimes the simple
things that are the mostchallenging, right?
Can I throw it back at?
Tim Dowling (21:10):
you, what is yours?
Heather Ewing (21:13):
My celebration.
Or lift, or the.
Tim Dowling (21:17):
What do you see as being like being successful?
What do you picture issomething that you know you're
striving to be or to do oroverall Right.
Heather Ewing (21:29):
So to me, living fully is alignment.
It's really understanding thoseinnermost depths of oneself of
what you require financially,physically, socially,
emotionally require financially,physically, socially,
emotionally.
And I think it's in lining allof those up right and it's a
curated life, because otherwisethe days, months and years go so
(21:51):
quickly that you can be blazingdown a path and realize years
later that wasn't even the paththat you wanted to be on right.
You get caught up in differentthings.
So for me it is having thatfullness of heart, a spiritual
connection running, having thephysicality and loved ones and
(22:12):
family and, of course, travelwith creative expressions, so
melding all of those and that'swhat I really focused on doing
with Abstract.
Tim Dowling (22:22):
When are you going to become the mayor of?
Heather Ewing (22:23):
Madison, that's funny.
I've I've heard that statementand a couple others, but like
I'm honored, I'm honored.
But, tim, it was truly great toconnect with you.
And one last time.
How can people connect with you?
Tim Dowling (22:42):
Probably the easy.
Well, I don't know what's theeasiest way to share.
Would it be my email, a phonenumber, just the website?
Heather Ewing (22:48):
Whatever you prefer.
Tim Dowling (22:50):
I'm open.
So let's just say the LinkedInpage is probably the easiest.
It's T-I-M Dowling,d-o-w-l-i-n-g, and I believe I
either have Austin or Buda inthere or, if you can't find it,
roundaboutinbudacom.
All emails and phone numbers godirectly to me.
Heather Ewing (23:10):
Perfect Tim.
Thanks so much.
No thank you, Heather?
Tim Dowling (23:14):
Yeah, I really look forward to this discussion.
Heather Ewing (23:17):
Me too.
We'll have many more.
Tim Dowling (23:20):
Awesome, enjoy your day.
Heather Ewing (23:24):
Thank you, you too.
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