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Writer's pictureJohn Casmon

Finding Deals in Emerging Markets with Ola Dantis, Episode 48


After being invited to Dubai to help stabilize a client’s real estate business, Ola Dantis realized he needed to be investing in real estate. He has a background as an analyst for a Fortune 10 company, but he is an entrepreneur at heart and founded Dwellyn, a multifamily investing firm. An avid traveler who lived in Nigeria and the United Kingdom before moving to the U.S., Ola now lives in Baltimore. He and his wife have successfully managed multifamily and rehab projects, and are now working with other investors. Ola is also the host of the popular podcast, the Dwellyn Show.

Key Market Insights

  • Born in Nigeria, at 16 went to UK, before landing in Florida

  • Wife was interning at Disney in Orlando

  • Was introduced to real estate when a friend invited him to Dubai to help him stabilize his real estate business

  • Found BP and started listening to the podcast and heard everyone talk about Rich Dad Poor Dad, which changed his life.

  • Love to buy multifamily and are seeking capital to syndicate apartments

  • Loved Orlando, but Maryland felt like the best option

  • Started looking in Columbia, but had to convince his wife to move from his home to a new place

  • Had to shift suburban comfort in Columbia, as inventory was concentrated in the urban area Baltimore

  • What he seeks for flipping: use the 70% rule, buy for 70 cents on the dollar

  • What he seeks for multifamily: buildings near Johns Hopkins campuses with value add potential

  • Upper Fells Point – 2 blocks from Patterson Park, most people didn’t want to buy in this area, but there’s a new hospital being built by Johns Hopkins

  • Seeks inventory levels and want to be first movers in that market

  • Some multifamily areas are more on the edges of the city near the suburbs

  • Started with the foundation to analyze over 100 deals in Baltimore, know what the price per door should be

  • Can quickly analyze deals based on market knowledge

  • Love Patterson Park and Patterson Place – driven by Johns Hopkins

  • Additional target areas include Mount Vernon and Wilmington

Bull’s Eye Tips:

Winning Your Market: Be on the ground and understand the pulse of the market

Tracking Market Changes: Connecting what you see offline with what you see online

Daily Habit: Write them down daily 29 times

Resources:

Best Business Books:

Principles by Ray Dailio - meritocracy

Digital Resources

Tweet This:

"Don’t go with the flow, think about your life and pay attention"

"Write your goals 29 times each day"

Places to Grab a Bite:

Connect with Ola:

Website: Investwithola.com

Instagram: @oladantis

Leave us a review and rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Be sure to check out more info at TargetMarketInsights.com.


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