THE SCHOOL
Become an investing whale. Everything you need to know from the ground up.
INVESTING 101
ADVANCED
NEIGHBORHOODS
GROWTH
Advanced
The Power and Pitfalls of ChatGPT: Balancing AI Capabilities and Limitations
The below text was written entirely by Chat GPT with the cue: Write a blog about the future of commercial real estate. Check out our take on AI advanced language models like Chat GPT and whether we agree with its predictions for the future of commercial real estate …. The Future of Commercial […]
6 minutes
How to Project the Profitability of a Property
As an investor when looking at any potential real estate opportunity, there are a myriad of metrics and theories behind what makes a viable investment and what does not. But at the end of the day, you’re simply trying to answer the question: Am I going to make money from this venture? While, yes this […]
3 minutes
Cap Rate Real Estate: What Is A Good Rate & Formula?
If you are interested in real estate investing you probably heard the term cap rate real estate. Cap rate in real estate or capitalization rate is a critical metric in evaluating whether a property is a good investment or not. Understand how to calculate real estate cap rates in the context of commercial and residential […]
4 minutes
Due Diligence Real Estate Checklist: Steal Our CRE Process
Due diligence in real estate can be a bit of a drinking from the firehose kind of experience, especially when we are talking about commercial real estate. When you purchase anything that requires a decent amount of capital whether it be your education, a car, a trip or even a mattress you should do your […]
5 minutes
Real Estate Development from an Industry Insider
At first look, developing real estate seems like an easy way of starting a profitable business. It does not require an academic degree, a certification from any authority or a specific legal qualification that needs to be met. Actually, judging by the TV shows, it is as simple as buying a property, putting lipstick on […]
5 minutes
How To Join A Real Estate Investment Group (and Pros & Cons)
You know the saying “strength in numbers.”–Well that’s the fundamental objective of starting or joining a real estate investment group (REIG). While it may seem intimidating at first blush, how to join a real estate investment group is pretty simple. The complicated part is deciding which real estate investment network you want to join. Luckily, […]
10 minutesGrowth
Love & Money
You found love! (Congratulations) You found this person that makes you genuinely happy: You are at peace when you are together, and you can’t imagine anyone with whom you are more compatible. That’s all we need right? Love. But relationships are the trickiest of business. Even if you are with your romantic perfect fit, other […]
3 minutes
12 Day Financial Wellness Challenge
The end of the year can be rough on the budget: gifts, travel, maybe some splurges on yourself!—All worth it. But come January you’re paying for it…literally. Lucky for you, the New Year, is the perfect time to get your financial sh*t together, and while this is not something that happens overnight, with many […]
5 minutes
Keeping it Interest-ing!
The last interest rate hike of a whopping .075% brought us to 3% above where we were in 2019—which was 0% (good times!). So if high interest rates are such a bummer (to say it lightly!), then why does the federal reserve keep jacking them up?—And what should you do to position yourself to come […]
3 minutes
Bird-Brains: Why Rational Humans are Irrational Consumers
Every time you purchase something (or not) you are casting a vote: Yes, I am willing to buy this for X dollars or no I am not. But what unknown forces are influencing our decision making when it comes to how much we are willing to pay for the avocados at the grocery store or […]
5 minutes
Don’t Do New Year’s Resolutions This Year
It’s that time of the year. We are ready to start fresh. We are hopeful and ready to change our ways. This will be the year that you stop smoking, that you stick to that diet, that you say goodbye to biting your nails, that you finally will start saving—whatever your new year resolutions are […]
5 minutes
Money Date
“Know what’s on the menu?…Me ‘n’ u.” A Money Date doesn’t sound very fun, but at least you don’t have to endure cheesy pick-up lines!—What’s a money date? It’s the hour of time that you should block off on your calendar every month to sit down and review your personal finances from top […]
2 minutes
The Psychology of Money
When thinking about saving, finances and accumulating wealth there are plenty of books available (most of them are a snooze). There are some that are enjoyable and digestible, but most importantly USEFUL! One of those books is The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. The main reason we like this book is because it is […]
7 minutes
Who is Saving’s Worst Enemy?
Once you have a stable income (stable income being enough money coming in to cover your cost of living), you should have the ability to save. Makes sense, right? But there always seems to be something that derails us from doing it. Sometimes it is the price of oil that goes up, or the wrong […]
3 minutes
So You Think You Can’t Save
Your parents constantly tell you should do it. You know you have to do it. You promised yourself you’ll do it. Every January first at 1:00am, you are completely convinced that this is the year you’ll do it, and yet, for the life of you, you cannot do it! Well maybe you just need a support system: some things that can help you carry the heavy weight of getting it done. The following is a list of available technology that can make it easier for you to get to the goal. (Oh! By the way, in case we were not obvious enough, we’re talking about saving).
3 minutes
A Beginner’s Guide to Financial Mindfulness
As a young professional embarking on the quest for financial stability the saying, “youth is wasted on the young” starts to take on true meaning: Monday through Friday we are frying our retinas staring at a screen 40+ hours a week, and Saturday/Sunday maybe we grab drinks with friends to maintain a semblance of a […]
2 minutesInvesting 101
12 Day Financial Wellness Challenge
The end of the year can be rough on the budget: gifts, travel, maybe some splurges on yourself!—All worth it. But come January you’re paying for it…literally. Lucky for you, the New Year, is the perfect time to get your financial sh*t together, and while this is not something that happens overnight, with many […]
5 minutes
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait: The J Curve
When is pay day? As a real estate investment platform, we get this question all the time. The quick answer is 3-5 years, and for some this can be a major buzz kill. But with investing, and particularly real estate investing, rings true the old saying “good things come to those who wait.” The historical […]
2 minutesKeeping it Interest-ing!
The last interest rate hike of a whopping .075% brought us to 3% above where we were in 2019—which was 0% (good times!). So if high interest rates are such a bummer (to say it lightly!), then why does the federal reserve keep jacking them up?—And what should you do to position yourself to come […]
3 minutes
Money Management Isn’t About Money
What if we made personal finance about values, habits and intention instead of money? Money management isn’t just about money, after all. The state of your personal finances is a lagging result of a disconnect between what we think we want (external motivations) and what we actually want (internal motivations). So, if you’re trying to […]
3 minutes
Money Makin’ is a Mindset!
When approaching your personal finances, it’s easy to get caught up in a black & white mindset: income vs. expenses, budgeting vs. splurging, investing vs. saving—Managing your money becomes a zero-sum game and those who follow the strict set of rules win…right?—WRONG. This mindset is limiting and can actually breed stress, anxiety and ultimately […]
4 minutes
Atomic Habits
“Without good financial habits, you will always be struggling for the next dollar.” -Atomic Habits “You get what you repeat.” It’s a simple message that author James Clear establishes in his New York times bestseller, Atomic Habits, and one that he drives home superbly. Clear starts the book with data driven, as well as anecdotal evidence […]
3 minutes
Inflation Nation
Inflation—it’s a hot topic lately—and rightly so. It’s hard to escape the blaring headlines that the US consumer price index rose 6.2% in October 2021 compared to a year ago. What does this mean exactly?—Well, on average, things cost 6.2% more than they did only a year ago. To put that into perspective this […]
4 minutes
The Seven Capital Sins of Financial Wellness
Are you a sinner when it comes to personal finance? Whether the result of ego, insecurity or just plain laziness the barriers that are preventing you from eternal wealth and prosperity boils down to simply human weaknesses. These human weaknesses are nothing new, and have been named in history, so we mortals could better fight […]
3 minutes
6 Celebrities Investing in Real Estate
Do you ever wonder what celebrities do with their hard-earned money? Besides, of course, buying supercars, big yachts, fancy watches and everything else we mere mortals dream about? Most of them invest, one way or another, in real estate. We put together a list of six celebrities that decided to put their money to work […]
3 minutes
Four Personal Finance Fundamentals that You Should Know
Finance is scary. It is a discipline and industry that seems to scare off everyday people with overcomplicated jargon. Yet, personal finance and personal growth go hand-in-hand. I mean, how can we invest time (as well as money) in ourselves, if our fundamental financial needs are not met?
5 minutes
How To Build A Real Estate Portfolio (& What A Good Property Is)
There are numerous ways to invest in real estate and varying degrees of necessary upfront capital, as well as time commitment. If you can learn how to build a real estate portfolio that works for your lifestyle, then you can learn how to create long-term wealth and steady returns generated from multiple investment properties. What […]
7 minutes
Time is Money
“Controlling your time is the highest dividend money pays.” Money spent can be recovered or made up, time cannot. But time is critical in making you money. It took time to get to the point where you are now—whether it be in your career, your fitness level, a skillset or a hobby. After all, you […]
3 minutes
How To Invest In Real Estate With Little Money (Or No Money!)
How to invest in real estate with no money? We are not miracle workers so, perhaps the question is better phrased: How to invest in real estate with little money? That being said, just because you have limited income now does not mean you should wait to start. In fact, every day that your money […]
7 minutes
Commercial Real Estate Investing 101: How To Start In 2021
Commercial real estate has long been the preferred avenue for the wealthy and elite to invest, and it’s not so hard to see why. But the “rich get richer” no longer applies to this industry, as the high barrier of entry has been removed and now investing in commercial real estate is for everyone.
10 minutes
Investing In Real Estate vs Stocks (Own A Property Or Paper?)
Stocks vs real estate–that is the question. The short answer is if you have enough capital, you should invest in both and create a diversified portfolio of secure long-term investments; however, there are plenty of successful investors who swear by investing in just stocks or just real estate. In deciphering between the two, you need to consider your risk tolerance, preference on liquidity and whether owning a tangible asset matters to you–amongst other investing criteria that we will cover in more detail.
7 minutes
What is the Compounding Effect & Why You Should Care
There is a common misconception: More money means more wealth. Fellow whales, here’s the truth: more money gives you more access to wealth when managed properly. Did you know 24% of high-income earners making over $100,000 a year are still living paycheck to paycheck—Yikes! That is not a very Whale-like lifestyle! Avoiding this dichotomy is […]
4 minutes
Commercial Real Estate Crowdfunding: Is It A Good Investment?
Crowdfunding real estate has exploded recently–Why? Because crowdfunded real estate makes these once unattainable assets that offer historically more stability and higher returns than the stock market, now accessible to the general public. Looking for a crowdfunding real estate investment? You’ve come to the right place. We are going to explain what is crowdfunding for […]
5 minutesNeighborhoods
The American Dream Deconstructed Through the Eyes of Immigrants
The room buzzes as industry leaders and Miami locals network over craft cocktails, and guests continue to flow through the door. The panel discussion is about to begin, and the anticipation is palpable. DISRUPT—Finding the American Dream featured four panelists: all immigrants, all successful and all established in Miami—discussing what it means to realize […]
4 minutes
Why Miami is the Next Tech Hub
It is evident that many people had “aha moment during” the Pandemic, as this life altering year served as the catalyst for major population growth in the sunshine state. In fact, Florida’s population grew by 241,000 between July 2019 and July 2020. So, the people who decided life was too short to shiver through half the […]
2 minutes
What’s Old is New: A Story of Real Estate Crowdfunding from 1885
There are few more recognizable icons of American identity than the Statue of Liberty. It is hard to imagine New York without this beautiful lady standing triumphantly in the Hudson Bay, representing our values of freedom and providing hope of a better future. But, believe it or not, we were very close to not having […]
5 minutes
Florida Real Estate Investment: Best Places to Invest in 2021
If you are looking for a Florida real estate investment right now, you have the right idea. Since the Covid 19 Pandemic, people are flocking to warmer climates. Whether it is because they are permanently working remotely or simply had a quarantine epiphany that life is too short to be freezing for half of the […]
5 minutes
School of Whales’ Favorite Adaptive Reuse Hotels
As you already probably figured, we are obsessed with improving communities. The thrill of seeing buildings that otherwise would have been demolished and forgotten, being saved and brought back to life is our favorite part of real estate development. Adaptive reuse is the fancy name we use in the industry for the process of repurposing […]
3 minutes
Improving Communities vs. Gentrification
Nowadays we hear the term gentrification thrown around very often as an all-encompassing phenomenon that includes any improvement done to a disinvested neighborhood; however, not every change equates to gentrification, a boon can be brought to communities without destroying the social capital of the area. Not all change is bad! Neighborhoods—as every other living organism—have […]
2 minutes
Miami Investment Property: Why Investors Buy Miami Real Estate
So you are interested in a Miami investment property or possibly multiple properties. Well the time to get in is now! Miami real estate appreciated 102.59% over the last ten years. The city is no longer just considered a playground for partying, but also fertile grounds for finance and tech. Established corporations and start-ups alike […]
10 minutesUncategorized
Why Miami is the Next Tech Hub
It is evident that many people had “aha moment during” the Pandemic, as this life altering year served as the catalyst for major population growth in the sunshine state. In fact, Florida’s population grew by 241,000 between July 2019 and July 2020. So, the people who decided life was too short to shiver through half the […]
2 minutesvideo-podcast
These blogs and the accompanying materials have been prepared by School of Whales Commercial Real Estate Equity Fund, LLC (“SOW”) solely for general informational purposes and do not constitute an offer to sell, the solicitation of an offer to purchase, or a recommendation for any securities by SOW or any third party. Any returns or performance figures are hypothetical and purely for educational and illustrative purposes. A securities offering by SOW is only being made pursuant to an offering circular that is part of SOW’s offering statement. An offering statement regarding this offering has been filed with the SEC. The SEC has qualified that offering statement which only means that the company may make sales of the securities described by that offering statement. It does not mean that the SEC has approved, passed upon the merits or passed upon the accuracy or completeness of the information in the offering statement. Neither has any other governmental agency passed upon the merits or the accuracy or completeness of the information in the offering statement. The securities offered by SOW are highly speculative. Investing in SOW’s securities involves significant risks and may result in partial of total loss of your investment. The investment is suitable only for persons who can afford to lose their entire investment. Furthermore, investors must understand that such investment could be illiquid for an indefinite period of time. No public market currently exists for the securities, and if a public market develops following the offering, it may not continue. You may obtain a copy of the Form 1-A offering circular that is part of said offering statement here. You should read the offering circular before making any investment. The content of this internet site is qualified in its entirety by such offering circular.
Get in early and invest like the big whales.
