How Jonathan Mitchell Uses Navy SEAL Tactics to Crush the Real Estate Game

“That’s Not a Distressed Property—It’s a Goldmine!”

What if distressed properties were the hidden gems of urban revival?

In this episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell joins Bruce Bean’s show to talk about his journey from leading a multi-million-dollar solar company to transforming the urban landscape of San Diego through real estate development. With a passion rooted in ownership, affordability, and community transformation, Jonathan breaks down how his Navy SEAL-style team structure, faith, and life experiences fuel his mission to build more housing—not a flashier business.

Highlights

00:00 The Power of Pivoting: From Solar to Real Estate

• Embracing the "Navy SEAL" team mentality
• Building and scaling a $127M solar company

04:01 Building with Purpose & Faith

• Faith as a guiding principle in business
• Investing in distressed homes with vision

06:31 Maximizing San Diego’s Development Potential

• Capitalizing on San Diego’s ADU-friendly zoning
• Multi-family zoning advantages

09:31 Strategic Business Models & Acquisition Tactics

• Full in-house development process
• Lead generation through community and meetups

13:01 Scaling Smart While Staying Grounded

• Running lean vs. previous 115-employee model
• Remaining mission-aligned with community values
• Conclusion

Quotes:

"We want to be Navy SEALs, not an army—everyone knows their role, and we pivot fast." – Bruce Bean

"The end game for me was never to be a solar contractor—I just love real estate." – Bruce Bean

"I grew up on Section 8, so helping people find housing isn’t just business—it’s personal." – Bruce Bean

"Singles and doubles win games. Bigger isn’t always better—we learned that the hard way." – Bruce Bean

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📢 Connect with Bruce Bean! 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SFCommercialProperty/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-bean-9a82561/

📢 Connect with me!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre 

Twitter (X): https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre

ADU PALS: https://adupals.com

Business Inquiries: jonathan@adupals.com