The Hotel Investor Playbook
Welcome to The Hotel Investor Playbook, hosted by real estate investors and hospitality experts Michael Russell and Nathan St Cyr. As the founders of Malama Capital and Howzit Hostels, Michael and Nathan have a wealth of experience in owning and operating boutique hotels, hostels, and other experiential lodging properties. With over $30 million in real estate investments, including short-term rentals, long-term rentals, commercial retail, and hospitality properties, they bring a unique perspective on how to turn passion-driven investments into financial freedom.
In this podcast, they share their roadmap for transitioning from traditional real estate investments to boutique hotels, offering listeners the insights and strategies needed to succeed in this niche market. Whether you're looking to learn about identifying the right property, managing operations, or understanding the financial complexities of boutique hotel ownership, The Hotel Investor Playbook has you covered.
Join Michael and Nathan each week as they document their journey towards building a $400 million real estate-based business and bring you along for the ride. Subscribe now and start turning your real estate investment dreams into reality.
The Hotel Investor Playbook
How to Get Brokers to Send You Deals | Hunter Johnson E58
Most hotel investors struggle to get brokers to take them seriously. The result is the same handful of buyers getting the first look at every good deal while everyone else fights over leftovers.
In this episode, Michael sits down with Hunter Johnson, President of Investment Sales at US Hotel Advisors, to break down how brokers actually decide who gets deal flow.
Hunter shares what he looks for in a real buyer, what turns him off immediately, and the simple behaviors that make brokers want to send you deals before they ever hit the market.
You’ll learn:
- What separates a “real buyer” from a time-waster
- The signals that instantly increase your credibility
- How to build relationships that get you called first
- Creative ways to structure deals when traditional debt won’t work
- What lenders want to see from first-time hotel buyers
- When SBA loans make sense and when they don’t
If you want more brokers sending you legitimate opportunities, this episode shows you exactly how to get on their radar and stay there.
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About Hunter
Hunter Johnson is the President of Investment Sales at US Hotel Advisors, a hospitality investment-banking firm specializing in the sourcing and structuring of debt, equity, and investment-sales transactions for hotel properties across the U.S.. Drawing on a background that includes commercial real estate, lending, finance, and property insurance, Hunter is uniquely positioned to advise clients on complex capital structures and transaction execution. His firm excels at securing non-recourse financing and raising sophisticated mezzanine or preferred equity, often for assets facing challenging circumstances such as low debt yields or rebrandings. Hunter strives to create trusted and lasting industry relationships while utilizing a competitive bid process to advise on the sale of various assets, including boutique properties, to yield above-market sales prices.
Connect with Hunter
https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-hotel-advisors/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-johnson-2778b120/
Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com
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