In this episode, Michael Blank sits down with Lee Fjord, a real estate investor who has built an $80M+ portfolio and owns over 1,200 units—all starting from a single duplex. But the real focus of this conversation is capital raising in today’s shifting environment. As online funnels and paid ads become increasingly ineffective, Lee shares how he’s built a powerful, scalable system for raising capital locally through in-person events, curated meetups, and relationship-driven strategies. From hosting monthly property tours to creating a repeatable investor “flywheel,” Lee breaks down exactly how he’s raised nearly $2M from his network—and how you can do the same by prioritizing trust, consistency, and community.

Key Takeaways

Local Capital Raising Is Back—and It Works
As online ads and webinars lose effectiveness, in-person events and local networking are proving to be far more reliable for building investor trust and raising capital.
Consistency Creates a Compounding “Flywheel” Effect
Hosting recurring monthly events builds familiarity, credibility, and momentum—turning casual attendees into long-term investors over time.
Start Small, Then Scale Strategically
Lee began with simple meetups and evolved them into curated experiences, proving you don’t need perfection—just consistency and iteration.
Curated Experiences Attract Higher-Quality Investors
Targeting accredited investors, asking the right questions, and filtering attendees helps ensure you’re building relationships with serious capital partners.
In-Person Connection Builds Trust Faster Than Funnels
Face-to-face interactions dramatically shorten the trust cycle compared to cold online leads, making it easier to convert relationships into investments.
Layered Engagement (Events + Webinars) Maximizes Reach
Combining live events with ongoing touchpoints like webinars and follow-ups creates a powerful ecosystem for nurturing investor relationships.

Connect with Michael

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Resources

TheFreedomPodcast.com

Access the #1 FREE Apartment Investing Course (Apartments 101)

Schedule a Free Strategy Session with Michael's Team of Advisors

Explore Michael’s Mentoring Program

Join the Nighthawk Equity Investor Club

Review the Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Syndicated Deal Analyzer

Get the Book, Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing by Michael Blank

For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session523/