Drew Breneman

Protect & Grow Capital With Our Multifamily Investment Opportunities For Family Offices, Fund Managers, & High-Net-Worth Individuals

When I was 19, I bought my first property.

I didn’t realize it then, but that little duplex changed my life.

Now, 20+ years later, I’ve sourced, capitalized, and closed on over $250 million of properties for my firm, Breneman Capital.

I’ve worked closely with investors - family offices, PE, Fund of Funds, RIAs, and individuals - to help them generate income and wealth through multifamily real estate.

The old real estate adage says, “You make your money when you buy in real estate.”

I agree with that - but I think it’s only 50% true.

The other 50% comes in the execution. And I’ve built Breneman Capital through that lens. 

Our realized investments have produced an average gross return of:

• 27% IRR
• 2.3x equity multiple
• 14% average annual cash yield

This is across 14 full-cycle investments with an average hold period of 6 years.

In my opinion, our longest-standing investor relationships come down to 2 factors:

1) Our deals have performed well.
2) We focus on giving investors the best possible experience.

Real estate can be complex. But we like to keep our goals for our investors simple.

- Strong returns.
- Great experiences.
- World-class communication.

Here is what our investor said about us:

✅ Tim B.
“My wife and I wanted passive real estate heading into retirement. We’ve invested in multiple Breneman Capital deals and have been very pleased. They’ve helped us preserve and grow our nest egg without day-to-day work, and I recommend them to friends and co-workers.”

✅ Jim H.
“I’ve invested with Drew for 10+ years across 20+ projects. He’s the most knowledgeable real estate operator I’ve met and someone I trust. These investments have built long-term wealth for my family, with solid returns.”

If you’d like to set up an exploratory call, feel free to click the link in my Featured Section.

Founder & CEO

I started Breneman Capital in 2005 at age 19 to purchase my first rental properties and grow my own wealth. 

Today, we work with individual investors, Family Offices, PE, Fund of Funds, RIAs, etc., and allow them to invest alongside us in the best opportunities that we find (and have been for nearly 20 years).

Invest with us: https://www.breneman.com/invest

10 pieces of real estate advice I wish someone had given me when I was 20:

1. Start before you're ready.

I bought my first duplex at 19. I didn't know what IRR meant. My entire strategy was: If it's cash flow positive, my worst-case is holding it long-term and receiving cash flow each month.

2. Buy what's in front of you.

I was a student at UW-Madison, so I bought student rentals in Madison. My market study was polling friends about what they were paying.

3. Your W2 is education on someone else's dime...

I worked at a multifamily developer, then a retail developer. I knew nothing about commercial property when I started. I learned everything there, and I wasn't in a rush to leave while I was still learning.

4. ...So build while you work.

From 2008 to 2011, I worked three jobs simultaneously: my W2, self-managing my Madison rentals, and buying deals with my first investor.

5. Quit when your job starts costing you money.

By deal five, I'd already exceeded my W2 income. I still didn't quit until deal six was under contract. 

The math was simple: Could I make more reallocating my 9-to-5 hours to the next deal? When the answer was yes, I left.

6. Optimize for learning, not salary.

Comparing a $65K job to a $75K job? When you're 40, that extra $10K you passed up won't matter. What you learned is what compounds.

7. Get to your spot.

On that note, if you know where you want to go with your career, prioritize experience that will get you there. If you want to go out on your own someday, don't take a job as an analyst at a rating agency. Be a broker, get in the mix on actual transactions.

8. Periods of discipline feel longer than they are.

I lived in places under $1,000/month into my late 20s. At 26, I moved back in with my parents to extend my runway. 

At the time, it felt like a lot of sacrifice. But looking back from now that I'm in my 40s, it was all just a blip.

9. Get creative with financing.

I owner-occupied my first duplex for a lower down payment and better rate. You can still do FHA loans at 3.5% down on a 1-4 unit. Someone I know went 50/50 with her sister-in-law. One qualified for the loan, the other brought the cash.

10. The compounding happens later.

I bought $2 million of property as a college student. Same strategy on repeat: Buy, increase operating income, improve value, refi, buy again. 

By 2019, my first investor and I had built that into $80+ million.

--

P.S. What advice would you give to yourself when you were 20?

Founder @ Breneman Capital | Passive Multifamily Investments That Protect & Grow Capital | 21+ years in Real Estate | Trusted by 100+ Accredited Investors

Hiring general contractors can be a nightmare.

Use these 5 tips to find the best GC possible:

1. Check qualifications

Do your homework. Google the GC’s name and business name. See if any reviews are listed on public sites. 

2. Ask for referrals

The single most important part of hiring a GC is finding one you can trust. 

Reach out to other property owners and investors to ask for referrals. If you get a referral, take that GC out for a beer or coffee to get to know them better.

3. Ask questions 

• What is your payment schedule?
• How long have you been in business?
• Will I have a dedicated team for my project?
• How and where do you store your team’s tools?
• Do you have end-of-the-day clean-up procedures? 
• How far in advance do you order materials and where are they stored?

4. Vet the team

Talk with the job site superintendent and understand their expertise and approach to solving issues with subcontractors.

Who's going to run the painting crew? It's more important to talk with them than the salesperson for the contractor's company. 

5. Protect yourself when paying

Pay through a title company to ensure the contractors get paid and you avoid mechanics liens. This way, the owner is always protected since the title company will be providing a date-down endorsement.


To see the full list of 10 tips for hiring the right GC, check out our blog here: https://lnkd.in/dtdD2NjE

Dave Snehal

Licensed Real Estate Professional

I help multifamily property owners unlock greater returns and peace of mind by bringing strategy, structure, and integrity to every transaction. 

As a Senior Advisor of Investment Sales with eXp Commercial and a CCIM designee, I specialize in multifamily and mixed-use investment sales across the Chicago metro. I'm also the co-founder of Synergy REI, where we focus on value-add and core-plus assets in high-growth U.S. markets. 

With a strong emphasis on education, market data, and tailored solutions, I guide clients through the full lifecycle of acquisition, repositioning, or disposition. I work with owners who are ready to scale, simplify, or strategically exit their investments—often through a 1031 exchange or equity reallocation. 

🔹 What sets me apart: 
      - $100M+ in transaction experience 
      - Insider knowledge as both broker and investor 
      - CCIM-trained analysis and deal strategy 
      - Hands-on support and an elite referral network 

Let’s connect if you're looking for a trusted advisor to help you achieve your next CRE milestone—without the guesswork.

Commercial Real Estate Consultant

In a single sentence: We’re in the business of helping people accelerate their wealth through turn-key real estate investing that creates passive income, minimizes risks and maximizes tax efficiencies.

Busy professionals come to us when they want to:

✅ Earn lucrative returns by investing in recession-resistant/commercial real estate

✅ Receive passive income and all the benefits of real estate WITHOUT any of the headaches 

✅ Have more freedom & build a lasting legacy for generations to come

✅ Stop worrying every time the stock market has a downward spiral

✅ Diversify their portfolio and understand why apartments are the “hidden gem” of real estate 

To find out more, visit https://synergyrei.com/webinar and register to receive your free copy of our online training titled:

“How To Protect Your Retirement And Add Passive Income With Recession-Resistant Real Estate Investing… All WITHOUT The Headaches Of Being A Landlord”

What you’ll hear me share during this training has the potential to forever change the way you think about passive investing and look at opportunities.

You’ll also learn:

◾ A powerful & proven model busy professionals are using to beat the stock market, add passive income and achieve financial freedom without the headaches of being a landlord

◾ Hidden risks to avoid and key criteria to look for when evaluating passive real estate investment opportunities (HINT: Many people don’t realize these until it’s too late) 
 
◾ The unique way we find top real estate deals and partner with people who want to create passive income and build generational wealth

To learn more and receive your free copy of the training, visit https://synergyrei.com/webinar and also feel free to reach out to me here on LinkedIn if you have any other questions.

Most investors track NOI.  

Smart investors track cash flow.  

But the best?  

They track TRUE returns. 

We sat across from a client last month who was proud.  

His property showed strong NOI growth—12% year over year. 

But when we looked deeper, his cash flow told a different story.  

Debt service ate most of that NOI. 

His TRUE return? Just 4.2% on invested capital. 

Here's what separates good investors from great ones: 

↳ NOI = Your property's operating performance  
↳ Cash Flow = What you take home after debt  
↳ True Return = ROI on YOUR money, not the bank's 

NOI makes properties look attractive on paper.  

Cash flow keeps the lights on. 

But true return reveals whether you're building wealth or just managing someone else's assets. 

The properties that look best on the proforma often deliver the worst returns to investors. 

Because they're priced on NOI multiples— not on what YOU'LL earn. 

This is why we underwrite every deal in three ways.  

Not to complicate.  

But to CLARIFY. 

What metric do you prioritize when evaluating deals? 

#CommercialRealEstate #MultifamilyInvesting #CCIMInsights #RealEstateReturns #SynergyREI

undefined undefined

Senior Advisor | Multi Family Investment Sales

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Real Estate Broker

Owner

Multi-Family Investment Sales Advisor | eXp Commercial | CCIM | Co-Founder, Synergy REI | Commercial Real Estate | Investor-Focused Solutions

Cap Rate: Useful… Until It Isn't

Everyone asks about the cap rate first.

But here's the truth: it's only half of the story.

I sat across from an investor who mentioned that he walked away from a 4.95 % cap rate deal in Phoenix because of the low cap.

"Too low," he said. "I can get 7% in Cleveland."

 A few months later, he noted the Phoenix deal is a sold transaction.

The Cleveland deal?

Still sitting on the market.

Here's what cap rate doesn't tell you:

Your actual cash flow after debt service

The market's appreciation trajectory

Value-add upside from improvements

Risk-adjusted returns in that submarket

Cap rate is a snapshot.

Not a strategy.

It measures TODAY's income against price.
It ignores TOMORROW's value creation.

The best investors we work with?
They use cap rate as a starting point — not a finish line.

They dig into rent growth, occupancy trends, and the story behind the numbers.

Because a "good" cap rate in a declining market is just expensive hope.

What do you look at AFTER for the cap rate?

What metric tells you the real story?

#CommercialRealEstate #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateStrategy #CCIM #WealthBuilding

Southern Cook isn’t a “backup plan.”
It’s a MULTIFAMILY strategy—when we stay disciplined.

Recently, we reviewed two apartment opportunities.
One looked “safe” on paper in a louder submarket.
The other was in South Cook and priced with less hype.

The difference showed up in underwriting, not opinions.

Here’s how we approach South Cook multifamily:
we treat it like an operating business first.

↳ We underwrite collections, not just asking rents.
↳ We stress-test turnover, concessions, and vacancy loss.
↳ We model taxes and insurance as moving targets.
↳ We budget capex with a clear, strategic approach, not hope.

The quiet win: when pricing is rational,
we can buy a cleaner basis and protect downside.

A simple truth we keep coming back to:
markets don’t save deals—OPERATIONS do.

If you’re active in Southern Cook, what’s the one factor
that makes you lean in… or walk away?

#ChicagoMultifamily #MultifamilyInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #ApartmentInvesting #DSPropertyExperts

A great opportunity for CRE professionals to further their knowledge base.

Dave Snehal, CCIM

Don’t leave free money on the table! 🚨
The Chapter is now accepting applications for three scholarships — and the Institute’s CDEP Scholarship is back in action!

This is your shot to get funded. If you don’t apply, the money goes unused.
Apply now and claim what’s yours!

A Message From The CCIM Institute:
The CCIM Institute has updated program names and descriptions to align with its values and ensure broad accessibility. Per legal guidance, scholarships, discounts, and similar initiatives must be neutral and not based on protected characteristics (e.g., race, gender, age).

Accordingly, the Foundation’s Diversity Scholarship is now the Opportunity Scholarship, supporting first-generation commercial real estate professionals. The Cultural Diversity Education Program (CDEP) has been renamed the Career Development Education Program. The Membership Committee is currently reviewing the program’s criteria and will relaunch it soon. (April 2025)

We are proud to announce that the CDEP Scholarship is back, please consider applying! 

Our CCIM Illinois Scholarships:
Chuck Wiercinski Scholarship 
John Keepper Society Scholarship
Patricia Tesluk Scholarship

CCIM Institute Scholarships:
The CDEP Scholarship (You may email CDEP@ccim.com with any questions)
The Opportunity Scholarship (Details to come once shared)

#CCIM #CDEP #CRE #Scholarships #ProfessionalDevelopment #CCIMIL
Chirayu Patel, CCIM | Shane Allen, CCIM | Marc Bartolini, Commercial Real Estate Advisor | Thomas Bothen | Graham Gold | Vick Mehta, CCIM | Delphine Dung Nguyen, CCIM | Devin Rowland, MSRE, CCIM | Dave Snehal, CCIM | James Conrad, CCIM | R. Peter Giadla, CCIM | John Millner, CCIM | Michael Williamson, CCIM | Amy Hall, CRRP, CIPS | Shaun R. Pinkston ABR, BBA - M/WBE. | ONeia Washington | Karen A.

"As-Is" doesn't protect you the way you think it does.

We've seen sellers lean on those two words like a legal shield.

But buyers know something most sellers forget — due diligence still opens the door.

A client of mine was under contract recently.

The seller felt safe. "As-Is" agreed.

Then the inspection revealed hidden deferred maintenance; the seller never disclosed upfront.

The buyer didn't walk.

They re-traded — and won.

Here's what "As-Is" means in practice:

↳ The seller won't make repairs
↳ The buyer assumes physical condition risk
↳ It does NOT waive the buyer's right to inspect

And it certainly doesn't stop a savvy investor from using costly undisclosed findings to renegotiate prices or terms.

Real protection isn't in the language.

It's in preparation.

Sellers who want to close clean will get ahead of issues or disclose them BEFORE listing.

Order your own inspection.

Know what's coming before the buyer does.

Transparency builds trust.

Trust closes deals — without the drama.

If you're selling commercial assets, don't rely on "As-Is" as your strategy.

Rely on knowledge.

What's a re-trade story that changed how you approach deals?

#CommercialRealEstate #MultifamilyInvesting #CCIM #RealEstateInvesting #SynergyREI

The highest offer won't always win the deal.

But the right terms?

That closes every time.

We had a seller last year — solid mixed-use assets, strong location, priced to move.

Three offers came in within a week.

The highest was almost $200K above the others.

They took the middle offer.

Why?

The top bid had a 55-day financing contingency, a long inspection window, and a questionable track record as a buyer.

The middle offer was clean. Fast close. Proof of funds. No drama.

↳ Terms signal intent
↳ Terms reveal capability
↳ Terms protect the seller's timeline

In commercial real estate, prices get attention.

But terms build confidence.

As a CCIM, we always counsel clients to look at the full picture — not just the number.

Ask yourself: What does this buyer actually need?

What can they realistically close?

A bloated offer with weak terms is just noise in a competitive market.

The best deal isn't the biggest number.

It's the one that closes.

What's your experience — have terms ever surprised you more than price?

#CommercialRealEstate #MultifamilyInvesting #CCIM #RealEstateInvesting

Will County isn’t “too far.”
It’s a STRATEGY. Are investors using it that way?

For multifamily and mixed-use buyers, the exurbs
often come down to one thing: underwriting clarity.

Here’s a practical Will County lens investors use:
the exurbs reward DISCIPLINE and solid fundamentals.

↳ Validate tenant demand (jobs, schools, commute).
↳ Underwrite taxes and insurance conservatively.
↳ Favor efficient layouts, parking, and easy ops.
↳ Price the commute-to-cost tradeoff intentionally.

The appeal is simple: steadier cash flow potential,
with less reliance on headline-driven narratives.

When capital is selective, fundamentals lead.

If you’re allocating capital this year:
Are you buying a zip code… or buying a business?

Where do you see the best risk-adjusted value today?

#WillCounty #MultifamilyInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #WealthBuilding #DSPropertyExperts

taplio

The Battle

Drew Breneman

Dave Snehal

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreDrew Breneman's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreDave Snehal's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Drew Breneman

Dave Snehal

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Drew Breneman's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreDave Snehal's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDrew Breneman's LinkedIn Performance