In this episode, Markian shares the story of his first commercial deal.

It’s a 56-unit apartment complex outside Indianapolis.

It still pays him $3,500 a month.

It pays his parents $7,000 a month.

This isn’t a get rich quick story.

It’s about feeling stuck.

Staring at the military pay chart.

Realizing your income has a ceiling.

And then finding a different path.

You’ll hear how he found the deal.

What went wrong early.

How he fixed it.

And how the property grew from $2.6M to almost $6M.

The big idea is simple.

This isn’t just real estate.

It’s a business.

What You’ll Learn

• Why the pay chart made him feel stuck
• Why real estate works like a business
• How he bought a 56-unit deal on active duty
• Why you need a team
• How cashflow actually works (simple terms)
• Why property management matters
• How small changes increased value by millions
• Why using family money is hard, not easy
• How one deal leads to more deals
• The 3 main lessons from this deal

Key Numbers

• 56 units
• Purchase price: $2.6M
• Loan: about $1.95M
• Revenue: about $55,000/month
• Cashflow: about $10,500/month
• 
  
  • $3,500 to Markian
  • $7,000 to his parents
• Current value: about $6M

Quotes

“It wasn’t flying that stressed me out. It was the pay chart.”

“This isn’t real estate. It’s a business.”

“You don’t need to know everything. You need the right team.”

“The biggest risk is staying stuck.”

Chapters

00:00 - The $3,500/month deal

02:10 - Feeling stuck

07:20 - Real estate = business

12:10 - Finding the deal

18:30 - Building a team

25:10 - Property management issues

30:40 - Increasing value

38:30 - Using family money

44:10 - Building momentum

50:30 - Key lessons

5

Most military investors don’t struggle because they lack information.

They struggle because they’re doing it alone.

The Military Multifamily Academy (MMA) is a 14-week program designed to help service members learn commercial real estate by actually working real deals with a team.

No theory.

No guesswork.

Just execution.

If you’re ready to stop watching and start building, learn more here:

activedutypassiveincome.com/mma

Support the show

ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom.

So we built a different path.

Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution.

The mission isn’t just buying properties.

It’s building a life with options.

More time with family.

More control of your future.

More impact in the community you serve.

If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle.

Book your free strategy call right now:

https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma

No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go.

Follow ADPI for more stories, strategies, and lessons from military investors building real financial freedom.

Mike Goering on Sunk Cost, Multifamily, and Community-First Investing | ADPI Podcast

In this episode of the Active Duty Passive Income (ADPI) Podcast, Mike Goering shares the real story behind walking away from a 12-year military career… and why staying “safe” was actually costing him more.

We break down the sunk cost trap, how one rental became a forced wealth engine, and what changed once Mike finally closed his first deal.

This episode isn’t just about real estate.

It’s about decision-making, identity, and building something that actually matters.

If you’re military (or transitioning) and feel stuck between “what you’ve invested” and “what you actually want”… this one hits.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why waiting until 20 years can cost you more than leaving early

• A simple breakdown of the sunk cost fallacy (and how it keeps people stuck)

• Renting vs buying near military bases, and the hidden opportunity cost

• How Mike transitioned from single-family to multifamily investing

• Why chasing every market kills momentum

• How closing ONE deal changes your deal flow forever

• Building a community-first investing strategy (not extraction)

00:00 – ADPI Hero Intro

01:30 – Mike’s background (12 years active duty)

03:10 – The “safe path” and why he left anyway

05:10 – You don’t have to wait until 20

05:35 – Sunk cost fallacy explained

07:05 – Why people stay stuck

10:45 – The mindset shift that changed everything

13:05 – Renting vs buying near bases

16:50 – First VA loan win

19:00 – Turning a home into a rental

22:00 – Discovering ADPI

24:40 – Struggling with focus early on

27:30 – Finding clarity in deal strategy

33:40 – Joining a deal team

37:50 – First deal breakdown (7-unit)

40:30 – Due diligence surprises

43:00 – Seller finance strategy

49:30 – Why closing changes everything

53:20 – “Own the town” vision

56:00 – Aligning purpose with investing

58:45 – Final advice

Connect With Mike Goering

Email: Mike@mountaingroundinv.com

Website: https://MountainGroundInv.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-goering

Support the show

ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom.

So we built a different path.

Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution.

The mission isn’t just buying properties.

It’s building a life with options.

More time with family.

More control of your future.

More impact in the community you serve.

If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle.

Book your free strategy call right now:

https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma

No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go.

Follow ADPI for more stories, strategies, and lessons from military investors building real financial freedom.

From Military Service to Financial Freedom: Seneca Peña-Collazo on Real Estate, Reputation, and Building the Right Team

In this episode of the ADPI Podcast, Seneca Peña‑Collazo shares his full journey—from growing up in Philadelphia to serving in the Army, and ultimately building long-term wealth through real estate, business ownership, and intentional team building.

Seneca breaks down how a single mindset shift during COVID helped him scale rapidly, why reputation is more valuable than money, and how military investors can leverage underwriting, numbers, and relationships to build sustainable freedom. This conversation goes far beyond tactics—it dives into identity, leadership, family, and what success actually feels like on the other side of the grind.

If you’re an active-duty service member, veteran, or military spouse looking to invest smarter, build the right team, and design a life with optionality, this episode is a must-listen.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why real estate is a business, not just buying properties
• How Seneca scaled quickly after committing fully to his “freedom number”
• The real reason teams matter more than deals
• How underwriting skills create leverage across any business
• Why reputation, integrity, and keeping your word compound over time
• The parallels between real estate, entrepreneurship, and military leadership
• How success feels different when it’s shared with family and community

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – 03:30 Introduction to Seneca Peña-Collazo and his military background

03:30 – 06:00 Why reputation and keeping your word matter more than talent

06:00 – 10:30 Real estate as a business (not just buying rentals)

10:30 – 14:30 Current portfolio breakdown: single-family, multifamily, land, and Turo

14:30 – 18:30 Why competitive advantage matters (and how Seneca built one)

18:30 – 22:30 The COVID turning point: committing fully and scaling fast

22:30 – 26:30 Burning the boats, mindset shifts, and finding ADPI

26:30 – 30:30 Why numbers, underwriting, and Excel unlock confidence

30:30 – 35:30 Team dynamics: how great teams elevate (or destroy) great deals

35:30 – 40:00 Military trust, shared values, and navigating conflict

40:00 – 44:30 Why living for others creates more fulfillmen

Support the show

ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom.

So we built a different path.

Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution.

The mission isn’t just buying properties.

It’s building a life with options.

More time with family.

More control of your future.

More impact in the community you serve.

If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle.

Book your free strategy call right now:

https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma

No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go.

Follow ADPI for more stories, strategies, and lessons from military investors building real financial freedom.