Episode 533: Building a 1,500-Unit Portfolio Across Two Continents with Mike Stohler

In this episode of The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Mike Stohler—Navy veteran, former airline pilot, and now co-founder of Gateway Private Equity Group to talk about the highs, lows, and pivots that shaped his real estate journey.   Mike's story is a masterclass in perseverance and reinvention. He went from losing everything in his early 20s to owning and managing over 1,500 multifamily units and expanding into hotel investing across the U.S. and Spain.   We cover how he turned failure into fuel, built confidence through education and mentorship, and made the leap from W-2 employment to full-time investing. Mike also shares his transition from multifamily to hospitality and how partnering with experienced operators helped him scale internationally.   If you've ever struggled with fear, self-doubt, or analysis paralysis, this episode will show you what's possible when you commit to learning, surround yourself with the right people, and take calculated risks toward financial freedom.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:06 Refocusing before the new year and setting goals for 2026 02:02 Meet Mike Stohler: Navy vet, former airline pilot, and real estate entrepreneur 04:01 Buying properties with no experience and losing everything 05:29 Learning resilience through military discipline and rebuilding after failure 07:27 The mindset shift from fear to action—"Just make the move" 09:28 The biggest fears holding investors back and how to overcome them 11:05 Why mentors and proximity are the ultimate accelerators for success 12:06 The power of partnership: how to shadow and learn from experienced investors 17:01 Balancing family, business, and burnout while making the transition from W-2 19:42 "Apartments are not hotels"—why hospitality is a completely different game 21:14 Building partnerships with experienced operators and profit-sharing structures 23:38 Why Spain? Expanding internationally through strong local networks 24:45 Managing hotel investments remotely: systems, teams, and automation 25:13 Turning travel into a business expense: living and investing internationally 26:21 How to get in touch with Mike and his team   Quotables   "All of the fears that are inside your head are real inside your head—but that's not the truth."   "Hotels aren't real estate. They're businesses that sit on real estate."   "I'm still learning every day. Warren Buffett's 90 and still reading 10 books a week."   Links   Mike Stohler https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstohler   Gateway Private Equity https://gatewaype.com/   The Richer Geek Podcast https://www.therichergeek.com/   QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod   Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast   Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast   Wicked Smart Books https://wickedsmartbooks.com/podcast   Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast   Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources