Wayne Courreges III is a Marine Corps veteran and the founder of CRI Partners, a real estate investment firm focused on building generational wealth through multifamily and entrepreneurial assets. After a 16-year career in asset and property management with CBRE, Wayne transitioned full-time to real estate investing in 2023. He now leads a $50M portfolio that spans value-add multifamily, RV/boat storage development, and strategic commercial projects in Texas and the Southeast.
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Key Takeaways
- Wayne’s journey from Marine Corps to CBRE to full-time real estate entrepreneur was fueled by long-term vision and layered income streams.
- Asset management and development experience allowed him to take calculated risks while building CRI Partners.
- His model includes multifamily investments (80%) and entrepreneurial projects like RV/boat storage and mixed-use developments (20%).
- For passive investors, education is key—ask the right questions, vet the sponsor, and understand the deal before wiring money.
- Taking action and surrounding yourself with experienced mentors are essential to building momentum and avoiding costly mistakes.
Topics
From W-2 to Full-Time Investor
- Started investing while working in commercial real estate at CBRE.
- Created income through asset management fees, acquisition fees, and development work before making the leap.
- Made the switch when he realized he couldn’t serve both CBRE clients and investors at the level they deserved.
Why Multifamily Is Still the Foundation
- 80% of his portfolio is traditional value-add multifamily across Houston and San Antonio.
- Focuses on deals in strong, secondary markets with stable rent growth and access to workforce housing.
- Prioritizes transparency, conservative underwriting, and investor trust.
Entrepreneurial Investments: RV, Boat & Business Storage
- Developed a 20×50 enclosed storage facility based on lessons from a successful Huntsville, AL deal.
- Business tenants include HVAC companies, disaster response teams, stagers, athletic companies, ranchers, and state agencies.
- Facility design and location (highway visibility, 100k+ population) drive demand and retention.
Diversification Through Local Development
- Acquired and rezoned 12 acres for a 150-unit multifamily development and SpringHill Suites hotel in Bryan, TX.
- Emphasizes that high-risk projects like these are only pursued when they’re local and manageable.
- Maintains a disciplined approach—stabilize one asset before scaling the next.
Educating Passive Investors
- Created PassiveInvestorCoaching.com to help LPs learn how to vet sponsors, markets, and opportunities.
- Teaches how to assess underwriting, ask better questions, and avoid the most common mistakes.
- Encourages LPs to start small and grow confidence through informed investing.
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Round of Insights
Failure that set Wayne up for success: Bought a deal in 2022 with bridge debt that required course-correction. Survived the rough patch by refinancing, cutting CapEx, and doubling down on communication with lenders and investors.
Digital or mobile resource:
- PassiveInvestorCoaching.com for LP education
- Google Earth and BestPlaces.net for evaluating new markets
- FEMA.gov for early flood zone vetting
- CrimeReports.org for local safety data
Book recommendation:
Daily habit: Schedules each day as either a Focus, Buffer, or Free Day using the Dan Sullivan model—ensuring time is carved out for deep work, meetings, or personal recovery.
#1 insight for investing across asset classes: Know your strengths, and partner with people who complement them. Stay humble and build teams that offset your blind spots.
Favorite restaurant in Texas: Gringo’s Tex-Mex & Sodolaks Beefmasters
Next Steps
- Learn more at CREIpartners.com
- Get free passive investor training at PassiveInvestorCoaching.com
- Explore both stable and entrepreneurial deals—but know the difference in risk, return, and responsibility
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