Mike Morawski is a 30-year real estate investing veteran, author, speaker, and founder of My Core Intentions. Over the course of his career, he’s controlled more than $450 million in real estate, scaling a portfolio of 4,000 units and a property management company overseeing 7,500 doors. Mike’s journey includes extraordinary growth, painful setbacks—including federal prison—and a powerful comeback centered around coaching, transparency, and helping others build wealth through multifamily investing.
Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.
Key Takeaways
- Mike built a $100M real estate business but lost it all and spent time in federal prison due to nondisclosure and overextension during the 2008 crash.
- His biggest lessons: don’t grow too fast, avoid over-leverage, never be undercapitalized, pay attention to detail, and surround yourself with the right people.
- He now focuses on ethical investing, transparency, and long-term strategy while helping others avoid similar mistakes.
- Mike uses creative deal structuring, including seller financing and assumptions, even on large multifamily assets.
- He believes the current market presents one of the best opportunities in a generation to build long-term wealth.
Topics
From Building to Breaking to Rebuilding
- Built a $100M syndication portfolio between 2005–2008, including 4,000 units and 38 companies.
- The 2008 crash triggered liquidity issues, leading to improper fund transfers across companies without investor disclosure.
- Sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. There, he wrote two books, taught ethics and real estate, and earned a degree in theology.
- Today, he coaches investors and shares his story to help others avoid similar missteps.
The Five Lessons He Now Teaches Everyone
- Don’t grow too fast—scaling without structure leads to collapse.
- Don’t over-leverage—he recommends staying under 65% LTV.
- Don’t be undercapitalized—lack of reserves causes panic decisions.
- Pay attention to details—asset management is where deals live or die.
- Surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth—and listen to them.
Creative Financing for Multifamily Deals
- Mike dispels the myth that creative structures are only for single-family.
- Shared a case study of a 450-unit deal acquired with a $12.5M loan assumption and $2.5M seller carryback—no new equity.
- These deals still exist if you listen to sellers and find their pain points.
Market Cycles and Timing
- Believes we’re at the bottom of the current cycle and entering a major wealth transfer phase.
- Urges investors to act now while cautioning against recklessness—stress-test underwriting and be conservative.
- Expects shorter, more volatile cycles in the future, making education and adaptability more important than ever.
Resources for Passive Investors
- Created a free risk-tolerance quiz to help LPs understand their investor profile and make better decisions.
- Advocates for transparency and full disclosure between sponsors and passive partners—especially in turbulent markets.
📢 Announcement: Learn about our Apartment Investing Mastermind here.
Round of Insights
Failure that set Mike up for success: His 8-year federal prison sentence humbled and transformed him—helped him rebuild his life spiritually, emotionally, and professionally with integrity.
Digital or mobile resource: PassiveInvestorCoaching.com for educational content
- His institutional-grade underwriting tool that stress-tests assumptions
- FEMA.gov, BestPlaces.net, and CrimeReports.org for site selection
Book recommendation:
- Winning by Tim Grover — a tough-love mindset guide from the coach of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade
- Rich Dad Poor Dad
Daily habit: Morning meditation and prayer, followed by a gym workout—designed for clarity, focus, and intentionality
#1 insight for bouncing back from failure: You must take action. Don’t hide from mistakes—share your story and use it to serve others.
Favorite restaurant in Huntington Beach, CA: Joey’s
Next Steps
- Learn more about Mike’s coaching and resources at MyCoreIntentions.com
- Take the free investor risk profile quiz by texting INVESTOR to (224) 269-6700
- Revisit your own investing approach—are you being conservative, transparent, and strategic?
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