I recently sat down with Justin French, CEO of SDIRA Wealth, to get a better understanding of what he and his company offer real estate investors. What I discovered was that today, under Justin’s leadership, SDIRA Wealth claims the #1 spot in the build-to-rent turnkey industry. In reality, though, they’re beyond turnkey. Why is this the case? Because SDIRA Wealth has set the standard for a client-focused, full-service approach.
It’s not surprising that Justin was capable of taking the company to this level, though, given the fact that he’s a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with over two decades of experience. Before SDIRA Wealth, Justin built and led multiple eight- and ten-figure companies across various industries, always focusing on building teams, client experience and simplifying strategies for success.
SDIRA Wealth has established a formidable presence in the real estate investment world. Over the past 23 years, they have sold over $2 billion worth of build-for-rent homes across 15 states, solidifying its leadership in the industry. Their investor-focused programs, including tax-saving strategies like cost segregation and 1031 exchanges, have saved clients over $22 million in the past year alone.
Exclusive Interview with Justin French, CEO of SDIRA Wealth
SDIRA Wealth seems to go above and beyond for their clients, offering many services, resources, ongoing support, education, and more at no cost when other companies are charging tens of thousands of dollars. I wanted to know more about that and — if I’m being honest — how they make it work, especially in the face of inflation and other economic challenges.
With all that said, here’s how our meeting went…
Nicole: Justin, can you share more about what makes SDIRA Wealth’s approach so impactful for investors?
Justin French: Absolutely. At SDIRA Wealth, we’ve developed what we call the Full-Service Experience. It’s beyond turnkey real estate. From the moment an investor joins us, we guide them through every step—from providing exclusive access to our new construction properties with bulk pricing and benefits, to connecting with preferred lenders for financing, partnering with top property management teams, and offering ongoing education.
Our goal is to eliminate the common challenges of real estate investing, so our clients can focus on building wealth while we handle the details. Our properties are specifically designed for investors, optimized for rental income, and located in carefully researched markets that are landlord-friendly, with low vacancy rates, strong job growth, and high rental demand. This comprehensive approach not only streamlines the process but also maximizes profitability for our clients.
Nicole: Do investors have to pay a fee to work with you and how do you make your money?
Justin French: We don’t charge any extra fees for education, access to our projects, or working with our team. There are other real estate companies that do, but we don’t need to. We’ve been around since 2001 and built our business primarily through word-of-mouth—from working with friends and family to investors referring their own networks. Over the past two decades, we’ve also developed strong relationships with some of the top wealth and tax advisors in the country, who often refer their clients to us for the best tax strategies using our program and properties.
What’s more, over 70% of our business each year comes from existing clients adding to their portfolios, and over 80% of them refer friends and family. Because of this volume, we’re able to secure the best prices on our builds and create a margin for the company without the need to charge extra fees. It’s a model that benefits both our investors and our business, allowing us to focus on delivering value rather than adding unnecessary costs.
Nicole: That’s really interesting, especially the focus on new construction. What are the specific benefits of choosing new construction over existing homes, or rehab?
Justin French: New construction is a cornerstone of our strategy. By focusing on new builds, we help long-term investors avoid the maintenance challenges older properties often present. These properties attract more tenants and have lower upkeep costs. Thanks to our bulk purchasing power and developer relationships, we offer properties at or below market value, eliminating bidding wars. Additionally, we build in prime areas below the median price point, ensuring more protection and greater potential for growth. Our aim is to maximize profitability while minimizing the usual headaches for investors. It’s all about giving the best value to our clients on day one.
Related Article: New Construction Build-to-Rent Properties are a Good Investment with a Skyrocketing Demand
Nicole: Your full-service approach clearly streamlines the process for investors. I’m curious about your market strategy—how do you identify the best locations for these properties?
Justin French: We conduct rigorous research before entering any market. In fact, we typically spend about two years analyzing market trends, economic indicators, population growth, and job creation before deciding where to invest. We only target markets with strong potential for appreciation and high rental demand. We say no to a lot of markets because they don’t make sense for a long-term buy-and-hold strategy.
This strategic focus allows us to secure properties that are not only cash-flow positive with today’s rates but also have the best opportunity to increase in value over time, creating long-term wealth for our investors.
Nicole: You mentioned cash flow and long-term wealth. Unlike traditional investments like a 401(k) or IRA, where returns are typically 4-6%, your model in new construction real estate offers four streams of income. And, to clarify, the client owns 100% of the property; they’re not investing in a fund. Could you explain how that works?
Justin French: Of course. Yes, the client owns the property 100%, so they have full control and receive all of the benefits from the property. Having this control is where real wealth is built. Owning the real estate and using leverage allows you to put less of your own money down and create multiple streams of income, which we believe is key to building financial freedom.
First, you have cash flow from rental income. Second, there’s principal paydown, where your tenant is effectively helping you pay off your mortgage, which increases your equity over time. Third is appreciation, which is the increase in property value as the market grows. And finally, there are tax savings. Real estate comes with significant tax benefits, including deductions on mortgage interest and depreciation. These four streams work together to create a powerful wealth-building machine, especially when you hold properties over a long period of time. Our clients are getting a double-digit return today vs single-digit from traditional compounding their returns.
Nicole: What about all the inflation we’ve experienced over the last couple of years? Obviously, that impacts the investor’s dollars. How does investing in real estate help with this?
Justin French: Inflation can actually work in favor of real estate investors. It’s a great feature of owning deeded real estate! While inflation decreases the value of cash, it increases the value of tangible assets like real estate. Our clients who’ve owned properties in the last few years have seen firsthand how inflation boosts property values, helping them build wealth. Owning real estate allows investors to not only protect their dollars from inflation but also make up for lost ground by diversifying their portfolios. Real estate offers a solid hedge against inflation while generating long-term returns.
Related Article: Why Rental Properties are a Safe Investment During Times of High Inflation
Nicole: So not only are you offering protection against inflation, but your team is also solving a larger issue—helping Americans retire comfortably and build real wealth. Unlike traditional investments that are vulnerable to volatility and inflation, you’re providing a more stable path to financial security. Can you explain how this approach addresses those challenges?
Justin French: You’re absolutely right. The reality is that traditional retirement strategies, like 401(k)s, pensions, and Social Security, just aren’t enough for most Americans to retire comfortably anymore. With the average person retiring with less than $250,000 saved, and experts recommending at least $1 million to maintain their standard of living, the gap is huge.
Traditional investments, like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, typically yield around 4-6%, barely keeping up with inflation. Worse, these portfolios usually depend on a single income stream, like stock appreciation, which makes them vulnerable to market swings and unpredictable events like economic crises or political shifts.
At SDIRA Wealth, our focus is on building long-term wealth through real estate, specifically new construction properties. Real estate offers multiple streams of income—cash flow, appreciation, principal paydown, and tax benefits—which work together to deliver double-digit returns over time. This diversified income model provides a much more stable and reliable path to financial freedom compared to the volatility of traditional investments. Our strategy is all about maximizing profitability while protecting against the uncertainties that often derail traditional retirement plans.
Nicole: If the average client investing the traditional way is retiring at 250k working most of their life, what are clients working with SDIRA Wealth retiring with when investing in your build-to-rent properties?
Justin French: The limitations of traditional investing highlight why a different approach is needed for those seeking true financial independence. At SDIRA Wealth, our clients aren’t just hoping to retire with $250,000 after a lifetime of work. Through our Freedom Five Formula, they’re building significant wealth, often achieving over $1.8 million in equity and generating $100,000 a year in passive income.
The Freedom Five Formula is a simple, proven strategy: our clients aim to buy five properties within a 2-3 year time frame. Then, over the next 10-15 years, they leverage time in the market, allowing tenants to pay down their mortgage while their property values increase. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It requires patience, dedication, and a long-term mindset. But by the time those mortgages are paid off, our clients have built substantial equity and cash flow that can dramatically impact their financial future.
It’s a powerful, sustainable way to achieve financial freedom. With just five properties, our clients create a solid foundation for retirement, gaining more control over their financial security compared to traditional investment methods.
Related Article: America’s Retirement Crisis – Have We Passed the Point of No Return?
Nicole: Your emphasis on long-term growth through real estate is clear, but SDIRA Wealth also offers other unique advantages, such as financing options. Can you tell us how you help your clients with financing, and what a typical down payment is?
Justin French: Yes, financing is another area where we provide exceptional support. We have an extensive network of over 250 lenders, so whether you’re looking for conventional loans, hard money loans, or something more creative, we can help you find the right fit. This allows our clients to secure the best financing available, which is crucial in real estate investing. Additionally, our relationships with these lenders often result in better rates and terms, which further enhances the investor’s ability to maximize returns. To get started buying a property, typically, you would want 40-50k, that’s including closing costs and reserves.
Nicole: How can someone get started?
Justin French: Book a call with our team, and we’ll see how we can help you. If we’re a good fit for your goals, we’ll create a customized plan using our programs and services. For example, we offer powerful tax strategies, like cost segregation and 1031 exchanges, and can even help set up a Self-Directed IRA to use your retirement funds to grow your portfolio, just to name a few programs. We’ll assess your unique situation and show you the path to financial freedom, with our team guiding you every step of the way.
Buy and hold real estate has always been a reliable way to build wealth. The process may seem slow, but it works. What we’ve done is make it easier by helping our clients save time, money, and avoid costly mistakes along the way. Ultimately, wealth-building comes down to taking action and being in control.
We talk to thousands of clients, and most find that the biggest source of their wealth is the home they live in. I always ask, ‘What if you had bought five properties 15 years ago, with tenants paying the mortgage?’ Many would be retired or financially free by now. It’s a simple, proven method—we’re just making it more accessible.
Nicole: That’s a huge advantage. Speaking of partnerships, I understand you’ve recently partnered with the Tim Tebow Foundation. Can you share more about that collaboration and how it aligns with your company’s values?
Justin French: We’re incredibly proud of our partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation. The foundation’s mission to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day aligns perfectly with our belief that business should be about more than just profits. Through this collaboration, we aim to give back and make a difference, especially in areas like fighting human trafficking and supporting children with special needs. It’s important to us that as our investors build their wealth, they also have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world.
Nicole: With such a strong focus on community and long-term relationships, how does your team’s experience play into this full-service model?
Justin French: Our team’s 23 years of experience is one of the reasons we’ve been able to build such a comprehensive service. We’ve seen market cycles come and go, and we know how to navigate both the highs and the lows. Our expertise allows us to offer not just great build-to-rent properties but a complete full-service investment experience that includes strategic market advice, financing, property management, and ongoing support. From the first-time investor to the seasoned pro, we have a proven system that’s been refined over decades to ensure success for all our clients.
Nicole: It sounds like SDIRA Wealth is truly a one-stop shop for real estate investors. How does this full-service approach save your clients time and money compared to traditional investing?
Justin French: With SDIRA Wealth, our clients avoid many of the common pitfalls of real estate investing. They don’t have to worry about finding the right property on their own, securing financing, managing tenants, or navigating the complexities of tax strategies. We handle all of that. Our market research, bulk purchasing power, and financing network ensure they get the best deals, while our property management and ongoing education keep their investments running smoothly. This comprehensive approach saves them time, money, and a lot of stress, allowing them to focus on the bigger picture—building wealth and achieving financial freedom.
Nicole: Justin, with SDIRA Wealth offering such a robust full-service experience, what’s next for the company?
Justin French: We’re always looking for ways to expand and improve. We’re actively researching new markets, refining our processes, and looking for more opportunities to give back through partnerships like the Tim Tebow Foundation. Our goal is to continue growing while staying true to our mission—helping more investors achieve financial freedom through real estate while making a positive impact in the world. That’s what drives us every day, and we’re excited about what the future holds.
Achieve Financial Freedom by Investing in New Construction Rental Properties Through SDIRA Wealth & Morris Invest
After our meeting, I was impressed not only with SDIRA Wealth’s approach to managing everything from its markets to its clients but also with Justin’s vision for the company as it continues to grow.
SDIRA Wealth is a company with strong leadership and a heart for serving its clients. It’s apparent in everything they do, and backed up by their success. Along with this, SDIRA Wealth is partnered with Morris Invest and both companies hold the same high standards, values, and integrity, yet each brings a different set of expertise to the table to enhance the client’s experience. You can read more about how and why these two companies joined forces by visiting the SDIRA Wealth & Morris Invest Overview page.
If you’re interested in a full-service build-to-rent real estate investment, you can connect with the team by scheduling a free call. We’d love to hear from you to discuss your investing goals, develop a customized plan based on your specific situation, and provide you with the best possible experience. Also, feel free to head over to the SDIRA Wealth website for more information on what this exceptional real estate development company is capable of providing for their clients.