Real investment case studies
Projections Versus Reality
Every case study shows the investment thesis, purchase price, capital invested, revenue, expenses, financing, projected return, actual result, mistakes, lessons learned and a final analysis. Nothing is polished after the fact.
Real Estate
Rental Property Case Study: A Midwest Duplex
A 1950s side-by-side duplex bought for cash flow — and the first-year surprises that cut returns by a third.
- Cap rate
- 8.3%
- Projected CoC
- 8.2%
- Actual Year 1 CoC
- 5.0%
- DSCR
- 1.37x
Real Estate
Fix and Flip Deal Breakdown: The Over-Improved Kitchen
A profitable flip that earned 40% of its projected profit — and exactly why.
- Purchase
- $168K
- Projected profit
- $48,000
- Actual profit
- $19,600
- Hold time
- 7 months
Real Estate
Multifamily Acquisition Analysis: 48-Unit Value-Add
A Class B value-add syndication — strong operations, but insurance and rates moved the finish line.
- Price / unit
- $100,000
- Projected IRR
- 16.5%
- Revised IRR
- 12.8%
- LTV
- 70%
Business Acquisition
Business Acquisition Deal Review: HVAC Services Company
A $2.34M acquisition financed with SBA debt and a seller note — year one versus the model.
- Multiple
- 3.0x SDE
- Projected DSCR
- 1.60x
- Actual DSCR
- 1.32x
- Buyer equity
- 10%
Private Lending
Private Lending Deal Review: First-Position Rehab Loan
A well-secured renovation loan that paid off late — and the process gaps it exposed.
- ARV-LTV
- 58.5%
- Rate
- 11% + 2 pts
- Annualized
- 12.6%
- Term
- 15 months
Stock Options
Covered Call Strategy Example: One Year on a Dividend Stock
Twelve months of covered calls on 500 shares — more income, less upside, and a clear view of the trade-off.
- Premium
- $6,480
- Total return
- 17.9%
- Buy & hold
- 24.3%
- Assignments
- 2