From Tech to Main Street: How I Built Wealth with Neighborhood Strip Centers

Most investors begin their journey with residential rentals. I did too.

And while single-family homes can be a good starting point, here’s the reality: it’s difficult to build true wealth when you’re only clearing a few hundred dollars a month and dealing with tenant turnover every couple of years.

That experience taught me two things:

1. Cash flow matters.

2. Your time is worth more than chasing down late rent checks.

Instead of moving into multifamily housing (the traditional “next step”), I chose a different path—one that most investors overlook: neighborhood retail strip centers.

Why Strip Centers Work

Retail strip centers gave me what I couldn’t find in residential rentals: scale, predictability, and resilience.

• Stronger Leases: Built-in rent escalations and longer lease terms mean fewer surprises.

• Tenant Stability: Service-based tenants—like nail salons, gyms, and medical offices—aren’t competing with Amazon. Their business is tied to the community, and they stick around.

• Bigger Upside: In secondary markets with strong job and population growth, these centers often trade at more attractive valuations than the crowded multifamily space.

  
  

How I Add Value

I don’t buy properties and hope the market does the heavy lifting. My strategy is about unlocking hidden potential through smart operations:

• Vacancy Optimization: Breaking up larger units into smaller, easier-to-lease spaces that command higher rent per square foot.

• Lease Structuring: Converting tenants to triple-net (NNN) leases, which pass through taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

• Tenant Mix: Pairing strong national anchors that drive traffic with resilient, service-oriented local businesses.

Real Deals, Real Results

Every property tells its own story. A few standouts:

• Kansas: I acquired an off-market strip center with a small vacancy. Within three years, it was fully leased and sold—unsolicited—for a strong profit.

• Kentucky: I purchased a fully occupied but poorly managed property. By tightening up expense reconciliations and re-leasing at market rates, I significantly boosted NOI and unlocked major value.

These aren’t just financial wins—they’re about transforming underperforming properties into thriving community assets.

Opening the Door to Investors

For years, I funded my deals myself. But as opportunities grew, I realized there were countless investors who wanted the same benefits: predictable income, strong tax advantages, and true diversification.

That’s why I founded Nexphase Venture Partners. It’s a way for investors to partner with me and access high-quality retail strip center opportunities—without the headaches of being a landlord.

This isn’t for everyone. But for those looking for stability, growth, and freedom from the stock market rollercoaster, strip centers can be a powerful wealth-building tool.

Final Thought

My background in tech taught me how to analyze data and think strategically. Real estate gave me the freedom to choose how I spend my time. And retail strip centers—those often-overlooked, unglamorous assets—have been the engine behind my success.

If you’d like to explore investing alongside me, visit investwithpeach.com.

And if you’d like to hear the full story, listen to my recent podcast conversation with David Dubeau: The Strip Mall Strategy: How I Find Hidden Wins in Secondary Markets. You can watch on Apple Podcasts or watch the video YouTube.