Jake & Gino

How to Slow Down to Speed Up in Real Estate | Grow Your Portfolio Smarter

Gino Barbaro, co‑founder of Jake and Gino, explains that real‑estate investors often rush deals, but true growth requires a slower, more deliberate approach. He argues that speed without understanding leads to missed opportunities and costly mistakes. He highlights four pillars: cultivating deep relationships, narrowing focus to a single niche, establishing a “buy‑right, operate‑right, exit” framework, and refusing bad deals. Real‑world data shows his first deal took 18 months, followed by three deals in a year once relationships and criteria were set. He also warns against “shiny‑object syndrome,” citing his own loss with a mobile‑home‑park partner. Barbaro cites Stephen Covey’s “seek first to understand” and Chris Voss’s listening techniques as essential habits. He recounts meeting “Maserati Mike,” a flashy partner whose unchecked deal led to foreclosure, reinforcing his mantra: “No deal is better than a bad deal.” The lesson for investors is clear: adopt a patient, relationship‑driven strategy, maintain a defined niche and criteria, and keep sourcing capital during market lulls. This disciplined method reduces emotional decisions, improves deal quality, and positions portfolios for scalable, long‑term success.