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What if the real key to strong investor returns isn’t focusing on investors first, but creating an amazing living experience for residents? In this episode, Steven sits down with John Makarewicz, President of Ferris Capital Partners, to break down what operator-level thinking truly means. John shares his journey from early struggles in college to building and exiting a major real estate company, and how clear systems, strong culture, and disciplined execution drive long-term results. He explains his simple 1-3-5 framework for goal setting, why resident experience fuels investor success, and how he builds high-performing teams across multiple markets. If you’re a high-income tech professional weighing DIY rentals versus passive investing, this conversation will give you clarity and confidence.

John Makarewicz is an experienced entrepreneur and real estate operator, currently serving as President and Managing Partner of Ferris Capital Partners. He specializes in multifamily real estate investing, focusing on acquiring and improving apartment communities to create strong returns for investors while delivering an exceptional living experience for residents. Prior to Ferris Capital, John served as President of Mark Spain Real Estate, where he helped scale the company significantly and played a key role in its growth and eventual private equity exit. Throughout his career, John has been known for his focus on systems, leadership, culture, and operational discipline, building teams that execute at a high level and drive long-term value.

Connect with John
Website: https://www.fariscapitalpartners.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-makarewicz-23589a37/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_makarewicz/


Episode highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(3:06) John’s background and private equity exit
(7:28) Systems and operational discipline
(10:33) Identifying his role in the business
(20:17) Target markets and investment strategy
(24:36) Resident-first philosophy
(26:56) Building culture through daily fundamentals
(33:45) The 1-3-5 goal-setting framework
(44:49) Passive investing vs. DIY rentals
(53:59) Books, learning, and long-term growth
(55:45) Where to find John and his team
(56:49) Outro

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For more resources and guides, check these out:

• Investor 101 https://www.aritacapital.com/investor-101-resource/#
• Due Diligence Resource https://www.aritacapital.com/dd-checklist-resource/

If you want to learn more, reach out at:

Email: steven@aritacapital.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aritasteven/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.arita