How to Build a Real Estate Empire (Episode 45 ft. Ryan McGuinness)

The best opportunities often appear when everyone else is running in the opposite direction. Ryan McGuinness is the Founder of RPM Realty, a private lending and real estate investment company built on calculated risk, conservative valuations, and the ability to move quickly. His path started at 19, when he raised money to open a pizza restaurant across from the University of Florida, and continued through a hedge fund during the 2008 financial crisis, bond trading, hundreds of property flips, and investments in some of Tampa’s most recognizable businesses. This conversation digs into how Ryan evaluates risk, why he entered real estate when the market was collapsing, how RPM Realty approves loans in hours instead of weeks, and why protecting investors matters more than chasing maximum growth. He also shares his perspective on Tampa’s transformation, investing in projects like Motor Enclave, Meat Market, and Ford’s Garage, and why his current goal is simplifying his portfolio rather than adding more to it. “If you’re going the same way the public is going, you’re probably already too late to the party.” — McGuinness